Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 07/11/25)

News for week ending 07/11/25

We often talk about blame and where the buck starts and stops and too often people throw their hands up and declare ‘not my problem’.  But this week has been one of generosity with people (at last) standing up and showing some responsibility.  Sadly, the lovely Patricia Routledge died whose lead in ‘The Lady of letters’ has stayed with me for years.  Reports show that she gave over £1 million away to charities, particularly relating to young people and mental health and her town – Chichester.  We also heard that the footballer Mbappe donated $20 million to Jamaica to help with the rebuild after the hurricane and Angelina Jolie has pledged millions to help orphans in Gaza.  We also watched Billie Eilish ask a room of rich people at the Wall Street Journal Awards ‘if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?’. Good question.  She has donated $11.5 million to charity!  At the same time Rachel Reeves gave us a hint of the forthcoming budget suggesting that taxes might well go up and all or some of us will have to pay more into the communal pot.  How will people feel about that?!

Often, we are very good at ‘othering’ and look at images of those who are in war zones amongst the bombs and rubble, hungry and homeless with compassion fatigue thinking they are not ‘like us’.  And even when the problems are closer to home, we find ways to classify those in need as ‘different’ even if they speak our language and walk our streets.  But taking responsibility for the world’s problems and trying to help comes from a feeling of being connected to others and seeing them as relatable.  It also comes from a sense of agency and power and that we can make a difference.  And it also is much more likely to happen if it is rewarded in some way.  Holding on to your millions is rewarded if your friends do the same and you live in a micro world of massive bank balances and multiple yachts (what on earth do they spend it on?).  But feeling good about yourself and getting praise from others can also help people be more generous.  We used to live in a world of philanthropists when people took pride in dying broke so they could build libraries, schools and help the poor.  Plaques on walls, recognition through named prizes or even just a bench can be enough to help people give away their money to a good cause.  Sweden even publishes a tax list each year to celebrate those who pay the most.

But what about when we want to find someone to blame? Who do we look for? This week two prisoners escaped and calls went out for those at the every top to take the hit – David Lammy should resign.  And as we read of war crimes and atrocities are the soldiers to blame? The Generals? Or the government? We need to hold people responsible, take action and see some consequences to feel that we live in a ‘Just world’ where law and order counts for something and bad people will be held to account.  And so they should be.  People have agency and make their own decisions, and sometimes ‘I was following orders’ doesn’t ring true and the person on the ground needs to get their comeuppance.  But sometimes we also need to accept human error and old fashioned cock up.  The wrong form was filled in, I was overwhelmed by work and I just signed on the dotted line mistakes we all make at sometime.  No-one needs to fall on their sword – a simple ‘sorry’ and moving on is enough.

Taking responsibility for the world’s bigger problems is a wonderful thing to do and we need to find ways to better reward those who do (to make them do it more!). And holding those to account for evils of the world gives us a sense of fairness and makes us feel safe.  But sometimes things are just human error – so let them go!

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden