Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

directing the will” (p. 5). A whole section of Chapter IV (p. 125-142) in Assagioli (1965) is
devoted to “Technique for the Development of the Will”. (The chapter section is based on
another book by Assagioli: The Act of Will (1973) – I have not been able to consult this title).
Assagioli calls the will ”the unknown and neglected factor in modern psychology and
psychotherapy” (p. 125). As already mentioned, Assagioli considers the will to be a direct
function of the self, and since psychosynthesis is aimed at training and developing the “total
will in action” (p. 126) is is not considered necessary to have an exact conception nor
complete theory of the will. According to Assagioli, training of the will can be done through
exercises related to the 6 specific stages in the expression of the will (described with concept
somewhat differing from those given in the quote above, namely): 1. Goal, valuation,
motivation – 2. Deliberation – 3. Decision – 4. Affirmation – 5. Planning – 6. Direction of the
the execution.
I think it would be possible to relate Assagioli’s six steps to my Grounded Theory model of
developmental steps in the BMGIM process (table 7.6). I see a correspondence between the
role of the will in the suggested “intermediate step” of the model with Assagioli’s “Fiat”/”Let
it be” of stage 4. This is the true turning point: “The act of affirmation consists of a command
or declaration made to oneself” (p. 129.). it could also be interesting to relate Will and Willing
to the concepts of Self-efficacy (Bandura) and Manageability (Antonovsky).
The main difference between BMGIM and Psychosynthesis as related to the will is in my
understanding that Psychosynthesis is a directive technique aimed at control, as illustrated by
the exercises for the specific stages, while GIM is non-directive technique, aimed at
stimulating the ability to Wish in a spontaneous and non-controlling way. The natural,
spontaneous process of BMGIM may be hindered by the client’s resistance or defenses. In
that case physical training, like ‘Body listening’ or ad modum Psychosynthesis, may be used
in an interim period – as illustrated in the case of ANHO (Appendix 8.2.4, sessions #6-8).
7. An English translation of the interview guide (Appendix 6.1) has been added at the end
of this Addenda
8. Appendix 6.3: There is no Appendix 6.3., and the appendices will be re-numbered in the
event of publication.