Kast - Joy Inspiration Hope

8/8/2019 Kast - Joy Inspiration Hope

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/kast-joy-inspiration-hope 1/195

Joy,

Inspiration,

and Hope

N u m b e r One

C A R O L Y N A N D E R N E S T FA Y SERIES

IN A N A L Y T I C A L P S Y C H O L O G Y

D a v i d H . Rosen, General Edi tor





Joy,Inspirat ion,

an d H o p e

Verena Kast

T R A N S L A T E D B Y D O U G L A S W H I T C H E R

F O R E W O R D B Y D A V I D H . R O S E N

Texas A & M U n i v er s i t y Press

C o l l e g e S t a t i o n



C o p y r i g h t © 1991 by Ver ena Kas t

M a n u f a c t u r e d i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a

A l l r i gh t s reserv ed

S e c o n d p r i n t i n g , 2003

T h e p a p e r u s e d i n t hi s b o o k m e e ts t h e m i n i m u m r e q u i re m e n t s

o f th e A m e r i c a n N a t i o n a l S ta n d ar d fo r P e r m a n e n c e

o f P a p e r f or P r i n t e d L i b r a r y M a t e r i a l s , Z39.48-1984.

B i n d i n g ma t er i a l s have b een ch osen for d u ra b i l i t y .

0

LIBRARY O F C O N G R E S S C A T A L O G I N G - IN - PU B L I C A T IO N D A T A

Kast,Verena, 1 9 4 3 -

Joy, inspiration and hope / Verena Kast ; translated by

Douglas W h i t c h e r ; foreword by Da vid H . Ro sen . — 1st ed.

p. cm . — (Car olyn and Ernest Fay series i n analytical

psychology; no. 1)

Includes b ibliograp hical references and inde x.

ISBN 0 - 8 9 0 9 6 - 4 7 0 - x (cloth) ;I S B N 1 - 5 8 5 4 4 - 3 0 9 - 3 (pbk.)

I , Joy. 2 . Inspiration. 3 . H op e. I. Tit le. II. Series.

B F 5 7 5 . H 2 7 K 3 7 1 9 9 1

1 5 2 . 4 — d c 2 0 9 0 - 4 7 3 6 2

C I P



N u m b e r O n e

C A R O L Y N A N D ERNEST FAY SERIES

IN A N A L Y T I C A L P S Y C H O L O G Y

D avid H . Rosen, General Editor

T h e C a r o l y n a n d E r n e s t F a y e d i t e d b o o k s e ri e s, bas e d i n i t i a l l y

o n t h e a n n u a l F a y L e c t u r e S e r i e s i n A n a l y t i c a l P s y c h o l o g y , w a s

e s t a b li s he d t o f u r t h e r t h e id e as o f C . G . J u n g a m o n g s t u d e n t s ,

f a c u l t y , t h e r a pi s t s , a n d o t h e r c i t i z e n s a n d t o e n h a n c e s c h o l a r l y

a c t i v i ti e s re l a te d t o a n a l y t i c a l p s y c h o l o g y . T h e B o o k S e rie s a n dLecture Ser ies address topics o f importance to the i n d i v i d u a l a n d

t o s o c ie t y . B o t h s erie s w e r e g e n e r o u s l y e n d o w e d b y C a r o l y n

G r a n t F ay , t he f o u n d i n g p r e s id e n t o f th e C . G . J u n g E d u c a

t i o n a l C e n t e r i n H o u s t o n , T ex as . T h e s erie s are i n p a r t a m e m o

r i a l t o h e r l a t e h u s ba n d , E r n e s t B e l F a y . C a r o l y n Fay has planted

a Ju n g i a n tree c a r r y i n g b o t h h e r n a m e a n d th a t o f h e r la te h u s

b a n d , w h i c h w i l l bear f r u i t f u l i de a s a n d s t i m u l a t e c r e a t i ve wo r k sf r o m t his t i m e f o r w a r d . Texas A & M U n i v e r s i t y a n d a ll t ho se

w h o c o m e i n c o n t a c t w i t h th e g r o w i n g Fa y J u n g i a n tree are

e x t r e m e l y g r a t e f u l t o C a r o l y n G r a n t F a y f o r w h a t s h e h a s d o n e .

T h e h o l d e r o f th e F r a n k N . M c M i l l a n , J r . P r o f e s s o r s h i p i n

A n a l y t i c a l P s y c h o l o g y at Texas A & M f u n c t i o n s as t he g e n e r a l

e d i t o r o f t h e F a y B o o k S e r i e s .





Contents

F o r e w o r d , by D a v i d H . R o s e n pageix

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s xv

P r o l o g u e 3

PART I. A Psychology of the Emotions

1. The F o o l i s h n e s s of the T e n d e r - M i n d e d ? 11

2 . F e e l i n g s , A f fe c t s , and M o o d s 21

3 . The I n t e r p e r s o n a l C o n t e x t of E m o t i o n s 33

Part II. Joy

4 . Joy as E l e v a t i o n 41

5. Sources of Joy 49

6 . B i o g r a p h i c a l R e c o n s t r u c t i o n s of Jo y 54

Part III. Anatomy of Joy

7 . The Joy A f t e r and the Joy Before 67

8. M a k i n g and U n m a k i n g Joy 75

9 . The S h a d o w S i d e of Joy 85

Part IV. Inspiration

10. The E x i s t e n t i a l M e a n i n g of M a n i a 97

11. E c s t as y , I n s p i r a t i o n , and C r e a t i v i t y 107

12. D i o n y s u s and S y m b i o s i s 115



C O N T E N T S

vi i i

Part V. Hope

13. Sisyphus ' s H i d d e n H o p e 135

14. H o p e in the R e a l m of the M o t h e r A r c h e t y p e 148

E p i l o g u e 157

G l o s s a r y 161

References 166

Index 169



Foreword

V E R E N A K A S T G R E W U P i n a f a r m i n g v i l l a g e i n S w i t z e r l a n d . I

i m a g i n e h e r as a b a s i c a ll y h a p p y , a n i m a t e d , a n d o p t i m i s t i c c h i l d

p l a y i n g , s i n g i n g , an d b e i n g i n contact w i t h the ear th and i t s

animals , herbs , and f lowers . I sense th i s to be t rue after m e e t i n g

h e r , h e a r i n g h e r l e c tur e s , an d r e ad i n g t h is b o o k . I t seems thatshe has l iberated her inner c h i l d a n d those w o n d r o u s , b u t a l l

t o o o f te n n e g l e ct e d , e m o t i o n s o f j o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , a n d h o p e .

V e r e n a i n fe c t s y o u w i t h h e r m i r t h , e n t h u s i a s m , a n d a s su ra n c e.

I t makes perfect sense that before h e r career i n p s y c h o l o g y , s he

w a s a s c h o o l teacher i n a s m a l l r u r a l S w i s s t o w n .

W h e n I first talked w i t h P r o fe s s o r K as t i n Z u r i c h (June,

1989) about being the inaugural Fay Lecturer , she was very pleasedto l earn that Texas A & M U n i v e r s i t y h a d a h i s t o r y o f b e i n g t ie d

t o t h e l an d . I a s k e d V e r e n a w h at t h e t h e m e w o u l d be for her

lecture series i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 9 0 , a n d she r e p l i e d , " I w a n t

t o le c t u re o n e m o t i o n s t ha t w e d o n o t u s u a l l y f o cu s o n . " I i n

q u i r e d fur t h e r , an d s he g av e th e f o l l o w i n g as th e t i t l e o f h e r

l e c tu r e s er ie s: " Jo y , I n s p i r a t i o n , H o p e , a n d t he I n d i v i d u a t i o n

P r o c e s s . " I w as e x c i t e d , because i t i s t rue that we do not o r d i

n a r i l y concentrate o n s uc h t o p i c s , e s p e c i a l l y i n a s c h o l ar l y w ay .

U n k n o w i n g l y , at that t ime Verena was a l so be ing prophet ic .

N o w w e a l l f ee l t he j o y o f th e n e w f o u n d fr e e d o m i n E a s t e r n

E u r o p e ; w e share t h e i n s p i r a t i o n t h a t comes f r o m c a s t in g o f f





Foreword

x i

t i v i t y , e m pa t h y , a n d c r e a t i v i t y . B u t w e ha ve n e g l e c t e d t h re e ba s ic

e m o t i o n s t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e s o u l . I t is of these e m o t i o n s t h a t

D r . K a s t w r i t e s . S h e p o i n t s o u t t h a t w e r e s e a r c h a n d c o n c e n

trate o n t h e d a r k s id e — d e p r e s s i o n , s o r r o w , a n d d e s p a i r. B u t s he

e m p h a s i z e s th e n e e d t o e x p l o r e t h e b r i g h t a n d l i g h t s id e —the

w o r l d of the carefree c h i l d . S h e o ff e rs a n a n a t o m y o f j o y t h a t

dea ls w i t h i n t r a p s y c h i c a n d i n t e r p e r s o n a l j o y a n d i ts s o u r ce s .

P r o f e s s o r K a s t o u t l i n e s a p r a c t i c a l w a y t o c o n t a c t j o y t h a t h asb e e n b u r i e d s i n c e c h i l d h o o d ; s h e c a l l s t h i s t e c h n i q u e t h e " b i o

g r a p h i c a l r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s o f j o y . " S h e s h o w s us h o w t o u se t h i s

t e c h n i q u e t o r e e x p e r ie n c e o u r r ep r es se d j o y s f r o m c h i l d h o o d a n d

t o b r i n g these e m o t i o n s i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

T h e n e x t p a r t o f t he b o o k c o n c e r n s i n s p i r a t i o n , t h e o p p o

s i te o f e x p i r a t i o n o r d e a t h . I n s p i r a t i o n is s y n o n y m o u s w i t h l i f e ,

a n d t h a t i s t h e b a s ic i ss u e . A r e w e g o i n g t o l ive o r d i e ? " Tobe or Not to be?" I n s p i r a t i o n i s o n t h e s i d e of " To be." I t i m p l i e s

t h a t we h a ve pu r po s e , t h a t we a r e m o v i n g t o w a r d s o m e t h i n g ,

a n d t h a t w e h a v e d i r e c t i o n a n d m e a n i n g i n o u r l i v e s o r w e a r e

p u r s u i n g t h e q u e s t . T h i s pa r t a l s o de a l s w i t h ecstasy a n d c r e a

t i v i t y a n d h o w t h e y r e la te t o i n s p i r a t i o n .

In th e final p a r t o f t h e b o o k , D r . K a s t fo c us e s o n h o p e ,

w h i c h i s a l so re la ted to l i f e , t h e f u t u r e , a n d " T o b e . " I t is t h e

o p p o s i t e o f h o p e le s sn e s s a n d " Not to be." W h a t a t h er a p e u ti c

a g e n t h o p e i s ! D r . K a s t n o t o n l y s p o t l ig h t s th i s u n s u n g a n d

u n c a r e d f o r e m o t i o n , b u t s h e s u g g e s t s w a y s t o e n c o u r a g e i t s

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d b r i n g i t i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s . S h e pr e s c r i be s a

r e k i n d l i n g o f t h e f l a m e o f p e r s o n a l h o p e a n d e m b e d s i t finally

i n . t h e c o n t e x t o f absolutehope, s o m e t h i n g a k i n t o f a i t h .

D r . K a s t ' s w r i t i n g is i n s p i r a t i o n a l , h o p e f u l , c r ea t iv e , a n d

t r a n s f o r m a t i v e . F o r t he m o s t p a r t , th i s b o o k fo c us e s o n t h e i n

d i v i d u a l a n d one's o w n p sy ch ic g r o w t h . H o w e v e r , D r . K a st

s u g g e s t s t h a t a s t h e p e r s o n i n d i v i d u a t e s (engages i n a pr o c e s s

t o w a r d w h o l e n e s s ) , r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d g r o u p s b e y o n d t h e i n d i -



F O R E W O R D

xi i

v i d u a l w i l l b e i n f l ue n c e d an d v i c e v e r s a . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t he

concepts i n t h is b o o k c a n b e e x te n d e d t o f a m i l ie s , c o m m u n i

t ie s , s o c ie t ie s , an d M o t h e r E a r t h . V e re n a K a s t up r o o t s an d t h e n

b r id g e s , b y j o i n i n g areas w e l l k n o w n i n p s y ch o lo g y w i t h areas

that are less k n o w n , u n f a m i l i a r , a n d u n d e r d e v e l o p e d . I t seems

that p s y c h o l o g y ( an d m o s t o f us ) d e v i a t e d o f f t h e r i g h t p a t h

an d ap p ar e n t l y g o t lo s t a l o n g t he w ay , r e m i n i s c e n t o f D an t e ' s

q u o t e :

In the middle of the journey of our l i fe

I found myse l f in a dark wood,

For I had lost the right path.

A r e w e n o w e x p e r i e n c i n g p s y c h o l o g y ' s ( a n d o u r ) m i d l i f e c r i s i s ?

A s y m p t o m o f th is w r o n g t u r n is th e c o n c e n t r a t io n b y p s y c h o l

o g y an d o u r s o c i e ty o n an x i e t y , c o n f l i c t , v i o l e n c e , d e sp a i r, d e m o r a l i z a t i o n , meaninglessness , and hopelessness. D r . K a s t's b o o k

b r i n g s p s y c h o l o g y a n d u s back o n t o th e r i g h t p a t h — t h r o u g h

j o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , a n d h o p e — t o w a r d w h o le n e s s, i n d i v i d u a t i o n ,

a n d t h e a c t u a l i z a t i o n o f o u r p o t e n t i a l .

O n t he c o v er o f t h is b o o k is a m o o n f l o w e r d r a w n b y J o h n

W a l k e r , an ar t i s t and professor o f arch i tecture at Texas A & M

U n i v e r s i t y . T h e m o o n f l o w e r is v e r y p e r t in e n t i n a s y m b o l i c w a y

to the essence o f D r . K a s t's b o o k . T h e m o o n f l o w e r is a t r o p i c a l ,

n i g h t - b l o o m i n g m o r n i n g g l o r y (Calonyctionaculeatum) w i t h f ra

g r an t w h i t e o r p ur p l e f l o w e r s . T h e t w o p ar t s o f t h e n am e m o o n

flo w e r a re s i g n i f i c an t . T h e m o o n is d a r k an d fe m i n i n e , b u t i t

i s l ight as i t reflects t h e s un ( m as c ul i n e ) , s o i t i s an an d r o g y n o us

e n t i ty , a Y i n / Y a n g s y m b o l . T h e fact that t h e m o o n f l o w e r o n l y

b l o o m s a t n i g h t means that out of the darkness comes creat ive

b l o s s o m i n g . F l o w e r means the best o f t he e m o t i o n s ; a n d j o y ,

i n s p i r a t i o n , an d h o p e s ur e l y a r e c h o i c e n a t ur a l an d p o s i t i v e e m o

t i o n s that emerge o u t o f t h e d ar k n e s s . It is a p a r ad o x . W h e n

there i s demoral izat ion in the psyche , soc ie ty , and the land, there



Foreword

x i i i

i s despair , mea ninglessness , an d hopelessness, a l i v i n g deadness .

B u t just on the other s ide is the b l o s s o m , the r e s t o r a t i o n of

m o r a l e , d e l i g h t , m e a n i n g , a n d h o p e ; a s y m b o l i c d e a t h a n d new

l i f e . The m o o n f l o w e r is an e d i f y i n g s y m b o l for the cover of th is

b r e a k t h r o u g h w o r k . It represents the S o u l and the idea that

o u t of the d a r k n e s s emerge the c r e a t i v e e m o t i o n s of j o y , in

s p i r a t i o n , and h o p e .

W i l l i a m W o r d s w o r t h h e l d the v i e w that the s o u l of the

h u m a n b e i n g had at its v e r y core a d e e p r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h the

forces at w o r k in the w o r l d of essent ia l nature and that those

forces in the l a s t a n a l y s i s r e p r e s e n t e d j o y . R e g a r d i n g i n s p i r a t i o n ,

O v i d s a i d , " T h e r e is a d e i t y w i t h i n us, who breathes that di

vine f ire by w h i c h we are a n i m a t ed . " E m i l y D i c k i n s o n w r o t e ,

H o p e is the t h i n g w i t h feathers

T h a t perches in the soul ,A n d sings the tune without the words ,

A n d never stops at a l l .

V e r e n a K a s t has w r i t t e n a b o o k that e m b o d i e s w h a t W o r d s

w o r t h , O v i d , a n d D i c k i n s o n ex pr es se d . She has s o m e t h i n g v e r y

s p e c i a l . In A f r i c a it is ca l led obuntu, botho, w h i c h A r c h b i s h o p

D e s m o n d T u t u d e f i n e sas: "The essence of

b e i n g h u m a n .You

k n o w w h e n it is there, and w h e n it is absent. It speaks a b o u t

humaneness , gentleness, p u t t i n g y o u r s e lf o ut on behalf of others ,

b e i n g v u l n e r a b l e . It embraces c o m p a s s i o n a n d t o u g h n e ss . It rec

o g n i z e s that my h u m a n i t y is b o u n d up in y o u r s , for we can

o n l y be h u m a n together."

D A V I D H . R O S E N

C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , Texas





Acknowledgments

I W O U L D L I K E T O EXPRESS m y m o s t s i n c e re t h a n k s t o C a r o l y n

Fay a n d t h e la t e E r n e s t F a y , w h o h a ve m a de t h e F a y L e c t u r e s

i n A n a l y t i c a l P s y c h o l o g y — a n d t h e i r p u b l i c a t i o n i n a b o o k se rie s

— p o s s ib le a n d w h o a w a r d ed m e w i t h t h e g r e a t h o n o r o f o p e n

i n g t h e m i n 1 9 9 0 . I h o pe t h a t t h i s f i n e i de a w i l l s p a r k m u c hi n t e l l e c t u a l s t i m u l a t i o n a n d i n s p i r a t i o n . I w o u l d also l i k e to ex

press w a r m a p p r e c i a t i o n t o P r o f e s s o r D a v i d R o s e n o f T e x a s

A & M U n i v e r s i t y , w h o n o t o n l y t o o k o n t h e d e m a n d i n g t a s k

o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e F a y L e c tu r e s a n d b u t w h o a ls o a c te d as m y

k i n d h o s t d u r i n g m y r e w a r d i n g v i s i t to Texas A & M a n d as a n

a t t e n t i v e c o l l e a g u e d u r i n g t he p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e t e x t . I t h a n k

D o u g l a s W h i t c h e r fo r t he e n t h u s i a s m , e m p a t h y , a n d c o m p e tence w i t h w h i c h h e co n v e r t e d v e r b a t i m tr a n s c r ip t s o f m y G e r

man l ec tu r es i n t o a w r i t t e n E n g l i s h t e x t . T h a n k s a r e a l s o d u e

t o E l i z a b e t h B u r r , w h o w a s co n s u l t e d o n t he t r a n s l a ti o n a n d

s k i l l f u l l y e d i t e d i t .





Joy ,

I n s p i r a t i o n ,

a n d H o p e





Prologue

IT IS A S T O N I S H I N G h o w l i t t l e h a s b e e n w r i t t e n a b o u t j o y , i n s p i

r a t i o n , a n d h o p e —the e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n — i n the f ie ld of psy

c h o l o g y , e s p e c i a l l y d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y . T h e e m o t i o n s o f a n x i e t y ,

g r i e f , an d rage ha ve b e en i n v e s ti g a te d m u c h m o r e t h o r o u g h l y ,

w i t h a n x i e t y a s s u m i n g a p o s i t i o n o f s u c h i m p o r t a n c e t ha t i tpract i ca l ly seems to define a v i s i o n o f th e h u m a n b e i n g as a w h o l e .

N a t u r a l l y w e ar e aw ar e t h a t t h e e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n e x i s t a l o n g

side those o f d e p r e s s i o n — i n d e e d w e l o n g f o r j o y , states o f i n

s p i r a t i o n , a n d h o p e .

B u t w e a r e a m b i v a l e n t : w e b o t h seek after these e m o t i o n s

and h o l d t h e m s us p e c t . I f w e see s o m e o n e i n a j o y f u l state w h o

is p e r h ap s a b i t b o i s t e r o us , s us p i c i o n s a r e q u i c k l y r a i se d i n o u r

m i n d s a b o u t w h e t h e r w e m a y b e w i t n e s s i n g t h e r e p r e s si o n o f

s o m e p r o b l e m . O n th e o t h e r h a n d , i f s o m e o n e is d e p re ss ed o r

i n a d a r k m o o d , i t h a r d l y o c c ur s t o us to as k i f th i s is a case

o f r e p re s se d j o y . I f w e c o n s e n t t o w h a t p s y c h o l o g y , e s p e c i a l ly

d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y , h as h ad t o s ay ab o ut t h e e l a t e d e m o t i o n s ,

it is d i f f i c u l t t o a v o i d t h e v i e w th a t a m a t u r e h u m a n b e i n g o n

t h e p a t h o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n w i l l b e p r e d o m i n a n t l y s e r i o u s , a n d

that the goal of the i n d i v i d u a t i o n p r o c e s s m i g h t e v e n b e t o l i v e

t h e r e m a i n d e r o f o u r l iv e s i n t r a g i c r e s i g n a t i o n , c o n s c i o u s o f

d a r k n e s s a n d d i f f i c u l t y , w h i l e d i s m i s s i n g t h e l i g h t e r , h a p p i e r

s ide of l i fe .



J O Y , I N S P I R A T I O N , H O P E

4

M y c o n c e r n i n t h i s b o o k i s t o e x p l o r e h o w t he e la t e d e m o

t i o n s c an fun c t i o n i n t h e p r o c e s s o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n a n d t o p r o

p o s e a v i e w o f th e h u m a n b e i n g a s a c re a tu r e o f j o y , c o m p l e

m e n t i n g t h e a lr e ad y f a m i l ia r v i e w o f th e h u m a n b e i n g as a

c r ea t ur e o f an x i e t y . W h e r e a s an x i e t y d r i v e s t h e i n d i v i d u a l i n t o

i s o l a t i o n , j o y i s t h e fo un d at i o n o f a l l i an c e an d s o l i d ar i t y . H u m a n

b e i n g s a re b o t h a n x i o u s a n d j o y f u l b y n a t u r e ; w e n e e d b o t h

s o l i t u d e a n d r e la t i o n s h i p . I n d i v i d u a t i o n r e qu ir e s b o t h p a r t s .In therapy, w e therapists endeavo r to s tren gthe n se l f-esteem.

Jo y i s a s t r en g the n in g resource tha t l i fe r ia tura l ly of fers , so i t

seems m e a n i n g f u l t o d r a w o n j o y as p ar t o f o ur cl ass ic e f fo r t s

a t s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e e g o c o m p l e x . W e n e e d o n l y t h i n k o f w h a t

c a n h a p p e n w h e n w e fa l l i n l o v e t o im a g i n e t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i v e

p o t e n t i a l o f j o y . T h i s b o o k ' s t h e ra p e u t i c a i m is t o seek o ut w ay s

to s t im ulate an d enlarge b o th the joy s that w e have a l ready exp e r i e n c e d a n d those t h a t a r e p o t e n t i a l l y o ur s . I t i s m y v i e w t h a t

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n is p o s s i b le n o t o n l y w h e n w e e n d u r e o u r d e e p

e st an x i e ti e s an d fa t h o m t h e d e p t h s o f d e s p a i r, b ut a l s o w h e n

w e e x p e r i e n c e t h e f u l l r a n g e o f j o y .

W h y , t h e n , a r e t h e e l a t e d e m o t i o n s s o o f t e n d i s p ar ag e d as

c h i l d i s h or d i smissed as the express ions of naive and tender -

m i n d e d s o u ls ? E m o t i o n s i n g e n e r a l d o n o t e n jo y a g o o d re p u t a

t i o n , a n d t he e l a te d e m o t i o n s i n p a r t i c u l a r are h e l d i n q u e s t i o n

and, i n d e e d , s u s p i c i o n . I w i l l at tem pt to a llay som e o f the a nxie

ties t h a t a r is e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h e l a t e d e m o t i o n s . I w i l l also

ar g ue th a t a p s y c h o l o g y o f e m o t i o n s m us t b e b i o g r ap h i c a l , b ase d

o n a p o s i t i o n o f e x is t e n ti a l i n v o l v e m e n t .

T h u s I w i l l be i n v i t i n g y o u t o r e c o n s tr u c t y o u r o w n b i o g

r a p h y o f j o y i n o r d e r t o r e fl ec t w i t h m e o n t h e n a t ur e an d fun c

t i o n o f j o y i n o u r l iv e s . A n d I w i l l s h o w b y e x a m p l e h o w t h i s

m e t h o d o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g th e e m o t i o n o f j o y c a n g i v e u s i n s i g h t s

i n t o th e p e r s o n a l i t y n o t o t h e r w i s e a t t a i n ab l e . I b e l ie v e t ha t an a

lysts can f r u i t f u l l y i n c o r p o r a t e t h i s a p p r o a c h i n t o t h e i r w o r k .



Prologue

5

I came t o t h i s a p p r o a c h w h e n a s e r i o u s l y d e p r e s s e d w o m a n

w i t h s u i c i d a l t e n d e n c ie s m o v e d m e t o h e lp h e r r e c o n s t r uc t h e r

b i o g r ap h y o f j o y i n t h e c o ur s e o f h e r t h e rap y . I n t h e p r o c e s s,

s he r e c a ll e d so u rc es o f j o y f r o m h e r c h i l d h o o d w h i c h h ad b e e n

l o s t t h r o u g h events t h a t w e r e o n l y b r i e f l y m e n t i o n e d i n h e r us ua l

case h i s t o r y . S he t h e n r e a l i z e d h o w s he h a d u n c o n s c i o u s l y a t

t e m p t e d t o recreate these e ar l y j o y s i n a n ar c i s s i s ti c fas h i o n l a te r

i n l i fe an d h o w sh e h ad r e p re s se d h e r j o y . A s sh e b e g a n t o r e -e x p e r ie n c e j o y , s he f o u n d a g r o w i n g w h o l e n e s s f o r h e r l i f e .

B y c o m p a r i n g r ec o n s t ruc te d b i o g r ap h i es o f j o y g a t he r ed f r o m

a n u m b e r o f i n d i v i d u a l s i n v ar i o us l i f e s i t ua t i o n s , I c an g o o n

t o s k e tc h a p r e l i m i n a r y a n a t o m y o f j o y . W h a t creates j o y a n d

w h a t s p o i l s i t ? W h a t a re t h e v ar i e t ie s o f joy? H o w is j o y d e

v e l o p e d i n m e m o r y ? W h a t is t he n a tu r e o f t he j o y o f l o o k i n g

f o r w a r d to so m e t h in g ? W h y is u n i n h i b i t e d j o y s o m e t h i n g w eg e n e r a l l y r e st r ic t t o c h i l d r e n ? W h a t i s t h e r o l e o f j o y i n t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y ? W h a t a re t he s h a d o w sid e s o f

joy? I n th e b a c k g r o u n d o f t h is a n a t o m y o f j o y w e w i l l hear

t h e p e r s is te n t q u e s t i o n , C a n j o y be i n d u c e d ?

T h e n I m o v e to an e x a m i n a t i o n o f t he el a te d e m o t i o n s o f

i n s p i r a t i o n an d ecstasy, t a k i n g t h e e x i s t e n t i a l v i e w o f m a n i a p r o

v i d e d b y K r e t s c h m e r a n d B i n s w a n g e r as m y p o i n t o f d e p a r t u re .

M a n i a r e p re s e n ts t h e el a te d h a l f o f a " c i r c u l ar m ad n e s s " t h a t

alternates b e t w e e n extremes o f j o y an d s ad n es s. M an i a ' s c o n s t i t u

ents o f h e i g h t e n e d d r i v e , e levated mood, and f l ight of ideas seem

t o co r r e s p o n d t o a d ee p c o n t e m p o r a r y l o n g i n g t o b e c a r r ie d u p

i n t o t h e h e i g h t s . F a s t i n g , m e d i t a t i o n , i n t o x i c a t i o n , a n d d r u g s

are a l l ways by w h i c h we aspi re to the exper ience of t ranscen

d e n c e, i f o n l y f o r a b r i e f m o m e n t . E l a t e d e m o t i o n a l states m a k e

us fe e l c o n n e c t e d t o o t h e r p e r s o n s , t o o ur i n n e r w o r l d , p e r h ap s

e v e n to th e c o s m o s . W h e t h e r t h i s s e d uc ti v e fe e l i n g le ad s i n

t he e n d t o fe st iv e j o y an d c r e a t i v i t y o r to a m an i c r e p r e s s i o n o f

d e p r e s s i o n , d e p e n d s o n w h e t h e r w e a r e a b l e t o m a i n t a i n w h a t




6

B i n s w a n g e r c a l le d " t h e h u m a n ba l a n c e " b e tw e e n th e v e r t i ca l

a n d h o r i z o n t a l d i m e n s i o n s o f b e i n g . W e m u s t l et o ur se lv e s b e

s e i z e d , b ut t h e n w e m us t a l s o ac t ua l i z e i n concrete r e a l i t y w h a t

w e h av e e x p e r i e n c e d w h e n w e w e r e s o a r i n g i n t he h e i g h t s . B i n s

w a n g e r o b s e r v e d t ha t i f w e d o n o t m a i n t a i n th i s b a la n c e w e

m a y become " h i g h - f l o w n . " H o w e v e r , i f w e d o g r o u n d o u rs elv e s,

t h e d o o r i s o p e n e d t o c r e a t i v i t y .

I n s p i r a t i o n h as b e e n e x p l a i n e d f r o m an c i e n t t i m e s as t h eeffect o f d i v i n e a c t i v i t y , a n d ecstasy as t h e ac t i o n o f a h um an

b e i n g s t e p p i n g o u t s i d e h i m s e l f o r h e r s e l f t o m a k e r o o m f o r a

g o d . T h e s t o r y o f Pentecost, i n w h i c h t h e H o l y Spir i t se izes

t h e d i s c i p l e s , i l l us t r a t e s t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f i n s p i r a t i o n , ecstasy,

a n d i n t o x i c a t i o n . F r o m a p s y c h o l o g i c a l p o i n t o f v i e w , i n s p i r a

t i o n a n d ecstasy o c c u r w h e n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i s a c t i v a t e d a n d

e g o b o u n d a r i e s become h i g h l y p e r m e a b l e . I n t h i s state, c o n n e c t i o n w i t h o t h e r p e r s o n s a t t h e le v e l o f t h e un c o n s c i o us is i n t e n

s i f ied . T h u s th e s o ci a l e m b e d d ed n e s s o r r i t u a l a r r a n g e m e n t o f

i n s p i r a t i o n a n d ecstasy i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t . Because w e l i v e i n

a t i m e t h a t i s p o o r i n l i v i n g r e l i g i o us r i t ua l s , w e t e n d t o p r i v a

t i z e t h e m , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e y c an b e g e n ui n e l y d e ad l y —

f o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e s o l i t a r y a l c o h o l i c .

T h e G r e e k g o d D i o n y s u s c a n b e seen as a s y m b o l i c e x p r e s

s i o n o f t h e c l us t e r o f e m o t i o n s t h a t i n c l ud e s e n t h us i as m , i n s p i

r a t i o n , i n t o x i c a t i o n , a n d ecstasy, o n t he v er ge o f b e c o m i n g h o p e .

T h o s e s e i z e d b y D i o n y s u s b r o k e o u t o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l o r d e r

to become p a r t o f a c o s m i c o r d e r ; h u m a n b e in g s became o n e

w i t h n a t ur e , s o c i a l r an k w as o b l i t e r a t e d , r i v a l r i e s c e as e d . T o r n

o u t o f t h e ir i s o l a t i o n , i n d i v i d u a l s e x p e r ie n c e d p r o p h e c y a n d a

m o m e n t a r y c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e t r an s p e r s o n a l Self. I f we w i s h

t o p u r s u e t h e q u e s t i o n h o w h u m a n b e i n g s c a n b e m o r e p o w e r

f u l l y un i t e d , w e n e e d t o c o n s i d e r w h at k i n d s o f l i f e e x p e r i e n c e s

c a n b r i n g u s i n t o contact w i t h a s u p r a p e r s o n a l Self.

H o p e is t he f o u n d a t i o n f o r c r e a t i v i t y , i n s p i r a t i o n , j o y , a n d



Prologue

7

all t h o s e e m o t i o n s w h i c h a l l o w us to t ranscend ourse lves . I t u r n

l a s t t o h o pe . A l b e r t C a m u s s a w i n S is y p h u s an a b su r d h e ro w h o

achieved h a p p i n e s s w i t h o u t h o p i n g . F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a li s m w a g e d

a c a m p a i g n a g a in s t h o p e , u n l e a s h i n g a c o n t r o v e r s y t ha t p i t t e d

h o pe a s a " f a t a l e va s i o n " a g a i n s t h o pe a s t h e ba s i s f o r a sense

o f s a fe ty , s e c u r i t y , a n d c o n f i de n c e i n l i f e . In spi te o f the ex is

tent ia l i s t quest to a v o i d a l l f o r m s o f h o p e , a h i d d e n h i n t o f h o p e

ca n be perce ived in the f igure of S i s y p h u s h i m s e l f , w h o e x p e c t e dt h e g o ds t o l o s e t h e i r n e r ve i n t h e face o f h is St o i c r e s o l v e . C a -

m u s ' s a n d Sartre's b a tt le s a g a in s t d e c ad e n t f o r m s o f o p t i m i s m ,

r a th e r t h a n e l i m i n a t i n g e v e ry r e sp o n s i b l e n o t i o n o f h o p e , c le a r

t h e w a y fo r a r a d i c a l c o n c e p t o f a b s o l u te h o p e .

In t h is c o n t e x t , I c o n s t r u c t a c o n t i n u u m o f a n t i c i p a t i o n

t h a t r a n g e s f r o m r i g i d e x p e c t a t i o n a t o n e e n d , t o h o p e i n d e

pe n d e n t o f a n y s pe c i fi c c o n t e n t a t t h e o t h e r . T h e n I de ve l o pa v i e w o f h o p e t h a t c o m b i n e s E r i k s o n ' s b a s ic t r u s t , B l o c h ' s n o t -

y e t - co n s c i o u s h o p e , a n d J u n g ' s a n t i c i p a t o r y h e a l i n g n a tu r e o f

t he p s y c h e . M a r c e l m a i n t a i n e d t ha t t h is f o r m o f h o p e is a k i n

t o f a i t h .

E v e n t h o u g h h o pe r e pr e s e n t s t h e ba s i c e m o t i o n a l c o n f i de n c e

t h a t u n de r l i e s a l l o t h e r f e e li n g s o f e l a t i o n , I pr o po s e th a t t h e r a

p e u t i c w o r k s h o u l d b e g i n at t h e l e v e l o f j o y . I f w e c a n re l e a r n

t o b e j o y f u l a n d t o a d m i t j o y i n t o o u r l iv e s , w e w i l l a l s o g a i n

c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f t h e s o m e w h a t a b s t r a c t , e l e m e n t a l f e e l i n g o f

h o p e , w h i c h w i l l t h e n i n t u r n b e c o m e a n i n c r e a s i n g l y s u s t a i n

i n g f o u n d a t i o n o f o u r e x is te n c e.

In t he f o r e g r o u n d o f j o y s ta n d s t h e i d e n t i t y o f e g o w i t h

t h e t r a n s p e r s o n a l S e lf , a c o n v e r g e n c e t h a t e n l a rg e s t h e e x p e r i

ence o f th e e g o a n d e n a ble s i t t o o pe n u p a n d e x pe r i e n c e s o m e

t h i n g u n e x p e c t e d . I n th e b a c k g r o u n d is t h e a r ch e t y p e o f t h e

d i v i n e c h i l d , w h o d w e l l s i n t h e f u ll n e s s o f th e p o s i t iv e m o t h e r

a r c h e t y p e . B y m e a n s o f t h e e l a t e d e m o t i o n s , w h i c h i n v o l v e us

m o r e c l o s e l y i n s y m b i o s i s , w e e x p e r ie n c e f u ll n e s s o f b e i n g , v i -




8

t a l i t y , a n d c o n n e c t e d n e s s w i t h o t h e r p e r s o n s ; w e e xp e r i e n c e t h e

S e lf t h r o u g h m o m e n t a r y f o r g e t fu l n e s s o f s elf. T h i s seems t o m e

t o r e p re s en t a n i m p o r t a n t m o d i f i c a t i o n o f cl a ss ic a l J u n g i a n u n

d e r s t a n d i n g s o f t h e c o n c e p t o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n . T h e e l a t e d e m o

t i o n s e vo k e a n aspect o f th e h u m a n b e i n g t h a t c al ls fo r s t u d y

a n d r e f l e c t i o n . B u t i n o r de r t o be a b l e t o t h i n k a bo u t t h e e l a t e d

e m o t i o n s , we m u s t f ir st a ddre s s t h e ro l e th a t e m o t i o n s p l a y i n

h u m a n l i f e a s a w h o l e .



P A R T I

A Psychology of the Emotions





I.

Th e Foolishness of the Tender-minded?

A s I E M B A R K O N T H E TASK o f s p e a k i n g a n d w r i t i n g a b o u t j o y ,

i n s p i r a t i o n , a n d h o p e , I find that I am a b i t exc i ted an d that

I g e t a m i s c h i e v o us p l e asur e o ut o f e x p l o r i n g a t o p i c th a t h as

r e c e i v e d s uc h scant a t t e n t i o n i n th e fie ld o f p s y c h o l o g y . N o w

I h av e t o l d y o u w h a t s o rt o f m o o d I a m i n . W h a t s o rt o f m o o da r e y o u i n ? T h i s i s n o t s u c h a s i m p l e q u e s t i o n , a s w e w i l l see.

B u t w h y a p s y c h o l o g y o f e m o t i o n s i n th e firs t p la ce ? W h y ,

i n s p it e o f a l l t h e t re n d s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s i n c o g n i t i v e p s y c h o l

o g y , d o es it r e m a i n so i m p o r t a n t ? I n g e n e r a l t e rm s , a p s y c h o l

o g y o f e m o t i o n s i s i m p o r t a n t because w h e n w e w o r k w i t h

e m o t i o n s w e a r e w o r k i n g w i t h o u r i d e n t i t y . W h e n I sa id I

fe e l m i s c h i e v o us p l e as ur e i n w r i t i n g t hi s b o o k , b y i m p l i c a t i o n

I r ev e a le d s o m e t h i n g o f m y s e l f. W h e n w e s pe ak o f e m o t i o n s ,

w e sp ea k o f o u r s el v es . W h e n w e p er ce iv e a n e m o t i o n , w e e x

p e r i e n c e o ur s e l v e s .

M o r e o v e r , a n e m o t i o n a l w a y s h a s t o d o w i t h e x i st e n t ia l i n

v o l v e m e n t . A n a t te m p t t o e l im i n a t e e m o t i o n s w o u l d resul t in

p e r s o n s w h o n o l o n g e r p e r m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o b e i n v o l v e d w i t h

l i f e . T o s t o p l e t t i n g o u r se lv e s b e i n v o l v e d i n t h is w a y m e an s t o

s t o p f e e l i n g , t o st o p c a r i n g , to s to p a c t i n g . W h e n w e see s o m e

t h i n g h o r r i b l e w i t h o u t p e r m i t t i n g o u r s e l v e s t o g e t i n v o l v e d ,

w e t u r n o u r b a c k s a n d w a l k a w a y . I f w e d o n o t g e t i n v o l v e d ,

w e d o n o t a c t .



P S Y C H O L O G Y O F E M O T I O N S

12

Buth av e n o fe ar th a t I a m g o i n g to s u b s u m e e m o t i o n u n d e r

t h e h e a di n g o f a c t i o n . I n t h e pa s t f e w y e a r s , t h e r e h a ve be e n

v a r i o u s a t t e m p t s t o p l a c e e m o t i o n i n t h e s e r v i c e o f a c t i o n . T h i s

is a n i m p o r t a n t aspect of the subject. I f we are not i n v o l v e d —

do n o t f e e l — w e d o n o t a c t , because we h a ve n o e n e r g y t o a c t .

T h i s i s w h y m a n y f o r m s o f t h e r a p y r e p e a t e d l y e m p h a s i z e get

t i n g i n t o u c h w i t h t h e e m o t i o n s . E m o t i o n s generate t h e e n e r g y

t o m a k e n e e de d c h a n g e s , t o t a k e n e e de d a c t i o n s .H o w e v e r , e m o t i o n s a l s o h a v e t h e i r o w n v a l u e a p a r t f r o m

w h a t t h e y l e a d t o . F o r e x a m p l e , I t h i n k i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o b e

a bl e t o e x pe r i e n c e j o y w i t h e ach o t h e r w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o b e

c o m e f r i e n d s i m m e d i a t e l y . J o y m a y re s u lt i n a l li a n c e , b u t b e i n g

d e l i g h t e d m a y a l s o be s i m p l y a state o f t h e e g o . I c a n s a y , " I ' m

d e l i g h t e d , " i n d e p e n d e n t o f an y " w h i c h m e a n s t h a t . . . . " E m o

t i o n is t h e w a y w e e xpe r i e n ce o u r se l ves . W h e n we s pea k o f e m o t i o n s , we s pe a k o f o u r s e l ve s pe r s o n a l l y , we t a k e o u r s e l ve s s e r i

o u s l y . A n d w e t ak e o th e rs s e r io u s l y w h e n w e l is t e n to t h e i r

e m o t i o n s . I t i s a m a t t e r o f o u r e x p e r ie n c e o f i d e n t i t y .

E m o t i o n s a lw a y s i n v o l v e t he b o d y , t o o . I f y o u are v e r y j o y

f u l , y o u w i l l sense i t p h y s i c a l ly . I f I s ay, " M y p u l s e is r a c i n g ;

m a y b e i t is f r o m e x c i te m e n t o r j o y , " t h i s is a p h y s i c a l p e r c e p

t i o n . O u r f a ci a l e x p r e s s i o n is a r e la t ed aspect o f e m o t i o n s a n d

t h e i r p e r c e p t i o n w h i c h w e c a n n o t l ea ve o u t o f c o n s i d e r a t i o n .

W e are used to d i s t i n g u i s h i n g v a r i o u s e m o t i o n s f r o m e ach o t h e r,

even i f w e do n o t v e r ba l i z e t h e d i f fe r e n c e s . W e do t h i s by m e a n s

o f t h e b o d y , a n d a s w e k n o w , " T h e b o d y d o e sn 't l i e . " I m a y

sa y, " I a m h a p p y , " a n d t h e n m a k e t h e face o f a d e a t h m a s k .

Y o u w i l l p r o b a b l y b e li ev e m y face a n d d i s re g a r d m y w o r d s . O r

I m a y b e u n s u c c e s s f u l i n m y a t t e m p t t o ke e p m y j o y u n d e r c o n

t r o l , a n d so I l a u g h . W i t h o u t w o r d s , I w i l l have t o l d y o u o f

m y h a p p i n e s s .

E m o t i o n s c o n c e r n w h o w e a re as p e r s o n s , o u r e x p e r i e n c e

o f i d e n t i t y , a n d o u r i n v o l v e m e n t . M y b o d y p la y s i ts p a r t , a n d



Foolishness?

13

m y b o d y a n d I i n t e r ac t w i t h i n a s o cia l e n v i r o n m e n t . We share

s o m e t h i n g a b o u t o u rs e lv e s t h r o u g h o u r e m o t i o n s ; w e g i v e e a ch

o t h e r s ig n a l s. W h a t we c a ll e m o t i o n is a h i g h l y c o m p l e x r e g u

l a t o r y s y s t e m in w h i c h each person faces an i n n e r a n d an o u t e r

w o r l d , and at the same t i m e shares s o m e t h i n g in the r e a l m of

r e l a t i o n s h i p s . T h i s is o b v i o u s if y o u t h i n k of r ag e . At a recent

conference on p s y c h o t h e r a p y d e a l i n g w i t h the t o p i c of affect,

o n e p a r t i c i p a n t s a i d , "It is q u i t e c le a r. R a g e m e a n s , ' Y o u , outo f my w a y ! ' " In my o p i n i o n , rage can a l s o m e a n , " Y o u , pay

a t t e n t i o n to m e ! " Bu t in an y case, it has the character of a s i g

n a l f r o m one p e r s o n to a n o t h e r .

A f f e c t s a n d e m o t i o n s do not enjoy a v e ry g o o d r e p u t a t io n —

n o t o n l y e la te d affects, but affects a n d e m o t i o n s i n g e n e r a l . F e e l

i n g s e l i c i t c a u t i o n . The i m p r e s s i o n is t h a t p e o p l e get c a r r i e d

aw ay . We have a l l l earned that we s h o u l d not let our e m o t i o n sb r e ak out, an d t h a t if t h e y d o , or if w e are n e u r o t i c a l l y i m p u l

s ive , we s h o u l d get o u r s e l v e s u n d e r c o n t r o l .

N e u r o t i c a l l y i m p u l s i v e p e r so n s h av e the u n c o n t r o l l a b l e u r g e

t o d e s t r o y . A f t e r s m a s h i n g e v e r y t h i n g u p , t h e y are desperate ly

u n h a p p y because t h e y d i d not w a n t to d e s t r o y a n y t h i n g . The

existence of t h i s n e u r o t i c f o r m of e m o t i o n a l o u t b r e a k e x p l a i n s ,

i n p a r t , why e m o t i o n s do not have a v e r y g o o d r e p u t a t i o n .

R a t i o n a l i s t i c and p u r i t a n i c a l t re n d s h av e a ls o c o n t r i b u t e d

t o t hi s s us p i c i o n an d n e g l e c t . N o p r o b l e m ar is es as l o n g as e m o

t i o n s are expressed in a m o d e r a t e or s u b l im a t e d f o r m — f o r ex

a m p l e , i n b e a u t i f u l w r i t i n g s f u l l of f e e l i n g . "The d a n g e r i n h e r

en t in e u p h o r i a , " we hear , "is the t e n d e n c y to go b e y o n d all

l i m i t s of d e c e n c y . T r a n s c e n d i n g o n e s e l f i s a l l w e l l a n d g o o d , but

l i v i n g b e y o n d one's m e a n s is a n o t h e r m a t t e r . "

A s s o o n as fee l ings get a bit m o r e a r c h a i c , w e b e l ie v e , t r o u

b l e b e g i n s . T h e r a p i s t s are not e x e m p t f r o m t h i s v i e w . We are

b as i c a l l y q ui t e a f r a i d of archaic affects, a n d e v e r y f o r m of ther

a p y p e r m i t s affect o n l y w i t h i n a c i r c u m s c r i b e d r a n g e , as do the




n o r m s o f e v e r y d ay l i f e . H e r e m y f i r s t r e s p o n s e i s t o n o t e t h a t

e m o t i o n s o f d e p r e s s i o n h a v e a s m u c h t e n d e n c y t o b e c o m e i m

m o d e r a t e a s e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n d o . I f y o u h a v e e v e r s e e n h o w

d e p r es sio n i n a g r o u p m u l t i p l i e s g e o m e t r ic a l ly , y o u k n o w e q u a l l y

w e l l w h a t l a c k o f m o d e r a t i o n m e a n s . Just because it is exces

s ive ly t r ag i c i n s t e ad o f e x c e s si v e ly c o m i c d o es n o t m a k e i t m o r e

real or less d a n g e ro u s . A n d affects c a n b e v e r y d a n g e r o u s . H a v

i n g one's c o n s u l t i n g r o o m s m a s h e d u p i s a d i s a s t e r . E v e r y n o wa n d t h e n a t h e ra p i s t i s m u r d e r e d . I w o u l d n o t w i s h to m i n i m i z e

t he i m p a c t o f e m o t i o n s ; e m o t i o n s l i te r a l l y m e an s o m e t h i n g b re ak

i n g i n t o m o t i o n w i t h i n u s . T h e fact t h a t t h e y s o m e t i m e s g o

o v e r bo a r d d o es n o t j u s t i f y a p o l i cy o f t o t a l n e u t r a l i z a t i o n t h o u g h .

S uc h a p o l i c y a ls o r e s u l ts , a s I h av e s a i d , i n t h e n e u t r a l i z a t i o n

o f i n v o l v e m e n t a n d c a r in g . E v e r y t h i n g t h en becomes ap at h e t i c

a n d d i s t an c e d . T h e r e i s a g r e a t l o ss i n th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l r e a l m ,a n d the fear of closeness e x c lud e s a l l b u t w a l l s b e t w e e n us .

W h e n I b e g a n t h is b o o k , I h a d g re a t d i f f i c u l t y i n d e c i d i n g

h o w t o a p p r o a c h m y t o p i c because I d i d n o t w an t t o fo c us e x

c l u s i v e l y o n h a p p y e m o t i o n s . W e d o e n o u g h o f t ha t i n e v e ry d a y

l i f e , and i t i s fa l se . I have spent more than ten years of my l i fe

t e l l i n g p e o p l e t h a t g r i e f is a p o s i t i v e e m o t i o n . I c a n n o t s u d

d e n l y t h i n k o f p o s i t iv e e m o t i o n s i n a c o m p l e t e l y d i ff er e n t sense.

S t i l l , i f y o u l o o k a t t he l i t e r a t u r e [ Z i e g l e r , 1912; N a b l o w -

s k y , 1884 ; L e r s c h , 1 9 7 0 ; S c h e i e , 1983 ] , y o u s o o n g e t t h e fe e l i n g

t h a t e v er s in c e an t i q ui t y e m p h as i s has b e e n p l ac e d o n t h e b e s t i a l

a n d d e s t r u c t i v e sid e o f t he e m o t i o n s : r a g e , a g g r e s s i o n , a n g e r ,

a n d d e p r e s s i o n . T h e i r d a n g e r a n d t h e i r p o t e n t i a l h a v e b e e n

stressed to the neg lect o f the fee l ing s of e la t io n and ful ln ess ,

w h i c h s h o u l d h ave e q u a l st a tus as e m o t i o n a l r e a li t ie s .

I h av e c o m e t o th e v i e w th a t m o r e a t t e n t i o n s h o ul d b e g i v e n

t o a l l e m o t i o n s , b u t e s p e c i a ll y th e e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n because

a g re a t d e a l is sa i d a b o u t a n x i e t y i n d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y a n d i n

p s y c h o l o g y a s a w h o l e ; h u m a n n a t u r e i t s e l f i s v i r t u a l l y d e r i v e d



Foolishness?

15

f r o m a n x i e t y . W e n e e d o n l y t h i n k o f e x i s t e n t i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y ,

i n w h i c h t h e h u m a n b e i n g i s f i l led w i t h an x i e t y an d y e t fin d s

t h e c o ur ag e t o b e . R a g e , t o o , is t h e subject o f d i s c u s s i o n n o w

a n d t h e n . S h am e an d g u i l t h av e r e c e iv e d a g o o d d e a l o f a t t e n

t i o n , a s h a v e d e p r e s s i o n a n d g r i e f . B u t j o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , h o p e ,

a n d r e l a t e d e m o t i o n s a r e s e l d o m s p o k e n o f , i n s p i t e o f t h e fact

t h a t a m a j o r c o n c e r n o f e v e r y t h e r a p y — a n d e v e r y l if e — i s t he

i n d i v i d u a l ' s s e arc h fo r h ap p i n e s s an d h i g h s p i r i t s . W e w an t t obe " i n a g o o d m o o d . "

T h i s i s n o t t o d e n y t h a t b y e n d u r i n g a n x i e t y w e c a n emerge

w i t h a t r an s fo r m e d e m o t i o n a l m ak e up , t h a t d e s p e ra t io n c an r each

i ts n a d i r a n d b o u n c e b a c k as h o p e . I w a n t o n l y t o m a k e t he

o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t p s y c h o l o g y h a s f a s t e n e d o u r a t t e n t i o n o n a n x

i e t y t o s uc h an extent t h a t w e a r e q u i t e w a r y w h e n i t comes

t o s u r r e n d e r i n g o ur s el v e s t o j o y . ( I n p o e t r y , m at t e rs a re d i f fe r e n t . T h e r e a re c o un t l e s s p o e m s ab o ut j o y , h ap p i n e s s , an d c o n

tentment.)

C l e a r l y a n x i e t y i s a f u n d a m e n t a l e m o t i o n , b u t I d o n o t b e

l ieve that the essence o f h u m a n n a t u r e c a n b e d e f i n e d s o l e l y o n

t h e b a s i s o f t h i s o n e e m o t i o n . M o r e o v e r , a n x i e t y o f t e n d r i v e s

u s i n t o i s o l a t i o n , m a k i n g u s b e li e v e t h a t w e are s o l i t a r y i n d i

v i d u a l s , " l o n e r s f l un g i n t o fate," as H e i d e g g e r s a i d . I f w e ar e

i n a j o y f u l m o o d , w e are m u c h m o r e l i k e l y t o c o n n e c t w i t h

o t h e r p e o p l e .

In e x i s t e n t i a l p h i l o s o p h y , a s w e l l a s i n d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y ,

t h e n a t ur e o f h um an b e i n g s h as b e e n d e s c r i b e d q ui t e p e r s ua

s ive ly f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f a n x i e t y , w i t h the accent o n

the sol i tar iness of the i n d i v i d u a l o r th e c o m m u n i t y b o r n o f pu re

n e c e s s i t y . B u t a s h u m a n b e i n g s , w e h a v e a n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y :

t o o p e n u p a n d c o n n e c t w i t h those a r o u n d u s . T h i s m a y s ee m

a b i t th r e a t e n i n g o r n a iv e . O p e n i n g u p sounds g o o d , b u t let's

b e r e a l i s t i c : W e hav e t o l o o k o ut fo r o ur s e l v e s . It is i m p o r t a n t

to take note o f these m i s g i v i n g s , because t h e y s h i e l d us f r o m




16

o u r f e e l i n g s o f e l a t i o n . A q u i t e d i f f e r e n t d e s c r i p t i o n o f h u m a n

n at ur e t h an t h e e x i s t e n t i a l i s t o n e i s r e v e a l e d b y t h e e m o t i o n s

o f o y a n d i n s p i r a t i o n : a h um an n a t ur e b as e d o n s o l i d ar i t y , affi l ia

t i o n , a n d h o p e .

