Q: What are the similarities between Lifetrack and organismic or systems theory that views personality as an open system of interacting parts?

A: Organismic or systems theory, may be used to understand personality as a unity, and focuses on the integration of normal personality or health.  It does not analyze parts of personality in isolation, but in relation to the whole.

Lifetrack theory has much in common with organismic theory.  The lifetrack model of positive mental health as developed by Dr. Yukio Ishizuka proposes a comprehensive understanding of the individual both in distress and at his or her best.  The primary drive is towards self-actualization, and all parts of the tripod personality model (self, intimacy and achievement) interact with and influence each other dynamically.

Unlike strands of organismic theory, which often assumes a constant equilibrium among parts, the parts of personality in the Lifetrack model influence and are influenced by the environment. A sense of self is not created in a vacuum.  There is no assumption that human beings are good and are perverted by the environment. A balanced personality organization is not the natural state of the organism, nor is disorganization always a sign of pathology.

Crisis and disorganization can be painful but are sometimes necessary to help the individual challenge and change the way he or she thinks, feels, and acts in key areas of life. In this sense disequilibrium, however painful, can become an opportunity for fundamental change.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

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Dr. Yukio Ishizuka, a Japanese psychiatrist, discusses organismic theory, personality definition, equilibrium and Lifetrack therapy.

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FAQ

Q : Is the goal of Lifetrack Positive Mental Health happiness?

A: Yes, the goal of Lifetrack is happiness or wellbeing!!

Yet the means to achieve well-being and happiness is not to be mistaken with seeking pleasure.  Those who seek happiness directly through pleasure rarely find it!  Those who build self, strong intimate relationships (with others, to a spouse or equivalent, nature, God or the universe) and achievement with a great sense of life purpose often experience frequent and longer lasting peaks of wellbeing (peace, friendliness, wellbeing, physical health, mastery) throughout their lives.

Happiness and well-being are a by-product of experiencing and growing one’s three spheres of inner existence.  Happiness and well-being result when one lives fully in the present in all three spheres of life (self, one’s close relationships and achievements) with a sense of love, lightness and joy.

Happiness means different things to different people.

Some people mistake happiness as pleasure or some–more modestly–a mere release from pain.  Whatever definition you have of happiness, what remains important is not the words you use, but the experience itself.

Not to confuse happiness with pleasure, the Lifetrack model uses a broader definition of well-being that encompasses happiness.  Dr. Yukio Ishizuka has defined and measured well-being as positive peaks of: peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness and a sense of mastery.

Well-being comes from within, it does not come from what we do externally.

One experiences inner happiness and well-being through our three spheres of psychological existence.

When inner transformation occurs, not only do peaks of wellbeing increase, but negative peaks decrease.

A new personality emerges with a more lasting sense of well-ness and health.  Peaks of anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression or psychosis may disappear altogether or surface only occasionally.  Behind them lies a far greater sense of well-being, a deeper penetrating sense of peace, friendliness, physical wellbeing, happiness and mastery.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

The intimacy sphere extends one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions beyond the self to become close to another human being.

Different types of intimate relationships such as that with a parent, spouse, significant other, children, friend(s), God or the universe bolsters the psyche.

A Close Interdependent Intimate Relationship

There are many forms of intimacy.  A couple relationship, however, enables human beings to experience fullest union of personality, in all three dimensions of human intimacy – Intellectual/Social, Emotional, and Physical/Sexual.  It is for this reason, that in Lifetrack therapy, Dr. Yukio Ishizuka focuses on marriage intimacy or the development of an equivalent close couple relationship.

Through breakthrough intimacy, he facilitates a transformation of personality to encompass larger, intimacy, achievement and self spheres.  This initial breakthrough in the intimacy sphere influences profoundly the Achievement and Self sphere.

Each of the three spheres influences the others.  No sphere exists in isolation.

Love Definition, Closeness Definition, Intimacy Definition

Love is an over-used word.  In the context of an adult couple relationship love means different things to different people.  In the Lifetrack model we use the word intimacy or closeness.  We refer to such intimacy in the couple relationship because such intimacy has the potential for the greatest level of emotional, physical and intellectual-social in human relationships.

