~(Some of these definitions are peppered with observations derived from my experiencing of them, and hence not necessarily in accord with some of the more conventional theories that that pertain).
Actualization - a biological imperative, and the ultimate goal of all living things: to become what one is. "...The tendency to actualize (one's self) as fully as possible is the basic drive...the drive of self-actualization." Kurt Goldstein -The Organism: A Holistic Approach to Biology Derived from Pathological Data in Man. Actualization is the goal and or result of individuation (differentiation + integration of the components of one's psyche - i.e. the consciousness and the unconsciousness - and in C.G.Jung's case, the collective unconscious).
Think of a flower. First it is a seed, then a sapling, and then a flower. It has always been a flower, but until it actually blooms, it is not actually all that it is meant to be. And this is only a physical representation of the situation. Human beings have a brain, a Central Processing Unit that is also part of the equation. As we develop from seedling to sapling to the flower we are to become, we are programmed with agendas and programs that run contrary to the process of individuation. In our case, one may have to take an active role in one's actualization. Individuation is the psychological process of actualization.
Another metaphor that works for me in this regard of actualization is stew. Bouillabaisse. Beef. Vegetable. Whatever. The variations are endless. We, people, are the cauldrons in which these stews will take place, these cauldrons tabla rasa a la the food metaphor. Our circumstances, the lessons we learn, the love we receive, our day to day experiences and such, from conception on, are the ingredients of these potables. And over time, simmering slowly over the years of our growth, we become those stews, those bouillabaisses, unique, each and every one of us. Organic fractals.
Ambivalence: the coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings, such as love and hate, toward a person, object, or idea. If one is sufficiently ambivalent, one may be able to say one has a complex in that regard. Ambivalence is often at the heart of many complexes.
Catharsis: an emotional release. As far as I can tell, pure and simple. A blood letting as it were. The lanced boil, the unspoken grievance, the withheld secret, the good news. That which is in is let out. Catharsis. And with this release, resolution, resolve.
Complex: a psychological program/entity with it's own agenda. The prime complex, the ego, or as we tend to think of it, 'I, me, the individual, may or may not be aware of this agenda, or even of the complex. Complexes are possibly always at odds with the ego in some way, shape or fashion.
Differentiation: "Differentiation of self refers to one's ability to separate one's own intellectual and emotional functioning from that of the family." (Wikipedia?) Psychologically, this applies to anyone that has a significant role in one's life. The point is to separate one's own beliefs, thoughts, actions from the 'other.' This can and does happen in various stages throughout a person's life, starting at birth with differentiation of the physical. One can also exist, and many do, undifferentiated in all sorts of ways.
Empathy: Emotional understanding - the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share or experience another's feelings. A key component in inter-active relationships, and a necessary component of actualization.
Hed Cheeze - the mental activity that comes with ambivalence and inner turmoil. Generally I try to avoid things that produce my own hed cheeze. Why bother. The price is too steep.This is also akin to guilt. Feel it before and act accordingly, and there ain't no hed cheeze. Ignore it, and you got toxic guilt.
Hubot: an undifferentiated human being, one who has not actualized. Think of this as a plant that has not yet 'flowered.' .
Individuation - The short form of this, I think, is: The process of individuating (analysis + differentiation) = the event of individuating, which the moment of self actualization, when all that can be conscious is. Not sure if there is a tipping point involved here, seems, from my experience, that there is, but not quite sure.
Individuation is 1. The process of locating, defining, resolving and otherwise clearing or perhaps rationalizing (as in make rational) all of one's diverse and separate psychological parts (complexes etc), bringing them to the light of day and into the fold of consciousness. Due to the nature of our species, with our personal override on instinct and other natural* functions, we can thwart the natural tendencies of our mechanism and its drive towards actualization with faulty or conflicting information. Individuation is a made made, psychological device for clearing the erroneous programming which may be interfering with the natural tendency or drive towards actualization and taking up more of our cerebral resources than desired, or necessary. Individuation is a psychic optimizer if you will.
2. The event part of Individuation has to do with the 'moment' one becomes "individuated," or actualized. This moment akin to a tipping point. I surmise, given my experience that this occurs when there becomes more of one's psyche realized than unrealized. How much more I'm not quite sure. How does one quantify the psyche, or qualify one's subjective observations of one's own experience. I didn't come with a status bar or properties window to tell me how much ego/ ram and unconscious/hard drive capacity I was born with, or have left. In my case, the event for me was quite noticeable, as I started, literally, to be able to do things that once before I could not do, no matter how long and how hard I tried. This has made me think that I now have more raw brain power at my disposal.
