The Psychiatry of Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Resilience
“You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.” ― Roy T. Bennett (Zimbabwe)
For psychiatry and psychology, hardy people share traits that we call wisdom. Wisdom can be learned from experience, but only if one is mindful of what they do. We become hardy if we apply the subcomponents of wisdom.
Social interactions are governed by rules and standards, such as manners, crucial for maintaining civility and respect in both formal and informal settings. These protocols help prevent hostility, which can lead to feelings of impotence and mental health issues. Promoting civility involves respecting diverse viewpoints and avoiding demeaning behavior. Judith Martin's (Miss Manners) insights highlight the societal need for manners and personal restraint.
The sea is a common metaphor for dealing with life. Today we are living in an intertidal moment which is a period that heralds radical change. Rapid technological advancements have changed our lifestyles about every 20-30 years since the early 1900s and created our storms. Using a sea metaphor, the common advice is to anchor during a storm. This aligns the boat to the wind so it won't capsize. The anchor for us are family and friends, rituals or social institutions, feeling useful, and predictability and reliability in at least part of our lives. In general, being hateul, alienating others, tearing down institutions, degrading or demonizing others, and lying is like an unanchored boat in a storm. This a time to re-read and apply posts on how we learn, how psychological defenses can distort our views, and the importance of holding onto certain manners and use motivational interviewing to better interact with others. Mindfulness meditation is an important process in reflecting on our current condition and adapting to these changes.
Wisdom is not solely about knowledge, but how it's utilized in one's actions, decisions, and problem-solving. Traits of wisdom, as reviewed by Meeks and Jeste, include prosocial behaviors, practical life knowledge, emotional stability, reflective self-understanding, tolerance, and dealing with uncertainty. To cultivate wisdom, daily mindfulness and reflective practices are recommended.
Culture has evolved from valuing character traits to prioritizing personality, heavily influenced by social media's focus on appearances and impressions. An example of Ageism have been undue negative comments about President Biden's abilities when elderly individuals retain wisdom and most cognitive functions. Wisdom can be defined by six subcomponents and can be nurtured. Postive psychiatry is a focus on developing traits that enhance psychological resilience and overall well-being.
Psychological defenses help manage stress and anxiety, altering perception to ease discomfort when direct action isn't possible. These unconscious mechanisms, as outlined in the Harvard Grant Study, range from immature to mature, to defend against anxiety but also lead to prejudices. Cognitive dissonance theorizes that conflicting beliefs lead to changed attitudes to relieve guilt. Insight and reflection are crucial to tackling prejudice.
Mindfulness, a state of heightened awareness, contrasts with mindlessness or "monkey brain." It extends beyond neocortical thought to encompass feelings, art, music, and intuition. Techniques like deep breathing refocus attention internally and fosters comfort with change. It improves emotional regulation. Meditation cultivates focused, experiential reflection, enhancing one's sense of control and presence.