Subpersonality
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A subpersonality is, in humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology and ego psychology, a personality mode that activates (appears on a temporary basis) to allow a person to cope with certain types of psychosocial situations.[1] Similar to a complex,[2] the mode may include thoughts, feelings, actions, physiology and other elements of human behavior to self-present a particular mode that works to negate particular psychosocial situations.[1][3] American transpersonal philosopher Ken Wilber and English humanistic psychologist John Rowan suggested that the average person has about a dozen subpersonalities.[1]
Many schools of psychotherapy see subpersonalities as relatively enduring psychological structures or entities that influence how a person feels, perceives, behaves, and sees themselves. John Rowan, who is particularly known for his work on the nature of a subpersonality, described it as a 'semipermanent and semi-autonomous region of the personality capable of acting as a person'.[4]
Thereby, allegedly subpersonalities are able to perceive consciousness as something separate from themselves, as well as domestic image attached to these elements.[1] Ken Wilber defined subpersonalities as "functional self-presentations that navigate particular psychosocial situations".[1] For example, if a harsh critic responds with judgmental thoughts, anger, superior feelings, critical words, punitive action, and/or tense physiology when confronted with their own and/or others' fallibility, that is a subpersonality of the harsh critic kicking in to cope with the confrontation situation.[1]
Similarity with possible selves
Subpersonalities are functionally similar to possible selves, a concept used in cognitive psychology.[5]
Possible selves are defined as
In psychotherapy
Facilitating the identification and exploration of subpersonalities or possible selves is a strategy by which therapists seek to promote positive cognitive, emotional, and behavioural change in psychotherapy.[8]
Over the history of psychotherapy, many forms of therapy have worked with inner diversity generally, and representations or subpersonalities specifically.[9][10]
Early methods include
Therapeutic outcomes
Recent studies have shown that subpersonality integration in the psychosynthesis therapeutic setting can help clients relieve anxiety and rebuild their identities when dealing with culture shock,[13] enhance creativity,[14] and help to awaken personal and spiritual growth in self-identified atheists.[15]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 1-58391-068-9
- ^ Kivinen, Michael K. (November 1, 2007) Subconsciously Speaking. Coming to terms with past life regression. Volume 22; Issue 6; Page 10.
- ISBN 9780415043298.
- ^ Rowan, John (1990). Subpersonalities: the people inside us. London: Routledge.
- ^ Lester, David, ed. On multiple selves. Routledge, 2017.
- ^ Baumeister, R. F. (Ed.), The Self in Social Psychology. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Taylor & Francis, 1999.
- ^ Dunkel, C. and Kerpelman, J., Possible Selves: Theory, Research and Applications. Hauppauge, New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers, 2006.
- ^ Dunkel, C. S. and Kelts, D., Possible Selves as Mechanisms of Change in Therapy. In Dunkel, C. S. and Kerpelman, J. (Eds.), Possible Selves: Theory, Research and Applications. Hauppauge, New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers, 2006, pp187–204.
- ISBN 978-0-7914-5534-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7494-5019-9.
- ^ McNiff, S., Integrating the Arts in Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice. Springfield, IL, USA: Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 2009.
- PMID 24416685.
- S2CID 55212141.
- S2CID 148279821.
- PMID 28725087.