RE: [xmca] The power of internalization is overwhelmingly pervasive

I wanted to thank those few who responded (not via xmca, but directly) to my
previous email. For those who, for whatever reason, missed my previous email
and find the topic of internalization interesting enough, I attached some
"bits and pieces" related to the concept of internalization and emotions vs.
exteriorization and appropriation from my unpublished PhD thesis. Please, do
not quote!

However, in this email I wanted to share with all of you my thoughts on the
pervasive power of internalization. I am fascinated by how our brain (or is
it our mind?) works. We educators work extremely hard, for example, to deal
with the problems of bullying, specifically, the most vicious type,
relational bullying, where gossip, hearsay, and rumours rule. In Canada, for
instance, there are numerous calls from various educational groups and
organizations for updated legislation to allow treating online bullying
(cyber-bullying) as a criminal offence. It is, however, regrettably common
to find many teachers-educators not only actively listening to others
spreading gossip, but - what is more disgusting - also witnessing those very
educators spreading the gossip themselves and even acting (or basing their
decisions) upon the gossip - quite often without having any proven shred of
evidence. Yet, what fascinates me most is that some of those educators
belong to the field of educational psychology, and by their very nature
(professional and personal) are supposed to question the validity and verify
the legitimacy of any rumours and gossip. Unfortunately, it is only when one
is cornered legally, that one is forced to think whether there is any actual
evidence to what was so easily believed by many.

Now, isn't it fascinating that we, educators and psychologists, demand one
thing from our students, colleagues, and even governments, but do the
complete opposite, and in that process, surely run the risks of ruining the
reputations and even lives of real and innocent people, and, hence, the
reputation of "education"? We talk the talk but we don't walk the walk.
Perhaps, once internalized, even an unacceptable and distractive (for self
and others) behaviour is hard to undo and change. The power of
internalization is overwhelmingly pervasive and astonishing, isn't it?

It would be nice to hear what others think about it.

Cheers,
Michael G. Levykh,
PhD candidate, Ed. Psych.
Sessional Instructor, SFU

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