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PART 1
Started= monday, july 22, 2017,
Current=Wednesday, July 26, 2017=latest 26-Jul-17 9:04:54 AM
The purpose of these essays is to draw attention to the current inadequate level of meaningful, practical, and usable information from what is referred to as 'the social sciences '. "Psychobabble" and other such terms reflect popular recognition of this inadequacy.
We seek to add to a process that will eventually lead to a theoretical framework, useful to lay and professional readers, that favors integration of multi-sourced, fully human, data and theory.
Almost all, of the factors mentioned here from the various disciplines, have been explored individually before in different contexts and times. They have not, to our knowledge, been integrated in theory or through a vocabulary that reflects more human ways of functioning; multidimensional and compatible with non-linear, spiraling, systemically interactive principles
Is there in fact a way to connect psychology/anthropology to current macroeconomic concerns?
Can economists working on the Greek-Eurozone economy benefit from 20th century history or even ancient roman history? Can family therapy systems theory be of help to better understand eurozone governance?
We expect to bring the following new point of view to the table for your consideration:
1) We know of no attempts to integrate financial, macroeconomic vectors into the clinical psychology and psychopathology body of theory.
2) We know of no attempts to theoretically integrate psychological, cultural and ethnic studies into societal functioning and governance/macroeconomic policy.
For instance, “family systems theory” (and general systems theory on an institution and business level) contains certain working principles and assumptions; these are powerful but unpopular in behavioral science today. These include
1. Theoretical explanations of the typical flow and distribution of power, in systems of all kinds (e.g. Power always flows downstream and therefore, the headwaters of that power stream is where we should first look to discover clues to persistent dysfunction within the elements of any system).
2. Explanations utilizing the “multi-generation transmission process” (a most powerful and still mysterious process in families and even societies. See the works of Murray Bowen, MD for more clinical details.)
There is one central theme in our approach.
We think it will be considered the most controversial.
Surely it goes against a three hundred year assumption, started in “the west” by the “enlightenment” and the philosophers of that time. Namely that man’s logical brain is in charge (or can be trained to be in charge) of his behavior both personally in family life and in societal issues such as government and economics. We are not alone in challenging this assumption but we will try to make a difference by introducing certain facts, theories and the beginnings of an integrated social science approach.
From all the above we have come to one unifying theme:
The single most important but unpopular dimension in explaining the motivational system in most human beings is a bio/psychological, physiologically induced tribalism.
Biologically, we believe that a tribal gene exists in all pack/herd animals such as wolves, dogs, lions and all primates (unlike solitary hunters such as bears, tigers, most cats).
We believe that human beings’ behavior is a function of many dimensions. We propose that an unexplored area is our primate related tribal nature.
We, unknowingly, are motivated on a pack/tribe basis and rather than from learning, our genes make it so.
We believe to be true, that there is an inherited behavioral pattern that includes:
1) The tendency to affiliate and to feel anxious when the affiliated state is put in jeopardy. Feeling truly isolated or alone in thought, behavior or feelings of identity is most unpleasant for all primates. (Could that be part of why “solitary confinement” is a serious punishment?)
2) The biology based tendency to establish interpersonal and organizational hierarchies within any established human family, clan, or any other primate group.
3) The tendency to reckon, usually unknowingly, on our “group” standing and to take group/pack approval (or internalized identity based group) very much into account. This is most evident during the pre-21 years.
4) The tendency to be unaware of this tribal dimension and motivational system in our lives and in societal functioning.
In order to repair and justify further explorations into a science that seeks to describe the nature of being human...
We propose that the nature of being human must be seen in an integrated and interactive theoretical framework that contains integrated elements from all the non-sciences that are currently called "social".
Of necessity, this new framework would require a "non-PC" vocabulary that is explicitly non-linear, and that lends itself to describing multi-leveled, spiraling and interacting, and constantly evolving, processes.
As stated, a focus on what we call "tribalism" is central to our point of view. Our view of tribalism and its universal presence is multi-faceted.
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>>>> It includes the following circular, interactive inputs:
>>>> 1. biological-chromosomal
>>>> 2. Which leads to social
>>>> 3. Which leads to individual
>>>> 4. Economic
>>>> 5. Governance/Political
>>>> 6. #s 3,4 and 5 can be seen in history
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George Jonisch, phd
Clinical psychologist, (ret.)
Family therapy
Parentingandsocieties.com
PART 2
Started= Monday, July 23, 2017,
Current=Wednesday, July 26, 2017=latest 26-Jul-17 8:59:40 AM
What are the tools and mechanisms that will facilitate a more integrative theoretical framework? Each principal described below can be a tool when applied outside its specialty.
For instance, I do not know of any family therapy articles that take into account the macroeconomic environment that any particular family inhabits. Is that important?
You bet it is.
As stated in PART1 we start with the universality of tribalism and its evolutionary origins.
1. Karl Marx said that “Religion is the opiate of the people.” We think community and its predictable stable, person to person connections is the opiate of the people. Religion is only one conveyance of that human, necessary source of identity, reassurance and anxiety-reduction.
2. We hypothesize that “the wish to be part of something bigger than ourselves” has a component of tribalism within it. It is usually unwise for any authority (personal or societal) to mess with that.
2. “The multigeneration generation transmission process” which is a tool for therapists who work in a family systems context. They use this concept to understand and help families grow. It can be applied to long lasting groups much larger than families such as clans tribes, and societies.
3. Currency and money theory is crucial for world trade and financial stability but is outside most citizens' concerns or even their awareness.
Apparently it is also outside the consciousness of most behavioral scientists other than economists and some, not all, economic historians.
For instance “The rise of Protestantism in the 16th century weakened Rome's influence, and its dictates against usury became irrelevant in some areas. That would free up the development of banking in Northern Europe” (Wikipedia). Is it a coincidence that the industrial revolution and its connection to capitalism started in the Protestant countries, thus illustrating integration of macroeconomics with social and historical factors?
Is it a coincidence that the Northern European countries today, use a macroeconomic approach that favors currency stability and long lasting reliability? The Southern European (and many South American) countries have a history of currency manipulation and default.
Did the Protestant ethic and the character values and traits it professed make the difference for those Northern Europeans?
4. # 3 leads us to the next concept: The histories of the different geographical areas on the globe and their multi-generational impact on commerce, trade, warfare, alien occupation, all of which leads to different “national character” formation have not been explored in most University or intellectual sites.
We believe there are certain concepts originating in the various disciplines that can be used as integrating vectors. For instance the multi-generation transmission process when properly understood, might be relevant to changing north-south eurozone economic patterns.
Similarly, can an understanding of pre and post-industrial patterns help the Eurozone cope with the immigration crisis?
George jonisch, phd
Clinical psychologist, (ret.)
Family therapy
Parentingandsocieties.com
More details:
There are demographic factors currently at work that remain outside the realm of traditional psychotherapy and societal concerns. In general, these factors have not been included in the professional therapy or social science literature, but they are relevant to families, developmental psychology, education and of course, parenting. The ultimate goal, beyond explaining these dynamics, is to interact with you, the reader, and to exchange ideas and implement them into real-world results.
Join the discussion of the importance of
family systems around the world.
E-mail us with questions and or comments.
We would love to hear from you!
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