An inter-faculty working group has been created at Moscow State University to create a draft law on psychological assistance to the population. The main provisions of the document will be ready by autumn. The draft of this law was already presented to the State Duma in 2014, but was not adopted. Now, experts say, it is necessary to define the boundaries and scope of psychologists' activities. If medical psychiatric and psychotherapeutic assistance has clearly defined legal boundaries, then there is also extrasensory perception, magic, parapsychology on the service market. Also, it seems, related concepts with psychology. We asked the psychotherapist Guzel Yusupova to deal with the new bill.
Do magicians and psychics really interfere with professional medicine?
- The fact is that if you observe from the outside, then our work and the work of occultists are very similar: both professional psychologists (psychotherapists) and occultists work with people, providing them with "services of an intangible nature." Then, outwardly, the work of the same occultist with his visitor may resemble the same comforting or directive psychotherapy, or even specifically during such work, "science-like" is being forced. And the result of the work of a professional psychologist or psychotherapist from the outside can look like a "miracle". Although in fact there is no miracle there, everything is sufficiently scientifically substantiated.
Perhaps, at the external stage, all the similarities end. But the goals and approach of these representatives differ radically.
First of all, a psychologist or a psychotherapist is obliged to rely on science, and also to understand, and even tell the client, the following: “I know that this and this will not work. And therefore I will not undertake to do this”.
Occultists, on the other hand, often say the opposite: "I don't know how I do it, but I still undertake to do it." In addition, the psychotherapist is bound by the Hippocratic Oath, and the psychologist works within the framework of professional ethics. In any case, the first principle of their work is “do no harm”. Occultists, as a rule, do not undertake any such duties. Therefore, they are easily taken to treat all diseases, including oncology, as a result of which precious time can be lost. I personally know a lot of such cases!
They say: "Everything is in your head!" Both diseases and amazing cases of recovery. The main thing is how to set yourself up. So if healers and magicians help someone to start these processes, maybe they are now being removed from patients in vain?
- Sellers of a miracle will exist as long as there are buyers of these miracles: if there is demand, as you know, there will be supply. Alas, we still have a lot of people with so-called intellectual laziness. It is they who create the demand for miracles, for the result to be brought on a plate with a blue border: success in business will come by itself, a traitorous husband will crawl on his knees and the like. Isn't it tempting for those who are not ready not only to work on their problem, but even to think about it? Isn't it worth the price in their perception?
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Another thing is that they do not take the trouble to think - by what laws will this suddenly happen and why should it happen at all?
In addition, I want to give advice: you should always be wary if:
- there is a lump of different methods of work into one heap: "removing the evil eye and damage, psychoanalysis, NLP" … Such "specialists" use the fact that for most of our people it is damage, that NLP is the same exotic;
- they don't explain anything to you about the essence of the work, but only say that “you have to believe and obey”;
- the technique offered to you is unique and inimitable, and can be performed by only one person. Although, as you know, the main criterion for the discovery is the repeatability of the experiment in different conditions and by different researchers;
- they are trying to manipulate or intimidate you in one way or another; intimidation clearly betrays unprofessionalism. In addition, if they want to make you a constant source of money, then it becomes unprofitable for your healer to solve your problem.
- and most importantly: if you want to protect yourself from a charlatan, first of all, treat any miracles with a grain of reasonable skepticism and common sense! No wonder it is said that "the sleep of reason gives rise to monsters."
An incomprehensible situation has now developed with psychics, magicians, sorcerers and other personalities who cannot be attributed either to traditional medicine, or generally to figures who need to be licensed. Therefore, I think it is very correct that the law on licensing will finally be adopted … This law will harmonize the work of magicians and sorcerers, issuing licenses only to those who do not harm patients with their activities.
Do you know cases when the "grandmothers" whispered and the person went on the mend?
- I am a psychotherapist, and this profession relies primarily on special scientific training, and generally requires an approach to the problem from the standpoint of a scientist and a systems analyst. You cannot engage in science in any form, relying on this or that BELIEF. The foundation of science is KNOWLEDGE.
In particular, I can know the mechanism of action of various "miracles". If we talk about the same extrasensory perception, this is actually translated as hypersensitivity. An oversensitive person can grasp where the client has sore spots - both psychological and physical: for example, when, literally or figuratively, the consultant touches such places, the client involuntarily (and almost imperceptibly) either frowns, or shrinks, or otherwise himself issues.
If we are talking about a physical illness, the sore spot may have a slightly higher temperature: by tenths of a degree! So, a person with hypersensitivity, or as psychologists also say - with high sensitivity, will catch these microsignals (temperature, barely noticeable facial expressions, almost imperceptible tremors in his voice …) and say: "Well, you have pain here!" And this is no miracle - an ordinary doctor can have such supersensitivity …
The technique of clairvoyance is generally as old as the world. As a rule, the predicted events have a fairly high probability from the outset: if a fortuneteller tells a girl that, say, she will get married before the age of 25, this is how most people today create families by this age.
Another thing: usually those predictions are remembered that coincide with reality. For example, if you have a husband (wife) and they tell you that after a while he (s) will leave you - if this does not happen, you will not remember this prophecy. And if this happens, then of course you will say: oh, what a powerful sorcerer!
Or the same Ericksonian hypnosis, the techniques of which are used with might and main in the occult - this is certainly not a miracle, but an elementary and even somewhat outdated psychotherapeutic technique.
And in general I can say that faith begins where knowledge ends.
What is the attitude of the professional psychological community towards the new bill? What items would you include there yourself?
- The fact is that, as I can assume, first self-regulatory organizations of psychologists should be created, perhaps by modalities, which is logical, perhaps by regions, also logical, and then all the created organizations must unite into the All-Russian Association of Self-Regulatory Organizations, which develops and rules for passing qualifying exams, and standards, methods and ways of providing psychological assistance. The exam is taken when joining a self-regulatory organization.
My friend, a woman with two higher educations, got hooked on one site, where they taught everyday magic with a grain of irony and humor. Release "balls of desires" into the Universe using a special button, correctly formulate your desires. So she says - everything comes true! I looked with interest - harmless "home psychology". As in the movie "The most charming and attractive."
Yesterday I go to the link - the domain is blocked …
Is there a legislative preparation for the "Battle of the Magicians"? Or is it operating the "Day Watch"?
- I want to say that the program "The Battle of Psychics" is purely staged. There is a huge staff of directors, professional actors from provincial theaters, all the action is pre-composed by hired writers and screenwriters, each plays his role, all these tears on the screen, moaning, wringing of hands, horror on the face - acting.
A well-known Russian psychiatrist-criminalist Mikhail Vinogradov is a consultant for all this action. This is one of the most influential figures associated with the show about psychics. If disputes about the participants in the battles do not subside, both regarding the level of their abilities, and regarding their moral and other characteristics, then when Vinogradov is mentioned, the disputes subside and everyone says in unison - oh, yes, this is a serious man!
According to the plot schedule, his role as a “skeptical expert” personality is to “spread rot” in every possible way, posing as experts … In general, Show Must Go On!
… And about your friend: first of all, treat any miracles with a grain of reasonable skepticism and common sense! Let him launch balls, what if it helps?
Emilia ZAVRICHKO
