I've been thinking lately a lot about the books suggesting that the self is an illusion or that people are merely vessels for memes or cultural constructs, thinking about it in relation to something I have observed, particularly in populations of young people known to the authorities, police or social services, some of these young people are extremely peer directed, this is different from peer pressure because there's not any pressure, its just a matter of doing, sometimes in a quite determined and even obsessive manner, anything which a peer suggests as opposed to tradition, authority, others suggest whatever the rational or even emotional basis for making those choices.
This has been investigated by at least one sociologist in the book The Lonely Crowd, although it discusses the rise of "other directed" rather than peer directed behaviour, other directed rather than tradition or ideological precept behaviour, that author, believes is something everyone in the present day and age (and this isnt a new book) are more susceptible to than any other age.
I'm wondering if the idea that the self is illusionary, and the time invested in researching it, isnt contributing to making that a reality and that for specific populations which are already vulnerable the absecence of a self is filled by relying upon others who have a slightly greater sense of self, at least a capacity for self assertion or conception which permits them to be influence others. What do you think?
This has been investigated by at least one sociologist in the book The Lonely Crowd, although it discusses the rise of "other directed" rather than peer directed behaviour, other directed rather than tradition or ideological precept behaviour, that author, believes is something everyone in the present day and age (and this isnt a new book) are more susceptible to than any other age.
I'm wondering if the idea that the self is illusionary, and the time invested in researching it, isnt contributing to making that a reality and that for specific populations which are already vulnerable the absecence of a self is filled by relying upon others who have a slightly greater sense of self, at least a capacity for self assertion or conception which permits them to be influence others. What do you think?