Centres for Clarification to Fit In

To create the Spiral-derived Tree-PH'3CHK, modes are first treated as levels, and then their essences are considered in terms of practical activities. The activity in this case is clarifying for yourself and then offering an account of a situation to others.

In this process, the dynamic duality will come into play and we must determine whether the mode essence is primarily determined by personal pressures or by communal pressures, or by a fusion of those two poles of the duality. The analysis will proceed level by level starting from below.

Causal Foundation: CL1

Saying nothing, accepting explanations accepted by your group, and offering explanations known to be acceptable appear to be the foundation for fitting in to your relevant group. Any explanation must be simultaneously meaningful for the person as well as being socially satisfactory to create the “satisfying” quality. If the communal explanation is referred to as “what they would say”, then the person is distancing themselves and is on the path to self-exclusion or being rejected. Holding an explanation that is satisfying for me but alien to the wider community, becomes an impediment to fitting in.

So, in the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre: CL1B.

We will label CL1B: Satisfying Explanations

 

Structural Control: CL2

Any comprehensive model of a situation that an individual generates must be useful and meaningful for others or it is not much use. When a framework gets informal social approval, is it shareable. Anyone who does not master or use or refer to this structured model in the same way as those around him will clarify and conclude things differently to others. Arguments will develop and such individuals will not fit in. So it seems that the two poles must be fused in practice.

So, in the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre: CL2B.

We will label CL2B: A Shared Framework

 

Dualistic Tensions: CL3

Tensions exist in all situations based on divisions of interests and differing values of those involved. Strong disagreements and persistent disputes are concerning and appear in media reports and part of general conversation. Individuals would not feel it necessary to dissent from these rather superficial observations, nor would agreement to the presence of tensions be any sort of personal commitment.

Individuals who have studied the history of tensions in this and related situations are likely to identify and emphasize an underlying polarization. While others may not wish to see that division or may not fully comprehend its intensity, such ignorance or disagreement would not prevent an individual affirming the polarization.

This means that this level in the Tree will generate two polarized but connected Centres: L3P and L3S.

We will label L3P: Underlying Polarities
and label L3S: Concern for Tensions

Tensions can erupt and recede as times change, while any underlying conceptual or ideological polarization is an enduring feature of the situation. So the L3P Centre is dominant and placed on the right side of the Tree.

ClosedThe CL3 Linking Channel

Each person as a member of a wider community naturally becomes aware of tensions in a situation. Because polarizations are often intractable, bringing them to awareness can feel demoralizing for the group even while they seem clarifying to particular individuals.

A person must choose to penetrate surface tensions to clarify the underlying polarities that endure and periodically erupt in two-sided disputes. By interpreting evident social tensions in terms of the polarities, a person's view can harmonize with that of the group. By interpreting the polarities in terms of the tensions, an individual integrates personal views with that of the group.

So there is a channel here affecting fitting in.

L3P ↔ L3S is provisionally labeled Interpretation

Dynamic Evolution: CL4

Based on an analysis of interactions and the historical evolution of the situation, a narrative is constructed. The aim is to create a sense of realism so as to shape the way people think. There may be factions competing for support who seek to exploit the power of a credible narrative, but one narrative wins out in the end.

Each person wants to hold a narrative in mind and will do so in a way that accords with their perceptions and makes good sense. Such a personal narrative with its emergent scenarios cannot coexist in practice with a completely different narrative held in the wider community. Only an outsider insists on a narrative that diverges from the community position. That means the same narrative will be accepted by group members and by the group as a whole.

So, in the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre: L4B.

We will label L4B: The Dominant Narrative

 

Atomistic Mind-Sets: CL5

Every one responds to situations and any given narratives in terms of their current way of thinking, which can be called an outlook or mind-set. Mind-sets are characteristic of both individuals and communities.

