Strange Loop

Find this quote really apt in describing many great divides within individuals, groups and the wider societies when it comes to issues pertaining to  social issues such as racisim, terrorism, censorship, sexuality, etc, issues that are often interconnected with one or more of the Social GRRAACCEESS, i.e. Gender, Race, Religion, Ability, Age, Class, Culture, Education, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Spirituality (Burnham et al, 2008):

"The strategy that members of the community used for managing experiences of discomfort was one of enacting a feeling (of fear) rather than speaking about it and exploring (and developing its meaning). This fragmentation precipitated a strange loop of oscillating encounter and withdrawal. The fear that was associated with encounter was thus temporarily but not permanently disposed of... The difficulty was connected to a problematic shared belief that conflict was problematic... fear of a lack of shared vision had meant that discussion at the level of vision and strategy never took place in any grounded way. Behaviours that seemed to indicate extreme differences became feared as representative of divison and incommensurability; fears bred more fears."

quote and diagram (Oliver, 2004:132, 138) 

It resonates a lot with the Milan Team's and Bateson's idea of paradox/ doublebind and Motivational Interviewing ideas of ambivalence and contemplation. 

When would individuals, groups and societies put aside fears and blames? I believe it will take a critical mass of people to come together working towards a common stake (Tan, 2005). Love this quote too, "Focusing on ones own vulnerability makes one more attractive to the other and paradoxically helps to build strength." (Oliver, 2004:136). 

References

OLIVER, C. 2004. Reflexive inquiry and the strange loop tool. Human Systems: The Journal of Systemic Consutlation & Management, 15, 127-140.

Burnham, J., Palmab, D. A. & Whitehouse, L. 2008. Learning as a context for differences and differences as a context for learning. Journal of Family Therapy, 30, 529-542.

Tan, C. K. 2005. Loving Myself Workshop. Singapore: Oogachaga.