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Bringing social psychology back in: Transcultural communication networks and adult cognitive development Uwe Krüger
„Networks of transnational and transcultural communication“ page 1 DGPuK Dortmund November 22-23, 2012 Outline
1. Introduction 2. Stages of individual development (Piaget, Kohlberg) 3. Stages of societal development (Habermas, Commons) 4. Implications for transcultural communication networks
page 2 Motivation: What can social network analysis learn from psychology?
. Social network analysis primarily addresses the “outer” characteristics of human interrelations . Hardly considers the inner processes of humans, which is the subject of psychology . Inner processes of humans may have an important impact on the outer characteristics of their relations
For describing networks of transcultural communication approaches of adult cognitive development are important
page 3 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Outline
1. Introduction 2. Stages of individual development (Piaget, Kohlberg) 3. Stages of societal development (Habermas, Commons) 4. Implications for transcultural communication networks
page 4 Jean Piaget: Cognitive development proceeds in stages
. Humans of different ages think in qualitatively different ways . mental structures, used to perceive and interpret the world, dramatically change . Successive decrease of egocentrism . Capacity for abstraction and for complex views and actions increases . Simple actions are combined, integrated
and differentiated Photo: en.wikipedia.org Photo: page 5 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Jean Piaget identified 4 stages of cognitive development
1. Sensorimotor stage (age 0-2): . Simple actions: Sucking, Watching, Grasping, Pushing . Combination and coordination
2. Pre-operational stage (age 2-7): . Mental representations of physically absent objects . Unable to take others‘ perspectives . Magical and animist thinking predominates
page 6 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Jean Piaget identified 4 stages of cognitive development
3. Concrete-operational stage (age 7-11): . Ability to solve practical problems through trial-and-error . Sound, general conclusions based on concrete observations (inductive logic)
4. Formal-operational stage (age 11 and older): . Deal with abstract concepts and hypothetical problems . Deductive logic . Systematic search for answers to the big questions
page 7 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Lawrence Kohlberg: Cognitive development is connected with moral judgement
. Conscious perception is the basis for moral weightings . Kohlberg distinguished 6 stages, grouped into 3 levels: pre-conventional, conventional, post-conventional . Decreasing egocentrism . Increasing acceptance of abstract, universal principles . Increasing ability to solve moral dilemmas
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page 8 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Lawrence Kohlberg identified 6 stages of moral development
A Pre-conventional level 1. The Stage of Punishment and Obedience: Avoiding negative sanctions 2. The Stage of Individual Instrumental Purpose and Exchange : Seeking for benefit
B Conventional level 3. The Stage of Mutual Interpersonal Expections, Relationships, and Conformity: Good boy/good girl attitude 4. The Stage of Social System and Conscience Maintenance: Law and order
page 9 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Lawrence Kohlberg identified 6 stages of moral development
C Post-conventional level 5. The Stage of Social Contract and Individual Rights: Laws can be changed by majority 6. The Stage of Universal Ethical Principles: Dignity and justice
page 10 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Piaget‘s and Kohlberg‘s strong hypotheses
. The stages form an invariant, irreversible, and consecutive sequence of discrete structures: Skipping stages is impossible, regression is impossible . The stages form a hierarchy: Structures of higher stage transcend those of the lower one . The stages are universal: They can be observed in the African jungle as well as in an American Suburb or in the Swiss mountains
page 11 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Outline
1. Introduction 2. Stages of individual development (Piaget, Kohlberg) 3. Stages of societal development (Habermas, Commons) 4. Implications for transcultural communication networks
page 12 Jürgen Habermas: Communicative action depends on the stage of development
. Rational, self-reflexive discourse requires a moral stage on the post-conventional level
. Human development involves a „change of attitude for the transition from action to discourse. A child growing up, and caught up, in the communicative practice of everyday life is not able at the start to
effect this attitude change.“ (Habermas
1999: 125) Photo: wikipedia.org Photo:
page 13 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Jürgen Habermas: Communicative action depends on the stage of development
Stages of moral Types of social interactions development (Kohlberg) (Habermas)
Pre-conventional (1 + 2) Authority-driven interaction + cooperation driven by self- interest Conventional (3 + 4) Interaction driven by norms and social roles
Post-conventional (5 + 6) Discourse
(Habermas 1999) page 14 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Jürgen Habermas: Individual and societal development are tightly connected
. The individual‘s development depends on and can be fostered by education and demands from the social environment
. Society can learn from above-average individuals: „(…) social systems can form new structures by utilizing the learning capacities of their members in order to cope with systems problems which threaten the maintenance of the self.” (Habermas 1975: 294)
page 15 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Jürgen Habermas: Societies go through an evolutionary learning process
. from paleolithic societies with magical-animistic world view (parallels to the pre-operational stage) and traditional societies with a mythical-religious world view to modern societies with rationalized world view (parallels to formal-operational thinking and post-conventional moral)
. Different societies can be put into a hierarchical order, not by content, but by form, i.e. by structure of consciousness and organizational complexity
page 16 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons: Scoring societies with mathematical methods
. „Model of Hierarchical Complexity“ (MHC) offers a standard method of examining the universal patterns of evolution and development . It refers to tasks and the performance of people on these tasks (and tasks can contain any kind of information) . quantitative principles – independent from mentalistic, cultural, or other contextual
explanations Photo: Dare Association Photo:
page 17 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons: How complex is a behavior?
