The importance of ternary awareness for overcoming the inadequacies of contemporary psychiatry

Abstract

Human beings have evolved in steps so that our consciousness has three major components -procedural learning of habits and skills, semantic learning of facts and propositions, and self-awareness of an identity that develops over time and place. Consequently, human consciousness involves growth in our subjective awareness integrating these three aspects of learning and memory. Contemporary psychiatry is substantially impaired by an anti-spiritual bias that is implicit in operational approaches to diagnosis, research, and treatment. Human subjectivity cannot be adequately deconstructed into a collection of mutually independent objects that are free of any psychosocial context, as is usually assumed in a "Chinese-menu" approach to diagnosis and structured interviewing. Materialistic perspectives predispose people to have an outlook of separateness that impairs the well-being of both mental health professionals and their patients. Progress in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment requires a person-centered approach that respects and appreciates human subjectivity and promotes the cultivation of human virtues like hope, love, and courage, along with judicious use of other psychobiological methods of treatment. Healthy functioning requires the development of self-transcendence in addition to self-directedness and cooperativeness. Without self-transcendence, people are consuming more resources than the earth can replenish. The pursuit of individual well-being in the absence of collective well-being is a self-destructive illusion. Consequently contemporary psychiatry needs to focus its attention on understanding human consciousness in a balanced ternary way rather than trying to reduce people to separate material objects.Cloninger CR / Rev Psiq Clín. 2013;40(3):110-3 Keywords: Ternary awareness, self-directedness, cooperativeness, self-transcendence, psychiatry. ResumoOs seres humanos evoluíram em etapas, de modo que nossa consciência desenvolveu três componentes centrais -aprendizagem processual de hábitos e habilidades, aprendizagem semântica de fatos e proposições e autoconsciência de uma identidade que se desenvolve ao longo do tempo e do espaço. Consequentemente, a consciência humana implica o crescimento de nossa subjetividade, integrando esses três aspectos da aprendizagem e da memória. A psiquiatria contemporânea é substancialmente comprometida por um viés antiespiritual que está implícito nas abordagens operacionais de diagnóstico, pesquisa e tratamento. A subjetividade humana não pode ser devidamente desconstruída em uma coleção de objetos independentes entre si, livres de qualquer contexto psicossocial, tal como a que é habitualmente assumida em uma abordagem do tipo "menu chinês" utilizada para o diagnóstico e entrevistas estruturadas. Perspectivas materialistas predispõem os indivíduos a assumirem uma visão de separação que compromete o bem-estar tanto dos profissionais de saúde mental quanto de seus pacientes. O progresso no diagnóstico psiquiátrico, bem como nas formas de tratamento, requer abord...

Clinical implications of spirituality to mental health: review of evidence and practical guidelines

“…43,48 b) Person-centered approach. Implies appreciation of the physical, mental, and spiritual components of human beings, in what Cloninger 19 has called ''ternary awareness.'' All of these aspects have etiological and recovering implications for mental-disordered patients who trust clinicians in their quest for relief, well-being, and a full life.…”

Out of Flatland: The Role of the Notion of a Worldview in the Science of Well-being

“…Nilsson first argues that the notion of unity of being is a presupposition rather than an empirical fact because Cloninger sees it as intuitive (Cloninger, 2004[3]) and that others suggest that its critics lack self-awareness (for a review see Cloninger, 2004[3]). Although Cloninger further develops the notion of unity of being and his view on scientific paradigms in several of his works (e.g., Cloninger 2004[3], Cloninger 2013[8], and Cloninger 2013[9]), we wanted to put this discussion in the context of the analogy that follows.…”

Neuroimagem e mediunidade: uma promissora linha de pesquisa

“…There is as yet no consensus account of the origin of the mind or how neurophysiological processes produce conscious experiences, feelings, and intentions. Despite recurring discussions, promissory materialism has not delivered 46,47 . Although neuroscience can clearly identify neural correlates associated with mental processes, it cannot explain precisely how cerebral activity creates mental-experience phenomena, and this gap leaves certain aspects of mind inexplicable, thus favoring implications for belief in the soul 5,48,49 .…”