Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE

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Categorising people

With ever increasing sophistication of analysis in marketing and our preoccupation with classifying things and people into groups so that we can 'identify' with them in whatever way that our interests may determine, there is an increasing danger of misunderstanding and misrepresentation.

As soon as we categorise people, we put them into a box and 'label' them. As soon as we do this we think of them in this way and they become 'classified' or considered as being of a particular religious, political, socio-economic, ethnic or sexual group. They are 'friends' or enemies, criminals, preachers, Alexander Technique teachers, generous or mean, stupid or intelligent, reliable or not. By categorising people we immediately give them a 'label' that says 'what they are'. But it also determines by default 'what they are not'. As I was born in Glasgow, I am presumed Scottish. However my parents were English born, with a mix of Irish in there somewhere too, so my Scottishness is only in name. This also does not allow for how I feel, having lived in London (England) for 23 years. Being born Scottish almost implies that I am not English. For some people whether I am Scottish or English (or Protestant or Catholic or anything) will determine how they think of me, whether they know me or not! Having holidayed in France on numerous occasions and taken our own car over by ferry, it has proved most helpful to have an Ecosse sticker rather than a GB sticker on the back of the car. Suddenly all French are my friends, passing cars toot their horns, they wave on the motorway, and guide me into parking spaces without any ulterior motive. This 'friendship' dates back to the 'Auld Alliance' where Scotland and France allied together against the English. This extends over 800 years. There were times when the two nations acquired considerable mutual benefit from the alliance, particularly after the outbreak of the Hundred Years War.

As soon as we categorise people we are generalising, and stereotyping. We may label what they are but we also say what they are not and have attitudes for or against them as a consequence of the label. For instance the 'criminal' is branded as a bad person, but this is not 'who they are' but what they may have done. The assumption is that they 'do bad things' and a criminal record is with them for life. It may have been a one-off offence. How many of us can honestly withhold putting up our hands if I ask did you as a child ever steal any sweets from a shop counter? "But that's different." I hear you say. You do not consider yourself a criminal with such a minor and childish misdemeanour. But the same theft as an adult puts us into the category of criminal. This person may also be the most kind, loving, giving, charitable and unselfish person we are ever likely to meet. And while the criminal can have deep tendencies to love, the Preacher or religious person who most would consider a 'good person' may have weaknesses towards less than 'upright' behaviour.

Walter Carrington the director of the Alexander Technique training course that I attended, once told me of a day at F.M. Alexander's teaching rooms in 16 Ashley Place, Victoria, London in the 50's. F.M. (as he was called) was waiting to give his next lesson in the technique that bears his name. He said to Walter "Be a good chap and see if my best pupil is sitting in the waiting room." Walter returned and said no, not yet. F.M. asked "Are you quite sure? She's not normally late. Is there no-one sitting there?" Walter replied that there was only a little old lady sitting in a corner, but his best pupil had not arrived. F.M. promptly exclaimed, "That's her! Show her in!" Walter told me this story to indicate how dangerous it is to make assumptions about people. For instance, how could anyone so old, possibly be a 'best pupil'?

By categorising people we limit them in the process. The only categories that can possibly be big and broad enough for us to fit into are homo-sapien or human; it is inclusive and not exclusive. It is my belief that we are all greater than any label can define. We are all infinitely variable, with infinite potential and none of the billions of us on earth are the same. We are all individuals with our own strengths, weaknesses, loves, skills and attributes. As Alexander Technique teachers we learn to consider each and every one of our clients or 'pupils' as unique individuals. By categorising people we automatically make assumptions about them, which are ultimately limiting. If I think of someone as a 'beginner' I automatically decide how I think they will be, in terms of posture. If someone has had 20 lessons over a few months I could predetermine what I think their abilities should be in relation to using the Alexander Technique. But such an attitude and preconception could detrimentally affect the lesson; I need to remain open minded at all times, so I allow for moments of brilliance in my pupil or difficulties during thier off days. Every day be it a good one or not-so-good is equally an opportunity to learn and change. It is because of our uniqueness that we need to have one-to-one lessons in the Alexander Technique in order to understand how the principles apply to our own particular personal and postural needs.

No matter what the category we may be put into, or how we may consider others, they are ultimately limiting and extremely dangerous as the very act of categorisation is exclusive by nature. By saying 'what we are', automatic assumptions are made about 'what we are not'. F.M. Alexander's 'best pupil' could not possibly be the little old lady sitting in the corner. The person labeled 'stupid' for a misdemeanour may have an IQ of 180, the handicapped man with no legs in a wheelchair may become a world beating athlete.

We and every one of us are unique individuals and it is my belief that there are real dangers of categorising anyone and we should beware of the associated implications should we ever do so for any particular reason. An open mind works best every time.

Posted by Noël on June 23, 2008 8:36 AM | Permalink