Histories of Human Engineering

Erscheinungsjahr 2019
ISBN: 978-1-107-63717-7
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 278 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 376 g

The dream of control over human behaviour is an old dream, shared by many cultures. This fascinating account of the histories of human engineering describes how technologies of managing individuals and groups were developed from the nineteenth century to the present day, ranging from brainwashing and mind control to Dale Carnegie's art of dealing with people. Derksen reveals that common to all of them is the perpetual tension between the desire to control people's behaviour and the resistance this provokes. Thus to influence other people successfully, technology had to be combined with tact: with a personal touch, with a subtle hint, or with outright deception, manipulations are made palatable or invisible. Combining psychological history and theory with insights from science and technology studies and rhetorical scholarship, Derksen offers a fresh perspective on human engineering that will appeal to those interested in the history of psychology and the history of technology.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Derksen, Maarten

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologie / Allgemeines & Theorie Psychologie: Allgemeines
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Ethik & Soziale Verantwortung Wissenschaftsethik, Technikethik
• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Technik: Allgemeines

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction; 2. Tact and technology; 3. Scientific management and the human factor; 4. 'Social technology'; 5. Dale Carnegie and the fine art of dealing with people; 6. Karl Popper's social technology and the personal element; 7. Tactful leadership; 8. Mind control; 9. The priming saga: the subtle technology of psychological experimentation; Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Derksen, Maarten
Maarten Derksen is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands. He has authored Iedereen doet aan psychologie (1999) and, with Sybe Terwee, translated Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations into Dutch (1992; 2nd edition 2006). He was an honorary fellow of the Science Studies Centre of the University of Bath, an associate of the 'What makes organization?' research programme at the Copenhagen Business School, and is currently a member of the editorial board of Theory and Psychology.