What are the Implications of the "Psychological Conflict"?
(Based on Robbins, L. (2007). An essay on the nature and significance of economic science.)
Robbins in his second chapter says that Economics is the scientific study of those aspects of behaviour which are triggered due to the psychological conflict arising from a system of given ends on one hand, and a set of given social and technical conditions on the other.
Robbins in his first chapter says that an Economist is interested in Relative Valuations which are the different ratios of valuation between substitutable means resulting from the different degrees of their scarcity which in turn depends on variations of means and ends.
Now this far we can deduce that these conflicts have something to do with valuations, they result in them. Thus, by pointing out psychological conflicts as the source of economic actions, it is implied that we are now to study a psychological conflict - the arousal of two or more strong motives that cannot be solved together. Since the arousal of motives implies arousal of feelings, a conflict of motives, equally, is the conflict of feelings. But by feelings, I mean feelings which can trigger an action. For instance, the feeling of humiliation, or of acceptance by ones' group. In each case, we are motivated to act differently. (See https://www.britannica.com/science/conflict-psychology)
Actions, in this sense of Robbins' definition, are consequent of the conflict of feelings, and accordingly in absence of conflicting feelings, economic actions cease. Economic change is consequent of economic actions, we know. Thus, we are further motivated to ask: How conflicting feelings, nation wide, affect our national progress - the positive economic change? Will a society stop evolving, and possibly overcome by another more evolved society, in absence of such conflicts?
But we know from our experiences that beyond a certain level, these conflicts can disintegrate us psychologically, they can defeat us. Thus, what is a level of healthy psychological conflict?
Moreover, since psychological conflict is an arousal of multiple motives, it follows that it ultimately relates with our values, and beliefs because in an absence of a belief, a given motive would not be treated as a motive by an individual. Say, if I am so extremely thirsty but I believe that the water in my last bottle is a lethal poison, I will still abstain from drinking it, for life is still more valued to me. Thus, our beliefs dictate our values, our feelings, our motives, our actions, etc etc.
Anything now is possible! A new conflict can be discovered, or in fact can be designed, if the beliefs and values are understood. This creation of new conflicts is what politics has so frequently done.
The study of economics now takes the most political form, and motivates a further study of psychological conflicts at a national scale.
Thus, since conflicts can be discovered or designed, it follows that we may research what economic rationale results in discovery or design of a new conflict, and how it becomes accepted? What are the consequences of it for growth, and for equity, for welfare and for efficiency etc etc? When do these conflicts play a constructive role, and to what extent a society should allow for creation of new psychological conflicts? And how may it discourage, economically, the further addition of conflicts which defeat the progress, or peace? Not all history bears evidence against creation of conflicts.
In history good examples are present where conflict resulted in competition, and competition in welfare gains. Since a psychological conflict is conflict among motives, it forces us to divert our scarce resources to a resolution such that all opposing ends can be achieved. A society which allows for freedom of expression about social-political issues, usually provides a platform where people can choose to invest their scarce time, and their scarce attention resource, to discover solutions of apparently conflicting motives by means of a competitive debate. Much of achievements of modern world resulted from such peaceful means of resolving psychological conflicts.
Simply, now we have a new focus - to study the creation and role of psychological conflicts in political history through the lens of scarce-substitutable means given the multiple-immutable ends. And this again demands us to consult another science, and import its findings, conduct mathematical analysis, discover and communicate the economic rationale of the conflict of feelings, and of their role in society.