Intellectual-Social: How close you are in the intellectual-social dimension

Accept:  Your willingness and ability to accept your partner
Depend: Your willingness and ability to trust and depend upon your partner
Let Depend:  Your willingness and ability to let your partner depend on you

Emotional:  How close you are in the emotional dimension

Concern: Your thoughtfulness and concern over your partner’s wellbeing
Affection:  Your willingness and ability to feel and express affection
Love:  Your willingness and ability to feel and express love

Physical-Sexual:  How close you are in the physical-sexual dimension

Togetherness: The extent to which you want to be (and enjoy being) together
Sensualness:  The extent to which you desire and enjoy touching, holding, kissing and caressing
Sexual Excitement: The extent to which you desire and enjoy giving and receiving sexual excitement

Closeness

Closeness is defined as all 3 dimensions of intimacy (intellectual-social, emotional, physical-sexual) or in all 9 elements: accept, depend, let depend, concern, affection, love, togetherness, sensualness and sexual-excitement.

Couples are asked to increase these nine elements of intimacy far beyond a previous best level of adjustment.  Those who arrive single in Lifetrack therapy are encouraged to find someone and are helped to become closer to that individual.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

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Organizations and Organizational Health

Dr. Yukio Ishizuka worked for 4 years at McKinsey (1969-1972) as an Associate on general management consulting.  At McKinsey he admired Marvin Bower his mentor and worked on assignments in Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, Tokyo and NY offices in a variety of businesses.  Yukio Ishizuka also spent one year at Arthur D. Little as a Consultant (1968-69) on organizational development projects for top management teams for conflict resolution and enhancing creativity.  From 1972-1976 he didmergers and acquisitions for U.S. acquisitions as President and Director of a company financed by Mitsubishi International.

Nathalie Ishizuka studied business, negotiation and international affairs taking classes such as Managing Innovation, and Coordination, Control, and the Management of Organizations at HBS and the winter Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law.  She has an MBA from HEC Paris and a MALD from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.  After successfully completing the first year of a Ph.D. program in Organizational Behavior and Industrial Relations at the Haas School of Business, she left academia to pursue her interest in organizations, health, and technology by directly working with innovative firms, including starting her own.  She is grateful to Haas and in particular to Oliver Williamson for helping her understand how new paradigms in organizations are built.

Organizational Model

Based on his understanding of individual personality and health, and his experience working for a variety of companies Dr. Yukio Ishizuka has developed organizational models that integrate with the individual personality model.  They have been used to help CEOs better understand and track a variety of factors that contribute to their organization’s success and excellence.  Dr. Yukio Ishizuka has presented the individual and organizational models to corporations such as AT&T, IBM, and other elite Japanese, American and European CEOs.

Nathalie Ishizuka (MBA) has written a working paper integrating Individual and Organizational Effectiveness: a Systems View integrating Yukio Ishizuka’s model of human personality with Chris Argyris’ model of organization and pushing the two further by defining criteria for Organizational Health models.  In the paper she expands on Yukio Ishizuka’s existing organizational model with a systems view of organizations; integrating the individual model of health with organizational health. In addition to this academic interest, she works with entrepreneurs and new technologies in the creative process of innovation.

Readings, Lectures, More Info on Organizational Health and Excellence

Ishizuka, Yukio.  Lecture: “In Search of Excellence and Well-Being” Presentation of Life-Track to Mr. Ralph Pheifer, Chairman of IBM Asia and Americas and staff to help enhance executive performance. 1985 (2 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio.  “Individual and Organizational Excellence and Well-Being” Lecture forKeizai Doyu-kai Nagoya Chapter meeting of 200 CEOs and senior executives, 1987 (1.5 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio, “Facing Structural Challenges: The U.S. and Japan.”  AT&T Global Business Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona, March 26, 1992 (2.5 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio.  “The Breakdown of Elite Japanese Executives Abroad” Lecture forKeizai Doyu-kai meeting of 200 Japanese CEOs, 1986 (1.5 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio. “How To Overcome Stress at the Top” Lecture for The Japanese Chemical Manufacturers Club, 50 C.E.O.’s of the Japanese chemical manufacturing companies, September 23, 1997 (1 hour)

Ishizuka, Yukio, “The Japanese Mind: Its Implications for the U.S.-Japan Relationship” AT&T Global Business Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona, March 26, 1992 (2.5 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio, “Facing Structural Challenges: The U.S. and Japan.”  AT&T Global Business Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona, March 26, 1992 (2.5 hours)

Ishizuka, Yukio. “Excellence and Wellbeing : How to Achieve and Grow Both” Lecture forAnnual Meeting of IFMSA-Japan (International Federation of Medical Student Association-Japan)

Ishizuka, Yukio.  “Happiness and Success : How To Achieve and Grow Both” Lecture forNippon Club of New York, 2007

Ishizuka, Y. and ed. Ishizuka N., “Special Report, How to Help Executives under Stress,”Nikkei Business, September 1992.

