Examples of the use of the science of sociology as the basis of
treatment are difficult to find. Most of the treatment programs that
claim to be social reduce the locus of treatment to the psychological
level, and call it psycho social. Sociologists are removed from the
actual treatment process. For example, in his social problems text
Zastrow draws a line in the sand. "Once such ( sociology)
recommendations are made, it is not the role of the social sciences to
decide which recommendations to implement (Zastrow, 1988 p16)."
Each of the people changing projects reported here are based on the core
of sociology as expressed in the general social theory. That is social
behavior emanates from the situation. Thus if you wish to change the
behavior you must change the situation. The consistent theme you will
find in each example is consistent with that core, the locus of the
problem is the situation and not the person. Aron put it this way. "It
may be said further that individuals, together, give rise to phenomena
or forces which can be explained only when taken as a whole. There are,
therefore, specific social phenomena which govern individual phenomena.
The most impressive, most eloquent example is that of the social forces
which drive individuals to their deaths, [suicide] each believing that
he is obeying only himself." Raymond Aron (1970, p 37) Thus all of the
claims, testimonials of the cured and recovering are not to be counted
on in the data.
There is considerable science supporting the core upon which these
projects are based and each is a test of basic sociology. One supporting
element is the stream of data coming from fMRI and PET. These data have
shown that there is a shape to thinking that can be measured. The shape
varies with the definition of the situation. The change of the shape of
thinking is the raw data on learning. All of those connections that make
up learning have a shape or locus. Again that shape is social and
depends on the environment or what we will call the situation.
A recent study using functional imaging tested the Pepsi Coke question
was used in marketing. Dr. Read Montague, director of the Brown Human
Neuroimaging Lab at Baylor College of Medicine said, "We were stunned by
how easy this was, I could tell what they were going to do by looking at
their brain scans." There is growing evidence regarding the shape of our
thinking.
Sociology is not just for people
There are few behaviors more social than language. Kroodsma, Donald K,
Byers, Bruce E, Halkin, Sylvia L, Hill, Christopher, Et al. Found that
birds change the shape of their song based on the social location. "In
our sample of Blackcapped Chickadee songs from throughout North America,
we found this sweetie-hey song only on Martha's Vineyard." In the
Pennsylvania area you are more likely to hear hey-sweetie. Raymond
Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger in their book Dogs have traced the way
that some wolves learned to become dogs as a result of adapting to the
environment/situation. These wolves changed not only the shape of their
thinking but of their bodies and biology as well. One example, wolves
come into heat one a year compared to most dogs twice a year.
The Cottage
This test took place in a treatment Center for males with drinking
problems. It is fascinating in several ways. The treatment Center
redefined its mission from TB to the treatment of another "incurable"
condition, alcoholism. In part the redefinition scenario suggested that
the best way to meet the TB mission was to treat the toot cause
alcoholism.
Next in the emergence of the new facility three separate hospitals
emerged based on the definition of the problem. The Cottage was the
fourth model to emerge.
