Article archive / October 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 2. Source pages: 2.
Among Trekkies a well-loved scene comes from the Star Trek episode, “The First Duty.”
Young Wesley Crusher is a cadet at the Starfleet Academy and becomes a member of an elite flying squad. The squad, led by a charismatic senior cadet, decides to perform a spectacular but prohibited and very dangerous maneuver at the Academy’s graduation.
The flying team’s attempt to grab glory goes horribly wrong and one of the young flyers is killed. An investigation ensues and the remaining cadets agree to cover up.
The story is a common one. Roddenberry probably didn't call the plot points “identity threat” or “group think” or “boundary rigidity,” but it is all there.
Wesley attempts a lie by omission, but Captain Picard figures out the ruse and confronts Wesley. The scene is as meaningful and as beautifully acted as any from Shakespeare. Picard, the archetypical warrior-king, sets out the moral principle and it rings like a bell.
“The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth,” Picard tells Wesley. “Whether it is scientific truth, or historical truth, or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based. And if you can’t stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don’t deserve to wear the Starfleet uniform.”
Even for those who aren’t fans of Star Trek, the scene is worth watching. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xefh7W1nVo4)
There are many roles those of us in the psychological and behavioral sciences community take on in our hope to be of use to the larger society. Some of us focus on helping, perhaps as psychotherapists, counselors, or coaches. Some of us focus on teaching and education. Some of us focus on research. Some of us do a little bit of everything.
One of the societal roles a psychologist can take up is that of scientist-practitioner. In 2009 APA president James Bray asked, “Where have all the psychologists gone?” I think he was referring to the scientist-practitioner, the person LSU professor Ed Timmons once described in this way: “You should be able to pick a psychologist up by the ear and drop them in anywhere.”
For the psychologist who is a scientist- practitioner it is about truth. It can't be about politics, or group identification, or emotions, or perception. It isn’t about altruism or interpersonal harmony or even cooperation. It is hard to lead by this principle, especially these days, because we are each of us embedded in our social context, with our group identities, and our fast-think brains.
But for those psychologists who are still scientist-practitioners, truth is the first duty. As ragged, complicated, or incomplete as it is. Not fame, not money, not power. Truth must be our first duty.
The behind-the-scenes story about Dr. Chafetz’ efforts on a tiny little island within a huge system, and the response he received from officials, tells me for sure that he’s one of those who deserves to wear the Starfleet uniform.
And that’s high praise coming from me.
Captain Picard frustrated with Wesley. Note the resemblance to Dr. Chaftez.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.