the psychology of change: is the wet fish over-rated?
Cafe Disruptif is just that. An informal gathering with food and drink...but with the addition of deliberately disruptive thought, via speakers, discussion, and the opportunity to find support and kindred spirits. Just like in a normal cafe. But better. Our latest event was a pilot gathering at the splendid Interactive Space at the Environment and Sustainabilility Institute at the Tremough Campus of the University of Exeter, in Penryn, who also supported the event with a generous contribution towards costs. More info below...and watch this space for the next event...
The Psychology of Change: Sept 28th, 2017: Environment and Sustainability Institute, Tremough Campus, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall
"We are living in very strange times and much needs to change for the better - we know this. However, slapping someone round the chops with a wet fish because "they just don't get it" is an over-rated technique for making change happen. Especially when that change involves understanding, and connecting with, the contrary hot mess that is the human mind. So what if when we're working our butts off to change our collective response to climatic change, to migration and refugees, to living more sustainability, to living low impact lives and running ethical businesses - what if we actually put some effort into understanding why some other people find this stuff SO hard to engage with?
If you're trying to deliver change and want to find a way to understand other people's resistance to the change you feel in your bones is utterly crucial for a better world for us all - this day will help.
Who joined us to share their piece of the wisdom jigsaw ...
Professor Paul Hoggett is the Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at UWE, Bristol where he was co-founder of the Centre for Psycho-Social Studies. He is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and has been involved in training and consultancy to public and voluntary organisations for many years. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books, including (1992) Partisans in an Uncertain World: the Psychoanalysis of Engagement (London: Free Association Books) and (2009) Politics, Identity & Emotion (Boulder, Col: Paradigm). He was co-founder and is currently Chair of the Climate Psychology Alliance which seeks to bring insights from depth psychologies to our understanding of collective paralysis in the face of dangerous climate change.
Rosie Robison is Senior Research Fellow at the Global Sustainability Institute with particular expertise in consumption and change. Rosie researches how sustainable lifestyles - the ways we consume energy, food, goods, and travel experiences - fit within society. Her work explores personal journeys of change towards lower consumption, and tools to facilitate change, from the latest apps to mindfulness. Having led a number of interdisciplinary networks, she looks at how different communities can work together, as well as how they can constructively disagree.
Sound intriguing? As an introduction to the Cafe Disruptif programme, we're running this day in a welcome collaboration with the splendid Environment and Sustainability Institute at Tremough Campus in Falmouth and Permanently Brilliant and we want to mix things up a bit....on purpose. We'll look at how we all look at the environment, at social issues and at economic presumptions and by the end of the day have a much better idea of why we - and others - behave as we do - ie stick our fingers in our ears - in the face of the huge change we need to undertake to make the world a survivable place for us all. We're all working hard to make change happen - why don't we find out how to make it a little more possible?"
And so we did...
The Psychology of Change: Sept 28th, 2017: Environment and Sustainability Institute, Tremough Campus, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall
"We are living in very strange times and much needs to change for the better - we know this. However, slapping someone round the chops with a wet fish because "they just don't get it" is an over-rated technique for making change happen. Especially when that change involves understanding, and connecting with, the contrary hot mess that is the human mind. So what if when we're working our butts off to change our collective response to climatic change, to migration and refugees, to living more sustainability, to living low impact lives and running ethical businesses - what if we actually put some effort into understanding why some other people find this stuff SO hard to engage with?
If you're trying to deliver change and want to find a way to understand other people's resistance to the change you feel in your bones is utterly crucial for a better world for us all - this day will help.
Who joined us to share their piece of the wisdom jigsaw ...
Professor Paul Hoggett is the Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at UWE, Bristol where he was co-founder of the Centre for Psycho-Social Studies. He is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and has been involved in training and consultancy to public and voluntary organisations for many years. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books, including (1992) Partisans in an Uncertain World: the Psychoanalysis of Engagement (London: Free Association Books) and (2009) Politics, Identity & Emotion (Boulder, Col: Paradigm). He was co-founder and is currently Chair of the Climate Psychology Alliance which seeks to bring insights from depth psychologies to our understanding of collective paralysis in the face of dangerous climate change.
