The central tendency in a Free Society becomes mobilized (see Figure 2). The first stage of The Construct System may be conceived of as a Focusing Stage. In a sense, the main body of the variance targets the cultures of marginal people. The people observe the success of the marginal peoples’ operations. And if a significant number of its people—perhaps ten to twenty percent—are attracted to the success, they mobile to incorporate it.
During the second stage of The Construct System, the main body of variance begins to Approach the successful marginal people. The curve begins to be skewed in the direction of the marginal people as the society seeks to incorporate their healthful potency.
In the third stage, the society begins to Incorporate the successful marginal people. In the process of being skewed fully in the direction of the marginal people, there is a tendency for the tail in the other, less functional direction to diminish in size. Thus, people at the less functional end of the continuum are mobilized to move toward the main body of variance.
In the fourth stage, the society begins to Embody the successful marginal people. In a sense, it has mainstreamed the successful attributes and made them the mode rather than the deviation. At the same time, it is eliminating more of the variance from the less functional end of the continuum.
Finally, in the last stage, the society actually seeks to Enhance the attributes of the successful marginal people. It models and, thus, represents what was once deviant. Also, whether inadvertently or not, it sets the stage for the new variations off the now “mainstreamed theme.” Thus, by representing the attributes of the once-marginal person, society creates the conditions for the development of newly marginal people who will serve to move society still further in the direction of effectiveness.
Figure 2. The Movement Toward Increasing Variability in Free Societies
In summary, The Construct System produces people who are more variable in a relative sense and more healthy in an absolute sense. A society dominated by such a system is always skewed toward the fully-functioning. person. Such a society is always creating variability by its expanding tolerance limits and its evolutionary growth disposition. Such a society is always moving toward effectiveness and, thus, toward health.
The Construct System is a Changeability System. Rather than to replace one restricted source of variance with another as in a revolutionary system, it adds variance in an evolutionary manner. It works effectively when there are healthy aspects of the system to be incorporated and these healthy aspects, in turn, evolve in a free society. It grows by minimizing intervention or control and maximizing variance. It maximizes existing sources of variance by adding incrementally without fundamental alterations.
In the beginning, people are in trouble because they have too few responses available to them. Along the way, fewer people are in difficulty because more people have larger repertoires of responses. In the end, such a system has extensive variability among people functioning at high levels of whatever index is employed.
Such a system is consistent with the laws of science and nature. It is organic in terms of utilizing its own resources as the sources of its own power. It is dynamic in terms of evolving con¬stantly in more and more efficacious forms. It conserves energy in minimizing its investment and maximizing its return. It allows evolution to work at a maximum rate in maximizing the contribu¬tion of humans to humans.
The key to the development of a relatively more variable and absolutely more healthy society is the variability of fully functioning peoples or exemplars. Fully functioning people are, by definition, more variable on certain specialty dimensions than the society in which they exist. (Indeed, Free Individuals are infinitely more variable than All Other Totalitarian Societies Summed Together!) It is precisely this variability that makes it attractive for society to move toward fully functioning people to incorporate them. It is also this same variability that distinguishes fully func¬tioning people from other marginal peoples who are dysfunctional but with whom totalitarian societies tend to confuse the fully functioning person.
In turn, the key to the fully functioning peoples’ variability is their marginality—the ability to see things from a unique perspective; to see the subtle nuances of old dimensions; to develop the full richness of new dimensions. It is this marginality that enables the fully functioning people to actualize their potential and to give society the opportunity to actualize its potential.
For example, all of the movements with “Human” adjectives began in America with approaches to successful, marginal peoples: Human Relations, Human Resources, Human Capital, Human Rights, Human Sciences. This is seen in the Great American Civil Rights Movement that moved from Physical Slavery and Intellectual Servitude through Ethical and Legal Mandates toward Fully-Functional, if not Morally Operational, Human Rights. It has left the “segregationists” behind to expire at the tail of the moving curve only to encounter the “elitists” and the “classists” and the “other-ists.” So what else is new? The movement continues toward the healthy people.
Another illustration is Globalization. As the nations move from Dependency and Reactivity through Independence and Protectionism, to Interdependence and Reciprocity, they encounter the same experiences: Movement to incorporate the marginal peoples or the high performers. Healthy civilizations require this movement, whatever the protestations of “The Luddites.”
In conclusion, the healthiest societies are moving in the direction of the Actualizers—the once marginal peoples whom other societies sought to eliminate. Actualizers are the sources of creativity and productivity whom constructive societies seek to cultivate. Such societies are moving in the direction of their own self-actualization. Such a society is within our grasp.
