Nicola Staff asked 2 months ago
We see this as a useful parallel illustrating the abuse of power over another in a way that leaves a scar, if not an open wound, that will be a reminder and an object lesson in what the one holding power expects and demands. The purpose that Pavlov had, in conducting his experiments, was scientific exploration in using an animal model to study psychology, how behavior is learned, incorporated within as a deeper understanding and a knowing, not to simply exhibit and enjoy cruelty in exploiting a lesser being. But to the modern eye and ear, such treatment seems hurtful, unnecessarily harsh, and quite suspect from an ethical perspective. But, as a model of behavior, it has a parallel in human treatment of one another far too often, where someone will needle their life partner or taunt a rival by bringing up something embarrassing to them, because it becomes a kind of handy weapon, knowing that person will always feel shame when they are reminded of perhaps a past failing or a criticism, whether justified or not, but one that was hurtful and hit home, and then becomes a go-to strategy when wanting to lash out and put someone in their place, put them down, and make them squirm.
The power of shaming cannot be overestimated and that is the reason it is resorted to by people who feel powerless themselves and need a way to even things up, perhaps even a score if there has been a rivalry or a perceived slight and the person needs to ventilate in lashing back at their perceived attacker. The idea that shame is nearly the worst emotion someone can feel is important to understand because that understanding might well give someone pause before resorting to such a tactic as a way of holding one's own. Many times it becomes a turning point when there is a bone of contention, a difference of opinion, an argument, a jockeying for position, a test of wills, or a kind of verbal arm wrestling going on to see who is going to be dominating the situation. Emotionally, it is very much akin to taking a weapon and delivering a savage wound or even a death blow because shame is potentially quite devastating. It is not only hurtful to the recipient, but will be seen as overstepping a boundary and often as something unforgivable. That is not a useful strategy in how to live and let live, how to get along with others and have a harmonious relationship that serves everyone and is done in a respectful way that promotes mutual acceptance and a desire to be supporting rather than undermining others.
So the parallel between a kind of clinical experiment where a punishment is doled out simply to train the recipient to carry out a desired behavior on command, and a human being treating another person in like manner by using shame to get them to surrender their will and exhibit a desired response of acquiescence in some way, is indeed crossing a moral and ethical line and may well be taking a flamethrower to the relationship depending on how beaten down the recipient might be. It will certainly not build love and acceptance. Unfortunately, there are many such relationships, even by would-be life partners, an arrangement that ought to be based on deep love and understanding and not domineering control of one party over another to keep them subjugated and off-balance and even, at extremes, in a chronic state of feeling punished, much as they are living in a cage, like Pavlov's dog, taken out for occasional servings of pain to put it through its paces. That is no way to live for either party and will have karmic consequences because the Law of Cause and Effect, which we call the Law of Karma, will eventually return the wrongdoing to the perpetrator, and perhaps again to the victim until they can find a way to rise above their victimhood. This is simply a consequence, as we have been saying, that to indulge in shameful feelings and conduct will have long-term implications for personal happiness and the progress of their soul development.
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