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research_report_maggie_buxton [2009-01-22 00:24] – 118.93.84.195research_report_maggie_buxton [2009-01-22 00:43] – 118.93.84.195
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 http://www.un-fiction.blogspot.com/2008/10/expo-of-un-popular-culture.html (item on Greg Broadmore and Weta Studios) http://www.un-fiction.blogspot.com/2008/10/expo-of-un-popular-culture.html (item on Greg Broadmore and Weta Studios)
  
- *** transdisciplinary facilitation**+  * **transdisciplinary facilitation**
  
  
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-  *** exhibitions and expeditions** +  * **exhibitions and expeditions**
- +
 http://www.un-fiction.blogspot.com/2008/05/design-for-other-90.html http://www.un-fiction.blogspot.com/2008/05/design-for-other-90.html
  
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-**  * publications, talks and movies**+  * **publications, talks and movies** 
  
  
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-**  * meandering musings**+  * **meandering musings** 
  
  
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-*** reality challenging psychological sydromes**+  * **reality challenging psychological sydromes**
  
  
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 Material was also collected through through reviewing literature from the transformational learning field, from management deveopment, from anthropological books and from fictional novels. These are listed in the references section. Material was also collected through through reviewing literature from the transformational learning field, from management deveopment, from anthropological books and from fictional novels. These are listed in the references section.
  
-=== The next section will summarise findings from all of these activities and discuss future implications and areas for further research ===+**The next section will summarise findings from all of these activities and discuss future implications and areas for further research** 
 ==== Discussion ==== ==== Discussion ====
  
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 These shifts from seperate to connected forms of knowing are co related with shifts in consciousness and increases in our meta-cognitive capacity. These shifts from seperate to connected forms of knowing are co related with shifts in consciousness and increases in our meta-cognitive capacity.
  
-A summary of key points from the research are:+**A summary of key points from the research are:**
    
   * Transformation is often is associated with shifts in consciousness and developmental evolution, which allows individuals to have a greater sense of epistemological choice and awareness, and often a deeper connection to spirit and sense of meaning in their lives.   * Transformation is often is associated with shifts in consciousness and developmental evolution, which allows individuals to have a greater sense of epistemological choice and awareness, and often a deeper connection to spirit and sense of meaning in their lives.
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 These methods fall into a wide range of tools and categories of artefact and experience that are interrelated and are deeply connected with the archetypical spirit of the Trickster: These methods fall into a wide range of tools and categories of artefact and experience that are interrelated and are deeply connected with the archetypical spirit of the Trickster:
 +
   * hybrids that evade categorisation by existing mental models   * hybrids that evade categorisation by existing mental models
   * activities that blur the dichotomies of right and wrong, true and false, real and unreal   * activities that blur the dichotomies of right and wrong, true and false, real and unreal
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 The following discussion moves through these areas in turn first examining transformation, and consciousness shift, then moving to a summary of some of tricksters methods and tools. The following discussion moves through these areas in turn first examining transformation, and consciousness shift, then moving to a summary of some of tricksters methods and tools.
  
-==== What is transformation? ====+== What is transformation? == 
  
 In examining the literature it is clear that transformation means different things to different people.  In the sense I am using it, it is a full scale shift in ones consciousness, where ones relationship to reality itself is fundamentally different.  Consciousness can be seen to be a state of mind, but also a way of perceiving the world and our place within it.  If we perceive the world to be separate from us, and a place to that can be controlled, and predicted, this leads us to behave in different ways than if we believe ourselves to be part of a complex and continually emerging and evolving web of life. In examining the literature it is clear that transformation means different things to different people.  In the sense I am using it, it is a full scale shift in ones consciousness, where ones relationship to reality itself is fundamentally different.  Consciousness can be seen to be a state of mind, but also a way of perceiving the world and our place within it.  If we perceive the world to be separate from us, and a place to that can be controlled, and predicted, this leads us to behave in different ways than if we believe ourselves to be part of a complex and continually emerging and evolving web of life.
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 The Online Oxford Dictionary gives two descriptions of the word perspective: The Online Oxford Dictionary gives two descriptions of the word perspective:
  
-a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view (The Oxford Dictionary of English, 2005).  +  - a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view  
-the appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position and distance from the viewer; having a true understanding of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.+  - the appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position and distance from the viewer; having a true understanding of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.(The Oxford Dictionary of English, 2005).  
 + 
 The first definition neatly describes a simple change in point of view or attitude, the second definition clearly makes the object more distant from the viewer where it is given a dimension in space, and has a relative importance, and a proportion in relation to everything else.  The first definition neatly describes a simple change in point of view or attitude, the second definition clearly makes the object more distant from the viewer where it is given a dimension in space, and has a relative importance, and a proportion in relation to everything else. 
  
