Lark's Psychology Page - Stage Dynamics

Psycopathology - Cont'd.

Copyright Lark Ritchie 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997.

Stage Dynamics

One last concept is necessary to understand the development of the psychopathic personality. As we have seen in the above personality theories and developmental models, psychologically "normal" individuals are thought to progress from birth to adulthood or maturity through "stages". I believe that this concept of stages has been, in many cases, interpreted inadequately by many people. The term "stage" in relationship to psychology appears to have taken on a colloquial meaning of "phase", for example, "He's going through a phase", condition, (meaning a state or mode of existence or state of being), or period, (meaning a portion of chronological time). Each of these meanings impart a segregation and compartmentalisation to the levels of personality development, much as one thinks of a "stage" of a rocket; once used, then discarded.

Freud himself may have initially had such a meaning when we consider his first approaches to psychoanalysis. As a physician, his background was based in biology and anatomy. The physiological structure of the brain, which is in human beings, vertically layered from the brain stem to the cortex became a basis for his understandings and subsequent models. We can see this biological background in Freud's own discussions of the ego instincts in which he describes many biological scenarios and studies.

His early use of hypnotism with Joseph Bruer, and his identification of the "unconscious" indicate that the mechanisms and resources of the mind were hidden away behind barriers, and that the therapist, or psychoanalyst had to use the techniques such as free association to break through to the unconscious, entering the world of the neurotic person.

This may have been so in the beginning, but in his later years his shift to the id, ego and superego structures redefine his earlier views which had described an unexplored unconscious. As Freud's knowledge and understanding grew, the unconscious took on form and structure, and his model, a more clear analogy of the total personality encompassing his three major systems. The developmental model is perceived as vertical in orientation as shown in the diagram below:

A Vertical Representation of Freud's Model

Insert Diagram

I believe that Freud's earlier model which described the interactions of the conscious and subconscious, which is fixated upon the minds and attitudes of more than a few people, therapists included, is the basis for rejection of the psychoanalytical approach to the treatment of the psychopath. The cursory detailing of Freud's early work and the discussion of the organization of his developmental stages used to introduce first year university students to psychology establishes a set of unclear concepts which, I think, hinders the further understanding of the true psychodynamics involved.

Freud's description of the developmental stages or phases (oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital), and his use of concepts such as "fixation" tend to impress upon the casual observer that these stages are stacked one upon the other, as wooden blocks, each separated by its own psychical dimensions and properties, giving an impression that if a person successfully moves to the next stage, then it is not likely that he will move back to a previous stage unless faced with some extreme trauma or anxiety. If a person is fixated, then that person is confined to a level and range of behaviours characteristic to that stage of development. A more appropriate description of the organisation of stages would be that of a horizontal linking of integrated sections, much like that of a picture puzzle. This formation then can be accessed by the self more easily and allows a more clear understanding of the psychodynamic process which will be discussed later.

A Stage Redefined

A more graphic explanation of the term "stage" in an individual sense, can be understood if one was to use the dictionary definition of "a raised platform, with its scenery and mechanical appliances, on which the performance in a theatre or hall takes place". On a stage, actors play a "role" according to a script. In most cases, such a script is the result of laborious exploration of scenarios and concepts, writing, revising, editing, and restructuring, until the play runs smoothly and without hesitation and fault. The actors themselves rehearse, and rehearse again, until action follows action, word after word, the play progresses as it is has been planned. As we have seen, each of the models attempt to describe the interactions of the self and the management of existence or survival in the external world.

Scripts

In a psychological sense then, we can suppose that as the personality develops, it hypothesises, tests and rehearses its script and concepts of his environment until its repertoire is complete and meets the demands of the everyday experience it encounters.

