Societal Regression and some theory behind it....
For a few years I have been thinking about Murray Bowen's Family Systems theory concept of societal regression. Bowen studied families of schizophrenics and recognized intergenerational patterns of emotional transmission, patterns in which certain family members carried the dis-ease of the family and the ways that other family members participated in that transmission process. From these studies he developed his family systems theory which, for those of us who study and apply it, emphasizes personal accountability by taking clearly defined, principled stands based on one's values and belies. Taking these stands however is not done to defend or justify and certainly not to diminish another. One does this simply to be less anxious because one is being mature. Bowen called this, "Self-differentiation." Clearly defined people fall on a spectrum from 1-10, with one being less defined and 10 being fully defined, and no one is ever a 10, except maybe Jesus.
Most of us are able to take principled, well defined, less anxious positions that enable us to stay in relationship with others less than half the time. When we are unable to be manage our anxiety we enter into one or more of the anxiety transmitting processes that Bowen defines: we triangulate. When we triangulate we bring someone else into our anxiety, effectively making them anxious too. Then they bring someone else into the anxiety until a whole lot of people are anxious. The intensity of the anxiety may go down because it's been transmitted to a whole lot of people but the opportunity to effectively respond to the initial anxiety is also diminished because its become more diffused. If the pattern continues, of failing to deal with initial anxiety by passing it on to others instead of dealing with it in one's self and coming to a clear, less anxious position, then eventually the anxiety of the whole system increases but no one understands what is actually causing the anxiety. Instead a pattern of blaming and shaming others begins. Instead of the initially anxious person taking responsibility for whatever caused the feeling in the first place, now that piece is buried under an avalanche of anxiety that has been passed around and around.
Whole societies can enter into this diffused anxiety that ratchets up to chronic and then acute anxiety. Bowen called this "Societal Regression." Regression is a term from Freudian theory that describes a defensive mechanism human beings use to diffuse anxiety by regressing to less mature behavior. A child with a newborn sibling may return to bedwetting as a regressive defense mechanism to gain attention from the parents, thus reducing the child's anxiety about being replaced by the newborn. The list of types of defense mechanisms is long and complicated. But essentially defense mechanism always attempt to diffuse anxiety and help one adapt to a stress in one's life. Defense mechanisms are usually unconscious, so one doesn't even know that one is being defensive. Unless, of course, one works at self-awareness and makes note of patterns of behavior with the aim of being more adaptive, less anxious, more mature. Defense mechanisms can help but usually they become maladaptive and only increase one's anxiety because they do not address the real source of the problem, they merely seek to reduce anxiety by covering up the problem.
Societal Regression is a pattern of whole countries, societies, entering into a state of regression, into less healthy, less adaptive, less mature behavior. A regressive pattern began unfolding in the United States after World War II. It worsened some during the 1950s and rapidly intensified during the 1960s. The “symptoms” of societal regression include a growth of crime and violence, an increasing divorce rate, a more litigious attitude, a greater polarization between racial groups, less principled decision-making by leaders, the drug abuse epidemic, an increase in bankruptcy, and a focus on rights over responsibilities.
Human societies undergo periods of regression and progression in their history. The current regression seems related to factors such as the population explosion, a sense of diminishing frontiers, and the depletion of natural resources. Bowen predicted that the current regression would, like a family in a regression, continue until the repercussions stemming from taking the easy way out on tough issues exceeded the pain associated with acting on a long-term view. He predicted that will occur before the middle of the twenty-first century and should result in human beings living in more harmony with nature. If Bowen is correct I won't live long enough to experience this shift. (sigh).
Symptoms of societal regression according Bowen theory include:
Three other theorists contribute to understanding the state we are in: Piaget, Kohlberg, and Gilligan. Piaget developed a theory of how children learn to think. Beginning with a sensorimotor process of putting things in one's mouth and learning from touching, tasting, feeling, seeing, and hearing, children develop the capacity to understand the world. Some people get stuck in certain developmental stages like the pre-operational (operational meaning thinking) stage that emphasizes language development. Language is a symbol for thought, but if one is stuck here one cannot yet think logically or abstractly. Concrete operational (kids 7-11) develop the capacity to think logically, to work things out in their heads. Formal operational (11 years and older) people develop the capacity to think abstractly, to consider concepts outside of one's self.
