Observing this phenomenon of assumption, or crystallization of the personality over and over again, one notices some very curious cases in which it happens outside the usual time, already in maturity, sometimes on the verge of old age. For some reason, if not because of a traumatic effect, it seems that the masks suddenly fall off, suddenly become unnecessary, and the effect is quite curious because an abrupt behavioral change takes place in an adult who is already made, already recognized as such. And then, saint or monster, this version seems to be the only true one; it is certainly the definitive one.
Tag: psychology
Patriotism and Anti-Patriotism
If one thing is certain, it is that patriotism and anti-patriotism go beyond the realm of rationality and are based above all on temperament, which is shaped primarily by experience. In short, a patriot is someone whose sense of belonging manifests itself, while an anti-patriot is someone who feels out of place. They are different psychological attitudes, based on different sensations, and that is all they are: psychological attitudes arising from sensations.
A Solid Knowledge of Man
The greatest value of psychology, and even of philosophy, consists in providing a solid knowledge of man so that the individual who studies them can safely employ himself in the conduct of his own life or, in other words, so that he can safely employ himself in the conscious direction of his own will. The study of man is valid as long as it allows the student to understand himself, discover himself and, finally, be what he wants to be. When he connects with his own will, the time comes when study is limited to providing reasons for its reaffirmation.
It Does Not Seem Possible for This Process…
It does not seem possible for this process of individuation to take place without it being preceded by a crisis, a discomfort in relation to the environment which, for many, stimulates a feeling of identification. In order to perceive oneself, the individual has to differentiate, and this differentiation seems to be evidenced most often in conflict, which leads to an inner anguish yearning for affirmation. If this process, as is generally agreed, drives the expansion of consciousness, stimulating it seems more sensible than repressing it, and repressing it only seems to curb a fundamental stage in the development of the being.