Rosie Robison is Senior Research Fellow at the Global Sustainability Institute with particular expertise in consumption and change. Rosie researches how sustainable lifestyles - the ways we consume energy, food, goods, and travel experiences - fit within society. Her work explores personal journeys of change towards lower consumption, and tools to facilitate change, from the latest apps to mindfulness. Having led a number of interdisciplinary networks, she looks at how different communities can work together, as well as how they can constructively disagree.
Sound intriguing? As an introduction to the Cafe Disruptif programme, we're running this day in a welcome collaboration with the splendid Environment and Sustainability Institute at Tremough Campus in Falmouth and Permanently Brilliant and we want to mix things up a bit....on purpose. We'll look at how we all look at the environment, at social issues and at economic presumptions and by the end of the day have a much better idea of why we - and others - behave as we do - ie stick our fingers in our ears - in the face of the huge change we need to undertake to make the world a survivable place for us all. We're all working hard to make change happen - why don't we find out how to make it a little more possible?"
And so we did...
Three of the discussions: Paul Hoggett, Rosie Robison and Sue Hill and Mercedes Kemp of Wildworks poke some sharp sticks into our presumptions about what makes us act, think, engage, disengage and face up to change :
What participants said afterwards:
“The sessions were inspiring – uplifting -. Some of it heart-breaking and overwhelming … inspirational people waking me up to doing more – energising…”
“Brilliant – thought-provoking on so many levels. What struck me most..is the wealth of experience, expertise and amazingness that we have at our fingertips to affect change. It felt great to be in a room filled with amazing creatives”
“I’ve gone from 5 on a scale of ten re my ability to create change to 7/8 – people power!”
“Today was extremely inspirational and an eye opener. We are not alone and like-minded people are here to help each other.”
“I feel more able to effect change now, much to learn!”
“Really enjoyed – feeling moved, inspired, educated – am now on the road to recovery from a minor case of environmental melancholia!”
“The theatre group were totally amazing – feel energised!”
“Loved Wildworks – want more info. Will use today very much in personal life as well as work”
“Am excited about a new and inspiring network to connect with!”
“[Very struck by] Paul Hoggett (social science professor) and Sue Hill [Wildworks Cornish theatre company] – I leave feeling emotionally enlivened, and unburdened by better understanding of others”
“Loved the range of disruption - ain’t that great - what an amazing bunch of storytellers!”
“Fantastic event…really good to feel part of a creative effective movement”
“What a brilliant day – what brilliant women - what brilliant people. Small event packing a MASSIVE punch”
“What has struck me most is the [theatre company’s] Port Talbot story – emotional, inclusive, educational”
What has struck me most is the using of creative methods to engage – the benefit of connecting creatives, marketing and activists…”
“Excellent variety – thought provoking. What I’ve wanted to tap into for years but never find time to access…”
“Loved the approach of the Port Talbot theatre group…it’s about getting people to share what they love about their place too – then help engage them in protecting it…”
“Wildworks [theatre company] was very emotional – the whole day was fab – I’m keen to write about this in a magazine – help spread the word!” (local journalist)
What was wanted:
“Keep your amazing work going bringing in creative disruptors together and motivating us to make positive changes. Any other meeting/workshops, please let us know, we would love to attend!”
“Keep going – do it more”
“Need more gatherings, more meetings, inspirations. Links to other info … had become a bit isolated”
“Run more events like this to bring us all together”
“Want regular get togethers – and an info hub!”
“Be found, be known, be accessible. You never do wrong at your events”.
“We need more of this” …
“Can you organise regular meetings on platforms for sharing knowledge and expertise?”
“More multi-disciplinary get togethers to stimulate, agitate and plot!”
“Brilliant – more, please!”
We will! Thanks to all. The next event is in the planning - in the meantime you can join our FB group here:
https://www.facebook.com/cafedisruptif/
And if you have some thoughts about creative disruption...you can say so here: