Onionsoilder
Reaver
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3,173
I'm taking a few sociology and psychology classes now that I'm in college, and I'm finding them to be quite interesting. Now, I realize that as beginner level classes these hardly make me an expert on anything and I may not really understand the whole situation, but I still want to discuss this and see how the CFC forum goers relate to this.
Overview:
Right now we are covering two primary mental frameworks, which are said to mostly be established as a child grows into an adult. On one side there is the conservative "Scrict Father" framework and on the other, the progressive "Nurturing Parent" framework. Few people fall 100% into one or the other, and most possess mixes from both.
Those with a dominant Strict Father mentality often see the presence of an authoritarian figure as a good thing that induces stability; this is the father of a household for example. The father generally knows what is best for the family, so the wife and kids should discipline themselves to comply with his wishes. Work is seen as a rewards system; if you do the work, you get paid for it. If you want something, you work for it.
Those with a dominant Nurturing Parent mentality often hold a view that it is best if everyone cooperates and works together. Everyone should be given a voice in making decisions, even if they don't know as much as the Father would. Work is seen less as an effort and reward system, and more of a cooperative effort to accomplish something.
Now what I'm trying to do is see how these mental frameworks, assuming they are true, relate to viewpoints held in everyday life. I will utilize the following examples to try and explain this better:
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On the topic of welfare:
Those with a conservative framework typically frown upon welfare and social programs. In their mind, they tend to see that people who don't have something, don't have it because they didn't work for it. They are lazy and undisciplined, and should not be given handouts. Instead, they should be inspired or motivated to work and earn what they desire.
Those with a progressive framework often support welfare and social programs. In their mind, they don't see those who lack something as lazy or undisciplined enough to obtain it; they just see someone who needs something they don't have available. This should be remedied by providing for their basic needs, in hopes that in the future those same people who were given welfare will give back in return when they get the opportunity to do so.
On the topic of religion:
Conservatives tend to be more religious than progressives, though there can certainly be nonreligious conservatives and religious progressives. Conservatives see their object of worship, typically God(s), as the ideal father figure that induces stability in their lives. They discipline themselves to follow religious morality because they feel that these beings both know what is best and how to bring that about.
Progressives tend to be less religious, because they do not completely ascribe to the authoritative father figure. They view life as a collaborative effort, and prefer to collaborate with their peers who they work with on a daily basis. The idea of worshiping a superior being who does not collaborate with them regularly often seems strange or foreign.
On the topic of regulation:
Conservatives tend to be against government regulation in economics, because they tend to feel that those in power (CEOs, Directors, etc.) have gotten there through hardwork and good understanding, and thus are best equipped to make decisions. These figures know through experience what is the best action to take, and trust that this experience will guide the nation through the times, both good and bad.
Progressives tend to be for government regulation, feeling that any one individual holding too much power will not hold the community's interests at heart. They feel that work is a collaborative effort, and that because we have grown too large to manage in a directly communal way, the government, which is elected by the people and this holds their interests at heart, should make sure that everything runs smoothly.
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I hope I did a good enough job of explaining those. Anyway, I don't mean to say that any one is better or worse than another, I just want to get an opinion on how CFCers, particularly ones with strong conservative or liberal viewpoints, ascribe themselves to these policies. Poll will be up shortly.
Personally, I draw quite a bit from both frameworks. I tend to see a lot of issues with a progressive viewpoint, were I feel that people should be working together on various issues, but I also draw some from the conservative viewpoint, were I feel that discipline and effective leadership is important (though I believe that ultimately people should be self-disciplined, and not disciplined in order to follow an authority figure).
Overview:
Right now we are covering two primary mental frameworks, which are said to mostly be established as a child grows into an adult. On one side there is the conservative "Scrict Father" framework and on the other, the progressive "Nurturing Parent" framework. Few people fall 100% into one or the other, and most possess mixes from both.
Those with a dominant Strict Father mentality often see the presence of an authoritarian figure as a good thing that induces stability; this is the father of a household for example. The father generally knows what is best for the family, so the wife and kids should discipline themselves to comply with his wishes. Work is seen as a rewards system; if you do the work, you get paid for it. If you want something, you work for it.
Those with a dominant Nurturing Parent mentality often hold a view that it is best if everyone cooperates and works together. Everyone should be given a voice in making decisions, even if they don't know as much as the Father would. Work is seen less as an effort and reward system, and more of a cooperative effort to accomplish something.
Now what I'm trying to do is see how these mental frameworks, assuming they are true, relate to viewpoints held in everyday life. I will utilize the following examples to try and explain this better:
-----
On the topic of welfare:
Those with a conservative framework typically frown upon welfare and social programs. In their mind, they tend to see that people who don't have something, don't have it because they didn't work for it. They are lazy and undisciplined, and should not be given handouts. Instead, they should be inspired or motivated to work and earn what they desire.
Those with a progressive framework often support welfare and social programs. In their mind, they don't see those who lack something as lazy or undisciplined enough to obtain it; they just see someone who needs something they don't have available. This should be remedied by providing for their basic needs, in hopes that in the future those same people who were given welfare will give back in return when they get the opportunity to do so.
On the topic of religion:
Conservatives tend to be more religious than progressives, though there can certainly be nonreligious conservatives and religious progressives. Conservatives see their object of worship, typically God(s), as the ideal father figure that induces stability in their lives. They discipline themselves to follow religious morality because they feel that these beings both know what is best and how to bring that about.
Progressives tend to be less religious, because they do not completely ascribe to the authoritative father figure. They view life as a collaborative effort, and prefer to collaborate with their peers who they work with on a daily basis. The idea of worshiping a superior being who does not collaborate with them regularly often seems strange or foreign.
On the topic of regulation:
Conservatives tend to be against government regulation in economics, because they tend to feel that those in power (CEOs, Directors, etc.) have gotten there through hardwork and good understanding, and thus are best equipped to make decisions. These figures know through experience what is the best action to take, and trust that this experience will guide the nation through the times, both good and bad.
Progressives tend to be for government regulation, feeling that any one individual holding too much power will not hold the community's interests at heart. They feel that work is a collaborative effort, and that because we have grown too large to manage in a directly communal way, the government, which is elected by the people and this holds their interests at heart, should make sure that everything runs smoothly.
-----
I hope I did a good enough job of explaining those. Anyway, I don't mean to say that any one is better or worse than another, I just want to get an opinion on how CFCers, particularly ones with strong conservative or liberal viewpoints, ascribe themselves to these policies. Poll will be up shortly.
Personally, I draw quite a bit from both frameworks. I tend to see a lot of issues with a progressive viewpoint, were I feel that people should be working together on various issues, but I also draw some from the conservative viewpoint, were I feel that discipline and effective leadership is important (though I believe that ultimately people should be self-disciplined, and not disciplined in order to follow an authority figure).
