What Gave You the Idea We Were Politically Correct?
So I am not the only one who finds the mental health profession entrenched in political correctness. The American Psychological Association just had its 113th annual convention in Washinton D.C. APA conventioneers aired their thoughts on where they thought the field of psychology should go. Shockingly, some participants expressed their views that the association's encouragement of diversity errs on the side of being too "politically correct."
An Industrial psychologist discussed what he thought was "blue state" bias during the convention--and mentioned that speakers there made disparaging references to "red state" officials and showed a viewing of Outfoxed, a film that criticizes alleged right-wing bias in Fox News. One of the leaders of the conference stated that the APA "respects" (note he does not say believes in) free speech and wants to make sure that all perspectives are respected and not silenced. (So I guess next they'll be showing Michael Moore Hates America, right? Right.) APA President Ronald Levant stated that these concerns are being addressed by a Task Force on Diversity and the chair of the Policy & Planning board stated that APA has trained its leaders to have "difficult dialogues" with people of divergent views.
Wow guys, for an organization who states its purpose is to promote a welcoming climate for all psychologists, a lot of us are not feeling it. One APA member recently wrote a letter to the editor stating that "traditionalist views on gender, homosexuality, family and a host of other issues are currently not welcome at APA." "Diversity," the writer states, "has been redefined into a kind of narrow politicism, where differing world views are not only summarily dismissed, but the holders of such views are actually punished."
The APA overall is a well-intentioned organization but they live in a bubble like so many other professional organizations. Maybe they should open up the top and let a little fresh air in--it would be good for all of us.
An Industrial psychologist discussed what he thought was "blue state" bias during the convention--and mentioned that speakers there made disparaging references to "red state" officials and showed a viewing of Outfoxed, a film that criticizes alleged right-wing bias in Fox News. One of the leaders of the conference stated that the APA "respects" (note he does not say believes in) free speech and wants to make sure that all perspectives are respected and not silenced. (So I guess next they'll be showing Michael Moore Hates America, right? Right.) APA President Ronald Levant stated that these concerns are being addressed by a Task Force on Diversity and the chair of the Policy & Planning board stated that APA has trained its leaders to have "difficult dialogues" with people of divergent views.
Wow guys, for an organization who states its purpose is to promote a welcoming climate for all psychologists, a lot of us are not feeling it. One APA member recently wrote a letter to the editor stating that "traditionalist views on gender, homosexuality, family and a host of other issues are currently not welcome at APA." "Diversity," the writer states, "has been redefined into a kind of narrow politicism, where differing world views are not only summarily dismissed, but the holders of such views are actually punished."
The APA overall is a well-intentioned organization but they live in a bubble like so many other professional organizations. Maybe they should open up the top and let a little fresh air in--it would be good for all of us.
posted by Helen at 5:01 PM
15 Comments:
After your post the other day, I've been cruising the APA website. In you post you cited the article that showed the discrepancy in the amount of research between mother and fathers. In his article "Why Study Boys and Man?" (2002), Levant makes this statement in the opening paragraph:
Well, yes, of course, males have been the focal point of most psychological research.
Of course there is a difference between research on fathers and research on men and boys. Using the search feature on the APA home page which, apparently searches for the "APA's most requested documents
by their titles, keywords, and descriptions," I attained these results:
Search word: "men" - 573 results
Search word "women" - 1046 results
This may not be a direct reflection of research either but none of this supports Dr. Levant's statement. In fact, it does just the opposite.
Maybe they not only need to take off the bubble but look around within also.
Hi dadvocate,
Your search results are interesting---There is a new book out by two former APA leaders entitled,"Destructive Trends in Mental Health." I have just ordered the book from Amazon and hope it is read by some of the current leaders at the APA--I will post a review of it at a later time. Maybe with enough dissent from some of their members--both past and previous, the APA will become more aware of their institutional bias.
Keep it up. Organizations like this tend to create a sense of us against the world, while those on the outside see this kind of behavior as evidence that the members aren't trustworthy.
I get ads for Bar association meetings, that are really just junkets for lawyers and bar publications patting the profession on the back for service, and I think about how much it costs to hire an attorney, and I just don't feel like schmoozing with people who think they're entitled to have more because they're so good, kind, etc.