- if democracy and freedom got in the way of making money in the USA would they be eradicated? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1984 by George Orwell? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Propaganda in 1984 by George Orwell? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- If America supports freedom and democracy, why have we done the following? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Another fine example of Bush supporting freedom and democracy? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Do you think that people have the right to the freedom of thought without influence anymore? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Forrest Gump - Need a thesis relating to freedom and democracy? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1984 by George Orwell’s statement? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- How do you spread freedom and democracy without being in contradiction with the terms? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What’s the difference between democracy and freedom? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 3. The American Solution - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 4. Relating to Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 5. Representing Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 6. Exploring Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 7. Understanding Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 8. Acting Upon Images - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 9. The Paradigm Shift to Generativity - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 1. Totalitarianism and Variability - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 3. The Freedom Culture - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- New Web Special: China and 60 Years of Communist Party Rule - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Cuban Regime Intensifies Opposition Crackdown with Sham Trial - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Postponing Dalai Lama Meeting Sends Wrong Message - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Freedom House Sends High-Level Delegation to Egypt - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Detained Syrian Opposition Figure Must Be Immediately Released - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Activist's Upheld Conviction a Troubling Sign for Justice in Kazakhstan - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Tunisia's Electoral Process Severely Damaged by Pre-Election Rights Violations - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Lifting of EU Arms Embargo on Uzbekistan Sends Wrong Message on Human Rights - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Pakistan Assembly Urged to Reject Restrictive Amendments to Press Law - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Freedom House Launches Web Feature on Fall of Berlin Wall - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Resolutions on Defamation of Religions Do Not Belong at United Nations, Organizations Say - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Bloggers' Jailing Threatens New Media's Emergence in Azerbaijan - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Support Chinese Human Rights Activists, Freedom House Tells Obama on Eve of Visit - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- UN Should Pass Resolution Condemning Iran Human Rights Abuses - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Congress Urged to Lift Ban on U.S. Travel to Cuba - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Filipino Massacre Reflects Climate of Impunity - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Switzerland Vote Disappointing Blow to Religious Freedom - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Freedom House Launches Campaign to Defend Freedom of Expression - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Poll Shows Zimbabweans Want Elections and Democratic Constitution - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Clinton Speech Signals Greater Emphasis on Human Rights in U.S. Policy - December 16th, 2009 [December 16th, 2009]
- The Prosperity Problem - January 5th, 2010 [January 5th, 2010]
- Freedom in the World 2010: Global Erosion of Freedom - January 12th, 2010 [January 12th, 2010]
- Freedom House Congratulates Memorial on Human Rights Award - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Recent Blogger Arrests a Troubling Trend in the Middle East/North Africa Region - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Freedom House Calls Upon the Government of Uzbekistan to Release its Jailed Activists - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Citing Iran Crackdown, Freedom House Launches Net Freedom Initiative - January 13th, 2010 [January 13th, 2010]
- Google Response to Chinese Cyber-Attacks Appropriate - January 14th, 2010 [January 14th, 2010]
- Ombudsman Statements Reflect Culture of Intimidation in Chechnya - January 15th, 2010 [January 15th, 2010]
- Bloggers Stifled Again in Egypt - January 15th, 2010 [January 15th, 2010]
- Google Applauded for Stance on China Internet Censorship - January 16th, 2010 [January 16th, 2010]
- Latest Convictions Reflect Crackdown on Freedom of Expression and Association in Vietnam - January 21st, 2010 [January 21st, 2010]
- Integrity of Elections in Sri Lanka Endangered, Says Freedom House - January 22nd, 2010 [January 22nd, 2010]
- Freedom House Welcomes Clinton Speech on Internet Freedom - January 23rd, 2010 [January 23rd, 2010]
- Group wants same military benefits for gay spouses - Washington Times - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal - Boston Globe - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- THE VA FIRST INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF CHANGE FOR GULF WAR VETERANS OF 1990-91 DOES ... - Veterans Today Network - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Freedom Driver System Receives Medical Device CE Mark - Today's Medical Developments - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- NxStage Announces New FREEDOM Data Showing the Positive Impact of its Daily ... - CNNMoney.com (press release) - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Phil Lewis: Coach fumbles lesson on freedom of the press - Naples Daily News - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Report: Prescription drug prices vary drastically in NY - Poughkeepsie Journal - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Bill Bell: Surgeon models success on international scale - Whittier Daily News - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Justin Trottier: Time to call time on homeopathy - National Post (blog) - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Voice of the Day Initiative would aid rights of patients - News-Leader.com - March 8th, 2010 [March 8th, 2010]
- Free Speech under Attack in Morocco - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Freedom House, Russian Rights Groups Announce New Partnership - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Egyptian Government Must Live Up To Its Human Rights Commitments in Geneva - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Global Human Rights Advocates Meet With President Obama on U.S. Human Rights Agenda - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Death of Political Prisoner in Cuba Exposes Systemic Prison Maltreatment and Torture - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- New Study Finds Gains for Women's Rights in the Middle East - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Egyptian Government Continues to Use Emergency Law to Crack Down on Freedom of Speech - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Human Rights Advocates Issue Plan of Action as Human Rights Council Meets in Geneva - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Sri Lankan Government Heightens Intimidation Campaign Against Voices of Dissent - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Nigerian and Indonesian Activists Challenge Repressive Measures in "Defamation of Religions" Debate - March 11th, 2010 [March 11th, 2010]
- Healing Healthcare: Restore Medical Freedom - Gather.com - March 15th, 2010 [March 15th, 2010]
- Putting the "I" back in medicine - McGill Daily - March 15th, 2010 [March 15th, 2010]
- Freedom House Calls on Kyrgyz Government to Loosen Controls on Media - March 16th, 2010 [March 16th, 2010]
- Talking Points - FOXNews - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- The Battle Over Health Care At America's Medical Schools - FOXNews - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- News Article Ceremony Honors Fallen Medical Servicemembers - Department of Defense - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- Vietnam Temporarily Frees Prominent Catholic Priest - Christian Post - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]
- Governor signs Idaho Health Freedom Act - Idaho State Journal - March 17th, 2010 [March 17th, 2010]