Post on 20-Feb-2023
'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Globalizing Psychology:
Presented at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association ~24 April 2014
Robin Lynn Treptow, PhDWisdom for the Body & for the
Soul
Learning objectives:
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
*adaptable for the general public
... name two psychological concepts from the recent
literature apropos to openness to others.
... grasp how to apply 'openness to the other' (as conceptualized by
Fowers & Davidov in 2006) to sustainable world peace.
... comprehend why challenging war's presumed inevitability can bring
lasting human harmony.
Modus operandi'Self-fulfilling prophecy'
Despite evidence that lasting peace can be achieved (Staub, 2013)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Self-fulfilling prophecy has been implied as a driving force to war's continuation (Leidner, Tropp, & Lickel, 2013)
Objective noncontingency—>>
How Does This Work? 'Universal learned
helplessness'
perception of present & past noncontingency—>attribution for present or past noncontingency—>expectation of future noncontingency—>symptoms of helplessness
(Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978: Figure 1, p. 52)
Flow of events leading to helplessness
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Three levels of peaceableness
3) International peaceablenesse.g., war & its sequelae
1) Intrapersonal peaceableness e.g., disease & death2) Interpersonal peaceableness
e.g., violence & crime
(Nelson, 2013)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Absence of harmony amongst all peoples has been elusive in history
So why this peace theory now?
[C]ross-cultural & multicultural literature consistently
indicates that
APA (2003, p. 382)
• all people are multicultural beings• all interactions are cross-
cultural • all of our life experiences
Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Practice, & Organizational Change for
Psychologists
are perceived & shaped within our own cultural perspectives
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
"... allAPA (2003, p.
380)
context..."
interpers
onal interactions occur within
amulticultural
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
to provide
thereby promoting societal
"... psychologists are in a position
(APA, 2003; p. 382)
as agents of prosocial change,
understanding, affirmation, &
appreciation multiculturalism..."
advocacy, & social justice
leadership,
of
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Link
'the virtue of multiculturalism
' world peace!
to(Fowers & Davidov, 2006)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
• Cultural variance in balance between "me" & " we"
What is good needs to be
Wong (2011)
BOTH• for the individual • & the common good
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Defer goals & objectives to the will of the group
Collectivistic cultures Prefer interdependence Harmony with others
Conformity with social norms
A.P. Fiske (1998) Wong (2011)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Wong (2011)
• Self esteem
• Achievement• Life
satisfaction
Positive individual outcomes
Positive group outcomes• Harmonious
relationships• Group morale• Collaborative success
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
MULTICULTURALISM OVERVIEW
• Effective via ethical force
• A process of acquiring• Self-awareness• Cultural knowledge
• Skills
• Inclusion• Social justice
• Mutual respect
Fowlers & Davidov (2006)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
What is openness to the other?Capacity to recognize & appreciate differences in cultural
beliefs & practicesPersonality trait requisite to achieving mutual affirmation, inclusion, &
equity
Staying true to one's own worldview
Fowlers & Davidov (2006)
Quality of personhood
not generally naturally present in people
(per Western culture psychology)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Robust Pacifism In The Public Square:
Yoking the Virtue of Multiculturalism to World Peace
Relevant background
Common reactions towards persons in outgroups (APA, 2003) Automatic
biases Stereotypic attitudes
Persons tend to use their worldview to categorize others (S. Fiske, 1998)
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 585)
• Categorize others & • Favor one's own group
1) Much effort to recognize biases2) Discomfort to set them aside3) Ongoing exertion & practice to change one's perceptions & actions
require
Unconscious processes to
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
THE VIRTUE ETHICS LENSFowlers & Davidov
(2006)• Way to absorb & embody • Personal self-examination
• Commitment• Transformationnecessary to behave in aculturally competent way
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
MULTICULTURALISM OVERVIEWFowers & Davidov
(2006)• Emphasizes reducing harm • Positive aims of• Social understanding• Inclusion• Affirmation• Harmony in a pluralistic world
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
MULTICULTURALISM RATIONALEFowers & Davidov
(2006)A monoculture psychology is• Less accurate & generalizable
• Distortive & oppressive• Makes psychology's
promotion of human welfare less effective• Undermines very legitimacy of psychology
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Fowers & Davidov (2006)EXAMPLE
• Culturally competent therapist acts• knowledgeably• consistently
with openness to the other• Said openness is oft hard-won
• Thus, it constitutes a virtue
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
VIRTUE OF MULTICULTURALISM
2) requiring strength of character
"openness to the other"3) knowledge about openness to the other 4) consistent action that is open to the other
those who are culturally different from oneself 6) guided by wise choices
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 584) 1) pursuit of worthwhile goals
5) motivated by anunconditional respect & interest in
(i.e., esteeming & valuing of all possible others)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 586)How one learns character strengths
• By identifying & counteracting• By altering one's cognitions in line with one's knowledge about the virtue
• Through gradual efforts
• By practicing them
who habitually engages in these cognitions & actions.
Intentionally
• Becoming the kind of person
contrary desires
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 586)
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 588)
involves more than knowledge & behavioral skill.
"Knowledge about culture
when one enacts it."
