Category: Intelligence

Smart Phones and Trust

University of Virginia Psychologist Konstadin Kushlev wrote recently about smart phones and trust. His notion was relying upon your smart phone makes you less likely to ask people information (e.g., directions, news, etc.). After all, it is easier to just look at your phone for advice as opposed to asking a friend, colleague, or neighbor.

I think of this as the classic duality between traveling with locals vs. traveling with a guidebook. The guidebook is more ubiquitous and available; locals, on the other hand, may be hard to find (especially if traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language).

It is my belief, however, that person-to-person interaction is the best policy for businesses. An individual who takes time and effort to handwrite a letter or make a call (vs. an email) shows the customer that they are important enough to go the extra step. One of the podcasts I listen to is the Art of Charm. Guest Clay Hebert spoke about introductions and how he will introduce one person to another via the internet: He will negotiate with both parties separately their introduction script, then he will video-record himself introducing them. This extra step makes the introduction more meaningful.

As businesses look for more creative ways to secure and maintain customers, maybe it would be best for them to focus energy on more person-to-person interactions.

Metaanalysis on Disengagement Reasons

Windisch, Simi, Sott Ligon, and McNeel (2017) provide a unique metaanalysis on disengagement studies. Expanding beyond the typical terrorism disengagement, Windisch et al. (2017) discuss the gamut including disengagement from religious cults, street gangs, and nonviolent social movements. While there are multiple, independently personal factors to bring about these disengagements, most happen because of disillusion, positive social relations (of people not in the group), and disapproval of the group’s behavior.

Windisch, S., Simi, P., Sott Ligon, G., & McNeel, H. (2017). Disengagement from ideologically-based and violent organizations: A systematic review of the literature. Journal for Deradicalization, 72.

Another Standoff Looming?

Two days ago, President Obama designated 300,000 acres surrounding Gold Butte, Nevada, as a national monument. This is the area where Cliven Bundy first had a standoff with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials in 2004. Eventually, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies retreated (for lack of a better word) than to escalate the situation.

This standoff appeared to create momentum for other individuals. Jerad and Amanda Miller, who were present at the Bundy standoff for a period of time, ambushed and killed two police officers in Las Vegas a few months later. Earlier this year (2016), Bundy’s son Ammon Bundy led his own standoff with officials in Oregon.

As power transitions from a Democratic to Republic executive, what impact will that have on these domestic anti-government groups and their behavior?

I assess with high confidence anti-government activity will diminish significantly after President-Elect Trump takes office. I base this assessment on previous trends seen in the sovereign citizen movement.

  • According to my own sovereign citizen research, incidents against law enforcement and public officials were rare during the times of conservative (Republican) presidents. In 2008 when President Obama took office, however, there was a marked increase in anti-government activity.
  • Republican administrations are also less likely to increase tensions with policies. Republican administrations tend to level or decrease taxes and strive to reduce the size of the federal government. This typically means there is a detente between government agents and anti-government groups.

While the impact of the administration change has yet to be seen, it is quite plausible we will likely see a decrease in activity once President-Elect Trump takes office.