> Date: Thu, 13 Apr 1995 08:53 CST
> From: BIRRED@dnr.state.wi.us (David E. Birren, MB/5, 608.267.2442)
> [...snip...]
> I think it's easy to see how there really are two senses of the word
> "manipulation". One is (from Mike's 1912 Scottish etymological dictionary
> - what a treasure that must be!): "the act of working by hand; use of
> hands, in a skiful manner, usually in science or art". This is neutral
> when applied to objects, and I think it carries a clear connotation of
> intentionality. (How can one work with the hands in a skilful manner
> without *intending* to do so?)
>
In Venezuela, a spanish speaking country, "manipulacion" is still
used a lot in this sense. Yes, there is intentionality in this form
because there is skills, knowledge, etc.
> When one extends the term, complete with this connotation, to human
> interaction, it takes on another meaning. The manipulator has power over
> the manipulatee, and (as I said in a previous message) no one likes to be
> the underdog.
>
I see another form of manipulation, which is more positive, it has
an intention, and it also leads to benefits for many people. I am talking
about effective leaders, idea champions, etc., who have an intention and
the ability to get others to buy in (learn in) a particular purpose. This
purpose becomes an accepted purpose for many people who contribute in its
accomplishment. The notion of the manipulator having power over the
manipulatee seems to an inaccurate one in today's world. I see that
people that follow somebody else's ideas are exercising their right to
*accept* those ideas. Of course, there are still exceptions and we see
situations where someone imposes his/her ideas on others, and that's
power. But in organizations today, where people have choices to move
around, to go to work for some other employer, then we cannot talk abnout
power. I accept what my dean wants me to do because I see that particular
action as something good to me too, or good to a number of people.
I have been in organizations where poeple would just abandoned
their positions, when the situation is perceived as manipulative and of not
benefit to that who excutes the orders. To be a great manipulator in the
negative sense, persuing your individual goal with no consideration for
those who are manipulated, you need to be dealing with very submissive
people.
> I don't think it takes a great deal of psychologizing to see that people
> want to be valued. As someone on this list recently said, "every man
> carries a sign around his neck saying he wants to feel important." The
> act of manipulating another person sends a message that the other person
> is not as important as the manipulator. If the manipulator does not
> *intend* that, then he should examine his actions and his real motives.
> The value in behavior, after all, lies not in our intentions, but in their
> consequences.
>
> So maybe we should just say that manipulation of objects is value neutral
> but manipulation of people is not.
The "what is there for me" type of attitude makes manipulation
more of a negotiation. Where the manipulatee would get something in
exchange for what he/she is contributing to the manipulator.
To close, I think that manipulation, when used as in leadership,
idea champions, etc., is a very desirable transaction or interaction. It
accomplishes desirbale objectives. The other for, the compromise, where
the manipulator has to bribe the manipulatees, is less effective.
Ivan,
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