This is taken from Alex Caldon’s philosophy book The Quest for Truth: On Finding the Grail, revealing an inspiring new philosophy and spirituality. For details of the book, visit the main site at:
Eco-Psychology: Analysing Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson is a television presenter and newspaper columnist in the United Kingdom who specialises in motoring issues. He is a self-confessed petrol head. He also runs something of a campaign against environmentalists. He has advocated driving 4x4 vehicles across remote British mountains, he justifies vehicle carbon emissions by accusing marathon runners of emitting more CO2, he refers to Greenpeace employees as “eco-twats”, and so on and so forth. The question is: why does he behave like this?
Environmentalism is built on foundations of truth and healthy behaviour. Science has found effects such as global warming to be realities. Common sense provides us with principles like sustainability. Spiritually, environmentalists exhibit a close link with their world. To care for the world is to show a high degree of responsibility and compassion, which psychologists would describe as healthy behaviour.
An analyst would approach the dynamic between Jeremy and environmentalists as objectively as possible. Looking objectively (scientifically), Jeremy seems to be detaching from the reality of what is going on. Jeremy Clarkson appears to be exhibiting symptoms of personality disorder. People with personality disorder may be described as “me” people. They are in life for what they can get. They display little or no conscience; they shy away from taking responsibility to care for others, or their world. In their actions they are guilty of not doing the right thing. However, they may well be completely unaware that they have this problem. Invariably, when challenged with the truth of the detrimental effects they have on others they will react with violent denial, and this often results in attacks on those people who expose the truth. The attacks by people with personality disorder may be verbal abuse. They frequently resort to mind games - perhaps rallying round a third party to recruit them into the persecution of those exposing the truth. They may even resort to physical violence. Jeremy has used all of these methods in attacking those who expose his condition. Calling Greenpeace employees “eco-twats” is verbal abuse. He has been known to punch critics, and boasted about it in one of his columns.
Using his job as a journalist, he rallies support from weak minded by-standers. This is a similar dynamic to what one might expect from a playground bully. The hangers-on do not want to be the next one lined up for attack so they back down in the presence of Jeremy’s large ego. Jeremy’s recruits also want to see him attack environmentalists, as these people are also guilty of not caring enough for the world - they are happy to watch Jeremy carrying out the persecution for them, when
Environmentalism is built on foundations of truth and healthy behaviour. Science has found effects such as global warming to be realities. Common sense provides us with principles like sustainability. Spiritually, environmentalists exhibit a close link with their world. To care for the world is to show a high degree of responsibility and compassion, which psychologists would describe as healthy behaviour.
An analyst would approach the dynamic between Jeremy and environmentalists as objectively as possible. Looking objectively (scientifically), Jeremy seems to be detaching from the reality of what is going on. Jeremy Clarkson appears to be exhibiting symptoms of personality disorder. People with personality disorder may be described as “me” people. They are in life for what they can get. They display little or no conscience; they shy away from taking responsibility to care for others, or their world. In their actions they are guilty of not doing the right thing. However, they may well be completely unaware that they have this problem. Invariably, when challenged with the truth of the detrimental effects they have on others they will react with violent denial, and this often results in attacks on those people who expose the truth. The attacks by people with personality disorder may be verbal abuse. They frequently resort to mind games -
Using his job as a journalist, he rallies support from weak minded by-