Barker - Psychopathy and Consumerism

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Psychopathy and Consumerism:Two Illnesses that Need and Feed EachOther

(An Interview with Dr E T !ar"er#

.

May 12th, 1995 - Welcome to the University of Toronto, Telemedicine Canada. I am Brian ones. I am s!ea"in# to yo$ from%in#ston &sychiatric 'os!ital, %in#ston, (ntario, )here I am*irector of the +orensic ervice. Telemedicine system is a t)o-)aysort of thin#. We are #oin# to have a !rinci!al s!ea"er, $t I )o$ldenco$ra#e everyone to listen and as" $estions and raise iss$eslater on...

The to!ic today is Psychopathy and Consumerism: TwoIllnesses that Need and Feed Each Other $ and I am certainyo$ are #oin# to /nd *r Bar"er an interestin# one. With $s fromhis o0ce in Midland today is *r. lliott Bar"er. *r. Bar"er is aforensic !sychiatrist c$rrently in !rivate !ractice, and the !rinci!alor#ani er and an active advocate of the Canadian ociety for the&revention of Cr$elty to Children.

*r Bar"er has also had a len#thy and distin#$ished career in theassessment and treatment of mentally disordered o3enders,m$chof this as their attendin# !sychiatrist at the ma4im$m sec$rity(a" id#e *ivision of the Mental 'ealth Centre, &enetan#$ishene,(ntario.

6ltho$#h considera le of *r Bar"er7s !ioneerin# )or" has een)ith assessment and treatment of !sycho!athy, he no) investsthe $l" of his ener#y into !revention. This is re8ected in hise4tensive )or" )ith the ociety, and also as his role of ditor of

the o$rnal, M&6T'IC &6 TI :. In addition, he has een invitedto s!ea" at many international conferences as an e4!ert onchildhood e4!eriences in relation to antisocial ehavio$r.


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I am !leased to have *r Bar"er on the line today, and to introd$cehim to yo$.

During the talk a number of slides were shown at each site, beginning witha photo of the speaker. Each participant had received a copy of thearticles listed in the table of contents.For this website the transcript hasbeen edited for clarity and additional graphics and material added to

further illustrate the issues discussed.

'i Brian.Than" yo$ very m$ch. It7s a !leas$re to hea le to s!ea" a o$t a to!ic that I feel stron#lya o$t. I am al)ays a!olo#i in# to others in this /eldfor not ein# a researcher. I thin" of myself as aconvicted !romoter of )hat is already "no)n a o$t

the emotional needs of yo$n# children. I have had a lot of !ractical e4!erience )ith !sycho!aths in my )or" at (ntario7sMa4im$m ec$rity Mental 'os!ital ;(a" id#e< and in my co$rt)or" and !rivate !ractice. I don7t claim to "no) )hat !sycho!athyis or )hat ca$ses it, $t I am concerned a o$t the to!ic )hich Ichose to tal" a o$t today. This is an area that o$#ht to e of enormo$s concern to all of $s. It a3ects all of $s and )e tend notto thin" a o$t it. We tend to thin" a o$t the se4$al !sycho!aths)ho do some dramatic "illin#s and )e follo) it in the co$rt and

the !o!$lation is aro$sed y that.

The comment a o$t !sycho!athy that means the most to me )asin * M III, and III- . It said, in e3ect, that !artial !sycho!athsma"e #ood !oliticians and $sinessmen.

I )as really tic"led a n$m er of years a#o )hen I heard *r. 'are,one of Canada 7s foremost e4!erts on !sycho!athy, tal"in# at aconference. 'e made a "ind of aside sayin# that )here he7d reallyli"e to try and do eval$ations and ratin#s of !sycho!athy )as onthe =anco$ver toc" 4chan#e. I 7m not s$re )hether he )as )aryof )hether there )ere re!orters !resent or not, $t that "ind of thin"in# really !reocc$!ies me.

It7s not the Bernardos or the 'illside tran#lers, -- the dramatic!sycho!athic "illers -- I thin" it7s the other end of the s!ectr$m of !sycho!athy -- the !artial !sycho!aths )e o$#ht to e really)orried a o$t> eca$se there are so many more of them, eca$sethey ?/t in? to so many !arts of o$r sic" society, and they createhavoc directly and indirectly for so many, many, many !eo!le.


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Psychopathy and ConsumerismTwo Illnesses That Need And Feed Each

Other

A !sycho!ath or !artial !sycho!ath has anim!aired ca!acity to form intimate, tr$stin#m$t$ally satisfyin# relationshi!s )ith otherh$man ein#s as a res$lt of im!aired attachment

in the earliest years. Una le to /nd !leas$re andsatisfaction from others, the !sycho!ath or !artial!sycho!ath m$st t$rn to thin#s -- #oods andservices, toys and travel -- to /ll the em!tiness)ithin.

The em!tiness of the hollo) man m$st e /lled,and cons$merism has learned ho).

It is said that a c$lt$re creates the "ind of !eo!leit needs. May e )e7re into fre $ent se!arationsand chan#in#, shared, !aid care#ivers in the /rstthree years of the lives of o$r children so they )ill#ro) $! )ith an insatia le need to sho! till theydro!.

If yo$7re $na le to o tain satisfaction from!EIN%$ )hich is ased on love and the !leas$reof sharin#, then the &A'IN% ODE$ as ric+romm !$t it, is yo$r only choice. ?The &A'IN%

ODE$ concentrates on material !ossession,

ac $isitiveness, !o)er, and a##ression and is theasis of s$ch $niversal evils as #reed, envy, andviolence...?

) P*+C&OPAT&+

&sycho!athy> What is it@

Introd$ction> 6n Intervie) )ith *r. Bar"er The Mas" of anity The *ia#nostic and tatistical Man$al
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&artial &sycho!athy

Incom!lete Manifestations of the *isorder The &artial &sycho!athIf We Co$ld Meas$re this T)o &art m!athy

&sycho!athy> What Ca$ses It@

The (r#anic ed 'errin#'o) to $cceed in the B$siness of Creatin#&sycho!aths'o) and Why Chan#in# Care#ivers *ama#e a

Ao$n# Child

Meas$rin# 6ttachment The *iseases of on-6ttachmentm!athic Care> 6 *e/nition of ?Care?

The Infant7s eed for m!athic Care*e!rivation of m!athic Care *$rin# Infancy

&sycho!athy> What7s Wron# With It@

Is There a Critical Mass for &sycho!athy@ The &sycho!ath7s +avo$rite &lay#ro$nd

, CON*- E.I*

Cons$merism> What Is It@

onrational In8$ences

Cons$merism> What7s Wron# With It@

The Way ($t of Mimic"in# 'a!!inessirvana and =ance &ac"ard

Cons$merism, Materialism and Cr$elty toChildren To 'ave or to Be@Bi# Brother Co$ldn7t +oresee the Bi# C --Cons$merism Ao$ Can ever :et no$#h ... The &overty of a ich ocietyIs This a C$lt$re We Can 63ord to e Com!lacent6 o$t

/ C&I0DCA.E

The in" Bet)een Cons$merism and &sycho!athy The Brave e) World of Childcare
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Cons$merism, 6r itrary Male *ominance and*aycare

1 I* DA+CA.E .EA00+ A NECE**IT+2

&atriarchy

The eal C$l!ritsWomen7s i eration and Cr$elty to Children

e4ism> 6 *an#ero$s *el$sion%iss lee!in# Bea$ty :ood ye

adical +eminism

The +eminine Uto!ia

6cce!tin# the 4istin# eality

The eal $islin#s in 6merica*o ot 6s"Mass Media

The ociali in# Mode of Childrearin#

+rom ociali in# to 'el!in# Mode of Childrearin# The vol$tion of Child- earin# Modes:$idance> 6 &lea for 6 andonment

ocial cience as &ro!o#anda

ocial cience(ver-reliance on ocial cience for &roof

The ole of esearch6 *an#ero$s &ossi ility

($r *efense Mechanisms

($r *efense Mechanisms The &ro lem of &rofessional 6n4iety ohn> 6 *istressin# +ilm 6 o$t e!aration

3 4&AT CAN !E DONE2

$ stit$tin# Conserver =al$es for Cons$mer=al$es

The Tendency to Conf$se *i3erence )ith $ality6 et$rn to the oots of +eminism The Challen#e Before Us
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6 ense of Comm$nion The &olitics of Meanin#

nd of Introd$ctory Intervie) )ith *r. Bar"er

The Dia5nostic and *tatistical anual

?The *ia#nostic and tatistical Man$al of the 6merican &sychiatric6ssociation -- is the so called i le of !sychiatry, at least in orth 6merica.It #ives the o0cial dia#nostic criteria of all mental illness. The latestrevision -- * M-I= -- )as !$ lished in 199D.?

?&sycho!athy has een called a lot of thin#s since the condition )as /rstdescri ed y &inel in 1EFG and termed ?mania sans delire.? &ritchardcoined the term ?moral im ecility? in 1EH5. +or a time there )as anattem!t to remove the moral sti#ma of the term !sycho!athy )ith theterm socio!ath. The c$rrent term is 6&* -- 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder.?

/6) 7 Antisocial Personality Disorder

Dia5nostic Features

The essential feat$re of 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder is a !ervasive!attern of disre#ard for, and violation of, the ri#hts of others that e#ins inchildhood or early adolescence and contin$es into ad$lthood.

This !attern has also een referred to as !sycho!athy, socio!athy, ordyssocial !ersonality disorder. Beca$se deceit and mani!$lation arecentral feat$res of 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder, it may e es!eciallyhel!f$l to inte#rate information ac $ired from systematic clinical

assessment )ith information collected from collateral so$rces.

+or this dia#nosis to e #iven, the individ$al m$st e at least a#e 1E yearsand m$st have had a history of some sym!toms of Cond$ct *isorder

efore a#e 15 years. Cond$ct *isorder involves a re!etitive and !ersistent!attern of ehavio$r in )hich the asic ri#hts of others or ma or a#e-a!!ro!riate societal norms or r$les are violated. The s!eci/c ehavio$rscharacteristic of Cond$ct *isorder fall into one of fo$r cate#ories>a##ression to !eo!le and animals, destr$ction of !ro!erty, deceitf$lness ortheft, or serio$s violation of r$les.

