Values and behaviour LO8556

joris (joris@mail2.tornado.be)
Fri, 19 Jul 1996 18:38:00 +0100

Robert Bacal said in Complexity and values LO8524

>I wonder about the value of discussing values, if values are not connected
>to behaviours.
>
>How does discussing these abstract constructs (which is what they are), if
>they do not explain anything?

Hello, I have been a lurking newcomer since some time. Studied
Organizational Psychology in Louvain (Belgium). I worked some time in the
personnel department of the company where I am still working. Since very
recently I work as a translator (Japanese-European languages) in the
marketing department. This new situation broadens one's horizons. I am
not a practitioner in the field of learning organizations, but I have been
following this mailing list's dialogues for a while and I must say that I
am sometimes forced to think again, which is a good sign. Thank you.

One of the theme's I have always been very interested in may be stated
very simply : "Why do people not behave the they want to? " We find
references to this problem in all different fields of interest and
behaviour. One finds it in religious contexts : St. Pauls : "Why do I do
the things I do not want to do, and do not do the things I do want to
do?". Organizational behaviour is also full of instances where there is a
difference between what one says and what we do (e.g. Argyris treats this
in his books; in other contexts it is said that managers *should* "walk as
they talk", which means that they nor mally do not do it?). Everyday
'wisdom' (is it?) "knows" that New Year Day's good intentions do not last
long, etc...

This problem has been stated in different ways already during the
discussions on "values and behaviour" in this group. What strikes me is
that the following question is never being asked : "How does it come?"
that behavior differs from what one wants (=values)? ( Or it may be that I
have overlooked that part of the discussion).

I have no answers, and I think that here we have a very important field to
learn about : why do we human beings do the other thing than the one we
want to do? In my eyes, saying that this is "caused by a lack of
motivation" is not an answer. Saying that is nothing more than saying
that one does not "really" want it. My question concerns things that we
"really want" to do, but still do not do. I may feel really very much
motivated to stick to the diet which must make a much lighter person out
of me, and still... You may feel very motivated not to quarrel with your
kids again, and still...

If we could find an answer to the question : "How come?", then, we might
also find the answer to the myriads of other questions which are related
to turning the "will" into "action" in all possible fields, to name a few:
"management involvement", "education", "healthy behaviour", "living
productively", "peace", "non-violence", "honesty", "learning behaviour",
etc., etc.

Argyris in his books ("Organizational Learning", etc.) seems to have found
an answer in saying that one source of 'doing the thing one does not want
to do' is automated behavior ("skilled incompetence") which could be
unlearned, and one could be re-trained almost as one can learn to play
tennis.

I would like to hear about other explanations, theories, refinements, and
suggestions. I think that, if behavioral practitioners succeed one day in
finding an efficient way to educate people towards higher degrees of
consistency in words and deeds, the world will be a little bit better for
it...

Your reactions are most welcome.

Joris Voet

Joris Voet <joris@mailhost.tornado.be>

-- 

joris <joris@mail2.tornado.be>

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