The Psychosocial Field

Background

There is a special function within PH'4L6-identification that is concerned with stabilizing the natural fluidity of our inner experiences.

This function is handled by using one or more of the 7 Mental Stabilization systems. Each of these is a distinct method or approach that presents as a mentality or mind-set.

At least one method, and usually two, are needed to ensure the everyday background of self-control that allows us to effectively handle the multiplicity of endeavours that make up our existence.

While we benefit from valuing the other methods, we do not identify with them wholly. So we are not only unwilling to use them, but we may even actively reject or attack one or two as seriously misguided. This unfortunate attitude, typical of Principal Typologies, is a property of value-systems (cf. decision-making methods).

Social Life

Endeavours always occur in a social setting.

We are involved in a multiplicity of endeavours: in relation to work, at home, in various relationships, in leisure activities, and so on. Taken together this is our social life, the field within which mental stabilization is required.

In my social life, there are two constant and irremovable sources of destabilization: myself and my environment, especially others. But whatever the cause of stress, destabilization is always mediated by my mental response.
More:

Physical events may harm my endeavours without being at all mentally destabilizing. My balance depends wholly on how I respond to the event. The same event (e.g. a car accident) may disrupt one person and not another. The same event (e.g. a financial loss) may disrupt me today but not tomorrow. Something similar applies to upsetting actions or attitudes of others. As Stoic philosophers like Epictetus emphasized, it is my mental response that counts.

The TET, via its two Axes, must enable focus on these two sources of stress within social life. Remember that in a TET:

	■ X-axis =	the desired objective output or result
	■ Y-axis =	the personal requirement for producing the output

The Objective Output

Because the field is social life, the desired result must be to ensure that others in my environment are properly handled. This is an objective output because others can witness the effect and share observations.

In plotting the methods for mental stabilization, we will therefore consider the degree to which each requires a focus on handling others.

X-Axis = Handling Others

The Personal Requirement

My inner experiences are potentially subject to turbulence due to external events, inner phantoms and the behaviour of others. Nevertheless, I have to use my mind to handle social situations and others. The personal requirement is, therefore, to handle my inner experiential state, most of which is kept private.

Y Axis = Handling Mental States

These two formulations for the X and Y axes generate the initial TET image as shown.

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• Now commence plotting the methods.

• An alternative labeling of the X-axis is considered in the Review section.

Originally posted: 10-Oct-2014. Last updated: 16-Dec-2014.