The !attern of antisocial ehavio$r contin$es into ad$lthood. Individ$als)ith 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder fail to conform to social norms )ith
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res!ect to la)f$l ehavio$r. They may re!eatedly !erform acts that are#ro$nds for arrest ;)hether they are arrested or not


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Individ$als )ith 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder fre $ently lac" em!athyand tend to e callo$s, cynical, and contem!t$o$s of the feelin#s, ri#hts,and s$3erin#s of others. They may have an in8ated and arro#ant self-a!!raisal ;e.#., feel that ordinary )or" is eneath them or lac" a realistic

concern a o$t their c$rrent !ro lems or their f$t$re< and may ee4cessively o!inionated, self-ass$red, or coc"y. They may dis!lay a #li ,s$!er/cial charm and can e $ite vol$ le and ver ally facile ;e.#., $sin#technical terms or ar#on that mi#ht im!ress someone )ho is $nfamiliar)ith the to!ic


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The overall !revalence of 6ntisocial &ersonality *isorder in comm$nitysam!les is a o$t HL in males and a o$t 1L in females. &revalenceestimates )ithin clinical settin#s have varied from HL to HFL, de!endin#on the !redominant characteristics of the !o!$lations ein# sam!led. ven

hi#her !revalence rates are associated )ith s$ stance a $se treatmentsettin#s and !rison or forensic settin#s.

84e have more reason to 9ear the hollow man than the poorneurotic who is tormented y his own conscience As lon5 as manis capa le o9 moral con;icts < even i9 they lead to neurosis < thereis hope 9or him !ut what shall we do with a man who has noattachments2 4ho can reathe humanity into his emptiness28Selma Fraiberg

8 Over their li9etimes =psychopaths> demand adisproportionate amount o9 time and money 9rom society in5eneral and 9rom health pro9essionals in particular 4hether thattime is spent in mana5in5 their incorri5i le ehaviour as children$dealin5 in consultation with their criminal o?enses as adults$ orcarin5 9or their dama5ed or deserted 9amilies$ antisocialpersonalities cannot e disre5arded y their psychiatristsComprehensivee Te tbook of !sychiatry

The Partial Psychopath.T. Bar"er, M*

B. hi!ton, &h*

?6 !sycholo#ist and I !resented a !a!er on the !artial !sycho!ath at the(ntario &sychiatric 6ssociation 6nn$al Meetin# in 19EE. I7ve e4cer!ted a!iece here )hich is s!ellin# o$t the lac" of em!athy in !sycho!aths -- as!ecial t)o !art ty!e of em!athy -- not $st !$ttin# yo$rself in another!erson7s shoes.?

...In o$r e4!erience, the dimension that correlates most closely )ith!sycho!athy and )hich has een identi/ed or is im!licit in all de/nitions of the illness is the conce!t of em!athy -- $t I have to say $ic"ly, em!athyde/ned in a s!eci/c t)o-!art )ay.

m!athy is loosely tho$#ht to e the ca!acity to !$t yo$rself in another!ersons shoes. B$t this seems to e only one !art of )hat constit$tesem!athy in relation to the !sycho!ath. What is di3erent a o$t the!sycho!ath is that he is $na3ected or detached emotionally from the"no)led#e that he #ains y !$ttin# himself in yo$r shoes. Th$s, altho$#hhe is a le to very $ic"ly #lean d$rin# the riefest enco$nter )ith another


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!erson a lot of very $sef$l information a o$t )hat ma"es that !erson tic",this "no)led#e is sim!ly "no)led#e to e $sed or not as the !sycho!athchooses. What is missin# in !sycho!aths is the com!ellin# nat$re of thea!!ro!riate a3ective res!onse to the "no)led#e #ained from !$ttin#

himself in another !ersons shoes, in the )ay that this ha!!ens in thenormal !erson. This essential missin# as!ect of em!athy, even in thesevere !sycho!ath, is not in my e4!erience easily seen and one does notoften #et a second #lim!se of it if one has een treated to a /rst one ymista"e.

What is missin# in !sycho!aths is the com!ellin# nat$re of the a!!ro!riatea3ective res!onse to the "no)led#e #ained from !$ttin# himself inanother !ersons shoes.

6 rather cr$de e4am!le mi#ht s$0ce. 6 yo$n# !sycho!ath )ho hadin8icted m$lti!le sta )o$nds on an elderly )oman, and )as char#ed )ithattem!ted m$rder, a!!eared s$ d$ed and a!!ro!riately sad a o$t theo3ence d$rin# the early sta#es of a /rst intervie). 'is eyes )ere moist ashe acc$rately descri ed ho) the )oman m$st have felt d$rin# and afterthe attac". B$t later in the same intervie), after #ood ra!!ort had eenesta lished, this oy l$rted o$t, ?I don7t "no) )hat all the f$ss is a o$t.

The old a# only had a do en scratches.? To my "no)led#e, in all hiss$ se $ent years in mental hos!ital, he st$c" to all the ri#ht lines of

remorse )hich he $ic"ly learned )ere more a!!ro!riate and $sef$l. Theri#ht !sycho!ath, the e4!erienced !sycho!ath, doesn7t st$m le li"e that

very often.

With l$c" and the ri#ht $estion a o$t ho) the other !erson7s feelin#sa3ected him there )ill e a arely !erce!ta le !a$se, or a !$ led loo", oreven, rarely. the $estion ?ho) am I s$!!osed to feel@?

To re!eat, the second !art of this t)o !art em!athy for the normal !ersonis the a$tomatic, com!ellin#, int$itive, a!!ro!riate res!onse to )hat theother feels -- not the actin# o$t of a chosen scri!t. The !sycho!ath canfollo) the same scri!t as a normal !erson, $s$ally )ith all the s$ tlen$ances of a s"illed actor -- if he chooses to do so. 6n o server is very$nli"ely to note any di3erence from the real thin#.

Th$s the second !art of this t)o !art em!athy in a !sycho!ath is thechoosin# and actin# of a scri!t. Unli"e the normal !erson, he can choose)hat scri!t to follo). 'e is not com!elled int$itively or a$tomatically toreact to the )ay he "no)s yo$ feel. 6nd $nli"e the normal !erson, he has

een told, or learned y o servin# others, )hat he is s$!!osed to feel.


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8 i9 we had the capacity to measure this two


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P ormative 6 $se is the term coined y %aren Walant in her #ro$nd-rea"in# 1995 oo" Creatin# the Ca!acity for 6ttachment. ason 6ronson

Inc. ... ? ormative a $se occ$rs )hen the attachment needs of the childare sacri/ced for the c$lt$ral norms of se!aration and individ$ation...?

The Or5anic .ed &errin5E.T. )arker

et me say ri#ht o3 the to! that I elieve that !sycho!athy can e, if not#enetically !redis!osed to, at least iochemically ca$sed y some to4ic!rocess or or#anic dama#e that is not easily detecta le. I ve e4amined the!arents of !sycho!aths, ta"in# a detailed history startin# si4 months

efore conce!tion, and I co$ldn t /nd )hat I tho$#ht )as fail$re of attachment or di0c$lties in the /rst three years. I am s$re there are some!sycho!aths )hose !atholo#y is ca$sed y somethin# or#anically )ron#.

B$t to elieve that !sycho!athy is al)ays or mostly #enetically oriolo#ically determined is not $st a misconce!tion, $t a very dan#ero$s

misconce!tion. It7s dan#ero$s eca$se it is so attractive. It7s attractiveeca$se it eases any #$ilt )e may have individ$ally as !arents or

collectively as a society and it is attractive eca$se if the ca$se is or#anicthere is the !ossi ility of /ndin# a c$re that doesn7t necessitate chan#in#the )ay )e thin" a o$t and do thin#s. o )e lea! at any shred of evidencethat !sycho!athy is or#anically ca$sed.

It #ives $s ho!e that it is not $s !ersonally that has ca$sed the dama#e.+or the defence of rationali ation, as )e all "no), no evidence at all iss$0cientQ The fact that there is indeed some #ood evidence that some!sycho!aths !ro a ly are or#anically ca$sed is a #$ilty !ersons dreamcome tr$e. 6nd a researchers dream come tr$e, eca$se the money forf$rther research )ill e more readily availa le.

B$t all of this 8ies in the face of the $ncomforta le fact that )e "no) thatany child can e made into a !sycho!ath thro$#h fail$re of attachment.We "no) that. We have "no)n it for a lon# time. There is no do$ t a o$tit. B$t )e )ant to deny that eca$se it means that )e as !arents mayhave ca$sed irre!ara le dama#e to o$r child, and that "no)led#e doesn7tfeel very #ood. 6nd as a society )e don7t li"e it eca$se it means )e haveto chan#e a lot of esta lished !atterns or )ays )e do thin#s -- o$r!riorities -- in order to arran#e thin#s so that nothin# #ets in the )ay of attachment in the earliest years.


14/77

&ow to *ucceed in the !usiness o9 Creatin5Psychopaths 4ithout Even Tryin5!aul D. Steinhauer %.D. F*C!+C

?'ere is an e4cer!t from &a$l teinha$er, a )ell "no)n child !sychiatrist,from a tal" he #ave to Children s 6id ociety )or"ers to alert them to theha ards of movin# a "id thro$#h a do en or so foster homes in the /rstthree years. I li"e the )ay he !$ts it, and he !$ts it even more technicallyand acc$rately if yo$ loo" $! the oo" )here he later )rote a o$t thesame thin#. P

If yo$ )ant to ma"e a !sycho!ath, and yo$ )ant a really fool-!roof form$la, $st move a "id thro$#h 12 foster homes in the /rst three years.

What scares me is that !aid #ro$! instit$tional daycare $nder a#e three ista"in# the same fool-!roof !sycho!athy !rod$cin# form$la and ma"in#modi/cations. Why@ Why are )e messin# aro$nd )ith variations of s$ch adan#ero$s form$la. To me it s analo#o$s to a rain s$r#eon c$ttin#!ro#ressively closer slices o3 the centre of yo$r rain, )itho$t "no)in#more than the fact that if yo$ c$t close eno$#h yo$ ll !rod$ce anemotional ve#eta le.

Movin# thro$#h 12 di3erent foster homes in the /rst three years )ill ma"ea !sycho!ath for s$re. B$t )ill 1F moves or )ill E -- let7s try G. et7s trydaycare centres 1F ho$rs a day, or E, or G ho$rs a day. et7s try )ith 2 yearolds, 1 year, G month 2 month, 2 )ee" olds. If 1FF se!arations and 5Fchan#in# care#ivers )ill !rod$ce a !sycho!ath, )ill EF and HF do it,may e )e7re safe )ith 5F and 2F. We act li"e )e don7t see even theremotest connection to the "no)n dan#er.

We have een delivered $! so com!letely into the val$es of cons$m!tionas the most im!ortant thin# in o$r lives that )e seem $ite content to edeli erately creatin# childcare arran#ements that ris" !rod$cin#!sycho!aths and )e rationali e that ris" as either necessary or non-e4istent, !$ttin# o$r ho!e and faith in social science st$dies to ease o$r#$ilt.?

P $ more comprehensive description of these long-term e ects of incomplete or aborted mourning can be found on pages /0 - /1 of thebook !sychological !roblems of the Child in the Family by Steinhauer !.D.and *ae-2rant, 3. 4ew 5ork, '(#0, )asic )ooks.

