Civility & Employee Retention (Just the Bullet Points)

 Civility in the workplace plays a crucial role in employee retention.

 

1) Creates a Positive Work Environment. 

 2) Enhances Employee Engagement.

 3) Reduces Turnover Costs.

 4) Improves Team Collaboration.

 5) Fosters a Culture of Respect.

 6) Decreases Negative Behaviors.

In essence, civility is not just about being polite; it's about creating a workplace where employees feel respected, valued, and supported. This, in turn, leads to higher employee retention and a more successful organization.

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

KHLittle603@gmail.com

kenlittle-nh.com

 

Our Natural Vulnerability to Propaganda

 It's important to understand that susceptibility to propaganda isn't a sign of weakness, but rather a reflection of how our brains process information. Here are some key factors that make us vulnerable:

Emotional Appeals:

   ~> Propaganda often targets our emotions, such as fear, anger, or hope. Strong emotional responses can bypass our rational thinking, making us more likely to accept information without critical evaluation.

Confirmation Bias:

   ~> We tend to seek out and believe information that confirms our existing beliefs. Propaganda can exploit this by presenting information that aligns with our worldview, reinforcing our biases and making us less receptive to opposing viewpoints.

Social Influence:

   ~> We are social creatures, and we are influenced by the opinions and behaviors of those around us. Propaganda can leverage this by creating a sense of social pressure or conformity, making us more likely to accept information that is widely accepted by our social group.

Repetition:

   ~> Repeated exposure to information, even if it is false, can make it seem more credible. The "illusory truth effect" demonstrates that we are more likely to believe statements that we have heard multiple times.

Source Credibility:

  ~> We are more likely to believe information that comes from sources we perceive as credible. Propaganda can exploit this by associating itself with trusted figures, institutions, or media outlets.

Cognitive Biases:

   ~> Our brains use mental shortcuts, or cognitive biases, to process information quickly. These biases can make us susceptible to manipulation. For example, the "availability heuristic" leads us to overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily recalled, which can be exploited by propaganda that emphasizes dramatic or sensational events.

Information Overload:

   ~> In the current age of information overload, it is hard to check the validity of every piece of data we receive. This makes us more prone to accept information at face value.

Lack of Critical Thinking Skills:

   ~> The inability to properly analyze data, and understand logical fallacies, makes people more susceptible to propaganda.

Understanding these vulnerabilities is the first step in developing critical thinking skills and resisting the influence of propaganda.

We are susceptible to misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda

We are susceptible to misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda that aligns with out beliefs. 

In general, our working assumption is that our beliefs are true. Very few of us believe that our beliefs are false.  We see this in religious beliefs, political beliefs, parenting beliefs, beliefs we adhere to at work, etc.

In general, our natural inclination is to protect the beliefs we hold from information that conflicts with our beliefs, even when that information is true. 

Information that conflicts with our beliefs is generally flagged and rejected, making it readily noticeable. 

In general, this same tendency makes us vulnerable to information that aligns with our beliefs. We tend to accept it without question, even when it’s false.

The potential solution is to superimpose critical thinking skills on our natural tendencies. However, we don’t come into the world with natural critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills are learned and require effort. 

Very few of us have well developed critical thinking skills.

Even people with developed critical thinking skills are susceptible to this cognitive phenomenon when it comes to their core beliefs. 

I have studied this professionally, but I also watch this occur within myself as I navigate social media. For example, when I encounter a post that is aligned with my beliefs, it requires effort to stop myself from simply believing it and fact-check it to make sure it is true. My natural Impulse is to just accept it as true and click “share”. When I encounter information that conflicts with my beliefs my natural impulse is to reject it as false. It requires even more effort to fact-check it to see if it’s true. 

When I was younger (early 30s) I switched from a business career to a mental health career. This was an extraordinarily cognitively painful career shift. As it turned out, my entire world view, pretty much every belief I held, much of what I had been taught by my parents and society, turned out to be false. I spent the first 6 months in considerable cognitive pain. I searched the newspaper every Sunday for new jobs. Seeing that there were options I was able to continue working - 1 week at a time. 

I spent the 1st two years (at least) dissembling and reassembling my world view around this conflicting information - information that demonstrated very clearly that my pre-existing beliefs had been at least partially but in some cases wholly wrong.

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

KHLittle603@gmail.com

kenlittle-nh.com

 

Behaviorism: A Brief History

 The history of behavioral psychology is a fascinating journey through the evolution of how we understand learning and behavior. Here's a breakdown of key figures and developments:

Early Influences:

 Ivan Pavlov (Late 19th - Early 20th Century):

  ~His work with classical conditioning, particularly his experiments with dogs, laid the groundwork for behaviorism.

~ He demonstrated that learned associations could be formed between stimuli and responses.

 Edward Thorndike (Late 19th - Early 20th Century):

~ His "law of effect" proposed that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely.

~ This was a precursor to operant conditioning.

The Rise of Behaviorism:

John B. Watson (Early 20th Century):

 ~ Considered the founder of behaviorism.

 ~ In his 1913 paper, "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It," he argued that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior, rejecting the study of internal mental states.

~ His famous "Little Albert" experiment demonstrated how classical conditioning could be used to create fear responses.

Operant Conditioning:

B.F. Skinner (Mid 20th Century):

~ Developed the theory of operant conditioning, which focuses on how consequences shape behavior.

 ~ He introduced the concept of reinforcement (increasing behavior) and punishment (decreasing behavior).

 ~ His work emphasized the role of the environment in shaping behavior.

Key Characteristics of Behaviorism:

~ Emphasis on observable behavior.

~ Rejection of introspection and the study of mental processes.

~ Focus on learning through association and consequences.

~ Belief that behavior is primarily determined by environmental factors.

Impact and Legacy:

~ Behaviorism had a profound impact on psychology, shaping fields such as education, therapy, and animal training.

~ While its dominance waned with the rise of cognitive psychology, its principles continue to be used in various applications, including:

 ~ Applied behavior analysis (ABA) for treating autism.

 ~ Behavioral therapy for anxiety and phobias.

 ~ Educational practices.

In essence, behavioral psychology has provided valuable insights into how we learn and how our behaviors are shaped by our experiences.

K. H. Little Consulting Services

Kenneth H. Little, MA

KHLittle603@gmail.com

kenlittle-nh.com