Mcdonalization

McDonaldization of Society - George Ritzer


The term “McDonaldization” refers to “the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society, as well as the rest of the world.” This theory is based on Max Weber’s concept of rationalization, which is the process of replacing traditional thought with efficiency and formalized social control.   Five major themes within the process of McDonaldization are efficiency, calculability, predictability, increased control, and the replacement of human by non-human technology. This is a problem because although goods may be less expensive, it leads to lower quality goods. The dependence on technology also removes decision making, creating a larger number of unskilled, lesser paying jobs in the economy.

Is Google Making You Stupid? – Nicolas Carr

  2. What problem is the author describing? Why is it a problem?

Carr explains how the internet is affecting how people process information. A study from the University College London showed new forms of reading as users “power browse” looking for “quick wins.” He explains how the human brain is easily influenced, using the invention of the mechanical clock as an example, “we stopped using our senses, and started obeying the clock.” This, along with other technologies, decided when we wake up, eat, and sleep. He also explains how text on the internet is streamlined to make browsing fast, efficient and optimized for profit.   This is a problem because technology will be considered more valuable than humans, sort of like the “McDonalization” of the brain.