Sensory Existence-L'1: Reformulation

Superscripts refer to Notes provided in the book, but not reproduced here. Note that formulae are represented slightly differently. Italics in the text are shown in maroon italic here.

At the most concrete identity level, experiential primacy is assigned to sensations (L-I); and, as a result, the dominant reality is sensory. Identity as a sensory being means that one is embedded in a material world, that is to say, in the physical environment. Identity here is organized around physical sensations like colour, shape, warmth, touch, sound and smell. The identity drive is to reach and maintain a state of internal equilibrium. The essential supplies which sustain the self are stimuli. Maintaining equilibrium and a sense of stability involves the regulation of inner tensions generated by impinging stimuli, whether in the form of sensations, images, emotions or ideas.

Satisfaction for a sensory being involves physical (i.e. sensory) contact — like touching and being touched, making and hearing sounds, looking and being looked at. Attractive things and animal pets can be particularly gratifying. Satisfaction is most likely if stimulation is varied and interesting. But even painful stimuli are better than nothing. As stimulating contact intensifies, excitement develops until over-stimulation becomes painful and disabling. The other typical threats to well-being are neglect and boredom. Self-expression depends on maintaining a state of (sensory) awareness and generating arousal in oneself and others. Arousal informs others who are expected to be aware. Making a noise or wearing a particular hat, for example, may be a statement about oneself. To function well in this system is to be integrated and able to tolerate stimulating input: colloquially referred to as feeling together. Dysfunction is about feeling over-whelmed and unable to handle more stimuli. Further deterioration leads to disintegration. Psychological dysfunction is signalled by the sensation of pain — like a headache, cramp, sore eye, or skin irritation — which is meaningful in the context of the person’s current life-stresses.

There is an identity disorder associated with an inability to attribute meaning or feeling to body states which has been called ‘psychosomatic personality’. Such people seem to be fixed in sensory being, cannot properly use image to develop themselves, and lack access to higher level identity development.⁴

Adherence to fashions, addiction to television, down-market tabloid newspapers, rituals of dining, desires for colour, enjoyment of wines, use of make-up and perfume, muzak, desultory conversation — all these testify to the importance of stimulation and sensory being in interpersonal relations and communal life. Many vocations, like cooking, entertaining, furniture design, decorating, handicrafts, fashion modelling depend on sensory sensitivity, stimulating others and generating coherent interesting patterns. Not surprisingly, sensory psychotherapies are popular. They include: therapeutic massage, aromatherapy (massage with aromatic oils), flotation therapy (in a tank of salt water), and reflexology (massage of the sole of the foot in places claimed to map on to the rest of the body). It is just possible that acupuncture works in this way.

Sensory being potentially promotes a materialistic orientation to life. At times, it gives the impression of being depersonalized — much like the criticism that was levelled at the rationalist approach to ethical choice. A link with the rationalist aspiration — to find solutions — comes from the stimulating and disturbing nature of problems. Their removal reduces tension and so supports the identity drive of sensory being. Those institutions, like etiquette and ceremony, which exist to support sensory being, also have an impersonal and surface quality.

The duality faced in sensory being is receptivity (or passivity) and activity. Sensory being is at core a state of passive receptivity, while tension regulation demands a degree of activity. Activity is essential to stimulate others and to optimize the quantity and quality of stimulation received: that is to say, it is growth-promoting.

Psychologists still argue whether sensation is a matter of passive direct reception or is generated by an active process in the brain, often concluding that sensation is ultimately part of the mystery of consciousness. Certainly, without some minimal activity, habituation occurs and sensation ceases. But complete absence of sensation is impossible: in sensory deprivation experiments auto-stimulation is provided by hallucinations.⁵

At the next level, the outer-directedness and diffusion of sensory being give way to an internal and well-defined identity based on bodily functions.