Psychology as a Performative Practice - Essay Example

Critically Examine the Argument that Psychology is a Performative Practice Critically Examine the Argument that Psychology is a Performative Practice Performative psychology distinctively analyses human beings as performers who regularly play a role other than the person who they are. Individuals are capable of having multiple personalities and can fit each role they assume entirely. In this context, human beings appear as performers who play particular roles. People bring up children in a certain way so that they pick up certain positive habits. This is somehow a way of programming the minds of these youngsters so that they have a particular perception of life, which they will follow. People often take children to certain schools, which would help them adjust to a particular way of thinking and acting. Children are introduced to certain social activities that they slowly pick up and can adapt. For instance, introducing a young child gradually to a certain religion, taking them to language classes, or showing them a particular sport that they should play. All habits that are instilled into the young child are indeed integral to how he will grow and develop mentally. The child will perceive life in a certain way and consider things using a particular thought pattern that is different (Walsh et al., 2014). This is how performative psychology comes into play as the child is programmed to take up a particular role. It is a proven fact that by regularly practicing something, one will develop such things into his personality. This is why different people have different characters. This is because by doing certain things over a period; they eventually pick that up in their personalities and become what they constantly do (Butler, 2009). It all has to do with performing or playing a particular role. With time, one finds that it is a habitual thing and a part of his personality. This is how performative psychology comes into play. Every part of a person’s personality is gradually introduced into them through their thinking pattern. A practical example, for example, is from the television programmes that bring children up watching. Many children from the 70s, 80s and early 90s watched many kids shows. One of these was the Sesame Street programme. It was a programme where the children learnt many concepts in simplified methods. Characters such as Big Bird, Elmo, Miss Piggy, Kermit, Ernie, Bert and many others, influenced the children. Each of these characters played a particular role and taught the children certain values or introduced them to a certain way of thinking. The children were probed about certain things like ability to count, ability to recite the alphabet amongst other things (Kumar, 2013). This occurred in the form of observation. The children observed these concepts as they occurred on TV and were able to pick them up quickly and adapt to them. Through regular viewing of the programme, many children quickly fell in with many of these major concepts and became accustomed to them. Within a few months of constant viewing, they could quickly pick out colours, recite the alphabet, as well as numbers, count and interpret certain signs. The children got used to a certain way of doing things by this habitual process. This was through a repetitive cycle of constant reminder. It proves that a medium of influence can change the thought pattern and behavioural tendencies of human beings. Human minds easily get exposure to a certain concept, which is readily picked up and followed over a specified period (Parker, 2015). This is why this programme was able to influence many young children over a certain period. It goes on to show that when one does a habit repetitively, it goes on to form his character. This is the basis of performance psychology, and this is the reason human beings go on to assume certain roles by way of customization. Another valid example of an area where performance psychology comes into place very often is in the religious beliefs and practices. When many individuals join a particular church setting, they take the time to observe to keep the various practices and order of activities. After a period, they get accustomed to the practices and mode of conduct of the particular church service. In time, a person is fully integrated into the church through constant practice of the doctrines, as well as through regular interaction with other members of the same faith (D.) et al., 2007). With time, a person will pick up all the behavioural patterns and learn how to conduct himself in a particular way. One picks up these habits through habitual and constant practice. Through socialization and enculturation, human beings form certain patterns of behaviour and set ways of doing certain things. Man is a social being, and he picks up habits through interacting with others. This regular interaction will change his thought patterns and with time he adapts to what he has accustomed himself to doing. By taking up a particular role and acting upon what he sees, a person will change his character into what he practices. Observation of other people will also influence the behavioural habits that a human being will eventually pick up (Tyner, 2013). If one consistently observes what a person does in a certain way, he may eventually start doing the same things. It is because the constant observation may influence him. This will explain why teenagers quickly pick up certain traits from their peers, or through people whom they look up to such as musicians or actors. They are keen to observe some characteristics and easily imitate what they see and put it into practice. Foucault argues that the soul is the prisoner of the body. This can be interpreted to mean that, through habit, a person finds themselves doing what they have no intention of doing. Through repetitively doing something, one finds themselves doing something that they may not want to do but they have to (Rogers, 2011). For example, the exercise. One may want to do exercise mentally, but the body may not be up to the challenge. This is why many people find it hard sticking to their exercising schedules, because though they may have it at heart to exercise, their bodies find it hard adapting to such routines. Through regular practice and self-discipline, one eventually changes to exercise and picks up the pace. When a person gets used to doing something and puts their mind to it, then they will do it. Eventually with time, when one takes up a particular performance role, then they can act it out after internalizing the role and embracing it. An example of this theory by Foucault is given in how human beings interpret the law. He explains that human beings internalize the law and learn how to suppress the criminal impulse. This means that any human being is prone to breaking the law or living lawlessly. A person accepts a concept through regular meditation of what is wrong and right. Once the concept is internalized, then the body can resist the urge to break the law or do whatever is not right. This is how human beings learn to abide by the law and apply discipline and other positive values. By regularly practicing constraint and exercising the ability to resist lawlessness, one is using a performative practice (Osbeck et al., 2010). This achievable by consistently acting in a role until it becomes part of ones personality. When one integrates certain characteristics into their personality and puts them into practice, then they become a permanent part of the person. Human beings are adaptive by nature. They transform to the existing environment. Therefore, humans can adapt to any institutions that they may find themselves in, especially social ones. When a human being moves from a particular part of the world and goes on to an entirely different environment, they take the time to adapt to these conditions but eventually they do so. They slowly follow the habits of other people living in the new environment they are in and pick up similar traits and patterns of behaviour. These help them to fit into their new surroundings and be comfortable where they are. They can follow and