Conference Announcement
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Engaging The OTHER
October 26-29, 2006 – Kalamazoo, Michigan USA
An International Conference examining concepts of “The OTHER” from a multidisciplinary, cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue about concepts of “Us and Them.”
Sponsored by the Common Bond Institute, in collaboration with HARMONY Institute, the International Humanistic Psychology Association, Fetzer Institute, and Western Michigan University.
Goal: The focus of the program is to explore the dimensions and dynamics of “The OTHER” on both an individual and group basis, including fear-based belief systems, negative projection, negative stereotypes, prejudice, and scapegoating. Concepts are explored through psychological (intra-personal and inter-personal), social, cultural, anthropological, historical, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives.
Example themes:
- The Other – as humankind’s oldest and most resilient foe.
- Our shared identity as The Other.
- The role of religious belief systems in requiring the presence and embodiment of innate evil in the world, and an ever-present Other as it’s expression.
- Dynamics of the energy of fear and exclusive group identity in formulating devaluing, dehumanizing and demonizing stereotypes that allow result in objectifying entire groups to the point of justifying inhumane treatment.
Conference website:
Filed under: Cultural psychology, Culture of peace, News, Theory
