New Britain herald., 1930-03-19
GROUP RELATIONS,
 DR. DYER'S TOPIC as
Psychologist Continues Her Course at Y. ". (. A. Forum

At the Y. ". c. A. forum meeting last evening, pr. Anna Dyer con- tinued her course of lectures by Delivering an address on Group Relations of Men, Women and Chil- dren-Age and Sex Differences.
 Her talk was as follows:
 Tn the groups in which we live are men, women and children. What do we need to know in order to live happily with them and to aid them in their own satisfactory living? Should we treat children as adults" Some adults as children? Men and women the same?
 'In order to live well with pco- ple and to assist others in their lives we must understand people and the relations of life. There are understanding, inter-feeling, reason- ing, and many other reactions. Our relations may be quite simple as the giving Of interested attention or quite complex. as the giving of un- derstanding and sympathy. guid- ance, stimulating effort or creative expression.
 Tt is essential that we under stand people. We can do this by studying the reactions of people, ob- jectively studying people, analyze their environment, social back grounds and tendencies to respond in certain ways; study people front q postulating point of view, in terms of their ideals. or the re- sponse they would like to make what we call their good intentions This may be an attempt to sec what is in their mind: make a subjective study. Use our own imagination and see ourselves in the others place. What would we have done in their position, with their knowledge and their background. Can we help people best in our way or their way?
 Before you can meet people sat isfactorily and especially help peo- pie, you must study how they re- act to you. You have certain char acteristics which stimulate certain responses from them. You must ask yourself arc the responses stinl- ulated going to be adverse to the cause or the relation, or arc they helpful.
 ''The world is made up of a group of Heterogeneous people. Some psychologists and others have tried to classify us as of superior. average and inferior intelligence, extraverts and intraverts, social and non social, etc. Two essential differ ences that we all have are age and sex.
 Tn order to carry on pleasant re- lations with men and women we must understand their differences, appreciate them as individuals with equal rights, define the relation clearly and not overstep the boun- daries. When there is growth and change in the relationship this should be mutually recognized. There has been in the past a wide separation in most of the relations of men and of women, but they are coming to bo of somewhat the same type as we work and play more to- gether
 Not all women arc naturally homenakers. Women as distinct beings have been very much studied and written about, men very little. their differences, scme. Are men and women differently endowed with instincts ir kind or degree? Dr. Will Durant, in Mansions of Phil osophy, discusses the differences under five headings: Racial or re- productive differences. individualis- tic instincts, social instincts, intel lectual differences, and genius.
 "We may have children in our families or we may be meeting with children of other families. Should we treat children as adults or be children with them? The happy balance is the answer. Treat chil- dren as persons, possibly even as adults, but understand them as chill dren and d5 not judge them by adult standards.
 Tn all cur relationships with others we mGst appreciate that all of life is or growth. It is step by step growth; there are few people who can take the broad leap jump. This means the essential traits in our relations with others are belief and patience"