Self-mastery and self-regulation – 3
Identification, disidentification and self-identification
Psychosynthesis regards disidentification as the most effective method among those (see catharsis, critical analysis, disidentification, development of the will) that promote the creative management of bio-psychic energies. By saying this, it makes explicit and emphasises something which psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies consider obvious and spontaneous: the importance of letting go of rigid identifications and creating an inner distance between us and the various contents of which we become aware (Rosselli, 2000).
Disidentification is considered a core concept and fundamental experience in the practice of psychosynthesis. Its ultimate aim is the discovery of the “I”-Self (self-identification) in its two aspects of (self-) awareness and will.
Indeed, the whole process of moving from identification of the “I” with partial contents of consciousness, through disidentification, to self- identification, is what underpins the psychosynthetic understanding of psychological dynamics.
We may articulate the different stages of this process as follows (Alberti, 1997, pp. 133-36):
| “I” identified with a partial content | Initially we may identify our sense of self, our subjectivity, with contents such as symptoms, discomforts, aspects and characteristics that are either inauthentic or outdated, i.e. no longer serving the process of growth and evolution. | “I am this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…)” | I am an object |
| “I” disidentified | Subjectivity is gradually detached from the various contents We gain a sense of perspective (in time and space) with regard to these contents i.e. we no longer see them as infinite/permanent or totalising. Finally, we may turn our attention away from dysfunctional or outdated contents, to other more authentic, current, healthy, positive and vital parts of us. | “I am not this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…) but I have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…).”“I have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…) here and now.”“I not only have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…), but I also have many other things.” | I free myself; I emerge |
| “I” self-identified | At the same time, the experience of self-identification is also gradually deepened. | “I am me, simply myself, I am there, I am a centre of awareness and will.” | I am a subject; I am |
| “I” identified with a partial content |
| Initially we may identify our sense of self, our subjectivity, with contents such as symptoms, discomforts, aspects and characteristics that are either inauthentic or outdated, i.e. no longer serving the process of growth and evolution. |
| “I am this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…)” |
| I am an object |
| “I” disidentified |
| Subjectivity is gradually detached from the various contents We gain a sense of perspective (in time and space) with regard to these contents i.e. we no longer see them as infinite/permanent or totalising. Finally, we may turn our attention away from dysfunctional or outdated contents, to other more authentic, current, healthy, positive and vital parts of us. |
| “I am not this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…) but I have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…).”“I have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…) here and now.”“I not only have this (symptom, discomfort, appearance, characteristic…), but I also have many other things.” |
| I free myself; I emerge |
| “I” self-identified |
| At the same time, the experience of self-identification is also gradually deepened. |
| “I am me, simply myself, I am there, I am a centre of awareness and will.” |
| I am a subject, I am |
For more:
- Know, Love, Transform yourself (Vol. I) (pp. 236-237) – Buy now
- Know, Love, Transform yourself (Vol. II)– Buy now
- The Way of Psychosynthesis, Synthesis Insights (pp. 233-242) – Buy now