Diane Perlman

I am a clinical and political psychologist. Motivated by the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust, I have been curious about what forces in society allow such things to happen and a strong sense that we have to figure out ways to make catastrohic events not inevitable - "preventing the inevitable." I started as a speaker for Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) speaking about the image of the enemy, psychology of nukes and the arms race. I also write about the psychology of terrorism - and make a distinction between counter -terrorism, which focuses on the symptom - first order change - and "terror reduction" - second order change - which changes the nature of the relationship and underlying conditions.

This includes reducing the desire of individuals and groups to take revenge on us, addressing basic human needs, legitimate goals, including identity, dignity, sovereignty,and just grievances. I am interested in informing policy design according to principles pf psychology, conflict analysis and other social sciences, understanding the value of tension reduction, positive inducements and nonviolent conflict transformation as more effective than coercion, punishments (sanctions), threats and violence, and the role of fear, trauma, humiliation, trauma, and asymmetrical dynamics that provoke escalation of tension, violence and unintended consequences.

Due to an environmental illness form overexposure to toxic mold, fatigue and neurological problems, I have been unable to write over the last several years and had to make a career change - also delaing with a global threat - climate change. I am starting a business, Zero Waste Designs - to drastically reduce human contribution to climate change by products and systems to eliminate the need for papaer, plastic, styrofoam, etc. Hopefully you will be hearing more about this in the next few months.

www.consciouspolitics.org www.humanchainreaction.org

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