...)hen there is no sin#le, ade $ate, contin$ally availa le !erson to )homthe child can relate, or Rthat in )hichS the child is !assed thro$#h a series


15/77


16/77

s$!ere#o. 6s a res$lt, they fre $ently sho) di3$se feelin#s of shame and )orthlessness, and lac" the a!!ro!riate ca!acity for#$ilt characteristic of the mat$re conscience. 6t the same time,these children almost invaria ly sho) severe e#o defects. They

mi#ht )ell e termed Nshort-f$sedO children. They lac" the a ilityto ind tension, leavin# them !rone to immediate and e4!losivedischar#es of ehavio$r in res!onse to the s)ee!s of ra#e to)hich they are so v$lnera le !artly eca$se of the #reatlyintensi/ed an#er res$ltin# from re!eated de!rivations and !artly

eca$se the lac" of contin$ity and consistency in their $! rin#in#has failed to hel! them develo! the necessary control over theira3ects. 6s a res$lt they remain im!$lse ridden and !rone to

actin#-o$t.

1 0ow *el9


17/77

a# ove and ener#y )ithdra)n from others may e re-invested inthe child s o)n ody. Initially, this may res$lt in e4cessivea$toeroticism ;th$m s$c"in#, roc"in#, mast$r ation the lon#er the interval et)een loss of contact )ith the child s o)n mother and the time of !ermanentattachment to a s$ stit$te mother, the #reater the ha ard of severe and !ermanent dama#e leadin# $ltimately to a child )ho isasocial andKor antisocial, inca!a le of tr$st, )armth or tr$eintimacy )ith others...

Prisons$ Psychopaths and PreventionE.T. )arker

?When, for a time, )e created a !ro#ram at (a" id#e )hich had only!sycho!athic !atients in it, there )as constant intense interaction. B$t it)as all heat and no li#ht. It7s to$#h for !eo!le )ith a )ell develo!edconscience -- tr$stin#, em!athic, a3ectionate !eo!le to s$rviveemotionally in s$ch a settin# even )ith !o)erf$l !rotections $ilt into thesystem. ntro!y seems to lie in the direction of the emotionally hardened,

s$s!icio$s, and $ncarin#.?


18/77

...I don7t "no) )hat !ro!ortion of the !o!$lation of a !rison is!sycho!athic -- !artial or com!lete, mild or severe. ( vio$sly the!ercenta#e de!ends on the dia#nostic criteria $sed and the de#ree of severity yo$ )ant to incl$de or feel yo$ can meas$re. To me the moreim!ortant $estions are ?What !ro!ortion of the #eneral !o!$lation is

!sycho!athic@ What are the conse $ences for society if there are toomany !sycho!aths@ Is there a critical !oint eyond )hich a social systemcannot f$nction -- a critcal mass for !sycho!athy@?

8It is possi le$ however$ 9or individuals with some o9 the 9eatureso9 the disorder to achieve political and economic success 8

8Psychopathy presents a sociolo5ic and psychiatric pro lemsecond to none 8

The Psychopaths Favourite Play5round:!usiness .elationships6en %agid and Carole %c6elvey

?'ere I have e4cer!ted a ch$n" from 'I:' I %>Children Witho$t a Conscience, a oo" y a!sycholo#ist, %en Ma#id. 'e is really sayin# )hat)e have een sayin#, that in the $siness )orld itis ever more acce!ta le that if yo$ can scre)some ody for a $c", then yo$7re a shar!

$sinessman. Ao$ have to )onder )here the endof that is #oin# to e. We seem to have develo!eda society )hich #lori/es !sycho!athy. ife in thefast lane. The $ i $ito$s eer and !o! ads tell $sthat7s )here it7s at. B$t )hat a o$t the do)nside@

Ma#id, in his oo", tries to address that. 'e)orries a o$t early child care arran#ements!rod$cin# !artial !sycho!aths, and tries to alert$s to the dan#er of the ever increasin# n$m ers.?

8Our society is 9ast ecomin5 morematerialistic$ and success at any cost is thecredo o9 many usinessmen 8

...Certainly, there have al)ays een shysters andcroo"s, $t !ast concern )as foc$sed on ferretin#

o$t incom!etents rather than !sycho!aths. 6s()en Ao$n# !$t it, ?It is not the croo" in modern

$siness that )e fear, $t the honest man )ho


19/77

doesn7t "no) )hat he is doin#.?

Unfort$nately, all that has chan#ed. We no) needto fear the s$!er-so!histicated modern croo" )ho

does "no) )hat he is doin# ... and does it so )ellthat no one else "no)s. Aes, !sycho!aths love the

$siness )orld.

?Uninvolved )ith others, he coolly sa) into theirfears and desires, and mane$vered them as he)ished. $ch a man mi#ht not, after all, edoomed to a life of scra!es and esca!ades endin#i#nominio$sly in the ailho$se. Instead of m$rderin# others, he mi#ht ecome a cor!orateraider and m$rder com!anies, /rin# !eo!leinstead of "illin# them, and cho!!in# $! theirf$nctions rather than their odies.?

U! $ntil the early 19E Wall treet )oes involvin#insider tradin#, )hite-collar crime )as lar#ely notsomethin# )e foc$sed $!on. Certainly, the?!enalties? administered in the $siness )orld arefar less severe than those for ? l$e-collar?crimes.? 6s 'o$ston &olice Chief ee Bro)nre!orts in the oo" Crime)ar!s, ?&olice do not

devote their e3orts to #et the )hite-collarcriminal. The crimes )e devote o$r e3orts to arethe ones the !$ lic is more concerned a o$t -street crimes. I don7t foresee that chan#in#.?

(f co$rse, the conse $ences to the avera#eciti en from $siness crimes are sta##erin#. 6scriminolo#ist :eor#ette Bennett says, ?Theyacco$nt for nearly HFL of case /lin#s in U. .*istrict Co$rts - more than any other cate#ory of crime. The com ined $r#lary, m$##in# and other!ro!erty losses ind$ced y the co$ntry7s street!$n"s come to a o$t D illion a year. 'o)ever,the seemin#ly $!standin# citi ens in o$rcor!orate oard rooms and the h$m le cler"s ino$r retail stores il" $s o$t of et)een DF and

2FF illion a year.?

Concern here is that the cost$me for the ne)mas"ed sanity of a !sycho!ath is $st as li"ely to

e a three-!iece s$it as a s"i mas" and a #$n. 6s

'arrin#ton says, ?We also have the !sycho!ath inres!ecta le circles, no lon#er ass$med to e aloser.? 'e $otes William %rasner as sayin#, ?They


20/77

- !sycho!ath and !art !sycho!ath - do )ell in themore $nscr$!$lo$s ty!es of sales )or", eca$sethey ta"e s$ch deli#ht in 7!$ttin# it over on them7,#ettin# a)ay )ith it - and have so little

conscience a o$t defra$din# their c$stomers.?($r society is fast ecomin# more materialistic,and s$ccess at any cost is the credo of many

$sinessmen. The ty!ical !sycho!ath thrives inthis "ind of environment and is seen as a $siness?hero.? 6$thors orman Mailer and Michael :lennreco#ni ed the increasin# !resence of this ty!e of individ$al in society and have )arned that this

Tr$st Bandit may e etter ada!ted to meet the#oals )e have no) set for o$rselves in de/nin#?s$ccess.?...

8The com ined ur5lary$ mu55in5 and otherproperty losses induced y the country sstreet pun"s come to a out B1 illion a year&owever$ the seemin5ly upstandin5 citi ensin our corporate oardrooms and thehum le cler"s in our retail stores il" us outo9 etween B16 and B,66 illion a year 8

8Concern here is that the costume 9or the

new mas"ed sanity o9 a psychopath is ustas li"ely to e a three

the purchase o9 any commodity 5ives the consumer a positivesatis9action or utility


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the additional satis9action derived 9rom additional purchases o9 the same commodity declines as the consumer s supply o9 thatcommodity increases and

with a 5iven amount o9 money to spend$ the consumer distri utesthe e penditure amon5 commodities to ma imi e the totalsatis9action or utility attaina le 9rom all those purchases

This rather cr$de model of cons$mer ehavio$r has $nder#oneconsidera le re/nement y modern mathematical economists...

Critics have often o ected that the model ass$mes a rational !erson enton scr$!$lo$sly ma4imi in# his satisfaction and that the model is th$s !artof a mechanistic stream of tho$#ht that has een s$ stantially

$ndermined y 2Fth-cent$ry advances in !sycholo#y...

Nonrational in;uences

To e f$lly rational and consistent, cons$mers need to have access tos$0cient information on #oods and their !rices so that they can choosethose )ith the lo)est $nit !rice for a #iven $ality. B$t cons$mers do notal)ays ehave this )ay. at$ral !earls are sold at a m$ch hi#her !ricethan c$lt$red !earls, tho$#h the di3erence et)een them is demonstra leonly y dissection or )ith V-rays, and their $ality in $se is identical.Brand-name dr$#s sell etter and at hi#her !rices than $n randed dr$#sthat are man$fact$red from the same standard form$la. To some e4tentthis is d$e to )hat an 6merican economist, Thorstein =e len, called thedesire for cons!ic$o$s cons$m!tion> !art of the attraction of the #ood issim!ly its hi#h !rice. It is also the res$lt of cons$mers7 i#norance, mademore ac$te y the increasin# so!histication of commodities )hose

$alities m$st e meas$red in many dimensions. If it is costly in time forthe individ$al to ecome f$lly informed a o$t the com!arative $alities of com!etin# !rod$cts, it is not )holly irrational for the cons$mer to ta"e themar"et !rice as an indicator of $ality. The lac" of information has #ivenrise to cons$mers7 or#ani ations in most ind$striali ed co$ntriesJ theseor#ani ations test and re!ort on a )ide ran#e of !rod$cts for theirs$ scri ers.

The in8$ence of modern advertisin# techni $es m$st also e considered.Insofar as advertisin# informs the cons$mer of the ran#e of alternatives, itcan e ar#$ed that advertisin# merely increases the cons$mer7sinformationJ and insofar as advertisin# conscio$sly or s$ conscio$sly

chan#es cons$mer !references, it remains one of the many factorsdeterminin# cons$mer !references that the economist ta"es as #iven.6dvertisin#, ho)ever, cannot !ers$ade the !$ lic to $y )hatever the


22/77

!rod$cer o3ers. 6dvertisin# is li"ely to e most e3ective in in8$encin#cons$mers to choose one of several almost identical !rod$cts ein#o3ered, s$ch as tooth!aste, ci#arettes, or #asoline. B$t it may also raisethe demand for the #ro$! of com!etin# !rod$cts as a )hole. In addition, it

can e ar#$ed that the total e3ect of modern advertisin# is to shift the!references of cons$mers in favo$r of l$4$ry #oods rather thannecessities, in favo$r of cons$m!tion rather than savin#, and in favo$r of em!loyment rather than leis$re

.ole o9 0u uries

The historical and social role of l$4$ry cons$m!tion is a s$ ect of m$chinterest...

