Determinants of Individuality PH'4CHK

Note: Details of Spirals and their Trees are or will be worked out in the Frameworks sections of this website. This topic is focused on the architecture and specifically on the contribution of psychosocial pressures to meeting our Primal Needs.

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Reaching this Point

Here is a summary of material that has been developed and explained in earlier Topics in this section and elsewhere. It is the basis for appreciating the Tree framework shown below.

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Summary of the PH'4 Control Diagram

The Experience Root Level-4 emanates the Primary Hierarchy of Experience-PH4, which is the foundation for individuality, its Primal Need.
The PH4-L6 element is Identification, and its dynamic form is proposed as Integrate Identifications.
The critical factor in optimizing experience-RL4 is the desire for well-being by the entity, person or group.
Identifications are integrated optimally by using one or other of the mental stabilization methods-PH'4.
Individuality depends on awareness of a self and on the maturity of that sense. This is based on modes for individualizing derived from the stabilization methods-PH'1.
Alternative:

A self, the Primal Means for individuality, can develop and mature through progressively incorporating modes for maturing via the TET Spiral.
The 4 Cycle-1modes are values for Experience-RL4. However, the 3 Cycle-2 modes, despite emerging from Experience-RL4 and its mental stabilization methods-PH'4, have values primarily serving Communication-RL5. This is because maturation involves self-adjustment and requires thought, guidance and encouragement. Understanding is needed on both sides.
As a result, the Emergent Tree, Determinants of Identity, reveals that Communication-RL5 enables and constrains Experience-RL4.

A Sense of Self for «Individuality»

It is proposed that an inherent biology-based rationale for experience-RL4 is individuality. Although this most obviously applies to a person, it likely also can be extended and adapted to any human system where well-being pressures come into play and the notion of identity, growth and development is meaningful, like a family an organization or a community.

The Primal Means for individuality is a sense of self. A self implies an inner continuity, coherence and integration of experience that allows for stability and the experience of sameness.

The sense of self develops and strengthens as it adjusts to inner and outer realities via modes of maturation that are derived from all of the mental stabilization methods. The foundation of individuality can be found in having experiences that create well-being. But developing a self during maturation is enabled and constrained by guidance and encouragement from respected intimates, typically parents, friends and mentors. Their contribution depends on understanding, so that what is offered is appropriate and can be assimilated and responded to.

No single stabilization method guarantees that individuality will deliver the desired well-being, nor does any self-state. Nothing guarantees well-being: there are too many vagaries in life.

The more modes/methods that are included, the stronger sense of self can be, but incorporating modes takes time and follows a necessary order as explained in the Spiral framework.

Regardless of the benefit generated by enabling a sense of self, individuality will always be determined by the way mode essences (Tree centres) are used.

The inexorable passage of time and use of resources is represented in the Tree framework by its base in the Primal Nexus. Here, performance pressure orients the sense of self (KL1) and performance pressure is also evident in generating a sense of self (CL1).

The unavoidable deficiency in well-being associated with any individuality raises concerns about how others in a person's circle, network and community relate. That is why the sense of self, once the Nexus is secure, moves its orientation from experience-RL4 to communication-RL5, which is driven by understanding.

In the Tree, the interaction of actualization and transcendence is dramatic.

Given attention to the Primal Nexus, the lower part involving RL4-Experience requires:

use of actualizing pressures—in orienting input to a sense of self
i.e. KL2-certainty (from group membership), KL3-acceptability (in self-presentation), KL4-well-being (in gaining recognition);

but
use of transcending pressures—in producing the sense of self output that brings research under control
i.e. CL2-selflessness (in contributing to groups), CL3-understanding (in ensuring social support), CL4-autonomy (in choosing ways to be recognized).

while the upper part involving RL3-Change requires:

use of transcending pressures—in orienting input to the sense of self so as to enhance understanding.
i.e. KL5-understanding (of social activities), KL6-autonomy (in regard to maintenance of convictions), KL7-selflessness (in pursuing relationships);

but
use of actualizing pressures—in producing the sense of self so that it enables and constrains lower levels in a way that generates understanding
i.e. CL5-certainty (in performance of social activities), CL6-well-being (in the use of principles), CL7-acceptability (in creating and maintaining close relationships).

This framework has implications for psychotherapies, social work and social planning.

Now consider Determinants of Association (PH'5CK).

Initially posted: 15-Jan-2023