​In November one gathering was held over Zoom, the second was face-to-face, and the topic was supposed to be “The Psychology of Christmas”.
 
Of the many joys of being a U3A convener, one of the most satisfying is the interaction between group members, their shared views, some divergent, some mirror images, and many somewhere in between, and the group’s confidence to share these varied views.
 
The group was asked to bring along a topic of personal interest that could be related to “Ethics”. The plan was to spend just one hour (scouts honor) discussing these topics, before exploring the “Psychology of Christmas”.
 
What followed were many hours dissecting, digesting, and deliberating on ethics and theories related to:

1. Mandatory Vaccinations
2. Psychological impacts on children of single or same sex parents.
3. Climate Change, Leadership style and the impact on citizens.
4. Gambling – genetics, superstitions, learned behaviours, culture and advertising impacts.

 
November ended without discussion on “The Psychology of Christmas”. Poor Santa!
 
Demystifying Psychology will take time out for 2022. This decision heightened reflections on group dynamics in the Covid era 2020 and 2021. The 2020 format of the group was quite constructed using the infamous monthly Powerpoint (PP) coupled with guided discussions. This matured into a PP, or content session, plus a discussion session each month, until the current transition into the “performing” phase of our group dynamics. (https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm).
 
So, I hope you can imagine the creative, humorous, and inquiring discussions, plus the potential for respectful controversy, these topics generated. It’s a wonderful stage in group dynamics.

About Santa and Psychology … we WILL consider him (note the political style commitment) at our final gathering over morning tea at:

1. North Eastern Hotel (enter from Mackellar Street entrance)
2. 1 Nunn Street
3. Tuesday 7 December 9.30am to whenever...
4. Depending on weather, seating will be in the courtyard or inside around the fireplace.
5. The courtyard is pet friendly for furbabies. 

Morning Tea:

1. Cuppa (cup size) and cake - $7.50
2. Cuppa (mug size) and cake - $8.50

 
Phillipa will be our host. Please confirm your attendance by Sunday evening.

Everyone experiences the immense value of being a U3A member and the wonderful work U3A Committees do to make this possible.

Thank you  Benalla U3A’s Dorothy, Bev and Heather for guiding me through the role of Convener, for your unending patience (I‘ve earned a PHD in Late Newsletters), and your enthusiasm for the world of psychology. It’s been a ball, I will be back in 2023, and I look forward to participating in groups in 2022.
 
Psychology can be seen as complicated, not relevant to the real world, mind-reading and to be avoided. The purpose of Demystifying Psychology has been to debunk many of these myths. Here are some musings from current group members that might be handy for your plans in 2023.
 
Not too high brow, understandable by anyone, totally relevant, and great to understanding how (the) brain works and people interact. (The) program even better than I expected. The pp presentations great.
(Jan)
 
Psychology as we live it; discussions, explanations and examples of human behaviour, in everyday terms. Fascinating and often fun, and where high-falutin' jargon could not be avoided, (we) translated it.
(Andi)
 
If you want to know what gets into Santa at Christmas, have a look at this month’s PowerPoint.
 
Only the best for 2022,

Jane