The New Way Forward

Reorienting Ch.7 "Working with Values"

The matrix-table provided in the previous Topic is new. So, those familiar with Ch.7 will need to reorient their thinking. My original account needed some restructuring and modification for the following reasons:

• formulations lacked awareness of the encompassing Taxonomy;
• insufficient structural corroboration led to inconsistency and incoherence;
• understanding of the function of Principal Typologies and Spirals was limited;
• the psychotherapeutic perspective was over-used.

Even allowing for reformulations offered in the summaries, the bulk of the propositions presented in Ch.7 remain broadly correct. However, in retrospect, I regard some of these as too imprecise, clumsy or confusing, and therefore hard to apply. To enable comparisons, extracts from Ch.7 will be provided in the following two Topics.

■ Download the complete Ch.7 here.

A New Name for a New Understanding

The present general understanding of Principal Typologies has led to the earlier name of "Identity Development" being changed to Mental Stabilization or more simply: Stabilization. Review experiential fluidity.

Other alternative names have been considered: More ►

"Self Stabilization" is unsatisfactory because not all Types give attention to constructing a "self" entity. "Sense-of-Self Stabilization" would be better, but it is wordy. "Self Control" is even more unsuitable because it commonly refers to direct impulse control rather than indirect contextual control. "Mind Control" is also unsatisfactory because it suggests brainwashing or an inability to think flexibly. "Personal identity" is unsatisfactory because the common associations to this phrase do not fit the accounts to be provided. In any case, all taxonomic Types have the capacity to be felt deeply and personally, and all relate to personal identity as commonly understood.

The various methods for mental stabilization do naturally lead to the development of an identity (from which the "self" notion arises). But this is just like all other taxonomic Typologies. The crucial difference here is that everyone must give serious attention to this sphere of human functioning, while not everyone must be concerned about, say, a method for research-PH'2, or a method for depicting-PH3.

As a result, these methods are existential in nature. Methods in other Typologies might well be labelled differently, e.g. occupational, scientific, ethical &c. The PH'4-Types/Methods are therefore frequently referred to as «existences», e.g. Transpersonal Existence or with the Ch.7 term, "Being".

Old Names for Types Remain: The PH'4-Types all retain their original names with «method/approach» or «existence» or «being» tacked on.

New Function

Taxonomic fundamentals are now viewed primarily as processes which have psychosocial functions. The function here is not to "develop identity" as the earlier psychotherapeutic perspective suggested. It may do that, but the primary function is now proposed to be about ensuring our minds are generally steady enough to get through each day. Getting through the day requires using personal experiences to deal effectively with multiple endeavours simultaneously.

In order to clarify and distinguish the 7 methods, the preoccupation of each was teased out: see Col. 3 in the Matrix accessible below. This continuing preoccupation serves as the (new) orienting perspective for formulating each method.

For each method, it seems possible to identify a distinctive:

• Core Stabilizer
whose nature derives from the corresponding Primary Hierarchy Level.

• Personal Commitment
which requires significant effort and determination to be handled well.

• Psychosocial Emphasis
which brings to the fore the distinctiveness of each method.

• Sustaining Processes
which are essential for continued effective use of the method.

See the Summary Matrix again ►

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• See the reformulated L'1-Sensory method.
• See comments on other methods: PH'4L2-L7.
• Review the expected dualities: oscillating and unfolding.
• Go directly to the TET analysis.

Originally posted: 10-Nov-2014. Last Updated: 11-Dec-2014