U n d e r t h e i n f l ue n c e o f e l a t e d fe e l i n g s , o ur sense o f r e l a t e d -

ness c l e a r l y c h a n g e s. F o r e x a m p l e , a r r i v i n g at a par ty , I may

start l o o k i n g at p e o p le c r it i c a l l y , t h i n k i n g , " I d o n ' t r e a ll y w a n t

t o h a v e a n y t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h i s . " O n c e t h e p a r t y i s u n d e r w a y ,t h o u g h , I n o l o n g e r b eh av e t h i s w a y , h a v i n g f o r g o t t e n a b o u t

w h a t m a d e e v e ry o n e so o b j e c ti o n a b l e . W h a t a p p e ar ed t o o b o u r

g e o i s n o w seems o r i g i n a l ; I n o l o n g e r s c r u t i n i z e a n d j u d g e . A

sense o f r e l a t e d n e s s p r e v a i l s o v e r c r i t i c i s m , w h i c h i s of course

e x ac t l y w h at t h e e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n ar e ac c us e d o f : T h e y l i f t

u s o u t o f th e h a rs hn e ss o f e v e ry d a y re a l i t y , m a k i n g u s u n c r i t i c a l

a n d b l i n d t o t h e d e p t h s o f m e l a n c h o l i a .J o y i m p l i e s s o l i d a r i t y , a n d s o l i d a r i t y i m p l i e s g e n e r o s it y .

S t ud i e s h av e b e e n m ad e i n w h i c h c h i l d r e n w e r e s h o w n film s

t h at t h e y e n j o y e d v e r y m uc h [ I z ar d , 1977]. A f t e r w a r d , they each

received f i f ty cents f o r w a t c h i n g t h e film, a n d a d o n a t i o n b o x

was set up at the exi t for the sake o f c h i l d r e n i n p o v e r ty . T h e

c h i l d r e n w h o ha d e n jo y e d t he m s e lv e s g av e s u b s t a n t i a l ly m o r e

m o n e y t h a n t he c o n t r o l c h i l d r e n , w h o h a d seen a b o r i n g film

a n d w a n t e d t o ke e p a l l t h e i r m o n e y f o r t he m s e l v e s. B y t h e w a y ,

t h i s e x a m p l e i l l u s t r a t e s s e c o n d a r i l y h o w e m o t i o n s c a n b e m a

n i p u l a t e d . B y i n s p i r i n g e n t h us i as m , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o s e d uc e p e o

p le i n t o d o i n g t h i n g s th e y d o n o t r e a l ly w a n t t o d o . O n e n e ed

o n l y t h i n k o f mass h y s t e r i a . B ut t h i s i s n o ar g um e n t ag a i n s t an

occas ional surrender to e la ted fee l ings . Fear , anger , and shame

c a n a l s o b e u s e d t o m a n i p u l a t e . N o t h i n g i n l i f e i s d e v o i d o f

d a n g e r ; o n l y b y c e a s in g t o l ive c a n w e a v o i d d a n g e r a l t o g e t h e r.

T h e e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n fill us an d l i f t u s u p . T h e e x i s t e n

t i a l i s t p s y c h o a n a l y s t L u d w i g B i n s w a n g e r [1955] d e s c r i b e d j o y

as " l e a p i n g a n d s t r i d i n g . " W e c a n i m a g i n e o u r se lv e s l e a p i n g f o r



Foolishness?

17

j o y and in the p r oc es s s p r i n g i n g i n t o the d i s t a n c e . But if we

leap too h i g h , we s o o n a p p r o a c h m a n i a . F e a r of m a n i a is one

o f the m a i n reasons the e l a t e d e m o t i o n s are not v a l u e d v e r y

h i g h l y . Just as n e u r o t i c i m p u l s i v e n e s s can go too far, the e la ted

e m o t i o n s can take us too far u p , so t h a t we r i s k p l u n g i n g p a i n

f u l l y b a c k i n t o r e a l i t y .

J o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , and h o pe t a k e us i n t o the di s t a n c e ; t h e y

e x h i l a r a t e u s , t h e y s t i m u l a t e u s , a n d t h e y p r o m o t e b o t h s e r e n i t ya n d a f f i l i a t i o n . It is m o r e p l e a s a n t to be a r o u n d p e o p le w h o are

e n t h u s i a s t i c and c h e e r f u l t h a n a r o u n d those who are w o r r i e d

a n d g l o o m y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , e n t h u s i a s t i c p e r s o n s are o f t e n la

b e l e d n a i v e . F e e l i n g s of e l a t i o n m u s t be j u s t i f i e d , and so m u s t

o p t i m i s m in the w a k e of e l a t e d f e e l i n g s . In fact, m i s t r u s t and

s k e p t i c i s m t o w a r d e l a t e d f e e l i n g s are s o m e t i m e s c a r r i e d to the

extreme of s a y i n g , "Joy is n o t h i n g but a c o v e r - u p for a n x i e t y ,a r e a ct io n f o r m a t i o n . " In y o u r d e l i g h t , y o u are l i k e l y to be c o n

f r o n t e d w i t h the q u e s t i o n , " W h a t are y o u r e p r e s s in g ? " I t h i n k

this is a fa i r ly t w i s t e d a t t i t u d e , a n d I suspect that a s i g n i f i c a n t

fear of joy is i n v o l v e d in it.

O f c o u r s e , it is p e r f e c t l y c o r r e c t to o bs e r ve t h a t l o u d joy

ca n be a c o v e r for a n x i e t y . I r e m e m b e r w h e n I was y o u n g and

c a v o r t e d w i t h a g r o u p . We w e r e a c t u a l l y q u i t e a f r a i d , but we

a s s u r e d e a c h o t h e r t h a t we w e r e h a v i n g a h e l l of a lot of f u n .

A n d by d o i n g s u c h a g o o d j o b of a s s u r i n g o u r s e l v e s, we d i d ac

t u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e s o m e t h i n g l i k e j o y . To others a l so it m a y h a ve

l o o k e d l i k e j o y , but I see now t h a t it was a d i s g u i s e for a n x i

e t y . T h i s is s t i l l not to say t h a t e v e r y j o y is a n x i e t y in d i s g u i s e .

T o de s cr ibe j o y , B i n s w a n g e r ga ve us the elegant phrase " w i t h

each u p w a r d s t r i v i n g , a step i n t o the d i s t a n c e . " S o m e o n e w h o

aspires to the h e i g h t s o b v i o u s l y c a n n o t be c o n c e r n e d w i t h ev

e r y p e b b l e on the p a t h . But s u c h a p e r s o n is accused of b e i n g

f r i v o l o u s , l e a p i n g o v e r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , l e t t i n g t h i n g s s l i d e , be

i n g c o n t e n t to s i m p l y be, w i t h o u t a s k i n g a n y q u e s t i o n s . In my




18

o p i n i o n , as l o n g as one's e m o t i o n a l r e p e r t o i r e d o e s n o t c o n

s i s t of e la ted fee l ings a lone , there m a y b e n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h

l i g h t - h e ar t e d b e h av i o r . I am n o t a t a l l s ure t h a t t a l k i n g o u t e v

e r y c o n f l i c t t o i t s b i t t e r e n d a l w ay s b r i n g s a s o l u t i o n . S o m e

t imes i t i s better t o le t a p r o b l e m g o f o r n o w , t a k i n g a r u n n i n g

l e ap o v e r i t l a t e r . W e b ur d e n o ur s e l v e s e n o ug h w i t h t h i n k i n g ;

surely i t i s just as i m p o r t a n t to e x p e ri e n ce o u r e m o t i o n s a n d

justbe

oncei n a w h i l e .

I f w e have a pe ss im is t i c a t t i t ud e , w e have the fee l ing that

w e ar e i n t h e w ay o f t h i n g s an d t h a t t h e w o r l d i s p u s h i n g u s

a r o u n d . I n o ur p e s s i m i s m w e b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s f e e l i n g d o e s n o t

need to be ju s t i f i ed , for i t i s c lear that t h in g s fal l ap ar t . B y

c o n t r a s t , a c c o r d i n g to th i s a t t i t u d e , o u r e n j o y m e n t needs to be

j u s t i f i e d : " W h a t r i g h t d o w e hav e t o b e o p t i m i s t i c ? " I s i m p l y

c a n n o t accept s uc h an a t t i t ud e . I f t h e p e s s i m i s t s w e r e r i g h t , t h ew o r l d w o u l d h av e g o n e u n d e r a l o n g t i m e ag o , an d y e t i t s t i l l

l ives . I do not pre tend that i t i s in the best c o n d i t i o n , b u t i t

l ives . I f ight agains t the v iew that the fee l ing of depress ion need

n o t b e j us t i f i e d w h e re as t h e fe e l i n g o f j o y o r h o p e m us t b e .

H o w d i d i t c o m e t o t h is ?

F r e u d as s ig n e d t he p l e as ure p r i n c i p l e t o t h e r e a l m o f t h e

i d . H e r e i s o n e a n s w e r t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h y w e m i s t r u s t j o y :A n y t h i n g associated w i t h pleasure has a neg at ive o ve rton e, s ince

i t i s a lways infant i l e to a cer ta in extent, i m p l y i n g i r r e s p o n s i b i l

i t y . P l a y f u l a n d j o y f u l e n t h u s i a s m is a l l v e r y w e l l a n d g o o d — f o r

c h i l d r e n . A m o m e n t ' s r e f l e c t i o n m ak e s i t c l e ar t h a t p s y c h i c m a

t u r i t y , a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s m o r a l s t a n d a r d , a p p r o x i m a t e s t r a g i c

r e n un c i a t i o n , a r e so l v e a lw ay s t o see t h e c l o u d an d n e v er t h e

silver l i n i n g . I n m y v i e w , p s y c h i c m at ur i t y a l s o i n c l ud e s t h e abi l

i t y to rejoice i n b e c o m i n g w h o w e a re — i n the presence o f a

great deal of anx ie ty , depress ion, and anger , to be sure . I w o u l d

be the last to deny these e m o t i o n s t h e i r d u e ; I s i m p l y s t a n d

fo r t h e e q ua l r i g h t s o f e l a t i o n w i t h de ject io n. I be l i eve that psy-



Foolishness?

19

c h i c m a t u r i t y m e a ns m o r e t h a n t ra g i c r e n u n c i a t i o n and accep

tance of a n x i e t y ; it is also a m a t t e r of v i t a l i t y , p o w e r , a n d h a p p y

u n f o l d i n g .

W h a t do the w r i t i n g s of J u n g h a v e to t e l l us a b o u t j o y ?

J u n g ' s t h e o r y of the archetypes offers a t h e o r e t i c a l f o u n d a t i o n

fo r the affects that accords w e l l w i t h o t h e r t h e o r i e s of affect.

H i s t h e o r y a l l o w s for a g r e a t va r i e t y of affects as w e l l as for

f l u i d b o u n d a r ie s b e t w e e n t h e m . A n d yet on c l o s e r i n s p e c t i o n ,J u n g ' s w r i t i n g s a ls o r e v ea l a c e r t a i n pr e j u di c e in f a vo r of a c o n

f r o n t a t i o n w i t h a n x i e t y a n d stress that tends to place the e la ted

fee l ings and m o o d s in a c a t e g o r y l a b e l e d " e x t r a v e r t e d . "

In Psychological Types, J u n g d i f f e r e n t i a t e d e x t r a v e r t e d and

i n t r o v e r t e d a t t i t u d e s : I n t r o v e r s i o n is m o r e i n w a r d l y o r i e n t e d ,

t o w a r d the ps y c h e ; e x t r a ve r s i o n is m o r e o u t w a r d l y o r i e n te d , to

w a r d the w o r l d . C a r e f u l s t u d y of J u n g ' s t h e o r y of types doesn o t p e r m i t the c a t e g o r i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n of a p e r s o n as e i t h e r " i n

t r o v e r t e d " or " e x t r a v e r t e d . " These are p o l e s b e t w e e n w h i c h we

e x i s t , s o m e t i m e s c l o s e r to the extraver ted s ide and s o m e t i m e s

c l o s e r to the i n t r o v e r t e d s i d e . A m a t e u r p s y c h o l o g y , h o w e v e r ,

l a be l s c e r t a i n pe o pl e as extraver ts and others as i n t r o v e r t s . Joy

a n d h a ppi n e s s , at t i m e s r a t h e r n o i s y , b e l o n g to e x t r a v e r s i o n ac

c o r d i n g to th is v i e w . T h e r e is an i m p l i c i t v a lu e j u d g m e n t h e re .

J u n g o f te n e m p h a s i ze d th at n o j u d g m e n t of va l u e is i m p l i e d in

t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of a t ti tu d e s . A n d yet o v e r t i m e , the q u i t e

d i s t i n c t v i e w has a r i s e n t h a t i n t r o ve r t s are the ser ious ones ,

a n d that extraver ts are the l i g h t w e i g h t s , the t e n d e r - m i n d e d .

W e all k n o w howe a s i l y t e n d e r - m i n d e d n e s s can b e c o m e m i n d -

l essness . Thus the pr e j u di c e do e s e x i s t t h a t i n t r o ve r s i o n is in

d e e d m o r e p r o f o u n d , and t h a t e x t r a v e r s i o n s h o u l d be r e g a r de d

w i t h c a u t i o n .

Y o u w i l l n o t i c e t h a t I am a d v o c a t i n g the e m o t i o n s of j o y

f r o m va r i o u s pe r s pe c t i ve s . I bel ieve we s h o u l d g i v e these e m o

t i o n s m o r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . M i g h t there even be w a y s of s t i m u -




2 0

l a t i n g them ? I t is con ce iva ble that we w o u l d m a k e m o r e p r o g

ress i n t he ra p y b y s t i m u l a t i n g a c e r ta i n a m o u n t o f j o y t h a n b y

k e e p i n g o u r noses b u r i e d i n t h e s am e p r o b l e m t h a t has s t i l l n o t

p r o v e d c ap ab l e o f r e s o l ut i o n . W e t e n d t o b e li e v e t h a t j o y is a

g i f t , n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t c an b e d e l i b e r a t e l y c r e a t e d . T o s ay ,

" C o m e o n , b e g l a d , " w o u l d b e a b s u r d , because j o y c a n n o t b e

p r o d u c e d o n c o m m a n d . I n s p it e o f o u r e x p e r ie n c e t ha t j o y is

s o m e t h i n g t h a t h ap p e n s t o us , I p e r s is t i n as k i n g i f t h e re i s n ow a y t o s t i m ul a t e an d fac i l i t a t e i t .

W o r d s o f c a u t i o n a n d r e p r o a c h h i n d e r u s f r o m s e r i o u s c o n

s i d e r a t i o n o f w h a t I h o l d t o b e a c r u c i a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e a l i t y :

t h a t h a p p in e s s ca n a ls o b e a t u r n i n g p o i n t . T h e r a p y m a k e s u s

f a m i l i a r w i t h b r e a k t h r o u g h s t h a t o c c u r w h e n w e h a v e e n d u r e d

o u r a n x i e t y , w h e n o u r d e s p e r a t i o n g i v e s w a y t o h o p e , w h i c h

i s w h y w e a r e o f t e n t o l d , " D o n ' t fle e f r o m y o u r d e p re ss ed f ee li n g s ; g o i n t o t h e m , f o r t h e n s o m e t h i n g n e w c a n h a p p e n . " L e s s

ha s b e e n s a id a b o u t h o w h a p p i n e ss c a n a ls o b e a t u r n i n g p o i n t .

O f c o ur s e , i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o g e t an x i e t y un d e r c o n t r o l an d t o

e n d ur e i t ; p l e as e d o n o t t h i n k I h av e an y t h i n g ag a i n s t w o r k i n g

w i t h these e m o t i o n s . I am fo r e q ua l r i g h t s . T h us t h e e l a t e d e m o

t i o n s m u s t a ls o b e se en a s e m o t i o n a l t u r n i n g p o i n t s o f p o t e n

t i a l l y d e c i s i v e s i g n i f i c an c e fo r an i n d i v i d u a l ' s l i f e .T h i n k o f a t i m e w h e n y o u w e r e v e r y m u c h i n l o v e . T h i n k

a b o u t w h e t h e r s o m e t h i n g n e w d i d n o t c o m e i n t o y o u r l if e t h e n .

A t s u c h m o m e n t s w e cast o f f t h e o l d A d a m o r th e o l d E v e ,

a n d w h at h as b e e n s l e e p i n g w i t h i n s u d d e n l y a w a k e n s because

s o m e o n e is th e r e t o t e l l y o u , y e s , y o u are a l l o f t h a t ; y o u are

w o n d e r f u l a n d I l o v e y o u . These a re m o m e n t s n o t o n l y o f t h e

greatest j o y ; t h e y are a ls o m o m e n t s w h e n r e a l c h an g e s c an t ak e

p l a c e .



Feelings, A ffects, and M oo ds

I W O U L D L I K E N O W t o de a l w i t h a la n g ua g e p r o b l e m . W h e n I

s p ea k o f t he p s y c h o l o g y o f e m o t i o n s , I i n c l u d e m y s e l f i n t he

t r a d i t i o n o f Jaspers, B o l l n o w , a n d v o n U s l a r , a c c o r d i n g to w h i c h

e m o t i o n s , m o o d s , f e e l i n g s , a n d affects b e l o n g t o a c o m m o n

g e n r e . I n th e G e r m a n p s y c h o l o g i c a l l i te r a t u r e , e m o t i o n is o f te ne q u a t e d w i t h affect, b u t i n t he A m e r i c a n l it e r a tu r e e m o t i o n a l

w a y s m e a n s f e e l i n g . It is e x t r e m e l y c o n f u s i n g .

L e t u s say t h a t e m o t i o n i s th e i n c l u s i v e t e r m c o v e r i n g fe e l

i n g , affect, a n d m o o d . F e e l i n g s c a n b e p e r c e i v e d a n d n a m e d ,

a r e a c c o m p a n i e d b y i m a g e s t h a t w e c a n c o m m u n i c a t e t o o t h e r s ,

a n d have def in i te causes a n d g o a l s . A f f e c t s a r e m o r e p r i m a r y

t h a n f e e l i n g s , s h o o t i n g t h r o u g h u s w i t h a n i n t e n s i t y t h a t p r o

vo k e s a ph y s i c a l r e a c t i o n a n d u s u a l l y a s o ci a l r e a c t i o n , t o o . M o o d

has a less obvious cause ; i t descr ibes the state a n d a t t u n e m e n t

o f o u r b e i n g .

F E E L I N G S

B y f e e li n g s I u n de r s t a n d i n h e r e n t t e n de n c i e s o r o r i e n t a t i o n s

t o w a r d e x pe r i e n c e ( f o r e x a m pl e , l o ve , h a t e , e n vy ) a t t h e m o

m e n t w h e n w e b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h e m a s s p e c i f i c p h e n o m e n a t o

w h i c h w e c a n a s s i g n a n a m e o r i m a g e . F e e l i n g s e n d u r e o ve r a




2 2

g i v e n t i m e , t r a n s c e n d i n g p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n s . " I h av e a lw a y s

b e e n s o m e o n e w h o e a s il y g o t m a d , " o r " I h av e a lw a y s b e e n

i m p a t i e n t , " o r " I h a v e a l w a y s l i k e d t o ha ve a g o o d t i m e . " P ar

t i c u l a r f e e l i n g s a r i s e i n p ar t i c u l ar areas o f l i f e an d e x p e r i e n c e .

Y o u c e r t a i n l y k n o w w h i c h f e e l i n g s a r e t y p i c a l f o r y o u i n y o u r

p r o f e s s i o n a l w o r l d , o r i n t h e r e a l m o f l o v e . I t c an b e as s um e d

t ha t a l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f f ee lin g s i n a p a r t i cu l a r c o n f i g u r a t i o n

c h ar ac t e r i z e a g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l ' s p e r s o n a l i t y .

T w o q u a l i ti e s d i s t i n g u i s h f ee li n g s f r o m m o o d s : F e e li n g s

c a n b e n a m e d , a n d t he y d e m a n d s o m e t h i n g . W h e n I i n v i t e d

y o u a t t he b e g i n n i n g o f c h a p t e r o n e to re fl ec t o n w h a t m o o d

y o u w e r e i n , y o u m a y h a v e n o t i c e d t h a t y o u c o u l d s a y l i t t l e

m o r e t h a n th a t y o u w e r e i n a g o o d m o o d , n o t i n su c h a g o o d

m o o d , o r s i m p l y " o u t o f s o r t s . " I f y o u w e r e a b le t o g i v e y o u r

e m o t i o n a l e xp e r i e n c e a d e f i n i t e n a m e , i t w a s p r o b a b l y a f e e l i n g .M a y b e y o u e x p e r ie n c e d a b i t o f j o y o r a n x i e t y . M a y b e there

w a s a f e e l i n g o f in t e r e s t . T h a t w o u l d h av e b e e n m o r e t h an a

m o o d ; i t w o u l d b e a f e e l i n g t ha t w e c o u l d n a m e . S u c h f e e li n g s

a r e o f t e n c o n n e c t e d w i t h a fantasy . Jaspers [1965] cal ls these

" r o o t - l i k e m o t i o n s o f t h e s o u l . " I c a l l t h e m n a m e a b le f e e li n g s .

F e e l i n g s d e m a n d s o m e t h i n g o f u s o r p o i n t v e r y c l e a r l y t o

a s i t u a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r u s . I f I g e t a n g r y , i t i sbecause m y a n g e r w a n t s s o m e t h i n g f r o m m e . M y d e l i g h t d oe s

n o t us ua l l y ap p e ar o u t o f a c le ar b l ue s k y ; I am u s ua l l y d e

l i g h t e d ab o ut s o m e t h i n g — fo r i n s t an c e , an e f fo r t th a t h as b e e n

s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e d o r a n u n e x p e c t e d t u r n o f g o o d f o r t u n e .

O n e r e s u lt o f j o y i s t o d i re c t m y a t t e n t i o n t o w h a t h as h a p

p e n e d s o t h a t I a m m o r e r e a d i l y m o v e d to share m y j o y w i t h

o t h e rs , t o m a k e j o y f o r t h e m a n d so f o r t h . W h i l e m o o d s a re

e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e w ay w e ar e , f e e l i n g s h av e an a i m an d ar e c o n

n e c t e d t o c o g n i t i o n , hence to m e m o r y , t h i n k i n g , a n d i m a g i n a

t i o n . F e e l in g s i n v o l v e id e a s , fa n ta s ie s, a n d w o r l d v i e w s .



Feelings, Affects, Moods

23

A F F E C T S

I r e g ar d affects as c o m p l i c a t e d , i n t e n s e , e m o t i o n a l events a c c o m

p a n i e d by c le ar p h y s i ca l r e act io n s an d b o d i l y m o v e m e n t s . C o g n i

t i o n is u s u a ll y h i g h l y i m p a i r e d b y affect. In fact, a g e n u i n e affect

renders us i m p e r v i o u s to r a t io n a l a r g u m e n t . U n d e r the i n f l u

ence of affect, we contradic t ourse lves . Since o u r c o g n i t i v e s t r uc

tures are all d i s t o r t e d , we do not see s o m e t h i n g the w a y it is;

s o m e t i m e s we do not see it at a l l . If we refer to J u n g i a n p s y

c h o l o g y , we c o u l d speak of an affect as a c o m p l e x that has been

t o u c h e d off.

I n g e n e r a l , affect is the m o s t p r i m a r y e m o t i o n a l ev e n t, and

f e e l i n g s d e v e l o p out of affects. M o o d f o r m s a b a c k g r o u n d to

b o t h affects and f e e l i n g s .

M O O D S

T o d e f i n e m o o d we c o u l d use the e x p r e s s i o n " d o m i n a n t tone

o f an e x p e r i e n t i a l field." We c o ul d a l s o speak of t h e a t m o s p h e r i c

b a c k g r o u n d that pervades and rules our e x p e r i e n c e . It is d i f f i

c u l t to say w h a t m o o d we are i n , a l t h o u g h we k n o w that our

m o o d s p l a y a decis ive ro le in our e x p e r i e n c e . A m o o d is l i k e

b a c k g r o u n d m u s i c : We l i v e in it p s y c h i c a l l y e v e n if w e do not

a l w ay s n o t i c e it c o n s c i o u s l y .

It is e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y d i f f i c u l t to p i n d o w n the m o o d we are

i n . It is easiest in the m o r n i n g , w h e n we get up and say, "To

d ay I'm in a g o o d m o o d " or, " T o d a y I'm in a l o u s y m o o d . "

W e l o o k o u t s i d e to see w h a t the w e a t h e r is l i k e . A m I b r i g h t ,

f o g g y , or overcast? M o o d may be a r e f l e c t i o n of o u r e n v i r o n

m e n t . M o o d can also be d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to the d r e a m s f r o m

w h i c h we have just e m e r g e d . We o f t e n n o t i c e that s o m e t h i n g

i n a d r e a m has put us in a bad m o o d . Ou r m o o d s are also re-




24

la ted to the state o f o u r b o d i e s . S t o m a c h p a i n m a y a c c o m p a n y

a w o r s e t h a n u s u a l m o o d . M o o d i s f a s c i n a t i n g i n t h e w a y i t

expresses b o t h o u r p h y s i c a l a n d o u r p s y c h i c state, o u r r e l a t i o n

ship to the w o r l d a n d t o o t h e r p e r s o n s. A m o o d does n o t d e

m a n d that w e do a n y t h i n g , a s f e e l i n g s d o . I f I a m a n g r y , I w a n t

e i ther to flee or to effect some c h a n g e . B u t a m o o d is s i m p l y

t h e w a y I f e e l a t t h e m o m e n t , t h e state o f m y s o u l , a h u m o r

that p e rv a d es m y b e i n g . M o s e r c o i n e d t h e t e r m "state affect"t o d e s c r i b e m o o d . I t h i n k "affect" i s t o o s t r o n g t o a p p l y t o m o o d ,

because w e a r e d e a l i n g w i t h a q u i e t e n c r o a c h m e n t u p o n t he

s o u l that precedes d e f i n i t e c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n .

W e d o n o t h av e m a n y w o r d s f o r m o o d s . W e o ft e n c o m

p a r e m o o d s w i t h t h e w e a t h e r. I a m f e e l in g b r i g h t a n d s u n n y ,

o r c l o u d y a n d g r a y . C e r t a i n c o l o r s express m o o d s : " I w a s i n

a b l a ck m o o d , " o r " I 'v e g o t t he b l u e s . " These a r e e x i s t e n t i a lf e e li n g s . W h e n w e are i n a r e a l ly g o o d m o o d , w e say w e are

" g l a d t o b e a l i v e . "

T h e c o l o r s that w e i n t u i t i v e l y choose to wear say a great

d e a l a b o u t o u r m o o d s . " I just c o u l d n ' t p u t that dress o n t o d a y ;

I w a s n ' t i n t h e r i g h t m o o d . " T h e dress d i d n o t fit th e m o o d .

R e c e n t l y I w a s w o r k i n g w i t h a w o m a n g o i n g t h r o u g h a p e r i o d

o f m o u r n i n g . O n e d a y she came d r es se d i n a b e a u t i f u l , s h i n i n g

y e l l o w dress . U n t i l t h e n , s h e h a d a l w a y s come d r e s s e d i n b l a c k .

T h i s s to p p e d m e s h o r t . S he s a i d , " Y o u say that e v e r y o n e i n g r i e f

goes t h r o u g h these m o m e n t s o f j o y . T o d ay I just c o u l d n ' t p u t

o n that b l a c k d r es s, s o I p u t o n a s h i n i n g y e l l o w o n e . " A w e e k

later she came d r e ss e d i n g ra y . A m o o d c a n be e x p r es se d i n a

c o l o r . I t c a n a ls o b e e xp r e s se d b y p a i n t i n g a p i c t u r e o r b y l o o k

i n g a t d a y d r e a m s . S o m e h o w I m u s t express m y m o o d .

Someone w h o is v e r y i n v o l v e d i n m u s i c m a y s ay, " M y m o o d

is l ik e a n o c t u r n e b y R a v e l . " I n G e r m a n t he w o r d fo r m o o d ,

Stimmung, has to do w i t h t u n i n g . T h e w o r d fo r one's basic

t e m p e r a m e n t i n G e r m a n is Gestimmtsein, l i t e r a l l y m e a n i n g a t-




25

t u n e m e n t . The w o r d for b e i n g i n a b a d m o o d , verstimmt, l i t e ra l ly

means b e i n g put out of t u n e . If I am in a bad m o o d , I w i l l

be out of t u n e ; a n d if someone t r ies to s t r ike a c h o r d w i t h me,

i t w i l l s o u n d s o u r . We w a r n o th er s, " D o n ' t s p o i l my m o o d , "

o r , " N o w I'm in a bad m o o d , " in the k n o w l e d g e that it is bet

ter not to ta lk to someone who is in a bad m o o d s i n c e that

p e r s o n is out of t u n e . We can be out of t un e w i t h ourse lves ,

w i t h our b o d i e s , or w i t h the o u t s i d e w o r l d .E a c h of us has a c h a r a c t e r o l o g i c a l m o o d that we r e c o g n i z e

as our basic t e m p e r a m e n t , and w h e n we stay w i t h i n a c e r t a i n

range of that basic m o o d , we are c o n s i d e r e d e v e n - t e m p e r e d . We

ar e v e r y fam i l i a r w i t h the i d e a l of b e i n g e v e n - t e m p e r e d , l i k e

a w e l l - t e m p e r e d p i a n o (Gleichgestimmtheit). We k n o w , t h o u g h ,

that we can a l s o e x p e r i e n c e m o o d s w i n g s , just as an i n s t r u m e n t

goes in and out of t u n e (Stimmungsschwankung). A c l i n i c a l rep o r t in w h i c h it is w r i t t e n that a p at i e n t s uf fe r s f r o m m o o d

s w i n g s is not l i k e l y to be read as a r e p o r t ab o ut someone wh o

reacts v e r y c o n s c i o u s l y to changes in his b o d y , in the e n v i r o n

m e n t , in h i m s e l f , or in his p s y c h e . It w i l l ins tead be read as

a r e p o r t ab o ut someone w h o is m o o d y a n d not on an e v e n k e e l ,

w h o s e r e g u l a t i o n m e c h a n i s m s are not in g o o d o r d e r .

W e m a k e an i d e a l of e v e n t e m p e r a m e n t , but I w o u l d u r g e

y o u to t h i n k a b o u t w h e t h e r m o o d s w i n g s m i g h t not have an

i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n , too, at least w i t h i n a cer ta in range . A m o o d

s w i n g can be a r e l i ab l e i n d i c a t o r that s h o w s us w h e n t h i n g s

are out of place or s o m e t h i n g is w r o n g (stimmt nicht). O f course

i f y o u r m o o d changes all the t i m e , so that one m i n u t e y o u are

s o a r i n g up to heaven and the next m i n u t e y o u are d o w n in the

d u m p s , or y o u s w i n g f r o m a g gr es siv e to l o v i n g in q u i c k succes

s i o n , you w i l l present d i f f i c u l t i e s for those a r o u n d y o u . But I

w o u l d l ike to t u r n the matter a r o u n d for once by a s k i n g if these

f l u c t u a t i o n s of m o o d are not a s i g n that s o m e t h i n g has gone

o u t of t u n e , that s o m e t h i n g in our l i v e s m us t be c h a n g e d to




26

p u t us b ac k i n t un e ag a i n . M i g h t t h i s v e r y d e l i c a t e s i g n a l n o t i fy

us t ha t s o m e t h i n g h as g o n e w r o n g ?

M o o d s c l e a r l y s h o w t h e h u m a n b e i n g t o b e a " b i o p s y c h o -

s o c i a l u n i t y " ( v o n U e x k u l l a n d W e s i a c k , 1986) . A b i o p s y c h o -

s o c i a l p h e n o m e n o n i m p l i e s t he in t e r re l a te d n e s s o f b o d y , p s y c h e ,

a n d e n v i r o n m e n t . T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y c l e ar i n t h e case o f e m o

t i o n a l a t t u n e m e n t . I f y o u a re a ble t o w a t c h y o u r m o o d f o r a

w h i l e , y o u w i l l n o t i ce h o w m a n y fa c to r s c a n d i s t u r b i t : i n d i s p o s i t i o n c o m i n g f r o m t h e b o d y , d r e a m s c o m i n g f r o m t h e p s y

c h e , o r b a d w e a t h e r c o m i n g f r o m t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . I t i s m u c h

easier t o b e fe e l i n g f i n e i n s i d e w h e n t h e w e at h e r i s fa i r o ut s i d e ,

u n le s s y o u are i n a d e ep d e p r e s s i o n . T h i n g s c o m i n g at us f r o m

e v e r y p o s s i b l e d i r e c t i o n c an p ut us o ut o f t un e , w h i c h ac t ua l l y

m e an s t h a t w e are n o l o n g e r i n h a r m o n y w i t h o u rs elv e s. M o o d s

make us very aware of the extent to w h i c h w e p a r t a k e o f a b i o -p s y c h o s o c i a l u n i t y .

I f y o u h av e t h e fe e l i n g t h a t y o ur b as ic m o o d has c h an g e d ,

t h is c o u l d b e a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t s o m e t h i n g c r u c i a l h as h a p p e n e d

i n y o u r li fe — o r t h a t s o m e t h i n g needs t o h a p p e n . F o r e x a m p l e ,

i t m i g h t i n d i c a t e t h a t y o u a r e n o t t r e a t i n g y o u r b o d y v e r y w e l l ,

or that an ever -present affect has f inal ly gone away. I t might

a ls o i n d i c a t e th a t p r o b l e m s i n y o u r so c i a l e n v i r o n m e n t n e e d t o

b e s o l v e d , o r t h a t n e w c o n s t e l l a t i o n s i n t h e p s y c h e are d e m an d

i n g a t t e n t i o n .

F o r i n s t an c e , a m an w h o h ad a s e r io us d e p r e s s i o n t h a t n e

c e ss it a te d a t e m p o r ar y s tay i n a p s y c h i a t r i c h o s p i t a l s a i d , " I ac

t u a l l y us e d to b e a c h e e r fu l m a n . I w as w e l l l i k e d , the l i fe of

t h e p a r t y . I m a d e o t h e r p e o p l e ha p p y . A n d t h e n s u d d e n l y I r e a l

i z e d t ha t I w a s a lw a y s i n s u ch a n e r v o u s m o o d . I t h o u g h t i t

m us t b e because I w a s g e t t i n g o l d e r . " O t h e r s r e s p o n d e d t o h is

d e p r e s s i o n b y t e l l i n g h i m t h a t h e h ad f i n a l l y become a n a d u l t .

H e r e w e ar r i v e ag a i n a t t h e t h e m e o f e l a t e d m o o d s as s o m e t h i n g

r es e rv e d f o r c h i l d r e n ; o n l y c h i l d r e n are a l l o w e d t o e n jo y t h e m -




27

selv es w i t h o u t i n h i b i t i o n . T h i s m a n s a i d , " I f elt n e r v o u s . B u t

I d i d n ' t c ha n g e a n y t h i n g . " H e t h o u g h t h e w a s p a s s in g t h r o u g h

a n o r m a l t r a n s i ti o n . H e became s e r i o us l y d e p r e s s e d . T h i s m ay

n ot have been n ecessary . H e co u ld have taken h is rad ical chan ge

o f m o o d a s a s i g n a l t h a t s o m e t h i n g b a s i c i n h i s l i f e h a d g o n e

w r o n g , an d he c o u l d h av e a t t e m p t e d t o d i s co v e r w h a t i t w a s .

I n s t e ad h e i n t e r p r e t e d t h e o b s c ur e c h an g e o f h i s b as i c m o o d as

a c h an g e fo r th e better a n d w a s m u c h t o o l a t e i n s e e k i n g h e l p .P e o p l e w h o e x p e r i e n c e t h i s k i n d o f b a sic m o o d c h an g e m i g h t

w a n t t o t h i n k a b o u t w h e n t h e y b e g a n r e s t r i c t i n g t h e i r d i s p l a y s

o f j o y . W h e n s o m e o n e w h o is b a s i ca l ly c h e e r fu l becomes p e n

sive — or qui te depressed — h e o r s h e m ay e x p e r i e n c e t h e fo l l o w

i n g s o r t o f f e e d b ac k : " I g e t t h e i m p r e s s i o n y o u are n o l o n g e r

un s c a t h e d b y t he s e r io us n e ss o f l i f e . "

A p e r s i s t i n g c h an g e o f b as i c m o o d c an a l s o b e o b s e r v e d w i t hp h y s i c a l d is ease s. V e r y o f t e n p e o p l e w h o o n t h e w h o l e are r e a

s o n a b l y c a l m a n d s u d d e n l y find t h e m s e l v e s b e c o m i n g a n x i o u s

a s t h e i r m o o d takes a d o w n w a r d p l u n g e m a y find a p h y s i c a l

e x p l a n a t i o n . F o r ex a m p le , I w a s w o r k i n g w i t h a w o m a n i n t he r

a p y w h o s u d d e n l y became v e r y an x i o us , t r o ub l e d , an d d e p r e s s e d .

I c o u l d n o t see a n y t h i n g c o m i n g f r o m th e in s i d e o r f r o m t he

o ut s i d e t o e x p l a i n t h i s . S o I sent h er to a p h y s i c ia n , w h o d i a g

n o s e d a c h r o n i c i n f e c t i o n o f t he k i d n e y .

W h e n w e sense s u c h r a d i c a l changes o f m o o d , w e n e e d t o

ask o ur s e lv e s , W h a t h as ac t ua l l y h ap p e n e d i n m y l if e ? These

s i t ua t i o n s a re o f t e n q ui t e un d e r s t an d ab l e . I f y o u h av e l o s t s o m e

o n e i m p o r t an t t o y o u , y o ur b asic m o o d ch an g es . Y o u r b asic m o o d

s h o u l d a l s o c h an g e i f y o u h av e a f u l f i l l i n g e x p e r i e n c e . I t just

changes i n a less o b v i o u s w a y .

B u t c an w e ch a n g e a m o o d at w i l l ? W o u l d i t m ak e an y

sense t o d o so ? Y o u c e r t a i n l y a l l k n o w t he s i t u a t i o n o f h a v i n g

w o r k to d o a n d n o t b e i n g " i n th e m o o d " t o d o i t . W h a t d o

y o u d o ? T h e r e a r e those w h o w a i t u n t i l they are i n th e m o o d .




28

T h i s can take qui te a w h i l e . There are those who say , " I can ' t

w o r r y a b o u t w h e t h e r I a m i n t he r i g h t m o o d o r n o t , " a n d d o

w h a t t h e y h a v e t o d o . A m o n g t h e l a t t e r g r o u p, s o m e do g e t

i n t o t h e r i g h t m o o d ; t h e y just n e e de d a p u s h . B u t t h e r e a re

t ho se w h o s e m o o d o n l y w o r s en s . These p e o p l e d o n o t r e s p o n d

v e r y w e l l t o t h e r i g o r o u s wo r k e t h i c t h a t s a y s , " I do n ' t care

w h e t h e r y o u are i n t he m o o d o r n o t ; g o t o i t ! "

F i n a l l y , t he r e a re p e o p l e w h o ha ve m e t h o d s f o r p u t t i n gt he m s elv e s i n t he r i g h t m o o d . S o m e o f t h e m b e g i n b y d o i n g

s o m e t h i n g c o m p l e t e l y u n r e l a t e d t o t h e t a s k a t h a n d . F o r e x

a m p l e , I h ave a c o l l e a g u e w h o r ea ds P l a t o wh e n e ve r h e ha s t o

w r i t e a l e c t u r e , m u c h t o h i s w i f e 's d i s p l e a s u r e . H e s it s ba ck i n

a c h a i r i n t h e l i v i n g r o o m a n d r e a d s , w h i l e h i s w i f e s a y s , " Y o u

ha ve to w r i t e y o u r l e c t u r e . " H e says, " I ' m n o t i n t he m o o d . "

H e re ad s P l a t o , a n d P la t o p u t s h i m i n th e m o o d . M o s t o f ush a ve a c t i v i t i e s a n d f a vo r i t e t h i n g s t h a t pu t u s i n t h e r i g h t m o o d.

W e h av e w a ys o f " c a t c h i n g " a m o o d .

E X P E R I M E N T : E M O T I O N A L H IS T O R Y

I sa id above that cer ta in bas ic , p ers i s tent fee l ing s m ake up ou r

pe r s o n a l i t i e s . (Researchers agree abo ut t h is ; see Izard or B o l l -

n o w , f o r e x a m p l e ). These feel ings can also become affects . I have

w r i t t e n d o w n a n u m b e r o f w o r d s t h at d e a l w i t h e m o t i o n s , a n d

h a ve o r g a n i z e d t h e m i n t o c l u s t e r s o f r e l a t e d a f f e c t s .

I t i s i n t h e n a t u r e o f e m o t i o n s t o e va de c l e a r de s c r i p t i o n ,

w h i c h is w h y I ha ve o r g a n i z e d t hi s i n c o m p l e t e a n d p r o v i s i o n a l

l i s t i n t o c lu s t e rs . R a g e , f o r e x a m p l e , f lo w s r e a d i l y i n t o a n g e r

o r i r r i t a t i o n ; a n g er f lo w s i n t o g u i l t a n d th e n d e p r e s s io n ; i r r i

t a t i o n f l o ws e a s i ly i n t o a n g e r , h a t e , o r f i n a l l y de s p e r a t i o n . Jo y

goes t o g e t h e r w i t h sa t i s fac t ion , cheer fulness , con ten tm en t , hap

p i n e s s , a n d l o v e . M y g o a l he r e is n o t t o p r e s en t a m a p o f a l l

e m o t i o n s , bu t o n l y a s a m pl e o f s o m e t h a t a re c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d




29

E m o t i o n a l c lus ters

/—hate

rage — a n g e r ^ i r r i t a t i o n

^ — d e s p e r a t i o n

a n x i e t y — fear — f r i g h t — s h a m e

j o y — m i r t h — h a p p i n e s s — l o v e

e x p e c t a t i o n — l o n g i n g — c o n f i d e n c e — h o p e

e x p e c t a t i o n — d i s a p p o i n t m e n t — rage

a n g e r — g u i l t — d e p r e s s i o n

j o y — s a t i s fac t i o n — c o n t e n t m e n t — c h e e r fu l n e s s

- g r i e fd is t ress

- a n x i e t y

b o r e d o m — w o n d e r — i n s p i r a t i o n

c o n t e m p t

j e a l o u s y — e n v y — h a t e — l o n e l i n e s s

— g l o a t i n g

yr— f r i g h t — a n x i e t y

s u r p r i s e 4~ r e l i e f

^ — g r a t i t u d e

p i t y — g e n e r o s i t y — c o m p a s s i o n

p a t i e n c e — s e r e n i t y — t r u s t

j o y — s a t i s fac t i o n — p r i d e

h o p e — i n s p i r a t i o n — j o y

avers ion — d i s g u s t — a n t i p a t h y




3 °

t o o t h e r s i n o r d e r t o o f f e r s o m e k e y w o r d s t o h e l p u s r e m e m

b e r h o w o u r e m o t i o n s h a v e c h a n g e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f o u r l ife

h i s t o r i e s . I have in m i n d a c o m p l e t e m o d e l o f e m o t i o n s , w h i c h

I w i l l p r e s e n t i n a f u t u r e w o r k .

A s y o u s t u d y these e m o t i o n a l c l u s t e r s , t h i n k a b o u t w h i c h

o f t h e m best d e s cr ib e y o u r p r es en t s i t u a t i o n . W i t h o u t t h i n k i n g

ab o ut i t t o o l o n g , c ho o s e f o ur t o e i g ht c l us t er s t ha t a r e m o s t

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f y o u r l i f e .N o w s ee i f y o u c an r ec a l l y o ur f i r s t d ay a t s c ho o l . P i c t ur e

y o u r s e l f t h e r e . T r y t o r e m e m b e r w h i c h e m o t i o n s w e r e t he m o s t

i m p o r t a n t t h e n . W h i c h e m o t i o n s w e r e t h e m o s t i n t e n s e ? A r e

these t h e s a m e e m o t i o n s y o u chose as c har ac t er i s t i c o f y o u r l i fe?

O f t h e e m o t i o n s y o u h av e c h o s e n , t h i n k a b o u t w h e t h e r a n y

o f t h e m a re e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n . C a n i t be t h at i n y o u r d e s c r i p

t i o n o f y o u r s e l f , y o u h a v e p a i n t e d a p i c t u r e o f y o u r i d e a l self,o r a d i s t o r t e d a n d d a r k e n e d p i c t u r e o f y o u r re a l se lf? D o t h e

em o t i o ns y o u t h i nk o f as c har ac t er i s t i c f i t ac t ua l ex p er i enc es and

p e r i o d s o f y o u r l i f e ?

T h e i d e a b e h i n d t h is e x p e r i m e n t is th a t s o m e e m o t i o n s p r e

d o m i n a t e t h r o u g h o u t o u r e n t ir e l i fe t i m e o r , to p u t it i n t e r m s

o f t h e t h e o r y o f c o m p l e x e s , s o m e b a s ic t h e m e s i n o u r l iv e s p r e

sent p er s i s t en t d i f f i c u l t i es w h i l e o t h e rs c h a n g e . Y o u m a y h av e

n o t i c e d t h a t e m o t i o n s f r o m y o u r c h i l d h o o d ar e no t ex ac t l y t he

same as those w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e y o u r a d u l t l i f e . A n d p er ha ps

y o u n o t i c e d t h a t c e r t a i n e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g s h a v e p e r s i s t e d .

I a s ke d a b o u t w h e t h e r y o u r s e l f- p o r t r a y a l w a s i d e a l i z e d o r

d i s t o r t e d f o r a s p e c if ic r e a s o n . R e s e a r c h e r s o n e m o t i o n h o l d th e

v i e w t h a t w h e n p e o p l e are a s ke d to w r i t e d o w n t h e i r e m o t i o n s

an d t h e n i n d i c a t e t h e d e g r e e o f e a c h e m o t i o n t h a t i s c h a r a c t e r

i s t i c o f t h e m , t h e y a r e c o r r e c t i n t h e i r assessment b y d e f i n i t i o n .

B u t t o t h o s e s c h o o l e d i n d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y , i t is q u i t e c le a r t h a t

p e o p l e p r es ent i d e a l i z e d o r d i s t o r t e d i m a g e s o f t h e m s e l v e s . F o r




31

t h is re a s o n , I h av e f o u n d i t i m p o r t a n t to a sk p e rs o n s w h o k n o w

m e w e l l , " W h i c h e m o t i o n s d o y o u t h i n k a re m o s t c h a r a ct e ri s

t i c o f m e ? " T r y t h i s ; t h e n a sk y o u r s e l f i f y o u a re a b le t o r e c o g

n i z e t h e f e e li n g s r e p o r t e d t o y o u , a n d i f y o u ha ve t h e i m p r e s

s i o n t ha t t h e y ha ve c h a n g e d o r n o t . O f t e n t h e y ha v e .

I n c o n c l u d i n g t h is c h a p te r , I w o u l d l i k e t o o f fe r t he e x am

p le o f a c h a in o f e m o t i o n s d e s cr ib e d b y a fo r t y - t w o - y e a r - o l d m a n .

H e s a i d t h a t as a s e v e n - y e ar - o l d b o y h e w as c h ar ac t e r i z e d b y

the f o l l o w i n g e m o t i o n s : a n x i e ty , l o n g i n g , c o n t e m p t , l o n e l in e s s ,

a n d p a t i e n c e . A s a t w e n t y - o n e - y e a r - o l d s t u d e n t h e t y p i c a l l y f el t

a n g e r , h a t e , l o v e , w o n d e r , e n v y , a n d l o n e l i n e s s . Y o u s e e h o w

t h e l o n e l i n e s s r e m a i n s , a n d h o w a n x i e t y h a s b e e n r e p l a c e d b y

a g g r e s s i o n , e n v y , a n d w o n d e r . A t th e a ge o f f o r t y - t w o h is e m o

t i o n a l a t t u n e m e n t w a s c o m p o s e d p r i m a r i l y o f t h e fe e l i n g s o f

l o n e l i n e s s , s a t is f a c t io n , s e r e n it y , p r i d e , a n d l o n g i n g . T h e n e r v o us s e v e n - y e ar - o l d c h i l d , w h o w a s s o l o n e l y t h a t h e c o u l d s a v e

h i m s e l f o n l y b y m e a n s o f a r r o g a n c e , became aggress ive at the

a g e o f t w e n t y - o n e , w h e n h e w a s a l s o f i l l e d w i t h w o n d e r f o r

th e w o r l d , i n l o v e , a n d c o n s u m e d b y e n v y o f t h o s e w h o e n

j o y e d g r e a t e r successes. E n v y p r o d u c e s lo n e l i n e s s . A t t he a ge

o f f o r t y - t w o h e h a d a c ce p te d t h a t h e w a s a l o n e l y p e r s o n , a n d

th is acceptance o f h i m s e l f a ff o rd e d h i m c a l m a n d t r a n q u i l i t y .A r r o g a n c e g a v e w a y t o p r i d e .

A n e m o t i o n a l b i o g r a p h y i l l u s t r a t e s h o w c e r t a i n e m o t i o n s

pers i s t ( lone l iness , fear , probably a l so envy) , and i t reveals on

t he o t h e r h a n d u n m i s ta k a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t s . W e c o u l d g o o n

to ask w ha t events in th i s ma n's li fe l ed to the app earance o f

l i v e l y a g g r e s si o n a n d en g a g e m e n t w i t h th e w o r l d at the age

o f t w e n t y - o n e a n d t o t he d is a p p e a ra n c e o f these s a m e e m o t i o n s

at th e a ge o f f o r t y - t w o .

W h e n w e c o n s i d e r o u r b i o g r a p h i e s f r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f

v a r i o u s e m o t i o n s , w e g a i n i m p o r t a n t access to the var ious bas ic




32

temperaments that make up our nature a t d i f ferent stages o f

o u r l i v e s , a n d t h is i n f o r m a t i o n a l l o w s u s t o r e c a l l t h e e s s e n t ia l

events that shape o u r l i f e s t o r i e s . W e r e c a l l s o m e t h i n g other

t h a n w h a t n o r m a l l y o c c u r s t o u s w h e n w e t e l l o f o u r l i v e s ; n e w

p a t h w a y s o p e n u p t o o u r selves .



3-

T h e Interpersonal Context of Emotions

E M O T I O N I S A N I N T E N S E L Y P E R S O N A L P H E N O M E N O N ; i t is an ex

p r e s s i o n o f t h e self. Y e t e m o t i o n a l s o h a s a n i n t e r p e r s o n a l d i

m e n s i o n , a n i n t e r p e r s o n a l c o n t e x t . I w a n t t o c o n s i d e r three

aspects o f t he i n t e r p e r s o n a l c o n t e x t o f e m o t i o n s . F i r s t , e m o

t io n s a re " c a u g h t " f r o m o th e rs a n d " s p r e a d " t o o t h er s i n a k i n do f c ir cu l a r m o t i o n i n o u r d a i l y l ives . Sec on d, the se l f- imag e w e

h a v e f o r m e d t h r o u g h o u r e m o t i o n a l h i s t o r i e s p r e d i s p o s e s u s t o

s o m e e m o t i o n s m o r e t h an o t h e r s — l i n k i n g us in a k i n d of larger

c i rc le w i t h o u r o w n i n t e r p e r s o n a l p a s t . F i n a l l y , the express ion —

v e r b a l a n d n o n v e r b a l — w e g i v e o u r e m o t i o n s as w e i n te r a ct w i t h

o t h e r s b o t h c o n d i t i o n s o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m a n d affects the

g r o w t h o f o u r o w n e m o t i o n a l c a p a c i t i e s .

C I R C L E O F E M O T I O N S

E m o t i o n s , li k e m o o d s , a re v e r y i n f e c t io u s . T h e " c i r c l e o f e m o

t i o n s " i s t h e best w a y I h av e fo un d t o d e s cr ib e w h a t h ap p e n s

i n e m o t i o n a l in f e c t i o n . I f y o u w a l k t h r o u g h t he streets s m i l i n g

a t e v e r y o n e y o u s e e , y o ur h ap p i n e s s w i l l s p re a d a n d m a n y p e o

p le w i l l s m i l e b a c k , w h i c h m ak e s y o u fe e l s o f r i e n d l y t h a t y o u

greet others w i t h a n e v e n f r i e n d l i e r s m i l e . I f y o u w a l k t h r o u g h

t o w n f e e l i n g t o t a l l y d i s g r un t l e d , s o t h a t p r i c k l e s s e e m t o b e




3 4

g r o w i n g o n y o u r b a c k , y o u w i l l s o o n r e a l i z e t h a t y o u t r i g g e r

a d i f f e r e n t e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n . Y o u a r e g i v i n g a s i g n a l t o o t h

e rs t h a t say s, " D o n ' t g et t o o c lo s e ; I ' m d a n g e r o u s . " T h e y o b e y

y o u r s i g n a l a n d ke e p t h e i r d i s ta n c e . M a y b e w h a t y o u r e a l l y

w a n t e d w as just t he o p p o s i t e — s o m e o n e t o a p p r o a c h y o u ra t h e r

t h a n b a c k i n g o f f . I n a n y case, a n e m o t i o n a l c i r cl e e n su es . T h e

e m o t i o n w i t h w h i c h w e greet o t h e r s u s u a l l y t r i g g e r s t h a t s am e

e m o t i o n i n t h e m . D e p e n d i n g o n t he b as ic m o o d o f t hi s p er son, th e effect o f h i s o r h e r e m o t i o n o n u s m a y b e m o r e o r

less l o n g - l a s t i n g . B u t th e m o m e n t a r y l i g h tn e s s o f a n o t h e r w i s e

de pr e s s e d pe r s o n w i l l not leave us unaf fec ted. This i s one rea

son w h y s o m a n y p e o p l e t r y to b e f r i e n d l y ; t h e n t h ey a t le as t

w a r d o f f o p e n h o s t i l i t y .

Y o u are p r o b a b l y a w a re o f h o w i n f e c t i o u s a m o o d is . F o r

i n s t a n c e , i t i s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o l ive f o r a n y l e n g t h o f t i m ew i t h s o m e o n e w h o is a lw a y s s u l l e n . T h e o n g o i n g p re se n ce o f

a s l i g h t l y a g g r e s s ive pe r s o n t en ds t o pu t u s i n t h e s a m e state,

and i t takes a r e a l e x p e r t i n d i s s o c i a t i o n n o t t o be i n f l u e n c e d

by i t . O n e o f th e p r o b l e m s w e ha ve i n l i v i n g t o g e t h e r i s t h a t

w e c a n n o t escape t h e m o o ds o f o t h e r s . I t i s n o t s o m u c h s pe c i f i c

a c t i o n s o r i n t e r a c t i o n s t h a t cause p r o b l e m s ; i t i s t h e m o o d . W e

o f t e n h e a r p e o p l e say , " I t 's n o t t h a t he 's d o n e a n y t h i n g w r o n g ;

I just ca n't s ta n d b e i n g a r o u n d h i m . "

S u c h a s ta tement has to do w i t h m o o d s . B u t w e a r e n o t

c o n s c i o u s o f th i s as l o n g as w e t o o a re i n s i d e t h e m o o d , because

i n s i d e a m o o d w e are s y m b i o t i c , so to s p e a k, w i t h o u r i n n e r

w o r l d , w i t h those around us , w i t h t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , w i t h n a t u r e ,

and w i t h o u r bo d i e s . W e m u s t m a k e a de l i be r a t e e ff o r t t o s epa

rate o u r s e l ve s . N e ve r t h e l e s s , t h i s s y m bi o s i s i s n o t just a n e g a

t ive t h i n g . I t i s m o o d — a n d i t s s y m b i o t i c effect —t h a t m a k e s

it poss ible for us to be very c lose to each o ther , w h i c h also means

t h a t w e ca n ta k e o n th e p r o b l e m s a n d m o o d s o f o t h e r s .



Interpersonal Context

35

E M O T I O N A L H I S T O R Y

I n t h e l a s t c h a p t e r , w h e n w e c o m p a r e d h o w w e f e l t o n o u r f i r s t

d ay o f s c h o o l w i t h h o w w e f e e l n o w , w e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t w e

h av e an e m o t i o n a l h is t o r y . M y e m o t i o n a l h i s t o r y is i n s e p a ra b l y

r e la t e d t o th e e m o t i o n a l h i s t o r y o f t h o se a r o u n d m e . F o r e x a m

p l e , i f y o u w e r e a lw a y s l e d to u n d e r s t a n d t h a t y o u w e r e a c h e e r

f u l c h i l d w h o m o t h e r s w e r e g l a d t o se e, y o u d e v e l o p e d a h a p p y

s e l f - i m a g e w h i c h g av e y o u c o n f i d e n c e t h a t o t h e r s t o o k d e l i g h t

i n s e e in g y o u . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f y o u w e r e t o l d t h a t y o u

w e r e a t r o u b l e s o m e c h i l d , y o u a d o p t e d a s e l f - i m a g e t h a t p u t

y o u i n d o u b t a b o u t w h e t h e r o t h e r s w e r e g l a d t o see y o u , a n d

y o u t h o u g h t , " W h a t m u s t I d o so th a t o t h e r s are g l a d t o see

m e ? " A p a r t o f w h o w e a r e c o m e s f r o m t h e m i r r o r i n g w e r e

ceived a n d h o w w e r e s p o n d e d t o i t , e s p e c ia l ly d u r i n g ear ly c h i l d

h o o d . O u r e m o t i o n a l h i s t o ry affects o u r p r e s e n t l i v e s i n m a n y

w a y s — o u r e m o t i o n s , o u r co m p l e x es , a n d o u r r e l a t io n s h i p s .

E M O T I O N A L E X P R E S S I O N

W e k n o w a b o ut b o d y l a n g u a g e . W e a re a w are o f h o w o u r v o ic es

n o r m a l l y s o u n d , a n d o f h o w w e s o u n d w h e n w e g e t h y s t e r i c a lo r s ta rt b l a m i n g , w h e n w e b e c o m e s u s p i c i o u s l y q u i e t o r b e g i n

flattering. A n d w e pe r c e ive t h e s ig n a l s o f o t h e r s . W e n o t i c e i f

pe o pl e br e a k o u t i n s we a t , i f t h e i r faces g o w h i t e o r t u r n r e d ,

i f t h e i r f e a t u r e s g e t d i s t o r t e d . These s ignals are ca l led gestures ,

g e s tu r es o f e x p r e s s i o n , o r ex p r e ss iv e m o v e m e n t s . O n t h e b as is

o f s u c h g e s tu r es o r e xp r e s si v e m o v e m e n t s , w e d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s

a b o u t t h e e m o t i o n s b e h i n d t h e m . W e d o t h i s b y m e a n s o f e m

p a t h y , as i f a s k i n g o ur se lv e s, " H o w w o u l d I be f e e l i n g i f I m a de

this face? H o w a m I fe e l in g w h e n I ha ve t h is v o i c e ? " F o r e x am

p l e , w h e n I r e a l i z e t h a t s o m e o n e t r y i n g t o s pe a k i s e x t r e m e l y




3 6

f r i g h t e n e d a n d is a b le t o g a t h e r o n l y e n o u g h a i r t o le t o u t a

peep, I rea l ly suf fer w i t h h i m o r h e r. T h i s e m p a t h i c r e so n a n ce

w i t h o t h e r pe r s o n s i s o n e wa y t o r e a d t h e i r g e s t u r e s .

S e l f -o bs e r va t i o n a s s u r e s u s t h a t g e s t u r e s o f t e n e x pr e s s t r u e

f e e li n g s . A g e s t u r e o f f r i g h t m a y c o r r e s p o n d t o a r e a l e x p e r i

ence o f f r i g h t , o r a h u g e s m i l e m a y i n d i c a t e t h a t y o u a r e r e a l l y

h a p p y a b o u t s o m e t h i n g .

Y o u c a n a ls o c h e c k y o u r o w n f e e li n g s a g a i n s t t h e p e r c e p t i o n s o f o t h e r s . W e n o r m a l l y r e ce iv e n o n v e r b a l fe e d b a ck i n d i

c a t i n g w h e n w e h a v e b e e n u n d e r s t o o d . I f t h e f e e d b a c k i s a p

p r o p r i a t e t o s o m e f e e l i n g o t h e r t h a n t h e o n e w e a r e e x p r e s s i n g

v e r b a l l y , i t p r o b a b l y i n d i c a t e s w e a r e g i v i n g o f f n o n v e r b a l s i g n s

(gestures) t h a t w e f e e l s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t .

T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f these e x p r e s s i v e m o v e m e n t s i s a p p a r e n t

f r o m t h e i r absence w h e n y o u t a l k o n t h e t e l e p h o n e . Q u a r r e l so n t h e t e l e p h o n e , f o r in s t a n c e , s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d f o r th e f o l

l o w i n g r e as o n : W h e n y o u c o n f r o n t s o m e o n e , y o u l o o k ea ch

o t h e r i n t h e f ac e, a n d y o u p u s h y o u r s e l f t o t h e c r i t i c a l l i m i t ,

c l o s e t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e t h e o t h e r p e r s o n gets a n g r y a n d l e a ve s

— t h a t i s, t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e c o n t a c t is b r o k e n . A s l o n g as y o u

see t h e pe r s o n , h i s o r h e r e n t i r e bo d y , y o u c a n u s u a l l y s ta y a t

t h e c r i t i c a l l i m i t w i t h o u t b r e a k i n g c o n t a c t . B u t t he r e are a l

w a y s s u r pr i s e s , a n d i f y o u c a n n o t see t h e o t h e r p e r s o n , as o n

t h e t e le p h o n e , t h e d a n g e r is m u c h g r e a te r t h a t o n e o f y o u w i l l

l os e y o u r c o m p o s u r e . M o r e o v e r , i t is m u c h w o r s e t o ha ve c o n

tact b r o k e n o n t he t e le p h o n e t h a n i n y o u r p r e se n ce , w h e r e y o u

s t i l l h ave a c h a n c e t o t r y o u t t h e a r ts o f s e d u c t i o n k n o w n to

y o u . T h i s d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f g e s t u r e s .

T h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f d r e a m s c a n n o t t a k e p l a c e o n t h e t e l e

ph o n e e i t h e r , e x c e pt w i t h s o m e o n e y o u k n o w e x t r e m e l y w e l l .

H e r e i n A m e r i c a , e v e n a n a ly s is is ca r r i e d o u t o n t he t e l e p h o n e .

F o r m e t h a t w o u l d b e a b s o l u t e l y i m p o s s i b l e , s i m p l y because I



Interpersonal Context

3 7

w o r k w i t h e m o t i o n s , o f t e n a t t h e c r i t i c a l l i m i t . I n e e d t h e i n

f o r m a t i o n g e s tur e s g i v e ab o ut th o s e e m o t i o n s .

B u t t h e q u e s t i o n r e m a i n s w h e t h e r w e r e a d e m o t i o n a l l y e x

p r e ss iv e g e s tur e s c o r r e c t l y . W e as sum e t h a t w e k n o w w h a t these

e x p r es s io n s m e a n . A n d y e t i t ha s b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t a n x i

e t y , fo r e x am p l e , t r i g g e r s g l a n d u l ar s e c re t io n s an d fac ia l c o n t o r

t ions that are v i r t u a l l y i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m th o s e t r ig g e r e d

by rage . A therapis t may say , " I sense a n x i e t y , " a n d y o u a n sw e r,

" N o , I f e e l r ag e . " I o f t e n h av e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e n am e

w e g i v e t o a f e e l i n g i s p r i m a r i l y a m a t t e r o f e d u c a t i o n . In a

f a m i l y w h e r e e v e r y o n e i s an x i o u s , a g r e a t d e a l w i l l g o b y t h e

n a m e o f a n x i e t y ; i n a f a m i l y w h e r e e v e r y o n e is a n g r y , a g r e at

d e a l w i l l g o b y t h e n am e o f an g e r . T h e m at t e r i s m ad e e v e n

m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d b y t h e fact t h a t e m o t i o n a l g e s tu r es c a n b e

fa ls i f ied a n d d e l i b e r a t e l y p e r f o r m e d a s w e l l . F o r e x a m p l e , i f Iam i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d I n o t i c e th a t m y c o n v e r s a t i o n p a r t n e r

w i l l b e d i s s a t is f ie d i f I d o n o t b e c o m e i n d i g n an t ab o u t t h e i ss ue

w e ar e d i s c us s i n g , I face a c h o i c e : e i t h e r I m a k e a p e r fo r m an c e

o f w h at I d o n ' t r e a l l y f e e l , o r else I o f f e n d m y p a r t n e r a n d p r e

p a r e f o r a t a l k a b o u t w h y I w a s n o t i n d i g n a n t . S e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n

r ev e als t h a t w e p e r i o d i c a l l y p e r f o r m g e st ur es w i t h o u t a n y e m o

t i o n b e h i n d t h e m .A r e y o u a g o o d a c t o r o r actress? T h e r e a ll y g o o d ones ca n

t h i n k t h e m s e l v e s i n t o a f e e l i n g t o t h e p o i n t o f in t e n s e i d e n t i f i

c a t i o n w i t h i t . W h e n a n a ct o r l a u g h s o r c ri es , t h is m a y i n fact

b e g e n u i n e f e e l i n g a n d n o t o n l y a n e m p t y g e s t u r e . B u t i t f u r

t h e r c o n fuse s o ur ab i l i t y t o in t e r p r e t g e s t ure s .

A n e m o t i o n becomes g e n u i n e l y one's o w n w h e n g es tu re s

c o r r e s p o n d t o f e e l i n g s . T h i s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e i s n o t s o s i m p l e

to test. E m p a t h y a l o n e i s n o t e n o u g h ; c o n v e n t i o n s o f e m o t i o n a l

p e r f o r m a n c e m u s t a l so b e t a ke n i n t o a c co u n t . W h e n y o u are

i n a c o u n t r y w i t h a c u l t u r e t h a t i s f o r e i g n t o y o u , f o r e x a m p l e ,




38

y o u n o t i c e h o w d i f f i c u l t i t is t o re a d t h e e m o t i o n s o f o t h e r s

s i m p l y b y t r y i n g t o p u t y o u r s e l f i n t h e i r shoes. Y o u h a v e t o

k n o w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e r u l e s o f t h e g a m e —the n o r m s — a s

w e l l . I n S wi s s c u l t u r e , s t i ff , f o r m a l l a u g h t e r i s a n o r m at c e r t a i n

p a r t i e s . T h e absence o f s u c h l a u g h t e r a t these p a r t ie s m a y i n

dica te the presence o f a g e n u i n e e m o t i o n . I f I a m a n o u t s i d e r

and I r e a l l y f e e l l i k e l a u g h i n g , h o w s h o u l d I e x pr e s s t h i s f e e l

i n g ? U n f a m i l i a r w i t h the game rules , I am unsure about whetherI c a n s u r r e n d e r t o t h e e m o t i o n . S o m e o n e t r y i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d

my e m o t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n w o u l d b e h o p e l e s s ly c o n f u s e d i f c a l l i n g

o n e m pa t h y a l o n e ; s h e o r h e w o u l d a l s o h a ve t o c o n s i de r h o w

th e scene i s b e i n g p e r f o r m e d .

A n o t h e r p r o b l e m i n i n t e r p r e t in g gestures is that we are often

s o c u t o f f f r o m o u r e m o t i o n s t h a t w e c a n b r i n g t o e x p r e s s i o n

l i t t l e m o r e th a n e m p t y g e st ur es . O u t o f t o u c h w i t h o u r f e e l i n g s , w e s u b s t i t u t e c o n v e n t i o n a l g e s t u r e s .

T h o u g h I a m s a y i n g t h a t e m o t i o n s a re e x pr e s s i o n s o f t h e

self, it is w e l l k n o w n t h at w e o f t e n d i s p l a y t he e x p re s s io n s o f

an e m o t i o n w h e n w e are n o t a c t u a ll y m o v e d b y t he e m o t i o n

i ts e l f. T h e n w e a re n o t a u t h e n t i c . E m o t i o n a l s i n c e r i t y m e a n s

b a s i n g o u r gestures o n r e a l f e e l in g s . T h i s i n vo l ve s a c e r t a i n s o

c ia l r i sk , s ince some fee l ings are not w e l l to lera ted, or are to ler

a t e d o n l y w i t h i n c e r t a i n l i m i t s . I f w e d e c i d e w e n o l o n g e r w a n t

t o h i d e b e h i n d e m p t y s h e ll s, t h e n w e w i l l h a ve t o a l l o w c e r t a i n

e m o t i o n s m o r e r o o m . W e w i l l have to le t ourse lves la ug h loud er ,

cry l o u d e r , a n d s h o u t f o r j o y . I f w e w i s h t o c o m e i n t o contact

w i t h f e e l i n g s o f e l a t i o n , w e m u s t cast a s i de o u r m a s k s , d i ve s t

o u r s e l ve s o f o u r r o u t i n e s m i l e s , w r i n k l e d noses, a n d d i s a p p r o v

i n g glances , and free o u r s e l v e s f o r r e a l e m o t i o n a l e x p r e s s i o n .



P A R T I I

Joy





Joy as Elevation

I N I N G E B O R G B A C H M A N N ' S N O V E L Malina, t w o m al e c h ar act e rs ,

Ivan an d M a l i n a , c o m p e t e fo r t h e n ar r a t o r ' s a t t e n t i o n . I v an w an t s

t o s e d uc e t h e n ar r a t o r i n t o l i f e , M a l i n a i n t o d e a t h . I v a n , c o m

m e n t i n g o n notes t h a t t h e n ar r a t o r h as m ad e fo r b o o k s t h a t

d e a l w i t h d e a t h a n d o t h e r s o m b e r t h e m e s , sa ys, " W h y a lw a y ss u c h b o o k s ? T h e r e m u s t b e o t h e r b o o k s t h a t , l i k e E X U L T A T E

J U B I L A T E , m a k e y o u j u m p o u t o f y o u r s k i n f o r j o y . Y o u d o

j u m p o u t o f y o u r s k i n f o r j o y , d o n ' t y o u ? S o w h y d o n ' t y o u

w r i t e t ha t w a y ? B r i n g i n g m o r e o f t h is m i s e r y to t he m a r k e t

p l ac e , m u l t i p l y i n g i t in the w o r l d is a w r e t c h e d b us in e s s . S uc h

b o o k s a re a l l o f f e n s i v e . " T h i s st a te m e n t m o v e s t h e n a r r a t o r t o

w r i t e a s in g l e , g l i m m e r i n g passage — d e s i g n e d t o m a k e y o u j u m p

o u t o f y o u r s k i n f o r j o y — i n an o t h e rw i s e s o m b e r b o o k . I ask

y o u t o i m a g i n e t h e text i n v i v i d p i c t u r e s , because e m o t i o n s a n d

p i c t ur e s a r e v e r y c l o s e l y r e l a t e d .

A shower of words is born in my head and then a lamp is

l i t . A few syllables fl icker up. Bright commas fly out of al l

th e sentence boxes, and periods that were once black inflatethemselves and float l ike balloo ns to the ce il in g o f my m i n d ,

because in that book, that marvelous book that I am be

g i n n i n g to find, everyth ing w i l l be like E X U L T A T E J U B I

L A T E [exulting and rejoicing]. I f there really were such a

book, and one day there must be such a b o o k , y o u w i l l throw



J O Y

42

you rsel f on the f loor for joy just f rom reading one page . Yo uj u m p fo r j o y ; it does y ou go od ; you read m ore and bi te your

hand to keep y oursel f from screaming out loud for joy . Yo u

can't stand it, a nd w h e n y o u sit on the w i n d o w sill and read

more , you throw confe t t i d o w n on to the people w a l k i n g

in the street so that they stand there, amazed, as if they had

stepped into a carnival . You throw d o w n apples and nuts ,

dates and figs, as if it were St. N i c h o l as ' D ay . Y o u l ean out

of the w i n d o w without fear of heights and scream, "Listen,just l is t e n . L o o k , just l o o k . I have read something wonder

ful . Do y o u m i n d if I read it to you? C o m e c loser everyone ;

it is too w o n d e r f u l . " A n d the y b e g in to stand stil l and pay

at tent ion . M or e and mo re people gather together , and M r .

Breitner offers a greet ing for a change. He no l o n g e r has

to use his crutches to prove that he is the o n l y cripple. " H o w

do y o u d o ? " he croaks in a f ri en d l y v o ic e. " G o o d d a y ." A n d

th e fat opera s inger , who only dares to go out of her house

at n ight , a lways coming and going in taxis, gets a bit t h i n

ner. In a s ingle moment she loses a h un d r e d p o un d s . She

shows herself in the s ta i rwel l , theat ri ca lly s t r id ing , w i tho ut

shortness of breath, to the mezzanine where she begins to

sing coloratura w i t h a voice twe nty years y oung er, " C a r i amici ,

t e n e r i c o m p a g n i ! " A n d no one says condescendingly, "We

have heard better f r o m S c h w ar z k o p f and f r o m C al l as . " E v e nthe epithet "s i l ly old goo se" has vanished from the s ta i rwel l .

A n d the people on the third floor have been rehabil i tated.

A n i n t r i g ue has fizzled out. T h e joy l ingers so p o w e r fu l l y

because there is finally such a marvelous book in the w o r l d .

A n d I go to find the first page for Ivan. I make a mysterious

face because I w an t it to be a surprise.

T h e b o o k t ha t s h o u l d ha ve b e e n , was n e v e r ac t ua l l y w r i t

t e n . The n o v e l Malina is one p a r t of a t r i l o g y c a l l e d Ways of

Death, and at the end of Malina the f i r s t - p e r s o n n a r r a t o r v a n

i shes into a w a l l and says, "It was m u r d e r . " No t a h a p p y e n d

i n g . Yet th i s one passage says a lot a b o u t joy.



Joy as Elevation

4 3

M a n y di f f e r e n t aspects o f j o y a re po r t r a y e d h er e i n s u c h a

w a y t h at t h e a r c h e t y p a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n s b e h i n d t h e m s h o w

t h r o u g h . T h e i d e a is th a t j o y c a n be i n f e c t i o u s e v e n i n i m a g i n a

t i o n . I t is no t ab so lute ly necessary to have a di re c t exp er ience

o f j o y ; t h e p r o s p e c t o f a r e a l ly d e l i g h t f u l b o o k is e n o u g h t o

fill us w i t h j o y . T h i s pr o s pe c t m u s t be c e l e br a t e d — th is E X

U L T A T E J U B I L A T E t h a t h a s be e n s e t t o m u s i c s o m a n y t i m e s .

T h e n c o m e t he w o r d s b e l o n g i n g to j o y : A l a n t e r n is l i t , s y l l a b l e s s h i m m e r , e v e r y t h i n g f l o a t s u p w a r d . These a r e s y m bo l s

f o r e x p r e ss io n s o f j o y . Y o u m a y be a w a r e th a t w h e n y o u l a u g h ,

t he c o rn e r s o f y o u r m o u t h n o r m a l l y c u r v e u p w a r d ; y o u r face

f lo a ts a l i t t l e . Y o u r eyes s ta rt t o g l o w . F l i c k e r i n g a n d g l o w i n g

are fac ia l exp ress ion s . Y o u leap for jo y , o r at least y o u w o u l d

l i k e t o . T h e effect o f j o y is t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e p u l l o f g r a v i t y

a n d t h u s re p re s en ts t he f o r ce o f l e v i t y . N o w o n d e r w e al w a y shear that joy i s p l a y fu l . W i t h j o y we o ve r c o m e r e s i s t a n c e s a n d

s o n a t u r a l l y find a w a y to t r a n s c e n d o u r s e lve s .

T h e e x p r es s io n " t o j u m p o u t o f y o u r s k i n f o r j o y " s um s

u p t he e n ti re m a t te r . W h e n w e v i e w t h is e x p r e ss io n s y m b o l i

ca l ly , w e n o t i ce t he m o t i f o f s l o u g h i n g o f f t he s k i n . T h i s w o u l d

m e a n t h a t w e c o u l d r e ce iv e a n e w s k i n , w h i c h w o u l d b e a m a

j o r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , as s y m b o l i z e d b y th e h e a l i n g p o w e r o f t h e

s e r pe n t . I n ps y c h o t h e r a p y , i t h as be c o m e a m a t t e r o f c o n ve n

t i o n that to lerance o f depress ion and an xie ty makes great changes

po s s i b l e . I h ave n o d o u bt a bo u t t h i s , a n d y e t I t h i n k t h a t e x

per iences o f happiness can change us no less , as suggested by

t h e s a y i n g , " t o j u m p o u t o f one's s k i n f o r j o y . "

N o w t o c o n t i n u e w i t h t h e B a c h m a n n t e x t , " S h e b i t e s h e r

h a n d t o k e e p f r o m s c r e a m i n g o u t l o u d f o r j o y . " W e s e l d o m g i v e

free r e i g n t o j o y , w h i c h we fee l w o u l d be c h i l d i s h . W e a re t o o

g r o w n - u p t o a b a n d o n o u r se lv e s t o j o y . W e m u s t c o n t r o l o u r

s e l ve s , b i t i n g o u r h a n ds i f n e e d be i n o r de r t o k e e p f r o m s c r e a m

i n g o u t l o u d .



J O Y

4 4

A f t e r b i t i n g h e r h a n d , t h e n a r r a t o r s i t s d o w n o n t h e w i n d o w si l l because she can hardly s tand i t . Joy tolerates n o i s o l a

t i o n . J o y i s t h e e m o t i o n t h a t lets d o w n o u r g u a r d , f o r better

o r w o r s e . J o y o p e n s us u p ; she o p e n s t he w i n d o w a n d l o o k s

d o w n at the people in the streets. J o y c a ll s fo r m e r r y d i s p l ay ;

B a c h m a n n ' s n a r r a t o r t h r o w s c o n f e t t i . T h i s r e m i n d s m e o f t h e

S w i s s Fa s n a ch t c a r n i v a l a t t he b e g i n n i n g o f L e n t w h e n w e t r y

t o be j o y f u l . S o m e t i m e s i t is o n l y a n e m p t y s h e l l o f j o y ; i t isn o t easy for everyone at the same t i m e t o ge t i n t o a fe stiv e m o o d .

B u t c o n f e t t i expresses m u c h m o r e . W h e n w e are d e l i g h t e d , l if e

is b r i g h t a n d c o l o r f u l , i n c o n t r a s t t o t he d u l l n e s s a n d g r a y o f

d e p r e s s i o n . C o l o r expresses l i f e .

I n a d d i t i o n , w h e n w e a re j o y f u l , w e c a n o p e n u p a n d g iv e

s o m e t h i n g a w a y ; w e c a n t h r o w i t i n t o t h e streets. T h e n a r r a t o r

shares n o t o n l y c o n f e t t i b u t a ls o sentences w i t h t h e p e o p l e i nthe street. O p e n i n g u p, g i v i n g w o r d s , g i v i n g t h e g i f t o f a b o o k

to the w o r l d , t h r o w i n g c o n f e t t i .

T h e r e s u l t i s t h e c e s s a t i o n o f g r av i t y ; t h e e m o t i o n o f j o y

s usp e n d s g r av i t y . T h e c r i p p l e s ud d e n l y o ffer s h is g r e e t i n g s , e m

p h a s i z i n g the connect ion of people w i t h each other . H e no lon ger

has to fee l i so lated and d i f ferent because h e i s a c r i p p l e ; i n s t e ad ,

h e b e l o n g s . G r a v i t y l i t e r a l l y d i sap p e ar s fo r t h e o p e r a s i n g e r ; l o s

i n g o n e h u n d r e d p o u n d s i n a s in g l e m o m e n t is n o t b a d . H e r

r o l e i s a l s o i n t r o d uc e d because s i n g i n g i s a w a y o f e x p r e s s i n g

j o y , s o m e t h i n g w e a r e l i k e l y t o d o w h e n w e a r e f e e l i n g h a p p y .

I h av e ask e d m an y p e o p l e h o w t h e y e xp r es s t h e i r j o y , an d

s o m e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s c o m e t o l i g h t . " I just w a l k faster,"

or " I take three an d fo ur s t a i r s a t a t i m e , an d I us ua l l y t r i p an d

fa l l i n t h e p r o c e s s , " o r " I s i n g l o u d a n d o u t o f t u n e , " o r " I

s i n g l o u d a n d b e a u t i f u l l y , " o r " I w h i s t l e because s i n g i n g a t

tracts t o o m u c h a t t e n t i o n . " L o o k a n d s e e w h a t y o u d o w h e n

y o u feel jo y . Joy's l i g h t n e s s l e n d s i t s e l f t o t h e m a k i n g o f s o u n d s ;

i t s e l e m e n t i s b r e a t h , s p i r i t , an d s k y .



Joy as Elevation

4 5

A s B a c h m a n n w r i t e s , j o y h as t o d o w i t h b e a m i n g , s h i n i n g ,

a n d g l o w i n g . O n e o f t h e e x p r es s iv e g e s tu r es o f j o y is th e b e a m

i n g o f t h e e y e s , bu t n o t o n l y t h e e y e s ; i n t r u e de l i g h t , t h e e n t i r e

b o d y be a m s . I r e a l i z e i t i s n o t c u s t o m a r y t o s pe a k o f t h e bo dy

a s b e a m i n g , b u t I c a n t h i n k o f n o better w a y t o d e s c r i b e w h a t

h a p p e n s . I n a n y case, i t i s m y o p i n i o n t h a t t h e e n t i r e b o d y c a n

b e a m . T h e m o v e m e n t s t h at a c c o m p a n y j o y a re a lw a y s a s ce n d

i n g m o v e m e n t s . B a c h m a n n w r i t e s o f r i s i n g b a l l o o n s , a n i m a g et h a t s u g g e s t s t h a t j o y s u s pe n ds g r a v i t y .

J o y m o v e s u s u p w a r d a n d o u t w a r d , t o w a r d e cs ta sy , t o w a r d

o t h e r s . I t o pe n s u s , l e a ds u s t o g i ve t h i n g s a wa y , bo n ds u s w i t h

o t h e r s , s u s pe n ds g r a v i t y , i n s p i r e s u s t o s i n g a n d t o m a k e f r i e n ds .

T h e s o n g t h a t says, " D e a r fr i e n d s , t e n d e r c o m p a n i o n s , " s u g

gests a l o v e t h a t i s co n n e c t e d r a t h e r t h a n e x p l o s i v e . J o y a n d lo v e

c a n , o f c o u r s e , c o m p l e m e n t a n d i n t e n s i f y e a ch o t h e r . A c e r t a i na m o u n t o f j o y is a n es s en t ia l i n g r e d i e n t i n e v e ry c o l l a b o r a t i o n .

W h e n j o y is p r e s e n t , a f f i l i a t i o n ta ke s t h e p l a ce o f b a c k b i t i n g ,

a n d pa r a n o i a d i s a ppe a r s . T h e n e e d t o s ay ba d t h i n g s a bo u t t h o s e

w h o t h i n k d i f f e r e n t l y s u b sid e s . I n t r i g u e s c o m e t o a h a l t .

M o r e o v e r , a l t h o u g h j o y m o v e s u s u p w a r d a n d o u t w a r d , i t

also has the i n w a r d aspect o f h e l p i n g u s t o e x pe r i e n c e o u r s e l ve s .

I t is t r u e t o t h e n a t u r e o f j o y t h a t B a c h m a n n w o u l d de s c r i be

n o t h e r s e l f s o m u c h a s wh a t s h e do e s . Jo y i s t h e state i n w h i c h

we are least l i k e l y t o r e f l e c t o n o u r s e l v e s . I n t h e m o m e n t o f

d e l i g h t , w e are; t h e r e i s n o t h i n g w e h a v e t o do.

The passage a lso c lear ly expresses a secure sense o f s e lf w h e n

the narra tor s i t s on the w i n d o w sil l free of d i z z i n e s s . Y o u s h o u ld

k n o w t ha t i n B a c h m a n n ' s n e x t n o v e l , Der Fall Franza (The Case

of Franza), t h e m a i n c h a r a c te r s u ffe r s c o n s t a n t l y f r o m a fe a r o f

h e i g h t s . T h e absence o f d i z z i n e s s i n th e p r e s e n t t e xt p o i n t s t o

a m o m e n t a r y state o f h e a l th a n d w e l l - b e i n g .

J o y p r o m o t e s t r u s t i n o n e s e l f; w h e n w e a re j o y f u l , we f e e l

s e l f - c o n f i de n t a n d a c ce pt o u r s e l ve s , k n o w i n g t h a t o u r e x i s t e n c e



J O Y

4 6

is n o t a m a t t e r o f i n d i f f e r e n c e . T o p u t i t t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d ,

w h e n w e accept ourse lves , we are l i k e l y t o b e d e l i g h t e d i n a n d

to fee l accepted by the w o r l d , e x p e r i e n c i n g a n a f f i n i t y w i t h that

w h i c h t ranscends us , w i t h o t h e r pe r s o n s , a n d w i t h th e s p i r i t u a l .

T h i s is the basis for s o l i d s e l f - e s t e e m . T h e m o m e n t w e accept

o u r s e l v e s , o u r i n n e r b e i n g , a n d t h e w o r l d a r o u n d u s , w e d w e l l

i n j o y . W e accept w h a t i s , a n d at th e s a m e t i m e w e w e l c o m e

w h a t is t o b e . W h e n e v e r w e a re c o n s i d e r i n g h o w w e m i g h t

s tabi l ize o u r f l u c t u a t i n g s e l f-e s te e m , w e are pr e s e n t e d w i t h a

s p e c t r u m o f p o s s i b i l i t i e s : m a k i n g c o n s c i o u s p r e v i o u s l y r ep r es se d

c o m p l e x e s , i n t e r p r e t i n g d r e a m s , e x e r c i s i n g p h y s i c a l l y , s e e k i n g

o u t f r i e n d s . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o b e s a i d a g a i n s t a n y o f these

p o s s i b i l i t i e s . B u t t h e h i g h l y s o u g h t - a f t e r f e e l i n g o f b e i n g o n e

w i t h o n e s e l f , o f b e i n g w h o l e , i s a l s o c o n t a i n e d i n t h e m o m e n t

o f j o y , a l o n g w i t h a sense o f v i t a l i t y a n d m a y b e e v en o f fr e e d o m .J o y is v e r y m u c h re l a te d t o fa n ta s y . I n g e b o r g B a c h m a n n r e

fe r red t o fa n t a sy , a n d I a s ke d y o u t o fa n t a s i z e . W h e n we a re

j o y f u l w e a r e m o r e i m a g i n a t i v e , a n d possess a greater s torehouse

o f ide a s . H o w e v e r , t h e y a re n o t a l wa y s t h e best o n e s . L i k e j o y ,

fantasy has a l i f t i n g effect w i t h o u t a n y p a r t i c u l a r g o a l , f o r f ixa

t i o n o n a g o a l pr e ve n t s d e l i g h t . I n f a n ta s y , we a re w h o l l y pr e s

e n t t o o u r s e l ve s o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d f a r be y o n d o u r s e l ve s o nt h e o t h e r .

Its i n t i m a t i o n o f a f e l l o w s h i p w i t h t h a t w h i c h t r a n s c e n ds

u s is p r o ba bl y th e m o s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a tu r e o f j o y . Jo y h e l ps

u s t o e x pe r i e n c e t h a t f e l l o w s h i p a n d a l l o w s u s t o lo s e o u r s e lve s

i n i t . Jo y is i n c l i n e d t o w a r d tr a n s ce n de n c e , t ra n s c en de n c e o f pr e s

e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d o f th e w o r l d ' s r e si st a n ce . E v e r y m o v e m e n t

c o n n e c t e d w i t h j o y , e v e n a q u i e t j o y , i s a n e l e v a t i n g m o v e m e n t ,

r e l i e v i n g u s o f o u r n o r m a l w e i g h t i n e s s , c a u s i n g u s t o r i s e u p

a n d s e e m a t t e r s f r o m a n o t h e r pe r s pe c t i ve . T h i s e l e va t i o n i s n o t

w i t h o u t a n x i e t y ; i f w e r is e t o o h i g h , w e e x c e e d t h e l i m i t s o f



Joy as Elevation

4 7

g r a v i t y a l to g e t h e r . B a c h m a n n c a n w r i t e o f b a l l o o n s th a t s to p

at t h e c e i l i n g o f t h e m i n d ; b ut i f w e w e r e t o become b a l l o o n s

o ur s e l v e s , w e m i g h t f l o a t o ut b e y o n d an y s uc h r e s t r a i n t s i n t o

t h e ab s o l ut e .

The fee l ing of se l f -es teem that we exper ience w i t h j o y i s

n a t u r a l self-acceptance. I t may be the best sel f-esteem of a l l ; fo r

a m o m e n t w e a r e s u r e o f o u r s e l v e s w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n . T h e h i g h

es t express ion of de l ight i s th i s self-acceptance. I f self-acceptance

i s too enthus ias t i c , i t can become p r o b l e m a t i c . B u t w i t h the

n a t u r a l self-acceptance o f jo y , one feels i m p o r t a n t w i t h o u t h a v

i n g to be i m p o r t a n t , s i n c e i t goes w i t h o u t s a y in g t ha t o n e is

i m p o r t a n t . N a t u r a l i m p o r t a n ce a n d self-acceptance that requires

n o d e m o n s t r a t i o n le a d t o o p e n n e s s.

H e r e ag a i n is t h e d i m e n s i o n o f t ran s c e n d e n c e t h a t r el ax e s

r i g i d o b s e rv an c e o f e g o b o u n d ar i e s . I n j o y , w e are n o t d i s t r us t f u l ; w e a r e n a i v e . N o t e x p e c t i n g e v i l , we do not c lose ourse lves

o f f ; w e l e t d o w n o u r g u a r d . T h u s w e c a n b e s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e d

i f s o m e t h i n g e v i l comes to us after a l l . M a n y p e o p le p r o te c t

t he m s e lv e s f r o m b e i n g h u r t b y d e n y i n g t he m s e lv e s t o o m u c h

j o y . T h i s p r o t e c t i o n is v e r y c o s t ly . N a t u r a l self-acceptance that

n e e d n o t b e i n s i s t e d o n an d o p e n n e s s ac t together to g ive the

self a fe e l i n g o f v i t a l i t y , a s w e l l as a cer tain k i n d o f s u p e r i o r i t y , n o t o f p o w e r b u t o f t r an s c e n d e n c e . R i s i n g ab ov e li fe 's r e

s is t an ce , w e a t t a i n a p e r s p e c t iv e f r o m w h i c h o u r p r o b l e m s are

easier t o s o l v e . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f j o y c an p r o d uc e a n o t i c e a b l y

b a l an c e d s e l f- e st e em . S o m e t h i n g t h a t us u a l l y r e q ui re s m as s iv e

c o m p e n s a t i o n an d a b ar r ag e o f g r an d i o s e i d eas c an b e r e ach e d

s i m p l y t h r o u g h j o y . B u t w e d o n o t a lw a y s ta ke c o n s c i o u s note

o f o c c u rr e n c es o f j o y . S o m e t im e s w e are d e l i g h t e d w i t h o u te v en n o t i c i n g , w i t h o u t t h i n k i n g o f i t as a n y t h i n g s p ec ia l. I

t h i n k i t is so i m p o r t a n t t o p e r ce iv e t h e m o m e n t o f j o y . O n t he

bas is o f the se lf -es teem an d openn ess g iv en by jo y , w e can re -



J O Y

4 8

late to others w i t h the feeling that we want to share, to c u l t i

vate friendships, and to be related in general. C o m m u n a l l i f e

takes on color. H e a r i n g all these testimonies of joy, not o n l y

f r o m Ingeborg Bachmann but f r o m all sorts of people, I can

o n l y say, "Be g l a d , so that all these w o n d e r f u l things can come

to f r u i t i o n . " O b v i o u s l y , it is not so s i m p l e .



Sources of Joy

I H A V E A S K E D M A N Y PERSONS w h a t d e l i g h t s t h e m a n d g iv e s t h e m

j o y . T h e f ir st s o u r ce o f j o y t h a t o c c u r r e d t o m a n y wa s d e l i g h t

i n t h e m s e lv e s . D e l i g h t i n th e m s e lv e s w a s s i m i l a r t o p r i d e i n

t h em s e l v e s , a r i s i n g n a t u r a l l y i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a bi l i t i e s , w i t h

b e a u t y , a n d u s u a l l y a ls o w i t h w o r k t h a t w a s w e l l d o n e o r c a m eo u t better t h a n e x p e c t e d . F o r e x a m p l e , a r e s p o n d e n t m i g h t s ay,

" I c a n p l a y t he p i a n o so b e a u t i f u l l y , " o r " W h e n I a m c r e a ti v e ,

I f e e l g r e a t a n d I a m de l i g h t e d w i t h m y s e l f . " A n a p o lo g y i n

var iab ly f o l l o w e d , w i t h such statements as, " O n e s h o u l dn ' t r e a l ly

say t h a t , b u t y o u a s k e d . " W e h a ve d i f f i c u l t y i n s i m p l y a d m i t

t i n g d e l i g h t w i t h o u r s e l v e s f o r h a v i n g d o n e a g o o d j o b .

W e a l l k n o w t ha t w i t h o u t t h is j o y a g re at d e a l o f w o r kw o u l d n e ve r g e t do n e , f o r i t i s o f t e n t h i s j o y t h a t m o t i va t e s

u s t o k e e p o n w o r k i n g . F o r e x a m p l e , i f s o m e o n e has w r i t t e n

a r a t h e r p o o r e ss ay , a n d y e t y o u c a n c o n vi n c e h i m o r h e r t h a t

m a n y t h i n g s t u r n e d o u t v e r y w e l l i n i t , w i t h o n l y c e r ta i n t h i n g s

n o t t u r n i n g o u t so w e l l , t h e n h e is n o t r o bbe d o f h i s j o y , a n d

there is s t i l l a g o o d ch a n c e h e w i l l s u p p l y w h a t is m i s s i n g . Y e s,

t he m o t i v a t i o n o f j o y c a n p e rs ua d e us h u m a n b e i n g s t o w o r k .

W h y w o u l d s o m a n y p e o p l e m a k e t h e h u g e e f fo r t i n v o l v e d i n

m o u n t a i n c l i m b i n g i f i t w e r e n o t f o r t h is j o y t h a t k ee p s m o t i

v a t i n g t h e m , g i v i n g t h e m t he v i t a l i t y t o p re ss o n t o w a r d g r ea te r

j o y ? D e l i g h t i n o n e s e l f i s n o t g e n e r a l l y t h e subject o f p o l i t e



J O Y

50

c o n v e r s a t i o n . B u t i n a s u r v e y t h a t I c o n d u c t e d a t t h e U n i v e r

s i t y o f Z u r i c h , s tu d e n ts a n o n y m o u s l y li s te d d e l i g h t i n t h e m

s e l v e s — t h e i r p h y s i c a l a p p e a ra n c e, i n t e l l e c t u a l c o m p e t e n c e , a n d

w h a t e v e r else they l i k e d a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s — a s g r o u n d s f o r j o y .

T h e s e c o n d m o s t f r e q u e n t l y g i v e n s o ur ce o f j o y a m o n g those

I ha ve a s ke d is d e l i g h t i n t h e j o y o f o t h e r s . H e r e a c i r c l e o f j o y

is b e g u n t h a t w e a re m o s t f a m i l i a r w i t h i n t h e case o f l o v e .

I f y o u s u d d e n l y s h o w a great d e a l o f j o y i n s o m e o n e , t h a t p e r

so n w i l l o f t e n r e s p o n d w i t h j o y . T h i s sets a c i rc l e o f j o y i n m o

t i o n b y w h i c h w e a f f i r m e a ch o t h e r a n d share m u c h f a n t a s y .

W h e n m u t u a l d e l i g h t e n d s , i m a g i n a t i o n s l a c k s o f f , m u t u a l a f f i r

m a t i o n ceases, a n d m a j o r p r o b l e m s d e v e l o p . M u t u a l d e l i g h t i s

v e r y i m p o r t a n t , b u t i t c a n s o m e t i m e s d e l u d e p e o p l e i n t o b e l i e v

i n g t h a t t h e y ar e i n l o v e , w h e n a c t u a l l y th e y a re s i m p l y f e e l i n g

d e l i g h t i n t h e j o y t h a t h as b e e n c r e a t e d .T h e t h i r d m o s t f r e q u e n t l y n a m e d s o u r ce o f j o y i s t h e o p

p o r t u n i t y t o g i v e j o y t o o t h e r s . T h i s h a s t o d o w i t h a l i f t i n g

o f e g o b o u n d a r i e s , a r e l a x a t i o n o f defenses, p e r m i s s i o n t o b e

an d to revea l onese l f , an opening of the self that is best expressed

i n th e g i v i n g o f a g i f t . H e r e t h e fear may ar ise that we are g i v

i n g a w a y t o o m u c h o f o u r s e lv e s . It m a y b e a n o t h e r s y m p t o m

o f o u r p a t h o l o g i c a l w a y o f d e a l i n g w i t h j o y t h a t w e a r e u s u a l l yc a r e fu l n o t t o o p e n u p t o o m u c h . W h e n w e are o v e rjo y e d , w e

s o m e t i m e s g i v e a w a y secrets t h a t i n r e t r o s p e c t w e w i s h w e h a d

k e p t . Joy's w a y o f o p e n i n g u s u p a n d o f r e l a x i n g o u r h a b i t u a l

e g o b o u n d a r i e s is v e r y i m p o r t a n t .

R e l a t e d t o t h i s o p e n i n g o f o u r s e l v e s i s o u r p l e a s a n t s u r p r i s e

w h e n s o m e t h i n g u n e x p e ct e d b re a ks i n t o l i f e , w h e n s o m e t h i n g

n e w o c c u rs t h a t w e n e v e r d r e a m e d o f. T h e n j o y , e x p e c t a t i o n ,

a n d h o p e — e m o t i o n s a s so c ia te d w i t h a sense o f d i s c o v e r y — a r e

a w a k e n e d . D i s c o v e r y is a s o ur ce o f great pleasure for most o f us .

T h e r e is o f t e n a f e e l i n g i n j o y t h a t s o m e t h i n g h as c o m e t o

u s t h a t w e d i d n o t r e a l ly e a r n , s i n ce w e d i d n o t w o r k f o r i t



Sources of Joy

51

i n a d i s c i p l i n e d f a s h i o n . T h i s is s i m i l a r t o w h a t i n r e l i g i o n is

c a l l e d grace. I t is the j o y f u l c h a ra c te r o f b e i n g , a d e v i a t i o n f r o m

the rule that w e a lways have to w o r k for e v e r y t h i n g . S o m e t h i n g s

c o m e a s a s i m pl e t wi s t o f f a t e . M a n y a b s o l u t e l y i r k s o m e t h i n g s

a re de c re e d by fa t e , bu t w e s h o u l d n o t o v e r l o o k t h e p l e as a n t

s u r pr i s e s t h a t l i f e a l s o h a s t o o f f e r . R e c e i v i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t

is n o t a c t u a l l y o u r s i s a s o u r c e o f j o y t h a t m a k e s u s c a u t i o u s ,

h o w e v e r , f o r we a r e n e ve r c o m pl e t e l y s u r e i f we a r e r e a l l y e n t i t l e d t o w h a t w e h av e r e ce i v e d a n d ha ve t a k en s u c h d e l i g h t i n .

M a n y pe o pl e h i d e t h e i r j o y f o r fe a r o f t h e e n vy o f th e g o d s .

I a m m u c h m o r e a f ra i d o f th e e n v y o f h u m a n b e i n g s .

D r e a m s a s w e l l as fantas ies can t r ig g er jo y . I have a t te m p ted

t o c o l le c t d r e a m s o f j o y f r o m m a n y p e r s o n s , a n d t h e i r r e a c t io n

is s t e r e o t y p i c a l : " I c a n n e v e r w r i t e i t o u t s o b e a u t i f u l l y as I

d r e a m e d i t , " they say. " I prefer to leave i t a lone." That is a shame.W e h u m a n b e i n g s s ee m t o h av e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h l a n g u a g e , d i f f i

c u l t y i n g i v i n g adequate e xpress ion to s i tuat io ns that have s t im u

l a ted j o y , t h a t i s , e x pr e s s i o n t h a t do e s n o t r e du c e t h e e m o t i o n

o f j o y . T h u s w e k e e p these d r e a m s t o o u r s e l v e s , o f t e n w i t h o u t

e v e n w r i t i n g t h e m d o w n . T h i s a l s o m e a n s t h a t we n e g l e c t t h e

oases o f j o y t h a t i ss u e f r o m o u r d r e a m s , d r e a m s w h i c h let us

k n o w t h a t l i f e i s g o i n g w e l l . C a n y o u r e c a l l d r e a m s t h a t h a v er e s u l t e d i n j o y ? I f w e a re s e a r c h in g f o r j o y i n o u r l iv e s , t h e n

w e a r e a l s o c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e r e d i s c o v e r y a n d r e e v a l u a t i o n o f

dr e a m s a n d fa n t as ie s t h a t c o n t a i n j o y .

J o y is t r i g g e r e d w h e n s o m e t h i n g f a m i l i a r a p p ea rs i n s te a d

o f s o m e t h i n g f o r e i g n w e h av e b e en a n x i o u s l y e x p e c t i n g . F o r

e x a m p l e , as a S w i s s c i t i z e n I a m t r a v e l i n g i n J a p a n a n d s u d d e n l y

r u n i n t o a n o t h e r S w i s s c i t i z e n .

Jo y a c c o m pa n i e s t h e d i s a ppe a r a n c e o f a n x i e t y a n d p a i n . I f

y o u h a v e b e e n u n d e r stress, i f s o m e t h i n g u n p l e a s a n t h a s b e e n

a g i t a t i n g y o u , y o u w i l l e x p e rie n ce j o y — i f n o t a l o u d j o y — w h e n

s u c h pr e ss u re s g o a wa y . W e see t h i s c le a r l y i n t h e t r e a t m e n t



J O Y

52

o f p e r so n s i n m o u r n i n g . T h e y r e a ch t h e p o i n t w h e n t h e y h av e

t h e fe e l i n g , " B u t n o w I c a n li v e a g a i n ; th e d e p r e s s io n i s g o i n g

a w a y , " a n d t h e y r e d i s c o v e r t h e i r h u g e d e l i g h t i n trees, i n l i f e ,

and i n o t h e r p e r s o n s . T h e i n i t i a l j o y fades again la ter , but the

p h e n o m e n o n o f a r e d is co v e re d c a p a ci ty f o r j o y w h e n p a i n a n d

a n x i e t y d i sa p p e ar is w o r t h y o f s er io u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . A n d y e t

I m e n t i o n i t o n l y a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f m y s u r v e y o f t h e d i f f e r e n t

s o u rc e s o f j o y f o r t w o r ea s o n s. F i r s t , i n s p it e o f th e fact thatit is o f t e n h e l d t o b e o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n s ou rc es o f j o y ,

in m y s u r v e y i t w a s o n l y o c c a s i o n a l l y m e n t i o n e d . S e c o n d , I w a n t

t o l o o k at j o y f r o m a d i f fe r e n t p e r s p e c ti v e . R a t h e r t h a n s e e in g

j o y a s o u r r e w a r d f o r h a v i n g e n d u r e d a n x i e t y o r p a i n , I w o u l d

l ike t o s h o w t h a t j o y i s c o n s t i t u t i v e i n o u r l i v e s , n o t d e r i v e d ,

s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n e v e n c o e x i s t w i t h p a i n a n d a n x i e t y . I f y o u

t h i n k o f t i m e s o f w a r , y o u g e t t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t i n t h e faceo f d i s a st e r a n d c r u e l t y a t a l e n t a ris es f o r e n j o y i n g t h e m o m e n t

and f o r t a k i n g d e l i g h t ev e n i n th e m o s t d i r e c i rc u m s t a n c e s . E n

j o y i n g y o u r s e l f h a s a great d e a l t o d o w i t h b e i n g a b l e t o d e l i g h t

in to d ay w i t h o u t a s k i n g w h a t w i l l h a p p e n t o m o r r o w o r expect

i n g t h a t t h i n g s w i l l o n l y c o n t i n u e t o b e b a d .

C o l l e c t i v e c r e a t i v i t y is a s ou rc e o f j o y : s o m e t h i n g g r o w i n g

w i t h i n a g r o u p t h a t emerges as a n e w e n t i t y . N a t u r e , b e a u t y ,and t he p r oc es s o f b e c o m i n g i n s p i r e j o y . C u l t u r e is a s o u rc e

o f j o y . J o y d e ri ve s f r o m w h a t e v e r o n e f in d s g o o d o r h a r m o n i

o u s . W e f ee l j o y w h e n b o d y , p s y c h e , a n d t he w o r l d a r o u n d u s

a re i n t u n e , w h e n w e c a n a f f i r m e x i s te n c e , e s p e c i a l ly u n d e r t h e

aspect o f i n cr e as e a n d in t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f b e i n g . W e a re j o y f u l

w h e n s o m e t h i n g g r o w s , w h e n w e h a v e t h e f e e l i n g t h a t n e w

areas o f l i f e a r e b e c o m i n g a v a i l a b l e t o u s , w h e n w e become freer

and m o r e d a r i n g . W e e x p e r i e n c e these s i t u a t i o n s a s a n i n t e n

s i fi c a t io n o f b e i n g , b u t a ls o as a s u r p r i s i n g g i f t . T h e same j o y

c a n g r i p u s w h e n p e r s o n s w e a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h or c lose to

o p e n n e w v i s t a s a n d c o v e r n e w g r o u n d o n t h e i r p a t h t h r o u g h





Biographical Reconstructions of Joy

R E S E A R C H O N TH E E M O T I O N S a n d t h e r a p e u t i c w o r k w i t h e m o

t i o n s m u s t b e b i o g r a p h i c a l l y o r i e n t e d b ec a us e o u r fe e li n g s h a ve

a h i s t o r y . T h u s o u r j o y ha s a h i s t o r y as w e l l , w h i c h w e c a n

e x a m i n e b y a s k i n g s u c h q u e s t i o n s a s, W h a t i n m y l if e ha s g i v e n

m e j o y ? H o w ha ve I e xp r es se d m y j o y ? H o w d o es j o y a ffe ctm y e x p e r i e n c e o f m y s e l f? H o w d o e s i t a ffe ct m y r e la t i o n s h i p s ?

H o w d o I k e ep c o n t r o l o f j o y ? W h a t s p o i ls i t ? T h e s e a re q u e s

t i o n t h a t w e ca n c o n s i d e r t h r o u g h o u t o u r l iv e s . O r w e ca n r e

flect o n h o w t h e j o y t ha t w e e x p e ri en c e n o w ha s c h a n g e d f r o m

t h e j o y t h a t w e e x p e r i e n c e d a s s m a l l c h i l d r e n . T h i s c a n b e d o n e

v e r y s y s t e m a t ic a ll y , b y r e c o n s t r u c t i n g a b i o g r a p h y o f j o y . I e n

c o u r a g e y o u t o w r i t e o n e f o r y o u r s e l f .I c a l l i t b i o g r a p h y r a t h e r t h a n case h i s t o r y b e c au s e case h i s

t o r y suggests d isease, an d for the m o m en t I w o u l d l ike to bracket

t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f p a t h o l o g y . It is f a s c i n a t i n g t o r e c o n s t r u c t

y o u r o w n b i o g r a p h y . R e p l a c i n g case h i s t o r y w i t h b i o g r a p h y ,

t h e n , I w o u l d l ike t o l o o k at w h a t w e h av e b e c o m e f r o m t h e

p e r s p e c t i v e o f v a r i o us asp e cts o f j o y .

I t is a c u r r e n t f a s h i o n t o r e c o n s t r u c t o u r b i o g r a p h i e s f r o m

v a r i o u s p e r s p e c ti v e s, a n a p p r o a c h th a t o f fe rs u s th e o p p o r t u n i t y

t o see o u r li v e s s u d d e n l y i n n e w w a y s . B y t he t i m e w e a re m a

t u r e a d u l t s , w e w i l l p r o b a b l y h a ve t o l d o u r b i o g r a p h i e s c o u n t -



Biographical Reconstructions

55

less t im e s a n y w a y , a n d i n c o u n t l e s s w a y s . M a n y p e o p l e ha v e a

" n a r r a t i v e " b i o g r a p h y t ha t m a y b e m o r e o r less fict ional , de

p e n d i n g o n h o w p l a y f u l o r h o w r e v e a l i n g t h e y w i s h t o b e . T h e y

m a y e m p h a s i z e d i f f e r e n t s t r a n d s i n t h e i r b i o g r a p h i e s f o r d i f f e r

e n t l is t en e r s . O r n e w in s i g h t s o r e m p h a se s m a y cause t h e m t o

t e l l t h e i r b i o g r a p h i e s d i f f e r e n t l y .

S h i f t i n g p e r sp e c ti v es c a n r e v e al r a d i c a l l y n e w d i m e n s i o n s

o f o ur li v e s . I t is s t ran g e h o w m i l e s t o n e s an d t r an s i t i o n s t h a tn e v e r se e m ed w o r t h y o f n o t i c e c a n s u d d e n l y ta k e o n a n o t h e r ,

b r i g h t e r l i g h t . R e c o n s t r u c t i n g a b i o g r a p h y o f j o y r em o v e s u s

f r o m o u r u s u a l b i o g r a p h i c a l t r e a d m i ll s a n d h a b i t u a l c o n c e p t u a l

i z a t i o n s . O n c e a g a i n w e d i s c o v e r a n e w s t o r y a b o u t o u r s e lv e s ;

p e r h a p s w e e v e n c r e a t i v e l y c o n s t r u c t o n e .