Again, from a developmental point of view, the individual plays his script and plateaus for a time upon this "stage". When the "play" becomes stable, anxiety subsides, and the person experiments (hypothesises) with the next play or script, which will take place on a different "stage". It is during these plateau that the subsequent "script" (range of behaviours) is contrived, developed, tested, edited, and revised. This is an exercise in self preservation and tension reducing behaviour because by using this type of strategy, the individual will always have stable role to play on a stage that is well known before moving to the next stage. When the new script has been proven to be significantly free from error, then we see a shift in the personality to the next level. The former stage, complete with "its scenery and mechanical appliances" is stored away in the mind as a backup mode of operation should the new script prove to be faulty. This then is what Freud intimated in the term "regression".

The concept of stage in this sense has been taken further in the models of Sullivan and especially Erikson, who additionally recognized that the individual may move from stage to stage dynamically, playing at different roles if and when a particular stage's script has not provided a sufficiently broad scale of behaviours to meet the demands of the situation.

A person will revert to a prior stage, sometimes for a short period, sometimes longer, until the faulty script can be revised through trial and error testing of alternate behaviours and concepts. Once the faulty script has been modified, then the person re-assumes his role on that stage. In effect then, a stage is a personality resource, containing a world model and the values and behaviours necessary for the personality to conduct life. If we consider those with whom we are in contact on a regular basis, we probably have seen these stage dynamics in effect. Depending on the severity of the situation, and the flexibilities provided by the script of a prior stage, a person may revert not merely to the adjacent prior stage, but may move to a an earlier stage with a more limited script, set of behaviours, or attitudes.

Quick reflection on our own experiences during summer drives in the country will surely produce memories of such similar self preservation attitudes in the animal world. An animal, surprised in the middle of the road by an automobile will stop its forward movement and dart back along its path rather than continue across to the other side of the roadway. From its perspective, when faced with an anxiety-producing situation (a car speeding toward him), it is much better to go back to where it came from that to proceed somewhere it has not yet been, even if the risk of going back may be fatal (and judging by the number of road killed rabbits and raccoons, several times, it is). The same attitudes apply to the human animal, although it be on a more abstract scale.

In the models discussed, the colloquial interpretation is generally perceived in a vertical orientation, which creates a limitation on the full understanding of these models from a dynamic perspective. As we see here in a vertical representation of Erikson's model, it appears that an individual "jumps" from "level" to "level" as he progresses in the development process. This view also sets some limitations on how one perceives and assesses an individual.

A Vertical Representation of Ekikson's Stages of Man

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Even though each stage is in itself a continuum, the representation suggests that behaviour sets are segregated from those that are visually "lower" on the chart. In effect, as we can admit of ourselves, we are sometimes a little mature, sometimes a bit childish, sometimes trusting and sometimes mistrusting, Each of us does more that jump from level to level. The model has to be integrated according to some other design structure. If an individual can fly dynamically between acting with initiative, have doubt, be intimate the processes must be organized in a different way.

The Horizontal Stage

If the models are presented in alternatively in a horizontal orientation, then we are allowed a latitude of understanding which opens new doors to thinking about treatment methods. In such a horizontal model then, the self, or personality can operate (behave) as an integrated individual, drawing from his or her collected resources, as the occasion demands. Some behaviours may be selected from stage one, another from stage three, and yet another from stage six. (See diagram )

A Condensed Horizontal Representation of Ekikson's Stages of Man

Insert Diagram

The use of the word "integrated" being defined as "the ability to easily select and make use of ranges of behaviours selected from different scripts which have been tested through experience and found to be successful". There is a further subtle nuance to the word "successful in this case, in that "successful" is defined as success in terms of the individual's evaluation of end results and consequences. That personal evaluation of success may be partially or totally different than that perceived and valued by another individual, or the society in which the prime individual exists. In short, the range of behaviours "work" and are valid for that specific individual. They are valued within his or her mental constructs, databases, and moral structures as prescribed attitudes and behaviours necessary for the survival of the personality. This means that the integrated person does not have to be a model mature and loving human being. He has to have appropriate actions which allow him to survive on his own terms. This is the orientation which I believe can help us understand the dynamics of the psychopathic personality.