"Openness to the other is only real
helps to elevate naive goodwill to a solid capacity to reach out to
others across cultural differences."Cultural competence
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 588)
(i.e., internalizing them)
spontaneous enactmentopenness to the other
is a hallmark of virtue that grows out of making these
traits SECOND NATURE
The
of generosity, honesty, courage, or
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Van Doesum, Van Lange, & Van Lange (2013)
Social mindfulness
• To act mindfully towards another person's• Skill (able to see the need)
• Interdependence-based social decision-making paradigm
leaving choice options for others
control over outcomes• Will (prosociality;
empathy)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Van Doesum, N. J. (2013)
• Empathy
• Positively related to
• Prosocial orientation
• Social mindfulness in personality
•Agreeableness•Honesty-Humility
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Dahlsgaard, et al (2005, p. 206)Shared virtues across culture & history
• Temperance--protects against excess
• Justice-civic strengths that underlie healthy community life
• Courage-emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition
• Humanity-tend or befriend others
• Transcendence-provide meaning via connections to the larger universe
• Wisdom-cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition & use of knowledge
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
5/24/13
With ThoseUnlike
Oneself (wisdom)
With Oneself(courage
[authenticity])
With Truth (transcendence)
With Those One Has Never Met Or May Never Meet(justice)
With The Natural World(temperance)
With Those Whom One
Meets Daily (humanity)
HarmonyGlobalizing Psychology:
'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's Better Good
Harmony With Those
Unlike Oneself (wisdom)Harmony
With Oneself
(authenticity)
World Peace
(justice)
Harmony With The Natural
World(temperance)
Harmony With Those
Whom One Meets Daily
(humanity)
Harmony With Truth (transcendence)
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Based on Wong (2011)1) Feeling
blessed & fortunate due to
a sense of awe, gratitude, & oneness with nature or God
2) Meaning & virtue rooted in both inner goodness & the common good3) Living a fully-engaged life grounded in
social mindfulness 4) Evaluating one's life as satisfying
Assets to Self Via Openness to the Other
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
References American Psychological Association. (2003). Guidelines on
multicultural education, training, research, practice, & organizational change for psychologists. American Psychologist, 58(5), 377-402.
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists & code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073.
Dahlsgaard, K., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P.(2006). Shared virtue: The convergence of valued human strengths across culture & history. Review of General Psychology, 9(3), 203-213.
Fowers, B. J. & Davidov, B. J. (2006). The virtue of multiculturalism: Personal transformation, character, & openness to the other. American Psychologist, 61(6), 581-594.
Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Rosenblatt, A., Veeder, M., Kirkland, S., & Lyon, D. & Davidov, B. J. (1990). Evidence for terror management theory II:The effects of mortality salience on reactions to those who threaten or bolster the cultural worldview. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 58(2), 308-318.
Pyszczynski, T., Motyl, M., Vail, III, K., Hirschberger, G., Arndt, J., & Kesebir, P. ( 2012). Drawing attention to global climate change decreases support for war. Peace & Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Electronic copy available at http://SMS.com/abstract=2155355
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
References Rosenblatt, A., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski,
T., & Lynn, D. (1989). Evidence for terror management theory: I. The effects of mortality salience on reaction to those who violate or uphold cultural values. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 57(4), 681-690.
Van Doesum, N. J., Van Lange, D. A. W., & Van Lange, P. A. M. ( 2013). Social mindfulness: Skill & will to navigate the social world. Journal of Social Psychology, 105(1), 86-103.
Vail & Motyl (2010). Change name to accurate title, et cetera...! nasty breeds nice: Threats of violence amplify agreeableness at national, individual, & situational levels. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 103(4), 622-634.
White, A. E., Kendrick, D. T., Li, Y. J., Mortensen, C. R., Neuberg, S. L., & Cohen, A. B. (2012). When nasty breeds nice: Threats of violence amplify agreeableness at national, individual, & situational levels. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 103(4), 622-634.
Wohl, M. J. A. & Bramscombe, N. R. (2005). Forgiveness & collective guilt assignment in historical perpetrator groups depend on level of social category inclusiveness. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 88(2), 288-303.
Wong, T. F. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 69--81.
Globalizing Psychology:'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
'Openness to the Other' for Humanity's
Better Good
Globalizing Psychology:
Presented at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association ~24 April 2014
Robin Lynn Treptow, PhDWisdom for the Body & for the
Soul
Robust Pacifism In The Public Square:
Yoking the Virtue of Multiculturalism to World Peace
Fowers & Davidov (2006, p. 588)
& interest in
...not mere tolerance...but
& directly involves an
that grows out of
affective/
emotional set
cultural differences
heartfelt appreciation of
unrestrained involvement beyond the cognitive &
behavioral elements
Robust Pacifism In The Public Square:
Yoking the Virtue of Multiculturalism to World Peace
Magnifying the Clinical Lens
Openness to the other
Philosophical Tenets of Multiculturalism• Respect & inclusiveness
• Recognition of cultural contexts
• The role of external forces
(APA, 2003; p. 380)
for the national heritage of ALL cultural groups.as defining forces for individuals' & groups' lived experiences.such as historical, economic, & sociopolitical events.
Teaching Human Goodness at the Cultural Core Level:
A Nascent Paradigm for Peace