Psychotechnology

Psychotechnology is a term used by John Vervaeke to describe ways in which we process information in a standardised fashion that improves our cognition either for ourselves or collectively. A powerful example of an effective psychotechnology is the arrival of literacy and in particular alphabetic literacy replacing ideographic systems, e.g. the more complicated hieroglyphics of the Egyptians. Vervaeke likens psychotechnologies to a piece of software (the tool) that runs on the same hardware (the brain) and greatly enhances its functionality.

Psychotechnologies as Tools
In his introduction to the Awakening from the Meaning Crisis lecture series, Vervaeke points to the brain’s capability to use tools and even model them as if they are a physical part of the body. Giving various examples of tools he is using in the very moment - his clothes, glasses, watch, as well as the lecture theater and its equipment - he explains how these tools can physically fit the body and enhance its biology. Clothes allow a person to modify their ability to move through an environment and carry things around. A pen allows a person to leave permanent marks on a white board. In a similar fashion, a psychotechnology fits the brain and enhances its function.

Just like humans are born without physical tools, they are also born without psychotechnologies. For example, humans are not born literate, but first have to learn this psychotechnology.

Benefits of Psychotechnologies
Vervaeke defines a psychotechnology as a standardised way of doing information processing that improves and enhances your cognition by linking brains together. Your brain to your own, future states of your brain. Your brain to other people’s brains.

Using the example of (alphabetic) literacy, Vervaeke explains how it enables a person to examine their own thoughts and cognition, by giving them the ability to write things down and come back to them later, to take notes and externalise what they would otherwise have to keep in their memory. It allows a person to reflect, to become more aware of their own thoughts, and also to correct those thoughts. Not only can a person use this tool to look at their own cognition, but they can also share their thoughts and ideas with other people.

Metacognition and Second-Order Thinking
Vervaeke further introduces the concept of metacognition which is the knowledge and awareness of one’s own mind. Literacy allows for the better examination, documentation, and shared analysis of one’s own cognition. It creates the capacity for what Robert Bellah refers to as second-order thinking, i.e. the internalisation of a psychotechnology that enhances one’s metacognition.

The Impact of Alphabetic Literacy
Vervaeke points to alphabetic literacy as being of particular importance. Ideographic literary systems have the problem that they are extremely difficult to learn. One has to study these systems for a very long time and to be literate was an actual full time occupation (scribe). It was not only difficult to become literate, but it was also very rare and considered valuable.

Alphabetic literacy is much more learnable, because it greatly simplifies the complexity of the literary system. It is therefore a much more effective and efficient psychotechnology. As a result of the lower complexity, more people are able to learn it, access it, and share its benefits with others.

The better learnability also allows for easier internalisation into one’s metacognition and better access to the benefits of second-order thinking.

Numeracy
To be added.