Notes from the Counselor on the Law of Effect
For her own children she would help expand there minds with ideas of people they could be. She would help them make a costume based on their own idea of who they would like to be.
Not having much in the way of economic resources she would transform old time worn clothes and bed sheets into new looking garments and capes complete with double stitching.
Through the decades she created princesses, princes, pirates, bishops, super heroes, robots and secret agents just to name a few. Each of her eight children got his or her own unique costume every year.
Often the costume came with a lesson in selecting the right material; in dying a material to hide catsup stains; in sewing buttons and edging; in patternmaking; and in repairing imperfections. By involving the child each year her children grew more independent and skilled in creating their own costumes.
Usually by the time they were old enough to stop “Trick or Treating” they had all the skills need to make any costume they wanted and many other skills.
These are the notes of Dr. Muriel R. McKenney, the Counselor, on the Law of Effect:
“Halloween is rapidly approaching; the hallowed evening before All Saints Day when supposedly all hell is roaming loose. Our Halloween customs, games and pranks with ghosts and other scary costumes are relics of ancient pagan days. Long before Christian times, the Romans celebrated the Druid autumn festival of Romana, goddess of gardens.
In Western Europe and in England, Roman customs were added to the Druid observances, and have perpetuated to this day. In England and elsewhere the witches still gather on the eve of All Saints Day, All Hallow’s Eve, and stir their cauldrons of brew while chanting spirits.
We may wonder why we have continued to participate in such an unusual custom for hundreds of years, a custom that focuses on the underworld, rather than the saints. What do we gain? What do we find rewarding enough to continue this behavior year after year?
When we apply the first law of behavior, however it becomes understandable. The Law of Effect: Behavior that is ‘need fulfilling’ tends to be repeated; Behavior that is not ‘need fulfilling’ tends not to be repeated.
Obviously, Halloween must be fulfilling our needs or we would not be repeating it. Also, this explains why the customs although continuing, do change and evolve. We constantly select out what meets our needs and discard what doesn’t.
We have four basic needs that we are continually striving to satisfy.
(1) We have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved. That is why family gatherings are so rewarding; when everyone is congenial, and so hurtful for the one left our or disapproved of.
Halloween is an evening when adults and children participate together, costumes are admired, treats are given and received. Everyone mingles and visits each others homes. There is a feeling of belonging to a community.
(2) We have a need for power, control and competition. No one wants to feel powerless, or that they have little or no control over their life. Also we feel a need to compete in order to see how we are measuring up to others. Sports, games, and gatherings of all kinds are a popular way to fill this need.
Halloween is especially gratifying. There is the opportunity to compete by having the best costume, to be in control of our looks and actions and be whoever we wish to be.
(3) We have a need to have fun. It is fun to be a part of a community festivity, to have treats, and to have people admiring our costumes.
Halloween is fun!
(4) We have a need for freedom. This is the only day all year that we can choose a new identity. We are free to be whoever we wish and act however we want to within reason.
Halloween seems to have become an enjoyable and need fulfilling festivity that according to the Law of Effect is bound to continue. Persons of all ages seem to take pleasure in it, and meet their needs. There is a wonderful sense of community with lots of treats for everyone and few pranks.”
Thus end the notes of The Counselor.
Dr. Muriel liked the effect Halloween had on children of others. She always loved to stand by the door and compliment each child on how cute or frightening he or she looked. She knew how to bring a smile to each face as they trotted up to the door to receive their rewards.
Until some crazy folks started putting strange objects in children’s bags, she always took pleasure in making caramel apples, molasses cookies and flavored popcorn balls for the children. Like the rest of us she moved to sealed store bought candies.
Her house was always a neighborhood favorite of the moms as they knew that their child would be made to feel like a real prince, princess or swashbuckler by the time they ran back to them with their new found treats.
Even with Alzheimer’s reducing those memories, she and her roommate have (with a little help) decorated their room in the hopes of creating new memories.