Kohlberg built off of Piaget's theory creating a theory of moral development. Again the stages are sequential, building off each other. Young children primarily seek to avoid punishment. As the child grows the child develops the ability to seek rewards (instead of merely avoiding punishment). These first two stages Kohlberg called "Preconventioanl." Then the child develops that capacity to intentionally acts good or bad. As (or if) the child matures she or he learns to follow rules. These two steps are part of the stage he called "Conventional." The final two step stage is Post-conventional, and include one acquiring the capacity to consider issues of justice and the greater good.
Carol Gilligan, who studied with Kohlberg, took issue with him on aspects of his theory, primarily because he focused on the development of males and discounted the role that relationships play in moral development of girls and women. Kohlberg leaned toward thinking that women's relationship focus reflected a less developed moral human being because for him the goal was autonomy and an intellectual aspect of universal justice. Kohlberg's theory follows the stages of Kohlberg but includes the important aspects relationship building and maintaining in the process of moral development.
If Bowen is correct that we are in the depths of chronic anxiety that is causing our entire society to regress it seems to me that we are also stuck in some of the stages the Piaget and Gilligan define. We are stuck in thinking concretely and conventionally, driven by fear instead of inspiration. Rather than develop the capacity to take principled stances that encourage creative responses, we buckle down and attempt to do what worked in the past. We regress as a defensive response to anxiety.
The current political climate in this country will not rise above the health (ie self-differentiation ie "anxiety" ie unconscious reactivity) of its leaders. We will truly need one person who is capable of taking a well principled position and functioning from a place that will not be subsumed by defensive actions and words to counter what will surely be thrown about by djt and his ilk and a whole lot of followers. This person will need a lot of healthier people to follow likewise, stop the insane over communication of djt and his ilk and focus in a new way. Can we please just stop reporting about him? And focus on health and the purpose of this country and its people?
Most of us are able to take principled, well defined, less anxious positions that enable us to stay in relationship with others less than half the time. When we are unable to be manage our anxiety we enter into one or more of the anxiety transmitting processes that Bowen defines: we triangulate. When we triangulate we bring someone else into our anxiety, effectively making them anxious too. Then they bring someone else into the anxiety until a whole lot of people are anxious. The intensity of the anxiety may go down because it's been transmitted to a whole lot of people but the opportunity to effectively respond to the initial anxiety is also diminished because its become more diffused. If the pattern continues, of failing to deal with initial anxiety by passing it on to others instead of dealing with it in one's self and coming to a clear, less anxious position, then eventually the anxiety of the whole system increases but no one understands what is actually causing the anxiety. Instead a pattern of blaming and shaming others begins. Instead of the initially anxious person taking responsibility for whatever caused the feeling in the first place, now that piece is buried under an avalanche of anxiety that has been passed around and around.
Whole societies can enter into this diffused anxiety that ratchets up to chronic and then acute anxiety. Bowen called this "Societal Regression." Regression is a term from Freudian theory that describes a defensive mechanism human beings use to diffuse anxiety by regressing to less mature behavior. A child with a newborn sibling may return to bedwetting as a regressive defense mechanism to gain attention from the parents, thus reducing the child's anxiety about being replaced by the newborn. The list of types of defense mechanisms is long and complicated. But essentially defense mechanism always attempt to diffuse anxiety and help one adapt to a stress in one's life. Defense mechanisms are usually unconscious, so one doesn't even know that one is being defensive. Unless, of course, one works at self-awareness and makes note of patterns of behavior with the aim of being more adaptive, less anxious, more mature. Defense mechanisms can help but usually they become maladaptive and only increase one's anxiety because they do not address the real source of the problem, they merely seek to reduce anxiety by covering up the problem.
