1. Pawel M. Socha Psychology of Religion Unit Institute for the Study of Religions, Jagiellonian University e-mail: pawel.m.socha@ui.edu.pl pawel.m.socha@ui.edu.plpawel.m.socha@ui.edu.pl TOWARD THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY OF INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION Coping with the existential situation, Or, as the impossible becomes the obvious

2. INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION Any experience of a transformation concerns an reinterpretation of the hitherto representation of reality, or its fragment, in a new way Among the other, such a fragment can be: Self-perception (I) A part of self-perception (elements of the Self scheme, such as self-esteem, identification with another person, actual or fictional, etc.) A way of perception of others (e.g., through development of the empathic skills) A vision of nature (e.g., development of ecological awareness) A A development of the understanding of complexity (system theoretical perspective on causality, the post-formal thinking) An adaptation of new patterns of the ethical or esthetical values

3. ... But also: Through the subjective – empirically improvable – experience of an external power (attributionally „transcendent”), provided with the power greater than the subject’s own resources, there come along such experiences of transformation, as:Through the subjective – empirically improvable – experience of an external power (attributionally „transcendent”), provided with the power greater than the subject’s own resources, there come along such experiences of transformation, as: –The subject’s subordination to this power (e.g., a feeling of absolute dependence – Scheiermacher’s theology) –Furnishing the subject with the forces or possibilities, not affordable before (e.g., ability of healing) –Taking on the responsibility for the flow of things by the transcendent agent, releasing the subject from decision making or from any activity (decrease of subjectivity)

4. ... And furthermore – in the interaction with the religious tradition: Discovery of the new self resulting from the experience of a meeting the personal being: JESUS CHRIST BUDDHA

5. ... Perfection or at least „exchange” of the part of the self The Buddhist Arhat The Muslim convert

6. ... Becoming a „destinated” person (a new self through the revelation) PROPHETS EZECHIEL MUHAMMAD JOSEPH SMITH

7. … A SATANIC TRANSFORMATION (a new self through possession)

8. THE KEY to trans- formation THE EXISTENTIAL SITUATION GRENZSITUATION (Karl Jaspers)

9. THE CONDITIONS OF TRANSCENDENCE Transcendence has been related to the elaboration of unconscious contents of cognitive processing into the conscious ones. Analogies:Transcendence has been related to the elaboration of unconscious contents of cognitive processing into the conscious ones. Analogies: –Primary process – secondary process (Freud) –Individuation – integration of self (Jung) –Self-actualization (Rogers) –The authentic transcendence of the self (Helminiak) Processes of transformation have the diversified character:Processes of transformation have the diversified character: –From gradual, distributed in time, sometimes even not perceivable by a subject – a natural transformation –Through the systematically subjectively stimulated – self- creation –To the experienced as sudden and unexpected – mysticism

10. TENTATIVE THESES 1.The more intensive experience of transformation, the more significant transformations in consciousness (self, world view, etc.) 2.Existential situation of the boundary character has so powerful impact (existential terror – Greenberg, Solomon i Pyszczynski), that it forces a „protective” data coding. Analogies : –Concept of the cognitive codes – Obuchowski –Symbolical adaptation – Ricoeur, Fowler –Metaphor of a veil or a curtain – Pruyser –Cultural memes – Dawkins, Blackmore

11. 3.D evelopment of consciousness results in the relevant motivational changes, among the others increasing the efficacy of individual’s resources (Kozielecki – intensification of the motivation for transgressive activities) Directing it also outside of the self, e.g., unconditioned helping, cognitive motivation One more hypothesis

12. Process of coping with the existential situation Existential situation Biological, terrifying, direct, purely sensual, „primary experience” of reality Hay: relational consciousness - „here and now”, „mystery”, „noetic value”) existential terror Greenberg, Solomon & Pyszczynski – existential terror CONSTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF REALITY PROCESES OF APPRAISAL – feeling of alienation, necessity, limitations of time (mortality, transitoriness), of space, psychological deficits, inability to „get out of oneself”, economical, etc.. TRANSFORMATION (SPIRITUAL) Transformation is the process of symbolic adaptationTransformation is the process of symbolic adaptation This is the evolutionary developed mechanism, consisting among the other, from:This is the evolutionary developed mechanism, consisting among the other, from: Shared with animals, processes of orientation allowing for the recognition of threats and of their avoidanceShared with animals, processes of orientation allowing for the recognition of threats and of their avoidance Available only to humans IMPERATIVE ability for thinking in terms of cause and reason (predicting, planning, imaging, etc.), and directing these cognitive processes into one’s self (self-awareness’ feedback)Available only to humans IMPERATIVE ability for thinking in terms of cause and reason (predicting, planning, imaging, etc.), and directing these cognitive processes into one’s self (self-awareness’ feedback) Evolutionary ability to attribute intentionality to any objectEvolutionary ability to attribute intentionality to any object Ability to manipulate one’s states of consciousness (mysticism)Ability to manipulate one’s states of consciousness (mysticism) Ability to put off the logos in favor of the mythosAbility to put off the logos in favor of the mythos Accumulation of the resources of knowledge, accessible also for next generations (creation of the culture)Accumulation of the resources of knowledge, accessible also for next generations (creation of the culture) In result of the transformation, THE UNAVOIDABLE CAN BECOME POSSIBLE, WHEREAS THE IMPOSSIBLE – OBVIOUS