Development of the Psychopathic Personality

In such an orientation, we can see that the integrated personality has direct access to the stages without the barriers of layering. The self can choose from a set of behaviours or possible actions which span a range from the very early years of development through to its most recent acquisitions. The self also has access to a range of values and concepts which it has gathered over time which have been incorporated within his personality.

Action Sets, Selection and Incorporation

The self interacts with the outside world, to fulfill its needs. It selects from a range of action sets(behaviours) which may achieve need fulfillment . For example, a person sitting at a host's dinner table has before him a glass of water. He is thirsty. The possible range of actions available to satisfy the thirst are straightforward. Get the glass of water and drink it, or get something else to satisfy his thirst. For expediency, we will only address the first possible action. Does the action of taking and drinking the water have any consequences? Let's say that the consequence of the action in this case is insignificant. The water is taken, and the meal goes on.

If we consider this case again, this time considering that the person has in front of him a glass of water and a glass of juice. The two possible choices become "take the water" or "take the juice". In this case, the processing moves to a more complex level.

The individual must make a choice between two possible actions to fulfill his need. How does he choose on over the other? In order to make a choice, the individual must evaluate his needs more closely, and determine, in the simplest case, besides thirst, are there any underlying needs which may be fulfilled by choosing one action over the other? The question then is "Are there any secondary needs to be fulfilled?" Is there a preference for "flavour"? Let's say that the "flavour" preference exists. In this case, the problem has been resolved quickly, and the actions have been reduced to one. The action then can be evaluated as in the case of the single glass of water, and the action to "take the juice" is expressed.

If we compare the two cases, the first had one level of processing to express an action, while the second had two levels; level one was to reevaluate the need to incorporate any secondary needs (flavour) in the action, and second, once a decision had been made for "flavour" to evaluate the "take the juice" action for consequence. Only then is the behaviour expressed.

Consider then, another more complex case in which the individual finds no special modifier or preference. In other words, on the level of preference, it does not matter which is chosen. To arrive at a decision to express an action to quench his thirst, the person still must chose one possible behaviour over the other. Each possible behaviour must be reviewed to determine the possible value of each. The question becomes "Which has more value to me?", where "value" can be expressed in a number of different formulations. In its simplest case, we will identify only one value, and that value is "a healthy diet is essential". To resolve the issue and choose a behaviour, the individual then evaluates each of the choices in terms of this value. Each evaluation produces a result, and the results must then be held together, and a choice made for one over the other. Let us assume that the juice value test received a higher evaluation that the water value test. The "take the juice" action would then be selected for further work in testing the consequence of such an action, as in the case of the single glass of water.

Note that this process has become a four level operation. First, a search was initiated for possible actions to satisfy the thirst. Second, a search for secondary needs was performed resulting in an answer of "none". Third, a test against the individuals values was made resulting in a choice for the healthier juice option. Fourth and finally, the choice for the juice was evaluated for consequence resulting in "insignificant" and the action expressed.

Even more complex case may be introduced. Consider that instead of water and juice, the table had set upon it water and wine? The individual may consider run the process resulting in an action satisfying a secondary need for flavour.

Consequence and Risk

To complete the processing, he may initiate a subsequent consideration of consequence comparing the satisfaction of the flavour need and the consequence of intoxication as a unit against basic thirst and the consequences of the take the water" action" and no intoxication. Each of the consequences for a proposed action is then evaluated in terms of possible effects on the self, resulting in a consequence-scenario or "resultant-risk" to the self. In other words, "Is it safe to take the risk of the "take the wine?" action.

This resultant-risk then is used to compare to further consequences to the self. If the risk is determined to be within an acceptable range of subsequent consequence, then that action and its risk value is compared with each other set of "action risk value sets' which have been evaluated, and a selection is made for one set over the rest, and that action is expressed to the outside world.

Recursive Selection Processing

The process of action selection is recursive, in that the process is extended to different lengths until an action-risk-set is found which both satisfies the need and presents minimum risk to the individual.

