“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 1: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer

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СКАЧАТЬ as memory, thought processes, mind body interaction, and so on”.

      I’ve recently read some interesting articles on this, thought Collin as his own mind went into gear. This will be an opportunity to get first hand professional views on the subject, just for the sake of curiosity, and general knowledge to help with my ministry, of course, as I am not now or not likely to get involved in such work to any great extent.

      After a little more detail on this aspect of the course, the professor swung into psychological testing methods. “Here”, he said, “we will look at some new techniques, comparing and evaluating them alongside the methods that have been in use for considerable time.” He spoke briefly on the indispensible value of testing, stating that this matter would be gone into more fully in due time.

      That’s a little outside my sphere, Collin reminded himself silently. But the knowledge will never go astray, especially when speaking with any professional person to whom I may have to refer a parishioner for specialized help. At least I will be able to understand the language if a psychologist should need to speak to me about such things.

      Professor Yates next zeroed in on psychotherapy. “First we will survey the traditional uses of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, looking at some of the merits and criticisms of each, with some case histories for illustration purposes. We will give attention to the wide use and misuse of transference, counter-transference and projection. Over and against these we will place some of the types of therapies that have evolved in recent years, with case histories which show the positive values they can have, as well as their weaknesses. We will touch on Bioenergenetics, Reality Therapy and Gestalt Therapy, to name only some.” As Professor Yates mentioned the names of these newer methods, they struck a note in Collin’s mind. He had read books on them, but he would be pleased to hear about them in the lecture room. There was always so much more to learn that way.

      After a few minutes outlining just how the therapy comparisons would be done, the professor went into the final aspect of the course.

      “We are finding more and more as time goes by,” he said, “that the social aftermath of all that is done in the treatment of mental disorders is a key issue. It is an extremely important factor in deciding whether the patient will make the grade in society or whether he returns again, and perhaps again and again for further therapy of one kind or another.”

      Collin became so intensely interested at the sound of what he had just heard, that he forgot himself completely. His hand came unknowingly down from his face and lodged on the arm of his chair. His self awareness was now almost nil. Perhaps what was coming was what he had been searching and hoping for for many years.

      “The social problems related to the treatment of the mentally ill are numerous and difficult,” said Professor Yates. He continued to talk confidently, surveying his domain as he spoke, looking here and there at the students sitting before him. Then it happened. Professor Yates, in his surveillance of the class as he lectured, caught a glimpse, for the first time, of Collin Seldon with his hand down from his face. As their glimpses connected, the professor paused for a split second during which time there was a slight break in the flow of his speech as well as momentary stoppage in his head and body swinging. But then he turned very quickly away from Collin, looking out over the students to his right as he continued to lecture.

      Collin, so absorbed in the content of the lecture, was only partly aware of what was happening as the professor turned back to venture another glimpse of him. Then with paling face he suddenly turned away from him again as if with fright.

      This brought Collin’s self awareness back to full capacity. He kept his cool and casually placed his hand to the side of his face as before, meanwhile observing that the professor’s proud and elated swinging mood had now subsided. Whether his confidence had too, he could not detect, but the tone of the lecture was now definitely on the down beat.

      Collin braced himself, expecting Professor Yates might venture another look. Within a short period he did, this time nodding slightly towards Collin, then turning away, only to look once more, bristle, then turn away to ignore Collin’s presence throughout the remainder of the class period.

      I won’t have much of a rapport with this one, thought Collin. I know from previous experiences that this professor perceives me, just by my presence, to be too much for him. By his bristle he has indicated he is going to handle it by being unfriendly, perhaps hostile towards me, maybe even try to drive me away. Time will tell.

      “The problems of social acceptance generally, the home environment wherein lies the root of the patients’ problems, the acquisition of social and employment skills; these we will consider in the final phase of our course,” continued Professor Yates. He was now somewhat subdued, but self-consciously endeavoring to regain his former stance.

      Not much new there, thought Collin; well, there maybe some new approaches to these familiar problems. That will be interesting and helpful, but really not what I was hoping for.

      Professor Yates continued the session towards its ending with an outline of how he would present these social problems with some experiments and case histories added. After presenting a list of text books and readings the period had passed and he dismissed the class, stating that he would be happy to talk to students individually in the fifteen or so minutes at his disposal immediately following dismissal.

      Collin stayed in his chair as the students dispersed. At first he sat for a while looking over the list of text books he had written down. Slowly then he stood, purposely lingering some more, and allowing other students to talk to Professor Yates first. Collin would then approach him and, so he thought, try to befriend him.

      Owen Winslow had lingered too, also for a purpose. Now that the other students had cleared away from the vicinity of Collin, Owen proceeded toward him somewhat hurriedly, meanwhile making an effort to control the smile that was breaking out over his face.

      “You must be one of us,” said Owen enthusiastically.

      “One of us?” questioned Collin, expressing complete surprise. Thoughts went through his mind. Was this some sort of shady approach? Then, no, it can’t be. Unless my guess is wrong, this man is a good type. I’ll trust him further. “Just what do you mean by ‘one of us’?” he asked curiously.

      He was reassured by an apologetic reply from Owen, “I’m sorry I said that one of us so crudely, but my observance is you are a fine, well cultured, clean-cut looking person who stands out in public. Because of that, it brings on problems peculiar to people like you and I and the other members of a support group we have going here at the university. It was this group of fine people I had in mind when I said you must be one of us.”

      As Collin paused and pondered this unusual experience, Owen enthusiastically continued the conversation, “I couldn’t help but notice Mr. Yates’ reaction to you, and how you partially covered your face again. I recalled then that you had your hand up to your face from the beginning, but I didn’t realize the significance of it until the moment Professor Yates turned so quickly away from you. A neat maneuver you have there - think I’ll try that one!”

      Collin began to see what Owen meant by us. “Might be a good idea for you too,” he said as he smiled. “Then the professor will look in your direction also.” They both laughed together in subdued tones.

      Collin, looked toward the professor’s desk. “I wish to make acquaintance with Professor Yates. We’ll talk again later, okay?”

      “That’s a good maneuver too, Collin,” said Owen, more seriously. “I think you can help us.”

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