T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n c a n b e c a r r i e d o u t w i t h v a r y i n g d e g r e e s

o f i n t e n s i t y . U s u a l l y w e p ro c ee d c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y , b y a s k in g w h a twe can recal l a t success ive ages. I agree w i t h t a k i n g th is c h r o n o

l o g i c a l a p p r o a c h , g u i d e d b y a s p e c if ic set o f q u e s t i o n s : H o w

ha ve I b e c o m e w h a t I a m ? W h a t w e r e t he i m p o r t a n t aspects

o f t h i s p r o c e ss ? W h a t h as t h e n a t ur e o f j o y b e e n i n m y li fe ?

I n w h a t s i tu a t i o n s w a s I r e a ll y h a p p y ? H o w d i d I feel? H o w

d i d I e x p r e s s m y j o y ?

T h e r e is o n e m o r e i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n to a sk : W h a t ha s

b e c o m e o f m y j o y ? T h e p o i n t o f a b i o g r a p h y o f j o y is n o t o n l y

t o l o c a t e s i t u a t i o n s f r o m m y p a s t w i t h w h i c h I c a n i d e n t i f y ,

f o r e x a m p l e , a s a j o y f u l c h i l d , but a l so to d i scover the fate o f

m y j o y . O r , h a v i n g g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r v a r i o u s p a st s i t u a t i o n s ,

I c a n i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e e n t i r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f j o y t h a t has t ak e n

p l ac e i n m y l i f e . T h e m at e r i a ls t h a t w e use fo r o u r r e c o n s t r uc

t i o n s a r e m e m o r i e s i n t h e f i r s t p l ac e , an d s t o r i e s i n t h e s e c o n d .

M u c h o f w h a t w e t h i n k o f as m e m o r y i s a c t u a l ly d e r iv e d f r o m

the s tor ies we have heard others t e l l — s t o r i e s t o l d b y p a r e n t s ,

s i b l i n g s , p l ay m at e s , an d f r i e n d s ; s t o r i e s t o l d b y p h o t o s , d i a r i e s ,



J O Y

5 6

an d o l d t o y s . I f y o u g r e w u p i n a h o u s e w h e r e y o u r o l d t o y shave been saved, f i nd s o m e o p p o r t u n i t y t o g o b a ck t o see t h e m

a n d e v o k e t h e m e m o r i e s r e s i d i n g w i t h i n t h e m .

In r e c o n s t r u c t i n g y o u r b i o g r a p h y o f j o y y o u c an a ls o u se

d r a w i n g s , a n d d r ea m s o f c h i l d h o o d j o y . T r y t o r e c a ll a m o v e

m e n t t h a t y o u m a d e as a c h i l d w h i c h b r o u g h t y o u great j o y .

I n o n e s e c ti o n o f y o u r r e c o n s t ru c t e d b i o g r a p h y o f j o y , w r i t e

d o w n w h a t y o u y o u r s e l f r e m e m b e r . I n a n o t h e r s e c t i o n , f o r t h esake o f c o m p a r i s o n , w r i t e d o w n w h a t o th e rs r e m e m b e r a bo u t

y o u . B u t d o n o t g i v e t h i s c o m p a r i s o n i n o r d i n a t e w e i g h t .

A f e w o t h e r s u g g e s t i o n s : R e c a l l w h a t y o u w e r e t o l d a b o u t

j o y as a s m a l l c h i l d . W e r e y o u t o l d a n y t h i n g at a ll ? N o w t r y

t o re ca ll a n e a rl y m e m o r y o f j o y f r o m y o u r c h i l d h o o d . C a n y o u

t h i n k o f a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h y o u w e r e v e r y h a p p y ? I t is best

i f y o u t h i n k o f j o y as a n affect. L e t a n i m a g e c o m e t o y o u o fy o u r s e l f a s a c h i l d w h o f e l t great j o y . T h i s m a y h e l p y o u t o

d i s co v e r h o w j o y w a s a ro u s e d i n y o u a n d h o w y o u e x p re ss e d

i t . A s k y o u r s e l f i f o t h e r p e o p l e w e r e a r o u n d . W h a t effect d i d

j o y h av e o n y o u r r e l a t io n s h i p s ? O r w a s there n o o n e else a r o u n d ?

D i d y o u share y o u r j o y w i t h o t h e r s , o r d i d y o u k ee p i t to y o u r

self? T h e n a s k y o u r s e l f i f t h e a n s w e r t o t h i s q u e s t i o n h e l p s e x

p l a i n w h y y o u e i t h e r share y o u r j o y as a n a d u l t , o r k e e p i t t o

y o u r se l f. D o y o u find i t m o r e p l e a s ur a b le t o f e e l j o y w h e n o t h e r s

are there to share i t w i t h y o u ? O r d o y o u p r e fe r t o b e g l a d

i n secret? A s a c h i l d , h o w d i d y o u r j o y fa de a w a y ? These are

s o m e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w h i c h c a n o f c o u r s e

b e c a r r i e d o u t w i t h respect t o y o u r e n t ir e p a s t. O r y o u c o u l d

s i m p l y ask t h e q u e s t i o n , W h i c h ti m e s i n m y li fe w e r e filled w i t h

great joy?

T h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a b i o g r a p h y o f j o y h as e s se n t ia l ly t w o

g o a l s . O n e is t o i d e n t i f y w i t h o u r se lv e s as j o y f u l c h i l d r e n , r e c o l

l e c t i n g o u r s e l v e s a n d s e e i n g w h a t w e d i d w i t h t h is j o y . T h e

o t h e r i s t o e s ta b l i s h a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h ou r present l ives by ask-




5 7

i n g s u c h q u e s t i o n s a s, H o w d o e s w h a t I h av e r e m e m b e r e d f u n c

t i o n t o d a y ? D o e s i t e x p l a i n w h y I a lw a y s s ha re m y d e l i g h t o r

k e e p i t t o m y s e l f?

T h e f o l l o w i n g e x a m p l e is a n e xc er p t f r o m a b i o g r a p h y o f

j o y b y a t h i r ty - s i x - y e a r - o l d w o m a n , m a r r i e d , a n d th e m o t h e r

o f fo u r c h i l d r e n , w h o s u ff er e d o n s e v er a l o c c a si o n s f r o m d e p r es

s i o n s w i t h f a i r ly s e r i o us s u i c i d a l t e n d e n c ie s a n d w a s h o s p i t a l

i z e d m o r e t h a n o n c e . H e r b i o g r a p h y o f j o y w a s w r i t t e n d o w naf ter two years of therapy, a t w h i c h t i m e s h e w a s f e e l i n g m u c h

better. I a m d e l i b e ra t e ly c h o o s i n g a b i o g r a p h y o f j o y b y s o m e

o n e w h o w a s d ep re ss ed — s o m e o n e w h o d i d n o t f i n d i t so easy

t o g o " u p , " b e i n g b o u n d t o th e w e i g h t a n d r es is ta n ce o f t h e

w o r l d . T h e i m p u l s e f o r a b i o g r a p h i c a l r e c o n s t r u c t io n c a m e f r o m

h e r w h e n s h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t I w as g i v i n g l e c t ur e s o n t h e t o p i c

o f j o y ." I t is s t ra n g e t h a t y o u s h o u l d t a l k a b o u t j o y , " sh e t o l d m e .

" I c o u l d n e v e r d o t h a t . I am d o i n g v e r y w e l l n o w , b u t I r e a l i z e

t h a t I a m s o m e o n e w i t h l i t t l e j o y i n l i f e . I have a lways been

a j o y l e s s p e r s o n ; I c o m e f r o m a j o y l e s s f a m i l y , a n d I b e l i e v e m y

p r e s en t f a m i l y is a ls o j o y l e s s . W h a t is t h i s a l l a b o u t ? " T h i s w a s

h e r i m p e t u s fo r p u r s u i n g t h e t h e m e o f j o y . I d o n o t t h i n k s he

w a s c o m p l e t e l y co r r e c t i n s a y i n g t h a t s he w a s t o t a l l y l a c k i n gi n j o y , b u t t h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g t o h e r c l a i m . I , t o o , h ad t h e

i m p r e s s i o n t ha t sh e w a s a w o m a n q u i te r e m o v e d f r o m j o y , f o r

w h o m l o w s p i r i t s w e r e m o r e r e ad i l y e x p r es s e d t h a n h i g h s p i r i t s .

I a s k ed h e r h o w o t h e r s h ad d e s c r i b e d h e r as a b ab y w i t h

r es p e ct t o j o y . " T h e y t o l d me that as a c h i l d I w as f u l l o f jo y ,

s h e d i s c o v e r e d . S h e w as t h e t h i r d c h i l d . " T h e y t o l d m e I p r ac

t i c a l l y fe l l o u t o f t h e c r a d l e w h e n e v e r a n y o n e c a m e n e a r m e . "

She seems to have expressed her jo y w i t h h e r e n t i r e b o d y , t h e

w a y b ab i es d o at a c e r t a i n ag e . T h e y b e am w i t h t h e i r e n t i r e

b o d i e s . " A l l b ab i e s d o t h a t , " s h e s a i d . " M i n e also d id i t a t a

c e r ta i n a g e . " W h e n I a sk e d h e r a b o u t t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l d i f fe r -



J O Y

58

ences, s he c o n c e de d t h a t t h e r e a re c h i l d r e n w h o e x pre s s m o r e

j o y a n d c h i l d r e n w h o e xp r es s le ss .

T h e n s h e s p o k e f o r s o m e t i m e a b o u t h e r o w n c h i l d r e n , t h e

f e e li n g s t h e y e x p re s s ed , a n d he r o w n fe e l in g s . A n d h er e j o y b e

ca m e co n s ci o us a g a i n . " W h e n th e c h i ld r e n w o u l d greet m e s o

o ve r j o y e d , I t o o be a m e d w i t h j o y . T h e n o f c o u rs e t h e c h i l d r e n

w e r e ev e n h a p p i e r t o see m e , s h o u t i n g a n d c h e e r i n g . " T h i s m a y

b e o n e w a y j o y is p r o d u c e d i n c h i l d r e n : b y s h a r i n g j o y w i t ht h e m . T h e c h i l d ' s j o y i n t e n s i f i e s t h e m o t h e r ' s j o y , w h i c h i n t u r n

intensi f ies that o f the c h i l d .

T h e n I asked her what the f i r s t joy was that she could re

m e m b e r . S he t h o u g h t o f t he t i m e s he h a d r e ce i v e d a r o c k i n g

h o r se f o r C h r i s t m a s . S he w a s f o u r a n d a h a l f. S he c o u l d p i e ce

t h e m e m o r y t o g e t h e r q u i t e w e l l . S he re c a ll e d p h o t o g r a p h s o f

h e r s e lf o n t h e r o c k i n g h o r s e . S h e h a d h e l d o n t i g h t t o a h u g em a n e o f g e n u i n e h o r s e h a ir a n d lo o k e d p r o u d l y a b o u t h e rs e lf

as i f t o say , " W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? I ' m o n t h i s h o r s e . T h e r e 's

n o m o r e t o b e s a i d . " Sh e r e m e m b e r e d h o w i m p o r t a n t t he h o r s e

h ai r h a d be e n t o h e r . S he c o u l d f ee l h e r wa y ba c k i n t o t h e s i t u a

t i o n . " T h e r e w a s a l o t o f j o y , " she s a id , " a n d a l o t o f p r i d e .

I h a d th e w h o l e h o r s e a l l t o m y s e l f . " Sh e c h a se d a wa y h e r s i b

l i n g s b y s h r i e k i n g . T h i s e x p re s se d a f e e l i n g o f d e l i g h t i n h e r s e l f

a n d i n t h e w o r l d ; a l l wa s w e l l w i t h th e w o r l d . Y o u c a n see

h er e th e h a r m o n y o f ps y c h e , bo d y , e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d a t t h e s am e

t i m e t h e r e c e p t i o n o f s o m e t h i n g n e w t h a t m a y n o t h a v e b e e n

e a r n e d .

T h e n I as ke d h e r h o w sh e ex p re s se d h e r j o y . B y s h r i e k i n g

at her s i s ters to fend them of f , she f i r s t responded, adding that

she a lso expressed i t by refusing to get d o w n f r o m t h e h o r s e ;

apparent ly she fel l a sle ep t he r e a ft er s i n g i n g f o r s o m e t i m e . T h e n

s he r e c a ll e d th a t s i n g i n g wa s a l wa y s h e r wa y o f e x pr e s s i n g j o y —

l o u d s i n g i n g .

O n c e w e ha ve g o n e b a c k i n o u r m e m o r i e s t o a t i m e o f j o y




5 9

t h a t w as v e r y m e a n i n g fu l so t h a t w e c an r e a ll y fe el th e j o y ag a i n ,

o t h e r m e m o r i e s f o l l o w i n r a p i d s u c c e s si o n . T h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t

p a r t is g e t t i n g s t a r te d . W e c a n c e r t a i n l y i d e n t i f y w i t h t h i s l i t t l e

g i r l a n d f ee l h e r j o y . O n c e o u r e m o t i o n s c o m e i n t o p la y , th e

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o c c u r s s p o n t a n e o u s l y .

T h e w o m a n ' s n e x t m e m o r y w a s o f a t i m e w h e n she w a s

a b i t o l d e r . " I w a s h e l p i n g m y g r a n d m o t h e r , " s he re c a l l e d . " I

d i d that a lo t . She prai sed me . I was f u l l o f p r i d e a n d j o y . Ih e l p e d h e r e v e n m o r e , became e v e n sweeter i n h e r eyes; w e e x

c h a n g e d a l o t o f h u g s a n d ki ss e s. I r e m e m b e r h o w m u c h she

l o v e d t h a t . S h e w a s d e l i g h t e d , w h i c h p l e a s e d m e e v e n m o r e ,

a n d s o I t r i e d t o d o m o r e t o d e l i g h t h e r . I became b us i e r an d

b u s i e r w i t h j o y . " S he t o o k q u i t e s o m e t i m e t o le t th a t s i n k i n .

I h av e h e ar d s uc h s i t ua t i o n s f r o m v ar i o us p e o p l e , an d I am fa

m i l i a r w i t h t h e m p e r s o n a l l y . T h e n s h e s a i d , " I w a s p r a c t i c a l l yh e ad o v e r heels w i t h j o y . "

I a ske d he r, " H o w d i d t his scene e n d ? " I w a s t h i n k i n g a bo u t

h o w such scenes o f t e n e n d w i t h s o m et h in g g o i n g w r o n g . W h e n

j o y a c c u m u l a t e s so in t e n s e l y a n d th e c i r c le o f j o y reaches th e

p o i n t o f ecstasy, i t o f t e n e n ds a b r u p t l y — f o r i n s t a n c e , b y s o m e

o n e f a l l i n g d o w n a n d h i t t i n g h e r h e a d . S he s a id sh e d i d n o t

k n o w h o w i t e n d e d , b u t t h e n c o n t i n u e d t h i n k i n g . " W i t h m y

o w n c h i l d r e n , t h i s i s s o m e t h i n g I r e a l l y d o n o t l i k e , " she sa id .

" A t a c e r t a in p o i n t , th e y g e t s o o v e r e x c i te d . T h e w h o l e s i t u a

t i o n gets so overexci ted . " I asked her what she does at th i s point .

" I t e l l t h e m t o g o a n d c le a n u p t h e i r r o o m s . " S he w a s s u r p r i s e d

b y h e r o w n re a c t io n , w h i c h g a v e o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n a c o m p l e t e l y

d i f fe r e n t to n e . W e u n d e r s t o o d th i s as t he t e r m i n a t i o n o f j o y :

W h e n s u r r o u n d e d b y three o r f o u r o v e r s t im u l a t e d c h i l d r e n , th e

s i t u a t i o n became a m a t t e r o f s u r v i v a l f o r h er . H e r o t h e r m e t h o d

o f c o p i n g w a s t o l e a v e . T h e n s h e t r i e d t o r e c a l l h o w h e r g r a n d

m o t h e r h a d d e a lt w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n . " G r a n d m a just d i s ap p e ar e d ,

a n d t h en I d i d s o m e t h i n g else."



J O Y

60

N o w she became v e r y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s b e i n g " h e ad o v e r

h e e l s " w i t h j oy , in the c i rc le o f joy , for she had seen t h e c o n

n e c t i o n t o h er p r es en t l i f e . " I k e p t d o i n g t ha t f o r a l o n g t i m e , "

she c o n t i n u e d . " W h e n e v e r s o m e o n e g av e m e s o m e t h i n g t o e n

j o y , I t r i e d t o g i v e t h e m s o m e t h i n g to e n jo y i n r e t u r n . A n d

t h e m o r e j o y I w as ab le t o g i v e , th e m o r e I t r i e d t o g i v e e v e n

m o r e . " I t h i n k t h i s i s a v e r y h u m a n w a y o f b e h a v i n g , w h i c h

w e c o u l d c a l l t h e m a x i m i z a t i o n o f j o y : r e p ea te d a t t em p t s t oincrease joy u n t i l j o y reaches i ts l i m i t .

A c i r c le o f j o y c an p r o d u c e a c e r t a i n n ar c i s s i s t ic s us c e p t i b i l

i t y . S o m e p e o p l e a re in c ap ab l e o f r e fus i n g an y r e q ue s t i f y o u

s a y s o m e t h i n g n i c e t o t h e m , s u c h a s " I a m g l a d t o s e e y o u , " o r

a n y t h i n g that im pl ie s an express ion o f joy . I f som eone says som e

t h i n g n i c e t o y o u , y o u r e a l l y h av e t o be n i ce i f y o u w an t t o

keep the odd s in y o u r favor that they w i l l express even morej o y i n s ee in g y o u . T h u s y o u so m e t im e s p r o m i s e t h i n g s th a t

y o u d o n o t a c t u a l l y w a n t t o d o , i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n t h e self-

acceptance a n d se lf- es te em t ha t c o m e f r o m e x p e r i e n c i n g j o y .

S u d d e n l y y o u f i n d y o u r s e l f e n t a n g l e d i n u n w a n t e d o b l i g a t i o n s

b r o u g h t o n b y y o u r a n t ic ip a t ed j o y . T h i s w o m a n , w i t h her de

p r e ss iv e c o n s t i t u t i o n , h ad t o p u t up a m as s iv e fig h t ag a i n s t h e r

n ar c i s s i s t i c s us c e p t i b i l i t y , a s s h e h ad l o n g b e e n i n t h e h ab i t o f

f a l l i n g i n t o i t s t r ap . I f s o m e o n e s h o w e d d e l i g h t i n h e r , w i t h

o u t e v e n w a i t i n g t o see w h a t w o u l d be asked of her , she w o u l d

a u t o m a t i c a ll y a sk , " C a n I d o s o m e t h i n g f o r y o u ? "

N a r c i s s i s t i c c ir c le s o f j o y h av e become i n t e r n a l i z e d b y m a n y

p e rs o n s a n d are a p p l ie d q u i t e c a l c u l a t i n g l y , fo r in s t a n c e , w h e n

s o m e o n e d e l i be r a t e ly p ay s a c o m p l i m e n t i n o r d e r t o f o l l o w i t

u p later w i t h a d e m an d . Par e n ts d o t h i s , a s w e a l l d o w i t h each

o t h e r n o w an d t h e n . It is a s h am e t h a t w e c an n o t l e ar n t h a t

i t takes n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n j o y t o re p r o d u c e j o y . It seems that

j o y i s s o o f t e n e m p l o y e d f o r m a n i p u l a t i v e e n d s .

T h i s w o m a n t h e n t a l k e d a b o u t h o w s h e f o u g h t h e r n a r c i s -





J O Y

62

n e w f r ie n d s . M y m o t h e r s o o n be ca m e s ic k a n d ha d t o g o t o

t h e h o s p i t a l . "

W e s e e h e r e h o w t h e pe r s pe c t i ve p r o v i d e d b y t he b i o g r a p h y

o f j o y s y s t e m a t i c a l l y r eve a ls s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h a l l j o y h a s d i s

a p p e a re d a n d a l l o w s u s m u c h e a s ie r access t o t h e e m o t i o n s a s s o

c i a t e d w i t h these m e m o r i e s . W h e n w e co n s i d e r a ll t ha t h a p

p e n e d t o h e r a n d th e a s pe cts o f h e r l i fe t h a t u n d e r w e n t c h a n g e ,

w e r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h i s m u s t h a ve be e n a t i m e o f g r e a t stressfo r t h i s l i t t l e g i r l . T h e r e w a s t h e m o v e , t h e l o s s o f h e r g r a n d

m o t h e r w i t h w h o m s he h a d e x p e r i e n c e d g r e a t j o y , t h e l o s s o f

an e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g t h a t h a d e x pr e s s e d i t s e l f i n l o u d s i n g i n g ,

t h e l os s o f h e r m o t h e r f o r a s i g n i f i c a n t p e r i o d o f t i m e , a n d t h u s

the loss o f her c h i l d h o o d .

In t e rm s o f "l if e -e v e n t r e se a r ch " [ D a t a n a n d G i n s b e r g , 1975] ,

s h e e x pe r i e n c e d f i ve o r s i x "stress f a c t o r s , " w h i c h w o u l d haveg i v e n h e r e ve r y r e a s o n t o c o n t r a c t a n i l l n e s s . S h e d i d n o t g e t

s i c k , bu t s he d i d say as a n a d u l t , " L i f e b e ca m e e m p t i e d o f j o y . "

T h i s w a s a n i m p o r t a n t r e a l i z a t i o n f o r h er , b e ca u se sh e h a d b e e n

u n d e r t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t b e i n g a j o y l e s s p e r s o n w a s d u e t o

a l a c k o f e ff o r t a n d th a t m o r e j o y f u l p e r s o n s w e r e t h o s e w h o

h a d m o r e t i m e to p u r s u e j o y . H e r e sh e b e ca m e c o n s c i o u s t h a t

t o o m u c h h a d b r o k e n i n t o h e r l i fe f o r j o y t o be m a n i f e st a t t h a t

t i m e .

T h e n I a s ke d he r a b o u t q u i e t j o y s . M o s t p e o p l e h av e q u i e t

j o y s d u r i n g t i m e s t h e y d e s c r i b e as j o y l e s s . I n y o u r r e c o n s t r u c t e d

b i o g r a p h y o f j o y , I w a n t t o u r g e y o u t o t ak e these q u i e t j o y s

q u i t e s e r i o u s l y . I f y o u h av e th e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e r e w a s a t i m e

t h a t w a s t o t a l l y d e v o i d o f j o y , t h i n k ab o u t w h e t h e r a q u i e t ,

d i s c re e t j o y m i g h t n o t h ave be e n p r e s e n t n o n e t h e l e s s . S u c h j o y s

a re n o t t o be r e ve a le d to j u s t a n y o n e , bu t s i n c e y o u d o n o t n e e d

t o s h o w y o u r b i o g r a p h y o f j o y t o j u s t a n y o n e , y o u s h o u l d fe e l

q u i t e f r e e t o w r i t e t h e m d o w n .

W h e n I a s k e d t h i s w o m a n a bo u t h e r q u i e t j o y s , a t fir st




63

n o t h i n g o c c ur r e d t o h e r , b ut t h e n s h e r e c a l l e d b ab y - s i t t i n g fo r

a y o u n g c o u p l e n e a rb y w h o h a d l a u g h e d a l o t . T h e n she r e a l

i z e d that th i s t ime spent w i t h babies h a d b e en v e r y i m p o r t a n t

t o h e r . Sh e h e r s e l f h ad h ad fo u r c h i l d r e n .

H e r e s h e r e q ui r e d an o t h e r p us h , s o I a s k e d h e r ab o ut h e r

first l o v e . F i r s t l o v e is a n o t h e r m o m e n t filled w i t h j o y . S h e

t h o u g h t i t o v e r a n d t h e n d e s c r i b e d h i m t o m e . S h e c o u l d s t i l l

s e e h i m q ui t e v i v i d l y . " I did l i k e d o i n g t h i n g s w i t h h i m . I didta ke d e l i g h t i n h i m . A n d I f o u n d i t q u i t e b e a u t i f u l w h e n w e

w e r e i n t i m a t e w i t h e ach o t h e r . B u t I c o u l d n o t r e v e a l m y d e

l i g h t t o a n y o n e , n o t e v en to m y s e l f. W h y w a s t h a t ? " H e r e is

an e x am p l e o f t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t i t i s w i s e r n o t t o r e v e a l one's

j o y . " T o d a y I w o u l d say t h a t I fe lt g u i l t y . M y si st er d i d n ' t h av e

a b o y f r i e n d , a n d F a th e r w a s a g a i n st m y h a v i n g a b o y f r i e n d .

M o t h e r t h o u g h t i t w as d an g e r o us . I c o ul d n ' t t e ll a s o u l . I c o ul d n ' tshare m y j o y w i t h a n y o n e . " T h i n k n o w f o r a m o m e n t o f t he

l i t t l e g i r l w h o h a d a c i rc l e o f j o y w i t h h e r g r a n d m o t h e r . S he

h a d n o t b e e n ab l e t o t e l l an y o n e else about that c i rc le , e i ther ,

a n d she n o w fe lt g u i l ty abo ut a love that was her exc lus ive p r i v i

l e g e . H e r fe el in g s o f g u i l t p r e v e n t e d h er f r o m b e i n g ab le t o s h o w

h e r j o y .

R e c o n s t r u c t e d b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y c a n g iv e u s a great d e a l

o f v a l u a bl e i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e y s h o w u s h o w w e ex pre ss j o y , a n d

h o w o u r e x p r e s si o n s o f j o y h av e c h an g e d w i t h t i m e . W e g a i n

i n s i g h t i n t o h o w w e ad ap t o ur s e l v e s t o o t h e r s t o create a c i rc le

o f j o y . T h e d y n a m i c s o f j o y i n o u r li v e s c a n s erv e t o i n d i c a t e

m a jo r l if e t r a n s i ti o n s . B u t w h a t i s m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n m y v i e w

is t h a t t h e b i o g r ap h y o f j o y c an g i v e us access to o u r o w n j o y ,

j o y — r e p r e s s e d f r o m c h i l d h o o d — t ha t m i g h t o t h e r w i s e g o u n

n o t i c e d . I a m s e a r c h i n g n o t o n l y f o r w a y s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e

e m o t i o n o f j o y , b u t a ls o f o r w a y s to a w a k e n i t .





P A R T I I I

Anatomy of Joy





7-

Th e Joy A fter and the Joy Before

B Y C O M P A R IN G t h e r e c o n s t r u c t e d b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y c o l l e c t e d

f r o m a n um b e r o f p e o p l e , I h av e b e e n ab le t o d i s c o v e r t y p i c a l

fo r m s o f j o y . I n t h i s an d t he f o l l o w i n g t w o c h ap t e r s , I w i l l be

u s i n g these f o r m s t o s k e t ch a n a n a t o m y o f j o y .

T H E J O Y A F T E R

T h e S w i s s w r i t e r M a x F r i s c h o n c e w r o t e , " H a p p i n e s s is c o n

sc iousness se t on f i re . You w i l l n e v e r f o r g e t t h i s m o m e n t . Y o u

are l ike a film t h a t ha s b e e n e x p o s e d ; m e m o r y w i l l d e v e l o p i t

l a t e r . " H a p p i n e s s is a f o r m o f j o y , a n d " c o n s c i o u s n e s s set o n

fire" is a w o n d e r f u l e x p r e s s io n f o r e xp o s u r e t o j o y , t h a t i s , t h ep e r c e p t i o n o f j o y . L i k e a film that has been exposed and i s ye t

t o be d e v e l o p e d , th e m e a n i n g o f a j o y f u l e x p e r ie n c e becomes

c o n s c i o u s m u c h l a t e r , w h e n m e m o r y d e v e l o p s w h a t t h e p e r

c e p t i o n e x p o s e d u s t o . F o r e x a m p l e , p e r ha p s y o u s p en t a v e r y

p l e a s a n t w e e k o r e v e n i n g w i t h s o m e o n e a n d t h e n w r o t e t ha t

p e r s o n a l et te r i n th e m o r n i n g w h e n y o u r ea c he d h o m e , d e

s c r i b i n g t he b e a u t i f u l e x p e r i e n c e . W h e n y o u r e ce i v ed a l e tt e r i n

r e t u r n , t he j o y c am e a liv e i n y o u r m e m o r y o n c e a g a i n . C l e a r l y

t h e m e m o r y o f a j o y i s n o t m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n th e p e r c e p t i o n

of the j o y f u l s i t ua t i o n , s i n c e t h e r e w o u l d be n o t h i n g to r e m e m -



A N A T O M Y O F J O Y

6 8

b e r i f w e d i d n o t f ir st p e r c ei v e i t . N o n e t h e l e s s , t he m e m o r y

o f j o y is als o i m p o r t a n t i n it s o w n r i g h t .

M e m o r y is th e p r i m a r y m e a n s b y w h i c h w e r e c o n s t r u c t o u r

b i o g ra p h i e s o f j o y . W h a t w e re y o u t o l d a s a s m a l l c h i l d a b o u t

j o y ? D o y o u r e m e m b e r a n e a r ly j o y ? W e s h o u l d le t m e m o r i e s

a r i s e i n t h e f o r m o f p i c t u r e s , a n d s e a r c h f o r s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h

w e s t i l l have the sense o f h o w d e l i g h te d w e w e r e . T h e m o r e

g e n u i n e a n d e x i s t e n t i a l o u r b i o g r a p h y o f j o y b e c o m e s , t h e m o r ew e c a n l i v e a n d r e e x pe r i e n c e these j o y s a n d t h e m o r e t h e y w i l l

b r i n g w h o l e n e s s .

T h e m e m o r y o f j o y d e v elo p s th e o r i g i n a l m o m e n t o f j o y ,

a s l i g h t d e v e l o p s a n i m a g e o n film. A s t h i s " c o n s c i o u s n e s s se t

o n fi re " bu r n s i t s w a y i n t o o u r s o u l s , i t c h a n g e s i t s s h a pe . O u r

m e m o r y o f j o y re sh ap e s o u r h i s t o r y o f j o y . S o m e p e o p l e s m o o t h

o u t a l l t h e r o u g h s p o t s i n th e i r m e m o r i e s , l e a v i n g a s t o r y t h a to ffe rs n o t h i n g b u t d e l i g h t . T h e e v e n ts t h e m s e lv e s w e r e o n l y

h a l f as j o y f u l as t he m e m o r y o f t h e m . W h e n o l d e r p e rs o n s s ta rt

t a l k i n g w i t h g l o w i n g eyes a b o u t a m a r v e l o u s ev e n t f r o m t h e i r

earl ier years —the " g o o d o l d d a y s " — t h e i r l o v e d ones w i l l o f t e n

add t h a t t i m e h as c o n t r i bu t e d t o t h e g l o w . B u t t h e r e a re a ls o

t ho s e w h o fu r t h e r r o u g h e n t h e u n e v e n s p o ts i n t h e i r m e m o r i e s ,

r e p l a c i n g t h e i r pa s t j o y s w i t h " y e s, b u t s . " T h i s i s a g o o d w a y

to k i l l a l l jo y .

Anai ' s N i n , i n a b o o k c al l ed A Woman Speaks, t e l l s h o w

s he e m pl o y e d h e r m e m o r y o f j o y t o h e l p c u r e h e r s e lf o f c a n c er .

N o w I have a s tory I want to te l l yo u. . . . In 1970 I had

a touch of cancer and I was given radiation at the Presby

terian H osp i ta l in N e w Y ork for two weeks —six m inuteseach day. A n d I found m yself in this dir ty y e l lo w r o o m w i t h

a huge and very ugly machine in the middle. I t was abso

lutely frightening, l ike something out of science f ic t ion. Y o u

have to l ie on the bed and they make a l i t t le dra w ing on

your body where the radiat ion has to str ike, and worst of



Joy After, Joy Before

6 9

all the machine makes a terr ible noise . So how was I going

to deal w i t h that? It was not so easy, but I decided that this

machine was a projector and that I actually for six minutes

was going to see the film of the loveliest , most happy and

joyous days of my l ife. So as soon as the machine went on

I closed my eyes and the film began, image after image of

every place where I had been happy, every occasion, one after

another. I t was usually the sea and the beach and Tahiti and

the south o f France an d M e x i c o . The landscape didn't changeso very much but the situations d i d , and I was always choo s

in g them. After s ix minutes when the noise s topped, the

film w o u l d stop, and I w o u l d g o h o m e . T h e o n l y w o r r y

I had was that I wouldn' t have enough film, but the auto

matic cont inuity of the images got so real that at one point

I was seeing myself dri v i ng d o w n the road in the south of

France and I was about to turn to visit D u r r e l l , in m y recoll ec t ion, when I s topped myself and said: " I don' t think I

want to go that way, because I d idn 't have a very happy visit ;

I thin k I ' l l go the other w ay ." So i t went o n , and I d id have

e n o ug h film to last the two weeks, six minutes a day, and

I was comp lete ly cured. N o w I am absolutely con vinced that

I helped the w ho le thin g psychically. That 's wh at I call m agic.

Because I haven't had any difficulty since.

So I wanted you to know that there isn' t any occasion,

there isn't any situation, where the psychic force of life, th e

love of l i fe , and its joyousn ess can't som ehow transpo rt us

an d transfigure an event into one which we can recollect w i t h

pleasure [pp. 193 - 94 ] •

T h i s r e m a r k a b l e passage t e ll s o f a r e c o n s t r u c t e d b i o g r a p h y

o f j o y i n th e f o r m o f a film. I a m a l w a y s a s k e d r e g a r d i n g m y

b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y , " W h a t a b o u t t h e u n h a p p y t im e s ; ca n t he y

b e r e c o n s t r u c t e d , t o o ? " T h e text just c i ted i s a l i v e l y e x a m p l e

o f t h is , f o r u n d e r g o i n g r a d i a t i o n t re a t m e n t is h a r d l y a h a p p y e x

p e r i e n c e . A n d y e t e v en i n s uc h a s i t u a t i o n , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o e v o k e




7 0

t he h a p p ie s t ti m e s o f o u r l iv e s . R e c o n s t r u c t i n g a b i o g r a p h y o f

jo y makes i t po ss ib le for us to fee l jo y ag ain . It i s essent ia l to

note t h a t j o y c an d i r e c t l y i n f l ue n c e o ur resistance to disease .

It seems t h a t w e are m o r e p r e p ar e d t o l i v e w h e n w e r e co v e r

our a b i l i t y t o b e d e l i g h t e d .

TH E J O Y B E F O R E

T h e a n t i c ip a t i o n o f j o y is to be d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m b o t h t he

a c tu a l m o m e n t o f j o y a n d th e m e m o r y o f o y . T h e j o y th a t comes

f r o m l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o s o m e t h i n g d i d n o t p l a y a la r g e r o l e

i n t h e b i o g r a p h y o f t h e d e p r e s s e d w o m a n t h a t w e e x a m i n e d .

In o t h e r b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y , t h e a n t i c i p a t i o n o f j o y i s e s s e n t i a l .

T h e j o y before i n v o l v e s a h i g h degree o f e x p e c t a t i o n . " I e x

pect i t w i l l b e n i c e w e a t h e r t o n i g h t . I f n o t , I w i l l b e d i s ap p o i n t e d . " H o p e is m u c h b r o a d e r th a n e x p e c ta t i o n . E x p e c t a

t i o n i s focused on a speci f i c w i s h , w h i c h becomes the cause o f

d i s a p p o i n t m e n t i f i t d o es n o t m a t e r i a l i z e . H o p e is a m o r e e x

pans ive ex i s tent ia l fee l ing , which susta ins us and t ranscends spe

c i f ic exp ectat ion s , as w e w i l l s ee . N o t e v e r y o n e c an l o o k fo r

w a r d t o s o m e t h i n g t o t h e same extent. W e m u s t be a l l o w e d

t i m e t o d o s o , fo r i f w e are un d e r stress w e h ar d l y h av e t h echance t o an t i c i p a t e j o y . H a v i n g s o m e t h i n g n i c e t o l o o k f o r

w a r d to is a cause o f great d e l i g h t .

T h e f o l l o w i n g e x a m p l e , f r o m th e b i o g r a p h y o f j o y o f an

e i g h t y - o n e - y e ar - o l d m an , i l l us t r a t e s s o m e o f t h e i s s ue s s ur r o un d

i n g an t i c i p a t e d j o y . I a s k ed m a n y o l d e r p e r s o n s ab o ut j o y , b e

cause a pre con cep t ion ex i s t s— w hic h I be li eve is fa lse —that o lder

people are less j o y f u l t h a n y o u n g p e o p l e . I t w a s M a r c h w h e n

I q u e s ti o n e d t hi s m a n . " L o o k i n g f o r w a r d to s o m e t h i n g , " h e

r ep e a te d , t h i n k i n g m y q u e s t i o n o v e r. " Y e s , w h e n I t h i n k n o w

a b o u t h o w i t w i l l g et w a r m a g a in i n M a y , t h e n I c an g o i n t o

t h e g ar d e n an d start p l a n t i n g , a t m y o w n s p e e d . I c a n s m o k e a




71

p i p e a n d d r i n k a g la s s o f a p p l e j u i c e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e . I l o o k

f o r w a r d t o t h a t a l o t . " I a sk ed h i m w h a t t h is j o y f el t l i k e . " V e r y

w a r m , " h e r e p l i e d . " I c a n a l r e a dy f ee l th e s u n , a n d m y h e a r t

is g r o w i n g w a r m . " W a r m t h is a n o th e r q u a l i ty ty p i c a l ly a ss oci

ated w i t h j o y . I n s p i r a t i o n , a n i n t e n s e f o r m o f j o y , i s m o r e r e a d

i l y associated w i t h f ir e . " I h av e m o r e t h i n g s t o l o o k f o r w a r d

t o n o w t h a n I u s e d t o , " h e a d d e d s p o n t a n e o u s l y . " A t m y a g e ,

I ha ve m o r e t i m e i n g e n e r a l f o r j o y . " I th e n a s ke d h i m w h a tt h i n g s he l o o k e d f o r w a r d to w h e n he w a s y o u n g e r . W h e n h i s

f a t h e r w a s g e t t i n g r e a d y t o h a n d o v e r t h e f a r m t o h i m , h e h a d

a g re a t d e a l t o l o o k f o r w a r d t o . W h e n h e m a d e a l o n g t r i p t o

A f r i c a , h e als o h a d m u c h to l o o k f o r w a r d t o . " A t m y w e d

d i n g , . . . " a n d h e t h o u g h t i t o v e r f o r a l o n g t i m e u n t i l h i s w i f e

l e ft t h e r o o m , " I ' m n o t so su re a b o u t t h a t . T h e r e w a s a l o t

o f j o y , b u t a l s o a l o t o f f e a r ." N o t e t h e a l l i a n c e o f a n t i c i pa t e dj o y w i t h d r e a d . H e t h e n a d d e d t h a t h e n e v e r a l l o w e d h i m s e l f

t o a n t ic i p a t e j o y w h e n t h e c o w s o r th e p i g s w e r e p r e g n a n t . H e

c o u l d o n l y b e g l a d a ft er t h e b r o o d h a d b e e n b o r n . T h e r e w a s

t o o h i g h a r i s k o f b e i n g d i s a p p o i n t e d .

D w e l l i n g i n a n d n o u r i s h i n g i t s e lf o n t he f u t u r e , t h e j o y

b e fo r e i s a n u n i n h i b i t e d f an ta sy t r i g g e r e d b y s o m e t h i n g t o c o m e .

I t i s v e r y c l o s e t o l o n g i n g , w i s h i n g , a n d e x p e c t i n g , hence the

r i s k . T h e j o y a f te r i s less subject t o th e d a n g e r o f d i s a p p o i n t

m e n t . R e m e m b e r e d j o y s a re e v e nt s o f t h e p a st t h a t w e m a k e

pr e s e n t a g a i n . W e h a ve a ba s i c s u p p l y o f pa s t e x pe r ie n c e s t o

f e e d o u r i m a g i n a t i o n s w i t h . A l t h o u g h o u r m e m o r i e s o f j o y

c h a n g e s ha p e i n w a y s t h a t w e m a y n o t c o n s c i o u s l y c o n t r o l , w e

have even less c o n t r o l ov er o u r e m o t i o n s s u r r o u n d i n g a n a n t i c i

p a t e d e v e n t , f o r t h e r e i s m u c h m o r e r o o m t o i m a g i n e w h a t w e

w o u l d l i k e . I t h i n k i t is c le a r w h a t a g r e a t s o u r ce o f d i s a p p o i n t

m e n t t h i s c a n be .

I w o u l d l ike to share a s imple example that dea ls w i t h th is

r i s k . I t c o n c e r n s t h e a n t i c i pa t e d j o y o f a f i f ty - t h r e e -y e a r -o l d




72

w o m a n . " I a lw a y s ha ve s o m e t h i n g t o l o o k f o r w a r d t o o n t hee v e n i n g before a c e l e b r a t i o n , " she s a i d , l i s t i n g t h e m a n y h o l i

days that her fa m ily ce lebrated: Eas ter , Pentecost, b i r t h d a y s , a n d

s o f o r t h . " T h e p a r t o f i t that I enjoy t h e m o s t is w h e n I p r e

p are e v e r y t h i n g ; I c o o k a n d I s i n g . M y i m a g i n a t i o n r u n s r a m

p a n t . " I a s ke d h e r a b o u t t h e content of her fantasies. " I i m a g i n e

that m y s o n - i n - l a w a n d m y o w n s o n f in a ll y s to p fi gh tin g a n d

g e t a l o n g , that there is a w o n d e r f u l a t m o s p h e r e , a f e e li n g o fb e l o n g i n g a n d togetherness, that o u r f a m i l y h a s a heart a n d a

s o u l . I t s o u n d s k i t s c h y , b u t t h e t h o u g h t just e x h i l a r a t e s m e .

T h e n I t h i n k a b ou t h o w m y y o u n g e s t d a u g h t e r w o u l d be so

h a p p y that sh e w o u l d i n v i t e m e t o g o w i t h h e r o n h e r next

t r i p . I fantas ize about such a lo t o f c ra zy s tuf f . I k n o w i t i s

fantasy , but as long as I cont inue the fantasy , I fee l de l ighted

a n d h a p p y , a n d that's w h y I r e a l l y o n l y l i k e t h e e v e n i n g before

a c e l e b r a ti o n , w h e n I s t i l l h av e s o m e t h i n g t o l o o k f o r w a r d t o . "

I asked her what happens the next d a y . " E v e r y t h i n g t h e y d o

i s o n l y a p a l e r e f l e c t i o n o f w h a t I h a d i m a g i n e d . "

T h i s f a n t a s iz e d s y m b i o s i s i s t y p i c a l . I o f t e n u se th e e x p r e s

s i o n " fa n t a s i z e d s y m b i o s i s " i n t he context o f jo y , because f a n

tasies o f a n t i c i p a t e d j o y a re v e r y o f t e n o f a s y m b i o t i c n a t u r e .

I t i s a lso typ ica l that sh e w o u l d b e d i s a p p o i n t e d t h e next day.

S h e k n e w that her fantasy di f fered f rom rea l i ty , but she loved

b e i n g c a r r i e d a w a y b y su c h l o n g i n g s . Sh e w a s a l i t t l e u n f a i r t o

h e r fa m i l y , f o r h o w c o u l d sh e b r i n g o f f a p r o p e r c e l e b r a t i o n

w h e n s h e w a s a n t i c i p a t i n g s u c h s p e c t a c u l a r joy? I d o n o t t h i n k

s h e g a v e h e r f a m i l y m u c h o f a chance. I can see her say in g the

next m o r n i n g , " A n d n o w comes t h e s e c o n d p a r t o f t h e s t o r y . "

T h e r e a r e w r i t e r s w h o speak o f m a g i c a l j o y i n t he context

o f a n t i c i p a t e d j o y [e.g., I z a r d , 1977]. T h e y s a y that persons w i t h

m a g i c a l j o y o f t e n fear t h e e n v y o f t h e g o d s . I w o u l d n o t d e

s c ri b e t h i s w o m a n ' s j o y a s m a g i c a l , because f o r m e i t w o u l d




7 3

h a v e t o b e m u c h m o r e c o m p u l s i v e a n d r i t u a l i s t i c t o q u a l i f y a s

m a g i c . W h e n w e w o r k o u rs el ve s u p t o a state o f a n t i c i p a t i n g

j o y , w e a r e w e l l aware that th is i s not rea l i ty , and that we w i l l

b e c o m i n g b a ck d o w n to e ar th t he n e x t d a y . H o w d o w e d e a l

w i t h t h e d i s p a r i t y ? I t w o u l d n o t b e m e a n i n g f u l t o d e p r i v e t h i s

w o m a n o f h e r a n t i c ip a t e d jo y , because o n t h e e v e n i n g before

she is t r u l y h a p p y , c o o k i n g w i t h j o y , a n d p r e p a r i n g fo r th e c e le

b r a t i o n . I t h i n k h e r e x p e r i e n c e o f d e l i g h t i s a n e s s e n t i a l p a r to f h e r p s y c h i c h o u s e k e e p i n g . I t h i n k sh e s h o u l d e n j o y t h i s a n

t i ci p a t e d j o y o n t he e v e n i n g b e fo r e , w i t h o u t w o r r y , u n t i l she

c a n e n j o y i t n o m o r e .

I sa id ear l ier that the jo y before i s v e r y c l o s e t o l o n g i n g

and t o w i s h i n g . O u r l o n g i n g s ex pr es s t h e m se lv e s i n o u r a n t i c i

p a t i o n o f j o y . O f t e n w e d i sc o v e r i n o u r l o n g i n g s t h i n g s t h at

w e h av e n o t y e t c o n s c i o u s l y a d m i t t e d to o u r s el v e s. O u r l o n g i n g s c a n c a r r y n e w i m p u l s e s f r o m t h e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t o c o n

s c i o u s n e s s . I f w e w e r e a b l e t o t r u s t t h i s f u n c t i o n o f o u r l o n g

i n g s , w e m i g h t b e a b l e t o s e e m o r e c l e a r l y w h a t t h e y w a n t o f

u s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h i s w o m a n m i g h t b e a b l e t o s a y t o h e r s e l f ,

" I k n o w w h a t I w o u l d l i k e t o h a v e h a p p e n . T o m o r r o w w e w i l l

b e t o g e t h e r . W h a t c an b e r e a l i s t i c a l ly expected? It is to be ex

p e c t e d t h a t m y s o n - i n - l a w a n d m y o w n s o n w i l l c o m p e t e w i t he a c h o t h e r . " I t i s t o b e e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e t w e n t y - t w o - y e a r - o l d

d a u g h t e r w i l l n o t t a k e h e r o n t h a t t r i p t o N e p a l . " L o o k i n g fo r

w a r d t o t he e v e nt is i m p o r t a n t a n d is a h e l p t o m e , " sh e m i g h t

t e l l h e r s e l f . " B u t w h a t w i l l h a p p e n t o m o r r o w i s s o m e t h i n g else

a g a i n . I a m g o i n g t o t r y t o p u t m y d r e a m s a s i d e f o r n o w . T h e y

a re m e a n t o n l y t o i n f o r m m e o f w h a t I w o u l d l i k e f r o m m y

f a m i l y . " I t is i m p o r t a n t t o t e l l o u r se lv e s i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f a r e n

d e z v o u s , " A h , so th a t is w h a t I w a n t d e ep d o w n i n s i d e . " T h e n

w e s h o u l d b e ho n e s t a n d a sk o u rs e lv e s , " W h a t i s r e a l ly g o i n g

t o h a p p e n ? " T h e j o y before h a s t h e p o s i t i v e f u n c t i o n o f p u l l i n g




7 4

u s o u t o f o u r ev e r y d a y l iv e s a n d e n d o w i n g u s w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e

p s y c h i c e n e r g y . B u t i t re p r es e n ts a r i s k i f w e c a n n o t d i s t i n g u i s h

b e t w e e n f an t a sy a n d r e a l i s ti c e x p e c t a t i o n .

R e c o n s t r u c t e d b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y b r i n g u s i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h

o u r s e lve s a s c re a t u re s o f j o y . T h e y i n d i c a t e w h i c h joys are espe

c i a l l y t y p i c a l a n d s i g n i f i c a n t f o r u s . B y m e a n s o f o u r b i o g r a

p h i e s o f j o y w e a ls o b e c o m e c o n s c i o u s o f p r o b l e m areas t h a t

b e l o n g t o o u r l iv e s . A n d w e g a i n i n s i g h t i n t o t he m a n n e r i nw h i c h j o y is e n h a n c e d o r s p o i l e d i n o u r li v e s , a n in s i g h t t h a t

c h a l l e n g e s u s t o d i s c o v e r h o w w e e n h a n c e o r s p o i l t h e j o y o f

o t h e r s .



8.

M a k in g and U n m a k i n g Joy

C A N JOY BE INDUCED?

G O E T H E O N C E SAID , "It is enough to work ; joy comes by itself."

I think this saying expresses a rather masochistic work ethic.

Is jo y nothing more than a by-product of effort? O r is joy some

t h i n g that can be cultivated in its own right? We have observed

that joy can arise as a side-effect of a successful effort, or of

an apparently successful effort. From the outside, we often get

the impression of complete success, but if the person who did

the work has very high standards, he or she w i l l invariably say,

"It is only half successful," cut ting the jo y in half. This is the

sort o f jo y that is a by-product of effort, w i t h w h i c h we are

v e r y familiar.

Joy can appear as a by-product, but it does not have to be

an intendedby-product. There are many situations in w h i c h work

gives us jo y w it ho ut our ever think ing, " N o w I am doing some

t h i n g so that I can experience joy." Joy arises when our work

takes on a life of its own, when we are sunk in thought and

stumble on a discovery, when we abandon ourselves to the

r h y t h m of some physical activity. Common to all these situa

tions is deep concentration and commitment. It is not so much

the work or activity in itself, but rather the concentration and

presentness to ourselves that yields joy.




7 6

C a n j o y b e s t i m u l a t e d ? W e h a v e c o n s i d e r e d w h a t t h e p s y

c h o l o g y o f e x pr e s s i o n h a s t o t e l l u s a b o u t j o y s t i m u l a t e d b y j o y

fu l g e s tu r e s. A c t o r s a b a n d o n th e m s e l v e s t o g e s tu r es o f d e l i g h t

u n t i l t he y r e a ch a p o i n t w h e r e i t is im p o s s i b l e to d i s t i n g u i s h

j o y t h a t is a ct ed f r o m g e n u i n e j o y . W e n o t e d t h a t j o y c a n b e

i n d u c e d i n p e r so n s w h o are s o m e w h a t s u g g e s t i b le . T h e n w e

t o o k u p t h e i de a o f j o y b y i n f e c t i o n as t re a t e d i n th e text b y

I n g e b o r g B a c h m a n n . B y s u g g e s t i n g t h a t ecstatic j o y c o u l d bep r o d u c e d just b y t h i n k i n g a b o u t w h a t a b o o k w o u l d be l ike

that w o u l d m a k e u s j u m p o u t o f o u r s k i n w i t h j o y , I n g e b o r g

B a c h m a n n d e m o n s t r a t e d t h at j o y c a n b e i n d u c e d t h r o u g h t he

i m a g i n a t i o n .

M a s s d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a f fo r d a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f t h e c o n t a

g i o u s n a t u r e o f e m o t i o n s . T h e ease w i t h w h i c h w e c a n b e i n

f ec te d p a r t i a l l y a c c o u n t s f o r t he b a d r e p u t a t i o n t h a t e m o t i o n se n jo y . A g g r e s s i o n i n a g r o u p is m u c h m o r e i n te n s e t h a n a g g re s

s i o n b e t w e e n t w o i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d c o l l e c t i v e a n x i e t y goes fa r

b e y o n d w h a t is n o r m a l l y e x p e r ie n c e d b y o n e i n d i v i d u a l . J o y ,

l i k e these o t h e r e m o t i o n s , is a ls o t r ig g e r e d b y o t h e r p e r s o n s ,

a n d can be h i g h l y i n f e c t i o u s i n g r o u p s — a t r o c k c o n c e r t s , f o r

e x a m p l e , o r o n o u t i n g s d e s i g n e d t o create j o y , s u c h a s a s k i t r i p

w i t h a g r o u p o f f r i e n d s .

Let us now take a c loser look a t h o w j o y is p r o m o t e d t h r o u g h

o u r u p b r i n g i n g . A f t e r t h a t w e w i l l e x a m i n e w a y s i n w h i c h j o y

is r u i n e d .

T H E S O C I A L I Z A T I O N O F J O Y

A r e c u r r e n t q u e s t i o n t h a t f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n i n t he b i o g r a p h i e s

o f j o y w a s , H o w is i t th a t o n e p e r s o n becomes m o r e j o y f u l a n d

a n o t h e r less j o y f u l ? W h a t d oes t he u p b r i n g i n g a n d d e v e lo p

m e n t o f a j o y f u l p e r s o n l o o k l ike i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h a t o f

s o m e o n e w h o i s less j o y f u l ? A n s w e r s to these q u e s t i o n s a b o u n d ,



Making and Unmaking Joy

7 7

even i f t h e y a re i n d i r e c t . W e h e ar o n e a n s w e r w h e n e v e r p e o p l e

s a y t h a t t h e y c a n pr e s e n t t h e m s e l ve s m o r e e f f e c t i ve l y wh e n t h e y

meet w i t h a j o y f u l r e c e p t io n .

I f a c h i l d say s, " I c a n d o a n y t h i n g , " w e c a n l a u g h a n d say ,

" Y o u m u s t be g r ea t i f y o u c a n d o a n y t h i n g ! " O r w e c a n say,

" Y o u w i l l c o m e b a c k d o w n t o e a rt h so m e d a y . " W h e t h e r o r

n o t j o y is r e i n f o r c e d de pe n ds o n t he r e a c t i o n o f o t h e r s . T h e ba s ic

r u l e is th a t w h e n c h i l d r e n g r o w u p i n a j o y f u l a t m o s p h e r e , w h e n

j o y i s a n s w e r e d w i t h j o y , m o r e j o y w i l l g r o w .