Can one be actualized without individuation. Physically, I see no issue, as much as that can be isolated from the gestalt of the self, but psychologically may be another story. We have countless examples of famous, successful people who live double lives until they are exposed. Are they, or were they self actualized before they were exposed. I think not. Will they actualize upon being exposed. Depends on the individual and what they do with it. One of the characteristics of being actualized, in my experience, is that I am no longer hiding anything. 'Cept when I shoplift something, and that's just required. I keep this to a strict minimum. Don't like the isolation or the hed cheeze that comes with it.
Can we survive successfully with out individuation. Perhaps so, but much, I suspect, like the computer that has not been defragged, the unindividuated divided, conflicted, slow and sluggish as a result, compared to the defragged version. The ratio of individuates per capita is reportedly anywhere from 1-10% of the population. Is it possible that individuation is much like all else that is man made, like gardening tools, or domesticated animals? Not essential to the propagation of the species perhaps, but for the individual, possibly the difference between a life of 'quiet desperation' and a life fulfilled.
One of the functions of differentiation is that of differentiating from one's significant others. This is not necessarily the easiest thing to accomplish, and many do not achieve this end. Is it natural to remain undifferentiated, or is differentiation a process that should occur naturally?
What's 'natural' for the human species? If, as we tend to think, we are the first of our kind, self determining creatures that is, then 'natural' is an unknown.
Persona(e): facades or fronts one may present to the world. An 'interface.' A way of behaving to facilitate one's agenda in a given situation. One may or may not be aware of one's persona, believing oneself to be one's persona.
Psychopath: a term used to describe (usually) people who display a pathological disregard for others, usually in the form of extreme criminal behaviours, although the condition is widespread, the symptoms masked by less volatile vocations and more socially accepted behaviours. The condition is marked by an extreme form of lack of empathy. Unfortunately, people displaying psychopathic tendencies are usually referred to as 'psychopaths,' as though they are the behaviour. For me, a one time psychopath, empathy now a major component of my psyche, this is problematic. We don't call people with a bipolar condition, bipolaries, nor do we call people with a host of other psychological conditions by the name of their condition. We speak of them having this or that. The same needs to apply to psychopaths. This is a condition, a treatable one.
Dr Hare's List (work in progress, as applies to me pre/post-1989)
Factor 1: Personality "Aggressive narcissism"
- Glibness/superficial charm (still charming [reportedly], but losing the glibocity)
- Grandiose sense of self-worth (a characteristic of my mania, but overriding prior to 1989)
- Pathological lying ("Of, relating to, or manifesting behaviour that is habitual, maladaptive, and compulsive")
- Cunning/manipulative (as this goes to deception, not a tool in this regard anymore).
- Lack of remorse or guilt (somehow this goes to empathy. Not sure just how yet).
- Shallow affect (genuine emotion is short-lived and egocentric) this last goes to narcissistic - nb! cut off from my emotions, how else but shallow effect?)
- Callousness; lack of empathy (for such a curt entry, this is huge, and what I consider to be the key to psychopathy. Empathy, an intrinsic trait of the human condition, needs to be nurtured to thrive. Lack of nurture produces 'callous' individuals, who, not in touch with their own feelings, can hardly be expected to be in touch with or empathise with the feelings of others).
- Failure to accept responsibility for own actions (goes to the black hole where the feeling are)
- Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Poor behavioral control
- Lack of realistic long-term goals
- Impulsivity
- Irresponsibility
- Juvenile delinquency
- Early behavior problems
- Revocation of conditional release
- Promiscuous sexual behaviour
- Many short-term marital relationships
- Criminal versatility
- Acquired behavioural sociopathy/sociological conditioning (Item 21: a newly identified trait i.e. a person relying on sociological strategies and tricks to deceive)
Genflex Pronouns
i.e. Mrs., Ms., Mz.; Mz. Nanci Blu is a candidate for Sexual Reassign ment Surgery
i.e. Mrs., Ms., Mz.; Mz. Nanci Blu is a candidate for Sexual Reassign ment Surgery
he, she, ZEE, it; Zee (she/he) had an initial assessment in November
him, her, ZIR, them; For reasons unclear to zir, but apparently not pivotal, whatever that means, zir
(his/her) next and hopefully last 'assessment' is in the spring
his, hers, ZIRZ, theirs; The decision was theirs, not zirz (his/hers) to make.
(his/her) next and hopefully last 'assessment' is in the spring
his, hers, ZIRZ, theirs; The decision was theirs, not zirz (his/hers) to make.
I, me, we, us, they you
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