In lockdown v.7 for Benalla Demystifying Psychology (aka Psychology Simplified) relied on on-line get-togethers. While this suited many people, it was not the preferred option for just as many others. Sadly, this meant some missed out. From a convener’s position this was unsatisfactory, even if it is the only option in lockdowns.
 
Like many of you, I became exasperated with the most recent lockdown – surprisingly so! I thought another lockdown would be “Ho, hum ... familiar” and I was confused that I felt otherwise. I felt flat and cranky (like 3-year-old “out of sorts”). The media was reporting on “Covid fatigue”. This seemed a reasonable explanation. So, I had grown-up words for “flat and cranky”, and then the region re-opened. I feel energised again with a more understanding of reactions to this Covid era.
 
Hope you have increased energy in this most beautiful Northeast spring.
 
In August and September our group looked at a “Day in the Life of Residential AoD Rehabilitation”. (“AoD” is short for “Alcohol and Other Drugs”, and “Residential Rehabilitation” tends to be shortened to “Resi Rehab”.) Benalla Rural City hosts a Resi Rehab located at Molyullah, so the group had many interesting questions to ask and comments to make. These questions and comments guided our group discussions and, along with the PowerPoint  “U3A – A Day in the Life of a Resi Rehab”  made up the content of 2 sessions.
 
Here are some insightful recollections/portrayals of the ordinariness of addiction and a sample of life in Resi Rehab.

• Luke Williams, a Melbourne-based journalist Resi Rehab diary. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/feature/rehab-diaries
  
  
• SBS Addicted Australia: Episode 1 https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1812256323517/addicted-australia-s1-ep1 
  
  
• Movie “28 Days”, Staring Sandra Bullock

 
See the course content in the Powerpoint “U3A – A Day in the Life of a Resi Rehab”:

​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