The Control of Human Behaviour

The sexual reproductive mechanism requires that two mature animals influence each other's behaviour at least briefly, and the flocking of gregarious animals requires that each individual respond to the influence of the group. Hence the ability to exert and to respond to intraspecific influence must be primitive properties of all sexually reproducing and gregarious animals. Upon this biological foundation is based an intricate system of devices whereby humans exert a continual influence one upon the other.

In all activities in which two or more people are engaged in some relation to each other, a more or less mutual influence prevails. Only when he is working on the soil, on the earth's resources, and on material things (or on the scientific study of these) is man temporarily not participating in an exchange of influence with another person, though when even these activities are performed in solitude, they usually have an indirect goal determined by the individual's relation to other people. It is possible to follow in the history of civilization accounts of methods and goals of influencing human behaviour. These are seen in the areas of group organization such as government, religion, ethics, and morality; in areas of personal gratification such as family life and affectionate relations; and in areas of the individual's relation to the group such as commercial activity, teaching, and personal and professional service.

The gratifying effects of some of those forms of influence are enjoyed and cultivated now as they have been in the past. Other modes of mutual influence are grossly distressing and have been deplored since the beginning of historical time. War and tyranny are the chief of these, and personal destructiveness and hatred follow close behind. Today, however, we are appalled as we see atomic energy impelling sword as well as ploughshare, and electronic regulation directing spear as well as pruning hook. Limitless communication assembl