Psychology's Influence on Culture
Artist Statement
Hannah Staats
January, 2015

Olivia struggles with understanding the irrational behavior of the people around her, but cannot perceive her own behavior as anything but logical. As an individual, this is something she simply cannot do, something that none of us as human beings can do, because the cause of these behaviors that break the mold of what is predictable and rational is the part of our minds that operates unconsciously. We are in the dark when it comes to this part of our brains, and even an infinite amount of study cannot turn on the light and bridge the gap between understanding and awareness. This is one challenge we cannot overcome, because it sets a fundamental basis for our evolution and is an essential portion of the definition of humanity. And as the human parts and pieces of our entire species and our culture,  we construct around ourselves institutions, media, studies, art that reflect a flawed understanding of ourselves. However, while incomplete awareness is inevitable, incomplete understanding is not: we can understand our minds even if we cannot know what is happening in them as it happens. It is possible to design ourselves a world that works if we arm ourselves with knowledge of our ourselves, complete with conscious and unconscious. Just as Olivia is frustrated by the lack of intention she sees in the world, we will be fighting with the workings of the culture we’ve created until we design it intentionally and based in understanding.