No. 620, November 2, 2009

Culture as a key to personal growth

I have enjoyed four days on a lecture tour in Sweden with Canadian psychologist and pioneer Dr. Gordon Neufeld, visiting Stockholm, Gothenburg and Uppsala. The experience leaves several impressions.

"The pedagogy used in school does not fit all children today", says Dr. Neufeld on the extra Strategies seminar. All over the Western world today children are more sensitive, in addition to various forms of psychological ill health. This needs an education based on psychological attachment, says Dr. Neufeld, after in depth having presented other learning strategies.

Dr. Neufeld is a developmental psychologist and makes a point of differentiating himself from behavioural psychology. Developmental psychology is based on the teachings of Freud, Piaget, Bowlby, Eriksson, Maslow and others. They contend that the human being goes through different stages of growth during the life cycle. The individuation process – to become a mature human being – is a key concept in developmental psychology, which is also supported by neuroscience today.

At the Mireja Institute breakfast meeting Dr. Neufeld explained how the Western world has lost many traditions which nourish the psychological bonds needed to learn and grow. When family, relatives and local society loses attachment, personal growth and individuation is impaired.

Fifty years ago school was within a child’s "Village of attachment". Today, through social change, not every child has a psychological attachment to their school. School exists outside of their Village of attachment making education more difficult.

At evening lectures in Stockholm and Gothenburg Dr. Neufeld talks to parents on the theme of his book Hold On To Your Kids. Also parenthood has become difficult through peer-orientation which strongly competes with parenting today, says Dr. Neufeld. Peer-orientation makes it more difficult for parents to connect emotionally to their children, which in turn makes it more difficult for other adults – like teachers. As vulnerability increases, individuation and personal growth will suffer.

Dr. Neufeld gives lectures in many countries. I ask him about Sweden. "There are countries with greater cultural challenges than Sweden", he answers. "The notion of attachment is still alive in Sweden – there are countries where it is dead." Still, all of the Western world needs to recreate the attachment culture which was lost during industrialisation if we are to keep growing as humans beings, Dr. Neufeld continues.

In Provence in Southern France and on the Greek island of Corfu the attachment culture is still strong as these places were never industrialised, says Dr. Neufeld.

Dr. Neufeld talks with the knowledge of a professor using an intuitive language easy to understand. A true pioneer – this knowledge will eventually shape the world.

Creative regards! Jonas Himmelstrand

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