Psychologists and Sociologists: The Powerhouses of Our Future
The technological revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries granted humanity an unparalleled gift: free time. But how we use this time often raises eyebrows. We live in an era where humanity's intellectual and cultural resources are shockingly underutilized. Why? The answer lies in the outdated and dysfunctional social institutions surrounding us. Systems that should be propelling us forward are now the very barriers to progress.
Social Institutions: Progress or Sabotage?
Let’s be real: even with advanced tools like artificial intelligence, society primarily uses these technologies to amplify manipulation through media rather than foster progress. Milton Erickson, were he alive today, might not recognize his own legacy. His groundbreaking work has been reduced to mechanistic NLP tricks, exploited to trigger primitive instincts through television and social media. The result? A society playing into a shallow, instinct-driven cycle rather than reaching its full potential.
What’s more alarming is this paradox: humanity wields unprecedented power to shape the external world, yet an internal chaos prevents us from using it constructively. Instead of heading toward a brighter future, we’re teetering on the brink of a New Dark Age, where technology exists not for people but against them.
The Need for Balance: A Foundation for Growth
Every system—be it a society, a process, or an individual—falls apart without balance. Maintaining dynamic balance, which allows for adaptation and growth, is even more challenging. Yet here we are, trapped in chronic imbalance: racing outward to conquer the external while ignoring the inner world.
Thinking back to my university days, I remember how the humanities were often treated as “second-rate,” compared to the “real sciences” like physics and mathematics. Even with my background in physics, I’ve always remained an anthropologist and sociologist at heart. Experiencing diverse cultures firsthand has only reinforced one thing: our understanding of the human mind and social interactions is embarrassingly neglected compared to our progress in coding frameworks or cloud computing.
Where Are the Frameworks for Humanity?
Here’s a sobering thought: there are over a hundred frameworks for PHP or JavaScript alone, yet fewer than ten truly effective psychological or sociological frameworks for all of humanity. Let that sink in. How can we expect meaningful progress when the tools for understanding people are so limited?
The consequences are visible every day in the news. We see conflict, division, and an inability to harness the incredible potential of humanity. Instead of frameworks to unite us, we’re left with outdated tools that barely scratch the surface of our collective psyche.
Your Role in Shaping the Future
The relentless pace of technological progress has already automated much of our routine work, and this trend will only accelerate. Here’s the paradox: the more machines handle our external tasks, the fewer excuses we have for living like instinct-driven creatures. Humanity’s evolutionary task is to rise above our primal instincts and unlock our inner resources. This is where you, psychologists and sociologists, come into play.
Don’t fear competition from technology. Yes, algorithms and AI will continue to tackle external challenges, but only humans can explore the depths of consciousness and build communities rooted in harmony and balance. Your role is irreplaceable.
What Needs to Be Done?
- Create new frameworks. Socionics, MBTI, and Big Five are great starting points, but they don’t cover the full spectrum of human interaction. With access to data and computational tools, there’s no reason why sociologists and psychologists can’t develop models that match the sophistication of today’s technologies.
- Bridge the gap between humanities and technology. The future lies in synthesis. By integrating scientific rigor with psychological insight, we can create tools that empower humanity instead of dividing it.
- Restore balance. Stop being tools for marketing departments or political agendas. Humanities should not serve as accessories to profit or power but as a force to save civilization from intellectual stagnation.
Think About Milton Erickson
If you’re reading this tonight, reflect on the works of Milton Erickson. Here was a man who understood the boundless potential of the human mind. He believed in its depth and complexity, and his legacy reminds us of the immense possibilities within each of us.
The machines will handle our external problems. Teaching humanity how to truly be human—that’s your task. The time is now. Let’s get to work.