Preface from Arthur Deikman
in The Observing Self (1982):
“So habitual is the trance
of ordinary life that one could say that human beings are a race that sleeps
and awakens, but does not awaken fully. Because half-awake is sufficient for
the tasks we customarily do, few of us are aware of the dysfunction of our condition[ing].
Moments of more complete awakening do occur, but the consensus of the group and
[our] automatic functioning… make such phenomena transient curiosities rather
than urgent signals the something is [lacking in] the ‘normal’ state.
“[Just] as a child is
unaware of the more comprehensive awareness of an adult, the adult is unaware
of the more extensive awareness of the person who has developed to another
level.”
Put another way – and using
what may be a more palatable word than “trance” – Consensus Consciousness
is nothing more exotic or strange than the effect of being surrounded by others
who have been similarly conditioned, instructed, indoctrinated, socialized,
habituated, imprinted and/or normalized to see, hear, feel and sense what comes
into their perception in a way that is not always consonant with what is
actually there.
But encapsulated in that
description is the notion that what one thinks one sees, hears, feels and
senses may well be waaaaay off the actual mark if one’s conditioning, etc., grossly
distorts their perceptions… as is the case, for example, among members of
bizarre New Age, “human potential” and religious cults.
Socialization,
Normalization and Consensus Consciousness
Radical
as some of these notions may seem to the vast majority of us who were in-struct-ed, conditioned, socialized, habituated, normalized and institutionalized to consensus consciousness,
the following facts seem more than supportable for one who has used the most
research-proven and widely-accepted techniques of clinical psychology to overcome such
conditioning, etc., and seen the same methods “work” in hundreds of others.
1) The empirical evidence that supports the cognitive basis of psychopathology (as well as
the use of the cognitive psychotherapies to treat it) is overwhelming: Most
people who suffer from depression, anxiety, mania, neurosis, psychosis, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and
various personality disorders do so because
they believe things to be the way they are not... and
fail to see, hear, feel and otherwise sense the way things actually are.
2) Virtually everyone is at least somewhat disconnected from actual reality via
use of various "defense mechanisms." These defense
mechanisms are built on beliefs, ideas, ideals, assumptions,
presumptions, convictions, misunderstandings, fantasies, prejudices,
instructions, commands, rules, regulations, requirements... many of which
have become relatively normalized in the common culture as the
result of parental, peer and other behavioral modeling in the so-called “echo
chambers” of Berger & Luckman’s Social Construction of Reality.
3) Emotional distress has been linked by researchers since Aaron Beck et
al specific collections of such belief-based defense mechanisms, aka "cognitive distortions." These defense
mechanisms may have been acquired to "protect" us from actual threats
of physical, verbal and/or emotional abuse (e.g.: criticism, devaluation,
invalidation, covert control, cynical manipulation, intimidation, bullying, battery,
rape) or abandonment (e.g.: rejection, neglect, being ignored, being
marginalized, being "excommunicated"). But they often set up
"feedback loops" of compensatory beliefs, emotions and
dysfunctional behavior that cause more problems
in never-ending cycles of uncomfortable emotions and ineffective efforts
to avoid them.
4) People who have "psychological problems" tend not to realize,
recognize, acknowledge, accept, own, appreciate or understand that their
behaviors -- and the beliefs that drive those behaviors -- are
the cause of their emotional suffering, including frustration, resentment,
anger, worry, anxiety, sadness, regret, remorse, guilt, shame and grief.
5) Most people who have "psychological problems" were innocently
conditioned, taught, trained, socialized, habituated, accustomed and normalized
to believe that they are entirely responsible
for their mental illness... or that other external forces are
entirely responsible. They are not able to see, hear or otherwise sense that
neither circumstance is absolutely or totally the
cause.
6) Most people who suffer from depression, anxiety, mania, neurosis,
psychosis, addiction, suppression, repression and/or dissociation, as well as post-traumatic stress
disorder and various personality disorders will begin to
recover from such difficulties as they begin to observe to notice to recognize
to acknowledge to accept to own to appreciate to understand that they believe things
to be the way they are not... and fail to see, hear and
otherwise sense the way things actually are.
7) Most people who suffer from depression, anxiety, mania, neurosis,
psychosis, addiction, suppression, repression and/or dissociation, as well
as post-traumatic stress disorder and various personality disorders
will almost wholly transcend such difficulties when they are
consistently and reliably able to see, hear and otherwise sense the way
things actually are, as well as see, hear and otherwise
sense the way things are believed to be in the consensus
trance.
Understanding the Issues
Firstly, we need to define some relevant terms as to what they actually mean
with respect to unobservable mental operations and the effects of those
operations on observable sensations, feelings, emotions and behavior.