H o w j o y is s o c i a l i z e d is a q u e s t i o n c o n s t a n t l y r a i se d b y t h e

t h e o r e t i c i a n s a s w e l l [ B o l l n o w , 1955, 1956; I z a r d , 1 9 7 7 ] . M a n y

h av e o b se r v e d t h a t j o y is n o t a p r o d u c t o f h u m a n e ff o r t b u t

r a t h e r a s i de -e f f e c t , s h a r i n g m a n y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w i t h w o n d e r ,

or i n t e r e s t . M u c h is k n o w n a b o u t t h e s o c i a l i z a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p

m e n t o f i n t e r e s t i n a c h i l d [ I z a r d , 1 9 7 7 ] . T h e c h il d 's e n v i r o n m e n t m u s t b e s t i m u l a t i n g , b u t n o t t o o s t i m u l a t i n g . G r o w i n g

up i n a c o m p l e x f a m i l y w i t h a va r i e t y o f pe r s o n s , pr o f e s s i o n s ,

i n t e r e s ts , a n d h o bbi e s i s a dv a n t a g e o u s , bu t t o o m u c h va r i e t y

is a d i s a dva n t a g e . P o v e r t y s h o u l d n o t be t o o e x t r e m e , n o r s h o u l d

w e a l t h . It is k n o w n that cer ta in age-spec i f ic in terests are awak

e n e d b y c e r t a i n g a m e s , a n d t h a t t h e t h r e s h o l d o f a c h i l d ' s i n

terest, l ike t h a t o f a n a du l t , i s ve r y l o w. P e o pl e , e s pe c i a l l y c h i l d r e n , a ppe a r t o be ve r y f u l l o f w o n d e r a n d v e r y c u r i o u s . T h e

m o r e c u r i o u s — t o u se a n o t h e r w o r d f o r w o n d e r o r i n te r e s t —

t h e pa r e n t s a r e , t h e m o r e c u r i o u s t h e c h i l dr e n w i l l be as w e l l .

M u c h m o r e i s k n o w n about cur ios i ty tha n about joy . I t is k n o w n

o n l y t ha t j o y f u n c t i o n s b y m e an s o f i n f e c t i o n . C h i l d r e n w i l l

b e co m e j o y f u l i n a j o y f u l a t m o s p h e r e .

T h e r e i s a l s o a t h e o r y t h a t j o y i s g e n e t i c a l l y d e t e r m i n e d

[ M o s e r , 1978] . In th is v i e w , each i n d i v i d u a l is b o r n w i t h a g i v e n

s u p p l y o f j o y ; o n e p e r s o n possesses g r e a te r p o t e n t i a l a n d g i f t e d -

ness f o r j o y t h a n a n o t h e r . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s v i e w , i t m a y be

v e r y i l l u m i n a t i n g t o l o o k at p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r ie s i n h i s t o r i c a l




7 8

c o n t e x t . A t f ir s t a l l p r o b l e m s w e r e a t t r i b u t e d t o t he t r a u m a o f

b i r t h . Later the f i r s t year of l i fe suddenly became the deci s ive

arena. Later s t i l l , e v e r y t h i n g w a s p r o j e c te d o n t o t h e f ir st t w o

years of l i f e . T h e n s u d d e n l y th e w h o l e m a t t e r w e n t i n t r a u t e r in e

a n d p r e g n a n c y w a s g i v e n p r i o r i t y . A t th e m o m e n t e v e r y t h i n g

is in the genes. I t s o m e t i m e s f r i g h t e n s m e t o t h i n k ab o ut g e

n e t ic m a n i p u l a t i o n , f o r I w o n d e r w h a t w e w o u l d d o i f a gene

f o r e m o t i o n w e re d i s co v e r e d . W i t h o u t s e t t l in g th e m a t t e r o f

the genetic bases f o r e m o t i o n s d e f i n i t i v e l y , I t h i n k i t is safe to

say that there a re so m e p e r s on s w h o are m o r e , a n d o t h e rs w h o

are le ss , p r o n e t o j o y . W h e t h e r t h i s d i f fe r e n c e c an b e a t t r i b u t e d

t o t h e p e r i o d o f p r e g n an c y , o r w h e t h e r i t i s a l r e ad y i n t h e g e

n e t i c m a t e r i a l , is a m at t e r t h a t w i l l p r o b a b l y b e a r g u e d f o r c e n

t u r ie s . M e a n w h i l e , w e c a n o b s er v e t h a t c e r t a i n p e o p l e ha ve a

h i g h e r t h r e s h o l d f o r j o y t h a n o t h e rs .W e d o k n o w th a t j o y g r o w s i n c h i l d r e n w h e n i t is r e i n

f o r c e d . A n i n t e r e s t i n g o b s e r v a t i o n ha s b e e n m a d e i n th i s r e g a r d .

I t h a s b e e n d e t e r m i n e d t h a t m u c h less care i s u s u a l l y g i v e n t o

j o y f u l , h e a lt h y c h i l d r e n t h a n t o c h i l d r e n w h o are i l l , so m a n y

c h i l d r e n l earn that they m us t suffer in ord er to rece ive at ten

t i o n . " I n o r d e r t o g e t care, I h av e t o b e s i c k . W h e n I a m h a p p y ,

n o t h i n g real ly hap pen s . " W e of ten say to a j o y f u l c h i l d , " I f y o u ' r eso ha p p y , e v e r y t h i n g m u s t be fin e . R u n a l o n g . " It c a n b e e v e n

w o r s e , t h o u g h ; h a p p y c h i l d r e n c a n a w a k e n en v y .

W h e n w e s t o p t o t h i n k a b o u t i t , i t i s n o t o b v i o u s w h y

w e p a y m o r e a t t e n t io n t o ch i l d r e n w h o are n o t w e l l t h a n t o

those w h o a re . I f w e w a n t t o ha ve j o y f u l h u m a n b e in g s a r o u n d

u s , w e s h o u l d e n c o u r a g e a n d s ti m u l a t e c h i l d r e n e q u a l ly w h e n

t he y a re h a p p y . A n d w e s h o u l d g i v e t h e m t he same a m o u n t

o f a t t e n t i o n as a s i g n t h a t t h e i r d e l i g h t a l s o b r i n g s us d e l i g h t .

I d o n o t w a n t t o ta l k y o u o u t o f c a r i n g f o r c h i l d r e n w h o a re

i l l . T h e y n e e d t h a t . B ut p e r h ap s t h e y w o u l d g e t i l l less o f t e n




79

i f t h e y w e r e a l s o c a r e d f o r w h e n t h e y w e r e f r i e n d l y a n d w e l l -

b e h a v e d a n d h e a l t h y .

M a n y b i o g r a p h i e s o f j o y w i t n e s s t o a c r ea t iv e d e l i g h t t h a t

arises o n l y w h e n c h i l d r e n a re l e f t to t h e i r o w n de v i c e s . " I r e

m e m b e r h o w I u s e d t o p l a y w i t h pieces o f w o o d a n d h o w I

w o u l d b u i l d e n t i r e c a s t l e s , " r e a ds a t y p i c a l s t a t e m e n t . " I m a d e

e v e r y t h i n g c o m e a l i v e w i t h m y i m a g i n a t i o n . I t wa s r e a l l y g r e a t

a n d I felt l ike s o m e o n e w h o r u le s o v er an e n t ir e e m p i r e a n d

w h o ca n create t h i s e m p i r e . " A g a i n w e e n c o u n t e r t h e p h e n o m e

n o n o f s e l f - a b a n d o n : a b a n d o n i n g t h e s e l f t o play , to fantasy , to

t h e pr o c e s s o f g i v i n g s h a pe . I t i s i m po r t a n t f o r t h i s p l a y t o be

u n d i s t u r b e d .

A b a n d o n c a n be d i s t u r b e d b y a n o t h e r c h i l d ' s i n t e r f e r e n c e .

" T h e n m y b r o t h e r c am e a l o n g a n d r u i n e d e v e r y t h i n g , " re ad s a

t y p i c a l s ta te m e n t . O n e c h i l d plays w i t h a b a n d o n , a n o t h er c h i l da r r i v e s , a n d e n v y takes i ts t o l l , as i t does w i t h a d u l t s , t o o . " H e ' s

p l a y i n g so n i c e l y ; he is h a p p y , a n d I h av e n o t h i n g . "

Parents can also be very d i s t u r b i n g w h e n t h ey i n s is t o n c le a n

i n g u p a r o o m w h e n c h i l d r e n are a t the peak of the i r play. I

a m s u re th e r e a re m o t h e r s a n d f at h er s a m o n g m y r ea d er s w h o

are t h i n k i n g , " Y o u ' v e g o t i t b a c k w a r d s , D r . K a s t . C h i l d r e n pl a y

m o s t i n t e n s e l y w h e n t h e y s h o u l d b e c le a n i n g u p . " T h i s m a yb e t r u e , b u t I s t i l l t h i n k w e d i s r u p t a c h i l d ' s s e l f - f o r g e t f u l n e s s

m o r e t h a n w e n e e d t o . W e s h o u l d a s k o u r s e l ve s i f we a r e n o t

e n v i o u s o f t h e i r a b i l i t y t o fo r g e t t h e m s e l ve s . C r e a t i v e t a sk s a re

f u n i f w e c a n g i v e o u r s e l v e s o v e r t o t h e m i n s e l f - f o r g e t f u l n e s s .

C a n j o y b e s t i m u l a t e d i n c h i l d h o o d ? P a r en t s, as w e l l as sib

l i n g s a n d g r a n d p a r e n t s , w h o a re c a p a b le o f e x p r e s s in g j o y d e f i

n i t e l y s t i m u l a t e a c h i l d ' s j o y . J o y f u l p e r s o n s i n f e c t a n d r e i n f o r c e

e a ch o t h e r i n t h e i r j o y . W e c a n e n h a n ce j o y d e l i b e r a t e l y b y n o t

t a k i n g j o y f o r g r a n t e d , b u t r a t h er p e r m i t t i n g o u rs e lv e s t o d e

l i g h t i n a j o y f u l c h i l d , a n d t o accept t h e ch i ld ' s i m m e r s i o n i n play.




80

C H I L D L I K E J O Y

A n adul t ' s sense o f j o y i s o f t e n p r o j e c te d b a c k i n t o c h i l d h o o d .

W e te l l ourse lves that u n i n h i b i t e d j o y w a s s o m e t h i n g w e k n e w

o n l y as c h i l d r e n . W h a t f o r a c h i l d is u n i n h i b i t e d j o y is e x p e r i

e n c e d b y a n a d u l t as a l a c k o f e m o t i o n a l c o n t r o l . B e h i n d t h i s

p r o j e c t i o n i s t h e a r c h e t y p e o f t h e c h i l d .

A fifty -y ea r-o ld w o m a n w h o r e c o n s t r u c t e d h e r b i o g r a p h yo f j o y s a i d , " I am m uc h f re e r t o tak e d e l i g h t n o w t h an I w as

as a c h i l d ; t o d a y I am m o r e c h i l d l i k e i n m y j o y . " A s she t a l k e d ,

sh e r e m a i n e d c h i l d l i k e i n h e r e xp r e s s i o n . " I r e m e m b e r once as

a s m a l l c h i l d I p l a y e d i n a p u d d l e o f w a t e r w i t h m y S u n d a y

shoes a n d c lo t h e s o n , " she r e c a ll e d . " T h e p u d d l e w a s fa i r l y d e ep

a n d i t m ad e a n i c e s p l as h . It w as w o n d e r f u l . I h ad t he fe e l i n g

e v e r y t h i n g was so f u l l o f l if e . I sh r ie k e d a n d g o t a l l w e t . T h e nm y older s i s te r came a n d t h e n m y m o t h e r ; s h e s c o l d e d m e . I

f e l t g u i l t y , a s i f I w e r e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g w r o n g h a v i n g s u c h

f u n . O f c o u rs e t o d a y I u n d e r s t a n d m y m o t h e r v e r y w e l l . F o r

me as a c h i l d , j o y w a s a l w a y s b o u n d u p w i t h g u i l t o r a n x i e t y .

T o d ay I e n j o y m y s e l f as I p l eas e. I f I w a l k i n t o a m u d p ud d l e ,

I w a s h m y o w n c lo t h es a f t e r w a r d . " J o y is a n e m o t i o n w i t h c o n

sequences. T h e c e l e b r a t io n o f j o y a lw a y s lea ve s s o m e t h i n g t ob e cle a n e d u p . D o y o u r e q u ir e p e r m i s s i o n t o be j o y f u l ? D i d y o u

r e q u i r e p e r m i s s i o n a s a c h i l d ?

In t he p r oc es s o f g r o w i n g u p , w e le a r n t ha t w e m u s t s to p

g i v i n g o u r e m o t i o n s free r e i n . W e s e ld o m en c o u n t e r a d u l ts w h o

e xp re ss t h e i r e m o t i o n s w i t h o u t r e s t r a in t . B u t r e c e n t l y I m e t

w i t h a n e i g h t e e n - y e a r - o ld d i s a b le d m a n w h o h a d a b s o l u t e ly n o

c o n t r o l o v e r h i s e m o t i o n s . H e w an t e d m e to b e e i g h t e e n y e ar s

o l d , t o o . W h e n I t o l d h i m I w a s n o t e i g h t e e n , h e c r i e d f o r a

l o n g t i m e . T h e n h e d e m a n d e d th a t I c a l l h i m o n t h e t e le p h o n e .

" Ye s , I w i l l c a l l , " I p r o m i s e d . T h e n h e a s k e d t w o o r three t i m e s ,

" R e a l l y ? Y o u ' l l c a l l ? " " Y e s , r e a l l y , " I s a i d ; " I ' l l c a l l . " H e w a s



Making and Unmaking Jay

81

s o g l ad , h e a l m o s t fe l l o ut o f h i s w h e e l c h a i r , s c r e am i n g o ut i n t o

t h e h ug e h a l l , " S h e ' l l c a l l , she ' l l c a l l , she ' l l c a l l ! " H i s fa t he r r e p

r i m a n d e d h i m a n d h e c r i e d a g a i n . H e r e i s a n e x a m p l e o f s o m e

o n e w i t h o u t a n y e m o t i o n a l c o n t r o l . T o b e a n a d u l t , w e m u s t

h a v e c o n t r o l o v e r o u r e m o t i o n s . W e e a c h h a v e o u r m e t h o d s .

I t c o u l d b e th a t s o m e t im e s w e a re t o o h e a v y - h a n d e d , m u f f l i n g

our j o y i n ac co r d a n ce w i t h an idea l that exc ludes no is iness .

T h e f o l l o w i n g e x am p l e i ll u st ra t e s h o w u n i n h i b i t e d j o y is

n o t c o n f i n e d to o u r c h r o n o l o g i c a l c h i l d h o o d . A t h ir t y -s i x -y e a r -

o ld w o m a n t o l d o f h o w great j oy had fa l l en to her over a broken

leg. A n a d u l t g i r l f r i e n d o f h ers h a d b r o k e n h e r a r m , a n d t h i s

w o m a n felt she must have a cast as w e l l . She succeeded in break

i n g n o less t h an h e r l e g . " I c an s t i l l see i t , " she recal led . " I have

n e v e r b e e n s o d e l i g h t e d as I w as w h e n I g o t t h a t cast. I was

b e a m i n g w i t h j o y ; there w a s n o e n d t o i t . " O c c a s i o n s f o r j o yare not a lways p ic turesque . Later we w i l l see h o w j o y c an e v e n

b e m a l i c i o u s .

S P O I L I N G J O Y

W h a t aspects o f o u r u p b r i n g i n g s p o i le d o u r joy? A n d h o w d o

w e s p o i l t he j o y o f o urs e lv e s an d others? T h e an s w e r s t o thesetw o ques t ions are closely re lated, s ince as a rule w e un con scio usly

le a rn e d f r o m o u r u p b r i n g i n g h o w t o s p o i l j o y .

T h e n a t u r e o f j o y d r a w s o n t he m e c h a n i s m o f i n f e c t i o n ;

w e a r e h a p p y w h e n w e c a n m a k e o t h e r s h a p p y . T h u s o u r j o y

is of ten spo i led w h e n we express i t to persons w h o are not g i f ted

f o r j o y , o r w h o a re i n c o n d i t i o n s o r s i tu a t i o n s o f f e r i n g l i t tl e

o c c as i o n fo r j o y , s uc h as d e p r e s s i o n , p r e o c c up at i o n , o r l e t h ar g y .

A l ac k o f respect for the source o f jo y ca n k i l l i t , e specia l ly

a m o n g c h i l d r e n . A c h i l d i n h i g h s p i r i t s , c o m p l e t e l y l o s t i n s o m e

fan tas y g am e , m ay b e an x i o u s t o share his or her joy w i t h the

adul t s nearby. I f the adul t s d i sregard th i s fantasy w o r l d , i f they




82

do not take i t se r ious ly , or i f they fear t h a t t h e y h av e b r o ug h t

an u n r e a l i s t i c c h i l d i n t o t h e w o r l d , th e c h i l d w i l l regis ter the i r

disapproval o f the joy , and the jo y w i l l be t ransformed into shame,

as if the c h i l d h a d b ee n c a ug h t d o i n g s o m e t h i n g w r o n g . A d u l t s

w h o d i s t u r b c h i l d r e n i n t h e m i d s t o f a b a n d o n e d p l a y a l s o s p o i l

t h e i r j o y , as m e n t i o n e d e ar l i er . S uc h b e h a v i o r o n t h e p ar t o f

adul t s indicates a repress ion of the i r own ch i ld l ike qual i t i es , which

a ls o ex p l a in s w h y th e y c an n o t e m p at h i z e v e r y w e l l w i t h c h i l d r e n .

A s a d u l t s , w e e m p l o y a s i m i l a r m e t h o d t o s p o i l e a ch o t h e r 's

j o y : W h e n w e ca n n ot share someone's j o y , w e e x p r e s s d i s ap

p r o v a l e i t h e r o f t h e p e r s o n o r o f t h e j o y . F o r e x am p l e , o n e p a r t

n e r o f a c o u p l e a t t en d s a p ub l i c e v e n t an d comes h o m e e n t h u s i

as t i c , i n s p i r e d , an d h ap p y . T h e o t h e r p a r t n e r h as sa t a t h o m e ,

p e r ha p s b o r e d a n d c e r t a i n l y n o t i n s p i r e d . T h e i n s p i r e d p a r t n e r

raves about the event , w i t h m a n y r e p e t i ti o n s . T h e p a r t n e r w h ostayed hom e makes a d i spa ragin g rem ark, w h ic h burs ts the b ubble

o f j o y . T h i s p r o c es s o f k i l l i n g j o y i s i n v a r i a b l y b o r n o u t o f t h e

i n a b i l i t y o f t w o p e r s o n s t o share a c o m m o n s ou rc e o f d e l i g h t .

T h i s i n a b i l i t y m a y b e d u e to t h e p s y c h o d y n a m i c s o f th e c o u p l e ,

t o th e i n a b i l i t y o f o n e p a r t n e r t o i n f e ct t h e o t h e r . T h e j o y f u l

p a r t n e r m a y fa i l t o c o n v e y e n o u g h s u b s t a n c e , o r m a y a c t u a l l y

b e d e m o n s t r a t i n g p o w e r t h r o u g h a s h o w o f h a v i n g m o r e j o y .A m a n once t o l d m e i n a t h e r ap y s e s si o n ab o u t an o c c as i o n

w h e n h is w i f e s p o i l e d h is j o y . O n e d a y h e h a d c o m p l e t e d h is

w o r k w e l l an d h ad f i n i s h e d e ar l y . I n a f i n e m o o d , h e b o ug h t

a b o u q u e t o f f lo w e r s o n h i s w a y h o m e , w h i c h h e b r o u g h t t o

h i s w i f e , t e l l i n g h e r w i t h o u t a p o l o g y a b o u t t he fin e j o b h e h a d

d o n e . G r e e t e d w i t h a face g r o w i n g l o n g e r , he fin a lly as k e d h er ,

" A r e n ' t y o u g l a d t ha t I ' m h o m e a l r e a d y ? " " W e l l , y o u k n o w , "

s he a n s w e r e d , " y o u ha ve s u c h a w o n d e r f u l t i m e . I fig ht i t o u t

here w i t h th e k i d s . N o o n e sees t he w o r k I d o . Y o u c a n c o m e

h o m e a n d b e t he k i n g . Y o u be a m w i t h j o y , a n d y o u e v e n h a v e

e n o ug h e n e r g y l e f t o v e r fo r f l o w e r s . I ' m here al l the t im e , so




83

s m a l l a n d u g l y . A n d n o w I ' m s p o i l i n g y o u r e v e n i n g , t o o . " T h i s

sad b u t c o m m o n e n c o u n t er i llu s tr a te s h o w a g o o d m o o d , ra th e r

t h a n b e i n g i n f e c t i o u s , c a n a r o u s e e n v y . S h e c o u l d have le t her

s e l f be i n f e c t e d by j o y , a n d t h e r e w o u l d s t i l l h a ve be e n t i m e f o r

s o m e t h i n g t o c o m e o f t h e e v e n i n g . I n s t e a d , sh e s a id i n effect,

" Y o u h a v e i t a n d I d o n ' t . P o o r m e , t h e v i c t i m . " J o y f u l p e r s o n s

make an easy target for g u i l t u n d e r t h i s so r t o f a t t a c k . T h e y

s ee m t o be c u l p a b l e a c c o r d i n g to a n u n w r i t t e n l a w t h a t says

" T h o u s h a l t n o t o u t s h i n e t h y n e i g h b o r . " I t i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t to

k ee p o u r j o y f r o m c r u m b l i n g w h e n i t is d is p a r a g ed b y o t he r s.

D e l i g h t i n th e j o y o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n is g r o u n d s f o r c e l e b r a

t i o n . B u t c e l e b r a t i o n o f a n o t h e r ' s j o y m e a n s b e i n g a b l e t o a c

c e pt t h e f a c t t h a t s h e o r h e h a s a n e m o t i o n w h i c h w e o u r s e l v e s

w o u l d l i k e t o h a v e. W e o f t e n t r y t o d e a l w i t h t h i s b y t u r n i n g

t he j o y o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n i n t o o u r o w n j o y . F o r e x a m p l e , i fa c o l l e a g u e w i n s a p r i z e , y o u m a y b e a b i t e n v i o u s . Y o u are

i n v i t e d t o a c e l e b r a t i o n . Y o u te l l y o u r s e l f , " A t l ea s t i t' s g r e a t

t h a t o n e o f u s g o t t h e p r i z e . " T h i s i s h o w w e d e a l w i t h e n v y ,

s o t h a t we c a n s h a r e a n o t h e r ' s j o y i n s p i t e o f i t . I f e n vy h a s

s p o i l e d v i c a r i o u s j o y a n d a g e st u re o f j o y is a t t e m p t e d a n y w a y ,

t h e g e s t u r e w i l l g e n e r a l l y fa i l to k i n d l e e n t h u s i a s m .

T h e e x ci te m e n t t h a t a c co m p a n i e s j o y a n d i n s p i r a t i o n , a l o n gw i t h t h e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t e v e r y j o y m u s t s u b s id e a ft er r e a c h i n g

a h i g h p o i n t , o ft e n p r o d u c e s a p r e m a t u r e l y c a u t io u s a t t i tu d e ,

l i k e t h a t e x pr e s s e d i n t h e s a y i n g t h a t p r i d e goes be f o r e a fa l l .

T h i s a t t i t u d e m a y h a v e m o r e t o d o w i t h e n v y t h a n w i t h w i s

d o m . F e e li n g s o f e l a t io n ca us e e n v y . " Y o u c a n l a u g h n o w , " s o m e

o n e m a y s a y t o a h a p p y c h i l d , " b u t w a i t t i l l y o u g r o w u p a nd

h av e to c a r r y t h e l o a d I c a r r y . " O r t h e r e is t h e r e m a r k a l so h e a r d

a m o n g a d o le s ce n ts , " G o a he ad a n d l a u g h w h i l e y o u c a n , " m e a n

i n g " W h a t y o u are d o i n g is i n c r e d i b l y i m m a t u r e . "

T h e j o y t h at i s d e r i v e d f r o m success a n d c o m p e t e n c e is

s p o i l e d n o t o n l y b y o t h e r s ' e n v y , b u t a ls o b y o u r o w n fa ls e i d e a l




8 4

o f h u m i l i t y , w h i c h c h i ld r e n a re i n d o c t r i n a t e d w i t h b y i n c o n s i s

tent m e t h o d s o f e d u c a t i o n a n d u p b r i n g i n g . T h e y a re e xp e c te d

t o b e i n d e p e n d e n t , c o m p e t e n t , s m a r t , a n d so f o r t h , a n d y e t

t he y s h o u l d n o t k n o w th a t t h e y a re , o r at least s h o u l d n o t b e

h av e as i f t h e y k n e w i t . T r ue h u m i l i t y is t h e aw are n es s t h a t w e

c an a l w ay s g o b e y o n d o ur s e l v e s , an d t h a t w e e x i s t w i t h i n the

greater c o n t e x t o f l if e as a w h o l e . H u m i l i t y m e a n s k n o w i n g

o u r place w i t h i n a l l o f c r e a t i o n ; i t do e s n o t m e a n d e v a l u i n g

the fee l ing s that g iv e us a sense o f j o y a n d w o r t h .

T h e s p o i l i n g o f j o y is i n t i m a t e l y r ela te d t o s h a m e ; w h e n

o u r j o y is d a m p e n e d o r e n t i r e l y p r e v e n t e d , w e t e n d to react

w i t h s h a m e . W e fe el a n n i h i l a t e d , a n d to p r o t e c t o u r sense o f

s e l f - w o r t h w e n o u r i s h v e n g e f u l f e e l i n g s . J o y t h w a r t e d l e a d s t o

a w h o l e a r ra y o f u n h a p p y e m o t i o n s a ss o cia te d w i t h o u r s h a d o w ,

but joy i t se l f has a shadow s ide as w e l l .



Th e Shadow Side of Joy

M A L I C I O U S J O Y

A T H IR T Y -Y E A R - O L D M A N t o l d a bo u t p r e p a r i n g fo r a w a l k i n g c o n

test together w i t h a f r i e n d . W h e n t h e f r i e n d s u ff er e d a f a ti g u e

f r a c tu r e i n h i s f o o t , t h e m a n co n f e s s e d , " a d e e p j o y t o o k h o l d

o f m e . W h e n I h e a rd o f h is f ra c tu r e , I i m m e d i a t e l y o r g a n i z e d

a c e l e b r a t i o n f o r m y f r ie n d s , i n c l u d i n g m y i n j u r e d p a r tn e r . T h e

p a r t y w e n t o n i n t o t h e n i g h t , because o n t h e next d ay there

w o u l d b e n o t r a i n i n g , n o sla ve ry , n o t h i n g . " T h o u g h he w a s

h i g h l y pleased that t h e f r i e n d h a d r e c e i v e d w h a t h e f e l t w a s

a just r e w a r d f o r h i s excessive a m b i t i o n , h e w a s d e e p l y d i s t u r b e d

b y h i s o w n m a l i c i o u s j o y . " I ha ve s e l d o m e x p e r i e n c e d s u ch a

w o n d e r f u l sense o f j o y , " h e s o b e r ly a d m i t t e d . " I h a d th e f e e l i n g

that l if e h a d r e a ll y d o n e m e a g o o d t u r n . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

I fe lt v e ry w a r p e d a n d w r o n g h e a d e d . ' W h a t k i n d o f jerk are

y o u , ' I a s k e d m y s e l f , ' t o b e s o d e l i g h t e d b y t h i s p o o r f e l l o w ' s

m i s f o r t u n e ? ' "

H e t h o u g h t there w a s n o s u ch t h i n g as m a l i c i o u s j o y . T h i s

a t t it u d e p r o v o k e d m y o w n m a l i c i o u s j o y , f o r I a m g l a d w h e n

p e o p l e w h o a r e s o p r o p e r f i n d o u t that t h e y a r e h u m a n b e i n g s

l i k e th e rest of us . You can see that m a l i c i o u s j o y a ls o h as a

c u m u l a t i v e effect.

H o w a r e w e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e p s y c h o d y n a m i c s o f t h i s m a n ' s




8 6

m a l i c i o u s j o y ? P e rh a p s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t he t w o m e n

w a s b a s e d o n c o m p e t i t i o n ; w h e n o n e c o u l d g o n o f a r t h e r , t h e

o t h e r w o u l d say, " Y o u ' r e n o t p o o p i n g o u t a l re a d y , a re y o u ? "

In t h i s case t h e f a t ig u e f r a c tu r e g r a n t e d t h e m r e s p it e f r o m a

v e r y s t re s s fu l c o m p e t i t i o n , a n d w a s a s i g n th a t t h e i r c o m p e t i

t i o n h a d be e n e x ce s s ive . P e r h a ps t h e y h a d a r a t h e r s t r e n u o u s

r e l a t i o n s h i p , th e k i n d i n w h i c h they kept score w i t h e a c h o t h e r ,

d r i v i n g o n e t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e h e c o u l d c e l e br a t e t h e i n j u r yo f t h e o t h e r .

I s a id a t t h e o u t s e t t h a t j o y is a n e m o t i o n o f h a r m o n y , t h a t

j o y f a ll s t o t h o s e w h o s e l i ve s a re ba c k i n t u n e . I t is a ls o c o n

c e iv a b l e t h a t t h i s m a n w a n t e d a d i f fe r e n t k i n d o f r e l a t i o n s h i p

w i t h h is f r i e n d , t ha t h e w a n t e d t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p to b e m o r e

b a l a n c e d , m o r e i n t u n e . I n t h e i r re l a t i o n s h i p , j o y a n d c r u e l t y ,

t o pu t i t b l u n t l y , m a y h a ve be e n a l l ied i n s a d i s ti c j o y . Jo y i s n o ta l w ay s just e l e v a t i n g ; base m o t i v e s c a n l i e b e l o w these h e i g h t s .

I b e li ev e t h a t e v e r y b o d y g l o a t s , a l t h o u g h p e o p l e d i d n o t

m e n t i o n j o y o f a m a l i c i o u s so r t v e r y o f t e n i n t h e i r r e c o n s t r u c t e d

b i o g r a p h i e s . I t is f o r b i d d e n t o g l o a t , w h i c h e x p l a i n s w h y w e

b e ha v e as i f w e d i d n o t — b e h a v i o r t h a t d o e s n o t h e l p m a t t e r s ,

s in c e j o y o v e r th e m i s f o r t u n e s o f o t h e r s e x i st s w h e t h e r w e a d

m i t i t o r n o t . I n g l o a t i n g w e see t he i n t e r a c t i o n o f j o y a n d c r u

e l t y , w h i c h i s ve r y c lo s e t o s a d i s m . S a d i s m s h o w s u s th a t t h e

e m o t i o n o f j o y h as t w o s id e s. J o y i n v o l v e s n o t o n l y s o l i d a r i t y

a n d c o n n e c t i o n , b u t a ls o t h e t o t a l d o m i n a t i o n o v e r a n o t h e r p e r

s o n o r t o r t u r e o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n . I t i s n o t c l e a r w h e r e m a l i

c i o u s j o y e n d s a n d s a d i s m b e g i n s .

I w o u l d l i k e t o p r o v i d e t w o m o r e s h o r t e xa m p l e s o f m a l i

c io u s j o y i n o r d e r t o m o v e y o u t o d i s co v e r y o u r o w n . T h i s is

m y o w n s h a d o w o f j o y , I k n o w . But I be l ieve that i t i s better

to face t h e t h i n g s w e w i s h w e r e n o t t h e r e : i t lessens t h e i r c o n

t r o l o ve r u s .

A n e ighteen-year -o ld female s tudent repor ted: " I have a f r iend



Shadow Sideof Joy

8 7

a t s c h o o l w h o a l w a y s gets s u ch d a m n e d g o o d g ra d es . A n d n o w

she ju s t gave a pr ese nta t ion that the teacher d i d n ' t l i k e a t a l l ,

e s p e c i a l l y n o t i t s p o l i t i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s . T h e te a ch er c r i t i c i z e d

h e r s h ar p l y . I w as s o g l a d . I w as h ap p y fo r t w o d ay s . I s an g ,

a n d m y m o t h e r a s k e d m e i f I w a s i n l o v e . I f e l t g o o d a b o u t

m y s e lf , r ea lly g o o d . O h , I k n o w y o u are n o t s u p p o s ed to g l o a t ,

b u t I c o u l d n ' t h e l p i t ; i t w a s so g o o d fo r m e . T h e o n l y t h i n g

that i r r i ta tes me i s that she d i d n ' t s uf fe r at a l l f r o m t h e d e fe a t . "P e rh a p s y o u h av e s i m i l a r m e m o r i e s f r o m y o u r o w n s c h o o l d a y s.

M a l i c i o u s j o y d o es n o t d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n y o u n g a n d o l d

o r m a l e a n d fe m a l e . A s i x t y - s i x - y e a r - o l d m a n t o l d m e , " I h av e

a n e i g h b o r h e re w h o is so ' ab o ve i t a l l , ' a lw a y s a c t i n g a s t h o u g h

she were better t h an e v e r y o n e e l s e . N o w j u s t i m a g i n e : S he h as

t o m o v e i n t o a r e t i r e m e n t h o m e . Y e s , s ev e n t y - o n e a n d sh e ha s

t o g o t o t h e o l d f o l k s ' h o m e . U s u a l l y I d o n ' t l ike h e a r i n g a b o u ts o m e o n e w h o ha s t o g o t o an o l d f o l k s ' h o m e : I t r e m i n d s m e

t h at I m ay h av e t o g o t o o s o m e d ay . B ut i n t h i s case I w as d e

l i g h t e d . T h a t s n o b b y o l d b i t c h ha s to g o to t h e o l d f o l k s ' h o m e .

She doesn ' t have i t any better than anyone e l se ; there ' s jus t i ce

i n th e w o r l d a f t e r a l l . "

It is t y p i c a l that th i s man's m a l i c i o u s j o y w a s i n s t i g a t e d b y

s o m e o n e d e s c r ib e d as b e i n g " ab o v e i t a l l . " P e o p le w h o e l ic i tm a l i c i o u s j o y a re us u a l l y s ee n as better t h an av e r ag e , e s p e c i a l l y

t a l e n t e d , h a r d w o r k i n g , o r a r r o g a n t . E n v y is i n v o l v e d . T h e i r p r e

s u m e d sense o f s u p e r i o r i t y m a y s o m e t im e s b e m o r e p r o j e c t io n

t h a n r e a l i t y , t h o u g h . I f w e fai l to l iv e o u t a t a l e n t e d p ar t o f

o ur s e l v e s — w o r k i n g a n d r i s k i n g less b y r e m a i n i n g m e d i o c r e —

o u r t a le n t s a re r e p r e s se d , an d so w e p r o j e c t t h e m o n t o o t h e r

p e r s o n s w h o r e p r e s e n t a c h a l l e n g e t o us b e caus e t h e y m ak e o ur

p r o b l e m v i s i b le a n d t a n g i b le . R e m i n d i n g u s th a t w e c o u l d be

t h e r e t o o , t h e y ar e l ike a t h o r n i n o u r fle sh t ha t m u s t s o m e h o w

b e e x tr a c t e d . W e a ss u m e t h e y act s u p e r i o r w h e t h e r t h ey re a l l y

d o o r n o t .




88

T h i s a g i n g m a n w a s h a p p y t o k n o w t h a t t h e r e i s j u s t i c e

i n th e w o r l d a ft er a l l . " N o o n e h as i t better t h a n a n y o n e e l s e , "

h e m i g h t h av e s a id t o h i m s e l f ; " T h e g o d s h av e n o f a v o r i t e s . "

T h i s w o u l d c o n f i r m h is o w n w o r t h an d p o s i t i o n i n li fe . A t le as t

i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t he w o m a n w h o w a s " p u t i n h er p l a c e , "

he w o u l d be better o ff. O b v i o u s l y s u ch g l o a t i n g is ro o t e d i n

c o m p e t i t iv e t h i n k i n g a n d e n v y . S e lf- es te e m , w h i c h i s c o n n e c t e d

w i t h joy , here derives from comparison, rather than self -assurance.W e are r ais e d to t h i n k c o m p e t i t iv e l y . A s s m a l l c h i l d r e n , w e w e r e

always c o m p a r e d w i t h e ach o t h er . W h o is b i g g e r ? W h o is faster?

W h o c a n d o better? T h i s co n s t an t e v a l u a t i o n b y c o m p a r i s o n

w i t h o t he r s p l ay e d a h u g e r o l e i n o u r u p b r i n g i n g . T h e r e su lt s

are d i s a s t r o u s : O u r sense o f p e r s o n a l w o r t h i n e s s d o es n o t c o m e

f r o m se lf -acceptance , bu t ra ther f ro m extern a l a p p r o v a l . I f I c o m

pl e t e a t a s k , i t do e s n o t r e a l l y m a t t e r i f s o m e o n e else c o u l d d oi t better o r w o r s e . I t i s I w h o a m c o m p l e t i n g t h e t a s k . I f I

h a ve t h e f e e l i n g t h a t i t i s r i g h t f o r m e , I h a ve a g o o d f e e l i n g

a b o u t d o i n g i t . B u t i f I s ta rt t h i n k i n g t h a t t h er e is s o m e o n e

i n th e w o r l d w h o c a n d o i t better, m y g o o d f e e l i n g a n d j o y

m a y b r e a k d o w n . T h e th o u g h t " B u t co u l d n ' t s o m e o n e else have

d o n e i t better?" i s p r o b a b l y t h e m o s t c o m m o n w a y o f k i l l i n g

j o y . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e n I h a v e t o m a k e s u r e t h a t n o o n e can d o

i t better, so I be l i t t l e o t h e r s , o f t e n d e c r e a s i n g t h e i r j o y t o o .

R i v a l r y h as a p l a c e i n a pe r s o n 's d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t s h o u l d

n o t b e d e n i e d . W h e n w e b eh av e c o m p e t i t i v e l y , w e d r a w t he

b o u n d a r i e s b e t w e e n o u rs e lv e s a n d o t h er s i n o r d e r to b e c o m e

u n i q u e i n d i v i d u a l s . S i b l i n g r i v a l r y g i ve s c h i l d r e n t h e ch a n c e t o

f e e l t h e i r s t r e n g t h a n d t h e i r l i m i t s s o t h a t t h e y c a n k n o w a n d

become themselves . R i v a l r y is o n l y p r o b l e m a t i c w h e n it becomes

a l a w o f l i f e . T h e n r i v a l r y c h a n g e s t h e n a t u r e o f j o y o r e ve n

le a ds t o m a l i c i o u s j o y .

A n d y e t j o y , o n t he o t h e r h a n d , o ffe rs t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f

o v e r c o m i n g a c e r t a i n r i v a l r y . A t i ts p e a k , j o y is t he e m o t i o n



Shadow Sideof Joy

8 9

that c a n h e l p us o v e rc o m e r i v a l r y . H u g e r iv a l r i e s p r e v e n t j o y ;

b u t r o b us t j o y c a n o v e rc o m e c o m p e t i t i v e t h i n k i n g , w h i c h o t h e r

w i s e seems n e v e r t o e n d .

A l t h o u g h m a l i c i o u s j o y is v e r y close to sadism, i t has the

a d v a n t a g e o f n o t b e i n g d i r e c t l i k e s a d i s m b u t i n s t e a d o f b e i n g

d e t a c h e d , once r e m o v e d . W e ha ve n o t i n f l i c t e d t he s u f f e r i n g ;

fate has. If we behave sadis t ica l ly , we have to take r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

f o r t h e s u f f e r i n g w e i n f l i c t , u n l e s s w e a r e s a d i s t i c v o y e u r s w h o

take v i c a r i o u s d e l i g h t i n t h e s a d i s t i c b e h a v i o r o f o t h e r s . I n m a

l i c i o u s j o y w e c a n s a y w i t h re l ie f , " I d idn ' t do the e v i l d e e d ;

s o m e b o d y else d i d i t ; fate d i d i t . " W e ca n s i m p l y enjoy th e fact

that s o m e b o d y ha s h a d a b a d t i m e , w i t h o u t s u f f e r i n g f r o m a

g u i l t y conscience, at least n o t r i g h t a w a y . L a t e r o u r m o r a l i t y

makes us fee l gui l ty , s ince we bel ieve that m a l i c i o u s j o y s h o u l d

h a r d l ye x i st . A l i t t l e m a l i c io u s j o y is a l l o w e d , b u t n o t t o o m u c h .

S A D I S M

Sad ism is de f ined as a fee l in g o f p leasure or jo y that comes f r o m

i n f l i c t i n g s u f f e r i n g o n a n o t h e r p e r s o n , e i t h e r i n f a n t a s y o r i n

fact. S a d i s m m a y o r m a y n o t b e c o m b i n e d w i t h sexual i ty . I t

i n v o l v e s fantasies o f t o t a l d o m i n a t i o n o v e r a n o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g , h a v i n g t h e m at o u r d i s p o s a l , b r i n g i n g t h e m t o th e p o i n t

o f c a p i t u l a t i o n . I t s themes a r e m a s t e r y a n d s u b m i s s i o n , p a i n

a n d t o r t u r e . T o r t u r e i s a means o f p r o v i n g that a n o t h e r h u m a n

b e i n g i s subject t o o u r o w n w i l l , i m p o t e n t , a n d defenseless.

S a d i s m i s d e s t r u c t iv e a n d i n h u m a n because i t denies the auton

o m y o f o t h e r s , f o r c i n g t h e m t o f o r f e i t t h e i r free w i l l . H u m a n

d i g n i t y requires a cer ta in degree o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , so s a

d i s m i s d e s t r u c t i v e o f h u m a n d i g n i t y .

The psychodynamic root o f sadism is a w i l l to mas tery . Ra n g

in g f r o m a g r a n d i o s e self t o a d e s t r u c t i v e g o d , t h e s e l f- im a g e

of a sadis t seems to assure a b so l u te d o m i n a t i o n o v er o t h e r s .




9 0

C o w e r i n g b e h i n d th i s fa ca d e, t h o u g h , is s o m e o n e w h o feels u t

t e r l y u n w o r t h y a n d i n s u f f i c i e n t . S a d i s m o ffe r s t h e c h a n c e t o f e e l

g o o d i n s p i te o f i n f e r i o r i t y , a n d j o y a ris es f r o m t he i n t e r p l a y

a n d m e r g i n g b e t w e e n a g g re s so r a n d v i c t i m . B u t s i n c e m e r g i n g

p r o d u c e s a n x i e t y a s w e l l as j o y , a d e m a r c a t i o n is n e e d e d , a n d

t h is is p r o v i d e d b y t he d i v i s i o n o f r o l e s b e t w e e n t o r t u r e r a n d

t o r t u r e d .

Sadist ic persons derive j o y n o t fr o m cr e a ti n g s o m e t h i n g n e w ;t h e y d e r i v e t h e i r j o y f r o m d e s t r u c t i o n . T h e y d o n o t r e ce iv e j o y

f r o m b e i n g i n t e r p e r s o n a l l y r e la t e d i n a h e a l t h y w a y . N o r c a n

t h e y w a i t f o r a s t r o k e o f g o o d f o r t u n e . T h e y a r e n o t a c t i v e p e r

sons in a c reat ive sense; E r i c h F r o m m r e p e a t e d l y e m p h a s i z e d

t h a t d e s t r u c t i o n i s o n e w a y o u t o f p a s s i v i t y . T h e y c a n f e e l t h e i r

s t r e n g t h w h e n t he y d e st ro y s o m e t h i n g . T h e y ca n p r o b a b l y ev e n

fe e l t h e i r s t r e n g t h m o r e d i r e c t l y i n an act o f d e s t r u c t i o n t h a ni n a creat ive ac t. T h e conseq uences o f such an act are an othe r

m a t t e r .

D e s t r u c t i o n ca n create t h e fe e l i n g o f b e i n g i n a g r e e m e n t

w i t h onese l f , w h i c h exp la ins the jo y that i t a ffords as w e l l as

the threat that i t poses. S ince this sel f -assurance does not last

l o n g , n e w targets f o r d e s t r u c t i v e acts a r e c o n t i n u a l l y s o u g h t ,

s o t h a t o n e s o o n enters a s p i r a l o f d e s t r u c t i o n . It i s m u c h e a sie r

t o g e t s u c k e d i n t o a s p i r a l o f d e s t r u c t i o n t h a n a s p i ra l o f j o y .

The grandiose se l f compensates w i t h t he f e e l i n g o f b e i n g p o w e r

f u l a n d a b le t o r u l e o ve r o t h e r s . F e e l i n g p o w e r f u l , s a d is ts f i n d

se lf -acceptance , and yet the i r depend ence o n the counterp ar t co n

t i n u e s . T h e g o o d f e e l i n g do e s n o t pe r s i s t , a n d i t s d i sa ppe a r a n c e

r e s u l ts i n a s p i r a l o f s a d i s m . W e n e e d t o r e a l i z e t h a t de s t r u c -

t iveness as w e l l as c re at i v i ty can be a source o f jo y , that sa dism

also generates s o l i d a r i t y , a n d t h a t d e s t r u c t iv e b e h a v i o r c an e v e n

d e g e n e ra te i n t o a n o r g y o f j o y a n d e l a t i o n . S o b r i e t y a n d s h am e

o v e r w h a t w a s d e s t r o y e d i n th e j o y o u s ecstasy o f d e s t r u c t i v e

r a g e m a y a r r i ve o n l y i n r e t r o s pe c t , i f a t a l l .



Shadow Sideof Joy

91

S ad i s t ic j o y p ar t ak e s i n a l l t h e g e n e r a l f e a tur es o f j o y a l r e ad y

d e s c r i b e d . S a d i s t ic j o y is a ls o a n e m o t i o n t h a t b i n d s p e o p l e t o

g e t h e r . S ad i s t i c t o r t ur e s o f t e n t ak e p l ac e i n g r o up s , w h e r e j o y

seems to reach a h i g h p i t c h . A n y fe e lin g s o f g u i l t t h a t m i g h t

ar is e a re s p l i t o f f an d d e l e g a t e d t o t h e v i c t i m s : " I t is t h e i r fa u l t . "

S a d i s m us ua l l y s tan d s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f an i d e a s uc h as, " W e

have to dr ive the d e v i l o u t o f y o u s o t h a t y o u w i l l f i n a l l y be

h a p p y a g a i n . I f y o u w a n t t o be c o m e a g o o d p e rs o n a g a i n , I ' mafra id I ' m g o i n g t o h a v e t o p u n i s h y o u q u i t e s e v e r e l y . " S a d i s t i c

acts a l w a y s s t a n d u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f s o m e " g o o d , " a n d t h e

j o y i s s u i n g f r o m t h e ir p e r fo r m a n c e ha s an e l a t in g effect.

T h e d i ffe re n c e b e t w e e n s ad i st ic j o y an d cr e a ti v e j o y is n o t i c e

a b le , t h o u g h , w h e n th e m o m e n t o f j o y has b e co m e a m e m o r y .

T h e m e m o r y o f c r e a ti v e j o y g i v es us a n e la t ed f e e l i n g , w h e r e a s

t h e m e m o r y o f sa d i s ti c j o y m a k e s u s fe el g u i l t y a n d a s h a m e do n c e i t becomes at a l l c o n s c i o u s . T h i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s subjects

t h e e g o t o r e n e w e d stress a n d a f e e l in g o f u n w o r t h i n e s s , f o r c i n g

i t t o s u m m o n t he a i d o f th e g r a n d i o s e s e lf t o in v e n t n e w t o r

t u r e s . A c i r c l e o f s a d i s m i s s e t i n m o t i o n w h e n g u i l t a n d s h a m e

enter c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T h e r e a r e m a n y p e o p l e w h o react s ad i s t i

cal ly an d ar e n e v e r aw ar e o f i t . T h e y " e d uc at e , " o r " d e v o t e t h e m

s elv es t o th e g o o d o f t he h u m a n r a c e . " O n e ha s t h e i m p r e s s i o nthat they fee l v i r t u a l l y c h o s e n t o r e m a k e h u m a n k i n d i n t o s o m e

t h i n g better t h a n i t r e a l l y i s . T h e s a d i s t i c c o m p o n e n t o f s u c h

a s e n t i m e n t goes u n n o t i c e d . S u c h p e o p l e a r e o f t e n q u i t e s u b t l e

sadis t s .

Subt le sadism can a l so take on col lec t ive propor t ions ; I w o u l d

l i k e t o ad d r e s s o n e fo r m o f t h i s s ub t l e s ad i s m , because i t is an

o b s t ac l e t o j o y . M a n y p e o p l e sa y, " D o I h av e t h e r i g h t t o r e

joice w h e n e v e r y t h i n g is so b a d i n t he w o r l d ? " I have also heard

t h i s s u b t le f o r m o f s a d i s m e x p re s se d i n a s l i g h t l y d i f fe r e n t w a y :

" N o t o n l y d o y o u s p ea k a b o u t j o y , y o u e v e n ta k e s h a m ele ss d e

l i g h t i n i t . M e a n w h i l e th e w o r l d is c o m i n g a p a rt at th e s e a m s ."




9 2

L es s s u b t l y st at e d , a s a d i st ic c o m m a n d m e n t l u r k s i n th e b a c k

g r o u n d : " T h o u s h al t n o t r e j o i c e , " as i f t o i m p l y t h a t o n l y a

d i s g r a c e f u l h u m a n b e i n g is c ap a ble o f r e j o i ci n g . W h e n w e t h i n k

o f h o w v i t a l i z i n g j o y a c t u a l l y i s, th i s d e s i re d p r o h i b i t i o n o f j o y

because of the terr ible state of the w o r l d a c t u a l l y pr o ve s t o be

s a di s t i c .

S u b t l e s a d i s m i s u s u a l l y s m u g g l e d i n u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f

some cause . I f we are go ing to save the w o r l d , l e t us do so outo f j o y r a t h er t h a n t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o f j o y o n a c c o u n t o f t h e s ad

state of the w o r l d . N o t h i n g has ever been saved out o f depres

s i o n bu t o n l y o u t o f a pa s s i o n a t e l o ve f o r l i fe . Pa s s io n a t e l o ve

d o es n o t w a n t to d e s t r o y ; a t w o r s t i t w a n t s t o d e v o u r . N o r

is i t p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y c o r r e c t t o d e c la r e , " O n e s h o u l d n o t r e jo i ce

g i v e n t h e t e r r i b l e state o f t h e w o r l d . " T h e r e h a v e b e e n v e r y t r y

i n g s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h j o y g l i m m e r e d t h r o u g h in te n se p a i n a n ds u f f e r i n g l i k e a fl ee ti ng pa t c h o f b l u e i n a g r a y s k y : " A h y e s,

l i fe c a n fe e l l i k e t h i s , t o o . " W e a re o u t r a g e d by br u t a l s a d i s ts ,

but we need to keep an eye out for the subt le sadis ts as w e l l .

T H E G R A N D I O S E S E L F

In the context o f sadism, the grandiose se l f a f fords a f lee t ing

e x p e ri en c e o f s o m e t h i n g l i k e j o y . I n J u n g i a n p s y c h o l o g y w e

u s e t h e e x p r e s s i o n " g r a n d i o s e e g o c o m p l e x " [ K a s t , 1 9 9 0 ] . T h e

gra nd iose se l f represents a stage o f e g o i d e n t i t y i n e a r l y c h i l d

h o o d . N o r m a l l y wh e n we s pe a k o f t h e s e l f , we a r e de a l i n g

w i t h e g o d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i d e n t i t y . W h e n w e sp ea k o f t he S e lf

i n t h e J u n g i a n sense, w e g o f a r b e y o n d e g o i d e n t i t y . " G r a n d i

o s e s e l f " a n d " i d e a l s e l f " r e fe r t o is su e s o f e g o i d e n t i t y a n d t h e

e g o c o m p l e x .

T h e g r a n di o s e s e lf de n o t e s a stage i n e a r ly c h i l d h o o d d e

v e l o p m e n t w h e n c h i l d r e n h av e th e f e e l i n g t he y ca n d o a n y t h i n g ;

t h e y a r e o m n i p o t e n t , a l l - k n o w i n g , a n d a l l - p o w e r f u l . C h i l d r e n



Shadow Sideof Joy

93

n e e d t o g o t h r o u g h t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t a l stage, w h i c h i s fac i l i

t a t e d b y p a r e n t a l m i r r o r i n g . C h i l d r e n a r e m i r r o r e d b y repeat

e d l y h e a r i n g t ha t t h e y are g o o d , n i c e , s t r o n g , w o n d e r f u l , a n d

i m p o r t a n t as i n d e p e n d e n t p e r s o n a l i ti e s . T h e f ir s t effect of such

m i r r o r i n g is t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a h e a l t h y g r a n d i o s e self, w h i c h

connects w i t h w h a t I s a id e a r l ie r a b o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f j o y :

I f w e ta ke d e l i g h t i n m i r r o r i n g , t he c h i ld ' s self-acceptance a n d

self-esteem w i l l b e m o r e e f f e ct iv e l y e n h a n c e d t h a n i f w e m i r r o r

th e c h i l d because p s y c h o l o g i s t s s a y w e s h o u l d .

R e c e n t l y I sa w a p a re n t i n th e a ct o f m i r r o r i n g w h o m a d e

m e c u r s e p s y c h o l o g y . T h e c h i l d a s k e d , " W a s n ' t I great?" T h e

p a r e n t r e s p o n d e d , fl at ly , " Y e s , y o u w e r e great, just w o n d e r f u l . "

T h e r e w a s m o r e e m o t i o n e xp r es se d i n m y w r i t i n g a b o u t t h i s

t h a n there w a s i n t h e v o i c e o f t h a t c h i l d ' s p a r e n t . O n e c o u l d

just as w e l l ha ve p la y e d a t ap e . T h i s is n o t m i r r o r i n g ; m i r r o r i n gis l e t t i n g o n e s el f g et c a u g h t u p b y th e c h i l d ' s e m o t i o n a n d t ak

i n g r e a l d e l i g h t i n i t .

A r o u n d t h e t h i r d y e a r o f l i fe , the chi ld ' s gran diose se l f- image

becomes r e l a t i v i z e d . T h e c h i l d b e g i n s t o r e a l i z e , " I a m n o t o m

n i p o t e n t , a l l - k n o w i n g , o r a l l -p o w e r f u l , b u t there m u s t b e o t h

ers w h o a r e . " B y i d e a l i z i n g a n d i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h p a r e n t s a n d

o t h e r r e l a t i o n s , t h e c h i l d r e m a i n s a l i t t l e o m n i p o t e n t a n d a l i t t l ea l l - k n o w i n g . R a t h e r t h a n s p e a k i n g o f t h e g r a n d i o s e self at this

stage, w e n o w r e f e r t o t h e processes o f i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d i d e n

t i f i c a t i o n . W i t h t i m e , i d e a l i z a t i o n g i v es w a y t o th e d e v e l o p m e n t

o f a s o - c a l l e d i d e a l self, a n d i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n b e

c o m e i n t r a p s y c h ic d y n a m i c s . A l t h o u g h b as ed o n r e a l it y , t he i d e a l

self is s t i l l s l i g h t l y e l ev a t ed a b ov e t h e r e a l self, as i f to say, "A s i d e

f r o m t h i s a n d t h a t , I c o u l d n ' t b e m u c h better."

