Histories of Human Engineering: Tact and Technology

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Book Description

The dream of control over human behavior is an old dream; shared by many cultures. In Derksen’s Histories of Human Engineering: Tact and Technology (PDF); this fascinating account of the histories of human engineering describes how technologies of managing groups and individuals were developed from the 19th century to the present day; ranging from brainwashing and mind control to Dale Carnegie’s art of dealing with people. Derksen reveals that common to all of them is the perpetual tension between the desire to control people’s behavior and the resistance this provokes. Thus to influence other people successfully; technology had to be combined with tact: with a subtle hint; with a personal touch; or with outright deception; manipulations are made invisible or palatable. Combining psychological history and theory with insights from technology and science studies and rhetorical scholarship; Derksen offers a fresh perspective on human engineering that will appeal to those interested in the history of technology and the history of psychology.