I always thought that psychology was a science, or at least was trying to be one. Sciences have traditionally separated knowledge from the moral decisions relating to do with that knowledge. The PC crowd seems to be deliberately trying to confuse these two issues.
At the risk of insulting Helen, therapists seem to be far worse in this area than researchers. In listening to my classmates, I have this sick feeling that some of them want to be therapists because they like the feeling of telling other people how to live their lives.
Bobh,
Thanks for your comment--I thought psychology was supposed to be advocating science and truth rather than politics but I was wrong. I remember in grad school, one doctoral student telling me that he wished to be a therapist so he could be omnipotent and this is why people went into psychology. At the time, I looked at him like he was a freak and thought he was just an oddball--no, apparently, he was par for the course in the field. I no longer do much therapy--I thought that forensic work would be more objective and it is to some degree--at least psychologists have a jury or judge to monitor their behavior and hold us to higher standards than the profession seems to hold itself. I find much of the psychological research to be biased in favor of the researcher's political views--or at least biased towards a liberal view of diversity etc. It makes me question all of the research--even if it is valid. I believe the political correctness of the profession is destructive to our clients and to society in that it promotes ideology based on politics rather than theories based on facts.
From an economic perspective there is a rational basis for psychology to embrace diversity and other PC causes. It expands the market for psychologists.
The entire notion that everyone falls into some class that can be considered victimized creates millions of potential clients who can be eased through their troubles at $100/session.
There are also thousands of people offering diversity and sensitivity training to American business. Have any readers attended mandatory trainig sessions on race, gender, sensitivity, and diversity?
So, follow the money. I woud be very interested in knowing the number of psycholigists per 1,000 Americans in 1970 vs 2005.
To elliot1,
Well--I don't know the number of psychologists per 1000 Americans but I do know that in 1970, there were 1890 PHD psychologists turned out and 3623 in 2000. However, the number of PHD psychologists has been said to be decreasing since 1998--about 13% in 2004 to 3176. The majority of PHD's are now going to women with 67% of PHD's in psychology going to females. This is a changing trend over the past 20 years with more women entering the field. I think much of the diversity training has to do with more women in the field and the change to one of victimology to pander to both the recipients of psychotherapy and to the providers.
I remember early in my training that the male head of our program discussed with us the change from male to female providers and what this would mean to the field in terms of pay. I remember being alarmed then as I thought that I was getting into a fairly high paying field. I was either stupid, naive or both because the pay (at least in Tennessee) has sunk to a new low.
I find that I am now consider psychology as a hobby and only take cases of interest--working as an entrepreneur has been much less risky for me.
I have long "felt" (since I really have no empirical evidence to offer) that professional organization types, particularly those who strive to achieve leadership positions, have common psychological traits irrespective of the profession. I bet it would make for some interesting study. I have recently tendered my resignation from the ABA due to their far left leadership and policy statements. Plus, I have found the vast majority of organization activists to be pompous and arrogant without any particularly good reason, as opposed to those who are arrogant with cause and whom I consider "self-aware".
I have to agree with elliot1. The new APA president's initiative is "Taking psychology to the people" and "Help make psychology a household word" part of which is having psychological check ups. Superficially, there is nothing wrong with this but I just don't know how many more people from the helping professions we need snooping into our lives. Plus, in my experience, mental health professionals have a tendency to interpret things as a problem when they're not or the problem is something other than what they interpret.
I know there are plenty of good psychologist, social workers, etc. but there are plenty of bad ones too. It scares me to give them too large a role in our society.
The term diversity has been redefined... since it is generally used most by liberals... in this case "diversity" means whatever the liberals think is right - everyone else is wrong - and if you have the utter temerity to try and give your point of view (libertarian or conservative) - you are being oppressive.
One day I want to have someone throw the word diversity at me and I want to say... please define "diversity" before the conversation goes any farther. (personally I think the conversation would end right there).
They showed "Outfoxed" at the college I attended, but I didn't go see it. Someone wrote a letter to editor talking about how biased the film was and I thought it was a good article. It is nice that someone capable of thinking went to the film and then commented on it.
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