Obama’s Just the Beginning
Some day, probably sooner than you think, someone will figure out (with the aid of experimental cognitive psychology and advanced computer modeling) what charisma is and learn how to custom-tune their behavioral outputs to be super-charismatic to a given target audience. Custom-tuning the outputs alone would likely require some advanced form of brain self-control, perhaps possible with the assistance of brain-computer interfacing. A very good actor wouldn't be enough because they'd actually need knowledge, spontaneity, and genuineness.
When we have a "grand unified theory of charima" we'll be able to figure out roughly how charismatic certain historical figures were relative to their reference audiences. Cognitive psychology has already borne out that we empathize with certain faces, like that of Ronald Reagan's, whether we like him or not. He smiles, we feel slightly happier. He's angry, we feel a little ticked. The first major internet meme of 2009, boxxy, also demonstrates how certain faces induce strong empathic effects.
I like to call such fascinating investigations "techno-philosophy".
March 27th, 2009 - 07:34
Charisma has been pretty widely studied. One book I found really thought provoking about these types of figures is “The Mass Psychology of Fascism.” Looks into why people can be convinced to believe in anything.
March 27th, 2009 - 08:12
Very Interesting post, I think your right, in conjunction with the mass media conglomerates this is probably already happening on a mass scale.
March 27th, 2009 - 12:10
what about Hitler’s astounding charisma, if that is what it was?
while I always find your remarks interesting, sometimes your efforts to put everything into a toolbox of mechanistic reductionism seems depressing
March 27th, 2009 - 12:17
Yes, I’m a scientific reductionist materialist, congrats for finding that out.
Because Hitler was charismatic, obviously there is no point in studying charisma or speculating that it may become fully understood.
Really, there are probably NO posts here that you will sync with. Zero. Almost all future posts will be more of the same.
March 27th, 2009 - 19:24
I did not say anything about NOT studying charisma; I just don’t think everything is going to come under the same umbrella, so to speak
whether or not I am in synch with your posts is hardly the point; as I have said, they are interesting and even informative, and we don’t have to agree on anything for me to read them
March 27th, 2009 - 21:18
Chad, ya beat me to it, but, yeah, this is the pertinent bibliographic citation. And for a superb dramatization of this, see the original (Rod Serling-written) *Twilight Zone* episode (forget which season), “He Lives”, in which neo-Nazi Dennis Hopper’s character gets tutored by none-other than the ghost of Hitler.
March 27th, 2009 - 21:50
“He Lives” season 4, episode 6; reflecting Serling’s belief that as long as ignornance and prejudice exist, people like Hitler will continue to exist; a great episode
March 27th, 2009 - 21:51
correction: epside 106; sorry about the typo
March 28th, 2009 - 21:57
If I recall correctly, this was the basis for the story “What Song the Sirens Sang” by Charles Sheffield. In the story, a hack politician discovers to secret to hypnotizing voters.
By strange coincidence, the story was set in Georgia and a few months after it was written Jimmy Carter was elected for no clear reason. Wait a moment, it’s starting to make a little more sense now …
September 16th, 2010 - 16:01
I love twilight! I could sit and watch all day long if I did not have school..or life to stay me from doing it! lol Amazing Just Amazing!