Ishizuka, Yukio, “Breakdown of a Japanese Businessman: a Trap for Business Elites,”Voice Magazine, January 1984.

Ishizuka, Yukio, “The Pitfall for Business Elites,” Nikkei Business, the leading Japanese Business Magazine, September 1986.

Ishizuka, Yukio.  “Stress is Your Friend,” Asahi Shinbun International, August 27,1992. A feature interview with Dr. Ishizuka.

Ishizuka, Yukio, “Japan’s Place in the World,” Zaikai-Koron, a Japanese business monthly, 1976.  Among those interviewed by Dr. Ishizuka were Mr. David Rockefeller, Chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank, Mr. George Ball, former Secretary of State, Mr. Joseph Fravin, CEO of Singer & C., Professor Henry de Bettignies, Director of the Asian Center of INSEAD, and Professor Hugh T. Patrick of Yale University.

Shiroyama, S., The Conditions for Survival. Kodansha: Tokyo, 1991. The book consists of in-depth interviews with eleven individuals from diverse fields. Dr. Ishizuka was interviewed along with the economist Milton Friedman, Andrew Night, editor-in-chief of The Economist, and golfer Jack Nicolas.

“International Front, Japanese Middle Management under Stress,” The New York Times, Sunday March 29,1992. Interview with Dr. Ishizuka.

Casey, E., “A New Computer Tool,” Wall Street Micro News, Oct. 1985.

Lewyn, Mark and Kelly, Erin. “Now, Feedback from Life-Track,” USA Today, September 26,1985.

“Mental Health for an International Businessman,” Mental Health Magazine for Management, March 1984.

Berger, M., “A Japanese Psychiatrist’s Answer to Executive Stress,” International Management, McGraw-Hill, March 1987. An interview with Dr. Yukio Ishizuka introducing Life-Track.

Yogata, M., “Personal Setback and Growth,” Marubeni, December 1985. A personal account documenting the depression and recovery of one of Dr. Ishizuka’s former patients while on assignment in New York. The article celebrates Yogata’s promotion toDirector of leading Japanese corporation.

Costa, P., “The Case of Sad Success,” Gannet Westchester Newspapers, September 11, 1985. A cover-page interview featuring Dr. Ishizuka.

“From Management Consulting to Psychiatric Practice,” Trapedia, May 1982. Interview with Dr. Ishizuka.

“First Encounters,” Business Tokyo, January 1992. Dr. Ishizuka quoted as expert for American businessmen in Japan.

“Japanese Executives Under Stress,” Yomiuri Shinbun, January 12,1986.

Shiroyama, S., Getting Stronger, Overcoming Setbacks. Nippon Keizai Shimbun: Tokyo, 1983. Shiroyama is one of the most prominent authors in Japan. Quotes Dr. Ishizuka extensively.

Woller, B., “When Work is Your World,” Gannet Westchester Newspapers, February 2,1988. Dr. Ishizuka quoted in front-page article.

Woller, B., “When Work is Your World,” Gannet Westchester Newspapers, February 2,1988. Dr. Ishizuka quoted in front-page article.

Copyright © 2010 LifeTrack Corporation

A Need for Models based on Healthy Human Beings

Organizational and International behavior should be based on assumptions about healthy human beings.  Read section a Science of Health (life way), Criteria for Health Models (science of happiness), Happiness Defined? Quantified?  (cycle of life),  Happier? (fear of the unknown),  Why Positive Mental Health Works (objective subjective), and Insights (life purpose).

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Ready Made Descriptions to Link to Organizational and International Behavior:

Individual Health, Organizational Health, National Health
Applications about healthy human beings to economics, international affairs, nations, organizational behavior.  A new organizational behavior concept or simply a new field of international behavior based on healthy human beings?

