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New iPhone App Deconstructs our Visual Mental Models.  You Gotta See This uses the iPhone 4’s gyroscope feature to automatically stitch together multiple shots into a not-so-seamless whole. The image it creates provides a glimpse into the raw images our brain stitches together to create our inner visual sense of our environment. Pretty cool!

30 July 2010 • iphone psychology

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The Storyfication of Everyday Life

Narrative Psych 01

Although it is said that every picture tells a story, the truth is that images merely provide the raw material upon which our minds create the narratives. Humans are story-making creatures. We compulsively and continuously infuse stories into the raw data of our sensory experience. On an experiential level, we live as much within a world of our self-created narrative as we do within the physical universe. Our very identity is developed and sustained by the stories we’ve created within our own minds and those we’ve internalized from our family, friends and culture. To paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, “We shape our stories and thereafter our stories shape us.”

For the last couple of years, I’ve experimented with avatar identity as a means of deconstructing the process of fictional “reality-creation”. Over the last few months, I’ve been drawn to using dolls, dummies and other character-based figures for that same purpose. Even though my daughter makes fun of the Barbies in my closet, I’m planning to focus artistically this year more on the physical than the virtual and will share that aspect of my work here.

If you’re interested in a more academic approach to the role of story in human psychology, please consider reading “The Science of Stories: An Introduction to Narrative Psychology” by János László. I’m only a quarter of the way through the book and it already has a porcupine-worthy amount of post-it markers sticking out along the perimeter.

11 February 2010 • psychology art

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Manipulative Me

ma·nip·u·late: to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one’s purpose. Merriam-Webster

Someone brought up the idea that the recently disclosed Botgirl Project was manipulative and self-serving. My knee-jerk reaction was to flatly deny such intentions and make light of the associated implications. After some reflection, here’s some of my current thinking:

The ability to manipulate others is an evolutionary survival mechanism. Our arsenal of “artful means” is developed and reinforced from the first time our infant smiles grab the attention of our mothers’ eyes. Throughout our lives we receive positive and negative reinforcement to act in ways that enlist others to serve our purposes  We are continously drawn subconsciously to control the actions and perceptions of others through what we reveal and hide through words, body language, tone of voice and actions.

Since manipulation seems to be hardwired into our biology, the ethical question for me is whether we try to use it consciously and with benign intent. Should we stop smiling when we meet someone because it’s partially intended to make them feel that we’re friendly? Is it necessary to share every negative thought in our heads in order to be completely transparent in our interactions? Should we only use avatars that match our RL age, gender, physical form, etc. Or if not, have a linked full-blown biography?  I don’t think so.

“Manipulative Behavior” and “Honest Communication” are two independent concepts. We can use the ideal of honesty to intentionally manipulate people through negative and emotionally charged communication. We can also refrain from expressing negative thoughts (lying by omission?) to avoid manipulative communication.

My conclusion is that manipulation is ethically neutral. For instance, it can be used by a coach to help his or her team win (selfish) while at the same time motivating athletes to improve their abilities. On the other hand, practically every effective “good cause” has used manipulative techniques to push people out of their complacency.

So I admit that I have been willfully manipulative, albeit with benign-or-better intent. I plan to continue to hone my persuasive skill and be more rigorous in questioning my intent.

For a rant on this same topic see Botgirl’s Second LIfe Diary.

27 August 2009 • psychology ethics

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