Video Library » Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Pro-social practices and critical humanism
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Pro-social actions
Community or neighbourhood gardens have long been seen as an effective way to promote healthy living environments and improve physical and social wellbeing. The following video demonstrates the positive and pro-social effects of community gardening activities.
Daily Acts: Volunteers Transform Yard Into an Edible Garden
Discussion questions:
- How can growing food in your community build social connections and increase further pro-social acts?
- Is there such a thing as a ripple effect? If so, how could this be fostered?
- Think about what is needed to change the world? What are some possible implications and impacts of small daily acts on broader scale societal change?
Empathy and listening
The following videos and resources are about the subject of listening, and its significance for daily life and social relations.
Empathic Listening: 'The Hairy Eyebrow' and other essential communication skills
Improve Your Listening Skills with Active Listening
Empathic Listening, Carl Rogers
Discussion questions:
- How can Maslow’s hierarchy of needs help us to understand the meaning and purpose of human existence?
- What can or should psychologists do to ensure that the people they work with can meet the hierarchy of needs?
- How might Maslow’s hierarchy of needs compare with ideas about human needs from other cultures that perhaps have a more collectivist view?
Limitations of positive psychology
Psychology has traditionally been a discipline that explores psychological problems and disorders. Positive thinking has become an increasingly popular approach, which has led to a focus on happiness and on encouraging people to develop positive thinking and emotions. The following video questions this approach.
The Antidote
Discussion questions:
- Being happy and more positive is helpful, but does such a focus enable people to live meaningful and constructive lives?
- Do you think it is realistic to expect to experience happiness most of the time?
- What might be some of the psychological benefits of embracing both positive and negative emotions?
