From: Andrew Phelps <math_anxiety@yahoo.com>
Subject: [withholdapadues] blog on strategy
To: withholdapadues@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 4:54 PM
Hi
I wish I could be in Boston this weekend.
The "strategic helplessness" of the APA does not just mean they have to be reined under control. The referendum and the Presidential bid are very important, but they don't constitute by themselves a comprehensive response. I hope for the very best for them.
The longterm problem is to put the "soul" of the APA back in order. In a low-key way characteristic of the client/survivor people, I've written a blog jointly with Lynne Stewart (not the attorney, but the activist who was first leader of the California Network of M.H. Clients 20-25 years ago). It's called "Creative Maladjustment and Learned Helplessness" and it's posted on the
PsySR Blog site.The term "creative maladjustment" relates to a program for reforming "behavior science" presented to the APA in 1967 by Martin Luther King, Jr. The term "learned helplessness" relates to an ideology that Jane Mayer has identified as central to today's torture practices. It is also embedded in today's behavioral health practices: As the New Freedom Commission report indicates, we have a "system in shambles." The strategic need is to develop the positive alternative — that's what will deconstruct the learned helplessness dynamism.
I hope the conference goes well and the demo is motivational. And I hope folks will reflect on the
strategic problem of how to mend the soul of the APA.
Andrew Phelps
On Tue, 8/12/08, Mmm wrote:
From: Mmm
Subject: Re: [withholdapadues] Bryant Welch Conversation at APA
To: withholdapadues@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 1:30 PM
Oh too bad I canšt come! I hope someone will let us know what he says :-)