Eject

                            (photo: IndyStar)

Lately, the brouhaha over the proposed impeachment of another Chief Justice in the judiciary escalated. One reason of its validity is the so-called psychological capacity of Sereno to lead the department where checks and balances are of essence.

Geraldine Tria, a clinical psychologist said that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno manifested grandiosity, unlimited power, sense of entitlement, lack of empathy and has the trait to take advantage of others. Her statement is based on an assessment they conducted prior to Sereno’s appointment.

But then, aren’t these things manifest in other leaders of the government offices both elected and appointed?

Let us linger on this aspect especially in other sectors in the governments where there are heads whose mental stability could sometimes cause the gravitational pull of the earth to be inconsistent with its acceleration (which in that case is 9.8 m/s2).

In the education department, schools are being led and managed by school heads either designated or those who passed the Principals Test. But how many of them are capable enough of understanding the ecology of the school in terms of the demographics and data based on the schools’ profile? There is what we call as the psychological blueprint of the schools based on the cultural background and the influences of the community the school is located. Are they equipped with the impending “moods” a school might acquire? Then if not, would it be ground enough to expel them from the system? What if their purpose of becoming a head is solely for power and fame? You see, just like the judiciary, this sector is strong and influential enough to dictate the future of the country.

In the local government units, how many legislators could be considered as strategic thinkers? Do they base their legislation on the psychological make-up of the social spectrum of the micro community they are elected into office? Are they considering the psycho-social impact of the ordinances they file and defend? What if the local chief executives do not have empathy? Are they going to be exposed to an activity which is similar to an impeachment?

For many years now of observing the movements in government offices, one could  cower on the insensitivity of the so-called servants to the clientele. How many hospital personnel are there who denied the patients to their rights to be treated with their illnesses? How many nurses who were trained to give tender love and care to the patients who leave such traits to others? How many teachers are there who only see their learners as their tasks? How many elected politicians are there in the different parts of the country who only see the people as “votes” which will place them in power? These things and actions are being mandated by the psychological capacity of these persons in rendering their services. Another, of course, is their morality.

The point is this: How do we measure psychological capacity? Is it from the opinion of the experts? What about the direct evidences and hard realities which could be directly observed?

In the evolution of conducting researches and dissertations, the statistical tools used and the qualitative way of getting data are now being married so not to limit only to perceptions but could lead to a scientific inference. The data gathered are being treated in a keen and analytical manner to arrive to a certain theory or a recommendation.

Direct observations to social media accounts and even looking at the journal entries of a person could lead towards an assessment. But what if this assessment will only fall on the perceptive “truth” which later could lead in the forming of an opinion?

We could not discredit the psychologists and psychiatrists with the science they have been studying and mastering. But wouldn’t we rely more on the so-called common sense by looking at the hard facts the person is displacing?

Yet, the talk is centered on the impeachment of a leader. Of course, we dislike being led by someone who could thwart future realities. His or her line of thought could mar the direction towards the common good. Yet, we might as well consider this event to arrive to a deeper reflection on the conditions of the other sectors in our society and even in our own selves and families.