Where Rick's Chapter 7 on "Social Control" goes off track

[rsmarken]

@bnhpct

@rsmarken

I think Kent’s modelling of conflict is excellent, but I think he takes the wrong message from it . The message he takes for his modeling is that conflict can produce “social stability” in the form of a variable being kept at a virtual reference level. The message I take from his modeling is that conflict can be very desctructive to the individuals involved.

This fixation on conflict may shift if you take your own advice and look at phenomena first.

My fixation on conflict is because Kent’s model IS A MODEL OF VIRTUAL CONTROL RESULTING FROM CONFLICT!!

@bnhpct

Kent and Martin have referred to numerous examples of social phenomena.

As have I, in the Social Control chapter of SCLS. Indeed,one reason I have repeatedly given for not being a fan of Kent’s model is because I can’t think of any examples collective control that involve conflict (other than those I’ve mentioned: arm wrestling, tug of war and war itself). So I can’t think of any interesting examples of collective control phenomena to which his model applies.