In Beethoven’s Anvil I cited Kierkegard, Ernst Becker and Franz Borkeneau in asserting (p. 90): “Our intelligence allows us to know that we will die, and the rituals though which we mark death are among the most important and intense we perform. I suggest that without such rituals, death threatens to become a psychological trap for the living. Periodic participation in ritual musicking reduces one’s sense of isolation and attaches one to the group, as Freeman has suggested, making one’s individual fate a matter of less concern.“
There is a body of theory more or less devoted to arguing that culture is primarily a device for dealing with our fear of death, Terror Management Theory. Here’s the opening of the Wikipedia entry:
In social psychology, terror management theory (TMT) proposes a basic psychological conflict that results from having a desire to live but realizing that death is inevitable. This conflict produces terror, and is believed to be unique to human beings. Moreover, the solution to the conflict is also generally unique to humans: culture. According to TMT, cultures are symbolic systems that act to provide life with meaning and value. Cultural values therefore serve to manage the terror of death by providing life with meaning.
At roughly the same time I came across an article with a very long title: Philip T. Hoffman, Why was it that Europeans conquered the rest of the world? The politics and economics of Europe’s comparative advantage in violence (PDF). The article argues that while it is not clear, in general, just when “Western Europe first forged ahead of other parts of the world,” it is clear that in one area, the ability to wage war, Europe had “an undeniable comparative advantage well before 1800...” While the whole argument is interesting, I’m interested in one sentence, from page 11: “In an era before nationalism motivated troops, armies had to be centralized, for if soldiers (many of whom were mercenaries) were scattered across a country, desertions would soar.”
There it is, our old friend death. Nationalism made a difference in how states could motivate their troops. Nationalism is one of those cultural inventions that distances us from death.
How then to guide people in learning not to be afraid of their courage?
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found helpful when speaking to my future daughter in- law who will have to scan each patient with Pneumonia. She will be at the front line of this.
ReplyDelete" What do you do to relax?"
"I go to the gym"
I had asked here if she had to change out of the hazard suits worn after every patient.
Yes.
Noticed from watching images of passengers coming off the cruise ships that when changing, (a) suits did not appear well designed (b) folks were attempting to do the task on their own which did not look good.
Here response was they now pair up and do not work alone as before. Like a fast costume change in the theater you have to be in sync and have complete trust in you're partner here. Mind reading, any issue is going to be dealt with, without much need for verbal communication or instruction.
Vastly reduces stress in a high speed high stress enviroment.
Trying to get here to see how 'going to the gym' is related both in developing that sense of rhythm and in getting in to the 'zone' where calculations can be made free of stress, at speed and at a distance.
Frighting place to be but in regard to the situation. People are having to sync up, and learn how to do that.
Learning on the hoof, dictated by the situation.
Its not yet a routine and stress levels seem from what I can see to be the significant issue.
Its highly disruptive in regard to this form of learning.
Stress is a significant issue here I think. Answers to this issue and they should be taken up at speed.