New Ideas in Psychology

[ Weak Self-Image ] [ Definition of Psycho-Analysis ] [ Determinism ]

[ What is Anxiety ? ] [ Switching ]

The previous article dealt with our weak self-image that is derived mainly from the failure of our ideals :- factor (a). Now I turn to the effect of anxiety on our self-image :- factor (b).

Factor (b)
In a psycho-analysis, this is nearly always the more prominent factor. So I take a look at anxiety. When anxiety is removed from the memory, that memory ceases to trouble the person, unless factor (a) is also involved. By removing that anxiety the psycho-analysis allows us to revalue our past experience. Past experience is the scaffolding which maintains all our various beliefs. Hence by allowing us to revalue past experience, the psycho-analysis enables us to transform our belief systems.

This effect can be used as the basis of a definition of psycho-analysis :

A psycho-analysis is the method of intentionally removing anxiety from the subconscious mind.

Many people remove anxiety by the occasional flash of intuition, or even by psychic and/or religious experiences. But this result is sporadic and non-intentional. (See also the article Reversal of Values).

Beliefs arise from our experience. Past experience is the scaffolding that maintains all our various beliefs. Hence by allowing us to revalue past experience, the psycho-analysis enables us to transform our belief systems. In effect, two things are happening : we are changing our values and changing our beliefs.

The sequence is that first we experience something, then we evaluate it, and then we construct a belief about it or use it to reinforce our existing beliefs. So the belief relates to our values. If we change our values then we can change our beliefs. It is very difficult to change our beliefs if we have not changed our values.

For example, if we are a smoker, and do not know why we first started smoking, it becomes very hard to give up smoking. The subconscious value that says ‘smoking is a good thing’ is still operating and this usually defeats the attempt to stop smoking. Perhaps we may have started smoking in adolescence because it gave us status with our peer group. If we try to stop smoking, the subconscious mind will interpret this as losing status, so it will fight against our conscious efforts. In this case we would need to re-evaluate our ideas of status in order to successfully give up smoking.

In general, we have beliefs that reflect our values, and our values are influenced by the memory of past events.

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Copyright © 2002 Ian Heath
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