Not everything is black and white. That's why we need to grapple with the gray.
Let’s face it: we’re all a little neurotic. But when quirks and mild aversions grow into crippling phobias, psychologists may search for novel and creative solutions.
As an antidote for pathological shyness, one psychologist instructed patients to go into department stores and engage salespeople by asking for product information and advice. In some cases, patients were instructed to make purchases, then come back a few days later to return the merchandise.
The concept is simple. Through repeated interactions of this kind, patients gradually become comfortable with approaching strangers, asking for information, and asserting themselves in the normal give-and-take of daily human discourse.
However, this form of therapy depends on the unknowing collaboration of store personnel, potentially interfering with their job of attending to paying customers, distracting them from other work, creating extra work in dealing with returns and restocking, and possibly costing them commissions from real customers.
Is it ethical for the psychologist to treat the patient in a way that might cause even a minor loss and inconvenience to the store and its sales force?
Meet this week’s panelists:
Ozlem Brooke Erol works with growth-mindset leaders who want to create work cultures defined by authentic purpose, harmony, and passion where innovation, engagement, and profit become a natural outcome.
Diane Helbig is Chief Improvement Catalyzer at Helbig Enterprises, providing guidance and training to business owners and leaders around the world.
Ipek Williamson is an Insight Coach, Meditation Teacher, Speaker, Author, and Change Master who helps people initiate and navigate change in their personal and professional lives.