The Power of Metaphor

1
The Power of Metaphor

• Biological Metaphors in Psychology

2
What are metaphors?

• M explains something (often poorly understood)
  by saying it is like something else (usually that
  we are more familiar with).
• Eg people in crowds act like molecules of gas.
• Chromosome is like a shelf of books.
• Communication relies on metaphor.

3
Ubiquity of Metaphor

• M found everywhere
• Lakoff Johnson argue most basic source of M is
  human body behaviour.
• Eg Future is in front of us.
• Ive put that behind me.
• I feel a little down this morning.
• Hes as high as a kite.
• Have you all taken that down? Or have you fallen
  behind, dropped the ball lost the thread?

4
Human metaphor exercise

• In groups, come up with at least 6 uses of
  metaphor that relate to our bodies behaviour.
• This relates to the idea that our minds are
  embodied it makes no sense to think of a mind
  that is not inextricably part of a body. (this
  appeals to many Biologists but has consequences
  many dislike.?)

5
Metaphors to Explain Humans

• Instead of using humans to explain other things,
  now think of Ms that explain humans in terms of
  other things.
• Angels Beasts Animals Robots Savages Bags of
  chemicals Wetware Genes way of making copies
  of themselves Slaves Servants Souls etc
• Using one guides your thoughts down one
  particular pathway.

6
Biological Metaphors in Psych

• Explaining humans in the biological perspective
  uses certain metaphors.
• For whole person?
• For patterns of behaviour?
• For problems we have?
• For social/sexual interaction?
• For how brain works?

7
Metaphors have Consequences

• All perspectives have their own metaphors.
• How might using some of the biol Ms we came up
  with lead to unwanted consequences?
• Each perspective only sees some types of
  things. (Marxist view sees economic factors
  biol is blind to, but does not see the loss of
  myelin in multiple sclerosis. Neither sees
  spiritual experience.)

8
Metaphorical Perils

• All Ms only work within limits.
• Overextending your M She is a fox where does
  this work, where does it fail?
• Forgetting X is a M War on drugs are govt
  policies really a war? It is often taken as plain
  description. What are some negative consequences
  of this M?
• Choosing a M not at all like thing to explain a
  kid with autism as one bad apple in a class. A
  degree is a route to higher pay. Examples?

9
To Infinity and Beyond!

• In New Scientist 27/9/03 article describes
  Lakoffs work on how humans imagine real
  infinity (eg a point an infinite distance away).
• Argues it still uses metaphors based on human
  body.

10
What Fun We HadBut WHY?

• Through module beyond be sensitive to metaphors
  in use.
• Try changing metaphors (or whole perspective) and
  reconsider issue.
• Realise how very much of Psychiatry, Forensic,
  etc is JUST metaphor.
• If you accept the metaphors/perspective you will
  find it hard to argue for another result.
• Record instances in the diary any effects.

11
Magic Forest (Self-portrait 1)(Guillem
Ramos-Poqui)
12
Magic Forest Text
13
Mapping Psychology(Guillem Ramos-Poqui)
Sand falls from the palm of a hand - is it the
remains of a sandcastle struck by the sea? Above
there are sea waves and a compass which
direction should we take? And on the left a girl
looks at her face in a mirror, but is she is
unable to see her own reflection, or identity?
14
The term, "Synesthesia" (title of the recurring
image in this book series) denotes cross-sensory
connection and in this image it embodies the idea
of the interaction/ harmony between the senses.
15
Synesthesia text(Guillem Ramos-Poqui)
The term, "Synesthesia" (title of the recurring
image in this book series) denotes cross-sensory
connection and in this image it embodies the idea
of the interaction/ harmony between the senses.
The shape of the feathers is echoed by the
movement of the hand, both representing touch
(with one of the fingers pointing to a small DNA
fingerprint over the music), the eye, the nose
and the mouth in profile. The fragment of a
handwritten music script also echoes the shape of
the feathers with functional, formal and
conceptual similarities between a cardiograph,
the encephalogram, and a musical score.
16
Challenging Psychological Issues(Guillem
Ramos-Poqui)
A white dove flies away into a large clock and
into the sea, embedded in her body, a
communication satellite and the moon. On the
right is a girl's face, eyes closed, she is
thinking, maybe imagining, the possibilities and
possible dangers of the new technologies?
17
Applying Psychology(Guillem Ramos-Poqui)
A dove flies to freedom into a forest, escaping
from a labyrinth and a motorway - but her body is
imprisoned by a cage, and in the middle of the
motorway (information highway) people are glued
to their computer screens.