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Applied Perspectivism

There is a lot of suffering in life.
But the only suffering that can be avoided
is the suffering that results from trying to avoid suffering.

 —  R. D. Laing

The first-person perspective of the actor is the default. Problem-solving requires that you shift to the the third-person perspective so you can look at the problem and use your cognitive abilities to try to solve it. Whether this attempt is helpful or harmful depends upon the personality of your internal observer. Some people judge their actions from the perspective of an observer who is nasty, shame-inducing, and overly critical. It is also possible to choose a perspective that is logical, supportive, and has unconditional positive regard for you. The latter will probably serve you better than the former.

In fact, because of the correlation between self-critical ruminations [RSF] and Emotional Disorders, meditation is often recommended to help neurotics "get out of their judgmental head" and back into experiencing the here and now [in other words they are advised to shift from the third-person perspective of the critic to the first-person perspective of the actor]. An alternative strategy, and the one recommended here, is to take advantage of the third-person perspective always available within you for understanding and planning (but lose the judgmental, shame-inducing voice).

Creating a Helpful Third-Person Perspective

You can create a persona for your internal observer's perspective. This point-of-view can help you evaluate your reactions to the things that happen [see The Personal Research Tool]. The purpose of this persona is to help you get the outcomes you want, so give it attributes with that goal in mind. I've been using the puppy trainer metaphor to take into account the sensitivity and fragileness of the puppy; this metaphor is intended to promote unconditional positive regard for the psyche who will be the target of the observer's evaluation and critique. I also recommend that the observer you create is logical and aware of your core values and motives.

Thought Experiment: Try On Helpful Perspectives

Consider a situation in which you typically experience symptoms. Purposely view the situation from the perspective of a dispassionate, helpful observer [see examples below]. From this perspective how would you recommend the actor proceed?
  1. Yourself 5 years from now looking back on your current situation.
  2. Your guardian angel observing your current situation.
  3. A wise and kindly guide, teacher, or collaborator, who is accompanying you through this heroic passage.

The A2D Shift is the necessary maneuver in the exercise of will

In order to do something other than follow the path of least resistance, you have to shift from the first-person perspective of the puppy to the observer's perspective to recognize that now is the time to respond deliberately rather than continue on the sequence of external events and automatic reactions. The shift from the Associative to the Dissociative perspective [A2D Shift] allows you to rise above the here and now so you can see when the path of least resistance will take you to bad outcomes.

Often the problematic ways of reacting in high-risk situations [HRS] are so well practiced that they have become automatic. Consequently, most people are not aware they are about to self-sabotage until after the deed has been done. At that point, the A2D Shift typically occurs automatically in time to elicit remorse [the familiar "20-20 of hindsight"] but too late for the painful lesson to do any practical good. However, you can take advantage of this naturally occurring shift in perspective by using this tool to learn the lessons your internal observer can teach you.

Retrospective A2D Shift

If only you were aware of the danger when you were in a HRS, your task would be much easier. It is easier to recognize the danger in retrospect. The Retrospective Tool will help you take advantage of the "20-20 of hindsight."

As soon as you feel the regret of lapsing back to a less advantageous way of reacting, use a line on the Retrospective Tool to access the lessons available to the kindly observer within.

After using this tool a few times, you may be able to become aware of the HRS while you are still in it. If so, use the A2D Shift form to choose a mindful reaction.

Your developmental history as seen from different perspectives:

If you had abusive experiences as a child

Note regarding traumatic events: Children who were abused often feel that they were bad and deserved the abuse. However, as an adult viewing say a parent abusing a child, it is obvious that the abuser, not the child, was the bad one.  Children are bound by the laws of cause-and-effect to act as they do; children are innocent and not responsible for the things they did or that happened to them.

Take the perspective of a developmental psychologist who is interested in how this child's early experiences influenced its development. From this clinical perspective, consider your psychological history and the pathogenic beliefs and reaction patterns that were conditioned into you by your particular history. What hypotheses about your current counter-productive response tendencies might the psychologist consider?

Experiencing your symptoms from a dissociative perspective:

Thought Experiment: Rating Symptoms

How long does a panic attack last?  It seems to last forever.  Intellectually, you understand that anxiety, anger, and other subjective phenomena have finite, often brief, life-spans.  Nevertheless, to the creature you inhabit, experience is absolute and seemingly permanent.  The next time you experience a strong emotional state, see if you can rate the intensity of the discomfort [or desire for relief] on the Subjective Units of Discomfort Scale [SUDS], which ranges from 0, or no discomfort, to 100, the most intense discomfort you have experienced in your life.

When you are experiencing the discomfort from the first-person, associative perspective. See if you can shift to the dissociative perspective of the interested but dispassionate observer, and rate the SUDS from that perspective.

What do you observe?

Shift your perspective during a crisis

During this series of thought experiments you have had the chance to practice shifting from the associative perspective of the actor to the dissociative perspective of the dispassionate observer.  A useful by-product of this practice is the appreciation that your perceptions, motivations, and appraisals are temporary creations of your nervous system rather than permanent features of objective reality.  This Meta-Cognitive Awareness can be useful to you during a crisis, if only you could access it. 

Thought Experiment: Pull Up Into Adult During a Crisis

  1. Recognize opportunities to dissociate  —  for example, "I am experiencing emotional arousal. Now is the time to explore different perspectives."
  2. Purposely shift into the intended perspective  —  e.g., the dispassionate observer who has unconditional positive regard for you and wants you to act in accord with your interests and principles.
  3. Observe the current circumstance from that perspective.
  4. From this perspective how do you appraise the options available to you?
  5. Return to the associative perspective with these insights and the intention to follow your path of greatest advantage.

Perspectivism: The Solution to Shame

People often cringe when they think back on their reactions to an emotionally provocative situation. From the dispassionate observer's perspective it is foolish to be mad at or shame the self for those reactions. After all, the creature you inhabit is determined by biological, psychological, and social principles of cause-and-effect to react as it does.

Dictionary.com defines "shame" as: "The painful feeling arising from  the  consciousness of having done something dishonorable, ridiculous,  etc."

Alas, shame is more than just a feeling, it is a pathogenic phenomenon. The person does not just feel dishonorable, but is dishonorable. I don't just feel ridiculous, I am ridiculous. It is not that I did something bad, it's that I am bad.

There is no perspective-free evaluation of a person. Just as no single photograph of you represents the real you, no single perspective represents the real you. Nietzsche argues that since you cannot use validity as the basis for selecting how to appraise your worth, use utility. Choose the perspective that produces the best outcome. Allowing yourself to act as if a self-shaming perspective depicted the objective truth is not just foolish and naive, it is irresponsible.

But how can you change a perspective that is deeply ingrained? Suggestion is the name for choosing your operative perspective. "Even though I know that no perspective is valid and complete, I will act as if this perspective was true."

Will & Hypnosis

What people call hypnosis includes one or both of these related phenomena:

 

The Oppenent's Perspective > >

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