...6dam mith and most of the economists )ho s$cceeded him elievedthat if the money s!ent on l$4$rio$s cons$m!tion y the rich )as investedin $sef$l !rod$ction, society )o$ld ene/t as a )hole. The Ind$strial

evol$tion ro$#ht an increasin# demand for f$nds for !rod$ctiveinvestment and made !ossi le a more ra!id rise in #eneral standards of livin# than the )orld had "no)n efore. The classical economists th$sar#$ed that all l$4$ry cons$m!tion involved a sel/sh diversion of la o$rand ca!ital and acted as a ra"e on h$man !ro#ress.

This vie) )as not serio$sly challen#ed $ntil the n#lish economist .M.%eynes !$ lished his General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 19H5-HG. Writin# at a time )hen millions of )or"ers )ere$nem!loyed, %eynes ar#$ed that the cons$m!tion of l$4$ries )as sociallydesira le if it !rovided o s that )o$ld other)ise not e4ist...

8The total e?ect o9 modern advertisin5 is to shi9t the pre9erenceso9 consumers in 9avour o9 lu ury 5oods rather than necessities$ in9avour o9 consumption rather than savin5$ and in 9avour o9 employment rather than leisure 8

Consumerism: 4hat s 4ron5 4ith It2*. $ltschuler and 4. *egush

8In this well


23/77

years of intimately lin"in# o$r most asic needs to cons$mer items andchannellin# all o$r ener#ies into the mar"et!lace.

'enry +ord, )ho introd$ced the Model T in 19F9, !ro a ly )o$ld have diedof a stro"e if he had loo"ed into a crystal all and seen the May, 19 Hiss$e of &lay oy, )hich feat$red a !ictorial on se4 and the a$tomo ile. Inthe !hoto-s!read )e see a )oman, a!!arently in ecstasy, stro"in# asteerin# )heel. The editors of &lay oy seem to thin" that the a$tomo ile)as !rimarily invented to #et se4 o3 the !orch s)in# and on to )heels.&ossi ly so, $t +ord asically )anted to !rod$ce e3ort-savin# and!ractical cars for ordinary !eo!le li"e himself. ven if the /rst car on theroad did more than $st revol$tioni e trans!ortation, &lay oy sho)s $s thatin o$r modern )orld !eo!le drivin# thier ? a ies? don7t al)ays needh$man ein#s to love. We mi#ht also add that if Cotton Mather, a tr$es!irit of (rthodo4 &rotestantism, )ho vie)ed $siness as a vital callin#and a !art of reli#ion, had foreseen the f$t$re develo!ment of h$#ereli#io$s am$sement !ar"s he !ro a ly )o$ld not have een so ea#er tos!rin"le holy )ater on economic s$ccess.

The early 6merican )as contin$o$sly lasted y the a!horisms, verses,lect$res, or fa les of the #reat a!ostles of individ$alism. Ben amin+ran"lin, for e4am!le, s!ent m$ch of his life tal"in# a o$t his rise fromo sc$rity to a $ence. (ne m$st add al!h Waldo merson to this #ro$!,

as )ell as &hineas T. Barn$m. Both !raised the virt$es of material s$ccess.

&erha!s more than anyone else, 'oratio 6l#er is res!onsi le for the6merican ra#s to riches sa#a. In his 1H5 oo"s, he al)ays !ortrayed hishero as someone )ho achieved s$ccess thro$#h his dili#ence, honesty,!erseverance, and thrift. If yo$ )or"ed hard and saved yo$r money yo$s$cceeded.

*es!ite the ideolo#y of the self-made man, the last decade of thenineteenth cent$ry, and certainly the early years of the t)entieth )ereincreasin#ly di0c$lt times for 6merican c$lt$re. The #ro)in# 6mericancor!orations a!!eared to e slo)ly chan#in# the criteria for !ersonals$ccess. 'enry +ord )as a le to maintain a commandin# lead over hiscom!etitors y sim!ly o3erin# his c$stomers the f$ndamental ass$rancethat his cars )o$ld #et them to their destination and ac". 6fter the asicmechanical feat$res of the a$tomo ile ecame more relia le and!rod$ction !ro lems )ere overcome, the cons$mer needed an innovative

a . In 192 , )hen :eneral Motors introd$ced the a alle, the /rst ?styled?car, +ord lost his n$m er-one !osition. 'enry )anted ac" in and came o$t)ith his restyled Model 6. We all "no) )hat has ha!!ened since.


24/77

6s cor!orate develo!ment m$shroomed, the cons$mer increasin#lyecame a !assive o server of the technolo#ical !rocess, $t at the same

time he also ecame more of a challen#e for the !rod$cers7 sellin#ima#ination. In 19FF there )asn7t any 6merican ma#a ine )ith a

circ$lation a!!roachin# a million. By 19D there )ere at least forty-ei#ht.eaders *i#est, )ith a circ$lation of over 9 1K2 million in 1951, alon# )ithits com!etitors om arded readers )ith incentives to )or" harder andharder in order to $y more and more #oods. The )or"-to- $y ethic )as

ein# #enero$sly instilled into the 6merican conscio$sness. The :os!el of $ccess )as ein# democrati ed. This essentially meant that since

everyone )as ein# sold on the ill$sion that o!!ort$nity for s$ccess )ase $al, everyone )as fair #ame.

=ance &ac"ard )as not the /rst to attac" the :reat $ccess tory. When The 'idden &ers$aders )as !$ lished in 195 , ho)ever, !$ lic attention)as more aro$sed than ever. &ac"ard heavily doc$mented his ar#$mentthat t)o-thirds of 6merica7s lar#est advertisers had #eared theircam!ai#ns to a de!th a!!roach, $sin# strate#ies ins!ired y )hat )ascalled motivation analysis. Cons$mers )ere seen as $ndles of daydreams)ith hidden yearnin#s, #$ilt com!le4es, and irrational emotional

loc"a#es. Usin# research techni $es that )ere desi#ned to reach thes$ conscio$s mind, it )as ho!ed that advertisin# )o$ld mass-!rod$cec$stomers for the Cor!orations $st as he Cor!orations mass-!rod$ced

!rod$cts. &ac"ard tells of a scene from orraine 'ans erry7s Broad)ay!lay, 6 aisin in The $n, in )hich the son, a re8ection of modern ideas,cries o$t, ?I )ant so many thin#s, it drives me cra y ... Money is lifeQ? Thetas" of the motivation man )as to caref$lly sort o$t )hat drove this yo$n#man cra y and !ac"a#e the sol$tions into !retty ottles and o4es.&ac"ard raised very dist$r in# $estions a o$t the "ind of society thesemani!$lators )ere creatin# thro$#h their a ility to contact millions of !eo!le thro$#h the mass media. 'e $estioned the morality of !layin#$!on hidden )ea"nesses and frailties s$ch as an4ieties, a##ressive

feelin#s, dread of nonconformity, and infantile han#-$!s to sell !rod$cts.6nd he $estioned the morality of mani!$latin# small children even eforethey reached the a#e )hen they )ere le#ally res!onsi le for their actions.&ac"ard also severely critici ed social scientists> 'e claimed that havin#fo$nd the st$dy of irrationality very l$crative, they )ere 8yin# o$t of ivoryto)ers ho!in# to land i# ooty )ith the ne) mar"eteers.

*avid iesman, a$thor of The onely Cro)d, descri ed the emer#in#cons$mer as ?other-directed?, as one )ho #a$#ed everythin# he did interms of the e4!ectations of other !eo!le. iesman claimed that the other-directed ty!e re8ected the ra!idly increasin# cons$m!tion mania. +rommechoed this inter!retation sayin#, ?'$man relations are essentially those


25/77

of alienated a$tomatons, each asin# his sec$rity on stayin# close to theherd, and not ein# di3erent in tho$#ht, feelin# or action. While every odytries to e as close as !ossi le to the rest, every ody remains $tterlyalone, !ervaded y a dee! sense of insec$rity, an4iety and #$ilt )hich

al)ays res$lts )hen h$man se!arateness cannot e overcome.? Thorstein=e len, critic of the cons!ic$o$s cons$m!tion of the 6merican novea$riche of the late nineteenth cent$ry, !ointed o$t that the mass-circ$lationne)s!a!ers, /lms, radio, the rise of mass !olitical !arties, and the s!ecialinterests of advertisers all anaestheti ed the masses )ith )hat he calledla$#hin# #as. 6nd 'er ert Marc$se descri es the media-dominatedmodern citi en as havin# a ?ha!!y conscio$sness?. 'a!!y conscio$snessena led a !erson to see his o)n ehavio$r as steadily !ro#ressive, al)ayscomin# closer to the cherished #ood life. The #lori/cation and!er!et$ation of the cor!orate state had ecome a $ilt-in condition, astrin# fastened aro$nd one7s nec" so ti#htly that a vested interest in thesystem )as fostered and the need for #o lin# $! every ne) #ad#et,instr$ment, and fashion ecame as ?nat$ral? as the need to reathe...

&ac"ard7s #reatest attac", tho$#h he did not !hrase it this )ay, )as on theill$sion of cons$mer soverei#nty> the idea that the cons$mer himself toldthe !rod$cer )hat he needed and the !rod$cer com!lied. The reverse )asha!!enin#, $t eca$se of the #reat stress on individ$alism in 6merica,&ac"ard7s thesis )as a very di0c$lt one for !eo!le to f$lly acce!t. The

reaction for the most !art )as very similar to that of the Mid)esternfarmer )ho comes to e) Aor" City, loo"s at the m!ire tate B$ildin#,sha"es his head, and says, ?I see it $t I don7t elieve it?.

The doctrine of cons$mer soverei#nty )as #iven its #reatest criticism y ohn %enneth :al raith. Writin# in The e) Ind$strial tate, :al raithe4!lained that since the t$rn of the cent$ry Cor!orations )ere increasin#lyconcerned )ith mana#in# demands of cons$mers. ?The one man in ten?)as caref$lly !lanned on the dra)in# oard. :al raith referred to the

control or mana#ement of cons$mer demand as a #ro)in# ind$stry initself, made $! of comm$nication net)or"s, merchandisin# s!ecialists,advertisin# a#encies, research, and other related services. The early:os!el had een transformed into a :reat Machine )hose !rimaryf$nction )as to sell #oods. Cons$mer soverei#nty )as a#ain seen to eill$sion, and only those afraid to face ne) realities co$ld clin# !recario$slyto the idea of the free cons$mer.

6ccordin# to sociolo#ist C. Wri#ht Mills, !eo!le in the 195F7s, )ereincreasin#ly told y caref$lly desi#ned mass media form$las )ho they)ere, )hat they sho$ld e, and ho) they co$ld s$cceed. These form$las)ere not #eared to the develo!ment of a sensitive h$man ein#. &eo!le


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)ere ecomin# increasin#ly lonely and sim$ltaneo$sly mimic"in# mediaha!!iness. In Brecht7s !lay In the $n#le of Cities, one !erson says, ?if yo$crammed a shi! f$ll of odies till it $rst the loneliness inside it )o$ld eso #reat, they )o$ld t$rn to ice...? The modern cons$mer-citi en )as

ecomin# increasin#ly alienated, and theorists li"e rich +rommcommented that alienation )as ecomin# total, that it !ervaded therelationshi! of Man to Man, Man to his )or" and Man to the thin#s hecons$med.

There is hardly a family that is not $nder the constant, everyday !ress$rea o$t ?)hat the ho$se needs ne4t?. If it is not a ne) T= it is a ne)dish)asher, if not this, then ne) r$#s or c$rtains or havin# the denremodelled, or redoin# the athroom. +or many co$!les )ho are estran#ed

$t )ill not face $! to it, all of this cons$merism and ho$sehold !lannin#often serves the f$nction that a child does - it "ee!s the co$!le ?to#ether?.

That is, it fosters the ill$sion that they are on an advent$re to#ether,!oolin# their )its and ener#ies to reach a common #oal. Beca$se of this, itis not $ncommon to see married co$!les in their l$4$rio$sly decorated

edrooms - )hich they have !$t so m$ch into that a harem chieftain )o$lde envio$s - $ninterested in lovin# one another, slee!in# there li"e t)o

cell$loid movie stars, cold and !lastic.

Many co$!les feel com!elled to sho) they have made it to#ether y )hat

they have acc$m$lated. When the de ts e#in !ilin# $!, and economicstrain ecomes a constant feat$re of the relationshi!, rather than c$t ac"on the #ood life, the h$s and, as mentioned efore, e#ins to )or" more,or, as is a #ro)in# necessity these days, the )ife e#ins to )or". The cycleis a!t to #ro) more vicio$s if, rather than admit that their )ay of life is theso$rce of the !ro lem, the )ife -- )ho is forced to )or" to hel! !ay the

ills -- identi/es )ith ideolo#ies to $stify her activity, and adds to the!ro lem y #ettin# farther and farther a)ay from its root.

It is im!ortant to #et this ar#$ment clear in the conte4t of the iss$es raisedy )omen7s li eration. Many co$!les are in tro$ le eca$se there haseen an historical o!!ression of )omen -- !artic$larly economic -- in the

male-dominated ho$sehold. 6lon# )ith this, )omen have een assi#nedthe relatively menial tas"s of ho$sehold chores )hich can e, de!endin#on the )oman, eno$#h to ma"e a rain rot. The revol$tion of roles istherefore !ro#ressive insofar as it attem!ts to allo) creative )omen toe4!ress their creativity, and insofar as )omen free themselves from theforced economic de!endence and the host of identity !ro lems that are anad $nct of this.

To ecome an inde!endent read)inner and to e4!ress creative talentsre $ires in most instances that the )oman see" em!loyment o$tside the


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6 #ood e4am!le of this conf$sion can e seen in the activities of theational (r#ani ation of Women ; (W We )ant a)oman to e a le to #et credit in )hatever name she chooses - married,maiden, !rofessional or )hatever. ?There is a !ractical side to this?, a (Ws!o"es)oman e4!lained. ?This )ay, if a co$!le ecomes se!arated ordivorced, she )ill have maintained her o)n credit ratin#, and )ill not e atthe disadvanta#e of havin# to re-esta lish credit ... What the li erated)oman )ants today is a credit card in her o)n name, rather than havin#ad $nct credit e4tended eca$se her h$s and is deemed a #ood creditris". 6nd little y little this is ecomin# to !ass.?

The !ro lem of )omen ein# de!endent on their h$s ands anddiscriminated a#ainst is a real one, $t the credit !ro lem is real onlyinsofar as it is the ca$se of the !ro lem )e are tal"in# a o$t. By !$shin#for credit for )omen, )itho$t detailin# its !itfalls, )omen )ho identify )ith

(W )ill see this as a #oal to e achieved and )ill /#ht for credit. Thecredit !ro lem, ho)ever, is !art of the !ro lem of a society )hich

!ress$res !eo!le to e4tend themselves eyond their means )itho$tcaref$lly considerin# the !ossi le ne#ative re!erc$ssions. (W, thereforemay e $n)ittin#ly aidin# the Cor!orations in their relentless desire to sell$s as m$ch as they !ossi ly can. Credit is one of their more in#enio$smeans.

The ?yo$n# mama? - the ima#e of the modern, )hole, married )oman!$shed y ed oo" - is the !rototy!e of the inde!endent )oman )ho!resents no challen#e to the e4istin# reality of the #ood life. he is aCor!oration7s dream. +li!!in# thro$#h ed oo", one /nds !a#e after !a#eof #lossy ads com!risin# a o$t F !ercent of the ma#a ine, a smatterin#of an4iety-!rod$cin# stories dealin# )ith marria#es in tro$ le and ne)morality, and a smatterin# of articles s$ch as ?'o) to edecorate Ao$r'ome?, the last mentioned ein# merely another version of cor!orateadvertisin#. The total im!act is a not-too-s$ tle de/nition of )hat theyo$n#, normal, married )oman sho$ld do to a0rm her identity and self-ima#e. In the !rocess she is made a nervo$s )rec" )ith a constant

arra#e of $estions s$ch as ?6re yo$ s$re yo$r Tam!on "ee!s yo$ odo$r-free@? While !onderin# this im!ortant $estion, the rest of the a!!earanceind$stry does its )or" of creatin# an4iety and o3erin# ?sol$tions?. 6ndhere it is im!ortant to loo" at, in some detail, another ma or so$rce of


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4ewsweek !ointed to the ret$rn of ?the #ood old days? and cites thise4am!le of a thirty-fo$r year old Connectic$t ho$se)ife )ho says, ?My)hole life revolves aro$nd drivin# my h$s and to the station, the "ids toschool, the "ids to the dentist, the "ids to hoc"ey !ractise, the "ids to

allet classes, the "ids to a irthday !arty. ometimes I feel as tho$#h I7mon a treadmill. I7m #lad the ener#y crisis ha!!ened. I thin", !erha!snaively, that if I s!end less time cha$3e$rin#, I can #o ac" to !aintin#and #et to "no) my children etter.?

4ewsweek s$##ested that many !eo!le may $se the crisis as a )ay of restorin# comm$nity and family life. ohn %enneth :al raith is $oted assayin# that ?if the ener#y crisis forces $s to diminish a$tomo ile $se in thecities, sto!s $s from $ildin# hi#h)ays and coverin# the co$ntry )ithconcrete and as!halt, forces $s to reha ilitate the railroads, ca$ses $s toinvest in mass trans!ortation and limits the )aste of electrical ener#y, onecan only ass$me the 6ra nations and the i# oil com!anies have $nitedto save the 6merican e!$ lic.?

'o!ef$l as this so$nds, it is $tter nonsense. :al raith has lost si#ht of them$ch )ider crisis and the fact that these recent develo!ments m$st evie)ed from )ithin the conte4t of o$r entire )ay of life. The Connectic$tho$se)ife has an ed#e on :al raith. 6t least she int$itively feels that sheis ein# naive.

Time7s !ers!ective in its *ecem er H1, 19 H edition )as some)hat closerto the essential !oint> ?as more 6mericans stay at home instead of ta"in#to the o!en road, they )ill $y more li $or, oo"s, television sets,s)immin# !ools, and, say some !harmace$tical e4ec$tives, more irthcontrol !ills.? More im!ortant is that if the cons$mer sto!s com!$lsively

$yin# eca$se of a tem!orary reco#nition of the nation7s economic andener#y !ro lems, and )aits for a etter day )hen he can #o on a ram!a#ea#ain, very little )ill e #ained. +$rthermore, to elieve that any ma orrestr$ct$rin# of life in the cons$mer society )ill come a o$t as the res$ltof an ener#y shorta#e )itho$t a ma or transformation of cons$merconscio$sness is to i#nore the cold hard facts of 6merican cor!orateca!italism and the de#ree to )hich )e have ecome enslaved to its!rinci!al messa#e...

Can )e really e so naive to elieve that )e can t$rn the cloc" ac", erasethe develo!in# !atterns of !ostind$strial society, and $ildin# a ne) )ayof livin#, thin"in#, and feelin# )itho$t a !rofo$nd ehavio$ral chan#e, a

asic restr$ct$rin# of o$r val$es a o$t the total via ility of o$r cons$mersociety and the manner in )hich ha!!iness has een de/ned@ Can )ereally elieve that )e all )ill come to o$r senses eca$se of an ener#y


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shorta#e and that the cor!orate )orld )ill not contin$e its tactical )arfareon o$r conscio$sness in ne)er and more so!histicated )ays@

The Western World, as )e have heavily ill$strated thro$#ho$t this oo",has almost )holly acce!ted the ill$sion of material !ro#ress as a #$arantorof ha!!iness. The common denominator of materialism is an $ncriticalacce!tance of the #litterin# com!etitive and s$ccess-oriented cons$merlife as the only reality. The Cor!orations, their advertisin# a!!enda#es,and the mass media have s"ilf$lly created cons$mer ill$sions, as o$reveryday c$lt$ral )orld has $ilt a screen in the h$man mind, shieldin# $sfrom o$r !ossi ilities as a s!ecies. ($r )ell-conditioned interests in, andover)helmin# concern )ith the )orld of material o ects and #ad#etryleads $s to de!end on technical sol$tions to all o$r !ro lems...

4cer!ted from Open .eality: The 4ay Out o9 imic"in5 &appinessy ichard 6ltsch$ler and icholas e#$sh, !$ lished y :.&. &$tnam Xons, e) Aor". Co!yri#ht Y 19 D y ichard 6ltsch$ler and icholase#$sh. e!rinted )ith !ermission in the $mmer 19E1 iss$e of the

C &CC o$rnal.

Consumerism$ aterialism and Cruelty toChildrenE.T. )arker, %D, D.!syc., F.*.C.!. +C

?6 !erha!s overly l$nt editorial I )rote in 19E1. This "ind of thin#certainly doesn7t )in friends and !ro a ly doesn7t in8$ence !eo!le, $t Itho$#ht some ody sho$ld say it re#ardless.?

I have little $arrel )ith those childless ad$lts or ad$lts )ith older children)ho choose or are led to elieve that Cons$merism and Materialism ;andstat$s and careerism ased on these val$es< are )orth devotin# their livesto. I /nd it very $!settin# ho)ever )hen I see a hel!less infant ein#!ermanently maimed emotionally eca$se the !arents !lace so hi#h a!riority on these val$es that they fail to !rovide the em!athic, a3ectionatecare their infant needs d$rin# the relatively fe) years s$ch care is anecessity.

et $s at least call a s!ade a s!ade. ?We need t)o salaries $st to "ee! $!?means ?We val$e the )hettin# of o$r cons$mer addictions for these fe)years more hi#hly than o$r infant7s f$t$re emotional health?. ?I need to)or" in order to feel f$l/lled and content, and it7s not fair to my infant for

me to loo" after her )hen I7m $nha!!y? means ?I elieve I can /ndha!!iness and f$l/lment thro$#h Cons$merism and Materialism ;and


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stat$s and careerism ased on these ellin# a child7s irthri#ht for a mess of !otta#e.

et $s also not del$de o$rselves y thin"in# that the )ay of life for )hichinfants are so fre $ently sacri/ced these days is either the only )ay or anecessary )ay. et $s ho!e that the Cons$merism and Materialism thatare c$rrently so fashiona le )ill soon e seen for )hat they are and arenot, and )ill #ive )ay to val$es )hich are more com!ati le )ith emotionalhealth -- oth infant and ad$lt.

Editorial from 8olume 9, :ssue 0 +Summer '(#' of the ;ournal of theCanadian Society for the !revention of Cruelty to Children

To &A'E or to !EErich Fromm

rich +romm7s thesis in this remar"a le oo" is that t)o modes of e4istence are str$##lin# for the s!irit of h$man"ind>

T&E &A'IN% ODE$

)hich concentrates on material !ossession, ac $isitiveness, !o)er, anda##ression and is the asis of s$ch $niversal evils as #reed, envy, andviolenceJ and>

T&E !EIN% ODE$

)hich is ased on love, in the !leas$re of sharin#, and in meanin#f$l and!rod$ctive rather than )astef$l activity.

*r. +romm sees the &A'IN% mode rin#in# the )orld to the rin" of !sycholo#ical and ecolo#ical disaster, and he o$tlines a rilliant !ro#ramfor socioeconomic chan#e that co$ld really t$rn the )orld a)ay from itscatastro!hic co$rse.

4hat Is the 8&A'IN%8 ode2

($r $d#ements are e4tremely iased eca$se )e live in a society thatrests on !rivate !ro!erty, !ro/t, and !o)er as the !illars of its e4istence. To ac $ire, to o)n, and to ma"e a !ro/t are the sacred and inaliena le


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ri#hts of the individ$al in the ind$strial society. P What the so$rces of !ro!erty are does not matter, nor does !ossession im!ose any o li#ationson the !ro!erty o)ners. The !rinci!le is> ?Where and ho) my !ro!erty )asac $ired or )hat I do )ith it is no ody7s $siness $t my o)nJ as lon# as I

do not violate the la), my ri#ht is $nrestricted and a sol$te.? This "ind of !ro!erty may e called !rivate !ro!erty ;from atin !rivare,?to de!rive of?


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e4chan#e for a etter model< -- ne) ac $isition, constit$tes the vicio$scircle of cons$mer- $yin#...

E cerpted from the book To Have or to Be by Erich Fromm, published by *over.

!i5 !rother Couldn t Foresee the !i5 C if some odysells it, some ody )ill $y it.

(r)ell himself is mar"eted> e)s!ea", do$ lethin" and the ad ective(r)ellian are !art of the c$lt$re. Individ$ality is accorded !rimeim!ortance in the West, in the elief that individ$ality is the thin# the Westhas that the ast )ants, the thin# that s!ells the secret of its$n!recedented a ility to mar"et life )ith s$ch demo#ra!hic e4actit$dethat it is called a style. ifestyle. The system has instit$tionali ed thediversity (r)ell feared )o$ld die o$t. The system is devoted to the!roliferation of variety -- to s$!er/cial variety ;are those $ns y Calvin%lein or =alente@< !erha!s, $t to variety nonetheless.

The desires of minorities #enerate mar"etin# strate#ies -- et and ony

ma#a ines for lac"s, Bl$e oy and $m ers for #ays. Within limits, theo$tsider is hono$red and occasionally revered, es!ecially if his ac"et is

lac" and made of leather and es!ecially if he dies yo$n# and in it, )ithhis +rye oots on.

(r)ell7s novel is a ca$tionary fa le a o$t a land in )hich every ody in thesame class had the same thin#s, did the same thin#s, a land thate4terminated any variation from the norm. ;The ($ter &arty mem erslived y strict r$les> the Inner &arty mem ers had r$les sli#htly less strictJ

and the !roles, the $ned$cated lo)er class, lived y fe) r$les e4ce!t thatthey )ere e4terminated, if they sho)ed si#ns of intelli#ence or of ca$sin#tro$ le. ?Whoever has the most thin#s )hen hedies, )ins.?

*eprinted with permission from the 2lobe and %ail.

8The dar" side o9 the system is that the search 9or pro@ts leadscapitalists to mar"et thin5s that loo" 5ood ut aren t 5ood andto resist discardin5 them as lon5 as some ody is ma"in5 a uc" 9rom them 8

8From a mar"etin5 point o9 view$ disposa ility is the 5olden 5oose8


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8The purpose is to ma"e the customer discontented with his oldtype o9 9ountain pen$ "itchen utensil$ athroom$ or motor car$

ecause it is old 9ashioned$ out o9 date The technical term 9orthis idea is o soletism 4e no lon5er wait 9or thin5s to wear out

4e displace them with others that are not more e?ective utmore attractive 8

The e cerpts above are from Open #eal!ty$ The %ay O t of M!m!c&!n'Happ!ness by *ichard $ltschuler and 4icholas *egush, published by 2.!.!utnam Sons, 4ew 5ork. Copyright = '(/9 by *ichard $ltschuler and4icholas *egush. *eprinted with permission courtesy of the !utnam!ublishing 2roup.

+ou Can Never %et Enou5h O9 4hat +ouDidn t 4ant In The First PlaceSam 6een

8!eyond the level o9 com9orta le survival$ 5oods ecome asu stitute 9or the primal 5oodness we were denied < 9amiliarity$intimacy$ "indness 8

...6t !resent, families are disinte#ratin# at a ra!id rate $nder the im!act of economic !ress$res that force oth father and mother into the )or"force,easy divorce, constant mo ility and rootlessness, and the ne) ethic of sel/shness. The tas" of carin# for and initiatin# children is increasin#lyt$rned over to !rofessionals, as oth mother and father choose to centretheir identity in the economic rather than the familiar.

More acc$rately, the crisis in the family #oes alon# )ith a modern re-de/nition of ?economic.? The )ord ?economic? ori#inally meant the art andscience of mana#in# a ho$sehold. Under the im!act of the omnivoro$smar"et-mentality, it chan#ed its meanin# and ecame ?the !rod$ction,distri $tion and cons$m!tion of commodities.? The s$ version anddestr$ction of the family can e meas$red in the distance et)een theset)o de/nitions -- et)een home economics and cor!orate economics...

... o n$m er of !rod$cts, money, or a stract #oods satis/es $s. This is thef$ndamental mista"e )e ma"e in s$ stit$tin# the economic for thefamiliar as the root of identity. conomic man is driven y insatia ility

eca$se, as my friend 6nne =alley +o4 says, ?Ao$ can never #et eno$#h of )hat yo$ didn7t )ant in the /rst !lace.? Beyond the level of comforta le

s$rvival, #oods ecome a s$ stit$te for the !rimal #oodness )e )eredenied -- familiarity, intimacy, "indness...


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E cerpted from The (ass!onate )!fe$ "ta'es of )ov!n' , by Sam 6een.Fit henry and 7hiteside, '(#0.

The Poverty o9 a .ich *ociety ;ohn F. 2ardener

8+et how many 5leamin5$ cheer9ul$ well


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Is This a Culture 4e Can A?ord to eComplacent A out2

awrence S. 6ubie

?6 !iece y a)rence %$ ie, a !sychoanalyst. 'e )rote it in 19G1 as anindictment of a c$lt$re that )ants to sell yo$ cars that #o faster, cars thatare i##er than yo$ can $se, and chromi$m and all of that nonsense, andits dan#ero$s. B$t it7s )hat #ets mar"eted to $s and )hat )e #et to)orshi!. 6nd he #oes on to say, loo" I7m not sayin# that the comm$nistscan do it etter, or the socialists can do it etter. What I am sayin# is that)e have to do somethin# di3erent eca$se this c$lt$re is #ettin#dan#ero$s and )e sho$ld do some thin"in# a o$t that efore )e aredriven to hell y the !eo!le )ho can mar"et st$3 so )ell.?

Is this a culture that reads health28

...+inally, )e m$st consider o$r economy, increasin#ly #am lin# itss$ccess or fail$re on cons$m!tion y the instalment !lan. 'as anyonesince =e len as"ed )hat )o$ld ha!!en to s$ch an economy if the mas"edne$rotic in#redients in h$man nat$re )ere y s$dden ma#ic to eeliminated@ What )o$ld ha!!en to the fashion c$lts, the ea$ty c$lts, thefood and drin" and to acco c$lts )ith their e4!loitation of orality, the

e4cretory c$lt, the cleanliness c$lts, the si e c$lts, the hei#ht c$lts, thestri!-tease c$lts@ Consider the e4!loitation of hy!ochondriasis thro$#h thedr$# ho$ses and even o$r more elite !$ lishin# ho$ses. Ta"e also theendless )hettin# of cons$mer cravin#, the e4!loitation of the ?#immes? of childhood y transm$tin# them into the ?#immes? of ad$lt life. Considerthe ministerin# to ne$rotic needs thro$#h si e and !o)er> the "ni#ht of oldre!laced y Cas!er Mil $etoast in :eneral Motors armo$r, com!lete )ithchromi$m, $nneeded si e, $n$sed seatin# ca!acity, and a !ointless ille#al,and $n$sa le ca!acity for s!eed. (r consider the search for ha!!inessany)here else than )here one is, )hether it is an adolescent )ith his hot-rod, or the travel ind$stry sellin# vacations on the instalment !lan.

To re!eat, )hat )o$ld ha!!en to o$r economy if )e )ere to #et )ell@ 6nd)hat does the e4!loitation of ne$rosis y so many forces in o$r c$lt$re doto the ne$rotic !rocess itself@ Is this a c$lt$re that reads health@ Is this ac$lt$re that )e can a3ord to e com!lacent a o$t@ (r have )e allo)edthe enormo$s creative !otential of !rivate enter!rise to e enslaved tone$rotic !rocesses in ind$stry, e4actly as the creative !rocess in art,literat$re, m$sic, even science, has ecome the slave of ne$rosis@

est )e thin" that I am sin#lin# o$t o$r c$lt$re, o$r economy for attac", Ire!eat that I do not elieve that h$man in#en$ity has yet devised any


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c$lt$re creates the "ind of !eo!le it needs. May e )e7re into ha!ha ardn$rt$rin# relationshi!s in the /rst three years of the lives of o$r children sothey )ill #ro) $! )ith an insatia le need to sho! till they dro!.

If yo$7re $na le to o tain satisfaction from B I :, )hich is ased on loveand the !leas$re of sharin# then the '6=I : M(* , as ric +romm !$t it,is yo$r only choice>

?The '6=I : M(* , concentrates on material !ossession, ac $isitiveness,!o)er, and a##ression and is the asis of s$ch $niversal evils as #reed,envy, and violence...?

&sycho!athy and Cons$merism need and feed each other.

8 It is consumerism that drives the 6 cons$merism, and ar itrary male dominance. The formerl$res !arents into elievin# that they need to e ma"in# more moneyrather than carin# for their children. The latter drives )omen a)ay fromn$rt$rin# their children to #ain emanci!ation via the mar"et!lace.

The !ro lem is that the necessity of shared and the inevita ility of chan#in# care#ivers in any ty!e of #ro$! daycare for infants and toddlers!$ts the develo!ment of their ca!acity for tr$st, em!athy, and a3ection at


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ris". o one sees this as a !ro lem eca$se these de/cits don7t sho) $!clearly $ntil ad$lthood, and even then they are not easily meas$ra le li"ean intelli#ence $otient is. What is )orse, their a sence can act$ally e anasset in a cons$mer society )hich often re)ards the o!!osite val$es.

B$t the ca!acities for tr$st, em!athy, and a3ection are in fact the centralcore of )hat it means to e h$man, and are indis!ensa le for ad$lts to ea le to form lastin#, m$t$ally satisfyin# co-o!erative relationshi!s )ithothers. In a )orld of decreasin# si e and increasin# n$m ers of )ea!onsof mass destr$ction it is dan#ero$s for these $alities to ecome de/cient.

What is needed is #reater $nderstandin# of the !ra#matic nat$re of theval$es of tr$st, em!athy, and a3ectionJ a means of meas$rin# the de#reeof their !resence or a sence in ad$ltsJ more ra!id !ro#ress in the

elimination of ar itrary male dominanceJ and closer e4amination of thedestr$ctive as!ects of cons$merism.

["The committee on women's rights will now come to order."]

The Real Culprits

The real culprit in all this, of course, is the inflexibility of men. It comes back to thatover and over again. Men are inflexible as fathers when they either do not assume more

responsibility for care or do not provide support that they are committed to and putwomen in the position of starving or working outside the home. Then there are men in

policy making positions who are very inflexible and define child care as a woman!sproblem. "art and parcel of any childcare initiative needs to be a ma#or initiative in

male re sociali$ation. %therwise, it!s women and children

who pay the price.

Dr. James Garbarino, President

Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Develo ment

[INDEX]

&omen!s 'iberation and Cruelty to Children E.!. "arker, #D

From the perspective of the C !CC one of the most import#nt #spects of the. str$ggle fore%$#lit& in #ll de#lings et( ween men #nd women is the prevention of perm#nent emotion#ld#m#ge to children.
http://www.empathicparenting.org/psychopathy/index.htmlhttp://www.empathicparenting.org/psychopathy/index.html


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)n emotion#ll& "p$t(down" mother # wom#n whose rel#tionship with her h$s #nd isch#r#cteri*ed & #r itr#r& m#le domin#nce will h#ve neg#tive feelings +conscio$s or$nconscio$s, res$lting from her $ne%$#l or powerless position.

Inf#nts eing e-tr#ordin#ril& sensitive to the feelings of the mother #re #ffected & thesefeelings. The inf#nt is #ffected directl& & the mother's conscio$s or $nconscio$s #nger orresentment. Indirectl& the child is #ffected & r#tion#li*ed e-cesses of #r itr#r& #$thorit&+$nnecess#r& e#t this's do this's don't do th#t's, #nd other ps&chologic#l defence m#noe$versnecess#r& to cope with the feelings gener#ted from #n $ne%$#l position vis(#(vis # f#therwhose #r itr#r& m#le domin#nce is $n%$estioned.

hen the norm for #ll rel#tions etween men #nd women ecomes one of e%$#lit& #ndespeci#ll& when p#rents re( l#te on # #sis of m$t$#l respect #nd cooper#tion then o$rchildren will h#ve # m#/or so$rce of emotion#l # $se removed. Not $ntil women #re

themselves tre#ted #s persons will it e re#son# le to e-pect them to tre#t their inf#nt children#s persons #thing them in the emp#thic #ffection#te c#re so necess#r& d$ring the e#rliestform#tive &e#rs.

Editorial, Journal of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, $ol %, Issue &.

In a sense everyone!s liberation depends on the liberation of white males, preciselybecause they have the power to prevent women and minorities from seeking a broaderrange of alternatives if they do not play the game by the rules of the masculine valuesystem.0#donn# 1ol enschi#g

(exism) * +angerous +elusionGeor'e (. Albee

(exists -along with *nti (emites, antigays, racists, and bigots of all kinds should bedefined as emotionally disturbed.

e-ism me#ns #scri ing s$periorit& or inferiorit& $ns$pported & #n& evidence in tr#its# ilities soci#l v#l$e person#l worth #nd other ch#r#cteristics to m#les or fem#les #s # gro$p.The "st#nd#rd of e-cellence" $s$#ll& is the white m#le.

0ost commonl& se-ism involves perceiving #nd #cting tow#rd fem#les #s if the& #rec#tegoric#ll& inferior. This pl#ces se-ism in the p#ntheon of pre/$dices #longside r#cism#geism #nd other politic#l p#thologies defended #s p#rt of n#t$r#l etern#l cosmic tr$thsreve#led #nd s$pported & religion #nd science. The h#nd th#t writes the tr$th h#s long een#tt#ched to the 2m#sc$list3 p#tri#rch#l od&. )nd whether the writer h#s een eng#ged in

prod$cing script$re liter#t$re scientific tre#tises or l#w ( or p#inting pict$res or writingsongs ( the res$lt is the s#me4 1ings r$le & divine right sl#ver& is # n#t$r#l conse%$ence of


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the s$periorit& of the m#sters #nd the inferiorit& of the sl#ves #nd women #re orn to eo /ects deprived & n#t$re of #$tonom& #nd freedom #nd s$ servient to the m#ster se-.

e-ism is woven into the te-t$re of o$r lives #nd d#m#ges oth the se-ist #nd the t#rgetgro$p. Not onl& #re m#n& forms of ps&chop#tholog& prod$ced in the victims of se-ism $tse-ism itself is # form of ps&chop#tholog&. Tr#dition#ll& # m#/or criterion of ment#l disordersis the /$dgement th#t the person is so irr#tion#l #nd emotion#ll& o$t of control #s to ed#ngero$s to others. )ccording to this definition se-ists +#long with )nti( emites #ntig#&sr#cists #nd igots of #ll 5inds, sho$ld e defined #s emotion#ll& dist$r ed.,

henever # gro$p representing #n identifi# le segment of h$m#n5ind is singled o$t #s theo /ect of discrimin#tion or of e-ploit#tion the e-ploiters /$stif& the discrimin#tion #nde-ploit#tion & cl#iming th#t #ll mem ers of the t#rget gro$p #re somehow defective ors$ h$m#n. E-#mples of this process # o$nd. hether it w#s l#c5s imported from )fric# to

wor5 on the so$thern pl#nt#tions or the E#stern E$rope#ns long ensl#ved & the Nordics+which is where the word l#ve comes from, the e-c$se w#s #lw#&s the s#me4 Ever& mem er of the gro$p w#s seen #s inferior. The N#*is6 /$stific#tion for persec$ting the 7ews so$ndedli5e the English #rg$ments for e-cl$ding E#stern E$rope#n 7ews h#lf # cent$r& efore. eneed not review the whole s#d sorr& historic#l lit#n& of the endless e-ploit#tion of h$m#ns &h$m#ns e-cept to $nderline the one common fe#t$re (( th#t s$ /$g#ted people #re s#id to edifferent in 5ind #nd th#t the difference is # defect.

Individ$#l mem ers of gro$ps th#t #re the o /ects of pre/$dice #nd #re mistre#ted tend to live# powerless p#thologic#l e-istence. 8nderst#nd# l& mem ers of the gro$p often #ccept the

pre/$diced view of themselves. oci#l le#rning theorists point o$t th#t s&m olic models portr#&ed #t home on T9 #nd in oo5s #nd m#g#*ines #re import#nt so$rces of se-stereot&ped #ttit$des. The descriptions ecome self(f$lfilling prophecies. 0em ers of thegro$p egin to live #nd eh#ve in w#&s th#t #re e-pected of them #nd the& ecome c#$ght $pin self(perpet$#ting eh#vio$r there & reinforcing the pre/$dices.

!s&chologist !h&llis Chester +:;


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s$pport enco$r#gement #nd the enlistment of signific#nt n$m ers of defectors from theoppressor gro$p...

E)cer ted from the article The Prevention of Sexism by Geor'e (. Albee, ublished first inthe *ournal Professional Psycholo'y, $olume +&, o. +, -eb. + /+. 0e rinted1Ada ted by

ermission of the ublisher and Author. Co yri'ht c + /+ by the American Psycholo'ical Association.Geor'e (. Albee is Professor of Psycholo'y at the 2niversity of $ermont 34%34. 5e isGeneral Editor 67ith Justin #. Joffe8 of a series of volumes 6 ublished by the 2niversity

Press of e7 En'land in 5anover, 58 on the rimary revention of sycho atholo'y. !hesebooks result from the annual conference on rimary revention held at the 2niversity of$ermont each June. 5e 7as Chair of the !ask Panel on Primary Prevention for PresidentCarter9s Commission on #ental 5ealth. !7enty years a'o he 7as Director of the !ask -orceon #an o7er for the Joint Commission on #ental Illness and 5ealth established by the

Con'ress and President Eisenho7er. 5is research and scholarly activities have been in thearea of rimary revention, the sycho atholo'y of re*udice, and human resources affectin'the delivery of sycholo'ical services.

Most commonly sexism involves perceiving and acting toward females as if they arecategorically inferior. This places sexism in the pantheon of pre#udices alongside racism,ageism, and other political pathologies defended as part of natural eternal cosmic truthsrevealed and supported by religion and science.

/iss (leeping 0eauty 1oodbye #adonna :olbenschia'

"This is one of the most powerf$l st#tements I h#ve seen de#ling with the perv#siveness of p#tri#rch& #nd the f$tilit& of women tr&ing to e#t men #t men's' g#mes. It is the epilog$e of # oo5 #nd is written in the form of # good( &e letter from # wife to her h$s #nd."

...In # sense ever&one's li er#tion depends on the li er#tion of white m#les precisel& ec#$sethe& h#ve the power to prevent women #nd minorities from see5ing # ro#der r#nge of#ltern#tives if the& do not pl#& the g#me & the r$les of the m#sc$line v#l$e s&stem. 8nless&o$ c#n #dmit th#t &o$ #re the pro lem #nd egin the t#s5 of li er#ting &o$rself #nddism#ntling the m#le(ordered s&stem m#n& so(c#lled "li er#ted" women will e sed$ced into# p#tri#rch#l elitist one(dimension#l m#sc$line role. e will simpl& h#ve # new set of "h#lf(

persons" who h#ppen to e fem#le...

...I wo$ld li5e to free &o$ of &o$r comp$lsive wor5#holism &o$r " re#dwinner" fi-#tion. >$tI c#n't sh#re th#t lo#d $nless &o$ relieve me of some of the $rden of homem#5ing #nd childre#ring. C#n &o$ le#rn to wor5 less e#rn less spend more time with the 5ids (( #nd e h#pp&?If &o$ c#n't then I c#n't e h#pp& either. C#n &o$ stop me#s$ring &o$rself & the si*e of &o$r

p#&chec5?


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I w#nt to e #n e%$#l p#rtner with &o$ in s$pporting o$r home #nd in $ilding # world. I thin5I sho$ld wor5 $t I don't w#nt to etr#& m&self in "li er#ting" m&self into the m#r5etpl#ce. I5now I h#ve to le#rn how to cope with competition. >$t I don't w#nt to e infected with it #s&o$ #re. If m& profession#l #dv#ncement is going to depend on conforming to the m#le modelof #chievement +comp$lsive(#ccretive prod$ction n#rrow speci#li*#tion m#nip$l#tion ofd#t# the # ilit& to w#l5 over others on the w#& $p "ch$t*p#h" #nd h$stling # cool #nd stoicdeme#no$r, then I wo$ld e # fool to rem#5e m&self in &o$r im#ge.

@o$r instit$tions #re li5e &o$r #$tomo iles (( e-tensions of &o$r ego. o perv#ded & them#sc$line conscio$sness th#t the& h#ve ecome leth#l instr$ments h#rmf$l to #ll forms ofh$m#n life. @o$r hospit#ls schools $niversities governments #nd ch$rches #re #llcorpor#tions f#ctories. )ll in ond#ge to the ide# of m#le s$prem#c& th#t might m#5es right#nd we#lth dict#tes polic& where wor5ers #re e-cl$ded from ownership #nd decision m#5ing#nd profit ecomes s&non&mo$s with s$rviv#l. 0ost of &o$r instit$tions #re still modelled on

the pl#nt#tion (( # few privileged white m#le profession#ls s$pported & # h$ge s$ str$ct$reof $nderp#id $nderprivileged l#rgel& fem#le l# o$r force...

...I'm tired of lo &ing for sh#red responsi ilit& e%$#l p#& promotions #nd /o opport$nities.omen h#ve #lw#&s w#nted these things $nless the&'ve een r#inw#shed e&ond rep#ir. e

won't get these things however $ntil men re#li*e th#t the& h#ve to give $p something (( power #dv#nt#ge (( in order for $s to e e%$#l. 8ntil &o$ promote women's li er#tion therewon't e #n&. It isn't going to h#ppen & n#t$r#l evol$tion (( &o$r present position is toocomfort# le. @o$ pl#& the "#nointed" role #s if #$thorit& #lw#&s h#d to e given to the oldestson. It might e e#sier to t#5e if &o$ simpl& #c5nowledged the l$st for power #nd theinsec$rit& th#t $nderlies &o$r need to e in ch#rge. >$t &o$ 5eep referring &o$r st#t$s to somef$nd#ment#l principle of cosmic order or worse &et #s Aod's pl#n for the h$m#n species".The possi ilities of h$m#n destin& h$m#n str$ct$res #nd h$m#n rel#tionships #re infinitel&more v#ried th#n this. t#nd #c5 #nd let the f$t$re $nfold.

>$t let $s not e n#ive. The mere presence of women in new /o s in m#n#gement positions ((in gre#ter n$m ers (( is not necess#ril& going to m#5e # difference. 0isog&n& #nd p#tri#rch&r$n deep in women #s well #s men. 0$ch more f$nd#ment#l ch#nges in soci#l str$ct$res #reneeded if h$m#n person#s #re to develop to their f$ll spirit$#l m#t$rit&...

...Ch#nge will no do$ t e more prec#rio$s for &o$ th#n for me. It will e # more lonel& more#lien#ted p#th. In shedding the h$s5 of &o$r reflected m#sc$line glor& &o$ will discover wh#tm#n& women #lre#d& 5now (( wh#t it me#ns to e # no(thing. omen in the process of #conscio$sness re#5thro$gh $s$#ll& e-perience r#ge #nd fr$str#tion. B$r eh#vio$r is oftenovertl& #nti(m#le. 0en $ndergoing the s#me process will e-perience more of # feeling of loss.)nger #nd resolve motiv#te # wom#n to s$st#in her ch#nged conscio$sness #nd evolve newrel#tionship p#tterns. )s she withdr#ws from m#le hegemon& she will often discover thes$pport #nd enco$r#gement of other women who will re#ch o$t to her in her str$ggle. @o$ on

the other h#nd #re li5el& to s$ffer the loss not onl& of the women to whom &o$ c#n no longer rel#te in the old w#& $t #lso the loss of &o$r m#le $ddies (( ec#$se &o$ h#ve etr#&ed them#sc$line code. @o$ will e #lone &o$ will e tempted to revert to the old p#tri#rch#l #nd


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m#cho scen#rios. @o$ h#ve ever&thing to lose & contin$ing the str$ggle I h#ve ever&thing tolose & giving it $p.

I w#nt &o$ to 5now th#t I $nderst#nd wh#t is # st#5e for &o$. I w#nt &o$ to 5now th#t I c#ns$pport &o$ in th#t de#th #nd re irth process (( it is the price of recl#iming &o$r h$m#nit& #nd&o$r own so$l. I c#n e &o$r comp#nion. 0& conversion to feminism is #n $nfinishedincomplete e-perience $nless it le#ds to &o$r li er#tion. e c#n w#l5 eside e#ch other #nds$pport e#ch other. e need not e spo$ses (( in f#ct it might e etter if we weren't. >elieveme when I s#& th#t I w#nt &o$ to e different +in spite of the f#ct th#t I sometimes eh#veinstinctivel& to the contr#r&,. If I give $p m& princess w#&s will &o$ give $p &o$r princedom?

I 5now I will h#ve to steel m&self to #ccept the conse%$ences. If &o$ egin to t#5e on moreresponsi ilit& for home #nd children I will h#ve to s#crifice some of m& m#tri#rch#l

prerog#tives there. If &o$ egin to shed the "te#m" m&sti%$e #t wor5 t#5e # st#nd on sensitive

iss$es wor5 fewer ho$rs I will h#ve to e#r with the conse%$ences in loss of promotionslower p#& /o ch#nges wh#tever m#& come. I'll h#ve to e#r with insec$rit& #nd loss of st#t$switho$t p$tting g$ilt on &o$. @o$'ll h#ve to stop p$tting g$ilt on me for # #ndoning the"imperi#l motherhood" role in the home #nd the Airl Frid#& role in the office...

...!erh#ps the most diffic$lt ch#nge of #ll will e #dmitting th#t neither of $s c#n e #ll thingsto the other. If we #re m#rried we will h#ve to #llow others to e # p#rt of o$r livesindivid$#ll& #nd together. e will need more th#n other s$pportive co$ples mirror im#ges ofo$r own dd. I will need women #nd men #s friends &o$ will need men #nd women #sfriends.

e h#ve to e committed to this tr#nsform#tion. These ch#nges will come slowl& #nd p#inf$ll&. e will h#ve to e#r with different rh&thms of growth in e#ch other. e will h#ve to persevere in them in spite of the press$res of societ&. e will h#ve to e-plode #nd $pset o$rlife together occ#sion#ll& in order to find new w#&s to 5eep o$rselves growing. Thiscommitment to e#ch other's li er#tion #nd growth sho$ld e o$r est re#son for eingtogether. If th#t is not # p#rt of o$r contin$ing comp#ct then even if I love &o$ I m$st le#ve&o$...

E)cer ted from the book Kiss Sleeping Beauty Goodbye by #adonna :olbenschia'.Co yri'ht ; + < by #adonna :olbenschia'. Published by Doubleday and Co., Inc.

0e rinted 7ith ermission.

2nless you can admit that you are the problem and begin the task of liberatingyourself and dismantling the male ordered system, many so called liberated womenwill be seduced into a patriarchal, elitist, one dimensional, masculine role. &e willsimply have a new set of half persons who happen to be female...

2ntil you promote women!s liberation, there won!t be any. It isn!t going to happen bynatural evolution your present position is too comfortable.


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In countless ways we need each other as models for change. 0ut I don!t want to be whatyou are, and you wouldn!t want to be what I have been. Can we become something newtogether3

The 4eminine 2topia(alter :ar

* movement that began by asking for a fair share of dignity and human achievementcan today think of no other source of dignity, no other source of achievement, thantoiling at a #ob.

...Fem#les in the view of the women's movement rem#in s$ ordin#te ec#$se the& #re still"economic#ll& dependent" on m#les which is to s#& h$s #nds. 0iss 0illett views the entire"se-ist" s&stem #s the me#ns & which m#les prevent fem#les from g#ining "independence ineconomic life." )s 0me de >e#$voir wrote twent& &e#rs e#rlier in !#ris the e-tent to whichwomen #re domin#ted is the e-tent to which the& #re 5ept "from #ss$ming # pl#ce in

prod$ctive l# or." Bnl& when #ll women #re "r#ised #nd tr#ined e-#ctl& li5e men ... to wor5$nder the s#me conditions #nd for the s#me w#ges " will fem#les ever e li er#ted.

h#t looms $p #s the gi#nt #rrier to s$ch li er#tion is of co$rse the prim#l instit$tion of thef#mil&. It is the f#mil& th#t directl& sec$res the economic dependence of women for withinthe f#mil& the fem#le is s$pported while she herself l# ors witho$t p#& (( # point the women'smovement finds p#rtic$l#rl& telling. It is & me#ns of the f#mil& division of roles th#t fem#les

#re #ssigned in 0iss 0illett's words to "meni#l t#s5s #nd comp$lsor& child(c#re " #nd th$s#re prevented from t#5ing their pl#ce in the wor5 force. It is & virt$e of her tr#ining for thef#mil& th#t # fem#le is ro$ght $p to e feminine p#ssive compli#nt #nd $n#ggressive #ndso rendered $nfit for

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