Psych & Spirit Final Exam

Stage I: Intuitive-Projective Faith (Fowler)

Ages 2-7.
A child observes adult behavior/faith and absorbs that behavior into their psyche.
Transition: The emergence of concrete-operational thinking

Stage II: Mythic-Literal Faith (Fowler)

Ages 6-12.
Symbols and myths are taken as one-dimensional and literal. Begins to take on for themselves the stories, beliefs, observances that symbolize belonging to their community.
Transition: Implicit clash/contradiction in stories that leads to reflection on meanings

Stage III: Synthetic-Conventional Faith (Fowler)

Adolescence
World expands and must provide a coherent explanation. 'Conformist' stage - tuned to expectations and judgements of significant others. Not yet been occasion to step outside to reflect/examine them systematically.
Transition: Serious clash/contradiction between valued authorities. Or, marked change by officially sanctioned leaders. Critical experiences/perspectives that lead to critical reflection.

Stage IV: Individuative-Reflective Faith (Fowler)

Late adolescence-early adult
Begins to take seriously the burden of responsibility for commitments, lifestyle, beliefs, attitudes, faith.
Unavoidable tensions: individuality vs. group identity, subjectivity vs. objectivity
Development of a worldview, second narcissism
Transition: listening to inner voices, reflecting need for change, recognition that life is more complex.

Stage V: Conjunctive Faith (Fowler)

Unusual before mid-life.
Opening to the voices of the deeper self, critical recognition of one's social unconscious: myths, ideals, images and prejudices built deeply into the self-system. New reclaiming and reworking of one's past. Alive to paradox and the truth in apparent contradictions.
Transition: Appreciates symbols, myths, rituals because they have been grasped. Appreciation/possibility of an inclusive community. In some few cases, radical actualization (Stage VI)

Stage VI: Universalizing Faith (Fowler)

Very rare, usually middle-aged +
Heedlessness to self-preservation. May have an idea that threatens a group so as to raise their chronic anxiety. Devotion to universalizing compassion that may offend our perceptions of justice. Frequently become martyrs. The self engages in spending and being spent for the transformation of the present order.

Stage 0: Unidfferentiated Faith (Fowler)

Ages 0-2. Primal, undifferentiated faith. Trust versus mistrust; characterized by relationships with caregivers and the outside environment.

Differentiation of Self

Sense of individualism, emotionally separate from family of origin.
0-25: Major symptoms of dysfunction
25-40: Adequate
40-70: High functioning
70+: Ideal (?)

Low Differentiation

High chronic anxiety, usually dependent on the group to function. Makes decisions based on emotional reactions.

High Differentiation

Lower chronic anxiety, better symptom management, less group-dependent. Makes decisions based on thoughtful principles.

Positions in Triangles

Inside position, Outside position, Anxiety generator, Anxiety amplifier, Anxiety dampener.

Interlocking Triangles

A stable/unstable twosome can be destabilized by the addition/removal of a third person

The Triangle

The basic molecule of relationships, include the concept of chronic anxiety

Chronic Anxiety

System or process of actions and relations that once triggered quickly produces its own momentum and becomes largely independent of initial triggering stimuli.
Chronic anxiety is typically generated by people's relationships to a disturbance in the balance of a relationship system.

Togetherness Force

Keeps you emotionally connected to friends, family, coworkers, etc. Survival

Koenig Ch.5: Mental Health

• Depression: less depression among religious, greater speed of remission, fewer depressive symptoms later on.

• Suicide: Fewer suicides, more negative attitude towards suicide among religious. Level of commitment to religious beliefs are one of the strongest single predictors after other risk factors.

• Anxiety: Religious teachings can cause guilt and fear that can promote prosocial behavior. Can return a sense of control.

• Wellbeing: relationship between religiousness, life satisfaction, happiness, positive effect, or high morale.

• Optimism and Hope: Promote a positive view of life, may play a strong role in maintaining hope.

Psycho-Religious Problems

Issues in religious beliefs, practices, institutions. Organized religion.

• Loss of faith/religious doubt

• Conflict with a religious community

• Guilt or anxiety about religious rules

Psycho-Spiritual Problems

Issues in spiritual experiences, personal growth. Outside formal religion.

• Identity crises tied to meaning/purpose

• Existential anxiety

• Distressing meditation or mystical experiences

Spiritual Emergencies

Intense spiritual experiences that become overwhelming or destabilizing.

• mystical/spiritual experiences that feel out of control

• Near-death experiences

• May look like mental illness but are a part of transformation.

Psychopathy vs. Spiritual Experience: 3 Criteria

1. Level of Distress

• Psychopathy impairs daily life, spiritual exp preserves/returns functioning

2. Duration & Outcome

• Psychopathy worsens the condition, spiritual exp is typically short term.

3. Cultural Compatibility

• Psychopathy is misaligned culturally, spiritual exp aligns with recognized traditions.

Temporal Impermanence

The deeply felt understanding of life as a constantly changing process, the mental experience of acknowledging and feeling the passage of time.

What does Sovatsky say is missing from the DSM?

Sovatsky argues that the DSM lacks a proper understanding of the spiritual dimensions of human experience, often pathologizing what he considers profound spiritual maturation.

Good Friday Experiment

A double-blind experiment in which two groups were divided into two groups, one receiving psilocybin, the other an active placebo. Almost all members of the experimental group reported profound religious experiences, providing empirical support for the notion that psychedelic drugs can facilitate or enhance religious experiences.

Enlightenment

Wisdom, Truth, God, Revelation, Inner Peace, Transcendence, Insight, Reason

Feels like:

1. A sense of unity and connectedness

2. An incredible intensity of experience

3. A sense of clarity and new understanding in a fundamental way

4. A sense of surrender or loss of voluntary control

5. A sense that something, one’s belief, life, purpose, has suddenly and permanently change.

Dealing with Negative Emotions/Anger (Tsering)

Buddhist psychology suggests that negative emotions are natural and should not be suppressed or ignored. Anger and discontentment are deep-seated in our minds.

• Negative emotions should be defused and meditated on.

• Know its origins/root cause, know the logic of anger, use analytical meditation, develop equanimity, patience, love offer victory to others.