THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CITIZENSHIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1928, Page 4

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CITIZENSHIP.

What is tlio psychological basis of citizenship? What are the psychological characteristics of man as a social animal? How clo the fundamental tendencies of human nature adapt themselves to the changing circumstances of the modern industrial order? A study of citizenship which does not take account of social psychology might apply to a native of Cloud-Cuckoo-Town, Inst, would assuredly not be true of the men-and women who live in the modern industrial world. It is in instinctive bchavour that we must look for the phychologieal basis of citizenship. Long before an individual is capable of forming definite purposes and consciously willing bis conduct, lie acts instinctively. Human instincts are important, not only because they are there to start with, but also because they arc capable of modification and development, and thus continue to form an integral part of conduct, even at its hignest levels. Many of mail’s highest ideals are firmly rooted in primitive instincts and it is in instinctive behaviour that many of his grandest institutions have their foundations.—-O. A. .Johnston in ‘'The Edinburgh Review.’’ THE VOTERS. Those few who have lxttli the knowledge and the social sense tP make their votes valuable are lost amidst the mob of those who lack that combination. Vet this motel.v crowd con trols the ship of state. The navigators of that shin are at its mercy. They will take their hands from the helm in order to make a gesture of ac-mow-ledgement to preserve its good-HI. They are as intimately concerned about its wishes as they are about the course, of the ship—nay. even more so: Mi.' must alter the course altogether it only the almighty mob shouts loud enough. Is it not grotesque to fee the captain and his ollieers at the merev of this ignorant crew of lain.lubbers? Is it not wasteful of the valuable energy of our leaders tbit watchfulness of the electoral barometer must continually distract t’lem fr> m their true work—the science of social betterment. ? This need for '■•itcli'-.-ness of the electoral barometer—this ever-present dread of being ousted from power, exerts a very wastclu: ‘‘no pernicious influence in our system ol government.. —E. H. Speu vi ill ‘ho Review of Reviews.” I unemployment. | Our pundits point to the numbers of our employed workers, greater than at anv time in our history. H'c unemployed they regard as flic inevitable consequences of a growth ol oppulatiou which has outstripped the demand for productive labour. It is a view uttci ly false, because hopelessly narrow. An unparalleled heritage lies at oui doois i needing for its development nothing but trained bands. But because the economic need is rural and the economic surplus urban, because Labour is without enlightenment, and Liberalism without authority, and Unionism without enterprise, the glowing possibilities of Empire are ignored. There is a call to-day for the vision of a Clianii berlain. The training of urban youth I at home for agricultural work overseas would not solve the unemployment problem. But it would certainly mitigate it. because it would bring public expenditure into relation with the vital economies of Empire. More than ibis, it would proclaim to our youth that statesmanship had power to save their lives from the blight of i idleness. I lie crux ot the evil lies here. The deterioration of unemploylnent is not merely nor even mainly I physical. It saps the temper of the soul. This threat to Hie national well-being must be combated. Let us begin where results will lie swift and I conclusive. In co-operation with the llomiiiinus. lei us so train our youths as to assure them of bands competent to execute the purposes of enterprising hearts.—The "Observer.”