BLIND SPOT

Clifton, J. Blind Spot (2022) Washington DC, Gallup Press. 339 pages.

ABSTRACT

This book is a product of Gallup polling. They have interviewers all over the planet in countries that allow them to poll. The only weakness is the use of an interval level research methodology. However, they find that most countries that they polled found that THRIVING (happiness) has diminished in the last 10 years. This book is an excellent to the library of social psychiatry and medical sociology.

INTRODUCTION

The Gallup organization has thousands of interviewers all over the world that have interacted with numerous individuals in all countries that allow such activity. It is a measure of feelings of depression, anxiety and physical pain and therefore the impact of these conditions on social interaction. This fits nicely in the area of medical sociology and social psychiatry.

DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION

The basic tool of gathering information is a picture of an 11 step ladder that can become useful in both face to face and through electronic communications. It does not have a zero point so it is not a ratio scale. However each step on the ladder is equidistant from above and below, therefore it is an interval measure defined as a “Thurstone” scale. That means that not all calculations can be conducted which is a ratio measure. One cannot calculate an average, but can use a median.   It appears to be acceptable for this study.

Basically, the researcher asks respondents where on the ladder are you now and how do you feel? Then where do you think you will be located on the ladder in 10 years?

There are a number of side bars. Most book reviewers describe only certain areas.  By the way, “thriving” is an overall, but cautious term for happy and “suffering “is the measure that is self explanatory. At the time of this writing, third world countries suffer and Scandinavian countries are the highest in terms of thriving. They are social democratic capitalist countries with a strong mix of both private and public health care. In plain language, the research organization wants to know about the individual’s work, finance, sense of belonging in a community, their physical health and person’s life in small groups like a family.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant drop in most areas in the last 10 years.  Gallup uses a graph similar to economic and demographic ones to quantify the downward trend.  This means more depression or related has increased. If this trend continues there are some numbers that would be able to support statements about the condition that perhaps an elite of a country would not appreciate.  Or, portions of the nation would be able to focus their efforts on.  This is an important part of the human condition. Further, this is a worthwhile book.

 Prof. Joel Snell (Ret.)

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

joelsnell@hotmail.com/