It's great to see so many outsiders named to top positions. But the only way to effect systemic change is to reverse years of horrible incentives that sidelined the best and promoted the worst.
Dr. Abramson we (You and I) have been relentlessly frustrated with our institutions for decades. My former profession (Psychology), I have witnessed the promotion of excessive diagnoses and treatments for what once was considered normal behaviors. How, did this happen? Similarly, your analysis of what has happened to our institutions also applied to our mental health industry.
Your analysis as I interpret it, seems to be along the lines in my speciality, Applied Behavior Analysis. A dismantling of the structure that elicits and positively consequates verbal and overt behavior that is antithetical to a broader range of positive consequences (The general good for society), must as you have pointed out, needs to be done now.
We live in a capitalistic society of which the negative side effects is that the general reinforcer (Money), gets used to promote almost anything that immediately sounds good and looks good (i.e., Give Ritalin to boys to stop their motor restlessness for trying to sit like little girls for hours). We spend enormous amounts of money to teach and research behavioral principles and their applications. Somehow politicians, society seems to believe our institutions are immune to the same principles that shape and maintain our everyday behaviors.
Thank you Dr. Abramson for this wonderful article, I have reflected on your points for decades. Bless you too, and Happy Hanukkah!
Excellent article! Thanks 👍
Dr. Abramson we (You and I) have been relentlessly frustrated with our institutions for decades. My former profession (Psychology), I have witnessed the promotion of excessive diagnoses and treatments for what once was considered normal behaviors. How, did this happen? Similarly, your analysis of what has happened to our institutions also applied to our mental health industry.
Your analysis as I interpret it, seems to be along the lines in my speciality, Applied Behavior Analysis. A dismantling of the structure that elicits and positively consequates verbal and overt behavior that is antithetical to a broader range of positive consequences (The general good for society), must as you have pointed out, needs to be done now.
We live in a capitalistic society of which the negative side effects is that the general reinforcer (Money), gets used to promote almost anything that immediately sounds good and looks good (i.e., Give Ritalin to boys to stop their motor restlessness for trying to sit like little girls for hours). We spend enormous amounts of money to teach and research behavioral principles and their applications. Somehow politicians, society seems to believe our institutions are immune to the same principles that shape and maintain our everyday behaviors.
Thank you Dr. Abramson for this wonderful article, I have reflected on your points for decades. Bless you too, and Happy Hanukkah!