Grasp of the definitions is helpful (some say "crucial") for those who wish to escape from the painful effects of the unconscious beliefs, thoughts, ideas, instructions, codes, rules, regulations, requirements, assumptions, presumptions, prejudices in their minds. Beliefs, thoughts, instructions, etc., that influence the interpretations, evaluations, appraisals, analyses, assessments, judgments and attributions of meaning that govern their emotions and behaviors.
So, let's start with Tart's concept of "consensus consciousness."
“Together, human groups agree on which of their perceptions should be admitted to awareness (hence, consensus), then they train each other to see the world in that way and only in that way (hence trance).”
Above from http://www.cantrip.org/charles_tart.html -- which should definitely be at least scanned before one moves on here -- as well as http://www.amazon.com/Charles-T.-Tart/e/B000AQ4UXC. For a truly complete grasp of the concept, however, I recommend Tart’s magnum opus, Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential, originally published by Shambala in 1986.
socialization
a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.
above from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/socialization
the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture
above from https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/socialization
the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs, values and ideologies
above from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialization
authority
the power to give orders or make decisions : the power or right to
direct or control someone or something
the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something
or who is respected or obeyed by other people
a quality that makes something seem true or real
power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
grounds, warrant <had
excellent authority for believing the claim>; convincing
force <lent authority to the performance>
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authority
social proof
a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for a given situation. This effect is prominent in ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behavior, and is driven by the assumption that surrounding people possess more knowledge about the situation.
above from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof
Social proof is the concept that people will conform to the actions of others under the assumption that those actions are reflective of the correct behavior.
above from https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-social-proof
normalization
...social processes through which ideas and actions come to be seen as "normal" and become taken-for-granted or 'natural' in everyday life. ... the construction of an idealized norm of conduct. The effects of social influence can be seen in the tendency of large groups to conform to choices which may be either correct or mistaken, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as herd behavior.
above from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalization_(sociology)
paradigm
...a standard, perspective, or set of ideas.
A paradigm is a way of looking at something.
above from https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/paradigm
a model or pattern for something that may be copied
a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done,
made, or thought about
a philosophical and theoretical framework of a school or
discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments
performed in support of them are formulated;
broadly: a philosophical or theoretical framework of any
kind
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paradigm
a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a community.
such a cognitive framework shared by members of any discipline or group
above from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paradigm
consensus
general agreement... "a consensus of opinion among judges" ... synonyms: agreement, harmony, concurrence, accord, unity, unanimity, solidarity
a formal concord:
"there was consensus among delegates" ... general
opinion, majority opinion, common view: "the consensus was that
they should act"
general agreement : unanimity
the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned
group solidarity in sentiment and belief
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consensus
majority of opinion: The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month.
general agreement or concord; harmony.
above from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/consensus
a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people: The general consensus in the office is that he can't do his job. Could we reach a consensus on this matter? Let's take a vote. We were unable toreach a consensus about membership fees. There is little consensus about theissue of smacking children. We managed to get a consensus about not smoking in the office.
above from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/consensus
consciousness
the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is
happening around you
a person's mind and thoughts
knowledge that is shared by a group of people
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness
What consensus is NOT:
empirical
evidence
based on testing or experience
originating in or based on observation or
experience <empirical data>
relying on experience or observation alone often without due
regard for system and theory <an empirical basis for the
theory>
capable of being verified or disproved by observation or
experiment<empirical laws>
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empirical
Relying on or derived from observation or experiment: empirical results that supported the hypothesis.
Verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment: empirical laws.
Guided by practical experience and not theory, especially in medicine.
above from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/empirical
"...a collective term for the knowledge or source of knowledge acquired by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation ... information that justifies a belief in the truth or falsity of a claim ... observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories..."
above from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empirical_evidence
What consensus consciousness is NOT:
perception
the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. "the normal limits to human perception"
the state of being or process of becoming aware of something through the senses. "the perception of pain"
synonyms: recognition, awareness, consciousness, appreciation, realization, knowledge, grasp, understanding, comprehension, apprehension;
formal cognizance
Though the word "perception" is confusingly misused in the vernacular to mean the exact opposite:
a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. "Hollywood's perception of the tastes of the American public"
synonyms: impression, idea, conception, notion, thought, belief, judgment, estimation
Clearly, the first two definition and list of synonyms above refer to empirical process, while the latter definition and list of synonyms refers to the operation of rational -- and verbal symbolic -- thought processes that often have little, if anything, to do with empirical observation.
a result of perceiving : observation (see perceive)
a mental image : concept
obsolete : consciousness
awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation<color perception>
physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience
quick, acute, and intuitive cognition : appreciation
a capacity for comprehension
above from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perception
the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities;
insight; intuition; discernment:
an artist of rare perception.
the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.
above from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/perception
Linking the Definitions Together
Now that we have the definitions down, we can proceed with connecting the dots between them more or less as the authors listed at the end hereof have done (at least partially) over the last 75 years.
