Thursday, October 27, 2005

Catch 22 Situation

Recently I came across a very interesting article here about non-credible threats and effects.

The non-credible threat is a strategy that youngsters learn very early in life and many hone the skill into true art. They learn that they can get their way on occasion if they make a threat to do something that would be essentially self-destructive. An example might be a child who threatens to hold his breath until he passes out unless the parent gives him what he wants. He probably wouldn’t go through with it, but one never knows. That’s why it is effective. Indian parents are masters in the art. If they don’t like your new girlfriend and perhaps soon-to-be wife, they might threaten to disown you and never allow you to step foot in the house again.
Well as a matter of fact I myself am a victim of many non-credible threats and believe me its very difficult to face this kind of situations. Slowly I evolved into a more enlightened being and started saying no or oppose the threats being forced upon me. Now it’s a very clear fact that non-credible threats don’t work on me. So if it does not work on me then it does not work on other people too. Sooner or later they will start opposing/ignoring the threats. Sooo, now what’s the strategy to get our way on occasion and it should not be harsh on other people. Well My take on this is to create a CATCH 22 situation where in the victim has to perform the deeds specified.
In short, its basic meaning is that if there was a rule, no matter what the rule is, there is always an exception to it. It is a mysterious regulation that is in essence a circular argument. The catch is used by people to uphold and increase their power, and yet it is harmful to those who do not have power in the first place. It creates situations where, when you think everything is perfect, Catch-22 pops up and makes your plans impossible.
I started thinking more about this while doing my project about designing company policies and regulations. I’m not being very cruel towards the people and have not included any catch in the project I did. I strongly hate doing things like this. Hmmm, the thing is if you come across any situation wherein you are forced to use non-credible threat, better create a catch 22 situation and it works.

3 comments:

Praveen said...

that was a very interesting observation there bro! Well I wudn't really want some people seeing this! That would take me out of business!! Creating a catch22 situation seems a formidable solution against the non-credible threat, which would mean to create a need which the other person must fulfill! If it doesn't exist, maybe we would need to make one up too! Then wouldn't that too classify as another facet of a non-credible threat?

Rand said...

I'd love to read a few examples of how you might create a catch 22 threat to motivate behavior in the workplace.

Chandan V said...

I'ld love to blog about catch 22 sitiations to increase productivity in work place. Shortly I'll publish my posts.