Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997 16:07:44 -0400
From: "Robert G. Grimes" <grimes@fcol.com>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Nazi Thought Contagion
N Rose wrote:
Snip
>By expressing emotion (which
>Ridley describes as increasing our investment in the deal) we can
>demonstrate our readiness to reciprocate, or our outrage at being
>cheated. If I steal money off you and you go beserk, I can see
>by your investment of emotion that it may not be worth my while
>keeping the money - and give it back.
I would personally call this "posturing" rather than an "emotional
investment or emotional device" because of the prevalence of this
response in the animal world. We all posture in an attempt to avoid
further conflict and possible harm. Bears may reach up and scratch a
tree and "shorter bears" avoid the territory. Others, including baboons
and people, posture to indicate in advance the possible threat to the
other(s) if we don't resolve our differencs to each "posturer's"
interest. It saves a lot of fighting, injuries, etc., and is probably a
much more sensible manner of solving disputes than physically forcing
compliance. The one whose "conscience" (read "herd instinct") tells
them they are wrong frequently take that opportunity to quit and, lots
of times, everybody quits after posturing! Because of its ubiquity this
terminology might be better understood in this usage...
Please pardon my interruption...
Cordially,
Bob
-- Bob Grimeshttp://members.aol.com/bob5266/ http://www.hotwired.com/members/profile/bobinjax/ http://www.phonefree.com/Scripts/cgiParse.exe?sID=28788 Jacksonville, Florida Bob5266@aol.com grimes@fcol.com
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore....."
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