A Reflection: The Post Office Scandal and the Power of Empathy
Victims, journalists, lawyers, and some politicians have struggled for more than 20 years to right the injustice and pain caused to sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses by the Post Office Horizon scandal. But it took a TV drama to make the Government face up and take urgent action. Why? The drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office,... Continue reading→
2 President Trump: Poster Boy for Misdirection
In this article I want to show how the behaviour and actions of ex-President Trump, both in and out of office, graphically illustrate the power of the unconscious mind to misdirect us, sometimes disastrously. Trump provides a text-book demonstration of the dark side of the unconscious mind and the havoc it can wreak - as... Continue reading→
1 Magic and Misdirection: an introduction
We believe we’re rational beings. We identify with our conscious - thinking - minds. They’re where we locate our ‘selves’. But, actually, our unconscious minds – our intuitions and emotions - are in charge. The psychologist, Jonathan Haidt has compared the relationship between our two minds to that of an elephant and a rider. The rider – the conscious mind – thinks he is directing the elephant. But the elephant – the unconscious mind - is much stronger and more powerful. If the elephant wants to go in a different direction, the elephant will always win. Continue reading→