Social engineering

Social engineering is a discipline in social science that refers to efforts to influence particular attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale, whether by governments, media or private groups in order to produce desired characteristics in a target population.

Levels of Social Engineering, according to rival size:

1. 1 Vs 1 Action Level is Social engineering stimulated by a single action, a single encounter or conversation perhaps. in this regard any single cognitive bias could be implemented as a gambit. As it could be used to win an argument or change an outcome of a single interaction.

Examples to further expand:

WE methods, this is the lowest level, lowest tier. You are dealing with a scripted opponent with predefined responses, who has little or no vested interest in the product or product profits.

Taking candy from a baby, a baby is easily tricked or confused, but has a vested interest in the candy and limited, but not predefined responses. (that's right WE methods are literally easier than taking candy from a baby)

Convincing someone to do something they want to do, but may have repercussions, convincing someone to cheat on a bad relationship, do drugs after being clean for a while and so on.

Convincing someone to do something they don't want to do, but with no ethical, social or legal repercussions. like taking up smoking, or help you do something that requires effort.

Convincing someone to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact, something like helping you commit a criminal act, robbery

Convincing someone to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact with distinct knowledge of unavoidable negative consequences, something like helping you commit a criminal act, armed robbery, assault or possibly rape.

The same as 6. but an emotional connection to the possible target,

The same as 7 but a very strong sense of personal danger is also relevant.

Convincing someone, in a single conversation to kill them selves.

Convincing someone, in a single conversation to kill them selves and others.

2. 1 vs 1 Battle Level is Social engineering that can be used to decide the result of a single battle. A battle is to be considered as gaining ground and presence in some ones permanent thought processes. Either as a friend, ally or acquaintance if positive or enemy, opponent or nemeses if negative. Regardless of your intended goals the outcome decides the status level of the gambits.

Examples to further expand:

Gaining a passing friendship with an a small business staff resulting in small discounts, they have no vested interest in the product or the business success, though encouraging regular customers is still a positive business practice.

Making an actual friend, acquaintance or potential business partner.

Removing an established friendship or relationship, we are naturally social so it can be harder to break relationships rather than establish them.
Convincing someone to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact, something like helping you commit a criminal act, robbery
Subverting someone's memories or interpretation of past events, either by being convinced you have been responsible for their previous actions or that they are responsible for events you have caused.
Convincing someone to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact with distinct knowledge of unavoidable negative consequences, something like helping you commit a criminal act, armed robbery, assault or possibly rape.
The same as 6. but an emotional connection to the possible target,
The same as 7 but a very strong sense of personal danger is also relevant.
Convincing someone, to kill them selves.
Convincing someone, kill them selves and others.

3. 1 vs Group (2-10) Tactical Level is Social engineering that can affect two to three battles at the same time, or a group of people. Usually at this level you have "won" a few "battles" and have either a few allies or proxies working towards your ends with in the group. A Group can be considered 1 social circle.

Examples to further expand:

Gaining acceptance into a group or social construct.
Gaining a leadership role in such a group or social construct.
Gaining a strong leadership role, uncontested position, with faithful support./ Or gaining a leadership role while removing an incumbent opposition.
Convincing a group to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact, something like helping you commit a criminal act, robbery
Subverting a groups memories or interpretation of past events, either by being convinced you have been responsible for their previous successes or that they are responsible for events that cause you failure. Spin essentially.
Convincing a group to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact with distinct knowledge of unavoidable negative consequences, something like helping you commit a criminal act, armed robbery, assault or possibly rape.
The same as 6. but an emotional connection to the possible target,
The same as 7 but a very strong sense of personal danger is also relevant.
Convincing a group, to kill them selves.
Convincing a group, to kill them selves and others.

4. 1 vs Collective (10-100) Strategic Level - is Social engineering of an even greater scale compared to Tactical Level Social engineering. This type of Social engineering can have effects that last for a life time and has the ability to destroy persons sense of self, or their entire social capital rating with in a collective. A collective can be considered to be everyone A person knows, everyone with in 1 degree of separation, all friends, work colleagues and family members. Though one "Battle" can give you total control over a person, and you may then coerce an individual to sabotage their own Collective. Thus an instance of a battle being a strategic victory. Though that would be wholly malicious and self defeating.

Examples to further expand:

Gaining a notable position in a Collective, this may be just a leadership role in a group, Imagine being a class rep, or union rep in school or work.
Gaining a leadership role in such a Collective, this might be like student council president or union treasurer or something, usually a result of a second selection processes between other notable people of equal status.
Gaining a strong leadership role, uncontested position, with faithful support./ Or gaining a leadership role while removing an incumbent opposition.
Convincing a Collective to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact, something like helping you commit a criminal act, robbery
Subverting a Collective memories or interpretation of past events, either by being convinced you have been responsible for their previous successes or that they are responsible for events that cause you failure. Spin essentially.
Convincing a Collective to do something they neither want to do, nor will they be clean and clear after the fact with distinct knowledge of unavoidable negative consequences, something like helping you commit a criminal act, armed robbery, assault or possibly rape.
The same as 6. but an emotional connection to the possible target,
The same as 7 but a very strong sense of personal danger is also relevant.
Convincing a Collective, to kill them selves.
Convincing a Collective, to kill them selves and others.

5. 1 vs Organization (100-1000) War Level is Social Engineering that is capable of deciding a war. An organization can be considered to be a collage, large company or social movement. I call it War Level mainly because I started the theme and I want to stick with it, but also because a "social movement" is often a result of social engineering, and is essentially an army. That Kony 2012 Social movement would be a perfect example, the supporters were essentially an army waging a propaganda war for a cause, all articulated by the organizations founder. Though I would argue that his subsequent mental break was a sign he was unprepared and that it was unintentional. I would consider the Kotaku Vs GamerGate to be a War Level event.

6. 1 vs Society (1000+) National Level is Social engineering that is capable of affecting an entire nation. Traditionally pulled off by nations themselves or international media conglomerates. It is possible to commit War Level social engineering attacks against such media conglomerates and create a National Level event. This is often the goal of terrorism, create an act that the Media can not ignore and use them to proxy your message and agenda to a national stage.

7. 1 vs Collective Societies (2+ countries) Continental Level is Social engineering that can affect an entire continent or multiple countries. I would say one of the few instances this occurred is the "Communism Vs Capitalism" propaganda war during the cold war. It was very much a war, and there was conflict but it was mostly a war about ideas and opinions. It is interesting to see at this level, countries almost become individuals and we return to an abstract version of Battle Level and Tactical Level where entire countries are used as proxies to remotely fight in ideological warfare.

8. 1 vs world Global Level is Social engineering that can decide the existence or fate of the whole world. This is purely theoretical level admittedly then again at Tactical Level I would have said National Level Social engineering would be impossible for an individual. Only after exploring War Level Social engineering did i see the potential for it. Currently I would deem Religions at Continental Level though if one were to "win out" over all the others it could be considered Global Level