Responding to Situations

These investigations into THEE have revealed that its structure of Domains corresponds to a set of instinctual drives, experienced as psychosocial pressures, felt from within and without. These pressures can be resisted, but they tend to shape personal functioning one way or another.

Situations have the potential to activate any of the Domains.

The Root Domain is activated by the drive for survival, but this drive is mediated via drives in the Root Levels and Primary Domains that determine the particular endeavours (if any) that arise in relation to situations.

The two highest Domains are enabling:

  • The Willingness Domain (RL7) with its selflessness drive is needed to overcome ego-based resistances and fears intrinsic to situations and their handling.
  • The Purpose Domain (RL6) with its autonomy drive is used to direct endeavours in the context of particular situations in a way that satisfies the ego.

That leaves 5 Domain Drives that deal more directly with situations.

The top 2 Domains provide respectively a social and personal way to address the situation.

  • At the top, the Communication Domain (RL5) with its understanding drive interprets the situation as delivering a message using communally recognized stimuli, signs, symbols and more (cf. PH5) that are the basis for forming an enduring group (cf. PsH5K). The methods for using language lead to creation of a shared reality within the group and the formation of opinions about any situation (PH'5CsHG1).
  • Just below, the Experience Domain (RL4) with its well-being drive can enable each person to use sensations, images, ideas, intuitions and more to develop an authentic perspective on the situation (PH4K) and become motivated to address it (PsH4K).

The bottom 2 domains provide for direct engagement with the situation.

  • At the base: the Action Domain (RL1) with its performance drive is the final common pathway for dealing with situations. However, any particular decision deals with an issue within the situation, not the situation as a whole.
  • Just above, the Inquiry Domain (RL2) with its certainty drive seeks rigorous analysis (PH2K) and the scientific study (PsH2K) of situations, by using conjectures (PH'2C) and reaching conclusions (PH'2Q). Again, any particular inquiry deals with a topic within the situation, not the situation as a whole.

The Change Domain (RL3), driven by a pressure for acceptability, mediates between addressing the social (RL5)and personal (RL4) constructions of the situation, and engaging with the actual situation by shaping judgements (RL2) and choices (RL1).

Originally posted: 30-Oct-2024.