Gini Nelson’s Engaging Conflicts

Here are my notes for the presentation I made Saturday in the ACR neurobiology series — it’s just notes; you’ll have to go to the links for more information.
October 2007 ACR/Phoenix
Science, Ethics, and Spirit In a High Conflict Practice HIGHLIGHTS
Gini Nelson, MA, JD
www.EngagingConflicts.com

Workshop emphasizes importance of responsible self-education, of gaining literacy in the areas of science, ethics, and spirit. What follows generally are some ideas, examples, and resources to assist.

Science matters, as does psychology:

• http://www.engagingconflicts.com/ (Gini Nelson’s Engaging Conflicts blog)
• http://engagingconflicts.com/index.php/archives/183 (science literacy and science writing)
• http://engagingconflicts.com/index.php/archives/137 (the difference between psychology and neuroscience and why we need psychology)
• http://engagingconflicts.com/index.php/archives/128 (example: “bad” popular science that perpetuates gender stereotypes)

Developments in science, ethics, and spirit can’t easily be presented as black and white, 1s, 2s, and 3s, especially in the context of a quick workshop. These areas are so complex that we should expect a multidisciplinary approach that is “blurry, interesting, useful, and always in beta”:

• http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2007/02/blurry.html (in context of brand marketing and media)

Science, protoscience, pseudoscience:

• http://physics.syr.edu/courses/modules/PSEUDO/moller.html (questions to ask)

Top 5 brain studies findings, simply put:

• • Vastness of brain’s volume — we are unaware of most of what the brain does, including actions and reactions we assume are only done consciously.
  • Plasticity — we can keep learning; indeed, use it or lose it.
  • Animal brain and social brain – we need socialization and education to give the social brain better tools to appropriately integrate with the animal brain.
  • Emotions and biochemicals influence learning.
  • Coaching and visualization influence learning.

Some of the newest and best: science and brain maps– our brain’s awareness extends outside of the limits of our skin; and what makes identical twins different when their genes and upbringing seem to be identical?

• http://www.thebodyhasamindofitsown.com/ (NYT science writer Sandra Blakeslee’s new book)
• http://home.att.net/~xchar/n2a/n2a.htm (Judith Harris’ site for her latest book, No Two Alike)

Top 5 things about cultural biology, simply put:

• • • We all have an “animal,” evolutionary history, with short- and long-term survival mechanisms hardwired into us.
    • Social psychology matters.
    • We have more capabilities (and disabilities) than we tend to think.
    • There are powerful natural forces preventing change within individuals, and cultures.
    • Personal learning matters.
      

Some of the best practical psychological applications:

• Influence: Science and Practice

• http://www.influenceatwork.com/ (social psychologist Robert Cialdini’s business site; he has identified what he calls “six weapons of influence”)

• First Impressions

• http://www.firstimpressionsconsulting.com/ (psychologist Ann Demaris’ business site; she provides the tools for managing and understanding first impressions)

• Emotions Revealed
• http://www.paulekman.com/ (psychologist Paul Ekman’s business site; he identified the 7, universal emotions, and ways to detect lying about them)

• Made to Stick
• http://www.madetostick.com/articles/ (brothers Chip and Dan Heath’s book; why some ideas survive and others die)

Misc.:

• http://www.benziger.org/articles/physfunctions.php (psychologist Katherine Benziger incorporates neurology into Jungian type theory)

Some online resources/blogs that I read:

• http://www.mindhacks.com/
• http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/ (UC ethics professor)
• http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/