Executive Summary Neuro-Cognitive Warfare: Accelerated Cultural Evolution (ACE) To Prevent Terrorism and Mass Atrocities Presented By: Dr. Robert Finkelstein President, Robotic Technology Inc.
[email protected] Office: 301-983-4194 Presented To: The Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20520-0505 7 December 2012
This presentation is based on research we performed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), 2006-2012, and we thank DARPA for their vision and support
THE PROBLEM The “long war” against terrorism and the ongoing conflicts with asymmetric adversaries are, fundamentally, wars of ideas We are losing the war of ideas “We are in an information war, and we're losing that war.” -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “[Our enemy] has said that 50 percent of the current struggle is taking place in the arena of public information. That may be an understatement.” -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld “Challenge disinformation. Turn our enemies’ extremist ideologies, oppressive practices, and indiscriminate violence against them.” -- Gen. David Petraeus, issuing guidelines for an aggressive information war in Afghanistan “The other half [of the battle] is the arena of ideas, and countering the rhetoric and methods that extremists use to recruit. -- Ali H. Soufan, FBI Al Qaeda interrogator
THE PROBLEM No people come into possession of a culture without having paid a heavy price for it. --- James A. Baldwin Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture. --- Allen Ginsberg The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, which determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself. --- Daniel Patrick Moynihan Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind --- George Orwell War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength --- George Orwell
A SOLUTION SUMMARY Accelerated Cultural Evolution (ACE) is a subset of neuro-cognitive warfare; it is an emerging discipline based on military memetics, neuroscience, social science (such as cultural anthropology), operations research, and other fields It is made possible by the results of recent multidisciplinary experiments and new technologies, such as memetic engineering, functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, social networking, neuro-marketing, neuro-economics, and new social models and simulations
ACE leverages low-cost tools and techniques for prevention – to avoid costly defense and counter-terrorism operations – and mitigate human suffering More scientific research is needed, but there are sufficient valuable and useful tools to synthesize them and begin applications
A SOLUTION METHOD SUMMARY Accelerated Cultural Evolution: (1) Identify and prioritize dysfunctional cultures at-risk for fomenting extremism, violence, terrorism, and mass atrocities Use tools and techniques of cultural metric analyses and subject matter experts (SME) (cultural anthropologists, sociologists, foreign service experts, historians, etc.)
(2) Identify and prioritize dysfunctional values underlying the at-risk culture Use neuroscience research results, SME, value metric analyses
(3) Create a campaign to modify the dysfunctional values: prevent the need for a difficult long war Use neuroscience research results, memetics, neuromarketing, and social networks
A SOLUTION: TRANSFORMATION OF DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE We were not realizing that, with just a machete, you can do a genocide -- Boutros BoutrosGhali Military force is one way to stop terrorism and mass atrocities, but it is an expensive and violent solution A comprehensive strategy must emphasize prevention using new tools and techniques To increase the peace and prosperity of nations and prevent human suffering, transform dysfunctional culture into functional culture ACE is the application of the tools, techniques, and technology of neuroscience, memetics, narrative networks, neuromarketing, operations research, and neuroeconomics to transform dysfunctional cultures and subcultures
THE PROBLEM: DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE Not all societal problems are due to culture, but the fate of many nations depends on culture – terrorism and mass atrocities often arise from dysfunctional culture or subculture In the current technological age of human existence, culture is a primary determinant of how well people live their lives – or how much pain and suffering they must endure Technology, and the consequent creation of global wealth, means that human life is no longer necessarily the Hobbesian “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” Factors that are less important for the failure of modern societies: geography, resources, weather, colonial conquest Functional cultures provide well-being for their members, while dysfunctional cultures provide misery and suffering
