Why We (Think and Say We) Do What We Do
by:
Dr. Christopher Burris
when:
Sunday, September 27, 2015 - 09:45 to 10:45
held at:
Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work Wilfrid Laurier University 120 Duke Street West Kitchener, Ontario N2H 3W8
Accurate self-knowledge and truthfulness in communications are both esteemed by adherents of many spiritual and philosophical traditions. Our non-negotiable status as physical-psychological beings poses serious challenges to both our ability and our willingness to embody these values consistently, however. Thus, we sometimes don’t know why we do what we do, although we may confidently think otherwise. Alternatively, we sometimes know exactly why we do what we do – but we pile on obfuscations and rationalizations to distract ourselves (and others) from the motives for, and consequences of, our behaviour. Professing allegiance to a spiritual path can sometimes add another layer of complexity rather than liberate us. Viewed through a psychological lens, we will see how deeply rooted in the human condition all of this is – which can pave the way for empathy, humility, and maybe a workaround or two.
Christopher T. Burris is a social psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at St. Jerome’s University, in the University of Waterloo. He has forty peer-reviewed journal articles and several book chapters to his credit dealing with a range of topics including love and hate, religion and spirituality, evil and sexuality, and consciousness and the self. He was recipient of the Early Career Research Award from Division 36 (Psychology of Religion) of the American Psychological Association, and his recent work on religious belief and disbelief has received media coverage by outlets such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Chronicle of Higher Education. When not “playing academic,” he can usually be found hovering behind binoculars, looking for birds.