Cognitive Surplus

Cult of the amateur

• MULTIPLE PEOPLE (AMATEUR’S) CAN COLLECT AND SHARE INFORMATION USURPING THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF THE EXPERT

• INSTITUTIONAL OUTLOOK

• SERIOUS WORK SHOULD BE LEFT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH CREDENTIALED EXPERTISE

KINDERGARTEN

COLLEGE

CORPORATE AMERICA

INDIVIDUAL VS. GROUP

• INCREASED SOCIAL PRODUCTION HEIGHTENS PERSISTENT TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND THE GROUP

• WILFRED BION (1897-1979)

• ARE GROUPS A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE OR A COHESIVE UNIT?

• HUMANS ARE COMMITTED TO BOTH

• RATIONAL MIND = DECISION MAKING

• EMOTIONAL MIND = EMPATHY/SYMPATHY

EMOTION IN GROUPS

• EMOTIONAL COMMITMENT SUSTAINS GROUP STRESS

• GROUPS MUST BALANCE EFFECTIVE ACHEIVEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL SATISFACTION

• BION: 3 GROUP TYPES• GROUPS FOR PAIRING OFF• BASIC GROUPS • SOPHISTICATED WORK GROUPS

GROUP SUCCESS

• BALANCE EFECTIVENESS AT THE GROUP LEVEL & SATISFACTION AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

• TENSION BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP REFLECTS THE STRAIN OF COGNITIVE SURPLUS

• CULTURAL VALUE PARADIGMS OF GROUP PRODUCTION