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‘Human’ is a fantastic creature, far more complicated and complex than we have yet been able to fully understand. However we continue to attempt to describe humanity through the funnelled lens of dogmatic science ensconced in a prescriptive paradigm that enforces that if it cannot be replicated in practice then it cannot exist in theory. Science wants ‘proof’, and the assumption is that lifeforce will accede to these demands.
So what then, when science fails to articulate humanness through science-speak?
Why compassion, not policy, is needed to address bullying
By Susan Broomhall
Bullying and harassment continue to be problematic both in organisations and in society in general. Attitudes toward bullying vary greatly depending on personal perspective ranging from those that have been exposed to bullying, those who have bullying prevention responsibilities, to those who have very little to do with bullying at all.
(Image credit: Unsplash)
There are many reasons why we continue to wrestle with issues of bullying including our understanding of it, definition of it, acceptance of it as part of human behaviour, and the overwhelming lament of ‘oh what can you do?’. When we mention ‘bullying’, oftentimes the first thing that comes to mind is schoolyard scuffles or workplace harassment, and we resign ourselves to deflecting the issue to those contexts to deal with managing bullying and harassment as being too hard for us to deal with individually.
Common mistakes in understanding bullying and toxic leaders
By Susan Broomhall
(Image credit: Unsplash)
Untangling Wicked Problems
By Susan Broomhall
Psychological science research is based on the traditional-form scientific process. Generally speaking, this is through designing a research methodology around testing the validity of a hypothesis with results either validating, or not, the hypothesis in question. The ‘problem’ is relatively simple in nature as described by the research methodology problem identification. The process provides a ‘closed-loop’ of discovery and reporting....
Photo by Pascal van de Vendel on Unsplash
by Susan Broomhall
Australians have a long-standing love affair with charities. Recent studies by QUT’s Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies (ACPNS), show that around $4 billion was claimed by individuals as tax deductible donations in 2018/19, with an average donation of $933 per person. Philanthropy Australia also reports that, on average, around 30% of taxpayers donate 0.41% of their total annual income to charity. However, despite the positive public sentiment, the charity sector has also faced increasing global criticism over the last few years. Recently, an official inquiry was launched into Prince Charles’ charity, which has been accused of offering royal honours in exchange for large donations. Project Rescue Children is being investigated by Kenyan police over allegations it exploited local children to raise funds from overseas donors. And Surf Life Saving NSW was defrauded of 1.8 million by its leader Matthew Hanks, who faced criminal charges as a result...
Examples of wicked problems include climate change, pandemics, discrimination, homelessness, suicide and bullying where all the aspects of the identified wicked problems apply when considering ‘planning’, which here can be considered ‘solution development’. Solution development is the design of a remedy to a problem. For example, homelessness is a social problem and the solution would be for the homeless to have access to a home. Simple, right?...
by Susan Broomhall
As chronicled in myriad news stories and countless reports into trust, integrity, accountability, transparency and corruption, Australia’s social institutions are widely seen by the public as more concerned with self and vested interests than the public interest. In response to the question, ‘who speaks for and protects the public interest?’, few of our social institutions appear to be fit for purpose.
