The Me Too Movement and Pretend Play in Adults!

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I was reflecting on the discussions we had about how conflict and change in the society happens only when there is support from a larger section of people. It reminds me of the me too movement, especially in India. Although it started off with sexual allegations against Harvey Weinstein, many women started speaking up by using the hashtag of 'me too'! In India, bringing about a change in perceptions, attitudes and behaviors towards women has always been a struggle. Many women had chosen to keep quiet as they did not have the courage to speak about the sexual assaults committed against them. However, once the me too movement started gaining support, many Indians, including those in the film industry opened up about it. Several investigations were also made. But the point is that this illustrates what Vygotsky and we were talking about, that there is resistance to change initially, but when there is support from different ends, people slowly start opening up. That in turn helps the society evolve.

Another thought that I wanted to share is related to pretend play. We all know and have examples of how we as children engaged in pretend play and how it helped us gain a sense of the world around us and helped us organize our understanding. However, I was thinking about role playing in adults and how that also helps create a sense of the situation, the other person and enhances understanding. I was specifically thinking about how role playing is used as a therapeutic tool in clinical psychology, to help couples in marital therapy, to help individuals with anxiety disorders and so on. In my internships, I have seen couples undergo role playing and they continue taking on the role of their spouse (in as many ways as possible) for a few days before their next visit. When I saw them the next visit, they seemed to have a better understanding and appreciation of each others' role, demands, pressures and skills. There is another technique called empty chair technique (See image below), where a person imagines someone they are having a conflict with, sit in front of them and vent out all their emotions, thoughts etc to that chair, in the presence of a psychologist. I wonder if all of this is similar to pretend play that works in children. But I do know that it has been useful in adults as well!
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Comments

  1. Saetbyul ClaraSeptember 23, 2019 at 7:21 PM

    This question of whether clinical approach is a kind of pretend play is very interesting to think about. I think I would say yes eventually in that it helps people to gain a better understanding of the counterpart's world and perception. When we are young, we learn how things work out by taking a specific role in play. Similarly, this type of clinical approach is a more proactive perspective taking that deepen our knowledge and emotions based on the counterpart's situations/positions. It is intriguing that although the principle itself is the same (it is putting yourself in other's shoes), it does not really work out so well or in a deeper level usually in our daily lives, but when people are under a certain guidance and follow the clinician, it becomes more effective. (I mean, it is the whole point of having clinical help, but I still think that the underlying principle is the same. Maybe is it because we can be more immersed in the situations when we actually practice this role play? but not so much in a simulated thoughts, taking others' perspectives?)

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