Do we ever do anything today that we don't think what is in it for me? When asking a group of 10 year old's today why they should pay tithing, they answered "so we can receive blessings." Granted they are young & inexperienced but isn't that the object of what we all do? While studying for a test tomorrow on the article by Caplan & Nelson (previously blogged), I came across the psychological theory of mutually beneficial exchange relationship's. Caplan & Nelson point out that while trying to solve social problems the professionals will tend to research problems that will "enhance their own position." It is the approval of their colleagues that gains the attention and sometimes the greatest benefits (Federal funding, career advancement, prestige). "It is ironic, then, that his career gains will depend more on his contribution to the advancement of his discipline from studying applied problems than on the success or failure of those programs." (Caplan & Nelson, 205).
But it doesn't end there as their stamp of creditability will make the research, findings, and solutions legitimate. With that the public will agree because "by refusing to accept the hierarchy of credibility, we express disrespect for the entire established order." Therefore, it becomes fact and is acted upon by social and political change agents with public sanction. Is there a possibility of abuse in a system based on mutually beneficial exchange? Could problems be created just to be fixed by the experts? Are we to quick to accept expert opinion and not try to reason & think for ourselves? Is it possible that we give away some of our anonymity by allowing the professional change agents to change our reality?
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