T h e i d e a l self s h o u l d m a k e us r e l a t i v e l y i n d e p e n d e n t o f

p r a i s e a n d r e p r o a c h , w i t h t h e e m p h a s i s o n relatively, s i n c e i d e n

t i t y r e m a i n s v e r y s u s ce p t i bl e t o d a m a g e . A n y m a j o r stress poses

a threat to one's i d e n t i t y . A p e r s o n w h o h a s n o t b e e n a b l e t o




9 4

g o t h r o u g h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t just o u t l i n e d , a n d w h o i s n o t c a

pa bl e o f r e p e a t i n g t h e ph as es o f s u c h a de ve l o p m e n t , m a y h a ve

a v e r y d i f f i c u l t t i m e a n d m a y regress t o a p r e v i o u s stage i n o r d e r

to reac t ivate the grandiose se l f o f ear ly c h i l d h o o d , w h i c h m a k e s

u s f e e l o m n i p o t e n t , a l l - k n o w i n g , a n d a l l - p o w e r f u l a g a i n .

P r o bl e m a t i c s i t u a t i o n s r e a c t i va t e t h e g r a n di o s e s e l f , e i t h e r

i n t r a p s y c h i c a l l y o r t h r o u g h th e i d e a l i z a t i o n o f so m e i m p o r t a n t

p e r s o n . T h i s r e a c ti v a t io n p r o d u ce s a m o m e n t a r yeffect

s i m i l a rt o t ha t o f j o y . J o y i n fl u e n c e s o u r e g o c o m p l e x , o u r e x p e r ie n c e

o f i n t e g r i t y , and ou r fee l in g of se lf -acceptance and se l f -conf idence

so that we can accept th e w o r l d a n d o u r s e l v e s . L e t t i n g d o w n

o u r g u a r d , w e f e e l v i t a l , e n e r g e t i c , a n d re l a x e d . J o y c o u l d r e

p l a ce r e g r e s s io n b a c k t o th e g r a n d i o s e s e l f — i f o n l y j o y c o u l d

b e p r o d u c e d a t w i l l . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i n a t h r e a t e n i n g s i t u a t i o n

i t is n o t p o s s ib le t o s u m m o n j o y . H o w e v e r , w e n e ed t o a p p r e c ia t e t h a t i t is a l wa y s t h e r e ; a l be i t a t t i m e s o f o v e r w h e l m i n g

stress, j o y i s i m m e r s e d i n t h e s e a o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s .



P A R T I V

Inspiration







I N S P I R A T I O N

9 8

w o u l d l i k e t o c a l l o u r o w n i f o n l y w e c o u l d h a v e t h e m w i t h o u t

b e i n g u n s t a b l e : j o y , e n t h u s i a s m , ecstasy, h e i g h t e n e d d r i v e . T h e

i n s p i r e d state t h at so m a n y p e o p l e l o n g fo r is v i s i b l e i n m a n i a ,

i f i n a d i s t o r t e d a n d t h u s b o t h f a s c i n a t i n g a n d fe a r f u l f o r m .

M a n i c p e r s o n s a re e x t r e m e l y a c ti v e a n d n e a r l y e x e m p t f r o m

f a t i g u e , c o n s t a n t l y b u s y a n d o n t h e m o v e . T h e y e x h a u st e v e r y

o n e else, r e q u i r i n g n o rest a n d r e f u s i n g t o g o t o b e d because

o f t h e i r s u b s t a n t i a l l a c k o f i n h i b i t i o n . I t appears that they enter

e a s i l y i n t o r e l a t i o n s h i p s , b u t i t i s m o r e accurate to say they have

n o c a p a c i t y f o r d i s t a n c e . T h e y a r e c a p a b l e o f t h r o w i n g t h e m

se lv es a t o t h e r s a n d m a k i n g d e m a n d s t h e y w o u l d n e v e r d r e a m

o f m a k i n g i f t h ey w e r e n o t i n a m a n i c p h a se .

T h e G r e e k w o r d maniam e a n s f r e n z y , r a g e , o r m a d n e s s , b u t

a l s o e n t h u s i a s m . T h e g o d o f m a n i a i s D i o n y s u s . S o o n w e w i l l

d e v o te m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o D i o n y s u s , as t he g o d o f ecstasy. W h a tw e a r e n o w c o n s i d e r i n g a s a p a t h o l o g i c a l p i c t u r e expresses a

w i d e s p r e a d h u m a n l o n g i n g , t he l o n g i n g to g o b ey o n d a l l l i m i t s .

T h e p h y s i c i a n E r n s t K r e t s c h m e r a n d t h e e x i s t e n t i a l a n a l y st

L u d w i g B i n s w a n g e r w e r e b o t h h i g h l y i n te r es te d i n t he h u m a n

m e a n i n g o f m a n i a . K r e t s c h m e r [1951] w r o t e a b o u t c y c l o t h y m i a

a n d c ha r a ct er , a n d B i n s w a n g e r [1955] m a d e a n e x i s t e n t i a l a n a l y

s i s o f m a n i c p a t i e n t s .

C Y C L O T H Y M I A

M a n i c - d e p r e s s i v e i l l n e s s f a l l s u n d e r t h e p s y c h i a t r i c d e s i g n a t i o n

o f c y c l o t h y m i a . K r e t s c h m e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e c y c l o t h y m i c

t e m p e r a m e n t m a d e i ts w a y i n t o p o p u l a r s p ee ch w i t h the phrase

" H a p p y as h e a ve n , sa d as S t y x " ( H i m m e l h o c h j a u c h z e n d , z uT o d e b e t r i i b t ) . T h i s p hr as e o cc u r s i n a p o e m b y G o e t h e , w h o

w a s p r o b a b l y t he m o s t f a m o u s h i s t o r i c a l f i g u r e w i t h a c y c l o

t h y m i c c ha r ac te r . K r e t s c h m e r t r a n s l a te d c y c l o t h y m i a as " c i r c u

la r m a d n e s s " (Kreiswiitig). C y c l o t h y m i c states, h e a r g u e d , c o u l d



Existential Meaning of Mania

9 9

b e e xp e r i e n c e d b y a t o t a l l y n o r m a l e g o , b y a n e u r o t i c e g o , o r

b y a p o o r l y s tr u c t u r e d e g o c o m p l e x . H e sa w c y c l o t h y m i a as a n

a t t i t ud e an d d i s p o s i t i o n t h a t c o ul d b e c o m e m an i c- d e p r e s s iv e p s y

c h o s i s at i ts e x t r e m e . C y c l o t h y m i a d e n o t e s a c y c le o f hap p i n e s s

a n d u n h a p p i n e s s . C o l l o q u i a l l y w e s pe ak o f " u p s a n d d o w n s . "

W h i l e o n t he " u p " s id e o f th e c y c le , c y c l o t h y m i c p e r so n s a re

e la t e d , s u n n y , in c l i n e d t o be i n a g o o d m o o d , a b i t f o o l i s h , h u

m o r o u s , a n d f u n n y . T h e y g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y possess

a b o t t o m l e s s w e l l o f s t r e n g t h , t h o u g h t h e y m a y a l s o s e e m a

b i t to o d r i v e n . O n th e " d o w n " s i d e , t h e y a r e m e l a n c h o l i c , p o n

d e r o u s , w i t h d r a w n , d e p re ss ed , a n d s i le n t . N o t h i n g c a n d e l i g h t

t h e m a n d , i f i n s u l t e d , t h e y are s ad d e n e d r a t h e r t h an e n r a g e d .

T h e a t t i t u d e o f c y c l o t h y m i a as a w h o l e ro t at es , so t ha t states

o f a d v e n t u r o u s e u p h o r i a t u r n i n t o d a r k er , less p r o d u c t i v e m o o d s .

M a n y art is ts and creat ive persons have cyclothymic temperaments ,a s d o e n t i r e g e o g r a p h i c a l areas. T h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e S w i s s

A l p s , c o m m e n t e d K r e t s c h m e r , a r e g e n e r a l l y c y c l o t h y m i c , a n d

t h e m u s i c f r o m t ha t r e g i o n is p e r v ad e d b y a e up h o r i c - m e l an c h o l i c

q u a l i t y . W e c o u l d i n c l u d e n e a r ly a l l o f S w i t z e r l a n d i n t h is d e

s c r i p t i o n .

C y c l o t h y m i a i m p l i es th e c oe xis te n ce o f " u p s " a n d " d o w n s "

i n a s i n g l e e m o t i o n a l c y c l e . T h u s m e l a n c h o l i c e l e m e n t s l u r kb e h i n d t h e e up h o r i c m o o d s , an d w h e n m e l an c h o l i c p e r s o n s t h aw

o u t a g a i n th e y ca n be e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y c h e e r f u l a n d h u m o r o u s .

W e to le ra te e x t r e m e e m o t i o n a l o s c i l l a t i o n i n s om e o n e w h o is

f a l l i n g i n l o v e , b u t o t h e r w i s e w e t e n d t o c o n s i d e r s o m e o n e w h o

is " h a p p y a s h e a v e n , s a d a s S t y x " p a t h o l o g i c a l .

K r e t s c h m e r o b s e r v e d t h a t i t is c h ar ac t e r i s t ic fo r t h e c y c l o

t h y m i c person to be very respons ive , especia l ly d u r i n g t h e m a n i c

phase , but that this responsiveness has no great d u r a b i l i t y . T h u s

i t s tan d s t o r eas o n t h a t j o y an d s up e r f i c i a l i t y h av e s o m e t h i n g

i n c o m m o n .

C y c l o t h y m i c p e r s o n s t e n d t o f ly o f f th e h an d l e , b ut d o n o t




IO O

h o l d g r u d g e s . T h e y are re l a t e d to t h e i r f e l l o w s , an d are h e l p fu l

by n a t ur e r a t he r t h a n b y p r i n c i p l e . ( K r e t s c h m e r seems to have

f o u n d h e l p f u ln e s s b y n a t u r e a n d n o t b y p r i n c i p l e a l m o s t b l a m e

w o r t h y . ) S uc h p e rs o n s a re g r e g a r i o us , h ave a t h i r s t fo r a c t i o n ,

and l o v e t o w o r k . T h e y a re h e a d s t r o n g b u t n o t t e n a c i o u s b e

cause a s t h e y c o n t i n u e t h r o u g h t h e e m o t i o n a l c y c l e t h e y w i l l

a g a i n r e ac h t h e l o w s i d e w h e n t h e y w i l l be d i s i n c l i n e d to f o l l o w

t h r o u g h w i t h projects o r c o m m i t m e n t s t h e y h a v e u n d e r t a k e no n the h i g h side. In the absence o f e n d u r a n c e , t o u g h n e s s , a n d

f irmness , foo lhard ines s is l i k e l y t o t a k e r o o t . I n K r e t s c h m e r ' s

v i e w s o n c y c l o t h y m i a , i t is n o t i c e a b l e t ha t a great d e a l m o r e

a t t e n t i o n i s g i v e n t o t h e m an i c t h an t o t h e d e p r e s s i v e p h as e .

M o r e o v e r , a de f in i te pre judice is apparent as w e l l : W h o e v e r goes

t h r o u g h l if e b e i n g s o j o l l y c a n n e v er b e p r o f o u n d . W e c a n r e

s t r i c t K r e t s c h m e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n s t o p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y , o r w e c a nleave them as general categories o f h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e , as h e d i d .

H Y P E R T H Y M I A

" C y c l o t h y m i a " l i t e r a l l y m e an s a c y c le (kyklos) o f t e m p e r a m e n t

(thymos), w h e r e as " h y p e r t h y m i c " m e an s l i t e r a l l y e xc es siv e (hyper)

t e m p e r a m e n t (thymos). H y p e r t h y m i a w as once classi f ied as a psy c h o p a t h y , b u t t h is t e r m is n o l o n g e r u s e d , a n d th e p h e n o m e n o n

is n o w e x p l a i n e d as a p r o b l e m i n th e s t r u c t u r e a n d f o r m a t i o n

of the self. L i k e a c y c l o t h y m i c p e r s o n , s o m e o n e w i t h a h y p e r

t h y m i c c o n s t i t u t i o n is als o d e s c r ib e d a s b e i n g e l a te d a n d h a v i n g

a s u p e r f i ci a l l y c h e e r f u l b a si c m o o d t h a t is p r a c t i c a l l y i n d i s t i n

g u i sh a b le f r o m a n u n t o u c h a b le o p t i m i s m ; u n l i k e c y c l o t h y m i c s ,

h y p e r t h y m i c s d o n o t r e g u l a r l y e x p e r ie n c e a d e p r es si v e p h a s e .

C y c l o t h y m i c p e r so n s k n o w th e n i g h t s id e o f b e i n g , a n d y e t r is e

in th e m o r n i n g t o see t he s u n a g a i n . H y p e r t h y m i c p e rs o n s s p l it

o f f t h e i r d a r k s i d e , s ta y i n g i n a h a p p y m o o d a r o u n d th e c l o c k ;

h a v i n g a l i ve l y t e m p e r a m e n t , t h e y c an b e ta l k a t iv e an d z e a l o u s l y




101

a c t iv e . H y p e r t h y m i a serv es t o fe n d o f f a n x i e t y a n d d e p r e s s i o n

c h e e r f u l l y , o p t i m i s t i ca l l y , an d i n v u l n e r a b l y , w i t h the a id o f the

g ra nd ios e se lf , as i f to say, " I a m so great that I ca n diss ocia te

a n d d e f e n d m y s e l f a g a i n st d e p r e s s io n a n d a n x i e t y . O t h e r p e r

s on s m a y h av e t h e m , b u t n o t I . "

T h e a t t i t ud e ad o p t e d b y t h e g r an d i o s e s e l f l ac k s r e l a t e d n e s s .

R e l a te d n e s s is a n i m p o r t a n t a t t r ib u t e o f j o y , i n m y v i e w , even

i f i t is s o m e t i m e s e n a c te d o n a r e l a t i v e l y p r i m i t i v e , u n d i f f e r e n

t ia t e d l e v e l . U s u a l l y p e r so n s w i t h a h y p e r t h y m i c c o n s t i t u t i o n

are n ot re lated to others ; they are too h ig h ly se l f -centered . T r i

u m p h s , f o r e x a m p l e , m a y b e a n n o u n c e d w i t h o u t t h e l e a s t dis

play o f c o n c e r n f o r o t h e r s . I o n c e s a w a m a n i n t h er a p y w h o

h a d n o q u a l m s a b o u t t e l l i n g h is w i f e f o r a n h o u r a n d a h a l f

h o w t e r r i f i c h e w a s . O c c a s i o n a l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h s o m e t h i n g

g r e a t is t o l e r ab l e , b ut a n y t h i n g m o r e t r i g g e r s a n e g at i v e r eac t i o n i n o t h e r s . F o r t h e g r an d i o s e s e lf , t h e re i s n o m o r e r e l a t e d

ness, n o r is there a des i re to share jo y ; ins tead there i s an a l l i ance

o f j o y a n d p o w e r : " I ' m g l a d I ha ve it a n d y o u d o n ' t . "

T H E M A N I C T R I A D

T o d a y m a n i a i s d e f i n e d a s b e l o n g i n g t o c y c l o t h y m i a a s w e l l ash y p e r t h y m i a ; o n e m u s t d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n K r e t s c h m e r ' s o l d e r

a n d T o l l e ' s n e w e r d e s c r i p t i o n . I n g e n e r a l , c y c l o t h y m i a m e a n s

m e l a n c h o l y an d m an i a , m an i c - d e p r e s s i v e d i se as e, o r a f fe c ti v e

p s y c h o s i s . M a n i a e x h i b i t s t h e s o - c a l l e d m an i c t r i a d , c o n s i s t i n g

o f e l e v a t e d m o o d , h e i g h t e n e d d r i v e , and fl ight of ideas. In the

m an i c t r i ad w e see a d i r e c t r e l a t i o n w i t h th e h y p e r t h y m i c c o n

s t i t u t i o n , w h i c h is a ls o c a l le d h y p o m a n i a .

S o m e o n e un d e r t h e in f l ue n c e o f a flig h t o f id e as , a t y p i c a l

d i s t u r b a n c e o f t h i n k i n g , c a n n o t s to p t a l k i n g o r w r i t i n g a n d

le ap s f r o m o n e t o p i c t o t he n e x t , g e t t i n g l o s t i n t r i v i a l i t i e s . I

o n c e h a d a n a n a l y s a n d w h o w a s b a s i c a l l y d e p r e s s i v e . S u d d e n l y




1 0 2

a m a n i c p h a s e e r u p t e d i n h i m d u r i n g w h i c h w i t h i n s e ve n t y -

t w o h o u r s h e w r o t e 2 5 0 t y p e w r i t t e n p ag es a b o u t t h e r e v i s i o n

o f t e a c h i n g p r a c t ic e s . H e d i d n o t s l ee p , a n d pa r t s o f w h a t h e

h a d w r i t t e n w e r e q u it e g o o d . T h e r e w e r e s o m e v e r y o d d p a ge s,

b u t t h e y w e r e n o t s i m p l y n o n s e n s e , a n d t h er e w e r e s o m e v e r y

g o o d passages as w e l l . H e a ls o c a l l e d m e s e ve r a l t i m e s d u r i n g

t h e n i g h t —the f irst t ime at 11 :00 P . M . , w i t h a g o o d i d e a , t h e n

a g a i n at 3 : 0 0 A . M . , wh e n I wa s a s l e e p , a n d a g a i n a t 5 : 0 0 A . M . ,w h e n I w a s ir r i t a t e d at b e i n g d i s t u r b e d . " D o n ' t y o u d o a n y

t h i n g be s ide s s l e e p? " h e a s k e d . T h i s is a n e x a m pl e o f be i n g a t

t a c k e d b y s o m e o n e w h o i s e x e m p t f r o m f a t i g u e . A l i n g u i s t i c

aspect o f t he i n a b i l i t y t o s t o p t a l k i n g t h a t is a f ea t u re o f t h i s

d i s t u r b a n c e is t he s t r i n g i n g t o g e t h e r o f w o r d s w i t h o n l y a l o o s e

s e m a n t i c , a n d s o m e t i m e s o n l y a t o n a l , a s s o c i a t i o n .

T h e f l i g h t o f id e as in v o l v e s a h u g e o v e r e s t i m a t i o n o f o n e s e lf a t t r i b u t a b l e , i n p s y c h o d y n a m i c t e r m s , t o t h e g r a n d i o s e s elf.

I m m e r s e d i n a f l i g h t o f i de a s, m a n i c pe o pl e be li e ve t h a t t h e y

a re h i g h l y i n t e l l i g e n t , a n d th e re a re n o p r o b l e m s i n th e w o r l d

t h e y c a n n o t s o l v e . T h e y m a k e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n v e n t i o n s a n d m a y

even get as far as the patent off ice . Some i n d i v i d u a l s a l s o e m

ba r k o n t o t a l l y u n r e a l i s t i c fi na n ci al u n d e r t a k i n g s d u r i n g a f l i g h t

o f m a n i c i de a s . I n these c o n n e c t i o n s we s pe a k o f a n e x pa n s i ve

m a n i a . T h e m a n w h o w r o t e t h e 2 5 0 pa g e s wa s a f a n a t i c b i

cycl i s t . O n a s i n g l e a f t e r n o o n h e bo u g h t fift ee n w h e e l s , o n e a ft er

t he o t h e r. H e k e p t t h i n k i n g t ha t t h e n e x t w h e e l w o u l d be bet

t er t h a n t h e la s t. H e r a n o u t o f m o n e y a n d g o t h i m s e l f i n t o de bt .

P e r h a p s y o u c a n sense t h e u n i q u e d y n a m i c o f t h i s k i n d o f

e l a t i o n , w h i c h t u r n s i n t o a po s s e s s i o n a n d a f r e n z y . P e r s o n s i n

such a state h av e n o i n s i g h t i n t o t he m o r b i d c h ar a ct e r o f t h e i r

be h a vi o r , a n d w i t h o u t r e f le c t i n g , t he y pu t t h e ir idea s ve ry q u i c k l y

i n t o p r a c t i c e . A m a n i c state can have the effect o f h e i g h t e n i n g

s e lf -e s t e e m , bu t i t i s t r u l y g r a n di o s e a n d th e r e f o r e m a k e s i t a g o

n i z i n g to meet c o n s t a n t l y w i t h d u l l bu t reasonable responses




103

f r o m th e w o r l d . W h e n I b e g a n t o re ad a f e w pages w r i t t e n

b y t h e r e f o r m e r a n d f a n a t i c b i c y c l i s t , h e q u i c k l y became exas

p e r a te d . " Y o u r ea d so s l o w l y ! " h e e x c l a i m e d . " Y o u s h o u l d b e

f i n i s h e d b y n o w . " I n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h h i m , th e w o r l d was dense ,

a n n o y i n g , a n d i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e .

A f t e r the manic phase subs ides , some persons are p leased

w i t h w h a t t h e y h a v e d o n e . O t h e r s find i t e m b a r r a s s i n g , s t i l l

o t h e r s u n b e a r a b l e . I n m a n i a t h e g r a n d i o s eself takes

c o n t r o l o ft h e e g o , w h i c h is r e n d e r e d h e l p le s s a n d v o i d . B y c o n t r a s t , i n

creat ive ecstasy, as we shal l see , the ego is se ized by o ther con

tents o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s , a n d r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g p os se ss ed o r

o b l i t e r a t e d i t becomes p e r m e a b l e .

B l N S W A N G E R O N M A N I A

L u d w i g B i n s w a n g e r , t h e p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l p s y c h o a n a l y s t , a t

t e m p t e d t o d e s c ri b e t h e e x i s te n t i a l f e e l i n g r e s i d i n g i n m a n i a .

In an a rt ic le e n t it le d " T h e A n t h r o p o l o g i c a l M e a n i n g o f H i g h -

f l o w n n e s s , " B i n s w a n g e r p o s e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h y o u r a s p i r

i n g t o t he h e i g h ts ca n t u r n i n t o h i g h - f lo w n n e s s . W h y d o w e

s u d d e n l y find o u r se l v es o u t o n a l i m b ? Y o u r e c a l l t h a t w e h a ve

n o t y e t a n s w e r e d a s i m i l a r q u e s t i o n a b o u t j o y . W h e n d o e s j o yg r o w h o l l o w o r b e g i n t o fa lt e r i n s te a d o f c o n t i n u i n g t o r is e ?

W h y d o e s i t r e a ch a p o i n t o f c o l la p s e ? W h a t , s i m i l a r l y , is t h e

l i m i t t o h i g h - f l o w n n e s s ?

B i n s w a n g e r p r o p o s e d a s i m p l e a n d fa s c i n a t in g i d e a . H e s u g

g e st ed t h a t w e m u s t l i v e b o t h v e r t i c a l l y a n d h o r i z o n t a l l y , a n d

t h a t a b a l a n ce m u s t be s t r u c k b y w h i c h w e a l l o w o u r s e lv e s t o

b e c a r r i e d u p i n t o t h e h e i g h t s o n l y a s f a r a s w e s t r i d e i n t o t h ed i s t a n c e . S t r i d i n g i n t o t h e d i st a n ce w o u l d m e a n a v e n t u r e o f

g a t h e r i n g e x p e r i e n c e , u s i n g i n s i g h t a n d f o r e s ig h t t o b r o a d e n

our f ie ld o f v i s i o n a n d t o t a k e h o l d o f t h e w o r l d . T h i s h o r i

z o n t a l d i m e n s i o n o f h u m a n l i f e i n v o l v e s m a k i n g d i s t i n c t i o n s ,




10 4

c o l l e c t i n g k n o w l e d g e , a n d p r o c e ss in g i t . It in v o l ve s w o r k i n g

t h r o u g h a n i n s i g h t a n d w o r k i n g i t o u t i n o u r l iv e s . I n t h e v e r

t i c a l d i m e n s i o n , w e l o n g t o b e c a r r i e d u p a n d a w a y o n t h e w i n g s

o f e l a t e d m o o d s , a c c o m p a n i e d b y p a s s i o n a n d t h e p o w e r o f t h e

i m a g i n a t i o n . B y o v e r c o m i n g g r a v i t y , w e are l i f t e d a bo ve t he

p r e s s u r e o f a n x i e t y a n d e v e r y d a y l i f e , t o w h e r e w e c a n g a i n a n

o v e r a l l v i e w o f t h i n g s , a h i g h e r i n s i g h t .

A p p a r e n t l y i t is a h u m a n n e ed t o o v e r c o m e g r a v i t y . T h i sm i l d f o r m o f m a n i a , b o r d e r i n g o n e c st a sy — w h a t I a m c a l l i n g

j o y — i s s o u g h t i n f a s ti n g , m e d i t a t i o n , i n t o x i c a t i o n , d r u g s , a n d

other ways . B inswanger ' s concept o f t h e h u m a n balance accounts

f o r t he p r o b l e m o f l o s i n g g r o u n d e d n e s s w h e n w e t r y t o g o t o o

h i g h : I f h e i g h t a n d b r e a d t h g r o w o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n , a n d i f w e

g o h i g h e r s t i l l , w e become h i g h f l i e r s w i t h o u t a n y g r o u n d c o n

t r o l . T h e h u m a n balance c a n a l s o b e d i s t u r b e d b y g o i n g t o ofa r i n th e d i m e n s i o n o f b r e a d t h , w h i c h c o u l d b e v i s u a l i z e d as

g e t t i n g b o g g e d d o w n . H e i g h t a n d b r ea d t h m u s t be i n th e r i g h t

p r o p o r t i o n . W h e n w e g o t o o h i g h , o u r r e t u r n t o r e a l it y a n d

balance i n e v i t a b l y takes t h e f o r m o f s i n k i n g o r f a l l i n g .

A c c o r d i n g t o B i n s w a n g e r , h u m a n b e i n g s a r e m a t e r i a l a n d

subject to the t r ia ls o f th is w o r l d , b u t t h r o u g h l o v e t h e y c a n

take p a r t i n s o m e t h i n g t ra n s ce n d e n t . H i g h - f l o w n n e s s sets a li m i t

o n j o y , f o r i t e m p h a s i ze s t he d a n g e r o f h o l d i n g o n t o j o y t o o

l o n g . H a v i n g e x p e r i e n c e d t h e i n j u r y a n d h a r d s h i p o f r e o r i e n t a

t i o n after a f a l l , w e are w a r y o f e m b a r k i n g o n a n o t h e r flig ht

o f j o y . T h e m a n i c f o r m o f l if e evades s u ch c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , w h i c h

b e l o n g t o th e d i m e n s i o n o f b r e a d t h , p r e f e r r i n g to stay a l o f t .

B i n s w a n g e r sa w m a n i a i n i m a g es o f s k i p p i n g , l e a p i n g , a n d

f loat ing , m o t io n s associa ted w i t h d a n c e , w h i c h h e c a l l e d " t h e

m o v e m e n t o f presentness." F o r t h e m a n i c t h e d i m e n s i o n o f h e i g h t

takes precedence over that o f b r e a d t h i n d a n c e . M a n i a c a n b e

v i s u a l i z e d as a d a n c e r w h o is s p a t i a l l y o v e r e x t e n d e d . I t ca n b e

q u i t e a n u i sa n c e w h e n someone o n t h e d a n c e f l o o r c l a i m s m u c h




105

m o r e space t h a n i s o c c u p i e d b y h i s o r h e r b o d y a l o n e . H o w e v e r ,

i f a d a n c e r becomes t o o p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h c o u n t i n g s te p s, h e

or she w i l l l i k e l y n o t b e c ar r i e d up i n t o t h e h e i g h t s o f ecstasy,

r e m a i n i n g i n s te a d a p r i s o n e r i n t he d i m e n s i o n o f b r e a d t h . ( T h e

o v e r e x t e n s i o n o f t h e g r an d i o s e s e l f i s a l s o s o m e t h i n g w e s o m e

t im e s e x p e r ie n c e w h e n w e d r i v e a n a u t o m o b i l e a n d t h r o u g h

i t o c c u p y a n e n l a r g e d b o d i l y space.)

B i n s w an g e r s aw t h e h e ar t o f t h e m an i ac a l fo r m o f l i f e asa fe s ti v e , un r e f l e c t iv e j o y i n b e i n g . It i s d i f f i c u l t n o t t o id e a l i z e

s o m e o n e w h o n a i v e l y a f fi rm s b e i n g , celebrates t h e m u l t i v a l e n c e

o f l i f e , a n d b e l i e v e s w h o l e h e a r t e d l y i n a c t i v i t y . L i f e f o r s u c h a

p e r s o n i s n o h e av y b ur d e n ; i t f l i e s , an d t h e r e i s n o e n d o f t h i n g s

to be d i scovered ; nor i s there any l i m i t to a person 's po tency .

F o r t h o s e w h o l ac k a f e st iv e s p i r i t o r w h o are p o o r i n id e as ,

m a n i a i s especial ly a l l u r i n g . A n d t h e f l i g h t o f id e as i s v e r y c lo s et o c re a t iv e t h i n k i n g . B i n s w a n g e r o b s e r v e d th a t s c ie n t is t s m a k e

u s e o f m a n i c states. B r a i n s t o r m i n g , f o r e x a m p l e , d ev e lo p s o u t

o f a f l i g h t o f id e as an d fun c t i o n s o n t h a t b as is .

T h e essence o f m a n i a i s a n e v e r - e n d i n g c e l e b r a t i o n o f b e

i n g , a ny d i s r u p t i o n o f w h i c h r e s u l t s i n a n g e r . B i n s w a n g e r d e

s c r i b e d m an i c s as f l i g h t y , c o n t a g i o us , an d i n fe c t i o u s , b u t a l s o

as i n t o l e r an t o f o p p o s i t i o n , w h i c h t h r o w s t h e m i n t o f i t s o f r ag e .D w e l l i n g e x c l us i v e l y i n t h e p re s e n t , m an i c s ab an d o n e v e r y t h i n g

o f h i s t o r i c a l v a l ue , an d t he y c an n o t b e t ak e n a t t h e i r w o r d , b e

cause that w o u l d m e a n c o m m i t m e n t .

B i n s w a n g e r o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e a p p r o a c h o f t h e c l i m a x t o

a fe st iv a l o f j o y i n c l ud e s d i s i n t e g r a t i o n an d t h e p r es en c e o f d e a t h .

T h i s i s t rue of i n d i v i d u a l as w e l l as col lec t ive states o f m a n i a .

F o r e x am p l e , t h e c ar n i v a l s easo n ( M a r d i Gras or the Swiss Fas-

nacht) is n o t o n l y a t i m e o f g a i e t y b u t a l s o o f d e a t h . I t is i n

t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e h o w m a n y d e p r e s s i n g t h i n g s h a p p e n w h e n

m a n i c p er so n s p a r t ic i p a t e i n a c e l e b r a t i o n . T h e e n d o f a m a n i c

state c an be t r a g i c , c o m p r i s i n g a n y t h i n g f r o m d i s i n t e g r a t i o n




10 6

t o c o m p l e t e i m m o b i l i t y . I t is l i k e t he e x t i n c t i o n o f a fir ew o rk .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , there i s a f i n e l i n e b e t w e e n j o y o u s o p t i m i s m

a n d m a d o p t i m i s m a n d m a d n es s. B i n s w a n g e r c it ed G o e t h e , w h o

w r o t e o f th e c lo s e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n i n s p i r a t i o n a n d m a d

ness: " I n e v e r b e l i e v e d there w a s a n y t h i n g t o a t t a i n . I a l w a y s

t h o u g h t I a lr ea d y h a d i t . T h e y c o u l d ha ve c r o w n e d m e , a n d

I w o u l d ha ve t h o u g h t n o e x p l a n a t i o n w a s n e ce ss ar y . A n d y e t

p r e c i s e l y because of th i s I was just a h u m a n b e i n g l i k e t he n e x t .A l l t ha t d i s t i n g u i s h e d m e f r o m a f o o l i s h m a d m a n w a s m y q u es t

t o w o r k t h r o u g h w i t h m y o w n p o w e r s w h a t h a d d e e p l y s t i r r e d

m e , t o e ar n w i t h m y o w n m e r i t w h a t I h a d r e c e i v e d . " G o e t he 's

i n s p i r a t i o n fe l l s h o r t o f m ad n e s s because h e ex e r te d h i m s e l f i n

t he d i m e n s i o n o f b r e a d t h , t h r o u g h w o r k . I t h i n k t ha t r o o t e d -

ness is just a s i m p o r t a n t a s w o r k . T o p r o t e c t o u r s e l v e s a g a i n s t

t h e p e r p e t ua l d e c l i n e an d fa l l o f j o y , w e m u s t b e r o o t e d . B i n

s w a n g e r c o n c l u d e d b y s a y i n g , " M e r e l y fe stiv e j o y i n b e i n g le ad s

t o m a d n e s s . B u t a p u r e l y p r o b l e m a t i c e n c o u n t e r w i t h b e i n g —

m e l a n c h o l y — l e a d s t o d e a t h . " I n t h e final an a l y s i s , w e n e e d a

b ala n ce o f b o t h e l a t in g a n d g r o u n d i n g e m o t io n s — an d t h i s , after

a l l , l e ad s t o c r e a t i v e p l ay an d w o r k , e m b o d y i n g t h e e n d l e s s p ar a

d o x o f d e a t h a n d r e b i r t h .



II.

Ecstasy, Inspiration, and Creativity

O N E OF T EN H EAR S t h e c o m p l a i n t t h a t t o d a y ' s w o r l d k n o w s n o

ecstasy . T h e loss o f re l ig io us avenues to ecstasy has le f t a va

c u u m that we a t tempt to fill w i t h e v e r y t h i n g f r o m s oc ce r m a t ch e s

t o s ex , f r o m fa s t in g to d a n c i n g , f r o m m e d i t a t io n to j o g g i n g .

O u r present f i tness craze has less to do w i t h h e a l t h — a c t u a l l yI be l ieve i t i s fa i r ly u n h e a l t h y — t h a n w i t h o u r l o n g i n g f o r i n

c r e a s e d e n e r g y a n d d r i v e . W e a t t e m pt t o sta y fi t i n o r d e r t o

be po ise d for ecstasy . Th er e are better wa y s , i t seems t o m e .

M u s i c o f t e n t r a n s m i t s a n e l e v a t e d m o o d ; w e m a y l i s t e n t o

l o u d m u s i c t o r e v i t a l i z e o u r s e lve s a n d i n cr e a s e o u r e n e r g y . E x

t e n d e d p e r i o d s o f r e p e t i t i v e m o v e m e n t c a n b e v e r y e f f e c t i v e

i n p r o d u c i n g a n e c s t a t i c effect. S h a m a n s t r a n s p o r t t h e m s e l v e si n t o ecstasy by means of d r u m m i n g , c h a n t i n g , a n d d a n c i n g . W e

ca n s t i m u l a t e o u r s e l v e s b y g o i n g o n a f l i g h t o f i d e a s . C e r t a i n

b o o k s m e d i a t e a w e a l t h o f i d e as , i n t o w h i c h w e c a n p l u n g e t o

e n r i c h o u r o w n s u p p l y . W e c a n al so a l l o w o u r s e l v e s t o b e i n

f l ue n c e d a n d a n i m a t e d b y p e r s o n s w h o a r e o v e r f l o w i n g w i t h

id e a s . It i s m a d d e n i n g h o w f e w r e a l ly i n s p i r e d a n d e cs t a ti c i n

d i v i d u a l s w e a c t u a l l y e n c o u n t e r . T h e y o f t e n l o c k t h em s e l v e s

aw ay i n s e c l u s i o n .

A c c o r d i n g t o o n e t h e o r y , p e o p l e t o d a y find themselves re

s i g n e d a n d de pr e s s e d be c a u s e t h e y m i s t a k e n l y t h i n k t h e y s h o u l d

c o n s t a n t l y b e i n s p i r e d . B u t I be l i e ve t h a t w e s u ff er f r o m a r e a l




108

l o s s o f i n s p i r a t i o n i t s e l f , e s p e c i a l l y r e l i g i o u s i n s p i r a t i o n , w h i c h

has b ee n s u p p l a n t e d b y a n u m b e r o f s e cu la r a l te r n a ti v e s . W h e n

a l l else f a il s , w e r e s o r t t o t h e u se o f i n t o x i c a t i n g s u bs ta n c e s i n

o u r a t t e m p t t o f u l f i l l t h e n e e d f o r ecstasy. W e b a s i ca l ly r is k o u r

l ives i n o r d e r t o fe e l a l i v e . T h e h e i g h t e n e d d r i v e t o g e t h e r w i t h

the r ichness o f ideas charac ter i s t i c o f ecstasy is p r o b a b l y th e v e r y

h i g h e s t e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g t h a t c a n b e a t t a i n e d , t h e p i n n a c l e o f

a l l p e a k e x p e r i e n c e s . I n t o x i c a t i o n , ecstasy, a n d c r e a t i v i t y o f f e ru s wa y s t o le a p o ve r t h e l i m i t s o f c o n c r e t e e x p e r i e n c e a n d e s

t a b l i s h e d , e ve r y da y r e a l i t i e s . These e l a t e d e m o t i o n s a n s w e r o u r

n e e d t o t r a n s f o r m o ur s e lv e s i n t o p e r s o n s w h o are m o r e a l i v e ,

w h o are i n v o l v e d , w h o h av e th e e n e r g y t o a c t , w h o b e l ie v e i n

c h a n g e a n d , finally, w h o h o p e .

T o be i n s p i r e d , e x t e n d i n g o u r s e l v e s o u t i n t o t h e w o r l d as

far as we soar up to the he ights , i s to l i v e c r e a t i v e l y . G o e t h es u g g e s t e d t h a t t o s pe ak o f i n s p i r a t i o n m e a n s t o s pe ak o f c r e

a t i v i t y — c r e a t i v i t y as t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t u r n i n g a m o o d , f ee l in g ,

o r ide a i n t o a c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y . T h e p r e s e n t c r a z e a bo u t c r e a t i v

i t y i n p s y c h o l o g y b es p ea ks a h o p e t ha t c r e a t i v i t y ca n t r a n s f o r m

an e x i s t e n t i a l m o o d i n t o a r e a l i t y . I d o n o t m e a n a r t i s t i c cr e

a t i v i t y , t h o u g h I d o n o t m e a n t o e x c l u d e i t e i t h e r , b u t r a t h e r

a g e n e r a l e x i s t e n t i a l c r e a t i v i t y , t h a t i s , c r e a t i v i t y a t t h e l e ve l o f

t h e p e r s o n a l i t y .

A p o p u l a r s a y i n g a b o u t c r e a t i v i ty , p r o b a b l y a tt r i b u t a b l e t o

G o e t h e , d e fin e s cr e at iv e w o r k as c o n s i s t i n g o f 5 p e r c e n t i n s p i r a

t i o n a n d 95 p e r c e n t p e r s p i r a t i o n . These a re n o t v e r y p l e a s i n g

p r o p o r t i o n s . T h e p o i n t i s t h a t i n s p i r a t i o n m u s t b e b r o u g h t b a c k

d o w n i n t o l i f e a g a i n ; o t h e r w i s e w e a r e h i g h - f l o w n w i t h o u t a ny

c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e g r o u n d o f r e a li ty . W e a l l k n o w p e o p l e w h o

possess a w e a l t h o f w o n d e r f u l id e a s, b u t n e v e r g e t a r o u n d t o

m a k i n g t h e m r e a l . S u c h pe r s o n s a r e o f t e n t o l d that they are l a z y .

I be l ieve they are s i m p l y t o o b u s y c h a s i n g a f t e r t h e n e x t i d e a ,

s o t h a t t h e y n e v e r w r i t e d o w n t h e i r t h o u g h t s o r p a s s t h e m



Ecstasy, Inspiration, Creativity

wg

a l o n g to someone else. In their desire to e x p e r i e n c e m o r e of

t h e i n s p i r a t i o n that m ak e s t h e m fe e l so al ive , they have not yet

u n d e r s t o o d that perspi rat ion can a l so make them fee l very alive —

t h e m o m e n t w h e n an idea takes f o r m a n d becomes r e a l . It does

o n e i n e s t i m a b l e g o o d to s i n k i n t o a g r an d i o s e fan t as y ab o ut the

" i d e a of the c e n t u r y . " T h i s g o o d f e e l i n g b e l o n g s to the p l ay

phase of c r e a t i v i t y . But l a t e r w h e n a pale re f lec t ion of the o r i g i

n a l idea l ies before us in b l a c k a n d w h i t e , we can be filled w i t h

a n o t h e r e q u a l l y g o o d f e e l i n g .

In the c r e a t i v i t y l i t e r a t ur e , a great d e a l is said about how

c r e a t i v i t y is a c c o m p a n i e d by j o y , e n t h u s i a s m , and i n s p i r a t i o n .

T h e A m e r i c a n cr e a ti v it y researchers M a y [1853], R o s n e r a n d A b t

[1972], Taylor [1964], Maslow [1962], and Anderson [1959], are

u n a n i m o u s i n t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n that j o y is the e m o t i o n p r o d u c e d

b y a peak exper ience of c r e a t i v e s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n , w h i c h is e q u i v a l e n t to i n s p i r a t i o n . Or they say that c r e a t i v i t y is the h i g h e s t

e x p r e s s i o n of self-esteem, the s u m m i t of e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g and

l i fe in g e n e r a l . T h i s is not to o v e r l o o k the an x i e t y a l w ay s l u r k

i n g in the b a c k g r o u n d of c r e a t i v i t y : fear of not b e i n g able to

create, of m a k i n g m i st ak e s, a n d of b e i n g rejected. Since a n x i e t y

silences the creat ive act, e v e r y t h i n g that takes f o r m t h r o u g h

c r e a t i v i t y represents a t r i u m p h of v i t a l i t y o v e r fear. C r e a t i v i t ycons i s t s of a s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n two i m p u l s e s , one that w o u l d

c a r r y us up i n t o the h e i g h t s , and a n o t h e r that w o u l d put us

t o w o r k in the z o n e of g r a v i t y .

T h e r e is m u c h d i s c u s s i o n in the l i t e r a t ur e ab o ut an o r g a

n i z e d versus an i n s p i r e d a p p r o a c h to c r e a t i v i t y , but I do not

t h i n k these approaches can be so c l e ar l y d i v i d e d , fo r e v e n s o m e

o n e who ap p r o ac h e s c r e a t i v i t y in a v e r y s t r uc t ur e d way m u s t

at some p o i n t w a i t for a g o o d i d e a , and so d e p e n d s on i n s p i r a

t i o n . M o s t c r e a t i v i t y researchers agree that insp i red ideas emerge

f r o m the un c o n s c i o us . T h e y s e i z e , s t i r , and take possess ion of

u s , p o s i n g the r a d i c a l d e m a n d that they be g i v e n f o r m . H i g h l y




n o

c r e a t i ve pe r s o n s a r e s t i r r e d m o r e de e pl y t h a n less creat ive per

s o n s, e x p e r ie n c e a m o r e u n c o n d i t i o n a l d e m a n d , a n d h av e a m o r e

r e f i n e d c a pa c i t y f o r g i v i n g f o r m to w h a t has m o v e d t h e m . T h e

secret o f c r e a t i v i t y is th e a b i l i t y t o l et o n e s e l f be g r i p p e d b y

t h e u n c o n s c i o u s .

E a r l i e r I w r o t e o f j o y i n t e rm s o f s u r r e n d e r . I n s p i r a t i o n ,

t o o , in vo l ve s s u r r e n de r t o th e co m pl e x e s a n d a r c h e ty pe s c o n

s t el la t e d i n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s . O u r c a p a c i ty f o r s u c h s u r re n d e ris d e t e r m i n e d a s m u c h b y o u r i n d i v i d u a l l i f e h i s t o r y a s by t h e

c o l l e c t i v e h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t o f w h i c h we a r e a pa r t .

S u r r e n d e r i s n o t o n l y j o y f u l ; i t i s a l s o f r i g h t e n i n g . I t o f t e n

seems a s i f o u r c r e a t i ve e f f o r t s a r e b l o c k e d by a n a g e n c y o r i n

f luence that t ies our hands u n t i l th e contest b e t w e e n j o y a n d

a n x i e t y h a s b e e n d e c i d e d . T h e e n e r g y t h a t s u r g e s u p i n t h e m o

m e n t o f i n s p i r a t i o n c a n m a k e us c a u t io u s . W h e n p o ss es se d b ya g o o d i d e a , w e a r e a p t t o i g n o r e o u r l i m i t s a n d w o r k o u r s e l v e s

t o e x h a u s t i o n . Y e t I t h i n k t h e f e a r o f e x h a u s t i o n c a n be a l l a y e d

b y r e m e m b e r i n g t ha t w e ha ve m u c h m o r e e n e r g y t h a n w e u s u a l l y

a s s u m e .

T h e f e e li n g o f b e i n g m o v e d b y i n s p i r a t i o n is q u a l i t a t iv e l y

d i f fe r e n t f r o m t h e f e e l i n g p r o d u c e d by t h e g r a n di o s e s e lf. T h e

g r a n di o s e s e l f w o u l d say, "I have h o l d o f s o m e t h i n g ; I n e e d

o n l y t o g r ab i t a n d I c an h av e i t a l l . " I n s p i r a t i o n , o n t h e o t h e r

h a n d , w o u l d s a y : " S o m e t h i n g h a s h o l d o f m e t h a t I c a n o n l y

de s c r i be . W h e n I p i c k i t u p , I r e ce i ve t h e po w e r to a ct a n d g i ve

s h a p e . " W i t h o u t i n s p i r a t i o n , t he t he r a p e u t ic a t t e m p t t o h e l p

i n d i v i d u a l s b e c o m e m o r e c r e a t i v e w o u l d b e f u t i l e .

T h e J u n g i a n m e t h o d f o r a c h i e v i n g t h e g o a l o f p e r s o n a l c r e

a t i v i t y i s t o o p e n t h e do o r s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s t o th e c o n t e n t s

o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s as i dea s a n d im a g e s r a t h e r t h a n as d i s t u r

ba n c e s . T h i s m e t h o d , c a l l e d a c t i ve i m a g i n a t i o n , i s e a s i e r t o state

i n t h e o r y t h a n t o c a r r y o u t i n pr a c t i c e , f o r i t r e q u i r e s th a t t h e




i n

e g o b e s t a b i l iz e d t o th e p o i n t w h e r e these i d e as c an b e e n d ur e d .

T h e r e a r e i n d i v i d u a l s t r a t e g i e s fo r r e ac h i n g t h i s e n d , w h i c h can

a l so b e r eac h e d b y m e an s o f an an a l y t i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t i s

s t r o n g e n o u g h t o c o n t a i n w h a t e v e r e r u p t s f r o m t h e d e p t h s .

A c t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n , a m e t h o d f o r a n i m a t i n g t he u n c o n

s c i o us , i s o n e w ay t o m ak e p e o p l e m o r e c r e a t i v e an d t o g i v e

i n s p i r a t i o n a f o r m t h a t w i l l m i n i m i z e t he a n x i e t y a s so c ia te d

w i t h t h e c r e a t i v e p r o c e s s . H e r e I am n o t s p e ak i n g o f a r t i s t i c

c r e a t i v i t y , o f p e r s o n s w h o h av e an id e a , w r e s t l e fo r s e v e ra l y e ar s

t o g i v e i t f o r m , fai l i n t h e i r a t t e m p t , b e c o m e d e p r e ss e d , a n d

c o n t e m p l a t e s u i c i d e . I a m s p e a k i n g o f a m o d e r a t e f o r m o f c re

a t i v i t y , w h i c h g iv e s a b o o s t t o l if e w i t h o u t t r a n s p o r t i n g us t o

th e final b r i n k o f ecstasy a n d d e a t h .

I n s p i r a t i o n c o ul d b e d e f i n e d as a state o f b e i n g s e i z e d a n d

m o v e d b y t h o ug h t s , i n s i g h t s , id e as , an d e m o t i o n s t h a t a re a l o g i -ca l i f n o t s u p r a l o g i c a l . I n t h e h i s t o r y o f t he h u m a n s p i r i t , i n

s p i r a t i o n has typ ica l ly been seen as the w o r k i n g o f a d i v i n e

essence. W e als o n o t i c e m a n y references i n t h e l i t e r a t ur e o n c r e

a t i v i t y t o a " s p a r k o f G o d , " s u ch as K o e s t l e r [ 1 9 6 4 ] w r o t e o f .

E v e n s k e p t i c s s ud d e n l y confess that they are a t a loss to ex p la in

c r e a t i v i t y w i t h o u t r e f e r r i n g t o s o m e g r e a t e r p o w e r t h a t takes

p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e h u m a n i n d i v i d u a l . I n t h e a n c i e n t c o n c e p t i o no f ecstasy, h u m a n b e i n g s t ak e le ave o f t h e m s e lv e s t o m ak e r o o m

f o r t h e g o d , t h e re b y l e t t i n g th e g o d sp e ak a n d a ct o u t o f t h e m .

U n l i k e a m a n i c p e r s o n , a n ecstatic p e r s o n c an g i v e up h i s o r

h e r p o s t as th e m o u t h p i e c e o f a g o d . I n ecstasy, w e s t e p o ut s i d e

o ur s e l v e s . I t is n o t th a t w e b e c o m e s o m e o n e o r s o m e t h i n g e l s e,

n o r t h a t w e b e c o m e e m p t i e d ; b u t w e m a k e r o o m f o r t h e g o d ,

a l l o w i n g t h e g o d t o s p e ak an d ac t o ut o f o ur s e l v e s .

M a n y m y t h s re v o l v e a r o u n d t h is th e m e , o n e e x a m p l e o f

w h i c h appears in the story of Pentecost and the H o l y S p i r i t f r o m

t h e A c t s o f t h e A p o s t l e s :




112

W h e n the day of Pentecost had come, they were al l to

gether in one place. A n d suddenly a sound came from heaven

like the rush of a mighty w i n d , and it filled all the house

where they were sit t ing . A n d there appeared to them tongues

as of f i re , distr ibuted and rest ing on each one of them . A n d

they were all filled with the H o l y Spirit and began to speak

in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. . . .

A n d all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one an

other, . . . "W h a t does this m ean ?" B ut others m o ck in gsaid, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter , s tanding

w i t h the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them , "M e n

of Judea and al l w ho dwel l in Jerusalem, let this be k n o w n

to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not

d r u n k , as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the

day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel :

A n d in the last days it shall be, God declares,that I w i l l pour out my Spir i t upon al l f lesh,

and y o ur sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shal l see vis ions,

and your old men shall dream dreams. . .

A n d I w i l l show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth beneath,

b l o o d , and fire, and vapor of smoke. . . . '

(Acts 2:1-19, R S V )

I t i s ty p ica l that the im ag e o f f ire occurs in th i s s to ry o f

i n s p i r a t i o n a n d ecstasy. Joy is associated w i t h w a r m t h , e n t h u s i

asm w i t h f i r e , an d i n s p i r a t i o n w i t h b l az i n g f i r e . T h e r e a r e a

n u m b e r o f texts i n w h i c h m y s t i c a l r ap t ur e c an b e d e s c r i b e d w i t h

t h e f o r m u l a " G l o w i n g is m o r e th an k n o w i n g . "

I n t o x i c a t i o n is a n o t h e r m y s t i c a l w o r d , i f w e d i s t i n g u i s h b e

t w e en o r d i n a r y a n d e x tr a o r d i n a r y in t o x i c a t i o n . D r u n k e n n e s s

f r o m a l c o h o l is a d e cad e n t i m i t a t i o n o f d r un k e n n e s s f r o m b e auty .

In t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f a l c o h o l i s m i s a l o n g i n g f o r i n s p i r a t i o n ;

w h a t is m i s s i n g is th e j u d g m e n t to k n o w h o w m u c h is e n o u g h .




" 3

It is s i m i l a r w i t h j o y : T h e r e is a p o i n t w h e n one m u s t s t o p

g e t t i n g i n s p i r e d , o t h e r w i s e o n e just gets d r u n k .

O u r text says that the g i f t of p r o p h e c y e m e r g e d f r o m t h i s

event of d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n . I n s p i r a t i o n is m o r e t h a n a m o m e n

t a r y e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g ; it a lso involves an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of l ife

that goes b e y o n d the present m o m e n t . I n s p i r a t io n i n v ol v es v i

s ions , s tories of the future or of the whole that a w a k e n fervor.

I t may be that o u r era is l a c k i n g in v i s i o n s a n d Utopias because

w e do not take the r i s k that v i s i o n s e n t a i l , l i v i n g ins tead in si

lence as p r i s o n e r s of t h e d i m e n s i o n of b r e a d t h a n d strangers to

that of h e i g h t . The s t o r y of Pentecost i n c l u d e s the p r e d i c t i o n

that o l d p e o p le w i l l e x p e r ie n c e i n s p i r a t i o n i n t h e f o r m o f d r e a m s .

T h e p o u r i n g out of the H o l y S p i r i t r e s u l t e d in the f o u n d

i n g of the firs t C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t i e s . W h e n ecstasy fails to

findrootedness

i n a s t r u c t u r e , w ebecome

h i g h - f l o w n , as i n the" h i g h " p r o d u c e d by d r u g s o u t s i d e a r i t u a l s e tt in g . E m o t i o n

a n d i n s p i r a t i o n are not e n o u g h ; t h e y m u s t be c o n v e r t e d i n t o a

s o c i a l U t o p i a and an i n t e r p e r s o n a l p r a c t i c e so that h e i g h t and

b r e a d t h are c o r r e l a t e d . But the h i s t o r y of i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e l i g i o n

is a h i s t o r y o f i n c r e a s i n g d o m i n a t i o n b y t h e d i m e n s i o n o f b r e a d t h

over that of h e i g h t . I n s p i r a t i o n , once a l i v i n g exper ience of th e

s p i r i t , e v o lv e d i n t o a s t r u c t u r e a n d an a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . O n c e anidea is set in stone, the o r i g i n a l l i v i n g s p i r i t v a n i s h e s , l e a v i n g

o n l y c o n t r o l in its w a k e . T h e n a l o n g i n g emerges for a r e n e w

i n g s p i r i t u a l e v e n t. If y o u l i s t e n to the r a d i o at Pentecost, y o u

w i l l hear a n u m b e r of preachers w h o p l e a d for a r e t u r n of the

l i v i n g s p i r i t a n d w h o p l e d g e an e n d to c o n t r o l , s t r u c t u r e , and

h i e r a r c h y .

