And sometimes air is quite useful. 

 

Helen

 

 

 

You have a TV? I gave mine away 37 years ago. Which is why I'm way above all this accumulative stuff (apart from the two houses, lap-top, greenhouse, goat-shed, garage (no car), 000s of books, £££s worth of clothes, several guitars, G-d knows how much art). Maybe the TV would have stopped me shopping while I watched endless re-runs of Dallas. Btw, there is no Dr Evil and psychology is all air.

C

 

From: Stephanie Meadows <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2012, 15:25
Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] shock horror Dr Evil knows about psychology !!! and he may be using it !

 

Hello all

This year I've been reflecting on how Dr Evil could use the tools, and hard earned knowledge, of community psychology, to bring about World Domination.
.
I've been noticing when I see the 'Community Feel Good' factor (eg. public events such as the olympics, royal wedding etc........or charitable endevours )....... being used to manipulate..... control.... mislead..... cover up......and..... take advantage of.

I've naively assumed in the past...... that community psychology....... is only about....... building communities.

What a lovely image........ lots of monkeys grooming each other...... to create a harmonious society .........where all our needs are met; surely to be groomed is bliss?!!

The impulse to groom........ is it not......... linked to Social Capital?....... A higher community psychological quality?

But...... it's also the science of bringing  people down....... in subtle and invisible ways.

What if Dr Evil decided........ to take advantage........ of noble human qualities.......... such as compassion, empathy, resilience and trust? (surely not! gasp!)

Scientific knowledge does not have a good track record in being used for the Good of All.

 An effective way to do this is to use 'Good' people or behaviour as bait or cover; hunters using the decoy duck.

 An American street phrase for this...... is....... 'Fly Honey'.......... using the allure of sexuality to entice the needy into the club cocaine scene.

 Another famous example on youtube........ is the CCTV footage of a woman putting a cat in a wheelie bin........ she stroked and petted it first..... to get it to trust her, before she grabbed and trapped it.

A third everyday example of this, is how we assume the TV is for our entertainment purposes...... so we willingly pay for our own programming....... getting a bigger screen and surround sound.

Reflecting on my years of volunteering......... particularly in social housing and environmental activism.......... I wonder........ how often.............  have I unwittingly....... been used to further someone else's political agenda.

 We need to be aware of this....... when inviting others to volunteer, participate or give feedback......... in what ways does the Dr Evil in me groom (be nice to/ agree with/ placate) others to get my own way?

 After all....... honestly asking for our needs to be met..... and respecting the yes or no response.......... is such a long winded and tedious process !!!

The psychology of grooming........ look how 'Jim' offers to fix it  in subtle ways everyday.

Santa says be good......... and he'll bring some fizzy sugar drinks and plastic toys........ made by his happy helpers......... in WorkShops......... all over the world.

Such a responsibility......... not only to refine our psychological tools...... but also to wield them....... with increasing awareness........ that others are expertly using these tools too.

welcoming your thoughts including critical ones!  Steph Meadows

___________________________________ There is a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK (to post contact Grant [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK

 

___________________________________ There is a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK (to post contact Grant [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK

___________________________________ There is a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK (to post contact Grant [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK