Psychology and the Infinite Game
Niki Harré
The University of Auckland
New Zealand
Psychology for a Better
World
Free to download
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copy AND on
YouTube!
www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/
psychologyforabetterworld
Intellectual
Metaphorical
Practice
Intellectual
Metaphorical
Practice
Intellectual
Metaphorical
Practice
Intellectual
Metaphorical
Practice
Intellectual
Metaphorical
Practice
The infinite game
James Carse
The infinite game
Finite games
• The purpose is to continue the
game
• Invites others in
• Any single player is not
needed and cannot finish the
game
• Looks to the future and does
not assume the past will
reoccur
• The rules must change over
time or the game will cease
• Provokes creativity
• The purpose is to win
• Include only select people
• Each player is needed and
must always be alert, to relax
is dangerous
• Players try to replicate the
winning strategies of the past
• The rules must not change for
the duration of the game
• Provoke replication
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
Finite
Game
James Carse
The infinite game
Finite games
• The purpose is to continue the
game
• Invites others in
• Any single player is not
needed and cannot finish the
game
• Looks to the future and does
not assume the past will
reoccur
• The rules must change over
time or the game will cease
• Provokes creativity
• The purpose is to win
• Include only select people
• Each player is needed and
must always be alert, to relax
is dangerous
• Players try to replicate the
winning strategies of the past
• The rules must not change for
the duration of the game
• Provoke replication
That which is of infinite value
Scared, precious, special
Of value for its own sake
That which makes the world truly alive
In any dimension – an emotion, relationship,
part of the natural world, a quality an object
These are of infinite value
Free Space
(e.g. beach,
forest
Happiness
Happiness
Happiness
Belonging
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
Love
Love
Love
Food
Animals
Animals
communication
These are of infinite value
Truth
Support
Empathy
God
A sense of
humour
Communication
Ocean
These are of infinite value
Friends
Hugs
Smiles
Laughter
Laughter
Excitement
Happiness
Happiness
Happiness
Happiness
Love
Love
Time
Time
Faith
Respect
communication
communication
communication
Environment
Environment
Technology
Technology
Nature: food,
water, air
Nature, specifically
trees
These are of infinite value
Faith
Love
Love
Love
Love
Love
My
cat
Professions
Honour
Positivity
Serenity
Peace
Freedom
Sleeping
Exercise
Walk
Sunshine
Cooking
These are of infinite value
Consciousness
Home country
Air
Algorithm
Leadership
- management
- government
Choice
Compassion
Regret
Regret
Love
Love
Love
Emotions
Potential
Strength
Freedom
Freedom
That which is of infinite value –
Categories created by students
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The natural environment
Arts
Human values
Basic human needs
Sociability and communication
Family/Human relationships
Leisure
Education and knowledge
Religion
Time
Innovations
But what is more important than any
one of these precious things
IS TO KEEP THE
GAME IN PLAY
So what does this mean for
psychology in general and
community psychology in
particular?
Stimulating
student
assignments
Talks, shows
presentations
to the public
Community of learners seeking
understanding (but never quite finding
it), growth and innovation, with
permeable boundaries.
Publications that
stem from genuine
body, mind, soul,
heart engagement.
Publishing for
the sake of
publishing
University
rankings
Achieving a degree in
order to qualify for a
high status job
So what does this mean for
psychology in general and
community psychology in
particular?
Fisher (2002). “The struggle to make meaning, to lend
form to experience, is like the struggle to recall
something forgotten; we feel an immediate satisfaction
when words finally come out for the recollected thing.
So it is for any moment when we recognize a pattern,
contact some truth, or bring into symbolic focus a
feeling that has been haunting us from the deep. I thus
have in mind a style of inquiry with lots of ragged
edges, unanswered questions, and loose ends; and yet
with an atmosphere and an impelling force that can be
felt; where points, even if surrounded by ignorance,
nonetheless get made and are able to…elicit fruitful
responses from the reader.”
•
Nga iwi e! Nga iwi e!
Kia kotahi ra te Mo-a-na-"nwi"-kiwa
All you people! All you people!
Be united as one, like the Pacific Ocean.
e-i-a-i-e ----------Kia mau ra! Kia mau ra!
ki te mana motuhake me te aroha
Hold on firmly! Hold on firmly
to your inheritance, and to compassion.
e-i-a-i-e ----------Wahine ma! Wahine ma!
Ma-ra-nga mai, Ma-ra-nga mai, kia kaha
All you young women! All you young
women,rise up, rise up, be strong
e-i-a-i-e ----------E tama ma! E tama ma!
E tama tu, E tama tu, tama ora!
e-i-a-i-e ----------Nga iwi e! Nga iwi e!
Kia kotahi mai te Moana-"nwi"-kiwa
All you lads! All you lads!
Stand up tall and live like men!