I'd appreciate your thoughts on the following:
I noticed that in some posts on the [list], that some people have
mentioned the role/importance of emotion and intellect. You will note that
in experiencing cognitive dissonance some have mentioned the 'unpleasant
emotions' experienced by people receiving new information, which doesn't
fit their mindset or previous perception of the world.
In discussion on talkback radio the other day, about alcoholism, I
mentioned that I did not recognise loss of inhibition, but simply
enhancement of emotions by the drug. There seems to be an underlying
problem in our society and I think alcoholism and marriage breakdown are
symptoms.
In the workplace I have often been in situations which make me feel
physically ill. This emotion hasn't been simply due to confrontation, but
has usually been coincident with the removal of my democratic rights. I
suggest we should recognise and take heed of this feeling, I suggest it is
dangerous. I consider that schizophrenia and manic depressive illness are
both extremes of the same emotional illness, which is exacerbated by
stress. However the emotional component is very important. (Also I believe
the link between marihuana usage and schizophrenia isn't merely
anecdotal.)
The situation in most workplaces, I have been involved with, seems to be
getting worse rather than better, which we would expect with the new
approach to team based management. I wonder what message workers take home
to their families after working in these environments. The degree of
isolation of many people in our communities seems to be extreme in many
cases, so I really think we are not doing it right’ yet.
I suggest what is missing in our society is 'the village well', and
perhaps shopping malls are not a satisfactory substitute, we probably need
a 'safety valve'to remediate the isolation many of us feel.
[Host's Note: Alan, thanks for raising this important topic... Some time
ago we had a sobering discussion about the incidence of depression in the
workplace -- perhaps caused in part by conditions at work. In a learning
organization, work would be fun, exciting, and healthy. Is work healthy in
today's organizations? ..Rick]
--"Alan Cotterell" <acotrel@cnl.com.au>
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