Pavlov’s Hierarchy of Social Deferment.: Difference between revisions
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'''As a professional introvert''', I’ve garnered a certain awareness of the social contract around whether or not you can cancel plans. Using the work of two pop psychologists, I’ve adapted a graph for the flowchart of decisions on whether or not something can be deferred. Between the pyramid of needs and operant conditioning, there is a litany of integrations that man may use. For the purposes of this article, we will be observing: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Pavlovian conditioning. Thus, I have dubbed this theory: '''''Pavlov’s Hierarchy of Social Deferment'''''. AKA, how to trim down an overbooked schedule. | |||
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The first step of the journey is simple: Ask yourself this question: What happens if I don’t go? | The first step of the journey is simple: Ask yourself this question: What happens if I don’t go? | ||
Once you consider this, then you may begin to classify using this system. | Once you consider this, then you may begin to classify using this system. | ||
Latest revision as of 22:50, 6 May 2025
As a professional introvert, I’ve garnered a certain awareness of the social contract around whether or not you can cancel plans. Using the work of two pop psychologists, I’ve adapted a graph for the flowchart of decisions on whether or not something can be deferred. Between the pyramid of needs and operant conditioning, there is a litany of integrations that man may use. For the purposes of this article, we will be observing: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Pavlovian conditioning. Thus, I have dubbed this theory: Pavlov’s Hierarchy of Social Deferment. AKA, how to trim down an overbooked schedule.
The first step of the journey is simple: Ask yourself this question: What happens if I don’t go? Once you consider this, then you may begin to classify using this system. Now, one must understand: every decision you make is first placed upon a plane of dichotomy: is this a want or a need? Beyond that, using this system, there are three tiers one may use:
Tier 1: Consequence Tier 2: Covenant Tier 3: Calibration
You’ll notice each one starts with the letter C. This is because, despite not having darkened a church door in half a decade, I cannot remove my pastor hardwiring from my fucking brain. Now, to understand these better, here they are, in their entirety:
Tier 1: Consequence
This is a fixed date or regime where neglect will have rigid consequences, directly impacting your life—usually in a negative way. Thus, logic dictates: these are best not deferred. Here are a few examples:
Want: Limited Time Offer. College. Seeing Paul Simon before that hack fucking croaks. These are crucial, non-repeatable experiences that shape who you are, and if you miss out—then tough luck, kid. You get to be the old one in a classroom setting. Not bad, but nonetheless impactful. There is a different story you begin to tell if you miss these nodes.
Tier 2: Covenant
A covenant is an understanding that life persists and there is grace in every moment. If you have relationships that have jumped from Tier 1-level maintenance to Tier 2, congratulations! Your friends love you despite your actions, and that is a beautiful thing. What isn’t beautiful is your inability to take care of yourself, dipshit.
Need: Maintenance Department. You find yourself saying: “Oh, I have to call the plumber.” “I have to get my tires rotated.” “Dishes AGAIN?” These chores need to be done, but are kicked down the road by the little whims of the present moment.
Want: What Life is For. Your favorite people—the ones who will never leave or forsake you (unless you’re on some dumb shit). Treasure these people, and try to be consistent. No one loves relationships that are dangled by the thread of consequence.
Tier 3: Calibration
This is a dream—a step toward an ideal. As Heraclitus once promoted: “Nothing endures but change.” You never step into the same river twice, but still, you get your feet wet. As fire always burns something to ash, we begin to understand impermanence. Once you catch the meaning, you can fully invest yourself into the path of self-love. That’s what Parmenides and the rest of the Pre-Socratics were concerning themselves with—how to become. To pair the men to these ideals, there are actions that first take place in the realm of ontology that eventually give way to something formed, called a habit. Tier 3 is best understood as something aimed at, never acted on—for once you bring it forth, it ceases to be calibration and begins to embark upon a conventional relationship.
Need: The flavor of a New Year’s resolution. Gym. Town halls. Therapist appointments. Crosswords in cafes. These are things we first imagine old people doing and every young person decides one day they should emulate.
Want: Closure with a person you will never actually see again. Fighting God. Stopping your parents from ever giving you this miserable existence. Remembering that these will never happen—but by Jove, it gives us a nice idea, doesn’t it?
Notice that Tier 3 is the point of it all—grasping for heaven, filching from aether. It is something never reached, yet it gives meaning. This Nirvana becomes the method by which we combat the impregnable defenses of suffering, which, in and of itself, is rooted in consequence. Now, why does any of this matter? Well, in addition to helping with a visualization of why socialization matters and providing a bootstrap to basic decency, I’m fucking neurotic. I wish I was a normal guy, but crazy bread is bread to me. Whacko Jones—such is the state of my life and leisure. Regardless, I hope this helps someone make the next big decision. Godspeed.