 

Life Purpose

For those seeking inner well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness or a sense of mastery) as their life purpose, there seems to be several paths.  Some attempt to find such inner well-being through the Self, others through Intimacyor Achievement.  Still others through Spirituality.  To build and balance inner well-being one may need to be present in all spheres of life.

Self Sphere

Buddha believed that the mind suffers when we dwell upon past misfortunes or future desires.  According to Buddha, the end of suffering lies in complete awareness of the present, bringing the mind to a state of emptiness.   In this sense, Buddha believed the mind has subjective power over external events.  Although we cannot control what happens to us in life, we can control the way in which we respond to it.  We can accept the present moment for what is and in that manner stop suffering from it.  To attempt that, Buddha found that meditation and breathing helped to achieve a state of emptiness or being.  Meditation in this form can be a vehicle for one’s true self (one’s consciousness) to merge with the universe.

Today, many people attempt this, sometimes with the help of Zen or other spiritual teachings.  Through it, one may feel “at peace,” and “in touch” or “in control” apart from what happens in our intimate relationships and achievements.  In this sense, enlightenment through the Self if achieved can be life transforming.  It may be an ideal path for some.  Refreshed and invigorated the Self can then better reach out to others in closeness and in meaningful achievement.

Achievement Sphere

Some of us feel a sense of peace or being when we achieve.  For most, this means when we are at work.  Although not all aspects of work are enjoyable, there are peak moments when we are one with our work.  We lose a sense of time.  During these moments, we experience peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness or mastery.

These peak states are not easy to attain, but as most of us expend much time and effort at work (achievement sphere) most have experienced positive peaks of wellbeing during work — or alternatively when we achieve in a passion, hobby or favorite sport (also a form of achievement).

Peak states often do not last long, but when experienced give a sense of quietness.  Those who experience longer lasting states, often experience them when  they move towards a life goal with a sense of lightness that enables them to enjoy the present moment.

Intimacy Sphere

Most of us want to find love above all else.  As adults, we seek such love in a couple relationship, the most intimate union of two human beings emotionally, intellectually and physically sexually.  Because couple intimacy can provide the strongest sense of oneness with another and with the world, we crave it.  When disappointed, hurt or frustrated, the same couple relationship that provided well-being can provoke peaks of anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression or psychosis.

Couple intimacy can provide a sense of peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness and mastery.  Yet, like achievement, continued wellbeing in intimacy involves our full attention.  To shortcut effort, some seek a sense of one-ness in sex, where he or she may temporally lose a sense of self and become one with the other and the world.  Yet often such intimacy is fleeting.  Unless intimacy is given the attention and work that we often readily give to achievement or to our sense of self, the sense of connection is lost.

Pleasure and Wellbeing are Different

Well-being or states that can encompass moments of peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness and mastery are experienced when we are fully present in any one sphere (self, intimacy, achievement).  Yet, states of wellbeing are not to be sought directly or mistaken as mere pleasure (sex, alcohol, etc).  Of course, sex can be pleasurable but sex without intimacy does not sustain a greater sense of well-being.  Alcohol or drugs may make one feel good by temporarily escaping reality, but there is no mastery.  The self may mistakenly feel ‘at peace,’ but is neither ‘in control,’ nor ‘in touch.’ While well-being brings a background or constance to one’s inner state, pleasure is always fleeting.

Well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery) can be experienced as we build and balance our sense of self, intimate relationships and achievement at much higher levels than before.  At higher states of wellbeing one still experiences suffering, yet suffering occurs in the background of a larger sense of inner happiness, peace, friendliness, physical wellbeing and mastery.

Resistance in the form of Stress

Regardless of the sphere one approaches or builds inner well-being, one finds resistance.  As one experiences a challenge or pushes beyond a previous best level of adjustment, one will need to overcomestress or fear (anxiety, anger, physical-symptoms, depression or even for some psychosis).  These defenses can be triggered from a difficult past or may be dormant in people who have had positive experiences.

Fear exists in all of us to differing degrees.  Stress surfaces when we push beyond a previous best level of self, intimacy or achievement or when we are overwhelmed with a current challenge.

As we grow, we cannot avoid stress.  Stress is a normal sign that the mind is momentarily overwhelmed.  Either a positive or negative experience can trigger it.  When stressed, we may experience a hierarchy of defense including anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression or psychosis.  These are not pleasant states and there are a variety of stress techniques we can use in our daily life to grow from crisis.  Some who hate life itself experience 5 alternatives at his or her threshold of individual stress tolerance.

Building health and happiness is difficult.  When we cannot overcome a challenge, it may be necessary to withdraw from the challenge temporarily.  This allows us to achieve a better perspective.  Once rested, we can return to our life challenge to surpass a previous level of intimacy, self or achievement.   When we feel we can not breakthrough nor withdraw, it is important to reach out to others and when necessary seek professional help.

Spirituality

The Lifetrack model of positive mental health follows the criteria established by Jahodafor robust models of health which can explain the mind at its best and worst.  Such models are demanding in nature, but when adequate can provide insight to individuals in dire distress or at their optimal best.  Perhaps such models should also explain the need for human spirituality.

The Lifetrack model does not espouse any one religion or model of spirituality.  Yet it allows room for them to exist.  To understand the role of spirituality in such a model, one examines how the three spheres inter-act and over-lap to form our personalities.

Each sphere affects all the others.  Outer experience touches the inner and vice-versa.  We do not exist in isolation.  Our self, intimacy and achievement spheres inter-act and influence each other and our experience of the world.  When you have a bad day at work, that influences your relationship.  When your relationship is shaky, that influences your state of mind at work.  When your Self sphere experiences stress (out of touch, not at peace nor in control), your love and work suffers.  Through our senses the outside world influences our inner experience.

Notice, that at the center of the overlap amongst the three spheres is a space.  That center or space can represent inner consciousness.  It embodies our essence that experiences our self, intimacy and achievement spheres.

In other words, some may become aware of this space as they become selfless (the true self becoming one with the universe as in Buddhism), or find and achieve a life task that has an impact on a neighbor or on humanity (meaningful achievement), or experience the love of a spouse, of children, of other human beings, God, nature and the universe (intimacy).  As inner consciousness grows, one might imagine that this inner vortex grows.

Spirituality : An Extension of the Intimacy Sphere

In terms of the Lifetrack model of positive mental health, spirituality is seen as an extension of the intimacy sphere. This is because transcendental love and the love for another human being are not seen as two different quests, but a related one.  That is when we love another human being unconditionally or experience the love of God; each fortifies the experience of the other.  It is as if the door to one, can open the other.

Dr. Ishizuka is himself open to Buddhism, Zen and Christianity. He is agnostic, open to the reality of such existence, without wishing to name one or espouse one over the other.  His work as a therapist remains rooted on the individual and human intimacy.

Because the Lifetrack positive mental health model evolved in the course of working with patients through Dr. Yukio Ishizuka’s work as a psychiatrist, therapy focuses on human relationships, and notably, the most meaningful, inter-dependent and difficult human relationship: the couple.  Although this relationship has the potential for us to experience the greatest joy or ecstasy, it also has the capacity for us to experience the greatest pain.

Dr. Ishizuka teaches a couple to disarm the mutual defenses against closeness (anxiety, anger, physical-symptoms, depression, and psychosis) to breakthrough to a much higher level of intimacy than a couple has ever experienced previously.   A breakthrough in intimacy pervades all areas of one’s life ; including the self and achievement spheres.

Through breakthrough intimacy, Ishizuka helps an individual become and remain closer to an important other person (spouse or equivalent) long after therapy has terminated. This source of unconditional love and happiness in one’s couple relationship (at far higher levels than the individual previously experienced at his or her best), transforms the individual, the couple, and often how they experience their achievement and self spheres.

Interestingly, when one can love another human being such as a spouse or equivalent (love definition), it may also open a door for spirituality.  In the same manner, spiritual intimacy (becoming one with Christ or in Buddhism one with the Universe) also opens the door for greater compassion and love to all human beings.

Cycle of Life and the Growth of Spheres that build Health

Over one’s life one will re-define one’s self, intimacy and achievement spheres.  Through this growth, the circles expand and grow larger.  As an adult, one’s spheres encompass a closer relationship with an important other person such as a spouse or equivalent, with others around us and with the world.

As the spheres expand, the definition of self, intimacy and achievement expands to encompass more of the world.  Many engage in helping a larger cause than oneself, or one’s immediate family.  In this manner, we engage with others and with the world defining our three spheres in a broader sense.

Happiness and Health: Inner Transformation First

The person who wants to change the world (large achievement sphere) but who has not changed himself first, may become overwhelmed.  He or she may outwardly have a large achievement, self or intimacy sphere (and be admired by many), but may not be reaping the full experience of inner peace, friendliness, physical-wellbeing, happiness and mastery which usually accompanies such growth in spheres.

Through effort and self-denial, one can accomplish much (and often be regarded as a genius).  However noble and life changing one’s accomplishments, when one’s achievement remains external, one foregos the present.  Accomplishment gives a sense of joy, friendliness or love — but not for long.  Once one goal is achieved, another larger goal is presented.

Through Breakthrough Intimacy, by becoming far closer to another human being (usually spouse or equivalent), we may experience longer lasting peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery.  Through a deeper experience of closeness with the most important person in one’s life, we make a fundamental breakthrough in all areas of life and experience longer lasting well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery).

In the Lifetrack experience, breakthrough intimacy provides a deep transformation in all spheres of life–including achievement.  It is as if at such higher levels of intimacy, one initiates a transformation process in human personality that is far more profound than any direct work on achievement or superficial work on the Self.

Once breakthrough intimacy is achieved and sustained for a period, the self and achievement spheres rise to meet and balance it at much higher levels of well-being or adjustment.  The breakthrough, initiated in the intimacy sphere, extends to all spheres of life.

The goal of life is to build one’s spheres: to develop a larger sense of self, intimacy and achievement, but with a sense of lightness.

There is no limit to inner growth.  The self at its peak become selfless (the true self becoming one with the universe as in Buddhism).  Achievement (the desire to do something meaningful, well or difficult) impacts not only our neighbor, but potentially humanity. Intimacy, our love for a spouse or equivalent, may encompass children, neighbors, all other human beings, God, nature or the universe.

Inner transformation is possible through any one sphere.  In the context of Lifetrack, the breakthrough point is through the intimacy sphere (couple relationship).  Through this most important and difficult relationship the couple is taught to disarm their defenses (anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression and psychosis) that are triggered by rising intimacy.

Other approaches to internal change may attempt to go through the Self (spiritual teachings) or through achievement (aligning one’s inner purpose and outer achievement).

If we grow in all spheres and can do so with playfulness and humor from within (we do not take ourselves too seriously), we may experience true self, intimacy and achievement, and also enjoy each moment.  We can change the world by experiencing change within ourselves.  From this position of inner peace, friendliness, physical wellbeing, happiness and mastery, effective action is strengthened.

As we grow our presence in our self, intimacy and achievement spheres, we can grow to encompass a larger, healthier world.  We incorporate the world in ourselves and experience ourselves in the world.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Read our section Happiness and Health, a Science of Health (life way), Criteria for Health Models (science of happiness), Happiness Defined? Quantified?  (cycle of life),  Happier? (fear of the unknown),  Why Positive Mental Health Works (objective subjective), and Applications (international behavior).

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

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Life Purpose, love god, spirituality definition, nature spirituality, Zen, Christianity, Buddhism, love definition, work definition, self definition

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The species “man,” can be defined not only in anatomical and physiological terms; its members share basic psychic qualities, the laws which govern their mental and emotional functioning, and the aims for a satisfactory solution of the problem of human existence.

It is true that our knowledge of man is still so incomplete that we cannot yet give a satisfactory definition of man in a psychological sense.  It is the task of the “science of man” to arrive eventually at a correct description of what deserves to be called human nature. — Erich Fromm (the Sane Society)

Thinking the Unthinkable : A refreshing life way

Can there really be a “science of man”?  How are we to know if psychic qualities really exist?  And, if they do, how might one come to know their nature – let alone how such psychic qualities are related and interact?

The Answer Not Freud (Freud psychoanalysis), but Einstein

Interestingly, the answer to this question may not come from Freud, but Einstein.  He wrote, “In our endeavor to understand reality we are somewhat like a man trying to understand the mechanism of a closed watch.  He sees the face and the moving hands, even hears it’s ticking, but he has no way of opening the case.  If he is ingenious, he may form some picture of a mechanism for all the things he observes, but he may never be quite sure his picture is the only one, which could explain his observations.  He will never be able to compare his picture with the mechanism and he cannot even imagine the possibility and meaning of such comparison.”

How We Make Sense of Reality

Einstein, by sharing this story of the watch, was describing the way the natural science of physics makes sense of reality.

He was well aware that despite that physicists may never discover exactly what was underneath the watch, there were still means to come closer to understanding it.

His predecessor, Newton, had done precisely that.  After stating a few postulates that most of the scientists in his time accepted, Newton attempted to show how the postulates could explain many of the things they observed.  To do so, however, he first had to define what it was he wanted to selectively observe or explain, and find a means or method to measure it (the latter was done by creating calculus).

A Science of Man

In much the same way as physicists must grapple with understanding what is under the watch without being able to see it, the challenge with developing a natural “science of man” could be the same.  The first step then is to do what physics and all natural sciences must courageously attempt: describe general phenomena, concepts or abstractions, which explain a wide variety of experiences.  In the case of a science of man those general concepts concern human psychological experience. This endeavor is likely to be a more difficult task than physics!

What are the Spheres of Psychological Existence?

While all attempts to understand the mind are imperfect, if one begins in the tradition of the natural sciences one must start by describing psychological phenomena that are abstract (and encompassing enough) that they hold true for most psychological experience.  These postulates need to encompass psychic qualities that when present determine the experience of well-being and health or when absent distress and illness.  If indeed there were such core psychic qualities, the laws of “which govern our mental and emotional functioning,” then it would follow that when we move in accordance with those laws well-being is the result.

Can the Same Spheres define health and illness?

Forces, including self-defeating thoughts, feelings and actions, can help us understand the causes of non-organic disease.  Naturally, assuming the very existence of psychological laws or of a better understanding of the structure of the human mind is to think the unthinkable.  Yet, no science is exempt from thinking the unthinkable – of asking of itself the very simple questions that only children dare ask.  These are the most dangerous questions, the ones that can shake the very foundations of any science.

Do the same assumptions hold for the body and mind?

Today, psychiatrists and psychologists need to be asking those questions.  As of yet, the medical field has focused its attention on developing a fairly consistent and increasingly accurate means to classify and measure illnesses, disease and disorders.  In this science of disease, mental illness is analogous to physical illness.  Whether one has cancer or depression, successful treatment demands the elimination of the disease, its reduction or containment.  To be healthy is not to be sick.

The Limits of a Medical Model based on the Body

This “medical model” has been helpful, yet it has a built-in limitation: it cannot explain the mind at its most healthy, creative and fullest potential.  In that sense it can not qualify as a natural science of man.  Too eager to establish a study of the mind as a science, psychiatrists never wondered whether the same assumptions hold for the body and mind.  To use Einstein’s analogy, while surgery, allowed the doctor to open up “the watch” and see whether they were right or wrong about what makes it tick, a science of the mind could not.  Psychiatrists had no idea if whether they were on the right track.  Although psychiatry has come a long way and helped many people, perhaps it should have evolved even further.

DSM useful, but too narrow to understand the Mind

Although pharmacological research has given the medical field increasingly effective and safer medications such as Prozac, the disease model has failed to prove that specific chemical changes in the brain is the cause or the cure for all mental illnesses.  What the field has now is a classification for disease that is helpful for the disbursement of medication, the labeling of “illnesses’” and insurance purposes.

The Death of the Disease Model?

Today this science based on disease is dying — not because it is wrong — but because it presents too narrow a worldview.  It does not attempt to do what all the natural sciences must: describe general phenomena, concepts or abstractions, which explain a wide variety of (human psychological) experiences.  To do so one must return to the challenge offered by Jahoda to develop a model of Positive Mental Health.

The Lifetrack model of positive mental health described on this website is one such attempt (insights Lifetrack), but is certainly not the only model possible.  In this respect, all models are imperfect and wait further testing (objective subjective) by patients to be refined and improved.

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Read our section Happiness and Health, Criteria for Health Models (science of happiness), Happiness Defined? Quantified?  (cycle of life),  Happier? (fear of the unknown),  Why Positive Mental Health Works (objective subjective), Insights (life purpose), and Applications (international behavior).

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Health: A Refreshing Life Way
Health and happiness, nature of man or life way, science of health, love definition, self definition, work definition as psychological spheres of existence.
http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/happiness-and-health/life-way/