🟡 Cómo los mediocres hemos conquistado el mundo - Los engranajes de Occidente 2

The Mechanisms of Mediocrity in Western Civilization

Introduction to the Series

• This series, "Los engranajes de occidente," explores the psychosocial mechanisms leading to the degradation of Western civilization.

The Prevalence of Incompetence

• Throughout one's career, one may encounter numerous examples of incompetence; it's common for mediocrity to stand out more than brilliance.

• The presence of incompetent individuals often leads to a perception that there are more such people than there actually are.

The Rise of Mediocre Leadership

• A notable trend is the rise of less capable individuals in leadership roles, particularly within political parties, which often resemble a "graveyard of mediocrities."

• Mediocre individuals tend to overestimate their abilities due to cognitive biases, leading them to occupy positions beyond their competence.

Understanding the Dunning-Kruger Effect

• The Dunning-Kruger effect explains how those with lower ability often overrate their skills; they lack self-awareness regarding their incompetence. This concept was introduced by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999.

• Individuals with low cognitive ability fail to recognize their limitations, resulting in a toxic environment where errors go unacknowledged.

Implications for Organizations

• This cognitive bias affects organizations by creating hierarchies filled with incompetent leaders who believe they are more capable than they truly are. It also leads them to underestimate others' effectiveness.

• People often evaluate themselves from a limited perspective, making them appear more competent than they really are; this can lead to significant misjudgments in professional settings.

Consequences on Expertise and Self-Evaluation

• Experts may undervalue themselves due to heightened awareness of their limitations compared to novices who overestimate their capabilities; this creates an imbalance in self-assessment across different fields.

• The Dunning-Kruger effect can result in experts believing that skills from one area translate seamlessly into others where they might be less knowledgeable (e.g., scientists assuming writing proficiency).

The Peter Principle Explained

• The phenomenon where employees rise through ranks until reaching a level of incompetence is known as the Peter Principle: "In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence."

The Peter Principle and Organizational Inefficiency

Promotion of Incompetence

• Organizations often promote top salespeople to managerial positions, leading to a decline in team performance when these individuals lack managerial skills.

• This practice harms organizations by placing unqualified individuals in leadership roles and removing capable employees from their original positions, resulting in increased inefficiency.

Evidence from Research

• A study by Alan Benson and colleagues analyzed over 50,000 sales employees across 214 U.S. companies from 2005 to 2011, revealing that the best salespeople were more likely to be promoted but performed poorly as managers.

• The findings support the validity of the Peter Principle, which states that people are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

The Procrustean Myth

• The Greek myth of Procrustes illustrates how arbitrary standards can harm success; Procrustes would force travelers into his bed by stretching or cutting them to fit.

• This myth is used to describe toxic organizations where leaders suppress talented employees out of fear that they may overshadow them.

Mediocrity in Leadership

• Political parties exemplify this "Procrustean" approach, often promoting mediocrity at the top while silencing those who show potential for greater effectiveness.

• As a result, hierarchies become filled with incompetent leaders while capable individuals remain frustrated at lower levels.

Cultural Implications

• The phenomenon of punishing excellence is known as the "high exposure syndrome," prevalent in various cultures where successful individuals face sabotage from peers.

• Historical anecdotes illustrate this concept; for instance, Periander advised eliminating prominent figures to avoid challenges to authority.

Mediocrity in Modern Society

Changing Standards of Entertainment

• There has been a noticeable shift towards accepting mediocre entertainment within postmodern society, particularly influenced by social media and streaming platforms.

• Current films and series often rely on clichés and formulaic plots compared to classic works that have stood the test of time.

Decline in Literary Quality

• Platforms like Wattpad showcase a trend toward low-quality literature characterized by repetitive themes and poor writing standards.

The Decline of Excellence in Entertainment

The Shift Towards Mediocrity

• Günter Grass suggests that since 2000, the entertainment industry has collectively abandoned excellence for mediocrity, as evidenced by the popularity of simplistic content like "Baby Shark Dance."

• The top five most viewed YouTube videos include several trivial songs aimed at children, indicating a trend where appeal is prioritized over quality.

• Short video platforms have stripped audiovisual content of its intrinsic value, leading to a culture where mediocre substitutes are accepted as sufficient.

Consequences of Accepting Mediocrity

• Millions settle for subpar television series and content on platforms like Netflix and TikTok, which thrive economically despite offering limited high-quality options.

• This acceptance reflects a power imbalance between creators, distributors, and consumers who celebrate mediocrity through their consumption choices.

The Role of Internet Platforms

• The internet allows anyone to showcase their creations; however, this saturation makes it challenging for any single piece to gain significant attention.

• Major companies like Facebook and YouTube dominate by aggregating large audiences, favoring quantity over quality in entertainment offerings.

Impact on Governance and Public Trust

• The prevalence of mediocrity extends beyond entertainment into governance; citizens struggle with poor management from institutions they cannot easily escape.

• A decline in public trust towards democratic institutions is noted; voters often choose candidates they believe will cause the least harm rather than those who inspire confidence.

Trust Barometers and Political Dynamics

• In 2022, trust in governments fell significantly in democratic nations while rising in authoritarian regimes; Germany's trust dropped notably to 46%.

• Contrastingly, countries like China report high levels of public trust (83%), suggesting differing perceptions based on governance styles.

Political Careers and Mediocracy

• Allan de Botton's concept of "mediocracy" describes how political careers have become professionalized but lack meritocratic principles.

• Politicians often succeed not due to talent or knowledge but through submission and resilience within bureaucratic structures that prioritize loyalty over capability.

Bureacracy's Influence on Politics

• Many politicians have spent their entire careers within politics without diverse experiences or skills outside this realm.

• This leads to a bureaucratic environment where re-election becomes paramount, fostering conformity over innovation among political figures.

Consequences for Society

Disruption and Mediocrity in Academia

The Decline of Academic Excellence

• The rise of mediocrity in academia is highlighted, where individuals prioritize their positions over genuine knowledge and innovation.

• A culture emerges where ideas are stolen among different academic ranks, with lower-tier individuals appropriating concepts from those above them to advance their careers.

• This cycle leads to a proliferation of mediocre research papers, as faculty members focus on quantity over quality while waiting for promotions or retirements.

Bureaucracy and Technocracy's Impact

• The emergence of technocracy and bureaucratic systems diminishes individual freedom and accountability within administrative frameworks.

• An increase in regulations stifles choice and imposes significant social and economic costs, as the state expands its reach into various sectors.

Threats to Freedom and Democracy

• There is a warning against complacency regarding freedom and democracy; these values are perpetually at risk from various forms of authority including autocrats, incompetent leaders, and bureaucrats.

• Mediocrity disguised as stability can lead to societal decay, undermining the foundations of a once-promising civilization.

Personal Responsibility Against Mediocrity

• Despite the overwhelming challenges posed by mediocrity, there is an emphasis on personal effort to resist it through informed choices in education, consumption, and political engagement.