Is it evident yet that if one is unaware of and/or does not accurately understand the concepts of...
1)
authority,
2) social
proof,
3)
socialization,
4)
normalization,
5)
paradigm,
6)
consensus,
7)
consciousness,
8)
empirical evidence (or lack thereof), and
9) accurate perception (or lack thereof)...
that it is likely that one will
1) not only be unable to grasp the meaning and implications of consensus consciousness, one will also...
2) be very likely to be unable to see beyond or outside the paradigm (or "box") of consensus consciousness?
Because if one relies on unexamined authority, social proof, consensus and unconscious paradigms to the exclusion of accurate perception and (resulting) empirical evidence, one can expect to be socialized and normalized to the "consciousness" (or paradigms) of those who establish, control and maintain the consensus. For example,
1) If one identifies oneself as a fan of a particular type of popular music and relies on social proof, consensus and paradigms from within that music culture to the exclusion of accurate perception and (resulting) empirical evidence, one can expect to agree with any new version of reality offered by a peer or authority from that musical culture.
2) If one is a member of a particular religious sect and relies on social proof, consensus and paradigms from within the sect culture to the exclusion of accurate perception and (resulting) empirical evidence, one can expect to agree with any new version of reality offered by a sect member or authority.
3) If one is a member of a particular political party and relies on social proof, consensus and paradigms from within the party culture to the exclusion of accurate perception and (resulting) empirical evidence, one can expect to agree with any new version of reality offered by a party peer or party.
In fact, if one identifies consciously or unconsciously with any particular group or culture, one can expect to agree with, support and act upon the points of view expressed by peers and authorities from within that cultural paradigm regardless of whether what they assert is factual or not. That is the nature of social proof.
The upshots of unconscious reliance upon authority, social proof and unconscious paradigm without resort to accurate perception and/or empirical evidence is that one may believe in gross falsehoods. And if one relies habitually on authority, social proof and unconscious paradigm, it is likely that he or she will slip into the paradigm of the consensus trance.
That wouldn't be a problem if the beliefs, thoughts, instructions, codes, rules, regulations, requirements, assumptions, presumptions, and prejudices commonly found in the consensus trance were (even relatively) accurate. But those beliefs, etc., are so often at least partially misleading and sometime just plain grossly erroneous that relying upon them as guides to functional behavior is patently risky.
How can one tell if one is too far IN to the consensus trance?
Based on observing hundreds of people who had fallen into the paradigm of consensus consciousness for more than 35 years (since I studied my own way out of a large group awareness cult in the 1970s and then recovered from alcohol and drug addiction in the 1980s), I have to assert the following:
1) There will be times when life will be unnecessarily painful.
2) One
will experience a great deal of emotionally loaded mental conflict because they
have beliefs that do not square with each other, or with empirical, observable reality.
3) One will repeat the same mistakes again and again expecting different
results.
4) So-called "intimate" relationships will not be, and they will either crumble... or continue with relentless emotional discomfort.
How can one get out of the consensus trance?
Any of several cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based cognitive psychotherapies will be helpful, including those listed immediately below:
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Mindfulness-BasedCognitive Therapy
RationalEmotive Behavioral Therapy
But it has been my experience with the use of all of these psychotherapies that...
1) they only produce the desired, emotion-relieving results so long as they continue to be used at least every few days,
2) the skills one acquires from these therapies may be too complex to recall and/or accurately utilize after even a few weeks of disuse, and
3) the skills are usually grossly under-utilized to deal with the challenges in patients' lives which they do not see as "psychological."
I began
to observe to notice to recognize to acknowledge to accept to own to appreciate
to understand, both conceptually and experientially, that this
was the case several years ago. Some time later (while I was studying
the "non-traditional" psychotherapeutic techniques used many years
ago by Siddartha Gautama, George Gurdjieff and Jiddu Krishnamurti in
relationship to family and cultural influences on the development of
schizophrenia) I began formulate a solution.
As did the Buddha, Gurdjieff and Krishnamurti with their methods, I began to
use those 10 StEPs of Emotion Processing myself, refine them... and
then to teach them to others.
One can
read about the simple method -- and even pretty much learn how to use it at no
charge -- at the following links.
The 10 StEPs of Emotion Processing components
of Choiceless Awareness for Emotion Processing
The 10 StEPs combined with Sensorimotor Processing
Psychotherapy
A Program of Recovery for the Survivor of Religious Cult Abuse
SIQR, the 10 StEPs & Recovery from Religious Trauma Syndrome: A How-to Guide
Resources
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