THE PROBLEM: DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE The profound influence of culture remains a sensitive topic despite a growing body of evidence of the influence of culture on individual and social well-being (e.g., health, safety, comfort, and happiness) Culture can change: Culture can change unintentionally and organically, with punctuated equilibrium, from major natural or man-made catastrophic disasters, such as a prolonged draught or war Culture can change intentionally from political leadership or arising from social and technological pressure Cultural can change more quickly and predictably with ACE
THE MEANING OF CULTURE The tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man...it constitutes the powerful obstacle to culture. --Sigmund Freud Culture: the entire way of life of a group; a repertoire of socially transmitted ideas about how to live and make judgments; a set of values and norms shared by a group Values and norms determine the group’s members’s interactions with each other and with people outside the group Values: consist of general criteria, standards, or guiding principles that people use to determine which types of behaviors, events, situations, and outcomes are desirable or undesirable; the bases for making decisions, holding beliefs and attitudes, and taking actions; the means of culture Norms: the methods of culture; practices, standards, or styles of behavior considered acceptable for people in a culture
THE EFFECTS OF CULTURE What connects two thousand years of genocide? Too much power in too few hands. -- Simon Wiesenthal Culture provides guidance for living, thinking, deciding, and doing Children acquire culture through: active participation, socialization, imitation, teaching, preceding generations, peers, and media A culture and its foundational values derive from common experiences and heritage, whether experienced directly – or indirectly through internalization of the narratives and metaphors which define the culture The failure of a culture is primarily due to its dysfunctional values and norms
THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURE Culture drives behavior, such as preferences in: food, religious practices, jobs, education, social interactions, transactions, manners, lifestyles, self-actualization, spouses Culture determines tolerance and empathy: how its members treat others within and without the culture Culture determines how people value: Work or play Cooperation or competition, individuality or social conformity, self-centeredness or altruism Independence or deference to authority Tradition or change Sectarianism or secularism Optimism or pessimism Critical thinking or magical thinking Behavior towards: authority; peers; subordinates; politics
THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURE Culture is passed on from generation to generation by behavioral examples of family, friends, and other members of the group (tribe, sect, ethnic group, village, nation) Culture is also shaped, exemplified, and propagated by narratives (personal to social to national; oral, written, and now multi-media) The narratives include fables, legends, mythology, poems, songs, oratory, novels, movies, celebrated heroes (historical and contemporary), religious stories, aphorisms, graffiti, catch-phrases, and role models The narratives are bolstered by semiotics, including fine and popular art, and iconic graphics (e.g., paintings, prints, advertising, and graffiti)
THE SENSITIVITY OF CULTURE Culture is a sensitive issue for social scientists: Cultural relativism: one cannot judge other cultures no matter how much pain and suffering is inflicted on the members of the culture – there must be a good reason for seemingly dysfunctional cultural values and norms Ethnocentrism can bias an evaluation Fear of being accused of bias or racism or blaming the victims or being charged with sullying a nation, ethnic minority, or the personal self-esteem of the populace Reluctance to imply that some cultures are better than others
Nevertheless objective metrics can be defined to determine whether a culture is functional or dysfunctional
CULTURAL METRICS Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. --- Leo Tolstoy The primary metric for a human culture is fitness: the ability of the culture to permit its members to sustain life and achieve well-being Reproduction is no longer a human imperative, as it has been for most of human existence, so members of a culture may seek well-being because a pleasant life – one free of pain and suffering – is better than an unpleasant life
