RSA Event: States of Denial with Stan Cohen April 16, 2008

With Stan Cohen, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, LSE.

Chair: Laurie Taylor, writer and broadcaster

Blocking out, turning a blind eye, shutting off, not wanting to know, wearing blinkers, seeing what we want to see... these are all expressions of 'denial'. Alcoholics who refuse to recognise their condition, people who brush aside suspicions of their partner's infidelity, the wife who doesn't notice that her husband is abusing their daughter, are supposedly 'in denial'. Governments deny their responsibility for atrocities. Truth commissions try to overcome the suppression and denial of past horrors. Bystander nations deny their responsibility to intervene.

Amongst other thoughts Stan Cohen will ask, when we deny, are we aware of what we are doing or is this an unconscious defence mechanism to protect us from unwelcome truths?

Places are free and open to all but advance booking is recommended.

To book email lectures@rsa.org.uk

Official Website: http://www.rsa.org.uk/events/detail.asp?eventID=2528