In personality development, this recursive process occurs from birth onwards and upon each stage. These action-set selection processes are refined as they are repetitively tested against the reactions from the environment, and eventually incorporated into the range of behaviours appropriate for different scenarios. If we can use the analogy of a "script" in relation to a stage, then a stored action-set along with its values, consequences, and logic may be called a "sub-script". In addition other structures such as perceived truths (for example "I am loved by my parents" are also stored within the sub-script and used in the evaluation processes. As such, the tested and statistically proven action-sets are stored in a condensed form which others have labeled a habit, complex, construct, or other such structure. For expediency, the individual references the condensed form of this process rather than doing the processing each time, and behaves according to his incorporated self.

When the individual does not find a structure incorporated in himself, then the behaviour selection process, along with its consequence and value testing must be initiated and the process run in conscious awareness until an action-set has been determined to be statistically valid and reliable in dealing with the outside world encounters. During this "real-time processing" the individual experiences what Freud termed anxiety, and what I will redefine as a state of minor dissonance, for while the testing of the selected actions is being run, the personality is experimenting with his existence and survival, and runs considerable risk should the trials result in ultimate threats to existence or outright damage of the self. When a test formulation is expressed and the consequences experienced as negative, then the results are compared to the hypothesis, and as a consequence of minor dissonance rejected and a new hypothesis conceived for experimentation. In most cases, these trials take place with caution and result in an inventory of well adjusted possible sub-scripts, and the individual is considered well adjusted. He has an adequate inventory, or script with which to perform upon the current stage.

Action Set Consolidation

In the process of forming new action-sets, the individual tends to use previously tested action-sets as "pre-developed" modules rather than begin processing a the initial stages of the experimentation redefining the basic set of needs, consequences and values to develop completely new and integrated structures. Previous scripts and the new action-sets are consolidated into an integrated structure or new action-set. During the testing phase, the individual recognizes that risk is involved, and negative consequences are seen as events to be evaluated, and used as information to modify the action-set structure before incorporating the new set as an action-set. He does not, during this time, perceive these consequences as ultimately threatening to the self, in that they are considered propositions acknowledged to have design flaws. Once tested and found to be statistically unfailing, then the set is incorporated within the individual and appropriate actions are expressed "without thinking".

A danger exists in this method of determining and incorporating new action-sets because if the process has not been carried until a statistically valid number of tests have been performed, then certain actions may have undetermined consequences. Such may be the case with a person who has lived within a limited range of experiences or environment.

Action Set Modification

When the consequences of expressing an incorporated structure script proves to be threatening or detrimental, the individual adapts to situation through what we recognise as regression, reverting to a previous script or set of behaviours in which the threat or detriment is reduced because expressed behaviours solicit a more understanding reaction from those who have been affected by the behaviour. For example, an individual may give a sheepish grin, and say "I'm sorry, I made a mistake." On this stage, a new action selecting processes may be hypothesised, tested, modified, and subsequently incorporated within the personality.

When an incorporated original or a consolidated action-set or sets use values and or concepts of an original action-set, which has, for some reason been discovered to be inconsistent with what is being held within the personality, then the potential expression of that action-set will lead to the person experiencing some form of anxiety. If the script is an original or basic structure, and proves to be faulty at some basic level, as in the case of a teenager discovering that he has been adopted, then the regression may be to a stage on which the person cannot express adequate behaviours which he encounters and what we call decompensation is experienced. In effect, decompensation is regression to a stage on which no action-set is deemed appropriate to survive in the external world.

If we consider the dynamics of everyday life we can see that the modified model is tension reducing allows the individual access to a continuous range of behaviours, and that when behaviours are found to be inappropriate, then the process of normal modification can take place quickly and without great consequence. Unlike the vertical model, the individual is not required by design to act on a stage in an "all or none" fashion, and still be considered "integrated", nor is he required to revert in completeness to any previous stage in order to function. He operates "in real time" with a currently integrated set of constructs, unless serious trauma is experienced.

To Continuation of this paper...

© 1997 Lark Ritchie. Contact me at this address..