A functional culture can be defined as one that provides satisfactorily for human needs and wants; a dysfunctional culture does not Any culture or subculture that persistently causes human suffering, irrational terrorism, or mass atrocities is dysfunctional There are many different values and norms that can lead to functional or dysfunctional culture
CULTURAL METRICS EXAMPLE In a project for DOD we defined and evaluated four cultural metrics which were loosely based on Maslow’s Hierarchy: Basic values: the degree to which the values of the culture allow the typical member of the society to live beyond mere subsistence Personal values: those values which enable an individual to acquire the skill, character, and virtues needed to achieve personal success, economically and emotionally, enabling the individual to contribute to the success (functionality) of the society Social values: those values which strengthen social relationships that contribute to the success of the individual and the society Aspirational values: those values which motivate individuals to be ambitious, to try to accomplish much as individuals and members of society
CULTURAL METRICS: BASIC VALUES We defined and evaluated submetrics for the Basic Values metric: Physiological Values Examples: clean air and water, nutritious food, warm clothing as needed, and shelter that can reasonably accommodate a family and have access to sanitary toilet facilities and fuel for cooking and heat
Safety Values Examples: freedom from fear of bodily or psychological harm from individuals, groups, or government
Health Values Examples: general health, availability of medical care, and expected lifespan
CULTURAL METRICS: PERSONAL VALUES We defined and evaluated submetrics for the Personal Values Metric: Cognitive Values Examples: education, rationality, and critical thinking
Economic Values Examples: hard work, thrift, innovation, and prudent risk-taking
Character Values Examples: persistence, diligence, punctuality, self-esteem, and achievement-seeking
CULTURAL METRICS: SOCIAL VALUES We defined and evaluated submetrics for the Social Values Metric: Liberty Values Examples: freedom of speech, religion, and secularism (no religion)
Relationship Values Examples: ethics, honesty, trust, tolerance, and social consciousness
Patriotic Values Examples: respect for justice and law, political awareness, and rational loyalty to family, community, and nation
CULTURAL METRICS: ASPIRATIONAL VALUES We defined and evaluated submetrics for Aspirational Values metric: Respect Examples: self-respect and respect of others
Success Examples: joy and accomplishments from work, wealth, and power
Self Actualization Examples: the opportunity to try to make the most of one’s abilities, especially where avocation is the same as vocation; and the opportunity to pursue happiness in life
The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) A mathematical method to evaluate and weight the metrics and submetrics Can evaluate alternative cultures against the metrics and submetrics
NEUROSCIENCE TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES Neuroscience tools/techniques are used to: Determine the precognitive and cognitive processes that lead to decisions, values (the bases of decisions), and behavior Develop methods to influence decisions, values, and behavior, such as neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, memetics, narrative networks
Neuroscience tools and techniques can be applied to mitigate dysfunctional culture and prevent violence, terrorism, and atrocities Neuro-imaging: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI); Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Genetic and psychopharmacological analyses Psychophysiology: electromyography (EMG), event related potential (ERP), electroencephalogram (EEG) Blood chemistry and hormone analysis Single neuron recording Biometrics and eye tracking
MEMETICS Many definitions Our pragmatic definition: a meme is information which propagates, has impact, and persists (INFO-PIP): where propagation, impact, and persistence have been defined as quantitative metrics Memetics is the study and application of memes Military Memetics is the application of memes for national security It is a subset of Neuro-Cognitive Warfare, a revolutionary tool in the information war It can provide a coherent, scientific approach for information operations, psychological warfare, and the general war against terrorists It can prevent extremism, terrorism, mass atrocities; or mitigate irrational conflict, reduce the probability of war or defeat, and increase the probability of peace or victory