observe the locals of the particular area and act as they do. This goes on to prove that a human being can easily change into another personality to fit the current situation. That is why foreigners can enter a country and pick up all the elements of behaviour and habits of the locals, and learn how to act like them. A human being can adapt to his current surroundings and certain situations. That is an inbuilt survival mechanism. Human beings are social beings who can ape the lifestyle of others and live as they do (Parker and Sedgwick, 2013). By observing others and personally interacting with them, the person will learn to act the role of a local and adapts to the new environment that he finds himself. Personality is altered by way of customization. This will make a person to behave like those whom he socializes with regularly. A classic example of this is yet another television series known as Oz. This series focuses on other life of a group of inmates. They keep the habits of their fellow inmates and quickly pick up the same as a defence mechanism to the prison lifestyle. They behave in a certain manner.This helps them integrate faster into the new community. This is a classic example of performance psychology in place. This shows exactly how performance psychology operates. He subconsciously acts out all that he observes from other members of that particular setting. After observation, he can act out what he has learnt and assume a particular new role and character based on his new environment. Human beings have this inbuilt tendency. This is why the character in Oz who is imprisoned quickly transform into violent carefree characters. They see themselves as such and, therefore, can act out what they view themselves (Rogers, 2011). Eventually, they are regular inmates like the others and go on to commit heinous deeds just like the rest of their ruthless counterparts. Human beings are built to be very sharp and easily adaptable to new environments. This is part of their composition, and they can assume any role that fits their situation. This is why many human beings have multiple personalities and live double lives. Human beings live socially and do many things better as a unit. For instance, in a social therapy, a therapist counsels many people together as a group. From this, it is evident that human beings relate better to situations when they are together in one group. They can deal with the issues they face as one. Social therapy challenges people to express themselves rather than deal with issues as an individual, which is detrimental to their psychological well-being (Tyner, 2013). When a person focusses on an issue as an individual and not as a group, he will find it hard to cope. In social therapy, the whole group is a particular unit and are dealing with issues from a group perspective rather than as a person. The aim of group therapy is to assist the whole group as a unit, and they are indeed able to focus on holistic recovery because they are one. Group members learn how to deal with issues as a group. They also learn the importance of sharing experiences with each other as part of the therapy. The emphasis of this therapy on group involvement is what makes it a very useful tool for treatment. This is because of the social nature of human beings who tend to do things better when put in a group setting as opposed to individualism. Indeed, this shows that the basic need of human beings is to socialize in groups. Human beings will yield better results when put in a group setting. The success of group therapy amongst individuals goes on to highlight how human beings adapt to situations better in groups as opposed to being alone. That is why these therapy sessions are very productive and bring out the best in these individuals. Collective thinking brings out the best flow of ideas and strategies as to how best various issues affecting the group are solved. The uniqueness of the situation is brought about by the fact that these human beings are all facing a similar situation, and can come together to look for a collective solution to these issues that they face. The method of collective discussion and application of practical solutions to these issues is a major factor bringing about therapeutic change in these individuals. This is why many people can familiarize themselves with this new way of thinking, and interact with others and get a wholesome experience. This social aspect to deriving a solution to a problem affecting many individuals is very useful in helping therapy users to deal with their personal issues. It is indeed vital to uphold such an important social activity that has touched many individuals by showing how social interaction can be of positive assistance to people (Walsh et al., 2014). Social therapy can provide a holistic approach to individual situations, as well as encourage social interaction. The social therapy experience is crucial in self-discovery, especially for individuals facing self-esteem issues. This shows the importance of participating in such social endeavours that help to impact and shape man with the collective influence of a social interaction in the form of group therapy. Indeed when a person is accustomed to a particular way of doing things, it is difficult to have an individual impact on him, but if this is approached from a group perspective would be much easier to help the person. This is why many institutions use his approach to helping problematic individuals. Many individuals who face issues such as alcoholism or drug abuse have been put into this sort of environment where similar people to them encounter such concerns (Butler, 2009). This is a complicated scenario for many, but they find it easier when they find people whom they can relate with in such a similar situation. The sole aim of these institutions is to bring together a group of people, who think and behave alike, with the hope of finding a solution to issues they face. In such a situation, these individuals can share their experiences and help each other offer practical solutions to the problems. The team approach makes it easy for them to face their issues head on and to look for help. This is a therapeutic approach, and they can influence each other’s methods of thinking since they all have a collective mind-set towards these particular issues. Such is the way in which social interactions have changed people, and performance psychology comes into play (Kakavelakis, 2010). These people can act out what they discuss, and hence. This is an example of how this psychology is used as an instrument of communal gain. Indeed, the use of group therapy as a method of utilizing this form of psychology is a brilliant idea that brings benefit to many people. It goes to show how influential such a concept can be on the life of human beings. Foucault believed that the soul is not a part of the body, but it is a prison of the body. He argued that the body is what the soul lacks, and so the body presents itself as signifying lack. He believed that these two different entities had separate intentions (Parker, 2015). It is important to note that he believed that the soul was independent of the body and had its different desires from the body. His argument is based on his belief that human beings wanted to express more than they were able to but were limited to constraints. Psychologically, this meant that he believed that human beings had limitations in expressing themselves freely as they wished. Indeed, this may be the reason as to why people act out what they perceive their immediate environment to be, and have learnt to adapt to situations that they face by use of performance psychology. Bibliography Butler, J., 2009, ‘Foucault and the paradox of bodily inscriptions’, The Journal of Philosophy, 86 (1), pp. 601-607. D.), N.D. (Ph, Naidoo, A., Pillay, J., Bowman, B., 2007, Community psychology, Juta and Company Ltd, Claremont. 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Walsh, R.T.G., Teo, T., & Baydala, A., 2014, A critical history and philosophy of psychology: diversity of context, thought, and practice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Read More