. Higher-order actions are defined in terms of lower-order actions . organize and transform those lower-order actions . organize lower-order actions in a non-arbitrary way
Figure: S. N. Ross, as cited in Commons 2008: 309 in Commonscited 2008: N. asS. Ross, Figure:
page 18 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons postulates 14 orders of hierarchical complexity
0 – Calculatory 8 – Concrete 1 – Sensory or motor 9 – Abstract 2 – Circular sensory-motor 10 – Formal 3 – Sensory-motor 11 – Systematic 4 – Nominal 12 – Metasystematic 5 – Sentential 13 – Paradigmatic 6 – Pre-operational 14 – Cross-Paradigmatic 7 – Primary
page 19 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons applies the MHC also to societal development
Concrete stage societies: „focuses on events, people, and places that are personally known. (…) dominated by subsistence concerns and demonstrate short time horizons. Social behaviour is characterized by reciprocal exchanges involving concrete goods and services, and simple social rules.“
Abstract stage societies: „group associations begin as memberships in political parties, trade associations and unions, and religious organizations. In contrast to the concrete stage,
one can feel that one is in a social relationship with others and be loyal to it, even without proximity to other members. (…) the beginnings of the concept of roles are learned, such that people understand that different individuals may fill and later leave the same role.“ page 20 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons applies the MHC also to societal development
Formal stage societies: „(…) develop empirical interests in increasing productivity, training, and wealth distribution, which in turn lead to formal economics and laws. (…) Truly bureaucratic governments form, with extensive written laws and regulations that are implemented in ‚letter of the law‘ fashion.“
Systematic stage societies: „(…) systems of relations are coordinated among the legal, societal, corporate, economic, and national spheres. (…) Applications of laws are more ‚in the spirit of‘ than ‚the letter of‘ the law. (…) At this stage, more highly
abstract concepts appear, such as transparency, accountablity, social justice, and sustainability.“ (Ross/Commons 2008: 484-487)
page 21 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Michael Commons: Not all members of a society operate at the same stage
. Individuals operate at multiple stages of development in various domains . Political cultures and social systems display concurrent operations of several different stages . Political entities “vary widely in their performance within and across domains” (Ross/Commons 2008: 481)
page 22 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Outline
1. Introduction 2. Stages of individual development (Piaget, Kohlberg) 3. Stages of societal development (Habermas, Commons) 4. Implications for transcultural communication networks
page 23 Implication I: Communication problems in binational partnerships
. Partners might operate at different developmental stages . Example: Mrs. X from Germany and Mr. Y from Iraq – a divorced couple fight a custody battle before court . Extracts from the psychological expert advice (2012):
page 24 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Implication I: Communication problems in binational partnerships
. “During the examination, Mrs. X appeared (…) self-critical and reflected. (…) The psychological needs of the child are perceived by her adequately. Mrs. X appeared reflected on the child’s emotional situation. Towards the father of her child, Mrs. X seems to be realistic-distant on the one hand, and on the other hand unable to cope with his behavior and structure of personality. Mrs. X is able to name positive features of the father’s personality, and able and willing to tolerate his relationship to their common child.”
page 25 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Implication I: Communication problems in binational partnerships
. „Mr. Y showed (…) very little self-criticism during the examination. Towards the mother of his child, he appeared disappointed-aversive and unable to cope with her personal outlook on life. He is not adequately aware of his own share in the failure of the partnership. It is difficult for him to name positive features of the mother’s personality. (…) The child’s need for an unstressed relationship to his mother is perceived not adequately.“
clear differences in self-reflexivity, tolerance and awareness of the child‘s needs (that might indicate different cognitive stages)
page 26 Introduction Individual Societal Implications Implication II: Communicative failure of the West when promoting democracy
. Democracy is an operation of abstract-stage societies or higher (Commons) . Building of a democratic nation in Afghanistan or Iraq might overstress a concrete society, because stages cannot be skipped or rushed . Stages have to be considered for strategic communication of governments or NGOs
page 27 Introduction Individual Societal Implications (Ross 2008: 533) page 28 Introduction Individual Societal Implications
Implication III: Discoursive transcultural communication
. Discourse according to Habermas requires the highest stages of cognitive and moral development . If participants cling to magical or mythical thinking, a rational, self-reflexive discourse is hardly possible . This may effect communication networks within transnational media players (media corporations, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Reporters without Borders) as well as media content and its reception
page 29 Introduction Individual Societal Implications My argument in terms of social network analysis
the developmental stage is an important feature of the nodes (e.g., persons, organizations, states) that has impact on the edges (e.g.,
communicative relations between them).
s.mediapixelio.de / Photo: page 30 Introduction Individual Societal Implications References
Commons, M. L (2008): Introduction to the Model of Hierarchical Complexity and its relationship to postformal action. In: World Futures, Vol. 64, pp. 305-320.
Habermas, J. (1975): Towards a Reconstruction of Historical Materialism. In: Theory and Society, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 287-300.
Habermas, J. (1984): The Theory of Communicative Action. Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society. Boston: Beacon Press.
Habermas, J. (1999): Moral Consciousness and Communicative Action. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Kohlberg, L. (1976): Moral development and behavior. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Piaget, J. (1970): Genetic epistemology. New York: W. W. Norton.
Ross, S. N. (2008): Postformal (Mis)Communications. In: World Futures, Vol. 64, pp. 530-535.
Ross, S. N./Commons, M. L. (2008): Applying hierarchical complexity to political development. In: World Futures, Vol. 64, pp. 480-497.
page 31 Contact
Dr. Uwe Krüger
Universität Leipzig Institut für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft, Abteilung Journalistik Burgstr. 21 / 04109 Leipzig / Germany
Phone: ++49-341 / 97-35756 Fax: ++49-341 / 97-35799
E-mail: [email protected] URL: www.uni-leipzig.de/journalistik
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