Using the lens of innate human needs to help resolve social and political conflicts, undermine terror agendas and promote peace
CPD Certificate: 6 hours
The world is becoming an increasingly unstable and dangerous place. More than ever before, anyone trying to tackle society’s problems, or help the traumatised victims of corruption and war, needs a greater understanding of the fundamental unit of society – the human being.
There is a lot here that can be unpacked further... concepts that can be useful in the conflict resolution field. The whole thing about how to manage emotions in a dialogue process when you’re working in conflict situations, is fundamental. It’s a discussion we need to have.ROXANNA CRISTESCU, CRISIS MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (FINLAND)
Why take this course
This unique online course, run in association with The Conciliators Guild, focuses on how to improve politics by involving a greater understanding of psychology in domestic and international relations.
You will gain an increased awareness of what war, terrorism and bullying reveal about the human psyche and an improved ability to see through political and cultural assumptions, by recognising the underlying emotional dynamics driving behaviour.
You will also discover the most accurate explanations available about the root causes of extremism in politics, radicalization, the refugee crisis and the growth of authoritarianism, due to the ease with which mass hypnosis is used throughout the world today.
The Middle East serves as the primary case study – but the implications of the material covered are universal and provide powerful new directions for a way out of the chaos we currently find ourselves in.
The course facilitators are John Bell and Ivan Tyrrell.
I really find this course extremely important for acquiring knowledge of human givens principles and practical tips for how to implement them in my daily life as a diplomat… using the knowledge for improving the policies and the structures in which we work.EVA HORELOVA, POLICY OFFICER FOR SYRIAN AFFAIRS AT THE EUROPEAN UNION
What will you learn
an increased awareness of what war, terrorism and bullying reveal about the human psyche
accurate psychological explanations about the root causes of political extremism, radicalization, social unrest, conflict, the growth of authoritarianism and more
an understanding of how ISIS and other terrorist groups deliberately set about fulfilling key innate emotional needs to radicalize and recruit young people
what this shows is missing in our society that makes it easy for them to do this – rectifying this could help prevent radicalisation
a greater ability to see through political and cultural assumptions, by recognising the underlying emotional dynamics driving behaviour
why conflicts seem intractable and how they can be addressed
examples of success in conflict resolution – and the role of women and families
why we’re all vulnerable to manipulation by the hypnotic conditioning techniques that politicians and the media around the world use today
deeper insight into the causes of the refugee crisis
a profound understanding of the essential psychological and emotional needs that have to be addressed on all sides if any real progress is to be made in negotiations
essential information about the prevalent assumptions in our culture which can hinder policymaking
greater effectiveness at conflict resolution in any situation
powerful new directions for improving clear thinking about conflict and politics, and reducing civil unrest
Who is this course suitable for?
Anyone involved in conflict resolution
Anyone working to prevent the radicalisation of young people
Individuals, charities and groups working with and helping refugees
Anyone concerned about the global rise of terrorism, fanaticism, radicalisation, polarised politics, civil unrest and the suffering of countless refugees
Diplomats, policy makers and international negotiators
Anyone interested in the Middle East crisis
Civil servants, police, legal and other professionals involved in law and politics
Educators and teachers concerned about radicalisation or the clash of faiths
University tutors and students studying politics and diplomacy
Anyone worried by the long-term effects of civil unrest and political chaos
What’s included?
9 Videos
16 Quizzes
Life-long access
CPD Certificate
Why we need a new direction…
Waves of unease are sweeping the world. Our political life is reeling. The rise of ISIS, intractable disputes like the civil war in Syria, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Turkish Kurd war and the looming dangers from Africa, America, Asia and the Far East are volcanic and affecting us all.
But we are so conditioned that we resort to the same old habits to address these matters: exerting financial or military power; exhibiting paranoia towards outsiders or adopting technological solutions as if they were panaceas. However, experience tells us, with our track record of political failure in peace making and fighting corruption, that we are most likely looking in the wrong direction…
Hope over despair
The reason dire problems remain unresolved and continue to grow more complex is because we are not directing our attention to the main cause they arise from: the ignorance and mismanagement of basic human needs in society – especially those related to our natural emotional states.
Changing economics, political structures or power balances will not curb the cruel violence or spread of terrorist actions whilst the people operating in those systems remain greedy, needy, and opportunistic.
To find workable solutions we urgently need to take into account what lies behind our political and social problems – our innate human motivations and needs. To think otherwise is a tragic misdiagnosis.
This course is dedicated to developing a process of long-term education about how to improve politics by involving greater psychological understanding in domestic and international relations – the only source of hope for the future.
We invite you to participate in this endeavour.
Meet your tutors
John Bell
John Bell is the Director of the Middle East & Mediterranean Programme at the Toledo International Centre for Peace.
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Ivan Tyrrell
Ivan Tyrrell worked for many years as a psychotherapist and now spends most of his time lecturing and writing.
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Course format
This course derives from a workshop presented by The Conciliators Guild and Human Givens College in Westminster, London.
The attendees came from 13 countries and included diplomats, civil servants and conflict negotiators, plus practitioners of the HG approach working in education and psychotherapy.
This online version is split into four modules which are broken down further into different sections containing films of the lectures given in English by the facilitators, John Bell and Ivan Tyrrell along with questions from the audience and contributions from attendees.
Each film is followed by a short series of multiple choice questions which are designed to help you absorb and think about the material and ideas covered.