Societal Regression is a pattern of whole countries, societies, entering into a state of regression, into less healthy, less adaptive, less mature behavior. A regressive pattern began unfolding in the United States after World War II. It worsened some during the 1950s and rapidly intensified during the 1960s. The “symptoms” of societal regression include a growth of crime and violence, an increasing divorce rate, a more litigious attitude, a greater polarization between racial groups, less principled decision-making by leaders, the drug abuse epidemic, an increase in bankruptcy, and a focus on rights over responsibilities.
Human societies undergo periods of regression and progression in their history. The current regression seems related to factors such as the population explosion, a sense of diminishing frontiers, and the depletion of natural resources. Bowen predicted that the current regression would, like a family in a regression, continue until the repercussions stemming from taking the easy way out on tough issues exceeded the pain associated with acting on a long-term view. He predicted that will occur before the middle of the twenty-first century and should result in human beings living in more harmony with nature. If Bowen is correct I won't live long enough to experience this shift. (sigh).
Symptoms of societal regression according Bowen theory include:
- increased anxiety in individuals and communities
- changes in the status quo that is met with resistance
- mismanaged and misplaced grief and stress
- lack of clarity of what one believes in, values (poor self-differentiation)
- Rising violence - terrorism
- Increased polarization and rigidity of beliefs
- Safety more important than adventure
- Adaptation toward reactive people
- Atmosphere toxic to well-defined leadership
- Not the most creative people who set the agenda, but the most anxious with everyone else adapting to them
Three other theorists contribute to understanding the state we are in: Piaget, Kohlberg, and Gilligan. Piaget developed a theory of how children learn to think. Beginning with a sensorimotor process of putting things in one's mouth and learning from touching, tasting, feeling, seeing, and hearing, children develop the capacity to understand the world. Some people get stuck in certain developmental stages like the pre-operational (operational meaning thinking) stage that emphasizes language development. Language is a symbol for thought, but if one is stuck here one cannot yet think logically or abstractly. Concrete operational (kids 7-11) develop the capacity to think logically, to work things out in their heads. Formal operational (11 years and older) people develop the capacity to think abstractly, to consider concepts outside of one's self.
Kohlberg built off of Piaget's theory creating a theory of moral development. Again the stages are sequential, building off each other. Young children primarily seek to avoid punishment. As the child grows the child develops the ability to seek rewards (instead of merely avoiding punishment). These first two stages Kohlberg called "Preconventioanl." Then the child develops that capacity to intentionally acts good or bad. As (or if) the child matures she or he learns to follow rules. These two steps are part of the stage he called "Conventional." The final two step stage is Post-conventional, and include one acquiring the capacity to consider issues of justice and the greater good.
Carol Gilligan, who studied with Kohlberg, took issue with him on aspects of his theory, primarily because he focused on the development of males and discounted the role that relationships play in moral development of girls and women. Kohlberg leaned toward thinking that women's relationship focus reflected a less developed moral human being because for him the goal was autonomy and an intellectual aspect of universal justice. Kohlberg's theory follows the stages of Kohlberg but includes the important aspects relationship building and maintaining in the process of moral development.
If Bowen is correct that we are in the depths of chronic anxiety that is causing our entire society to regress it seems to me that we are also stuck in some of the stages the Piaget and Gilligan define. We are stuck in thinking concretely and conventionally, driven by fear instead of inspiration. Rather than develop the capacity to take principled stances that encourage creative responses, we buckle down and attempt to do what worked in the past. We regress as a defensive response to anxiety.
The current political climate in this country will not rise above the health (ie self-differentiation ie "anxiety" ie unconscious reactivity) of its leaders. We will truly need one person who is capable of taking a well principled position and functioning from a place that will not be subsumed by defensive actions and words to counter what will surely be thrown about by djt and his ilk and a whole lot of followers. This person will need a lot of healthier people to follow likewise, stop the insane over communication of djt and his ilk and focus in a new way. Can we please just stop reporting about him? And focus on health and the purpose of this country and its people?
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