Review the Depiction Paradigms

Focus

A person's handling of change is a function of how the situation is depicted, and the depiction paradigms have a powerful effect on this process. Korzybski's phrase "the map is not the territory" most obviously belongs here. In practice, the depiction maps are commonly treated as the territory.

REMEMBER: Perhaps paradoxically, the depiction paradigms do not depict change. Each paradigm depicts the situation and the result of that depiction then indicates whether or not change to the situation is required, what sort and degree of change, where and how it will be applied, and so on.

So, the present focus for changing situations is not on the technical-material-scientific aspect where substitution of persons is irrelevant. Rather, it is on the experiential-personal-social dimension where what matters is who is involved, how they feel, and the views of affected others. It turns out that all these factors are determined by the depiction paradigm selected or unthinkingly used.

While the physical environment is always a factor in change, the most relevant and challenging environment is commonly a group of some sort or wider society.
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Recapitulation

The following two Tables summarize the essential features of the various paradigms. Note that the ordering used is the natural order rather than the taxonomic order because that makes for interesting transitions and eases reading the columns.

Table 1: The depiction paradigms from simplest to most complex.

PH'#	Paradigm	Depiction	Ordering Principle	Effect of Imposed Pressure	Components	Change Preference
L'5	Unified	Compound system of dynamic systems including the environment all interacting dynamically.	Co-evolve with the context	Complex oneness or holistic integration allows co-evolution.	Unique irreplaceable individuals.	Continuous organic growth co-evolving with environment.
L'2	Atomistic	A discrete independent bounded compound system surrounded by similar entities.	Respect boundaries	Separation to maintain an independent response.	Private and used for autonomous and responsible choices.	Independent self-motivated re-positioning.
L'1	Dynamic	Bounded compound system of non-systemic components with dynamic evolving interactions.	Recognize feedback	Self-modulation via feedback loops amongst always interacting components.	Members of a group or community.	Directed evolution.
L'6	Structural	Bounded and compound with a fixed internal structure determining functioning and hence identity.	Determine order	Re-configuration of components, flows and relationships into a consistent framework.	Member of a category or with a role.	Re-organisation.
L'3	Causal	An unbounded multiplicity of components (factors) with some distinct causal connections.	Require predictability	Time-based explanations based on causation between selected components.	Effective and collateral agents.	Prediction-controlled manipulation.
L'4	Dualistic	An opposing duality in the midst of variety.	Expect polarization	Dichotomization of forces or categories in permanent opposition.	Exist on or identify with one side or the other.	Maintenance of status quo unless own-side wins.
L'7	Unitary	An undifferentiated whole.	Impose indivisibility	Reaction to maintain indivisibility and homogeneity.	Undefined and so inter-changeable and replaceable.	Expansion or contraction

In looking at the depiction paradigms, we have identified a critical duality between:

► depiction that is about enforcing domination, looking outward, and exerting power,
and
► depiction that is about looking inward, expecting system evolution and requiring comprehensiveness.

This has enabled differentiation in accord with

orientations to complexity and control
where change should occur
how change should be delivered
the form of thinking employed
the relative influence of the self and group on identity
the auspices under which depictions occur
who drives change: the role of leaders and followers

Table 2: Properties of the depiction paradigms and the application to personal change. Click on column headers to go to the relevant webpage for details.

PH'#	Paradigm	Leadership	Delivering Change Action or Ideas	Locus of Change Self v Environment	Thinking Styles Handling Errors	Auspices	Personal Change
L'5	Unified	Visionary	Action is theory-based with an ethical dimension.	Internal focus. Integral part of the environment.	Systems: Complex Continuous adjustment and preventive measures	Personal	Therapeutic communities
L'2	Atomistic	Self-directed	Action is autonomous. Thinking is idiosyncratic	Internal focus. Distanced from the environment	Directed: Idiosyncratic Learning from failure	Personal	Rational-emotive therapy
L'1	Dynamic	Natural	Action is ideas-based via agreed plans.	Internal focus. Symbiosis with the environment.	Systems: Basic/Standard Continuous adjustment and preventive measures.	Social	Psychodynamic therapies
L'6	Structural	Formal	Action is regulated. Information is shared.	Internal focus. Dependence on the environment	Directed: Mechanistic Learning from failure.	Social	Supportive therapies
L'3	Causal	Specialist	Action is valued. Ideas check and guide action.	External focus. Take advantage of the environment	Rationalized: Few factor: populist Multifactorial: professionalized. Mistakes are consensual and in the past.	Few factor: Social Multifactorial: Personal.	Behavior therapies
L'4	Dualistic	Representative	Action is favored. Thinking is viewed sceptically.	External focus. Exploit the environment.	Simplistic: to persuade Denial of mistakes	Social	Group therapy
L'7	Unitary	Dictatorial	Action is primary. Thinking is via indoctrination	External focus. Coerces the environment to serve.	Simplistic: to control Denial of mistakes	Personal	Total dependency therapies

Depiction Pre-empts Knowing

Science is preoccupied with the generation of knowledge that is as certain as possible. It is an expression or product of the Inquiry Domain RL2. However, science is built upon relations (PH2L5) and does not inform us of the nature of things i.e. it has no access to the essential reality that exists prior to and independent of human attention.

As human beings, we are preoccupied with the nature of things. That nature, as it presents itself to us, is precisely what we want to change. We can use scientific knowledge as it becomes more applicable, but we cannot wait for science. The depiction paradigms give us a handle on making change possible regardless of knowledge. Not surprisingly, as this investigation has revealed, each paradigm comes with considerable baggage.

These paradigms have been discovered—and you can confirm them—by simple observation of the social world. While there may be some errors and perhaps even surprises, nothing in these observations is new.

So the depiction paradigms are not the product of science. Instead, they are tools of science, and also other human activities intrinsic to personal functioning. Without these paradigms it would be impossible to do much of anything because we would be overwhelmed and in a state of utter confusion caused by the deep impenetrability and endless complexity of essential reality.

We could go further and say all change is built upon adaptation (PH3L5) because the environment seems to have the final say as to what is and what is not possible. This even applies to the Unified paradigm which includes the environment in the model.

Archimedes' cry to "give me a place to stand and I will move the world" begs for independence from the environment. But for unified models, like THEE there is no place to stand outside the world.

As part of confirming the validity of the Typology and its taxonomic ordering

check for an oscillating duality
check for an unfolding duality

Additional analyses:

Finally:

reflect on an omission in the literature.

Originally posted: 30-Jun-2024. Last updated: 20-Jul-2025.