Ep. 2: “The Blight of the Baby Boomer: does lockdown provide the answer?”

Gerri is troubled by her ‘Clinical Psychologist’ identity receding when her Baby Boomer parents come to visit and she is compelled to take a Stay-Cation in her Secret City. The intergeneration conflict between perceptual biases of Baby Boomers and Gen X is explored and examined using primarily self report, generalisations and extrapolated viewpoint measures. Particular focus is given to the role of alcohol consumption, specifically the declining use of Cask Wine, and increased prevalence of body hair removal from the early nineties onward. Complexities of having an identity as a Psychologist are reviewed in terms of negotiating relationships with individuals outside a clinical role, juggling expectations of neighbours and friends, perceptions others have of Psychologists and the work they do inside and outside professional circles. The tendency of GPs to base their appraisal of psychological interventions on a personal reaction to the Psychologist concerned was found to be dominant. It was concluded that this phenomenon was in part due to wide spread confusion within the community about exactly what Psychologists are up to when they do “the work”.