Dialogicality and trust

The last plenary speaker of the conference was Ivana Markova, profesor of psychology at the University of Stirling in Scotland. Central to her lecture was trust and the notion that the self (ego) and others (alter) are interdependent. Ego and alter can be the obvious “me – you” relation, but it could similarly be a number of other relations, i.e. “I – group”, “group – another group”, “I – culture” and so on.

Markova made the point that trust goes beyond knowledge. Following that thought, there is no trust without risk. When you trust someone, you run the risk of being betrayed. Trust is complicated and multi-faceted and you may trust a person on one matter, but not another. You trust a doctor on his medical competence, but you may not trust him on financial matters.

There are several levels of trust. From primary trust like the unquestioned trust a baby has in its mother, to a reflecting and calculated trust based on experience, on culture.

On dialogicality, Ivana Markova reminded us that dialogicality is not just about pretty-perfect and smooth dialogue. It is also a form of being recognized as an individual; the struggle for individuality.

Trust is essential for communication, stated Markova.

Anne Nafstad responded with a short lecture drawing from the plenary speeches of the week and presented some very inspirational video clips.

Ton Visser from the DbI Communication Network in the final discussion.

Yours truly, captured by Trond Markussen, moments before posting this update which concludes the coverage of The Magic of Dialogue. Over and out from Suresnes, France.

Pictures and text: Lasse Wehner