Posted by Judy Weiser, Administrator I think that this is because I tend to tell my students to avoid generalizations unless they can back them up with statistics -- and not to make a blatant statement of 'what is' unless it is true, and provable to be true, 100% of the time... So my first question to you is how do you knowthat Canadian and UK parents take fewer family pictures than those in the US/Australia? Or did you mean that they seem to you to do this? This makesa big difference to me, when considering how to respond to your message, because I need to ask where you get your data from that has you making such an absolute statement? Next, re: your having done "quick comparisons of photo industry data"... I'm not sure that all "ordinary parents" would be visible and quantifiable in "photo-industry" data (unless they have somehow surveyed all parents with cameras in these countries). Or perhaps you are basing this on some kind of "sort" re: the photos produced in labs? or was this through a focus group (or ZMET method? more about this in your other message) Regardless, I'm curious to know the methodology involved in the statments you make as being true fact... I'm not arguing with your statement, but rather just simply wondering what it was based on, so that I can understand your question better -- can you please elaborate??? Next, re: your statement that "I've tried looking in the phototherapy/sociology literature but it seems to be focused on the picture content, not on picture taking itself", I must also tell you that my own experience is very different from this re: what you say you found. First of all, the literature I'm familiar with (and as the supposed "world-expert" in this field, I'm familiar with a LOT of it!), it is my opinion that, re: the photo content, this is not re: the visual details themselves, but rather -- and moreseo! -- about what these MEAN inside the mind and heart of each viewer! There are about 300 articles on file here at the Centre, along with numerous books and book chapters (many of which are listed on the "Recommended Readings" pages of this site, and I must also tell you that my own findings from the literature shows that there are actually many articles and parts of book chapters, which DO focus on the photo-taking. One other example I think I should show you is the page of this website that deals with the five major techniques of PhotoTherapy -- particularly the one for all five (see the bottom list), at: and then, more importantly, see the page specifically for the very first technique of the five ("Photos Taken the Client") -- that is described on its own page, at: Perhaps, if finding more information about any of the above is important to you, you might want to arrange some consulting time wiht me and I will be happy to assist you further... Also I am curious why, if you are interested in marketing and public consumption habits re: photo -taking, photo-viewing, and photo-keeping behavior, that you are searching PhotoTherapy literature rather than Therapeutic Photography literature? I'm thinking that perhaps this is part of the problem in finding more about what you seek... to better grasp the differences between these two things, please see the second half of the page at: Again, I'd be happy to assist you in finding more... finally, as for: again I must admit to finding a bit of resistance raising in me in response to your rather basic generalizations above. I mean you no criticism of approach to your thinking, but.... in my field (psychology) we are taught to avoid simplistic deductions from an "outsider-observer" position (especially if doing research) and instead to focus on "participant-responsive" information gathered by the subjects, from the subjects. I guess what I'm saying here is, Even if your first and final sentences are presented as fact, I do believe there are much better alternative realities to suggest to you, and particularly re: the final dichotomy presented, I believe that both assumptions are likely faulty in their simplicity... i.e., even IF these behaviors are different, you cannot assume that you can guess their reasons without asking them to inform you re: their reasons, which might or might not be the ones you are guessing from "outside"... I also ask you to re-examine a couple of other assumptions I note in your message: first you ask in your first sentence about "taking pictures" and yet in your final one you ask about "preserving" [keeping} these. In my experience with hundreds of parents/families/clients over the past 30+ years of doing therapy I can tell you that these two things are NOT the same, nor are they generalizable across families, much less across cultures. Finally is there even such a thing as a U.S. "culture" or British "culture", when, in fact people in these countries come from so many different cultural backgrounds and other variables also impinge (such as the "youth culture" or various minorities living inside their borders)?? I guess what I am asking you, is to think more about what the photo MEANS to people and then investigate why this is so... for each potential consumer you are envisioning. I don't think the imposition of geographic filters is a successful generalization, though I will respect your desire to pursue investigating this... regards, and now on to your other message, Judy (Weiser)
on 5/18/2007, 2:57 pm, in reply to "Cultural differences in picture taking behavior"
154.5.110.39
thank you for posting your two messages to this website -- I will answer bot, so please look in both places for additional information.
First of all I am glad you have "found" us and will be happy to continue a dialogue here -- however I must admit that some of what you wrote puzzles me a bit.
http://www.phototherapy-centre.com/five_techniques.htm
http://www.phototherapy-centre.com/photos_by_client.htm
http://www.phototherapy-centre.com/comparisons.htm
Are Canadian and British parents more detached from their children and thereby do not feel a responsibility to preserve family pictures, or do pictures simply mean less to these respective cultures?....
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