>people who grew up in victim "creating" environments (lots of us did) then took
>this victim mindset into corporations and created systems that perpetuate the
>victim mentality. That is why I believe that one fo the most effective things
>we can do in organizations is learn how to create systems that enable people to
>move from dependency to a psychological sense of independent capability which
>then makes it possible for them to function effectively in the interdependent
>reality called life.
A related thought occurred to me when reading this insightful analysis of
why the current systems and corporations perpetuate victim mentality. Our
current society over the last few decades has perpetuated victim
mentality. From the social security nets to human rights and the rights
given to the criminals in our society.
I think our society is turning away from overprotecting the individuals to
a more realistic (and more productive) approach of making individuals
responsible for their actions and the consequences they bring.
IE: Currently, you can't dismiss a person from a job directly because of
substance abuse (at least locally here in Ontario). If society isn't
willing to hold a person responsible for substance abuse and any
consequences thereof (up to and including losing your job), then why
should the person feel responsible for it? He becomes a victim of: peer
pressure, inadequate education, bad environment.
(Don't read me wrong on this. We've needed to improve the social security
nets, I just beleive we've gone too far in some areas.)
As people in organizations and in society at large, we have to
> create systems that enable people to
> move from dependency to a psychological sense of independent capability
As Willard mentioned the children:
> I think that children are more susceptible to being molded by other people's
> actions and may not have the tools to "choose" healthy responses.
If so, we have to start with the children and help them develop the tools
to "choose" healthy responses. On of our prime focuses for the future
should be developing our own children and not relying upon the 'school
systems' to give them the tools.
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Gary Scherling Gscherl@fed.ism.ca
Ottawa, Canada FYI (214) 606-2000
Helping people help themselves
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/GScherl_GMS_TPN
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