MEMETICS Example memes: words, narratives, ideas, symbols, icons, logos, tunes, poems, catchphrases, fashion, technological processes (e.g., making arrowheads or gumbo), fables, religion, graffiti, images, novels, movies, etc. Memes can be described by their external phenomena (e-memes) and internal phenomena (i-memes) E-memes are manifested by their effects on human behavior and culture I-memes are manifested by their effects on an individual’s neuronal behavior and brain E-memes and i-memes are not two types of memes, but rather two effects or manifestations of memes
MEMETICS Applying memetics and the epidemiology of ideas is a function of biology, culture, and communications Biology: knowledge of the human brain through neuroscience tools and techniques (fMRI, PET scans, neurochemical reactions (e.g., dopamine, oxytocin), etc. Culture: knowledge of culture and cultural values, history, politics, geography, linguistics, demographic, and neuromarketing to each culture’s marketplace Communications: knowledge of social networking models, cyberspace, broadcasting, narrowcasting, and smart mobs via texting
NARRATIVES Narratives are a type of meme. Narratives are critical in determining the architecture and content of a group’s culture or subculture, whether the group is a family, clan, tribe, ethnic group, religion, corporation, institution, nation, or any other group
Narratives can strongly shape or modify a culture: suitable narratives can alter a dysfunctional culture, improve the lives of its members, and prevent atrocities A narrative is a story, whether long or short; past, present, or future; with or without much detail; and told for any purpose Cultural narratives form and maintain cultures (of nations or other groups), give a sense of identity and purpose to members of a culture: what is our past, why are we here, what should we do, and what is our future? National strategic narratives describe the core interests of a nation and provide a foundation for statecraft and national security
NARRATIVES Research shows that narratives are fundamental to the human mind and perception Sensory data and consequent perception are intermittent, with only the individual’s illusion and delusion of continuity and coherence Plagued with uncertainty and flawed information, the subconscious mind creates an illusion of a coherent narrative, constructing relationships, motives, and intentions based on limited or incorrect information The mind fills in details and revises its narratives as needed, with or without evidence, retroactively; the mind autonomically, unconsciously, and continuously constructs narratives, weaving the weft of subjective reality among the warp of physical reality
NARRATIVES Thus individuals create personal stories about who they are and what the world is like; narratives by which they live their lives These individual narratives can aggregate and evolve into cultural narratives influencing the behavior of the family, clan, tribe, or nation
The structure, function, and ontology of narratives are shaped by their building blocks, including: metaphors, symbols, symbolic actions, semiotics, myths, frames, scenarios, etc. For example: metaphors shape and express cultural thought and style as embedded in language, artifacts, and behavior Metaphors shape ideology and religion and can spark insurgencies or mass atrocities and genocide
NEUROMARKETING We are not thinking machines that feel, we are feeling machines that think. --Antonio Damasio There is no universal agreement as to what does or does not constitute neuromarketing Our definition: neuromarketing is the application of neuroscience research, tools, and techniques in the marketing of goods, services, and ideas Neuromarketing of ideas includes modifying dysfunctional values and norms to prevent mass atrocities and genocide
NEUROMARKETING Example: Neuroscience research shows that 95% of human thought, emotion, and learning occur preconsciously The mind solves problems and makes decisions as much as 8 seconds before we are consciously aware of it In general, people cannot accurately explain why they make decisions Emotion tends to overwhelm rationality in decision-making The most primitive part of the human brain is completely self-centered and responds to anything pertaining to self It has no patience or empathy for anything not immediately concerned with its own well-being and survival
ACCELERATED CULTURAL EVOLUTION Tools and techniques are being developed which can be applied to the prevention of extremism, violence, terrorism, and mass atrocities by transforming dysfunctional values and the consequent dysfunctional culture or subculture Use the results of neuroscience research and social networking technology to design and propagate functional values to supplant dysfunctional values
