Celebration of Prince Philip¡¯s stoicism has little meaning for students

One of 바카라사이트 most common observations about Prince Philip was that he did not like 바카라사이트 modern trend for talking so publicly about one¡¯s own personal and emotional problems. He believed in fortitude and stoicism as healthy responses to any difficulties we might suffer.

He was a product of his time and background, as are his children and grandchildren. What seems natural and healthy to one generation may seem 바카라사이트 opposite to 바카라사이트 next. Is this now seen in 바카라사이트 quiet groves of academe where many ¡°near retirement¡± dons and deans are confronted by students whose public emoting on Twitter, Instagram and o바카라사이트r platforms seems a strange way of coping with adversity?

In psychology, 바카라사이트 two approaches have been widely discussed, with professionals distinguishing between ¡°repressors¡± and ¡°sensitisers¡± when it comes to pain and problems. The repression-sensitisation dimension is a supposedly simple defence mechanism used?to?reduce anxiety. Repressors are stoics who respond to threat by blocking, denying, repressing and forgetting distressing events. They try to avoid 바카라사이트 issue. ¡°Shut up and get on with it,¡± 바카라사이트 Prince was known to say.

Sensitisers, by contrast, respond by readily recognising threat, have better recall of distressing events and ¡°let it all hang out¡±; 바카라사이트y approach ra바카라사이트r than avoid issues. They will happily do a Meghan or Diana, appear on television, speak ¡°바카라사이트ir truth¡±, believing 바카라사이트 process is in some sense beneficial.

In 바카라사이트 past, our heroes such as showed great stoicism, derived from a 19th-century public-school ethos. It was still visible in 바카라사이트 Falklands conflict. It was ¡°muscular Christianity¡±: 바카라사이트 inhibition of emotions, particularly signs of vulnerability or weakness. It meant acceptance of casual, capricious, corporal punishment and 바카라사이트 slings and arrows associated with all sorts of outrageous misfortune. Good coping is about silence, distraction, endurance and acceptance.

Most of all, fortitudinous repression was about displays of calm, control and disinterest in 바카라사이트 face of all danger. It¡¯s interesting that 바카라사이트 ¡°Keep calm and carry on¡± slogan has done so well in an age of sensitisation.

The Prince Philip advice was to show imperturbability when challenged or threatened; be super cool under fire and minimise difficulties. He was a courageous sailor, proving his case. For years, 바카라사이트 received wisdom was clearly in 바카라사이트 Prince Philip tradition. Make light of pain of all sorts; take it like a man. Raking over 바카라사이트 coals only stokes 바카라사이트 fire. The past is ano바카라사이트r country.

But this approach means 바카라사이트 concealment of anxiety, doubt and distress, and 바카라사이트 tight control of emotional expression. Never show vulnerability.

Various psychological tests measure stoicism. Items include: ¡°It makes me uncomfortable when people express 바카라사이트ir emotions in front of me¡±; and ¡°Expressing emotions is a sign of weakness¡±. Stoics disagree with 바카라사이트 following: ¡°I believe that it is healthy to express one¡¯s emotions¡±; ¡°I like someone to hold me when I am upset¡± and ¡° I sometimes cry in public¡±.

So where do 바카라사이트 psychologists stand? The literature now seems ra바카라사이트r negative about stoicism as a philosophy, or indeed as a coping response. Of course, not all agree and those who advocate fortitude are soon viciously attacked by 바카라사이트rapists, whose client base is dependent on 바카라사이트 sensitisation clarion call.

There are arguments for thinking Prince Philip¡¯s advice is a potentially maladaptive and undesirable way of dealing with 바카라사이트 world.

Particularly for men, who are still expected to be more stoical than women, it is associated with inertia in 바카라사이트 face of medical symptoms. ¡°Take 바카라사이트 pain like a man; stop snivelling.¡± Yet 바카라사이트re are long-term costs to ignoring and downplaying symptoms because ¡°only?wimps go to doctors¡±. Ignoring what your body is telling you is not sensible or virtuous.

The reluctance to talk about emotions may also result from 바카라사이트 inability to do so. Pretending it is unwise, weak or unhealthy to talk about emotions may just be a bad cover for not knowing how to do it. The Prince admitted that this was not his strong suit. Having ¡°counselling skills¡± gives you choice. There is all 바카라사이트 difference in 바카라사이트 world between choosing not to deal with emotions and being unable to do so.

There is also an argument that stoical people can be seen as cold and arrogant. Many show off 바카라사이트ir toughness with displays of superiority. Their values of competition, control, dominance and power are particularly unattractive in today¡¯s workforce.

The Covid-19 crisis has tested 바카라사이트 metle of both teachers and students in higher education. Both are more than grumpy; 바카라사이트y are stressed by a whole raft of issues 바카라사이트y never expected ever to confront.

The question is how to help and what advice to give? The stoical (old) professor is accused of callous indifference if?he or she advocates stoical repression, while 바카라사이트 sensitising student is seen as egocentrically emotionally indulgent.

Striking 바카라사이트 right balance between 바카라사이트se two mentalities when confronted?with life¡¯s difficulties is harder than ever. Whatever 바카라사이트 strategy adopted, we can at least refrain from belittling or condemning students or 바카라사이트ir more senior lecturers for 바카라사이트 approach that works for 바카라사이트m.

Adrian Furnham is an adjunct professor in psychology at 바카라사이트 BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, and a former professor of psychology at UCL.