T h e b o u n d a r i e s b e t w e e n e n t h u s i a s m , i n t o x i c a t i o n , a n d ecstasy are f l u i d . In a state of e n t h u s i a s m , we are not yet o u t s i d e

o u r s e l v e s ; our ego b o u n d a r i e s are s t i l l m o r e or less d e f i n e d . In

states of ecstasy or i n t o x i c a t i o n , we do go o u t s i d e o u r s e l v e s ;

o u r ego b o u n d a r i e s d i s s o l v e , and the c o n t r o l l i n g f u n c t i o n of




114

n o r m a l c o n s c i o us n e s s d i s ap p e ar s. T h i s is w h y t h e s o c i a l c o n t e x t

o f ecstasy, o r i t s r e c e p t i o n i n r i t u a l , is so i m p o r t a n t . W h e n th e

b o u n d a r ie s o f th e e g o d i s s o lv e , a r i t u a l o r a h u m a n n e t w o r k

c an h o l d us . A n d w h e n w e are h e l d together b y a r i t u a l , w e

c a n l e t g o a n d g i v e o u r s e l v e s o v e r m o r e c o m p l e t e l y t o t h e p o w

ers o f i n s p i r a t i o n .

S i n c e w e s e l d o m enact these r i t u a l s t o d a y i n t h e c o n t e x t

o f r e l i g i o n , ecstasy te n d s t o b e p r i v a t i z e d , f o r ex a m p l e i n d r u g

a d d i c t i o n , w h e r e i t c an become d e ad l y i n t h e t r ue s t sense o f

th e w o r d . E c s ta s y i s a m a t t e r n o t o n l y o f h e i g h t e n e d l i f e , b u t

a l s o o f d e a t h . I n s p i r a t i o n c a n t u r n i n t o p o s s e s s i o n , a n d e v e n

c r e a t i v i t y c a n degenerate i n t o f a n a t i c i s m .

L e t m e c o n c l u d e m y t r e a t m e n t o f t h e subject o f i n s p i r a t i o n

b y s u g g e s t i n g th a t y o u w r i t e a r e c o n s t ru c t ed b i o g r a p h y o f i n

s p i r a t i o n . T h i s i s a d i f f i c u l t t a s k , w h i c h i s m a d e easier i f thel o n g i n g f o r i n s p i r a t i o n is ta k e n as a s i g n p o s t : W h e n i n m y l if e

d i d I l o n g f o r i n s p i r a t i o n ? W h e n w a s I e s p e ci a ll y b o r e d ? T h e

absence o f i n s p i r a t i o n is o f te n p e rc ei ve d as b o r e d o m . W h e n w a s

I rea l ly upse t w i t h s o m e o n e because he or she fa i l ed to inspi re

m e ? W h e n w e are i n l o v e , w e a re i n s p i r e d a n d f ee l e c s ta t i ca l ly

a l ive ; but love a l so br ings us the greatest d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s w h e n

e x h a u s t i o n , staleness, a n d c r i t i c i s m e m p t y a r e l a t i o n s h i p o f i n s p i r a t i o n . A s y o u a tt e m p t t o re c o n s t ru c t y o u r b i o g r a p h y o f i n

s p i r a t i o n , e xa m i n e y o u r l o n g i n g f o r i n s p i r a t i o n a n d y o u r a n ge r

over i ts absence.



1 2 .

Dionysus and Symbiosis

I N D I O N Y S U S w e c an s e e t h e s y m b o l i c e x p r e s s i o n o f a c l us t e r

o f e m o t i o n s i n c l u d i n g i n s p i r a t i o n , i n t o x i c a t i o n , a n d ecstasy, o n

t he v er g e o f b e c o m i n g h o p e . H a v i n g j o u r n e y e d f r o m t h e e x i s

t e n t i a l f e e l i n g o f m a n i a a n d c y c l o t h y m i a t o h e i g h t e n e d d r i v e ,

f l i g h t of ideas , and v i s i o n , w e n o w ap p r o ac h t h e fa r t h e s t reaches

o f t h e r e a l m o f e l a t i o n , w h e r e o u r l o n g i n g s t a k e t h e f o r m o f

f r e n z y , m a d n e ss , a n d e n t h u s i a s m . D i o n y s u s , l i k e W o t a n , is a

g o d o f i n s p i r a t i o n a n d p o e t r y .

A s I w a s w o r k i n g w i t h D i o n y s u s , I s u d d e n l y r e a l i z e d t h a t

I w a s m u c h m o r e in t er es te d i n w h a t D i o n y s u s d i d t o those w h o

w r o t e a b o u t h i m t h a n I w a s i n D i o n y s u s h i m s e l f . K a r l K e r e n y i

d i e d before c o m p l e t i n g h i s l a s t o f m a n y b o o k s o n G r e e k m y

t h o l o g y , Dionysus: Archetypal Imageof IndestructibleLife, l e a v i n g

t he t a sk o f p u b l i c a t i o n t o h is w i f e . W . F . O t t o ' s Dionysus: Myth

and Cult enve lops you w i t h a h y p n o t i c r h y t h m . T h e r e w e r e t im e s

w h e n I w as s o c ar r i e d aw ay b y t h i s r h y t h m t h a t I h ad n o i d e a

w h a t I had read after f i n i s h i n g a p a g e . N i e t z s c h e , i n The Birth

of Tragedy, b ase d h is t h o u g h t s o n D i o n y s us , b ut h e g o t s o c aug h t

u p b y t h e s p i r i t o f D i o n y s us t h a t i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o t e l l i n t h e

e n d w h a t i s D i o n y s u s a n d w h a t is N i e t z s c h e 's p r o j e c t io n o n t o

D i o n y s u s .

These w r i t e r s c r i t i c i z e d e ac h o t h e r o n g r o u n d s s uc h as these.

N i e t z s c h e , i t w a s m a i n t a i n e d , w a s n o l o n g e r w r i t i n g a b o u t




I l 6

D i o n y s u s , b u t r a th e r a b o u t th e D i o n y s i a n s p i r i t ; O t t o w a s ca r r i e d aw ay b y a fan tas y . I b e l ie v e t h a t K e r e n y i , t o o , w as c ar r i e d

away by a fantasy. I t seems t o b e l o n g to t he D i o n y s i a n s p i r it

t h a t p e r s o n s w h o ar e b as i c a l l y v e r y c o n t r o l l e d g e t c ar r i e d aw ay .

K e r e n y i c o l le c t s m o r e a n d m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t he p i c t u r e

g r o w s i n c r e a s i n g l y c o m p l i c a t e d u n t i l h e s ud d e n l y b ur s t s i n t o

a flo o d o f m a r v e l o u s , e m o t i o n a l la n g u a g e . T h i s is w h a t i t is

l i k e t o b e s e i z e d a n d c a r r i e d a w a y b y D i o n y s u s .D i o n y s u s i s a s y m b o l o f " i n d e s t r u c t i b l e l i f e . " L e t u s p u t

t h i s e x p r e s s i o n f r o m K a r l K e r e n y i i n th e center o f o u r i n q u i r y .

T h e m o s t r e li a bl e i n f o r m a t i o n w e h av e a b o u t D i o n y s u s is p r o b

a b l y f o u n d i n E u r i p i d e s ' t r a g e d y The Bacchae. D i o n y s u s w a s a

w i n e g o d , a b u l l g o d , a n d a g o d o f w o m e n . B ef o re he w as a g o d

o f w i n e , he w a s a g o d o f m e a d ; m e a d , m a d e f r o m h o n e y , w a s

an i n t o x i c a t i n g d r i n k o l d e r t h a n w i n e . B u t l e t u s c a l l h i m ag o d o f w i n e . T h e f ee l in g o f a D i o n y s i a n state w as d e s c r i b e d b y

O t t o as f i l l e d w i t h w i n e , p o s s e s s i n g t h e s t r e n g t h o f a b u l l , sur

r o u n d e d b y w o r s h i p i n g w o m e n , a n d h a v i n g n o fear of snakes.

W e , t o o , h av e p r e c o n c e p t i o n s a b o u t w h a t b e lo n g s t o t h e

D i o n y s i a n s p i r i t . F o r m o s t o f us , t he D i o n y s i a n is i n t o x i c a t i n g ,

ecstatic, a n d s t r o n g l y r e l a t e d t o s e x u a l i t y a n d f e r t i l i t y . These

as s o c i a t i o n s o b s c ur e m an y aspects o f D i o n y s u s .

W h e n w e b r i n g together e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h as b e e n seen i n

D i o n y s u s , w e h a ve a v e r y c o m p l e x g o d . H i s f ir s t d u t y is t o b e

w i t c h a n d to b r i n g j o y . H e b r i n g s w i n e to free u s f r o m g r i e f a n d

s o r r o w . A d an c e r an d an ecstatic lover , he l iberates and heals .

T h e g o d m o s t f u l l o f d e l i g h t w as a t t h e same t i m e t h e o n e

m o s t f u l l o f t e r r o r . R i p p i n g a p a r t a n i m a l s , n o t t o m e n t i o n h u

m a n b e i n g s , a n d e a t i n g t h e i r r a w fle sh , D i o n y s u s w a s a beast

o f p r ey . H e e m b o d i e d a t r e m e n d o u s a m b i v a l e n c e as t he b r i n g e r

o f b o t h j o y an d d e s t r uc t i o n , an d w as c e l e b r a t e d e i t h e r w i t h great

n o i s e o r w i t h d e a t h l y s il e n c e . H e w a s n o t o n l y a g o d o f v e g e t a -




117

t i o n , c o n c e r n e d w i t h l i fe o n ear th ; he was a lso a g o d of the

u n d e r w o r l d and of death , a t t imes equated w i t h H a d e s . H e r a c l i -

t u s c o m m e n t e d o n a p r o c e s s i o n i n w h i c h t he G r e e k s c a r r i e d

a p h a l l u s : " I f i t w e r e n o t D i o n y s u s f o r w h o m th e y h e l d th e i r

process io ns an d sang the i r song s , i t w o u l d h av e b e e n a c o m

p l e t e l y s h am e ful ac t t o t h e r e v e r e n t . " [ H e r ac l i t us , f r ag . 15 , i n

O t t o , 1981, p . 116]. T h e p h a l l i c s y m b o l o f f e r t i l i t y , c r o w n e d a n d

p a r a d e d a b o u t , b e l o n g e d t o th e c u l t o f D i o n y s u s .D i o n y s u s w a s r e g a r d e d , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , as a d i v i n e

c h i l d . T h i s is i m p o r t a n t f o r us i f w e are t o l o o k a t e m o t i o n s

in t e r m s o f a r c h e t y p a l i m a g e s . T h e d i v i n e c h i l d represents the

a r c h e t y p a l f o u n d a t i o n o f a c h i ld ' s c a p a c i ty f o r j o y . B u t D i o n y

sus h i m s e l f is m o r e t h an a d i v i n e c h i l d .

A c c o r d i n g t o o n e o f m a n y b i r t h l e g e n d s , D i o n y s u s w a s b o r n

o ut o f Z e us ' s t h i g h . Z e us h ad an a f fa i r w i t h S e m e le , a m o r t a lw o m a n . H e r a , Z e us 's jealous w i fe , d i s g ui s e d h e r s e l f an d v i s i t e d

S e m e le , a d v i s i n g h e r t o d e m a n d o f Z e u s th a t h e s h o w h i m s e l f

in a l l h i s s p l e n d o r . Z e us c o ul d n o t r e fus e Semele's request , and

s h e w as b ur n e d t o ashes b y t h i s g o d o f l i g h t n i n g . Z e u s q u i c k l y

r e m o v e d h i s s o n D i o n y s u s f r o m t h e f i r e a n d s e w e d h i m i n t o

h i s t h i g h u n t i l h e w a s re a d y t o b e b o r n a s e co n d t i m e . W h e n

D i o n y s u s came t o t e r m , Z e u s b o r e h i m o u t o f h i s t h i g h . F e m i n

i st s say, " T h i s is h o w th e fa t he r g o d a p p r o p r i a te s b i r t h . " M o r e

m y t h o l o g i c a l t h i n k e r s s pe ak o f a t w o f o l d b i r t h o f th e d i v i n e

c h i l d , a r e c u rr e n t e v e n t i n m y t h o l o g y : b i r t h f ir st f r o m a h u m a n

b e i n g a n d th e n f r o m a g o d .

I n an o t h e r v e r s i o n , D i o n y s us w as t h e s o n o f P e r s e p h o n e an d

H a d e s . A n c i e n t G r e e k a r t o f t e n d e p i c t e d h i m a s s u r r o u n d e d b y

a n u m b e r o f w o m e n . D i o n y s u s w as a g o d o f w o m e n . H e ha d

a v e r y c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i s m o t h e r , w i t h Semele or Per

s e p h o n e , w i t h D e m e t e r , a n d p e r ha p s w i t h the greatest g o d d e s s ,

C y b e l e , as w e l l . The idea is always the same, as is repeatedly ex-




I l 8

p r e s s e d i n E u r i p i d e s ' Bacchae: T h e w o m e n a r o u n d D i o n y s u s are

devotees o f C y b e l e , t h e great g o d d e s s , w h o is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r

b o t h t h e e a r th a n d t he u n d e r w o r l d .

T h e d i v i n e c h i l d , D i o n y s u s , w a s o f t e n d e p i c t e d a s a r a m .

T h e r a m i n D i o n y s u s ' s y m b o l i s m s ta nd s f o r o v e r a b u n d a n t , v i t a l

life an d refers a l s o t o P a n a n d t h u s t o s e x u a l i t y a n d p a n i c . R a t h e r

t h a n b e i n g s a c r if ic e d i n t h e D i o n y s i a n r i te s , ra m s w e r e t o b e

p layed w i t h .D i o n y s u s w a s a l s o d e p i c t e d o n a cart d r a w n b y p a n t he r s,

r i d i n g t o w a r d A r i a d n e , h i s w i f e . I n contrast t o t h e o t h e r g o d s

a n d g o d d e ss es , A r i a d n e h a d a constant l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

D i o n y s u s , i n s p i t e o f t h e fact that he was such an ecstatic g o d .

I t i s very of ten stated i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e that t h e p a n t h e r cart has

t o d o w i t h D i o n y s u s ' r e n d i n g , te a r i n g n a t u re as a beast of prey ,

b u t I d o n o t agree. C y b e l e w a s a l s o d e p i c t e d o n a p a n t h e r cart,

and I bel ieve that D i o n y s u s ' close r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h her and w i t h

t h e f e m i n i n e i n c l u d e d h is a b i l i t y to behave l i k e a w i l d c a t .

I n o t h e r r e n d e r i n g s f r o m a r o u n d t h e s e v en t h o r e i g h t h c e n

t u r y before C h r i s t , D i o n y s u s w as p o r t r a y e d as a d i v i n e c h i l d

s u rr o u n d e d by w i n e . M u c h l a t e r , n u m e r o u s p o r t r a y a l s o f C h r i s t

b o r r o w e d f r o m t h is ic o n o g r a p h y . B e i n g s u r r o u n d e d by w i n e

p o i n t s t o t he w i n e - l i k e n a t u r e o f t he c h i l d ; t h i s w a s u n d e r s t o o d

w i t h reference n o t o n l y t o i t s a l c o h o l i c character, but a lso to

i ts o r i g i n s i n t he g r a p e v i n e , w h i c h l o o k s l i k e d r y w o o d i n t he

w i n t e r b u t s p r o u t s it s t e n d r i l s i n t he s p r i n g . T h i s s y m b o l i z e s

t h e co i n c i d e n c e o f d e a t h a n d f e r t i l i t y . D i o n y s u s a p pe ar s a n d v a n

i s h e s . N o t subject to any k i n d o f c o n t r o l , h e w a s o f t e n w o r

shiped as an absent g o d .

V a r i o u s f e r t i l i t y f e s t i v a l s h e l d i n h i s h o n o r i n c l u d e d a p r o

cess ion w i t h a p h a l l u s i c o n . D i o n y s u s w a s c l e a r ly a g o d o f v e g e

t a t i o n , w i t h t h e s y m b o l s o f i v y , t h e p i n e cone, a n d t h e g r a p e

v i n e . A n d h e w a s a g o d o f a n i m a l s : b u l l , p a n t h e r , a n d r a m .

T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f D i o n y s u s ' fe st iv a ls w a s t he A n t h e s t e r i a




119

c e l e b r a t e d i n F e b r u a r y - M a r c h , w h i c h l a s t e d three d a y s. O n t h e

f ir s t d a y, D i o n y s u s w a s i n v o k e d b y s i n g i n g t he d i t h y r a m b . T h i s

w a s a r i t u a l so n g a n d d an ce i n w h i c h w o m e n g a t he r e d i n a c i r

c l e , c la p p e d t h e i r h a n d s, a n d i n v o k e d D i o n y s u s . S to r ie s w e r e

t o l d , a n d i t i s o u t o f t h e d i t h y r a m b t h a t t h e d r a m a t i c arts w e r e

b o r n . H e r e w a s t h e b i r t h o f t r a g e d y , hence N i e t z s c h e ' s b o o k

a b o u t D i o n y s u s b e a r i n g t hi s t i t l e .

T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e r i t u a l d i t h y r a m b w a s t o p r o m o t e e csta sy , p r o d u c e d b y th e b e a t i n g o f d r u m s , d a n c i n g , a n d t h e i m

b i b i n g o f a n i n t o x i c a t i n g d r i n k . T h e r i t u a l d a nce rs c o m p r i s e d

w h a t w a s c a l le d t he d i t h y r a m b i c c h o i r ; th e y w e r e t r a n s f o r m e d

a n d u n c o n s c i o u s , h a v i n g l o s t th e i r i n d i v i d u a l i d e n t i t y , s i n g i n g

t h e i r v i s i o n s i n t h e c h o i r . T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c h o i r o f A p o l l o ,

b y c o n t r a s t , d i d n o t l o s e t h e i r i d e n t i t y .

D i o n y s u s w a s m o r e t h a n a g o d o f w i n e , t h o u g h , s in ce w i n ec o n t a i n e d w i t h i n i t v i s i o n a r y p o s s i b i l i t ie s . T h e g i f t o f p r o p h e c y

h a d n e v e r b e e n f o r e i g n t o t h e G r e e k g o d d e s s e s . D u r i n g the

D i o n y s i a n c e l e b r a t i o n , v i s i o n s w e r e f o r m u l a t e d i n w o r d s a n d

t h e n p e r f o r m e d a s a t r a g e d y . T h u s t h e g i f t o f p r o p h e c y w a s

v e r y c lose to the ar t o f poetry . H a v i n g i n v o k e d t he g o d a n d

i m b i b e d t he w i n e th a t D i o n y s u s g av e to h e i g h t e n ecstasy, the

g i f t o f v i s i o n w a s g r a n t e d , a l o n g w i t h t h e c a p a c i t y t o f o r m u l a t ew h a t w a s seen i n t h e v i s i o n a r y state. D e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h i s c e l e

b r a t i o n r e v e a l t h a t t h e v i s i o n a r y state w a s e n t e r e d i n t o b y u n

d e r t a k i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t ie s : ( i ) th e d r i n k i n g o f w i n e ;

(2) j o i n i n g h a n d s t o create a myst ic c i rc le , a vesse l capable o f

r e c e i v i n g d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n ; an d (3 ) l u r i n g a nd i n v o k i n g D i o n y

sus . I am not sure that we w o u l d b e so c o m f o r t a b l e c a l l i n g o n

t h e g o d i n t h i s m a n n e r ; p e r ha p s w e w o u l d l i k e t o , b u t d o n o td a r e .

T h e g o d ' s a r r i v a l , s t i l l be lo n g in g to the fi rs t day o f the ce le

b r a t i o n , w a s s y m b o l i z e d b y a s h i p ; D i o n y s u s a lw a y s came f r o m

t h e d e p t h s o f t h e o ce a n o r f r o m t he u n d e r w o r l d . H i s s h i p w a s




1 2 0

e n t w i n e d w i t h t h e g r a p e v i n e , w h i c h s p r a n g u p f r o m o u t o f t h e

d e p t h s . D i o n y s us ' s h i p w as an i c o n t h a t d e p i c t e d v ar i o us aspects

o f h i s m y t h a n d c u l t .

O n e vase s h o w s h i m r i d i n g i n h i s s h i p , c ar r y i n g h i s staff,

ac c o m p an i e d b y a s i l e n us an d b y w o m e n . A s i l e n us s t o o d up r i g h t

w i t h t h e t h i g h s o f a h o r s e , t h e t o r s o o f a m an , an d a h ug e p h a l

lus . W h e n t h ey g r e w o l d , s i l e n i w e r e s o m e t i m e s c a l le d s a ty r s.

B ut s a t y r s , un l i k e s i l e n i , us ua l l y h ad v e r y l a r g e b e l l i e s , w h i c ht h e y h a d a c q u i r e d f r o m t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f w i n e . I bel iev e that

q u i t e d i f fe r e n t c u l t u r a l i n f lue n c e s c o n t r i b ut e d to th e i m a g e o f

these p l u m p g o d s . I n a n y case, t h e y w e r e o f t e n p i c t ur e d as D i o

n y s u s ' l u s t f u l c o m p a n i o n s .

D i o n y s u s w as o f t e n p o r t r ay e d o n a s h i p c ar t a s w e l l , a s ub

ject that has aroused a great d e a l o f c o n t r o v e r s y . I n t h e s h i p

c a r t o n e t y p i c a l l y sees t h e g r ap e v i n e a n d s a ty r s o r s i l e n i p l a y i n gf lutes . There are many fa i ry tales i n w h i c h t h e m o t i f o f t h e s h i p

c ar t ap p ear s, a m o t i f t h a t b r i n g s w i t h i t t h e q ue s t i o n , w h e r e

d i d t h i s s h i p c o m e f r o m ? I t r e p re s en t s t h e ap p e aran c e o f D i o n y

sus no longer as a c h i l d b ut as an ad ul t .

D i o n y s u s ' sh ip was at t imes a basket, th e b o w o f w h i c h

w a s th e he a d o f a m u l e . T h e m u l e b e l o n g e d t o D i o n y s u s ' s y m

b o l i s m less o n ac c o un t o f i t s s t ub b o r n n e s s t h an o f i t s s e x ua l i t y .

M a e n a d s , c o m p a n i o n s o f D i o n y s u s , a l s o r o d e o n m u l e s . " M a e n a d "

comes f r o m t h e G r e e k w o r d mania, m e an i n g p o s s es sio n o r fr e n z y .

S o m e t i m e s a b u l l was sacr i f i ced in the p lace o f a m ul e , to the

a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f s ac re d s o n g s .

T h e e n t i r e f ir st d ay o f D i o n y s u s ' f e s ti v a l is d e p i c te d o n o n e

v a se : T h e g o d w a s i n v o k e d a n d a r r i v e d , a b u l l was sacr i f i ced .

T h e s acr if ic e p r o v i d e d a w a y o f e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e b ul l ' s s t r e n g t h ,

a n d i t s y m b o l i z e d t h e fate o f D i o n y s u s ' d e v o t e e s d u r i n g the

fes t iva l .

O n t he s e c o n d d a y , D i o n y s u s w a s m a r r i e d to t h e c i t y . D i o

n y su s d e m a n d e d a b s o lu te p r i m a c y . D i o n y s i a n e m o t i o n s , d e e p ly




121

a n c h o r e d i n t he b o d y , a re p o w e r f u l e x p re s s io n s o f o u r l o n g i n g s ,a n d th e y t o o d e m a n d a b s o l u te p r i m a c y . O n t h e t h i r d d a y, t h e

souls of th e dead re turned , and th e prayer for th e dead was re

c i t e d . E v e r y t h i n g that w a s d e a d i n l i f e , a n d e v e r y t h i n g that o n e

w i s h e d w e r e d e a d , r e t u r n e d t o v i s i t t h e l i v i n g ; a l l that was re

pressed and gone n o w r e a p p e a r e d .

T h i s f e s t iv a l c a n b e t h o u g h t o f as a v e g e t a t i o n c e r e m o n y

i n w h i c h n a t u r e , c o n t i n u a l l y d y i n g a n d r i s i n g , d e p ic ts th e fateo f t h e h u m a n b e i n g . B y i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e g o d , h u m a n b e

i n g s a r e a s s u r e d o f c o n t i n u a l r e b i r t h ; b u t t h e y w i l l a l s o c o n

t i n u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e barrenness. Th is re turn of th e repressed a lso

represents t h e p s y c h i c experiences of the i n d i v i d u a l : W e c a n n o t

s t i m u l a t e t h e u n c o n s c i o u s o r a l l o w i t t o f lo o d t he gates of th e

e g o w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g th e free e n t r y o f o u r p r o b l e m s a s w e l l .

W e a r e w a r y o f ecstasy because w e k n o w that h u g e p o r t i o n sof wh at we h ave repressed c an emerge i n i t s w a k e .

V e r y fe w facts h av e b e e n d e f i n i t i v e l y e s t a b li s h e d r e g a r d i n g

t h e c u l t o f D i o n y s u s . O n e reads a g a i n a n d a g a i n that there w as

f r e n z y a n d ecstasy, as i s c lear ly depic ted in The Bacchaeo f E u

r i p i d e s , but th e exact content o f D i o n y s i a n r i t e s w a s k e p t a m y s

t e r y . W e k n o w that i t w a s a m y s t e r y fo r w o m e n , w h i c h m u s t

have had extremely radical soc ia l implicat ions. Euripides descr ibedh o w D i o n y s u s a r r i v e d , e i th e r n o i s i l y o r i n d e a t h ly s i l en c e — n o i s

i l y fo r those w h o t o o k d e l i g h t i n h is a r r i v a l , o r i n d e a t h l y s i

lence fo r those w h o w e r e a f r a i d . W o m e n l eft t h e ir h o u s e h o l d s ,

c h i l d r e n , a n d h u s b a n d s , w e n t o f f i n t o th e m o u n t a i n s at n i g h t ,

d a n c e d t o t h e s o u n d o f f l u t e s a n d d r u m s , became ecstatic f r o m

w i l d d a n c i n g , a n d w e r e t r a n s p o r t e d so fa r that t h e y w e r e s o m e

t i m e s d i s c o v e r e d d a y s l a t e r p r a c t i c a l l y d e a d f r o m e x h a u s t i o n o n

t he f ar sid e o f M o u n t P a rn a ss u s. T h e r e t he y w o u l d l ie d o w n ,

th e i r deep sleep g u a r d e d b y a r i n g o f w o m e n f r o m t h e n e a rb y

v i l l a g e .

T h e o u t s t a n d i n g features o f t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f D i o n y s u s '




1 2 2

cult are thetrance

states a n d t he v i g o r o u s d a n c i n g m o v e m e n t s.T h e n there are the var ious a t t r ibutes o f these w o m e n , w h o w e r e

d r es se d i n d e e r s k in s , c r o w n e d w i t h i v y , a n d g i r d l e d w i t h snakes ;

t h e y c a r r i e d i n t h e i r h a n d s t h e s o - c a ll e d t h y r s o s , a w a n d w r a p p e d

i n grape leaves and topped w i t h a p i n e c o n e . These devotees

w e r e s o a ct iv e t h a t t h e y c o u l d a p p a r e n t l y d a n c e o n stone a n d

s n o w . K e r e n y i n e v er t ir e d o f p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t w o m e n d a n c e d

i n t he s n o w o n M o u n t P a rn a ss us a t a n e l e v a t i o n o f s e v e n t y - t w oh u n d r e d feet d u r i n g F e br u ar y a n d M a r c h .

T h e u n b e l i e v a b l e aspect o f t h e c u l t w a s t h a t w o m e n s i m p l y

l e f t t h e i r f a m i l i e s . I t is t h u s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t D i o n y s u s f a ce d

a great d e al o f o p p o s i t i o n . O n e m u s t i m a g i n e t he g o d a r r i v i n g ,

t he w o m e n l e a v i n g th e i r f a m i li e s — m e n , c h i l d r e n , a n d i n fa n t s

a l ik e — d i s a p p e a r i n g i n t o th e fo r e st s, a n d d a n c i n g t o g e t h e r . A n y

m a n w h o i n t r u d e d w as k i l l e d . T h e m a e n a d s n o t o n l y d a n c e d ;t h e y s u c k l e d f a w n s a n d t h e c u b s o f w i l d w o l v e s a n d t o r e a n d

ate raw meat w i t h t h e i r bare h a n d s .

T h e g o a t , a v i c t i m o f s a c r i f i c e t o D i o n y s u s , p r o b a b l y f u n c

t i o n e d a s a scapegoat. I t has been observed that the goat's b l o o d

w as necessary t o fr u c t i f y t he b a r re n M a r c h g r a p e v i n e . T h e treat

m e n t o f t h e goat w a s a n a l o g o u s t o th e t r e a t m e n t o f D i o n y s u s ,

w h o w a s k i l l e d r e p e a t e d l y . S y m b o l i c d e a t h a n d k i l l i n g are fea

t u r e s o f ecstatic exper ience as w e l l : Ecs tasy carr ies us beyond

o u r l i m i t s , k i l l i n g o u r n o r m a l p e r s o n a l i t y . I t c a n f r a g m e n t u s

s o t h a t w e d o n o t k n o w h o w — o r i f — w e a r e g o i n g t o r e t u r n .

A scapegoat m u s t b e p u n i s h e d w i t h d e a t h because o f t h e

s in s a t ta c h e d t o i t . B u t w h y s h o u l d a goat b e a s i n f u l a n i m a l ?

T h i s e q u a t i o n i s c o n c e i v a b le o n l y w h e n t h e s in s w e a re c a p ab le

o f c o m m i t t i n g are p r o je c te d o n t o t he g o a t . D i o n y s u s attracts

m a n y o f o u r p r o j e c t i o n s a b o u t s e x u a l i t y a s s i n . I d o n o t b e l i e v e

t h a t t h i s i s t h e m o s t s i n f u l aspect o f D i o n y s i a n - i n s p i r e d behav

i o r , t h o u g h . B r e a k i n g o u t o f t he s o c ia l o r d e r is a m u c h m o r e




123

d a n g e r o u s aspect, w h i c h causes u s to a p p r o a c h i n s p i r a t i o n a n d

ecstasy w i t h c a u t i o n .

D i o n y s u s w a s a ls o a g o d o f m a s k s . H e ha d t w o m a s k s , o n e

m a d e o u t o f f i g w o o d , d e p i c t i n g h i m as an o l d m a n , a n d th e

o t h e r m a d e o u t o f g r a p e v i n e , d e p i c t i n g h i m as a y o u n g b r i d e

g r o o m . W h e n th e g o d w as absent, h e w as d w e l l i n g i n o n e o f

his m a s k s . D i o n y s u s w a s i n v o k e d b y p u t t i n g o n t h e m a s k . These

m as k c e l e b r a t i o n s , l ike M a r d i Gras pract i ces , were based on be l ie fi n t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d o n r i o t o u s f r e n z y . T h e b a s i c t h e m e o f

D i o n y s i a n r e l i g i o n w a s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n n o t o n l y t h r o u g h s p i r i -

t u a l i z a t i o n b u t a l s o t h r o u g h w i l d f r e n z y a n d b o d i l y r a p t u r e .

T h e m y s t e r i e s o f D i o n y s u s p r o v i d e d a r i t u a l m e a n s o f p a r

t i c i p a t i n g i n th e g o d h e a d . T h e d e f i n i t i o n o f ecstasy as the pos

s e s s i o n o f a h u m a n b e i n g b y a g o d i s p e r f e c t l y a p p r o p r i a t e h e r e .

T h e r e w a s t h e n a g r e a t d e a l o f p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h a n d i n v u l n e r a b i l i t y a t t r i b u t e d t o fir e a n d w e a p o n s . T h e r e w e r e m i r a c le s w e l l

b e fo r e t h e t i m e o f C h r i s t : W a t e r w a s s tr u c k o u t o f stones a n d

t u r n e d i n t o w i n e ; r i v e r s f l o w e d w i t h m i l k . W h e n w e l o o k at

these miracles s y m b o l i c a l l y , we perce ive that the essent ia l mirac le

is m o v e m e n t . W a t e r tr a n s f o r m e d i n t o w i n e s ug g e sts t ha t t he

D i o n y s i a n state b r i n g s u s t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e w e c a n s e e i n s p i r a

t i o n i n th e m o s t o r d i n a r y t h i n g s . T o be g i f te d f o r i n s p i r a t i o nm e a n s n o t o n l y l i v i n g i n ecstasy b ut a l s o finding i n s p i r a t i o n

i n e v e r y d ay l i f e . D i o n y s u s w a s a g o d o f a bu n d a n c e , a n d ecstasy

is a n a b u n d a n c e t h a t p u l l s us o ut o f t h e o r d e r w e h av e estab

l i s h e d f o r o u r s e l v e s ; t h i s m a y h a v e g o o d o r e v i l c o n s e q ue n c e s .

T h e D i o n y s i a n m y s t e r i e s w e r e f o r w o m e n . T h e y w e r e e x

p l o s i v e m y s t e r i e s , w h i c h p r o b a b l y filled a n i m p o r t a n t n e e d o f

w o m e n t o m a k e t h e ir c o n t r i b u t i o n t o th e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t he

n o n - l i v i n g to the l i v i n g , a n d t o b e a b l e t o a w a k e n t h i s g o d o f

d e a t h t o l i fe . E v e n t u a l l y th e m e n c o u l d n o l o n g e r t o l e r a t e t h i s

s i t u a t i o n . It i s s a id t h a t A t h e n a — a m a n l i k e g o d d e s s — b r o k e t h e




124

an c i e n t v o w an d l e t m e n p ar t i c i p a t e i n t h e m y s t e r i e s , b ut t h e y

ha d t o dre ss th em s e lv e s i n w o m e n ' s c l o t h i n g . F r o m t h e n o n ,

t h e v i t a l i t y o f th e c u l t o f D i o n y s u s b e g a n t o w a n e .

T h e q u e s t i o n r e m a i n s w h y t h i s w a s a n e x c l u s i v e l y w o m e n ' s

r i t e . V a r i o u s e x p l a n a t i o n s h a ve b e en o f f e re d . O t t o f o u n d t he a n

s w e r i n t h e fact t h a t o n l y w o m e n c a n g i v e b i r t h a n d n u r s e .

K e r e n y i o b s e r v e d t h a t w o m e n h av e a l w ay s b e e n m o r e ad e p t as

vis ionar ies . T h e i n c r e d i b l e t ur b ul e n c e o ut o f w h i c h a v i s i o n c am e

t o b i r t h w a s , i n h i s v i e w , t h e ce n t r a l f ea tu re o f th e D i o n y s i a n

c u l t a n d a n ac t th a t w o m e n ha ve m o r e t a le n t f o r b y n a t u r e .

I t i s qui te c lear that natural psychic energies were se t free b y

a c u l t o f l if e t h a t e m e r g e d f r o m t he d e p t h s , b r i n g i n g a n e w

o r d e r i n t o b e i n g , a t l e as t fo r a w h i l e . These w o m e n l eft t h e

es tabl i shed order ; i t seems w e c a n n e v e r h e a r e n o u g h a b o u t h o w

s i n f u l t h e y w e r e .M a n y s t o ri e s w e r e i n v e n t e d ab o u t t h e s i l e n i an d w h a t an

i n c r e d i b l y o r g i a s t i c t i m e t h e y h a d . The Bacchaei n c l ud e s a p as

sage i n w h i c h a s h e p h e rd sa ys, " W h a t y o u h av e sa id a b o u t t h e

s i l e n i is n o t t r u e . T h e w o m e n li e d o w n n e x t t o e ac h o t h e r i n

t h e f o r e s t . T h e r e a r e n o m e n a m o n g t h e m . " P e r h a p s t h i s r e v e l a

t i o n is e v en m o r e p r o b l e m a t i c . I t s h o w s th a t w h e n th e D i o n y

s ian s p i r i t takes h o l d , n o t o n l y d o t he p o w e r a n d v i t a l i t y o fecstasy ar is e , b u t t h e o l d o r d e r is a ls o e n d a n g e r e d . A n e w o r d e r

c o u l d b e e s ta b l is h e d , n o t i n th e u s u a l m a n n e r o f p a t c h i n g t h i n g s

u p a b i t b y a d d i n g f o o t n o t e s t o t he o l d o r d e r b u t i n t h e sense

o f a t r u l y v i s i o n a r y c h a n g e .

T h i s i n h e r e n t d a n g e r i s w e l l i l l us t r a t e d b y t h e fate o f P e n -

theus in The Bacchae, w h o i s d e a d s e t a g a i n s t D i o n y s u s a n d i s

t o r n l i m b f r o m l i m b b y h i s o w n m o t h e r w h e n h e t r i e s t o v i s i t

t h e m a e n a d s d i s g u i s e d i n w o m e n ' s c l o t h i n g . T r a n s la t e d i n t o p s y

c h o l o g i c a l t e rm s , t h is m e a n s t h a t w i t h d r a w i n g o n e s e lf f r o m a

state o f ecstasy d r i v e s o n e t o i n s a n i t y . E m o t i o n s o f a D i o n y s i a n

i n t e n s i t y d e m a n d s u b m i s s i o n . I n s p i r a t i o n c a n n o t b e s e t a s i d e ;




125

i t m u s t b e t a k e n u p a n d g i v e n f o r m . E u r i p i d e s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d

b e t w e e n t r u e a n d fa ls e bacchantes. T h e t r u e ones w e r e t r u l y

se ized, the fa lse mere ly gushed w i t h p s e u d o e m o t i o n . I t i s t h e

same w i t h us today .

T h r o u g h t h e i r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e g o d , w o m e n d e v o t e d

t o D i o n y s u s w e r e co n n e c t e d t o v i t a l a n d c o s m i c p o w e r s . T h e i r

s o u l s , e x p e r i e n c i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e i n d e s t r u c t i b l e l i fe , became

i m m o r t a l a n d d i v i n e . These w o m e n c r o s s e d o v e r t h e l i m i t s o f

t he h u m a n c o n d i t i o n t o e x p er ie n ce a l i b e r a t i o n , f r e e d o m , a n d

s p o n t a n e it y t h at w a s o t h e r w i s e u n k n o w n . E n t e r i n g i n t o a s y m

b i o s i s w i t h n a t u r e a n d e x p a n d i n g i n t o th e c o s m o s , t h ey w e r e

n o l o n g e r subject t o t h e o l d r u l e s . T h e y e v a d e d a n o r d e r t h a t

h a d h e l d t h e m i n p l a ce . N a t u r a l l y t h is c a n be a d e c is iv e e x p e

r i e n c e f o r w o m e n .

P s y c h o l o g i c a l l y we could say that these w o m e n w e r e i n fl a te d .Y e t t h e i r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h h i g h e r p o w e r s d i d n o t o b l it e r a te

a ll s t r u c t u r e ; r i t u a l m y s t e r y p r o v i d e d a s e t t i n g f o r ecstasy, a l

t h o u g h s o m e w o m e n d i d t ak e le av e o f t h e i r senses. W e g e t t h e

i m p r e s s i o n t h a t those w h o f o u g h t a g a in s t D i o n y s u s w e r e m o r e

l i k e l y t o g o i n s a n e t h a n those w h o l e t D i o n y s u s h a v e h i s w a y

w i t h t h e m . I n a n y case, w e c o u l d sp e ak o f a p o s s e s s i o n b y o r

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t r a n s p e r s o n a l p o w e r s i n w h i c h t h e a r c h e ty p eo f D i o n y s u s t o o k t h e p l a c e o f t h e e g o .

T h e a rc he ty p e o f D i o n y s u s has m o v e d m a n y w r i t e r s , a m o n g

t h e m K e r e n y i , O t t o , a nd N i e t z s c h e . I n The Birth of Tragedy,

N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e d w h a t i t i s l i k e t o b e s e i z e d b y D i o n y s u s :

D ionysiac stirrings arise either through the influence of those

narcot ic pot ions o f which a l l pr imit ive races speak in their

hymns, or thro ugh the p ow erful approach of Sprin g, w hi ch

penetrates w i t h joy the whole frame of nature. So s t irred,

• the individual forgets himself completely. It is the same

D i o n y s i a c power which in medieval Germany drove ever in

creas ing crowds of people s inging and dancing from place




126

to place; we recognize in these St. John's and St. V i t u s ' danc

ers the bacchic choruses of the Greeks, who had their pre

cursors in Asi a M i n o r and as far back as Babylon and the

orgiast ic Sacaea. There are people who, e i ther from lack of

experience or out of sheer stupidi ty, turn away from such

phenomena, and, s trong in the sense of their own sani ty,

label them e ither m ock ing ly or p i ty ing ly "endemic diseases."

These benighted souls have no idea how cadaverous and

gho st ly their "sa n i ty " appears as the intense thron g of D io -nysiac revelers sweeps past them.

N o t only does the bond between man and man come to

be forged once more by the magic of the Dionysiac r i te , but

nature itself, long alienated or subjugated, rises again to cele

brate the reconciliation wi t h her prodigal son, man. The earth

offers its gifts voluntar i ly , and the savage beasts o f m o un t a in

and desert a pproach in peace. Th e cha riot o f Dionysus is be

decked w i t h flowers and garlands; panthers and t igers stride

beneath his yo ke. If one were to convert Beethoven's " O d e

to Joy" into a paint ing, and refuse to curb the imaginat ion

w h e n that multitude prostrates i tself reverently in the dust ,

one might form some apprehension of Dionys iac ri tual . N o w

the slave emerges as a freeman; all the r i g i d , hosti le walls

w h i c h either necessity or despotism has erected between men

are shattered. N o w that the gospel of universal harm on y issounded, each individual becomes not on ly reconci led to his

fellow, but actually at one wi t h h i m —as though the veil o f

M a y a had been torn apart and there remained only shreds

floating before the vis ion o f mystical O n e n es s. M a n n o w e x

presses himself through song and dance as the member of

a h igher communi ty ; he has forgot ten how to walk , how

to speak, and is on the brink of taking w i n g as he dances.

Each of his gestures betokens enchantment. . . .

A c c o r d i n g t o N i e t z s c h e , p o ss e ss io n b y D i o n y s u s h e ig h t e n s

t he b o n d b e t w e e n p e r so n s , r em o v e s b o u n d a r i e s , a n d effaces class

d if fe re n ce s . C o m p e t i t i o n c o m e s t o a h a l t , a n d i n d i v i d u a l s are




127

t o r n out of t h e i r i s o l a t i o n . The h i s t o r i a n of r e l i g i o n M i r c e a E l i a d e

l i k e w i s e n o t e d t h a t D i o n y s u s e ff ac e d s o c i a l d i f fe r e n c e s , s p e ak

i n g a l i k e to f a rm e r s , p o l i t i c i a n s , i n t e l l e c t u a l s , c o n t e m p l a t i v e s ,

p a r t a k e r s in o r g i e s , and a s ce ti cs . A n d the H e l l e n i s t i c p h i l o s o

p h e r P l o t i n u s s p o k e of ecstasy as the e x i t f r o m i n d i v i d u a l i t y

i n t o an i n t o x i c a t i n g fu s i o n . N o t o n l y do i n d i v i d u a l s find a c c o r d

w i t h each o ther , but h u m a n b e i n g s find a c c o r d w i t h n a t u r e as

w e l l .A s h u m a n i t y and n a t u r e b l e n d h a r m o n i o u s l y t o g e t h e r , the

q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r n a t u r e r u l e s h u m a n i t y or h u m a n i t y ru le s na

t u r e is r e n d e r e d i r r e l e v a n t . R e d i s c o v e r i n g an o r i g i n a l u n i t y , the

e n t i r e c r e a t i o n c o n v e r g e s in an unus mundus, to use J u n g ' s t e r m

[ J u n g , 1 9 5 5 - 5 6 ] . As N i e t z s c h e e x p r e s s e d it, "T he m y s t i c a l j u b i

l a t i o n of D i o n y s u s . . . breaks the spel l of i n d i v i d u a t i o n and opens

a p a t h to the m a t e r n a l w o m b of b e i n g " [p. 97]. T h i s onenessis no d e c e p t i o n and no d r u n k e n i l l u s i o n , but r a t h e r the r e v e l a

t i o n of a d e e p e r h u m a n r e a l i t y in w h i c h the i n s t a n t becomes

e t e r n i t y , so t h a t space and t i m e are a l tered to create c o m p l e t e

o p e n n e s s to the f u t u r e .

In J u n g i a n p s y c h o l o g y t h i s m e a n s the c o i n c i d e n c e of the

self w i t h the s u p r a p e r s o n a l S e l f or unusmundus. In I n d i a n my

t h o l o g y it w o u l d be expressed as a m e a n i n g f u l c o i n c i d e n c e oft h e p e r s o n a l A t m a n w i t h the t r a n s p e r s o n a l A t m a n .

B u t D i o n y s u s is not o n l y s o u g h t a f t e r ; he is a l s o f l e d f r o m .

F u s i o n and d i s s o l u t i o n i n t o a g r e a t e r w h o l e n e s s , e f f e c t i n g a

loss of i n d i v i d u a t i o n , p r o d u c e a n x i e t y a n d d e f e n s i v e n e s s as w e l l .

In The Bacchae, P e n t h e u s w e n t mad a f t e r s t r u g g l i n g a g a i n s t

D i o n y s u s .

D i o n y s u s ' c o u n t e r p a r t is A p o l l o . D e i f y i n g the p r i n c i p l e of

i n d i v i d u a t i o n , A p o l l o s tands for m e a s u r e and the m a i n t e n a n c e

o f i n d i v i d u a l b o u n d a r i e s . A p o l l o was an e t h i c a l god who s y m

b o l i z e d the values of b a l a n c e and s e l f - k n o w l e d g e , a l t h o u g h he

was a lso a g o d of p r o p h e c y , the a r t s , m u s i c , a n d a r c h e r y . A p o l l o




128

b r o u g h t t h e e v i l i n t h e w o r l d u n d e r c o n t r o l , a n d h e w a s r e

s p o n s i b l e f o r peace, respect f o r t h e l a w , a n d d i v i n e h a r m o n y .

B u t h e w a s n o t free o f v e n g e f u l n e s s , j e a l o u s y , o r d e c e i t . T h e

D i o n y s i a n s p i r i t , i n contrast to the e th ica l sp ir i t o f A p o l l o , seems

t i t a n i c a n d b a r b a r i c . B u t w e m u s t n o t f o r g e t that the orac le

o f D e l p h i , th e p r o p e r t y o f A p o l l o , w a s g u a r d e d b y D i o n y s u s

d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r w h e n A p o l l o was away. In the summer A p o l l o

r e t u r n e d .A p o l l o i n s p ir e d v i s io n s , i n s i g h t , m e d i t a t i o n , w i s d o m , a n d

m u s i c . B u t h i s i n s p i r a t i o n w a s a step r e m o v e d f r o m t h e i m m e -

diateness a n d w e i g h t o f l i f e . H i s c al m n e ss a n d s er e n it y i m p l i e d

m e n t a l c o n c e n t r a t io n . T h e fa m o u s D e l p h i c o ra cle " K n o w T h y

self!" l a c k e d a w i l d i m m e d i a c y . T h e r e w a s ecstasy m e d i a t e d b y

a g o d , b u t n o ecstasy i n f e l l o w s h i p w i t h a g o d . N i e t z s c h e fe lt

that t h e o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n A p o l l o a n d D i o n y s u s w a s neces

s ar y , e a ch s p u r r i n g t h e o t h e r o n , a n d h e m a i n t a i n e d that A p o l l o

c o u l d o n l y b e u n d e r s t o o d a g a in s t t h e D i o n y s i a n b a c k g r o u n d .

N i e t z s c h e p r e sc ri be d a f o r m u l a f o r h u m a n balance that i s r e m i

n i sc e n t o f B i n s w a n g e r ' s : O n l y as m u c h o f t he D i o n y s i a n s p i r it

s h o u l d enter i n t o c o n s ci o u s n e s s as c a n b e a p p r o p r i a t e d b y t h e

A p o l l o n i a n p o w e r o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n .

A n o t h e r f o r m o f ecstasy, such as we find i n t h e m y s t i c i s m

o f Teresa o f A v i l a , i s a n u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d u n i t y w i t h the A l l .

I t m i g h t b e e x p re s se d : " I a m i n Y o u ; Y o u a re i n m e . " I n t h i s

f o r m l e s s e x p e r i e n c e , t h e e g o i s d i s s o l v e d i n a n a b s o l u te Y o u .

T h e D i o n y s i a n f o r m o f ecstasy, b y c o n t r a s t , w o u l d b e e x p r e ss e d ,

" I a m t a k e n h o l d o f , s e i z e d , p o s se s se d , m a d e p a r t o f a w h o l e ,

l o s t . " T h e p o s s i b i l i ty o f l o s i n g t he e g o a n d self i n ecstasy cre

ates a fear o f ecstasy, a fear that w e e x p e r ie n c e i n a m i l d e r f o r m

w i t h s e x u a l i t y . W e o f t e n hear o f p e r s o n s w h o k e ep t h e m s e lv e s

u n d e r c o n t r o l d u r i n g t he s ex u al act a n d t h e n c o m p l a i n that

n o ecstasy i s p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m . Since t h e i r e g o s t r u c t u r e i s e n -




129

d a n g e r e d b y t h e u n c o n s c i o u s , t h e y a r e a f r a i d t h a t t h e y w i l l lose

th emselves i f th ey become o r g a s m i c a n d ecstatic.

T h i s i s a ls o t he r e as o n w h y t h e b i o g r a p h y o f j o y s h o u l d

b e w r i t t e n before b i o g r a p h i e s o f i n s p i r a t i o n a n d ecstasy; th e ego

m u s t b e s t a b i l i z e d before i t i s ready to absorb la rg e c on c en tra

t i o n s o f i n s p i r a t i o n . I t m a y b e e n o u g h t o u s e t h e longing fo r

i n s p i r a t i o n a n d ecstasy as s ig n p o s t s g u i d i n g u s i n t o t h is r e a l m .

A n u n c o n s c io u s l o n g i n g f o r ecstatic v i s i o n s m a y w e l l be a char

a c t e r is t i c o f o u r a g e. W e s h o u l d a t least p e r m i t o u r s e l v e s these

l o n g i n g s , ev e n i f w e a re n o l o n g e r s o o p e n t o ecstasy i tse l f .

T o b e ta k e n h o l d o f b y D i o n y s u s m e a n s t o b e p o s s e ss e d ,

a n d t o p e r m i t o n e s e l f t o b e p o s s e s s e d . I t s i g n i f i e s e n t r y i n t o

a s y m b i o s i s r a t h e r t h a n i n d i v i d u a t i o n . W e o f t e n h e a r t h a t m y s

t ic s a re ab le to es tabl i sh a symbios is w i t h th e d i v i n e w i t h o u t

c ea s in g t o i n d i v i d u a t e , h a v i n g f o u n d a g o o d r h y t h m b e t w e e ns y m b i o s i s a n d i n d i v i d u a t i o n . T h i s b a l a n c e c a n b e e x p l a i n e d p s y

c h o l o g i c a l l y b y t h e fact t h a t t h e m o r e d e f i n e d t h e e g o b o u n d a

ries are, the greater t h e i r p e r m e a b i l i t y i s .

Issues o f s y m b i o s i s a n d i n d i v i d u a t i o n a re t y p i c a l o f b u t n o t

r e s tr i ct e d t o a p ha se i n e a rl y c h i l d h o o d d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e y f o r m

a t h em e e n c o u n t e re d t h r o u g h o u t t h e h u m a n li fe s p a n . W e k n o w

t h a t s y m b i o s i s i n e ar ly c h i l d h o o d la ys a s t r o n g f o u n d a t i o n f o rh e a l i n g l a te r i n l i f e . T h e r a p i s t s a re a t t e m p t i n g t o m a k e i t p o s

s ib le for th e i r pa t ients to reexper ienc e these h e a l i n g p o w e r s .

H a p n o t h e r a p y , a r e ce n t l y f o u n d e d ty p e o f t he ra p y , e m p l o y s b o d

i l y t o u c h i n g w i t h t h e g o a l o f r e a c t i v a t i n g t h e o r i g i n a l m o t h e r -

c h i l d s y m b i o s i s , r e a c h i n g b a c k i n s o m e cases as far as the pre

n a t a l s y m b i o s i s , i n o r d e r t o l ib e r a t e h e a l i n g e n e rg i e s a n d n e w

powers of res i s tanc e .V i e w i n g t h i s t h e r a p e u t i c s t r a t e g y f r o m t h e p e r s p e c t iv e o f

t he a r c he t y p e o f D i o n y s u s , w e w o u l d say th a t e la ted moods of

fe r a h o l d i n g e n v i r o n m e n t t ha t p r o m o t e s s y m b i o s i s an d e x p a n -




13 0

s i o n i n t o t h e w o r l d . T h e ecstasy of symbios i s i s the best p r e

c o n d i t i o n f o r b o t h s o l i d a r i t y a n d e x p a n s i o n i n t o t h e c o s m o s ,

b ut w e m us t n e v e r fo r g e t t o step b a c k i n t o r e a l i t y a g a i n .

N i e t z s c h e d i s t in g u i s h e d b e t w e e n th e G r e e k D i o n y s i a c s a n d

t he b ar b ar ian D i o n y s i ac s , w h o w e r e m e r e ly b o i s te r o us an d c r u e l .

D o e s D i o n y s u s p l a y a r o le i n t o d a y's w o r l d a p a r t f r o m t h e d r i n k

i n g bo uts a nd sex orgies that lose themse lves in the r io t s o f

t h e b a r b a r i a n D i o n y s u s ?

D i o n y s u s h as g r i p p e d e v e ry o n e w h o ha s w r i t t e n a b o u t h i m

w i t h h o p e i n th e i n d e s t r u c t i b i l i ty o f li fe . D i o n y s u s b e w i t c h e s

m o d e r n dreams as w e l l . W e w o u l d n o t expect h i m t o a p p e a r

i n h i s G r e e k c o s t um e , b ut r a t h e r i n t h e fo r m o f i m ag e c l us t e r s

t ha t h a ve a D i o n y s i a n effect. A s an e x am p l e , l e t m e q uo t e t h e

d r ea m o f a t h ir t y -n i n e - y e a r - o l d w o m a n .

A group of w o m e n j o i n together in a large circle in the m i d

dle of a meadow. A r i tual should begin. I fee l the drums

t h r o b b i n g in my body. The circle remains open in one place,

w h i c h upsets me; don't these people know that this hole

disrupts everything? Then I find myself in a bar, t alk in g an

gri ly about how these people have no sense for ecstasy. I talk

myself into a rage and gulp down a glass of wine. I am so

upset , I am pract ical ly going out of my m i n d . I speak toa fore ign- looking man w i t h lon g , curly hair and radiant eyes.

