Negative Capability Diana Voller

Why do some people ‘get’ you more than others? Why is watching sport exciting? What was so great about Shakespeare?

Negative Capability “….Negative Capability, that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason…..” (Keats, 1818)

What is Negative Capability? Being capable of being in unknowing Socrates and not knowing!

Why is being able to be in uncertainty important? The Certainty Paradox Part 1 In uncertain situations, given the choice between two options, we are more likely to choose that which is more certain, rather than most desirable. (Schafir et al, 2008) “The only certainty is that there is nothing certain”. (Pliny the Elder AD 79)

Why is being able to be in uncertainty important? The Ambiguity Advantage The ability to recognise, explore and profit from ambiguous and chaotic situation is a key factor in business success. (Wilkinson, D. 2006)

Who has Negative Capability? Everybody Some people, including some actors and psychotherapists, appear to have a particularly developed Negative Capability.

Developing Negative Capability The Certainty Paradox Part 2 Creating a ‘safe place’ An exercise for being more certain about being in uncertainty.

Negative Capability What it means, why it can be important and how to start developing it. Diana Voller Chartered Counselling Psychologist & Psychotherapist

References Keats,J (1818) In Ed. Cook. E (1990) John Keats. The Major Works. Oxford. Oxford university Press. Camerer, C & Weber, M (1992) Journal of Risk & uncertainty. 5: Schafir, S, Reich, T., Tsur, E., Erev, I & Lotem, A (2008) Perceptual accuracy & conflicting effects of certainty on risk-taking behaviour. Nature. 453: Simons, D.J.; Chabris, C.F. (1999). "Gorillas in our midst: sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events". Perception 28 (9): 1059 – Wilkinson, D (2006) The Ambiguity Advantage: What Great Leaders are Great At. London. Palgrave McMillan