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 Robert Kegan (1994) develops this idea of meta- reflection into five ‘orders of consciousness’, his framework involves increasingly sophisticated subject-object shifts. Object refers to those elements of our knowing or organizing that are sufficiently distinct from us so that we can do something about it. Subject refers to those elements of our knowing or organizing with which we are identified or embedded. We have object, we are subject. At each order of consciousness, what was formerly considered to be subject, and an embedded part of one’s identity, now becomes object, and can be viewed from the outside. These increasing degrees of reflexivity transform us, and allow for emancipation and a degree of choice that was not previously present. At the highest ‘order’ we able to make systems themselves object, including meaning making systems and our relationship to reality itself. Robert Kegan (1994) develops this idea of meta- reflection into five ‘orders of consciousness’, his framework involves increasingly sophisticated subject-object shifts. Object refers to those elements of our knowing or organizing that are sufficiently distinct from us so that we can do something about it. Subject refers to those elements of our knowing or organizing with which we are identified or embedded. We have object, we are subject. At each order of consciousness, what was formerly considered to be subject, and an embedded part of one’s identity, now becomes object, and can be viewed from the outside. These increasing degrees of reflexivity transform us, and allow for emancipation and a degree of choice that was not previously present. At the highest ‘order’ we able to make systems themselves object, including meaning making systems and our relationship to reality itself.
  
-===== But how do transformations in consciousness occur? ===== +== How do transformations in consciousness occur? ==
  
 Major shifts occur when an individual encounters an alternative perspective and prior habits of mind are called into question. Educationalist, and transformative learning theorist Jack Mezirow, originally saw this transformational process as a single, dramatic event – a disorienting dilemma – but he and others have since acknowledged that it could also be a gradual process that occurs over time. Major shifts occur when an individual encounters an alternative perspective and prior habits of mind are called into question. Educationalist, and transformative learning theorist Jack Mezirow, originally saw this transformational process as a single, dramatic event – a disorienting dilemma – but he and others have since acknowledged that it could also be a gradual process that occurs over time.
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 Two pioneers of psychology, Keltner and Haidt propose that awe has two essential components perceived as vastness and a need for accommodation(2003) It may be that some experiences are so vast, so profound, so far beyond what we’ve previously perceived, that they in effect demand we transform our worldview in order to accommodate them. Rather than trying to assimilate these experiences into our constricted framework, we are forced to broaden that framework [Schlitz:68] This broadening helps us grow and evolve as human beings, and allows us more options and a greater sense of agency in the world. In essence it is empowering. Two pioneers of psychology, Keltner and Haidt propose that awe has two essential components perceived as vastness and a need for accommodation(2003) It may be that some experiences are so vast, so profound, so far beyond what we’ve previously perceived, that they in effect demand we transform our worldview in order to accommodate them. Rather than trying to assimilate these experiences into our constricted framework, we are forced to broaden that framework [Schlitz:68] This broadening helps us grow and evolve as human beings, and allows us more options and a greater sense of agency in the world. In essence it is empowering.
- Being outdoors in nature, growing food, glimpsing creatures in water that was previously thought to be dead all of this holds great potential for a shift in consciousness. 
- 
-===== Why is this process a sustainable way of creating shifts in behaviour? ===== 
  
 +== Why is this process a sustainable way of creating shifts in behaviour? ==
  
 Our meaning making perspectives, or habits of mind, include uncritically assimilated ways of knowing, believing and feeling. They include distortions, predjudices, stereotypes, and simply unquestioned or unexamined beliefs and assumptions. (Cranton, 23) Our meaning making perspectives, or habits of mind, include uncritically assimilated ways of knowing, believing and feeling. They include distortions, predjudices, stereotypes, and simply unquestioned or unexamined beliefs and assumptions. (Cranton, 23)
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 Unfortunately when we take for granted that: Unfortunately when we take for granted that:
  
-  - reality is a concrete structure rather co-constructed by consensus  +  * reality is a concrete structure rather co-constructed by consensus  
-  - that truth is there to be discovered rather than negotiated +  * that truth is there to be discovered rather than negotiated 
  
 we are in trouble on a number of levels because these ontological and epistemological frameworks, inherited from thinking generated around the time of the ‘enlightenment’,  lead to a number of other related assumptions: we are in trouble on a number of levels because these ontological and epistemological frameworks, inherited from thinking generated around the time of the ‘enlightenment’,  lead to a number of other related assumptions:
-   + 
-  we are separate from other beings and the planet +we are separate from other beings and the planet 
-  our actions don’t matter  + 
-  nature is there for us to harvest +our actions don’t matter 
-  what we do in our homes is our own business +  
-  other people are the cause of our problems  +nature is there for us to harvest 
-  other people should find the solutions+ 
 +what we do in our homes is our own business 
 + 
 +other people are the cause of our problems 
 + 
 +other people should find the solutions
  
 and this undermines the fabric and future of our society socially, environmentally, economically, culturally and spiritually.  and this undermines the fabric and future of our society socially, environmentally, economically, culturally and spiritually. 
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 Interestingly some of the most recent research, primarily from within the education for sustainability movement recognises that the most sustainable form of behaviour change comes from the examination of habits of mind and underlying assumptions (Tilbury and Worman, 2004) Interestingly some of the most recent research, primarily from within the education for sustainability movement recognises that the most sustainable form of behaviour change comes from the examination of habits of mind and underlying assumptions (Tilbury and Worman, 2004)
  
-Uncritically assimilated habits of mind about the resources in our environment could lead us to wasting or destroying the world’s resources, thereby diminishing the possibility of there being energy, food, and shelter for all in the present and in the future.  Through questioning habits of mind that lead to oppression, poverty, and abuse, we can work toward sustainability. (Cranton,) +Uncritically assimilated habits of mind about the resources in our environment could lead us to wasting or destroying the world’s resources, thereby diminishing the possibility of there being energy, food, and shelter for all in the present and in the future.  Through questioning habits of mind that lead to oppression, poverty, and abuse, we can work toward sustainability. (Cranton,2008)
- +
-===== But what methods and tools are most effective in supporting transformations of consciousness? =====+
  
 +== But what methods and tools are most effective in supporting transformations of consciousness? ==
  
 My research led me to a number of different methods and tools, however it was clear that there was great tension between breadth and depth.  On retrospect, it would have been more useful to pick one particular area and carry out an indepth study, rather than survey a number of different areas.   My research led me to a number of different methods and tools, however it was clear that there was great tension between breadth and depth.  On retrospect, it would have been more useful to pick one particular area and carry out an indepth study, rather than survey a number of different areas.  
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 But the challenge with work such as this is that it invokes the spirit of the Trickster. And Trickster activities are not easily measured and evaluated, at least not in mainstream terms. But the challenge with work such as this is that it invokes the spirit of the Trickster. And Trickster activities are not easily measured and evaluated, at least not in mainstream terms.
  
-===== The Trickster and Transformation ===== +== The Trickster and Transformation ==
  
 Hyde (1998), in his book Trickster Makes This World, talks about a number of trickster characteristics that fundamentally disrupt or call into question things we have taken for granted.  Trickster is in fact a transformative archetype that is set among us to help us develop and grow, although often the activities that feed this growth are unpleasant experiences.   Hyde (1998), in his book Trickster Makes This World, talks about a number of trickster characteristics that fundamentally disrupt or call into question things we have taken for granted.  Trickster is in fact a transformative archetype that is set among us to help us develop and grow, although often the activities that feed this growth are unpleasant experiences.  
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 According to Hyde’s extensive research, Trickster, through his sneaky acts and hilarious mistakes, makes us question dichotomy. Trickster calls us to ask: what is right and wrong? what is private versus collective ‘ownership’?  what is pure vs dirty? what is true and false? According to Hyde’s extensive research, Trickster, through his sneaky acts and hilarious mistakes, makes us question dichotomy. Trickster calls us to ask: what is right and wrong? what is private versus collective ‘ownership’?  what is pure vs dirty? what is true and false?
  
-The act of questioning creates the conditions for epistemologically shifts from dualistic functionalist and positivist frames of reference, to constructivist frames. This means greater meta-cognitive capacity, an ability to engage more effectively with complexity, and potentially even a shift to a way of viewing the world that is based on connective rather than separate ways of knowing. (Which is of great assistance in climate change work for example.)+This act of questioning creates the conditions for epistemologically shifts from dualistic functionalist and positivist frames of reference, to constructivist frames. This means greater meta-cognitive capacity, an ability to engage more effectively with complexity, and potentially even a shift to a way of viewing the world that is based on connective rather than separate ways of knowing. (Which is of great assistance in climate change work for example.)
  
 My efforts to create an ARG within a school were specifically designed to build the imaginative capacity of children and give them another option than the dichotomous notion of true and false which is reinforced by mainstream curriculum. My efforts to create an ARG within a school were specifically designed to build the imaginative capacity of children and give them another option than the dichotomous notion of true and false which is reinforced by mainstream curriculum.
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