The demographics of society are forcing us to come to terms with cultural diversity. To overcome lazy mental habits, we must consciously work to treat human beings of different races, genders, religious and ethnic groups and handicaps as unique individuals. In part one of this two-part program psychiatrist Price M. Cobbs points out that prejudice and stereotyping are natural functions of the brain in coping with a threatening environment. However, the society we live no longer operates on the tribal principles that were part of our evolution.
In part two, Dr. Cobbs describes the principles of ethnotherapy that he developed with George Leonard at the Esalen Institute in the late 1960s. This work is designed to facilitate a deep examination of the ways we think about other groups. He describes his own experience as a black growing up in America and points out the need for oppressed groups to move from blame to mastery of their situation.
Price M. Cobbs, M.D., psychiatrist and management consultant, is president of Pacific Management Systems in San Francisco. He is co-author of The Jesus Bag and the classic text, Black Rage. Dr. Cobbs currently applies the principles of ethnotherapy in his work with government and business groups.