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Collective Action Problem
Collective Action Problem
I love behavioral theory, here are some snips from the wiki about solutions to it
Motivational solutions assume that people have other-regarding preferences. There is a considerable literature on social value orientations which shows that people have stable preferences for how much they value outcomes for self versus others.
The first solution it offers suggests that the motivation to do collective action comes from internal pro social factors from each person. They were able to narrow down specific categories that make people more or less pro social but don’t really have enough data to make interventions on that basis
One interesting thing I found regarding motivational factors was thus
Another factor that might affect the weight individuals assign to group outcomes is the possibility of communication. A robust finding in the social dilemma literature is that cooperation increases when people are given a chance to talk to each other. It has been quite a challenge to explain this effect. One motivational reason is that communication reinforces a sense of group identity.
This is definitely seen in by how places like this sub have opened up communication across the org and have given a platform for people to discuss things like unions. However it goes on to say how communication can be a double edged sword.
First, communication gives group members a chance to make promises and explicit commitments about what they will do. It is not clear if many people stick to their promises to cooperate. Similarly, through communication people are able to gather information about what others do. On the other hand, this information might produce ambiguous results; an awareness of other people's willingness to cooperate may cause a temptation to take advantage of them.
This sort of touches on one of my gripes about the union push. I really don’t know exactly what the goal of unionization is. Of course I know the basic talking points, like higher wages more time off and so on, but I am more interested to know how much higher wages and how much more time off. When pressed I have gotten some answers but the answers I get are either half baked, still vague, or unreasonable from a profitability standpoint. I know you are working primarily on your website and taking communications off Reddit, though I would encourage you to think about the specific positions a union would want to accomplish and spread that message to everyone in the form of a flyer or image that can be easily shared. This would be similar to an Assurance Contract, which you can read more about here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assurance_contract
Having stated specific goals can help a lot as it gets people to start making the rational calculation in their head.
In a binding way, members of a group pledge to contribute to action A if a total contribution level is reached (often a monetary threshold, or a quorum of N members making the same pledge). If the threshold level is met (perhaps by a certain expiration date), the action is taken and the public good is provided; otherwise, the parties are not bound to carry through the action and any monetary contributions are refunded.
Stating goals isn’t as binding as some of the listed methods like an actual contract, a law, or something more enforceable, but it hangs the movements credibility on its capability to follow through with what it promised which creates some form of accountability to each supporter
As for the other solutions mentioned in the wiki regarding the Collective Action Problem, I don’t feel they apply as strongly as the communication aspect. This area of behavioral science is more geared towards addressing the tragedy of the commons as resources are used more than the sustainable level
More on reddit.comRational Choice: Collective Action Problems
Rational Choice: Collective Action Problems
Gun control is probably the most recent and relevant type of collective action problem that's being discussed in America.
More on reddit.comRecommendations of collective social action?
Recommendations of collective social action?
By social action, do you mean social movements? Like, protests and civil disobedience? If that's what you mean, then yes!! Sociologists study social movements in all forms!! There are many theories covering all types of social movements and books written on specific movements. Let us know if that's what you mean and we can point you in the right direction.
More on reddit.comRational Choice Theory: Collective Action Problems
Rational Choice Theory: Collective Action Problems
What doesn't get brought up often enough is that capital and markets actually radically restrict the choices available, because consumers can only signal commodity preferences, not policy preferences. The best case I know against ethical consumerism was actually laid out by Milton Friedman, talking about how a pencil is made.
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