John R. Battista - Journal of Transpersonal Research

A Transpersonal View of Human Development, Psychopathology and PsychotherapyJohn R. Battistaabout it. Possibility and uncertainty about identity are resolved through discriminating self-awareness whichallows the construction of an existential self. With the acceptance of one’s self and affirmation of one’s valuesand beliefs, an authentic self can be constructed. With this construction a new level of consciousness, selfawareness,and a new self-structure, the existential-self, have been attained. Identity is now the object of consciousnesswhile the sense of being one’s own true self, is what one is subject to.The sixth stage of development involves operating on the existential-self and the discriminating, constructivenature of self-awareness characteristic of the preceding stage. For most people this is initiated bycalling into question the purpose, meaning, or significance of the life, person, and work one has been constructing.Sometimes it is initiated by the realization that one is embodied and will die, a realization facilitatedby the development of a physical illness or encounter with death. Sometimes it is initiated by the spontaneousexperience of transpersonal states or a “higher power”. In any case, the constructive nature of discriminatingself-awareness must be transcended. Many techniques for this purpose have been delineated in the contemplativetraditions. In some techniques the person deconstructs self-awareness by witnessing it. In other techniques,self-awareness is transcended by concentrating on an object, sound, or image until all distinctions fallaway. Techniques, such as koan, emphasize contemplation on questions and concepts that require the personto pass beyond constructive, rational consciousness to enlightenment. Similarly, devotion, prayer and servicecan lead beyond self-awareness to the transcendence of subject-object distinction. In all these approaches,disidentification with the existential-self who thinks, acts, discriminates, labels, evaluates, and constructs takesplace. Through disidentification a new order of consciousness, transpersonal, and a new self-structure, therealized-self, comes into being. Here there is no subject or object of consciousness, only pure awareness.This model of development is summarized in Table 2.Table 2The Development of the SelfDevelopment ofthe SelfDevelopmentalTaskPeriod in whichtakes placeOperations utilizedObjects of consciousexperienceFirst Task SecondTaskThird Task FourthTaskFifth Taskdevelopment separation development developmentdevelop-of perception of inner of sense ofof ment of au-and outer selfidentity thentic selfin utereo first year second Year 2-12 years adolescenceand adulthoodCNSdevelopmentsensory inputmotor operationsonperceptionsperceptualworldemotionalattachments,emotionspersonalself,impulsesinterpersonalcommunicationinternalizationdiscrimination,acceptanceand integrationidentity, beliefs,roles,Sixth Taskdevelopmentof arealized selfmaturitydisidentificationpersonality,constructiveconsciousnessContext of conscious-nesswombphysicalworld andcaretakersemotionalattachmentsfamily,school andcommunityrelationswith societyand significantothersuniverse andself© Journal of Transpersonal Research, 2011, Vol. 3 (2), 85-96ISSN: 1989-6077JTR - 89