THE PSYCHOGRAPH AS A TOOL FOR GROWTH
Research has shown that there are many developmental lines – emotional, cognitive, and spiritual, etc. (represented on the horizontal line of the psychograph). These lines grow in complexity as consciousness increases. Consciousness grows by giving up the egocentric position, opening to experience, enlarging perspective, and becoming non-attached to form.
The lines of development grow independently. There can be a disparity between the lines of development. For example, one can have a high level of cognitive development but be emotionally closed and immature.
As consciousness becomes more inclusive, the level becomes more complex (represented on the vertical line of the psychograph). The Impulsive Self is centered on pleasure/pain and reward/punishment. The Opportunistic Self plays a role and follows the rules to attain a specific reward rather than just avoid punishment. The Socialized Self can include the wants and needs of others, the social contract is introjected. The Realizing Self is differentiated, integrated, and unified.
Moral development is empathic and universal and is based on internally derived values.
Often the self is spread out on the vertical axis also. Parts of self are stuck in the lower levels of development and can be triggered by current circumstance. We behave in ways that we could not have predicted and seem contrary to the image we have of our self.
Mark each box in the psychograph that applies: For example, in the moral line of development, there may be parts of self at all four levels of development.
Spiritual line - what is the highest meaning and purpose of my life?
Intrapersonal line - how well do I know myself?
Cognitive line - what am I aware of?
Self-expression - how well can I express my needs, values, and creativity?
Emotional line - how well do I know and express my emotions?
Self-identity line - who am I?
Moral line - what is right?
Psychosexual line - can I be intimate with others?
Interpersonal line - do I interact well with others?
Needs line - what do I need?
Values line - what is important to me?
The completed psychograph can be used to bring awareness to those parts of self we intend to develop. It can also be used to facilitate integration of all aspects of self.
The psychograph is a tool for growth. Periodic re-evaluation using the psychograph can demonstrate the integration, and unification of consciousness made possible by attention and intention.
Research has shown that there are many developmental lines – emotional, cognitive, and spiritual, etc. (represented on the horizontal line of the psychograph). These lines grow in complexity as consciousness increases. Consciousness grows by giving up the egocentric position, opening to experience, enlarging perspective, and becoming non-attached to form.
The lines of development grow independently. There can be a disparity between the lines of development. For example, one can have a high level of cognitive development but be emotionally closed and immature.
As consciousness becomes more inclusive, the level becomes more complex (represented on the vertical line of the psychograph). The Impulsive Self is centered on pleasure/pain and reward/punishment. The Opportunistic Self plays a role and follows the rules to attain a specific reward rather than just avoid punishment. The Socialized Self can include the wants and needs of others, the social contract is introjected. The Realizing Self is differentiated, integrated, and unified.
Moral development is empathic and universal and is based on internally derived values.
Often the self is spread out on the vertical axis also. Parts of self are stuck in the lower levels of development and can be triggered by current circumstance. We behave in ways that we could not have predicted and seem contrary to the image we have of our self.
Mark each box in the psychograph that applies: For example, in the moral line of development, there may be parts of self at all four levels of development.
Spiritual line - what is the highest meaning and purpose of my life?
Intrapersonal line - how well do I know myself?
Cognitive line - what am I aware of?
Self-expression - how well can I express my needs, values, and creativity?
Emotional line - how well do I know and express my emotions?
Self-identity line - who am I?
Moral line - what is right?
Psychosexual line - can I be intimate with others?
Interpersonal line - do I interact well with others?
Needs line - what do I need?
Values line - what is important to me?
The completed psychograph can be used to bring awareness to those parts of self we intend to develop. It can also be used to facilitate integration of all aspects of self.
The psychograph is a tool for growth. Periodic re-evaluation using the psychograph can demonstrate the integration, and unification of consciousness made possible by attention and intention.
Click on the graph below for a larger view.
3 comments:
I'd be very cautious here. Some of these claims are very speculative. In our forthcoming book, Integral Psychotherapy, David Zeitler and I have summarized the research on both the weaknesses of the idea of "developmental lines" and the cost and work it would take to create a valid and reliable psychograph. There is no such thing at this point other than speculative or philosophical sorts.To have a real psychograph you first need research to determine if stages in a hypothesized line (like ego) actually fall out in an invariant fashion. Next you need the develop valid and reliable measures of each line. finally you have to study giving all these measures together in a battery. None of this has been done if the research databases (PsychInfo and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences) are up to date.
Elliott Ingersoll
www.elliottingersoll.com
I want to second Elliot's note of caution here. From an Integral point of view, though we have a great deal of intuitive speculation, we know very little about HOW people change. Supporting people in the use of ILP and documenting its effects is a worthy endeavor, but we need to be very careful not to cast in stone theoretical ideas that thusfar have little research support.
Janet Lewis
janetlewis@medscape.com
I agree with both Elliott and Janet that the psychograph is a
speculative instrument. I intend it only as a tool that helps to include all aspects of self. Hopeful it will help to emphasize an integral approach to psychological development.
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