13. THE PARADOX OF IMAGERY??? The existential situation cannot actually happen. Why we would not just imagine it? Anxieties paralyzing the neurotic individual Anxieties paralyzing the neurotic individual Breathtaking – not only because of the deficit of oxygen – fear of the Himalaya conqueror, Breathtaking – not only because of the deficit of oxygen – fear of the Himalaya conqueror, Benefit from this resource

14. Moreover… Every HEALTHY individual „likes to feel fear” We become bored with the films without a suspense Romantic love „must” be unfortunate COPING „AS IF” – we immunize ourselves to the real situations BUT WHY???

15. Existential situation Biological, terrifying, direct, purely sensual, „primary experience” of reality Hay: relational consciousness - „here and now”, „mystery”, „noetic value”) existential terror Greenberg, Solomon & Pyszczynski – existential terror CONSTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF REALITY PROCESES OF APPRAISAL – feeling of alienation, necessity, limitations of time (mortality, transitoriness), of space, psychological deficits, inability to „get out of oneself”, economical, etc.. TRANSFORMATION (SPIRITUAL) IDEALS AND PATTERNS OF CULTURE AMONG OTHERS, ITS RESOURCES ARE:  Religion and religiousness  National identity  Family life  Rules of social relationships, e.g., morality  Forms of the artistic expression  Techniques of personal growth and social integration  Psychotherapies

16. Existential situation Biological, terrifying, direct, purely sensual, „primary experience” of reality Hay: relational consciousness - „here and now”, „mystery”, „noetic value”) existential terror Greenberg, Solomon & Pyszczynski – existential terror CONSTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF REALITY PROCESES OF APPRAISAL – feeling of alienation, necessity, limitations of time (mortality, transitoriness), of space, psychological deficits, inability to „get out of oneself”, economical, etc.. TRANSFORMATION RESOURCES: Religion and religiousness Religion and religiousness National identity National identity Family life Family life Rules of social relationships, e.g., morality Rules of social relationships, e.g., morality Forms of the artistic expression Forms of the artistic expression Techniques of personal growth and social integration Techniques of personal growth and social integration Psychotherapies Psychotherapies THE OUTCOMES OF TRANSFORMATION RADICALLY NEW UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCING OF THE SITUATION AS „HOLY”, „MIRACULOUS”, „SUPER-HUMAN” – INCLUDING ONE’S OWN PERSON AS EXCEPTIONAL: Experience of a „higher” meaning, affording an unusual control, certainty of knowledge, „higher” personal value, e.g., as chosen („chosen” can be even a nation), predestined to a special mission, salvation, or other reward

17. RESUMÉ THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION, INCLUDING ITS INTENSIVE, RADICAL FORM, IS NATUURAL, AT THE SAME TIME BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL, ADAPTATIVE RESPONSE TO THE SITUATIONS OF DRAMATICAL EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCESTHE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION, INCLUDING ITS INTENSIVE, RADICAL FORM, IS NATUURAL, AT THE SAME TIME BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL, ADAPTATIVE RESPONSE TO THE SITUATIONS OF DRAMATICAL EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCES Proposed solutions employ the well-known ideas and theories (transgression, positive disintegration, terror management, spiritual intelligence, spirituality) Proposed solutions employ the well-known ideas and theories (transgression, positive disintegration, terror management, spiritual intelligence, spirituality) They integrate the described phenomena into the comprehensive wholeness, as the specific concept of the existential coping, on the grounds of general theory of coping They integrate the described phenomena into the comprehensive wholeness, as the specific concept of the existential coping, on the grounds of general theory of coping