The end of the world is nigh (again)
This month’s Pegasus NLP Newsletter explores, through NLP eyes, how the new media is reporting the current international financial difficulties.
Using the NLP method of seeking the ‘intention’ or purpose or motivation behind that behaviour, we explore the possibility that the news media (newspapers, radio and television) may be using the Shock-Sadden-Scare-Seduce formula to exploit its customers – rather than to provide us with balanced and objective news coverage – in order to sell more copies or more advertising, to further the careers of journalists, and/or to maintain falling ratings in the face of internet competition.
Interesting coincidence… Dr Aric Sigman will today be giving a talk to the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development on the effects of news watching and coverage on one’s health.
According to an article in the Daily Telegraph online he suggests that watching new stories about the currrent economic situation can create ‘learned helplessness’ and could even increase some people’s chances of suffering a stroke’.
The article is here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/3526213/Economic-climate-can-increase-the-risk-of-a-stroke.html
‘Learned helplessness’ – that has come up quite a lot recently, and there seems to be a lot of it around. It seems to me it is very difficult to unlearn. Wouldn’t it be great if schools taught resourcefulness as a core subject.
Yes, I agree about the ‘learned helplessness’ thing. And maybe it’s part of a bigger thing – in which we are encouraged by the media, the judiciary and by public attitudes to be helpless and not responsible for the consequences of our actions.
If I fail – I can blame someone such as my parents or teachers. If I have an accident – I can sue someone. If I eat too much and don’t exercise I can blame my genes for my size. And so on…