(1) Identify and prioritize dysfunctional cultures (2) Identify and prioritize the dysfunctional values and norms underlying the culture (3) Employ ACE methodology to modify the dysfunctional values and norms to prevent extremism, violence, terrorism, and mass atrocities
MEME WARFARE CENTER In 2006 Maj. Michael Prosser (now LTC) of the U.S. Marine Corps did his thesis for marine Corps University on “Memetics – A Growth Industry in US Military Operations” Thesis: “Tomorrow’s US military must approach warfighting with an alternate mindset that is prepared to leverage all elements of national power to influence the ideological spheres of future enemies by engaging them with alternate means—memes—to gain advantage” Prosser designed a Meme Warfare Center (MWC) to advise the Commander on meme generation, transmission, and provide a detailed analysis on enemy, friendly and noncombatant populations The MWC would replace the ad hoc nature of current Information Operations and IO and Joint Psychological Operations Task Force (JPOTF)
MEME WARFARE CENTER Thesis conclusion: Cognitive scientists, cultural anthropologists, behavior scientists, and game theory experts must be included as professional meme-wielding-gunfighters on future battlefields US must recognize the growing need for emerging disciplines in ideological warfare by weaponizing memes The Meme Warfare Center offers sophisticated and intellectually rich capability absent in current Information Operations (IO), Psychological Operations (PsyOps) and is specifically designed to conduct combat inside the mind of the enemy “Memes are key emerging tools to win the ideological metaphysical fight”
MEME WARFARE CENTER
MEME WARFARE CENTER
OUR VIEW: MEME CONTROL CENTER
OUR VIEW: MEME CONTROL CENTER
MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP Purpose: sanity check prior to seedling program Explore feasibility, desirability, and role of Accelerated Cultural Evolution (ACE) in transforming dysfunctional culture to mitigate dysfunctional culture and prevent terrorism Recent results from research in neuroscience, neurophysiology and other emerging disciplines, such as military memetics, neuroeconomics, and neuromarketing, offer the possibility of new multidisciplinary technology, tools, and techniques which can be employed to ameliorate dysfunctional values and culture through ACE
MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP DRAFT AGENDA
WORKSHOP ON ACCELERATED CULTURAL EVOLUTION (ACE): PREVENTING AND MITIGATING CONFLICT THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION OF DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE DAY ONE 0800-0900
Breakfast and Networking
0900-0915
Welcome to the Workshop
0915-0930
Introduction to an Inaugural Conference on ACE
0930-1030
Cultural Transformation through ACE: An Overview
1030-1100
What is Culture?
1030-1100
Refreshment Break
1100-1130
Example Metrics for Functional and Dysfunctional Cultures
1130-1200
Example Historical Cultural Transformations
1200-1300
Lunch and Networking
1300-1330
Influences Shaping Culture, Past and Present
1330-1400
Functional and Dysfunctional Culture, Past and Present
1400-1430
Key Cultural Narratives, Past and Present
1430-1500
R&D and Practice Relevant to Cultural Transformation: Neuroscience and Neuroeconomics
1500-1530
R&D and Practice Relevant to Cultural Transformation: Narrative Theory, Semiotics, and Neuromarketing
1530-1600
Refreshment Break
1600-1630
R&D and Practice Relevant to Cultural Transformation: Social Networks and Epidemiology of Ideas
1630-1700
Prospective Technology, Tools, and Techniques for ACE
1700-1730
Cultural Transformation: Ethical Issues
1730-1800
Presenter Panel Discussion and Questions for Presenters
1800-2000
Networking Dinner and Reception
MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP DAY TWO 0800-0900
Breakfast and Networking
0900-0915
Welcome to Day 2 of the Workshop
0915-0930
Summary of Day 1 and Introduction to Day 2
0930-1000
Cultural Transformation Issues: State of the Technology for Neurophysiology
1030-1100
Cultural Transformation Issues: State of the Technology and National Availability for Social Networking
1030-1100
Refreshment Break
1100-1130
Cultural Transformation: Political, Legal, and Ideological Issues
1130-1200
Cultural Transformation: Psychological Issues
1200-1300
Lunch and Networking
1300-1330
Cultural Transformation: Anthropological and Sociological Issues
1330-1400
Functional and Dysfunctional Culture (for a Selected Nation), Past and Present
1400-1430
Example Key Cultural Narratives (for a Selected Nation), Past and Present
1430-1500
Potential Unintended Consequences for an ACE Program
1500-1530
Refreshment Break
1530-1630
Roadmap for an ACE Program
1630-1700
Presenter Panel Discussion and Questions for Presenters
1700-1730
Summary of Insights and Action Items
1730
Adjourn
