SNOOP

Gosling, S. (2008) Snoop, New York: Basic Book

Dr. Gosling introduces us to something that we know and something that we do. However, it becomes so natural that we don’t give it rational conscious thought.

If we should disappear tomorrow and we have just arrived in new town from our belongings left behind. At least for awhile, other observers begin to make assumptions about us. Gosling has hit gold here and he joins the qualitative end of social psychology, retail anthropology and even law enforcement.

We are our stuff. Of course, we are more than that, but in the material world, stuff is what we buy. We may put it on, consume it, and throw it away in the garbage where someone can look at it.

The author begins with some of the most latest anecdotal findings about what we leave behind and then by chapter 2 drifts into Psychology 101. How many remember the heuristic device of OCEAN? That is the basic 5 components of a personality. Of course there may be more, but at least this is where psychologists start. O is “outgoing” C is for “conscientiousness”, E is “extraversion” A is “agreeableness”, and N is” neuroticism.”

We then find that personality tests are a way to get to know you. This is followed by some strategies that have been used in the past relative to personality followed by another chapter on non-verbal communication.

By now we have learned that space doctoring (impression management of our surroundings to impress others) is something that we may do but get tired of doing it day after day. Again, how we arrange our rooms at work or home again says something about who we are. Further, perhaps without wanting to we may get on the web or have our blog or website and again we do things that say a bit more about ourselves. Further, we are pretty good about this at first, but the fake begins to fade and we are open to snoopers.

By Chapter 7, he is defending stereotypes. If you make them hard and fast that’s not good. However, stereotypes as hypotheses are very helpful and it is a way to build a paradigm about who you may be.

We then traverse the world dealing with culture and personality and ways to measure it. Music is also a good indicator of you.

The last portions are about making the wrong judgments and the clues necessary to correct them and bring snooping into your life. We must also recognize that we all snoop and that it is part of our survival value.

Gossling is an excellent and clever writer. However some of his very good popular cultural examples may quickly become dated. On the other hand, revisions in future editions may not be that bad.  Good read.

Prof. Joel Snell / Kirkwood College