For an individual, assimilation of the narrative leads to a unique personal understanding of the situation which tends to harden in to a conviction. The community has no direct control over this and no-one seeks their permission. However, any community or wider society, has ways of thinking about things that are generally recognized. Popular mindsets affect interpretations of relevant events and everyone needs to be aware of the current way that people think as a matter of tact and good manners.

This means that this level in the Tree will generate two polarized but connected Centres: L5P and L5S.

We will label L5P: Personal Convictions
and label L5S: Prevailing Mindset

The prevailing mindset, being more predictable, enduring and general, unites people and can shape or even over-shadow any person's particular conviction. So the L5S Centre is dominant and placed on the right side of the Tree

ClosedThe CL5 Linking Channel

A person becomes aware of the prevailing mindset and communal beliefs that govern particular situations, and is likely to share them at least in part. The group's mindset shapes what is thinkable. It determines what can be said and viewed as sensible and inoffensive in the group setting.

However, and quite independently, a person will look at situations and explanations, filtering what is seen and learned through their own past experiences and knowledge to reach their own convictions. In order to fit in to the group, it is evident that these personal convictions and the popular mindset must align or at least not conflict excessively.

So there is a channel here affecting fitting in.

L5S ↔ L5P is provisionally labeled Alignment

Unitary Standards: CL6

Any form of clarification must conform to well-established and systematically applied standards of evidence, reasoning or other established rules. Otherwise the explanation will be doubted and even deemed invalid. Again two types of standard can be identified.

On the one hand, there are socio-cultural standards that are long-standing prescriptions, conventions, tenets, theories or paradigms. These require conformity from all in the group, and are not owned or controlled by anyone. On the other hand, an individual can complement these requirements by applying certain theories, principles and heuristics found to be personally useful. Neither sort of standard necessarily countermands the other, and both exist simultaneously.

This means that this level in the Tree will generate two polarized but connected Centres: L6P and L6S.

We will label L6P: Personal Principles
and label L6S: Socio-cultural Standards

Socio-cultural standards demand absolute conformity and are self-evidently more influential than principles to which a person elects to conform. So the L6S Centre is dominant and placed on the right side of the Tree.

ClosedThe CL6 Linking Channel

All community members are expected to identify with socio-cultural axiomatic standards for appraising and accepting explanations. At the same time, and quite separately, it is understood that each person is likely to possess principles based on their own experiences and beliefs and will use them to judge any explanation or narrative.

People are expected to uphold their own principles because these cannot be alien to the communal standards. The development and application of personal principles will be influenced by socio-cultural paradigms, and will have emerged in part from them. Each Centre emphasizes the importance of the other.

So there is a channel here affecting fitting in.

L6S ↔ L6P is provisionally labeled Emphasis

Unified Adaptation: CL7

Context-based adjustments are made to any account that is provided if it has to be applied. The group has to adjust in order to adapt and resolve how the situation should be handled. Each person in the group must make that same adjustment and adaptation in order to belong.

While a person on their own might well make changes to fit their particular context, this is simply a group of one. In other words, there cannot be both an individual adjustment and a different group adjustment for the same context because this would generate confusion and conflict rather than lead to a meaningful resolution.

So, in the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre: L7B.

We will label L7B: Context-based Adaptations

 

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  • Having identified the 10 Centres in the 7 levels and the integration of the bipolar Centres at L3, L5 and L6 (as shown at right), the next step is to specify channels of influence between the Centres.

    There are several ways to proceed. For this investigation, the focus will commence with:

    ► Channels to and from the two Centres that appear to be at the heart of any social consensus and essential for fitting in.

    All channels feeding into a Shared Framework (CL2B)
    All channels feeding into the Dominant Narrative (CL4B)

    ►Then, the two peripheral channels, left-sided and right sided, moving from Context-based Adaptations (CL7B) at the top down to Satisfying Explanations (CL1B) at the bottom.

    ► Finally the inappropriateness of additional direct links are checked here.

  • Jump ahead and see the completed Tree wth all channels named.


Originally posted: 10-May-2025