​Lockdown meant this months’ Discussion Group was cancelled. So, we particularly look forward to the July gathering which will be the last for the Semester 1 program and a chance to share morning tea. (Details below).
 
But we were luckier with the Content session on 18 June when we looked at child development and addiction.
 
The concept of “child” is relatively modern dating from the 15th century. Moving forward to the more recent era and the notion of “childhood” increases in acceptance and interest characteristics quite distinct from those of adults. The research bank grew, medical knowledge improved, children lived longer which encouraged parental emotional investment, and the legal world offered increasing protection for a child’ right to have a childhood. Many more factors contributed to the current view of childhood as a discreet phase of life.
 
Phillipe Aries – author of Centuries of Childhood (1960) – is credited will being the first to record the historical development of the concept of “childhood”.
 
Many theorists have commented on the development of children. We focused on developmental theorists Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980) and Lawrence Kohlberg (1927–1987). Both hypothesised that children move through discrete stages of development in many areas, and that these stages are consistently observable, including moral development.
 
Paiget’s theorises can be explored with this experiment.  Ask a couple of children of different ages to listen to both the following scenarios, then ask “Who was naughtier?”- Margaret or Marie and why?
 
Scenario #1
A little girl called Margaret went and took her mother’s scissors one day when her mother was out. She played with them for a bit. Then, as she didn’t know how to use them properly, she made a little hole in her dress.
 
Scenario #2
There was once a little girl who was called Marie. She wanted to give her mother a nice surprise and cut out a piece of sewing for her. But she didn’t know how to use the scissors properly and cut a big hole in her dress.
 
Kohlberg (1963) extended Paiget’s theory to include 6 life-time stages. It is fascinating viewing the video of Kohlberg’s “Theory of Moral Development” and reflect on day-to-day examples of each stage.

​After a cuppa break, we looked at the potentially fraught topic of addiction. More often the link between addiction and illicit drugs is the focus of family, community and media concern. In this case we looked at some addictions we tend to make fun of … like chocolate and other carbs. There are cycles for most things and addiction is no different.  The cycles of addiction and change are simple and incredibly useful ways to look at often confusing and discouraging behaviours – of our own and of others.
 
So, I bet you know the most used drugs in Australia? Along with much more information, the answer is in the slide show below. Surprised?

​NEXT GATHERING – Discussion Group at Cooinda Hub, 10 – 12 noon on 6 July. Bring a share plate to celebrate the end of 2021 Semester 1.
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SEMESTER 2 NEWS - 2021 Semester 2 content is different from Semester 1 and begins on Friday 16 July, 1 to 3pm, at Seniors’ building Fawckner Drive. The timetable and topics are on the U3A Demystifying Psychology website page. Queries and/or enroll by contacting me on 0437 621 575 or [email protected]
 
Jane Rushworth

​​Well, no skirting around this (hopefully short) lockdown. Disappointingly, the latest Group Discussion (1 June) was cancelled. If the lockdown is extended (masks on and fingers crossed this will not happen) then Demystifying Psychology will dust off the Zoom link and get on with it! Covid, consider yourself on notice!
 
The calibre of Group Discussions is extraordinary, varied and a delightful surprise. Topics and opinions raised are interesting, queries and comments are fabulously thought-provoking, and the result is proof that footy, religion and politics can be discussed in “polite society”. (More “How to” at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/talking-politics-in-polit_b_11306930)
 
Our most recent Content Session (21 May) was a dense two hour look at three aspects of Social Psychology - “self and others”, “obedience and power”, and “group dynamics”. Put simply, social psychology is about relationships. But, as we all know, there is nothing simple about relationships.

William W. Wilmot’s (1943 – 2013) three paradigmatic view of self and others in relationships was new to us all. His theory is interesting and plausible and its application to the (apparent) USA “individualism” compared to Japan’s (apparent) “collectivism” is worth a read.
 
Obedience and power looked at the Milgram experiment (in which research participants were first duped to participate and then led to believe they had administered a lethal electric shock to another participant … true!). This experiment is considered unethical by current research standards.
 
Starting with the oft quoted “forming, storming, norming and performing” theory of Group Dynamics, the plan was to then expand this theory with a listen to a highly recommendable tedTalk. The speaker describes how teams can emerge out of extreme circumstances, such as emergencies, and how well-functioning teams do get the job done even when members do not even know each other’s names. It was the plan until tech got the better of me. The talk became “homework”. Here’s the link https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_edmondson_how_to_turn_a_group_of_strangers_into_a_team?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tedspread
 
Finally, I love it when researchers read every available study on a topic and then summarise these findings. In the case of Group Dynamics, I am eternally grateful to Hüseyin Gençer who has collated an extensive commentary on group dynamics in a globalized world. Hüseyin Gençer’s paper 'Group Dynamics and Behaviour'  can be downloaded from www.hrpub.org/download/20181230/UJER28-19512242.pdf.
 
Next Sessions:

• Course Content - 18 June at Seniors Building 1pm to 3pm
• Discussion Group – 6 July at Cooinda Hub 10am to 12noon – This is our final Semester 1 session. Bring a morning tea plate to share.

 
2021 Semester 2 begins on Friday 16 July, 1 to 3pm, at Seniors’ building Fawckner Drive. You will find the timetable and topics on the link below or contact me for a copy. Also, queries and/or enroll by contacting me on 0437 621 575 or [email protected]

​Note: The original plan was to repeat Semester 1 content in Semester 2. However, in Semester 1 we covered a little over half the planned content. The left-over content is now in the Semester 2 timetable. Semester 1 people who are joining Semester 2 may wish to skip Session #1 on July 16th … or come along -  it would be lovely to see you back. 

​Jane