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Page added on November 3, 2016
Peak Oil & System Justification: “Threats”
Energy and the economy represent just two self-relevant domains that people can feel uncertain about, both in terms of how they operate at a societal level and how people should act on them.
This kind of unfamiliarity can be problematic for day-to-day functioning, and can also be psychologically stressful.
NO BLAME ASSIGNED
In short, it is apparent that a solid grasp of the basics (let alone the complexities) of these domains elude many people, and there appears to be a discrepancy between how much people know about social issues and their importance and relevance to one’s day-to-day life.
What even moderately-aware and intelligent adult is willing to admit that they would not be troubled in the least if—for whatever reason—every facet of his or her family, personal, and professional life was significantly impacted—permanently—by some force or event over which that person was then powerless to avoid? The bravest and most self-assured among us would at least blink if life as we’ve always known were suddenly turned sideways. Who wants to even contemplate that, let alone actively involve themselves in dealing with changes of such magnitude?
But if facts and realities and proof and expertise are telling us that that very possibility awaits us if—a big if—we do absolutely nothing, wouldn’t it make sense to try and understand it a bit more, and perhaps express at least some willingness to consider plans and preparations … just in case? A logical inquiry? I’d like to think so, but human nature tends to not always run consistently on a track of logic and wisdom.
Feeling unknowledgeable in the context of broad social issues, we contend, may breed a unique form of psychological coping—one that holds the potential to powerfully undermine individual action.
Namely, feeling unknowledgeable should instigate feelings of dependence on those who manage the system … and, in turn, increase trust in the government [my note: or their preferred media and other influential voices] and the status quo, which can then be protected by the intentional avoidance of the issue at hand.
RESPONSIBILITY
It’s certainly understandable that all of us express willingness in one form or another to cede our autonomy to others we assume to possess greater expertise or knowledge or understanding on certain topics. The trade-off is an expectation that more efficient and advantageous opportunities or outcomes will result. Try as we might, however, we can’t avoid all responsibility for what happens. Choosing to either remain unaware, or taking the safer psychological route of denying, justifying, rationalizing—or whatever other tool/technique might be available to us to keep us out of the loop—is a choice.
Choosing, or choosing not to choose, still makes us responsible for what happens—comforting as it might be to pretend otherwise. Avoiding responsibility rarely is the best or wisest choice, however. The higher the potential stakes, the greater the potential consequences if reliance on denial, misinformation, or outright avoidance are the only options chosen.
System justification can have positive effects in the short term, such as alleviating the anxiety, uncertainty, and fear elicited by threats to the societal status quo. However, the long-term implications of pursuing the system justification goal can be negative, especially for members of disadvantaged groups. Although system justification can stimulate a process of rationalization of the way things are, helping people cope with unwelcome realities, it can also interfere with forming intentions or taking action to correct injustices or system-level problems. Consistent with self-interest, those who are advantaged by the system typically engage in system justification more enthusiastically than those who are disadvantaged. However, system justification needs may lead people to support and rationalize the social system even in situations in which they are harmed by it. (Citations in original)
While system justification carries a hefty logic to its utilization, it clearly has its drawbacks in matters of potentially great impact. It’s hard to argue that the potential consequences of unchecked climate change and/or dismissive treatment of the realities of drawing down finite energy resources carry anything but potentially great impact. So here again, falling back on understandable, common human nature is not always the best first choice.
As that same study cited earlier in this post makes clear:
How do people cope when they feel uninformed or unable to understand important social issues, such as the environment, energy concerns, or the economy?
Do they seek out information, or do they simply ignore the threatening issue at hand?
One would intuitively expect that a lack of knowledge would motivate an increased, unbiased search for information, thereby facilitating participation and engagement in these issues—especially when they are consequential, pressing, and self-relevant.
However, there appears to be a discrepancy between the importance/self-relevance of social issues and people’s willingness to engage with and learn about them.
Leveraging the literature on system justification theory, the authors hypothesized that, rather than motivating an increased search for information, a lack of knowledge about a specific sociopolitical issue will (a) foster feelings of dependence on the government [my note: or their preferred media and other influential voices], which will (b) increase system justification and […] trust, which will (c) increase desires to avoid learning about the relevant issue when information is negative or when information valence * is unknown. (Citations in original)
Worth pondering, sooner rather than later?
16 Comments on "Peak Oil & System Justification: “Threats”"
Davy on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 7:06 am
The “Age of Systems Awakening” is a fascinating study on where modern man is today spiritually and scientifically. If these issues interest you I highly recommend you read these two sources from to back:
http://questioneverything.typepad.com/
http://www.davidkorowicz.com/
They have had profound impact on me. My mental preparations have been shaped by this thinking. The beauty of System thinking is per wiki:
“Systems thinking is a management discipline that concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and interactions between the components that comprise the entirety of that defined system.”
When that defined system is the human and natural “Ecos” then you realize it encompasses everything. Everything about life has an impact. What is allows for is an outline and generalization. No one can specialize in it all because of complexity and scale. The importance is evaluating problems and solutions in a holistic way. It is spiritual because spirituality is part of humanity so it deals with ways to reconcile science and spirituality. There needs to be boundaries for both or they become mental goo. The problem is today a very small amount of the population is capably of seeing life holistically. Many are not capable of more than the basics. This is just the way life is structured. Those who are capable owe it to those who are not to shape a life meaning into a new social narrative rejecting much of what is a dead end for our collective future. I will leave you with a little George Mobus from the above link “questioneverything”:
“A future, new society will have to be based on quite different principles than those that guide our current ways of living in the world. Human beings will have to abandon many current beliefs and ideologies that are popular or attractive, but for the wrong reasons. They will have to adopt many attitudes and understandings that are currently only poorly received and not at all understood properly. Do we have the capacity to learn these, or do we need to undergo further biological evolution in order to accomplish this? That to me is still an open question even though so much of my research suggests the later. I have always said, I hope I am wrong.”
penury on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 10:35 am
Even if I read this and understood it, so what? Will any or it add to my ability to function in the collapse? Probably not, but it would make me feel better. Right?
Revi on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 11:44 am
Nobody wants to know anything about Peak Oil. They think it went away about 10 years ago if they were even aware of it at all. The idea of resource limits is deeply unpopular. Try to talk to anyone except the people on this website and see how well it works out. I think it’s the most interesting subject there is, but most people don’t want to talk about it at all. Even smart people have decided that there’s no problem.
Boat on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 1:06 pm
Revi,
That’s not true. When peak oil sets a new high within a few months, those who were preaching eminent decline will get slapped around……again.
You do know demand is still growing, right?
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 1:46 pm
“The idea of resource limits is deeply unpopular. ” Unfortunately, true. GW can be confronted because its seen as further away and not necessarily something that will so adversely affect one. But, resource limits are seem as a clear and present danger to the affluent lifestyle
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 2:16 pm
“That’s not true. When peak oil sets a new high within a few months,”
That’s gotta be one of the most fucking retarded things you’ve ever said boat. Right up there with. ‘A billion barrels of oil last 10 years’.
A few is more than a couple but less than several. So you believe that global crude plus condensate production will exceed the November 2015 peak between now and spring 2017? You’re a fucking idiot dude. On what basis do you form this conclusion?
rockman on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:04 pm
“You do know demand is still growing, right?”
I’m sure Revi is aware of the growing demand as a result of the decreasing oil price. A decrease as a result of the damage done to the global economy as a result of the historically high oil prices. High oil prices that led to a surge in US oil production. A surge that has now fizzeled out thanks to the oil price collapse.
So while it may take a bit of patience but eventually Revi will be able to explain to the folks in Maine that the surge in US oil production and the dramatic decrease in oil prices are solid evidence of the Peak Oil dynamic.
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:11 pm
But in the eyes of deniers of what Rock just said it all can be attributed to the marvels of technology and efficiency and the Shale Fracking bonanza. Too bad they dont dare look beneath this gilded narrative
Boat on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:26 pm
On what basis do you form this conclusion?
Your gonna have to google idiot. lol My few months says the new peak around Feb, March. It may have matched already.
Global oil supply rose by 0.6 mb/d in September, with non-OPEC up nearly 0.5 mb/d on higher Russian and Kazakh flows and OPEC at an all-time high.World oil output of 97.2 mb/d was up 0.2 mb/d on a year ago due to strong OPEC growth. Non-OPEC supply is forecast to drop by 0.9 mb/d in 2016 before rebounding by 0.4 mb/d in 2017.
http://www.opec.org/opec_web/static_files_project/media/downloads/publications/MOMR%20October%202016.pdf
Nigeria and Lybia added 500,000 bpd last month. The next report will be out in a couple of weeks.
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:31 pm
Yeah they can produce and market all the Oil they want. But where oh where is the corresponding economic vitality NO where to be found
Boat on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:48 pm
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 4:31 pm
I’ll explain that to you someday.
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 5:03 pm
Boat try to explain it before the collapse of Industrial Civilization hehe
makati1 on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 5:40 pm
Boat is like the greedy stockholders the day before the Great Stock Market Crash of October 29′. Blinded by his narrow vision of the world. Must be heavily invested in the oily business and afraid to get out.
onlooker on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 5:45 pm
Mak, if they’re is one thing we hace learned on this site is some do NOT want to see the truth. That includes the masses out there in the world
makati1 on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 5:59 pm
onlooker, very true. Very true. That huge, hard, 2X4 of reality is swinging towards their face as we type and they are going to get a very rude and probably painful awakening soon. At least that is what I see. The “can” has been bouncing off of the titanium steel wall of realty for years, but is getting tattered and harder to kick.
Boat on Thu, 3rd Nov 2016 6:00 pm
rock,
Demand was growing from 2010 even when prices were high. Is that a dynamic that has a different name?