Could we know if we are being manipulated by society?

Résumé du document

For the purpose of this paper, manipulation can be defined, "As a way of obtaining a behavior in an elaborate, expected and predictable manner from an individual or a group, without them being aware of the influence of external forces?. The theory of manipulation therefore suggests that the manipulated is in fact not conscious of the impact of these external forces on their behavior. The sociological theory of holism, in relation to the study of human behavior, implies that people are conditioned by the structure of an interaction system, in which they are born and grow up. As a result of this, individuals and group behavior is judged as determined by the society. Individuals can therefore be deemed to be puppets. However, according to Bourdieu, sociology aims to reveal the structures of manipulation by its analysis, in order to provide people with the opportunity to free themselves from manipulation.

Extraits

[...] We have shown that we could know that we are being manipulated thanks to external denunciation by the analysis of the process or by empirical experiences. But, even if the analysis, process of manipulation existing within consumer society have been denounced we still consume. We can conclude that the fact we could know that we are being manipulated is to one extent an illusion, we only know in certain limits. This revelation is in a way part of the system. Regarding to consumer society for example rare are people who takes radical anti-consumerist attitude. [...]

[...] A fan of the movie noticed of this shoppers look like zombies walking about the place!”[17]. As soon as the manipulation is revealed people work to free themselves from it. It could go from anti-consumerist behaviour to reflection on the way people consume. However, even if we know that we are being manipulated why do we still consume? In post modernism analysis the consumer could not be only viewed as in the Franckfurt school as puppets. It critics this approach by showing the limits of the manipulation. [...]

[...] As consumer society is based on a mass production the multiplication of goods give us the impression that we when we buy we make a choice between a range of goods. It gives us a false illusion of autonomy based on the fact that we choose something. But this range of goods is determined and the decision to buy is also determined. “Whatever we do, we shop” [12]. Ordinary people are totally unaware of the fact that they are being manipulated towards this aim. We are perceived as society of customers predisposed to consume. [...]

[...] The erosion of social connection makes consumers even more easily manipulated a reactive to advertising messages. As it pointed out by David Kinon,[5] when people watch TV they do it in a passive state of mind which makes them more sensible to receive broadcast messages. The advertising's messages in the consumer society make the buyers believe that happiness could be reached through consumption. As mentioned earlier, these advertising messages are passed on through the mass media of television, radio, newspapers and so on. [...]

[...] The Consumer Society, ( Island Press 1997) P230 Stephen Harper, Zombies, Malls and the Consumerism Debate: George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture, Fall 2002, Volume 1 issue P65 Stephen Harper, Zombies, Malls and the Consumerism Debate: George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture, Fall 2002, Volume 1 issue P65 www.eurozine.com: Robert Misik, Simulated cities, sedated living. P57 www.eurozine.com: Robert Misik, Simulated cities, sedated living.P 56 Stephen Harper, Zombies, Malls and the Consumerism Debate: George Romero's Dawn of the Dead (Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture, Fall 2002, Volume 1 issue P65 www.eurozine.com: Robert Misik, Simulated cities, sedated living. P56 www.eurozine.com: Robert Misik, Simulated cities, sedated living. [...]