Rank, A Perspective

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In a recent posting on Facebook a karate-ka wondered why folks who didn't actually run a dojo, etc., were ranked Go-dan (5th level) and above. Good question and I answered it in the comment section while today, a few days later, mulling over things it occurred to me to explain how the profession of compliance along with its use of influence principles and the effect of social reality all have on why, in general, we all look to such symbolized representations as we do. It will, hopefully, become clearer if you read on. 

What are the fundamental compliance influence principles involved? They are:

• Reciprocity;
• Commitment and Consistency;
• Social Proof (Consensus);
• Authority;
• Liking;
• Scarcity. 

These are the fundamental principles of compliance toward influencing you and I do or not do; to spend or not spend; to earn or not earn; to avoid or not avoid; to escalate or not escalate, etc. 

In regard to rank: Using ranks symbolizes authority; using rank above Go-dan speaks to scarcity and authority along with commitment and consistency; using rank is about social proof, a consensus of perceived authority figures of power, commitment and liking to award such honors upon those who are considered by “others” as meeting the set requirements of “others” toward a social reality of a microcosm nature that speaks to the overall social reality that also speaks to heritage, culture and beliefs in a more general sense. 

We are all conditioned from birth by the influences of family and all they believe. We are all conditioned in these compliance and influence principles in social interactions on the playground as kids; on the school room and yard requirements to fit in, have status and have approval, liking, of others as a group dynamic. 

As you can probably already see, feel and perceive the compliance influence principles to which I infer are about how one person fits in with and associates with others that feed our needs and builds our confidence, attitudes and self-esteem that makes us, “US.” 

These principles at home, in society and even in the dojo guide our human behaviors and people will do anything, often at an unconscious level, for those who encourage one’s dreams, failures and successes, help to defray fears and that confirm their beliefs while in the dojo hopefully help them deal with enemies, adversaries and social situations of aggression and anger and violence.

Here is a quote as example: 

Social Comparison

“When humans constantly compare what they have to what others have, and the conclusions humans draw depend on who those people are. A bonus of $40,000 looks terrific when you remember that some of your associates/friends, earn $40,000 a year; but if your friends/associates are traders who earn $40k a week, you'll be disappointed. We are all inherently aspirational; we look to the future rather than to the past, so no matter where we stand, we'll tend to focus on people who have more. This experiences causes us to feel loss, or deprivation, relative to that of other people.”

My Quote derived from above: “When karate-ka/martial artists compare their rank with what others have received, and when their perceptions and conclusions on the rank depend on who those people are effects their attitudes, feelings and perceptions. You can imagine how rank and other such trappings influence our inherently aspirational minds so that we look to the future rather than the past effecting our status and standing where we end up focusing on those who have more. We tend to feel deprivation relative to that of those others creating a competitive feeling and causing us to seek out the rank, levels or grades along with trophies, accolades and a strong drive for social acceptance and approval.” 

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