Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon

cess of change instead of the ‘wished for reality’. Second, given my convictions I want
to reflect on how to organize change processes in which the wisdom of the crowd, the
needed tempo, the crucial feelings of identification and responsibility, and results are
secured. Third, in a theoretical sense I am curious how the focus on default assumptions
changes the way I will reflect on change process. Despite the inherent present
cognitivism and hermit-like connotations of a concept as default assumptions I am
curious about this ‘me’-side of interaction. Fourth, because I state that my paradigm is
a hybrid and loosely coupled compilation of different kinds of arguments, interpretations
and experiences, I hope that more consistency can be achieved.
From my current insights reflecting on this wish for consistency I would say that
basically this wish for consistency is a natural psychological phenomenon by which
human beings try to get a grip on their environment. “The situation out of which the
difficulty, the problem, springs is a lack of adjustment between the individual and his
world. The response does not answer to the demands which gave the stimulus its
power over the organism.” (Mead, 1938: 6). On a neurological level the body tries to
solve inconsistencies by filling in: “… the brain automatically infers aspects of the
stimulus that are missing and presents these as a fully elaborated percept.” (Koch,
2004: 23). Experienced inconsistency leads to uncertainty and insecurity, which in their
turn lead to reflection and action to resolve the inconsistencies. On the level of human
interaction consistency is associated with reliability, authenticity and identity. On a
theoretical or scientific level consistency is associated with reliability and validity, thus
with standards of quality and authority of the explanations. All together consistency
has something to do with the possibilities of predicting and controlling one’s environment
and with being predictable and controllable for one’s environment. Without it
the world would be perceived as a constantly and rapidly changing environment in
which great uncertainty and insecurity would rule. Longing for more consistency is a
longing for more predictability. In one of the projects I intend to reflect on the processing
of differences as the engine of social reality.
Research on a concept as the wisdom of the crowd, my preoccupation with the concept
of default assumptions together with my longing for consistency, incorporates a
flirting seduction to approach human beings as controlling and controlled beings. The
symbiosis of controlling and being controlled I can leave behind by replacing it by
concepts of interaction and connectivity. For the present this replacement is based on
logical and strategic considerations, due to the supposed greater effectiveness of the
wisdom of the crowd. If the logic of human interconnectedness will lead me to an
ethics of care and responsibility (Burkitt, 1999) is an open question.
It would be fascinating to satisfy my curiosity in doing some research around important
questions regarding the wavering status of the UAS. How the actors did experience
the years 2008 -2009 as transition years and how do they explain this transition?
How do they qualify the actual status of this transition? Did or do they want to realize
a co-creative organization? Or did they just pay lip service to a loosely defined concept
3. My taken for granted assumptions as a researcher | 81