Dynamics of a Verbal Vote
Conducting and biasing a verbal vote on a topic is truly an amazing Art in Social Manipulation. I am not sure if Psychology guys have studied the dynamics of it yet, but i am sure its got interesting patterns.
Consider you need to crush a motion or get some of your point approved in a situation such that
Consider you need to crush a motion or get some of your point approved in a situation such that
- There is an appropriate size audience to whom rule created out of passing or failing the motion would apply.
By appropriate i mean, not too large such that conducting a verbal vote is not practical. And not too small because point 2 may not be applicable in that situation. I say am empirical estimate that population size is greater than 2.5 or 3 times that number of choices in the vote. And less than 10 to 15 times the choices. - Majority of the junta is really is unaware of the implications or just dont care.
In such a situation, suggest a verbal vote or show of hands.
Quickly go ahead and conduct the vote by calling out a show of hand for the motion that you want to be approved.
Now heres how the group dynamics would work out once you do that.
Some people would either be simply supporting you or will really be wanting that point. They will approve by gesture.
This set of a chain reaction in the people who dont care.
Majority of them will go with the flow.
Ofcourse this is sort of quasi static state which needed to be disturbed.
Sometimes the sheep mentality will be enough to shake this state up.
If it doesnt seem enough, a simple eye glare at one or two of the ones who you think dont care, will get the ball rolling.
Give this enough time till you clearly see you got the majority vote.
Now call for the second (and third...) option knowing that the vote is already in your favour.
And, for formality, declare the counts.
The things that can go wrong in this setup.
Quickly go ahead and conduct the vote by calling out a show of hand for the motion that you want to be approved.
Now heres how the group dynamics would work out once you do that.
Some people would either be simply supporting you or will really be wanting that point. They will approve by gesture.
This set of a chain reaction in the people who dont care.
Majority of them will go with the flow.
Ofcourse this is sort of quasi static state which needed to be disturbed.
Sometimes the sheep mentality will be enough to shake this state up.
If it doesnt seem enough, a simple eye glare at one or two of the ones who you think dont care, will get the ball rolling.
Give this enough time till you clearly see you got the majority vote.
Now call for the second (and third...) option knowing that the vote is already in your favour.
And, for formality, declare the counts.
The things that can go wrong in this setup.
- The question you are asking doesnt meet criteria 2. i.e. people have strong opinion about it.
- The population is large.
Then during the second vote, the undecided might just go ahead and vote again (simply following the sheep again).
That is trouble.
In such a case, ridicule the first one who does that.
Chances are the remaining will become conscious about it and wont do it. - The initial sheep itself doesnt move either because everyone hates you or the proposal is absolutely totally junk.
Sorry in that case. That is something you really need to evaluate prehand.
Do the math. - You give people lot of time to think and learn and make a decision. No. You dont do that.
The above is my hypothesis formulated out of observations. Not formally evaluated. And, i dont care to evaluate it either. Suit yourselves.
Try it out sometime. And let me know if it helped. I ll be glad to tune up my opinion if i feel like.
Try it out sometime. And let me know if it helped. I ll be glad to tune up my opinion if i feel like.