A s I speak, I find myself dancing . Next to h im is a man w ho

loo ks a l i t t le l ike the D e v i l (horns, bil ly-goat beard, satyric).

I feel an incredible surge o f power. N o w I can close the cir

cle. The man says, "The opening in the circle was for me

and my ship." I think he must be drunk. I wake up very

stimulated and alive. I feel l ike breaking out of everything

that has held me back u n t i l now. I don' t understand why

I am always so careful and dependent on what others think

of me. I have an incredible desire to turn everything upside

d o w n .




131

T h i s w o m a n h a d c e r t a i n l y h e a r d o f D i o n y s u s , b u t s h e d i d

n o t k n o w t ha t t he a n c ie n t D i o n y s u s n o r m a l l y a r r iv e d i n a s h i p ;

sh e t h o u g h t t h at t h e m a n i n h e r d r e a m m u s t be d r u n k w h e n

he spoke of h is sh ip . There are severa l image c lus ters in th is

d r e a m t ha t c o m b i n e t o p r o d u c e a D i o n y s i a n effect. T h e g r o u p

o f w o m e n f o r m i n g a l ar g e c i rc le w o u l d r e p re s e n t t h e i n v o c a t i o n

o f D i o n y s u s ( o r p o s s i b l y o f s o m e o t h e r m a l e d i v i n i t y o r a n i m u s

s p i r i t ) , i n c l u d i n g d r u m m i n g a n d d a n c i n g . N o w comes the first

o b s t a cl e : T h e c i r cl e is n o t c l o s e d . T h e p e r s o n a l c h a i n is b r o k e n .

H e r e t h e d r e a m comes c l o s e r t o r e a l i t y . T h e d r e a m e r goes i n t o

a bar , lec tures abou t ecstasy, i s f u r i o u s , t a l k s h e r s e l f i n t o a r a g e ,

d r i n k s w i n e , i s so u p s e t t h a t s he c o u l d g o o u t o f h e r m i n d .

T h e D i o n y s i a n s p i r i t a l re a d y has h e r f u l l y i n i t s g r i p . I n J u n g i a n

t er m s , t he f o r e i g n - l o o k i n g m a n w o u l d r e p re s e n t a n a n i m u s fig

u r e : a f a s c in a t i n g , f o r e i g n m a n w i t h l o n g , c u r l y ha i r, a n d g l o w

i n g eyes. T h e d a n ce r e t u rn s a g a i n . T h e a s s o c ia t i o n o f D i o n y s u s

w i t h the d e v i l is s u p p o r t e d h i s t o r i c a l l y b y t h e fact t h a t D i o n y

sus was often seen as the D e v i l i n C h r i s t i a n eyes. I be l ieve that

t h e m o s t c r u c i a l aspect of the dream is the effect i t has on the

d r e a m e r : L i k e the maenads , th is woman had the fee l ing she could

le av e b e h i n d a l l t h e s t r u c tu r e s t h a t w e r e h o l d i n g h e r b a c k , i n

o r d e r t o l e t s o m e t h i n g r e a l l y n e w i n t o h e r l i f e .T h e m y t h s o f D i o n y s u s b r i n g i n t o c o n sc io u sn e s s those i m

ages a n d p s y c h i c processes w h i c h b e l o n g t o t he c lu s te r o f e m o

t io n s t h a t in c l u d e s e n t h u s i a s m , i n s p i r a t i o n , i n t o x i c a t i o n , a n d

ecstasy. T h u s i t b r i n g s u s t o t h e o u t e r m o s t p o l e o f t h e e l a t e d

e m o t i o n s . I f w e a l l o w these m y t h i c i m a g es t o p la y o n o u r i m a g i

n a t i o n s , t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g e m o t i o n s w i l l a l s o b e t o u c h e d i n

o u r p s y ch e s. M e a n w h i l e i t is b e c o m i n g c le a re r t h a t a l l these e m o t i o n s a re b as ed o n th e e m o t i o n o f h o p e , w h i c h k ee ps s h i n i n g

t h r o u g h i n s u c h f o r m s a s D i o n y s u s , t h e s y m b o l o f i n d e s t r u c

t i b l e l i f e .





P A R T

Hope





13-

Sisyphus's H i d d e n H o p e

H O P E IS T H E E M O T I O N o n w h i c h a l l t h e o t h e r e m o t i o n s o f e l a

t i o n a re g r o u n d e d . B u t i t is a r e l a ti v e l y a b st ra ct e m o t i o n , w h i c h

is w h y I h av e a p p r o a c h e d i t f r o m t h e p e r s p e c ti v e o f j o y a n d i n

s p i r a t i o n . I p r e f e r n o t t o w r i t e a b o u t h o p e a l o n e , b u t r a t h e r

a b o u t t h e w h o l e r a n g e o f e m o t i o n s t h a t i n c l u d e s e x p e c t a t i o nand l o n g i n g .

W e h av e s ee n t h a t t h e re i s a h a r m o n y i n th e p r e s e n t m o

m e n t o f j o y w h e n w e n o t o n l y fe el i n t u n e w i t h o ur s e l v e s an d

th e w o r l d as i t i s , but when we a l so have the sense that the

m o m e n t c a n o n l y e x p a n d . T h e r e is a f e e l in g o f p r o m i s e , as i f

we w e r e i n s to r e f o r a p l ea s a n t s u r p r i s e . T h e p r e se n t m o m e n t

o f j o y c o n t a i n s t h e s ee d o f t h e f u t u r e . I n e x p e c t a t i o n a n d h o p e ,t h e f u t u r e b l o o m s t o o c c u p y a c e n t r a l p l a c e .

W e c a n f o r m a m o r e c o n c re t e i d e a o f h o p e i f w e t h i n k a b o u t

w h a t it is l ike t o b e w i t h o u t h o p e . L o n g i n g i s much eas ier to

d e s c r i b e : L o n g i n g is l ike s t r e t c h i n g i n t o t h e d i s t an c e i n a d e s

p e r a t e a t t e m p t t o c o m e c l o s e r t o t h e object o f o u r d e s i r e . H o p e

is a m u c h l e s s c o n s p i c u o u s f e e l i n g , t h o u g h n o l e s s i m p o r t a n t .

W e s p e ak o f h o p e i n t e r m s o f a t u r n for the be t ter , in the nearor d i s t a n t f u t u r e , t h e f i n a l s h ap e o f w h i c h is s t i l l u n k n o w n .

T h e c h a n g e m a y be j u s t a r o u n d t he b e n d , o r it m a y c o m e o n l y

i n t h e n e x t w o r l d . W e s p e a k o f h o p e w h e n o u r l i v e s b e c o m e

s ha p e d by a g l i m p s e o f s o m e t h i n g n o t y e t c l e a rl y w i t h i n s i g h t .



H O P E

I 3 6

H o p e d r aw s i t s p e r s uas i v e p o w e r f r o m a v i s i o n yet to be

u n v e i l e d . I n s p i r a t i o n ensues w h e n t h e v i s i o n i s revealed . S ince

h o p e ' s a u t h o r i t y d e r i v e s f r o m a v i s i o n that is s t i l l s h r o u d e d , i t

is r i s k y t o t r y t o p e n e tr a t e t h e v i s i o n ; w e c a n o n l y sense w h a t

lies w i t h i n . I t is as i f w e t u r n t o w ar d a l i g h t t h a t d o e s n o t y e t

e x i s t , t h o u g h w e ha ve th e i m p r e s s i o n t ha t i t m u s t . T h e d a r k e st

h o u r is just b e fo r e d a w n , w e say t o o ur s e l v e s .

H o p e i s t h e e m o t i o n t h a t r e l a t e s us t o t h e fu t ur e . A n o t h e re m o t i o n that re lates us to the future i s anx ie ty . The prospect

o f t h e fu t ur e c an fill us w i t h a n x i e t y o r w i t h h o p e . H o p e , t h e

o p p o s i t e o f a n x i e t y , o ffe rs c o n s o l a t i o n . W h e n I say I c a n h o p e

a g a i n , I m e a n I a m c o n s o l e d w i t h the sense o f s o m e t h i n g better

s o m e w h e r e i n th e f u t u r e . H o p e c a n d r i v e u s o n w a r d , b u t h o p e's

m a i n character i s t i c i s that i t a f fords us a fee l ing of safe ty and

s e c u ri ty . H o p e d o es n o t i m p e l u s t he w a y i n s p i r a t i o n o r ecstasydoes ; i t a l lows us to find s h e lt e r i n l i f e . W e m u s t n o t fo r g e t

t h a t h o p e i n c l ud e s th e un h o p e d fo r , a d i a l e c t i c t o b e t ak e n se

r i o u s l y . I n h o p e w e l o n g f o r w h a t w e h a d n e v e r e x p e c t e d , a s

i f w e w e r e t r u s t i n g i n t h e f u t u r e i n s p i t e o f k n o w i n g better.

H o p e i s not reasonable ; i t i s the unseen v i s i o n , a n d p r o n e t o

t a k i n g r i s k s . H o p e a l w a y s l o o k s t o w a r d c r e a t i v e c h a n g e s — b y

d e f i n i t i o n , changes for the better.

T h e r e a re v ar i o us w ay s t o in t e r p r e t h o p e . F r o m th e p e r s p e c

t ive o f L e r s c h [ 1 9 7 0 ] , w e c a n m a i n t a i n t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o

e x is t w i t h o u t a n y h o p e a t a l l ; h o p e , a n e x p r e s s io n o f th e w i l l

to l i v e , can never be f u l l y absent f r o m l if e . A c c o r d i n g t o t h is

d e f i n i t i o n , i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e n o t t o h o p e . H e n s e l e r a r g ue s t h a t

s o m e o n e w h o c o m m i t s s u i c id e d o es so o u t o f t he h o p e t ha t

d e a t h w i l l be better t h a n l i f e . N o t e v e n d e a t h ca n separate us

f r o m t h i s h o p e f o r s o m e t h i n g better; w e c a n d e n y i t , b u t w e

c a n n o t b a n i s h it f r o m l i fe . T h i s v i e w is s u p p o r t e d b y th e e x

p e r ie n c e o f p e r so n s w h o a re g o i n g t h r o u g h d i f f i c u l t t im e s b u t

s a y , " S o m e t h i n g i n m e just keeps on l i v i n g . I k n o w i t w i l l g et



Sisyphus's Hidden Hope

137

better s o m e t i m e . " E v e n t e r m i n a l l y i l l p e r s o n s e xp r es s t h e fe e l

i n g t h a t t h i n g s w i l l s o m e h o w g e t better. A n d th ose w i t h o u t

a n y c o n c e p t i o n o f a l if e a ft er d e a t h — w h o say , " I a m s u re t h a t

w h e n I d i e , t h a t i s t h e e n d o f i t " — s t i l l m a i n t a i n t h a t " I t ' s get

t i n g better" or , at least , " I hope i t w i l l g et better." T h i s i s a

s i g n that as l o n g as we l i v e , w e l ive for a better f u t u r e .

F r o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y , h o p e c a n b e

seen as an express ion of ani n d i v i d u a l ' s

t r us t i nl i fe .

S o m e o n ew h o has a s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n o f b a s ic t r u s t ( to u se E r i k s o n ' s t e r m

[ 1959] , w h i c h has b e c o m e a c o n v e n t i o n i n t h e li t e ra t ur e ) t o d r a w

on f r o m e a rl y c h i l d h o o d w i l l have more hope , and def ic ient bas ic

t r u s t d i m i n i s h e s p o s s i b i l it ie s f o r h o p e . H o p e is b o u n d u p w i t h

our p a r e n t a l c o m p l e x e s , a n d t h e d e p t h o f o u r h o p e c o r r e l a t e s

w i t h th e extent to w h i c h these p ar e n t a l c o m p l e x e s a r e s us t a i n

i n g . T h i s i s o n e e x p l a n a t i o n o f h o p e ; n o e x p l a n a t i o n i s e x h a u s t i v e . H o p e seems t o o f u n d a m e n t a l t o r e c e i v e a n y final e x p l a n a

t i o n , a l t h o u g h m a n y a t t e m p t s h a v e b e e n m a d e t o d i s c o v e r i t s

h i d d e n b a c k g r o u n d .

T o e n l a rg e o n t h e d e p t h p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r y o f b a s ic t r u s t ,

we c a n d r a w o n a n o t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n o f h o p e : W e ea c h ha ve

a v i s i o n o f o ur l i v e s , a v i s i o n o f o u r w h o l e n e s s t h a t i s s t i l l u n

c o n s c i o u s . S i n c e w e k n o w s o m e w h e r e w i t h i n us w h e r e w e ar eg o i n g , w e h av e g r o u n d f o r h o p e . T h e i d e a t h a t th e u n c o n s c i o u s

is ah e ad o f us is ex p r e ss e d i n th e J u n g i a n d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e S e lf :

t h e S e l f c o m p r i s e s t h e p e r s o n a l i t y i n t h e p as t , t h e p r e s e n t , an d

t h e fu t ur e . T h e e n t i r e p r o c e s s o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n i s present in the

u n c o n s c i o u s a n d ca n m a k e i ts e l f k n o w n i n th e f o r m o f a v i s i o n .

M o r e r e l i g i o u s l y m o t i v a t e d th i n k e r s s u ch as G a b r i e l M a r c e l

[ 1 9 6 4 ] m a i n t a i n t ha t h o p e is a g r a c e , a g i f t . L e ss r e l i g i o u s l yo r i e n t e d th inkers such as Erns t B lo ch say that hop e can be l earned .

B l o c h ' s b o o k Das Prinzip Hoffnung ( T h e P r i n c i p l e o f H o p e ) ha s

i n f l u e n c e d m e g r e a t l y . I n a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g p r e fa c e, h e w r o t e ,

" H o p e e x t in g u i s h e s a n x i e t y ; l e a r n i n g t o h o p e is w h a t c o u n t s . "



H O P E

138

B l o c h s t r o n g l y o p p o s e s o u r t e n d e n c y t o le a r n fe ar . H e be l ie v e s

t h a t w e s h o u l d s e t o u t t o l e a r n h o pe . I t i s ve r y pr o vo c a t i ve t o

assert t h a t h o p e c a n b e l e a r n e d , a n d e v e n m o r e p r o v o c a t i v e t o

c l a i m t o t e a c h h o p e .

A c c o r d i n g t o a n o t h e r , v e r y d i f fe r e n t v i e w , h o p e i s a w a y

o f e v a d i n g l i f e , an i l l u s i o n r a t h e r t h a n a h i d d e n g u i d e o r v i s i o n

o f t h e f u t u r e . T h u s p e o p l e a r e a l w a y s f o o l i s h e n o u g h t o i m a g

in e t h a t t h i n g s a r e g e t t i n g b e t t e r , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y k n o w i tis n o t s o . T h e r a pi s t s a r e q u i c k t o r e a c t a g a i n s t t h i s v i e w because

e v e n i f w e a re i n a ve r y ba d s i t u a t i o n bu t h a ve pr e s e r ve d a t l e a s t

th e v i s i o n o f s o m e t h i n g b e tt e r, w e are n o t y e t c o m p l e t e l y l o s t .

T h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r h o p e i s a v i s i o n o f w h a t c a n b e , o r s i m

p l y an i l l u s i o n , is a ser ious p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l i s s u e .

W e c a n s o r t o u t w h a t h a s b e e n w r i t t e n a b o u t h o p e b y d i s

t i n g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n these two bas ic perspec t ives . The f i r s t m a i n t ain s th a t w i t h o u t h o p e o n e c a n n o t l i v e , s i n c e h o pe r e pr e s e n t s

t h e h u m a n b e i n g ' s b a s ic s o u r ce o f Geborgenheit (sa fe ty , secur i ty ,

pr o t e c t e dn e s s ) u p o n w h i c h a l l h i g h e r f e e l in g s — a n d th e e n e r g y

fo r a c t i o n — n o u r i s h t h e m s e l v e s . T h e o t h e r p e r s p e c t i v e a r g u e s

t h a t h o p e i s t h e e a s y w a y o u t , a n d t h a t l i v i n g i n c o n s t a n t h o p e

o f s o m e t h i n g better j e o p a r d i z e s a n d d e v a l u e s t h e h e r e a n d n o w

o f o u r a c t u a l l ives . W h e n w e are b u s y h o p i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g

e l s e , t h e j o y o f e ve r y da y l ife s l i ps a wa y f r o m u s .

I q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r it i s r e a l l y h o p e t h a t d e s t ro y s o u r e n j o y

m e n t o f t h e p r e s e n t . A l l o w m e t o q u o t e a f e w sentences f r o m

B l o c h i n w h i c h he deals w i t h t he o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n h o p e as

o u r m o s t b a s i c sense o f Geborgenheit a n d a s t h e " e a s y w a y o u t . "

W h a t matters is learning to hope. H o p e does not abandonits post. I t is in love w i t h success rather than failure. H o p e ,

superior to fear, is neither passive like i t s in fer ior nor im

prisoned in no thingness. H o p e reaches out; it broadens rather

than narrow s. Th is affect summ ons persons w ho act ively

t h r o w themselves into the process of becoming, to w h i c h




139

they belong. It does not tolerate the life of a dog that al

lows itself to be passively flung into the would-be, the in

scrutable, and the gru dg ing ly accepted. H o w richly has every

era dreamed, dreamed of a better life that was possible. The

lives o f al l people are f i l led with daydreams, many of w h i c h

are merely vapid, an enervating escape, booty for swindlers .

Bu t wi thi n these daydreams there is also something that opens

our eyes, prevents us from being satisfied w i t h mere left

overs, and outlaws abdication. This has hope at its core andcan be taught. [Block, 1959, p. 1]

B l o c h s a w h o p e i n d a y d r e a m i n g , f a n t a s y , a n d i m a g i n a t i o n .

T h r o u g h f a n t a s y a n d i m a g i n a t i o n , w e d r a w t h e f u t u r e i n t o t h e

p r e s e n t. H e concedes t h a t t h i s c a n be a m e r e d a y d r e a m , a f o r m

o f e s c a p i s m , b u t h e i n s i s t s t h a t i t c a n a l s o m o v e u s t o i m p r o v e

our l o t . F o r t h i n g s t o g e t better, we have to see more than the irpresent state. I m a g i n a t i o n is th e w a y w e e x p a n d o u r v i s i o n . A c

c o r d i n g t o B l o c h , w e c an n o t k n o w w h e t h e r o u r i m a g i n a t i o n

is an escape o r t h e se ed o f a n e w t r u t h a n d n e w a c t i v i t y . A n d

yet I be l ieve that w e can re ad i ly disc ern the d i f ference w i t h i n

ourse lve s ; i f a fantasy does n ot engage the w i l l b u t o n l y c a l m s

us , then I w o u l d suspect i t o f be ing an escape. T h o s e w h o a r e

a l w a y s s u s p i c i o u s o f i m a g i n a t i o n a r e o f t e n h e a v i l y i n f l u e n c e db y e x i s t e n t i a l i s t t h o u g h t . B e s i d e s , w e h a v e t h e r i g h t t o escape

n o w a n d t h e n .

The idea that hope is an escape, a w a y o f e v a d i n g l i f e , i s

v e r y p r o m i n e n t i n F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m , e sp e c i a l ly as e x p r e ss e d

b y C a m u s i n The Myth of Sisyphus, w h i c h appeared in 1 9 4 2 .

F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m m u s t a l s o b e seen a s a p r o d u c t o f i t s t i m e .

" T h e ty p ica l act o f avoida nce , the fa ta l ev as io n , that i s . . .

h o p e , " C a m u s w r o t e . " H o p e o f a n o th e r l if e o n e m u s t 'd e s e r v e '"

i s a f a ta l e v a s i o n , " o r d e c e p t i o n o f those w h o l ive not for l i fe

i t s e l f b u t f o r s o m e great idea that w i l l t r a n s c e n d i t , r e f i n e i t ,

g i v e i t a m e a n i n g , a n d b e tr a y i t . " I a m i n te r e st e d n o w n o t i n



H O P E

14 0

w h e t h e r C a m u s w a s r i g h t o r w r o n g , b ut r a t h e r i n t h e i n f l u ence t h a t h i s t r e n d o f t h o u g h t e x e r c i s e d , l e ad i n g t o a s te ad y

s t r e a m o f b o o k s i n t h e 1950s a b o u t h o p e ( i n c l u d i n g t ho s e o f

B l o c h a nd B o l l n o w ) .

C a m u s ' s e x tr e m e l y o n e - s i d e d p o s i t i o n d e m a n d e d a r e sp o n s e .

S o o n af te r C am us ' s st a te m e n t ab o ut h o p e as a fa ta l e v as i o n ap

p e a r e d , G a b r i e l M a r c e l , a ls o i n P a ri s, p u b l i s h e d a p h i l o s o p h y

o f h o p e w i t h t h e m e s s ag e t h a t n o o n e c an l ive w i t h o u t h o p e .C a m u s ' s m a x i m w a s t h a t l i f e m u s t b e l i v e d h er e a n d n o w ,

r e g a rd l es s o f a p p r o v a l o r d i s a p p r o v a l , n o t i n t h e n e x t w o r l d

w i t h a n e y e t o a h o m e i n h e a v e n . L i f e w a n t s t o b e l i v e d ac

t iv e ly , a f f ir m a t iv e l y , i m m e d i a t e l y . W h a t d o es t h i s m e a n m o r e

s p e c i f i c a l l y ? " I t is e v i d e n t w h e n a p e r s o n t ak es o n c h a l le n g e s

that present themse lves an d does no t t u r n a w ay f r o m a n y t h i n g —

n e i t h e r f r o m t he w o r l d n o r f r o m o u r a b s u rd s i tu a t i o n as h u m a nb e i n g s . " C a m u s v i e w e d h u m a n b ei n g s as a b su r d h er oe s. T h i s

i m p l i e d t h a t w e m u s t r e c o g n i z e t h e e x t e n t o f o u r w r e t c h e d

state. F a c i n g t h e w o r l d is a c h a l l e n g e o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d a

ca l l t o c o n s c i o us n e s s o n t h e o t h e r .

T h e s y m b o l i c h er o e m b o d y i n g t hi s p h i l o s o p h y w as S is y p h us ,

h e n c e The Myth of Sisyphus. C a m u s u s e d o n l y t h e s e c o n d p a r t

o f t h e G r e e k m y t h , i n w h i c h S i s y p h us p us h e s a s t o n e up a h i l l

w i t h o u t any pro spect o f success; the s tone , sh o r t ly before rea ch

i n g t h e t o p , r o l l s b ac k d o w n i n t o t h e v a l l e y . S i s y p h us goes as

far as he can before the stone rol ls d o w n a g a in o f it s o w n w e i g h t ,

p u s h i n g t h e s t o n e b ac k up ag a i n w i t h t h e u t m o s t e x e r t i o n .

C a m u s re f lec ted that S i syphus has no prospect of success , but

h e is n o t d e s p er a te e i t h e r . T h u s S is y p h us d e p o t e n t i a t e s t h e g o d s

w h o ha ve p u n i s h e d h i m . C a m u s ' s b a s ic m e ss ag e c o u l d be stated

as f o l l o w s : W h e n w e a c ti v e ly a f fi rm o u r fate i n s i m p l e o b e d i

ence t o w h a t e v e r p r e s e n t s i t s e l f a t t h e m o m e n t , l i f e h a s m e a n

i n g a fte r a l l . C a m u s c o n c l u d e s w i t h t he e x c i t i n g s e n te n ce , " T h e




14 1

s t r u g g l e i t s e l f t o w a r d t h e h e i g h t s i s e n o u g h t o fill a h u m a n h e a rt ;

w e m u s t i m a g i n e S i s y p h u s a s a h a p p y m a n . "

Jean P a u l S a r t r e ( f o r e x a m p l e , i n L'existentialisme est un hu-

manisme) h e l d t h a t w h a t c o u n t s i n l if e i s a b s o lu t e e n g a g e m e n t .

O n e ca n n o t e xp e ct t o b e r e w a r d e d o r c o u n t o n t h i n g s i m p r o v

i n g . B o t h S a r tr e a n d C a m u s a r g u e d a g a i n st h o p e a n d f o r a b s o

l u t e e n g a g e m e n t . B u t S a r tr e w o u l d n e v e r d e m a n d t h a t a n a b

sur d h e r o be h a p p y . I t w a s C a m u s ' s n o v e l s u g g e s t i o n t h a t n o to n l y d o es t he h u m a n c o n d i t i o n r e q u ir e to l e r a t i o n o f fa i lure , b u t

f u r t h e r m o r e w e s h o u l d b e h a p p y w i t h t h i s l o t . H o w e v e r , I q u e s

t i o n w h e t h e r h o p e d o e s n o t find a w a y i n t o t h i s p h i l o s o p h y

t h r o u g h t h e b a ck d o o r , t h r o u g h ha p p i n e s s . S is y p h u s ha s a f u

t u r e . H e m u s t e x p e c t t h e g o d s e v e n t u a l l y t o l o se t h e i r n e r v e

i n th e face o f h i s S t o i c r e s o l v e .

C a m u s f o u g h t a g a i n s t d e c a d e n t f o r m s o f h o p e . I a m o f t h eo p i n i o n t h a t h e d i d n o t f in a ll y o p p o s e h o p e i t s e l f; w h a t h e o p

p o s e d c o u l d better b e d e s c r i b e d as e x p e c t a t i o n . W e ha ve t w o

w a y s o f u s i n g t h e w o r d h o p e : " I h o p e " a n d " I h o p e th a t . . . . "

W h e n w e say " I h o p e t ha t . . . " w e o f t e n b e c o m e q u i t e n e b u

l o u s . W e h o p e t h a t s o m e t h i n g w i l l c h a n g e f o r t h e better. B u t

w e d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h o p e w i t h a l l o u r h e a rt a n d s o u l . W e

just w a n t . C a m u s f i g h t s a g a i n s t t h i s : R a t h e r t h a n e n t e r t a i n i n gs o m e n e b u l o u s h o p e , le t us b e a l er t a n d a c k n o w l e d g e w h a t t h e

p r e c is e p r o b l e m i s . T h i s c a n be a v e r y h e a l t h y a t t i t u d e . I t f o rc e s

us to dea l w i t h p r o b l e m s h e r e a n d n o w , t o t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

for matters that require a t tent ion , to s tand w i t h b o t h feet p l a n t e d

firmly o n t h e g r o u n d .

C a m u s a ls o o p p o s e d d e l e g a t i o n , a r g u i n g t ha t " m y s to n e is

m y p r o b l e m . M y fate is m y p r o b l e m . " F o r e x am p l e , h e o p p o s e dthe a t t i tude that says , " I 've just h a d b a d l u c k . I f m y f a t h e r , i f

m y m o t h e r , i f t he g o v e r n m e n t , i f t he e n v i r o n m e n t . . . . " C a m u s

b a t t l e d a g a in s t t h e d e l e g a t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a g a i n st d e n i a l



H O P E

14 2

a n d p r o j e c t io n . W h e n w e o w n o u r p r o b l e m s a n d a n s w e r fo r

t h e m o ur s e l v e s , t h e r e s u l t i s m ax i m al f r e e d o m t o create o u r o w n

w o r l d . Th er e is no on e to t e l l us w ha t is f inally r ig ht an d t ru e .

W e m u s t l iv e o n t h e s i d e o f r i s k an d m ak e t h e best o f i t .

T h i s p h i l o s o p h y is i n s u f f i c i e n t . S is y p h u s is i n c o m p l e t e , es

p e c i a l l y i f w e c o n s i d e r o n l y th e s e c o n d p ar t o f h i s m y t h [see

K a s t , 1 9 8 6 ] . S i s y p h us i s a s o l i t a r y , p r o u d , perhaps even aut i s t i c

h e r o . H e is c o m p l e t e l y b y h i m s e l f . A n d h e is a h e r o w h o actsas i f c o n s ci o u sn e s s w e r e p r i m a r y : " I c a n d o w h a t I w a n t . N o

o n e h as t o h e l p m e . " T h e r e i s n o o n e else i n h a b i t i n g t h e S i s y -

p h u s i a n l an d s c ap e . S i s y p h us is n o t a n ar c i s s i s ti c h e r o ; there is

n o a u d ie n c e — n o t e v en h i m s e l f — t o a p p l a u d as h e sets his face

t o hi s s t o n e . H e is a s o l i t a r y h e r o . T h e p r i n c i p l e o f r e l a t i o n s h i p

is c o m p l e t e l y absent in th is ex i s tent ia l is t s t rand of tho ug ht . Th ere

i s n o r e l a t i o n s h i p , fo r t h a t w o u l d m e a n t h e r i s k o f g e t t i n g i n t os o m e t h i n g t h a t o n e m i g h t n o t b e a b l e t o l ive u p t o . A n d there

i s n o t h i n g t h a t s i m p l y comes one's w a y . O n e m u s t w o r k h a r d

fo r e v e r y t h i n g . I b e l i e v e there ar e t i m e s w h e n w e h av e t o w o r k

h a r d f o r e v e r y t h i n g , b u t there a r e a l s o t i m e s w h e n s o m e t h i n g

just comes o u r w a y . S i s y p h us i s a p a r am o u n t h e r o o f t he e g o .

Y o u se e, C a m u s d ep o s es a l l au t h o r i t i e s an d p ut s t h e e g o i n t h e

seat o f a u t h o r i t y .I have yet to meet an y o n e w h o h as n o t a t s o m e t i m e i n

l ife b e en i n f l u e n c e d b y F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m . T h e b a t t l e a g a in s t

fo g g y h o p e h as a p l ace i n n e ar l y e v er y o n e 's l i f e , ab o ve a l l w h e n

t h e e g o c o m p l e x m us t d e v e l o p o ut o f t h e p ar e n t a l c o m p l e x e s

a n d w h e n o u r l i v e s c a l l f o r greater a u t o n o m y . A u t o n o m y , n o t

a u t i s m . I n o t h e r w o r d s , at t im e s w h e n a p e r s o n feels t h r e a t e n e d

b y a u t h o r i t y c o m p l e x e s , C a m u s ' s t e a c h in g c a n h e l p h i m o r h e r

t o say , " N o o n e i s g o i n g to g e t m e o u t o f w h a t I ha ve g o t t e n

m y s e l f i n t o . L a t e r I w i l l h av e t o p ay fo r i t a l l . S o I am g o i n g

to do as I p le ase . " R ev o l t m ay then break ou t in a person 's l i fe ,

w h i c h m i g h t b e necessary i n o r d e r t o w i n a u t o n o m y . B u t a u -




Hi

t o n o m y can eas i ly become i s o l a t i o n i s m , t a k i n g us a w a y f r o m

r e l a t i o n s h i p s and f r o m the g r o u n d th a t s u p p o r ts us.

In my o p i n i o n , t h i s e x i s t e n t i a l i s m d e v e l o p e d in an a t m o

sphere of h o s t i l i t y to d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y . T h e r e w a s a t i m e w h e n

d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y w o u l d s a y m o r e e m p h a t i c a l l y , "Just go a l o n g

w i t h i t ! R e g r e s s ! W a i t u n t i l s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s !" D o y o u k n o w

h o w l o n g one can w a i t in o b e d i e n c e to t h i s a t t i t u d e ? N o t h i n g

h a p p e n s ! I c a n u n d e r s t a n d h o w p e r s o n s w i t h o u t m u c h p a t i e n c e

m i g h t say, "Fo r heaven's sake, now we need to e m p h a s i z e the

here a n d n o w ! " T h i s h ap p e n e d i n d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y , t o o . " H e r e

a n d n o w " w a s p ra c ti ca l ly the prayer of the s ix t ies and sevent ies .

B u t th a t re f r a in ha s s u bs id e d a g a in s o m e w h a t . " H e r e a n d n o w "

i s s i m p l y no l o n g e r e n o u g h , because there is no f u t u r e in it .

F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m u n l e a s h e d an i n t e n s e r e a c t i o n w i t h

s u ch b o o k s as About Hope [ P l i i g g e , 1954] a n d the f o l l o w i n g se n

tence f r o m B o l l n o w : "It is n o t just a m a t t e r of d i s c o v e r i n g h o p e ;

i t is a m a t t e r of finding new sources of Geborgenheit. To de

m o b i l i z e h o p e w o u l d be to d e m o b i l i z e Geborgenheit" [1955, p.

12]. F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m is an a n t i d o t e to r e g r e s s i o n and the

t e n d e n c y to o b s c u r e . It d o e s not speak for e v e r y aspect of l i f e .

M y t h o l o g y consists of m o r e m y t h o l o g e m s t h a n S i s y p h u s . If Sisy

p h u s w e r e the o n l y h e r o , his task w o u l d be our task . But heis not.

W h e n we c a l l h o p e an i l l u s i o n , we are s a y i n g m o r e a b o u t

e x p e c t a t i o n t h a n a b o u t h o p e . B o t h e x p e c t a t i o n a n d h o p e le a d

u s i n t o the f u t u r e . P o s s e s s i n g a s p e c i f i c c o n t e n t , e x p e c t a t i o n is

m o r e d e f i n i t e t h a n h o p e . We hope t h a t s o m e t h i n g w i l l get bet

t e r , s e n s i n g t h a t s o m e t h i n g — u n d e f i n e d — w i l l d e v e lo p . A n ex

p e c t a t i o n is clearer and m o r e l i m i t e d t ha n h o p e .W e d e a l t b r i e f l y w i t h e x p e c t a t io n a n d l o n g i n g e a rl ie r , w h e n

w e w e r e d i s c u s s i n g the a n t i c i p a t i o n o f j o y . The a n t i c i p a t i o n of

j o y i n v o l v e s a s i g n i f i c a n t degree of r i s k , the r i s k of d i s a p p o i n t

m e n t , s in c e t h e j o y before is not r e s t r i c t e d to t h i n g s i n the pres -



H O P E

14 4

ent or the pas t but feeds o n th e i m a g i n a t i o n o f w h a t m i g h t

h a p p e n . I m a g i n a t i o n is i n f o r m e d b y o u r k n o w l e d g e o f w h a t

can rea l i s t i ca l ly be exp ected , b ut i t is a l so hea vi ly co lo red by

our l o n g i n g s a n d w i s h e s .

W h e n w e expect s o m e t h i n g , w e l ive i n e x p e c t a t i o n o f it

and o u r e x p e c t a t i o n s s t r uc t ur e t h e fu t u r e . T h e fu t u r e fills us

w i t h at least as m u c h a n x i e t y a s h o p e . E v e r y t h i n g t h a t is so

o p e n a n d u n s t r u c t u r e d g iv e s u s th e fe e l in g , " M y G o d , w h a t

do I d o n o w ? " W e p r e p ar e o ur s e l v e s fo r t h e fu t ur e w i t h the

h e l p o f c o n s i d e r e d e xp e c t a ti o n s a b o u t h o w t h i n g s w i l l be . I f

I w a k e u p o n e m o r n i n g a n d s a y t o m y s e l f , " T o d a y there i s n o t h

i n g I ab s o l ut e l y h av e t o d o , " I w i l l u s u a ll y s o o n b e g i n t h i n k i n g ,

" W h a t s h o u ld I d o n o w ? " Ex p e ct at io n s o f w h a t needs to be

d o n e a n d w h a t I w o u l d l i k e t o d o r us h i n t o fill t h e v a c u u m .

T h e d a y takes o n a s t r uc t ur e ; I c an k e e p m y s e l f b us y an d r e l ie v em y s e l f o f t h e stress o f n o t k n o w i n g w h a t t o expect. I t may be

that we create g e n e r a l an d sp e c if ic e x p e c t a t i o n s t o s t ruc t ur e o u r

l ives i f w e have n o se t expe ctat ions a l ready es tabl i shed .

E x p e c t a t i o n s s t r u c t u r e o u r l i v e s e n o r m o u s l y . I f y o u h a v e

a v e r y c l e ar e x p e c t a t i o n — fo r e x am p l e , a d a te o n w h i c h y o u i n

t e n d t o t a k e a n e x a m i n a t i o n — y o u r w h o l e l i f e r e v o l v e s a r o u n d

t h is o n e t h o u g h t . I f y o u l iv e y o ur l i f e i n t h e e x p e c t a t i o n o f ac e r t a i n e n c o un t e r s o t h a t y o u t h i n k " T h e n t h i s p e r s o n w i l l c o m e

and i t w i l l b e s o m e t h i n g l ik e t h i s , " y o u w i l l n o t h a v e m u c h

l i b i d o f o r a n y t h i n g else; y o u w i l l b e t o o fo c us e d o n y o ur e x p e c

t a t i o n . T h i s i s w h y w e a re a lw a y s so d i s a p p o i n t e d w h e n t h i n g s

do n o t t u r n o u t t h e w a y w e i m a g i n e d t h e y w o u l d . O u r d is ap

p o i n t m e n t s e m p t y u s because t h e y a n n o u n c e t h e e n d o f w h a t

ever was h o l d i n g o ur p s y c h i c l i v e s t o g e t h e r . T h e r e i s n o t h i n gelse t o o c c u p y t h e c e n t r a l an d n o w v acan t p o s i t i o n l e ft b y t h e

o ld e x p e c t a t i o n u n t i l w e h av e i n s t a l l e d a n e w e x p e c t a t io n i n o u r

l ives .

Empt iness need not be as dramat ic as i t i s a lways descr ibed




H 5

a s b e i n g . I h a v e c o m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e statement " I

f e e l e m p t y " a l w a y s h a s a s l i g h t l y u n p l e a s a n t s o u n d t o t h e ears

o f t he r a p is t s, as i f t he p a t i e n t w e r e s a y i n g , " H o w d o I fill the

e m p t i n e s s a g a i n ? " In t e rm s o f p s y c h i c h o u s e k e e p i n g , e m p t i n e s s

s ig n a l s th e n e e d fo r a t i m e o f r e s t r u c t u r i n g , w h e n w e l o o k t o

see i f s o m e t h i n g n e w i s e m e r g i n g o n e i th e r t h e i n n e r o r o u t e r

h o r i z o n .

L o n g i n g s o f t e n i n f lu e n c e o u r e x p e c t a ti o n s . L o n g i n g s e xp re ss

t h em s e lv e s m o s t l y i n t he f o r m o f w i s h e s . W h a t e v e r is a n i m a t e d

i n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s , w h a t e v e r m u s t b e o r w a n t s t o b e l i v e d at

t h e m o m e n t , f i n d s e x p r e s s i o n a s a w i s h . T h e i n t e n s i t y o f o u r

l o n g i n g to have a w i s h fu l f i l l e d te l l s us how necessary the de

sired t h i n g i s t o m a k e u s f e e l w e l l a n d w h o l e a g a i n . L o n g i n g

has to do w i t h l i v i n g f o r t h e f u t u r e . S o m e t h i n g i s a l w a y s m i s s

i n g f r o m o u r l iv e s , a n d s o m e t h i n g n e w i s c o n t i n u a l l y a p p e a r in g

o n t h e h o r i z o n t h a t w e c a n see o n l y t h r o u g h t h e le n s o f o u r

l o n g i n g s .

L o n g i n g s easi ly become associated w i t h e x p e c t a t i o n s . T h e r e

are n o t m a n y p e o pl e w h o ca n s i m p l y say, " N o w I a m g o i n g

t o t e n d t o m y l o n g i n g s . " L o n g i n g s u s u a l l y f l o w i n t o t h e m o l d s

o f e x p e c t a t i o n s , w h e r e t h e y s o l i d i f y . W e become a b s o r b e d i n

t h o u g h t s a b o u t w h a t is m o s t i m p o r t a n t t o u s i n l i f e , w h a t isi n store f o r u s , w h a t w e are l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to i n th e f u t u r e .

I f w e c a n a c h i e v e s o m e d i s t a n c e f r o m these fantas ies , w e sud

d e n l y r e al iz e h o w m a n y o f o u r l o n g i n g s are m i x e d i n w i t h t h e m .

I f w e m a n a g e t o s ay , " A h y e s, those a r e m y l o n g i n g s a n d n o t

w h a t I c a n expect f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n r i g h t n o w , " t h e n w e

c an r ed e e m t he l o n g i n g s a n d a v o i d a h u g e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . B u t

s ince w e are no t usu al ly so con sc io us , w e gene ra l ly have to bed i s a p p o i n t e d a n d e m p t i e d fir st ; t h e n p e r h a p s w e w i l l b e g i n t o

ref lec t .

E x p e c t a t i o n a lw a ys i n c lu d e s l o n g i n g . T h e w o r d " e xp e c ta

t i o n " c ov e rs a b r o a d s p e c t r u m o f m e a n i n g s . A t o n e e n d o f t he



H O P E

I4 6

s p e c t r u m , i t i n v o l v e s h o p i n g f o r s o m e t h i n g ; t h is e x p e c t a t i o n

is n ot as op en -end ed as a pu re hop e or as r i g i d as a defini te

e x p e c t a t i o n . A m o r e d e f i n i t e e x p e c t a t i o n i s e x p re s se d b y s ay i n g ,

" I hope that . . . . " This can very eas i ly s l ip i n t o c o u n t i n g o n

s o m e t h i n g , o r e v en i n s i s t i n g o n th e r i g h t t o s o m e t h i n g . E x p e c

t a t i o n c a n b e v e r y f o r c e f u l .

W h e n w e have an e x p e c t a t i o n , w e are so fo c us e d o n an d

e x c i t e d ab o ut s o m e t h i n g t h a t w e s e l d o m h av e a great d e a l o f

p a t i e n c e . E x p e c t a t i o n is r a t h e r i m p at i e n t ; h o p e is r e l a t i v e l y p a

t i e n t . H o p e , u n l i k e e x p e c t a t io n , d o es n o t d e m a n d i m m e d i a t e

resul t s . A i m i n g a t a m o r e d i s tan t fu t ur e , h o p e enjoys a greater

f r e e d o m t o l e t events u n f o l d i n th e ir o w n t im e . E x p e c t a t i o n

m o v e s i n o n t h i n g s , w h e r e a s w i t h h o p e t h i n g s m o v e i n o n p e o

p l e . E x p e c t a t i o n i s less s p ac i o us an d m o r e r e s t r i c te d t h a n h o p e ,

d e n y i n gr e c e p t i v i t y t o a n y t h i n g t h a t d o e s n o t c o n f o r m t o i t s

p r e c o n c e p t i o n s . E x p e c t a t i o n m a k e s u s v e r y c h o o s y .

N a r r o w n e s s a n d l a c k o f r e c e p t i v i t y a r e o f t e n d u e t o c o m

p l ex es t h a t k e ep s ur fac i n g i n o u r li v e s . C a u g h t i n a r u t , w e are

h a r d l y i n a p o s i t i o n t o e n jo y t h e e xp an s i v en e s s o f h o p e . T o r e

place expectat ion w i t h hope i s one of the fundamental chal lenges

o f therapy. M a n y persons say, " I do n ' t expect a n y t h i n g a n y m o r e ;

t h a t w a y n o b o d y c a n d i s a p p o i n t m e a n y m o r e . " T h i s m a y b eg o o d o r b a d , d e p e n d i n g o n w h o s ays i t . It i s g o o d i f i t comes

f r o m a p e r s o n w h o h a s r i g i d e x p e c ta t io n s , s o m e o n e w h o r e

q ui r e s e v e r y o n e else to sat i s fy immediate des i res that are actu

al ly h i s o r h e r o w n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . I t i s b ad i f i t comes f r o m

s o m e o n e w h o n o l o n g e r ha s a n y m o r e ex p e c ta t io n s o f a n y o n e

else o r o f l i f e , w h o t h u s n o l o n g e r w a n t s t o l i v e .

B u t e x p e c t a t io n is n o t c o n f i n e d t o n a r r o w n e s s ; i t c a n o p e ni t se l f up to hope as w e l l . It w o u l d be a m is take to t ry to l iv e

w i t h o u t a n y e x p e c ta t io n s at a l l . H o w w o u l d y o u f e e l i f y o u r

p a r t n e r s a i d , " I d o n ' t expect a n y t h i n g m o r e o f y o u " ? S u c h a

statement d r i v e s aw ay t h e fu t ur e , p o s s i b i l i t i e s fo r c h an g e , an d




14 7

t h e p ro c es s o f r e l a t i o n s h i p as a w h o l e . T h e i l l u s i o n o f h a v i n g

n o e x p e c t a t i o n s b r i n g s a b o u t t h e v e r y t h i n g w e w e r e t r y i n g

to avo id in the f ir st p lace : the threat to today . W h e n w e are

fixed i n t he e x p e c t a t io n o f h av i n g n o e x p e c t a ti o n s , t h e n t he p o s

s i b i l i t y t r u ly arises that w e w i l l lose the here a n d n o w a n d t h e

j o y o f e v e r y d ay l i f e .

I w o u l d l i k e t o c o n c l ud e t h i s c h ap t e r w i t h a p o e m b y A n

nettev o n D r o s t e - H u l s h o f f e n t it le d " C a r p e d i e m "

(Seizethe

D a y ) , w h i c h ur g e s us n o t t o l e t e m p t y e x p e c t a ti o n s tak e t h e

place of l i fe .

Carpe diem (Pfl i icke die Stunde)

O wer nur ernst und fest die Stund ergreift

den Kranz ihr auch von ble ichen Locken stre i ft ,

dem spendet w i l l i g sie die reichste Beute.

D o c h wir , wir Toren, drangen s ie zuri ick,vor uns die Hoffnung, hinter uns das Gl i i ck

und unsere Morgen morden unsere Heute .

Those who seize the hour w i t h zest and purpose ,

l i f t i ng a crown from i ts pale locks,

easily reap the richest bounty.

But we fools force i t out of our way

w i t h hope before us, happiness behind,and our tomorrows murder our todays.



14-

Hope in the Realm of

the M oth er A rchetype

H O P E D R A W S O N A H I D D E N V I S I O N o f t h e better. B y hoping, w e

w a l k t o w ar d a l i g h t t h a t w e d o n o t see b ut sense s o m e w h e r e

i n t he d a rk n e s s o f t he f u t u r e . W i t h o u t h o p e w e say , " T h e d a r kis just d a r k . Y o u c a n i m a g i n e as m a n y l i g h t s as y o u l i k e ; there

a r e n o n e . " H o p e c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a n o p e n - e n d e d o r i e n t a

t i o n for the better extending as far into the future as the af ter

l i f e . T h i s "better" i s s o m e t i m e s a l so c a l le d h o l y .

H o p e refers to the openn ess o f the futu re ; as a response to

the openness of the future i t i s an a l te rnat ive to anx ie ty . I f we

ar e t o o v e r c o m e o ur an x i e t y i n t h e face o f t h e f u t u r e , w e m u s td e p e n d i n th e e n d o n h o p e , b ut w e n e e d n o t t ak e s uc h a d e t o ur .

W e c o u l d react d i r e c t l y t o t h e fu t u r e' s u n c e r t a i n t y b y h o p i n g ,

p o s s i b l y e v e n ag a i n s t o ur better j u d g m e n t . W e w o u l d t h e n b e

d r a w i n g o n c r e a t i v e o p t i o n s an d r e s o ur c e s w e m ay n e v e r h av e

t h o u g h t w e h a d . H o p e is th e e m o t i o n th a t w o r k s a g a in s t c o n

v e n t i o n a n d h a b i t .

A s p s y c h o l o g i s t s , w e a r e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h a d i f f i c u l t q ue s t i o n h e r e . W e are fam i l i a r w i t h t he s o -c a ll ed r e p e t i t i o n c o m p u l

s i o n , th e fact t h a t w h e n p e r s o n s react o u t o f t h e i r c o m p l e x e s

t h e y b e hav e t h e s am e w ay e v e r y t i m e . A c e r t a i n q ua l i t y o f r e s i g

n a t i o n enters p s y c h o l o g y t h r o u g h t h i s k n o w l e d g e , a n d s o w e



Mother Archetype

14 9

o v e r l o o k t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e c o i n . I t i s o f t e n t r u e t h a t t h e

r e p e t i t io n c o m p u l s i o n is at w o r k , b u t r e a l i ty m a y t u r n o u t d i f

f e r e n t l y f r o m w h a t t h e o r y w o u l d p r e d i c t . O p e n n e s s t o t h e f u

ture is a lso a fact.

W e ha ve e x a m i n e d v a r i o u s t h e o r i e s a b o u t h o p e a n d ha ve

f o u n d o n e t h i n g th e y a l l s h ar e : a c a r e f u l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e t w e e n

i l l u s i o n a n d v i s i o n . H o p e c a n l e a d t o t h e i l l u s i o n that l i fe is

o t h e r t h a n i t r e a ll y i s. A r e w e a v o i d i n g s o m e t h i n g b y h o p i n g ?Is hope rea l ly a v i s i o n , t h e b a s i c s t u f f o f p e r s o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t ,

t h e r a w m a t e r i a l f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e v e r y p e r s o n a n d a c o m

m o n l i fe o n t h is p l a n e t ? Is h o p e t h e g r o u n d o f p r o m i s e t h a t

u n d e r g i r d s a better e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l i n g , o r is i t a m e r e f l i g h t ?

I h a v e m a d e c o p i o u s u s e o f F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m , w h i c h

s t i m u l a t e d v a r i o u s p h i l o s o p h i e s o f h o p e i n r e s p o n s e . A m o n g

t h e e x i s t e n t i a l i s t s w e w i t n e s s e d a c r u sa d e a g a i n s t t h e p o w e r o fi l l u s i o n t o d e c e i v e u s i n t o o p t i n g f o r s p u r i o u s h o p e . T h e b a s i c

message o f C a m u s a n d Sartre af f i rmed the va lue of abso lute com

m i t m e n t , e v en i n th e absence of any prospect of success o r c h a n g e .

In a d d i t i o n , C a m u s e x p e ct e d u s t o b e h a p p y w i t h t h i s state o f

a f f a i r s . W e q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r t h i s w a s n o t a s k i n g t o o m u c h .

I t w a s e x c i t i n g t o d i s c o v e r a h o p e h i d d e n w i t h i n t h i s p h i l o s o

p h y , h o w e v e r , a h o p e t h a t r e m a i n s p u r e a n d i m a g e l e s s b y reject

i n g a l l v i s i o n s a n d co n s t r u c t s o f h a p p in e s s : C a r r y o n e v e n t h o u g h

there i s n o p r o s p e c t o f success! T h e f e e l i n g t h a t i t i s m e a n i n g f u l

t o c a r r y o n after a l l r ev e a ls a h i d d e n h o p e . F r e n c h e x i s t e n t i a l i s m

s o u g h t t o a v o i d t he p r o d u c t i o n o f fa ls e h o p e , b a t t l i n g a g a in s t

p i p e d r e a m s a n d castles in the a i r , aga ins t the tendency to l ie

i n a s t u p o r o f p o s t p o n e d r e a l i ty . I t h i n k w e a re a l l f a m i l i a r w i t h

t h e m i s u se o f i m a g i n a r y w o r l d s t h a t d o n o t d e se rv e t h e n a m e

o f h o p e . A s A n n e t t e v o n D r o s t e - H i i l s h o f f w r o t e i n th e p o e m

t h a t I q u o t e d , " o u r t o m o r r o w s m u r d e r o u r t o d a y s . "

B u t there i s another s ide to th is c rusade aga ins t hope. French

e x i s t e n t i a l is m g l o r i f i e d r o u t i n e . T h i s i s e x e m p l i f ie d i n S i s y p hu s 's



H O P E

I J O

d e v o t i o n t o h i s s i n g u l a r t a s k : a l wa y s t h e s am e s t o n e . E l s e w h e r e

I h ave de m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e s t o n e t o o k o n a d i f f e r e n t f o r m

a f t e r h a v i n g r o l l e d d o w n that h i l l s o m a n y t i m e s . T h e r e w a s

just a b i t o f h o p e a t w o r k . I reject f u t i l e r o u t i n e .

E a r l i e r w e a sk ed i f t he v i s i o n a r y , " i m a g i n a r y w o r l d " aspect

o f h o p e i s r e a l l y h o p e a n d n o t m o r e l ike r i g i d e x p e c t a t i o n . I

s po k e o f t h e c l u s t e r o f e m o t i o n s t h a t i n c l u de s e x pe c t a t i o n , l o n g

i n g , a n d h o p e , w h i c h I u n d e r s t a n d a s a c o n t i n u u m w i t h a v e r yn a r r o w , s pe c i f i c e x pe c t a t i o n a t o n e e n d o f t h e s pe c t r u m d e v o i d

o f l o n g i n g , a n d an e x p e c t a t i o n t h a t i n c r e a s i n g l y r e se m b le s h o p e

as it becomes i n ve s t e d w i t h m o r e a n d m o r e l o n g i n g t o w a r d th e

o t h e r e n d o f t he s p e c t r u m . A s te p o u t s i d e t h e " v i s i b l e " s p ec

t r u m o n t h e s i de o f h o pe w o u l d b r i n g u s t o a bs o l u t e h o pe , t o

u se M a r c e l ' s e x p r e s s i o n , o r t o u n i v e r s a l h o p e as B o l l n o w c a l le d

i t , o r t o i m a g e l e s s h o pe a s i t h a s a l s o be e n c a l l e d . T h i s f o r mo f h o p e i s p r a c t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l w i t h f a i t h , a t l e a s t a c c o r d i n g t o

M a r c e l . I see e x p e c t a ti o n , l o n g i n g , a n d h o p e as a c o n t i n u u m ,

w i t h o pe n n e s s i n c r e a s i n g f r o m l e f t t o r i g h t (a s i t we r e ) . A b s o

l u t e h o p e w o u l d be just o f f t h e s c a l e . P r e v i o u s l y we a g r e e d t h a t

i l l u s i o n has to do w i t h n a r r o w e x p e c t a t i o n .

B l o c h s pe a k s e s s e n t i a l l y o f t h o s e e x pe c t a t i o n s w h i c h a re i n

vested w i t h l o n g i n g . I f w e w e r e t o p os e o u r q u e s t i o n t o B l o c ha b o u t w h e t h e r h o p e c a n b e s t i m u l a t e d , h e w o u l d a n sw e r u n a m

b i g u o u s l y t h a t h o pe c a n n o t o n l y be l e a r n e d bu t i t c a n al s o be

t a u g h t . B l o c h ' s h o p e , a k n o w i n g h o p e r a t h e r t h a n a s p u r i o u s

o n e , b e g i n s b y b e i n g " k n o w i n g l y d i s s a t i s f i e d " a n d b y reject

i n g de f i c i e n c y . I u n de r s t a n d " k n o w i n g d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n " as a state

that ar i ses when i t i s c lear that th ings c o u l d be better. B l o c h

f u r t h e r m a i n t a i n s t h a t h o p e f o r as y e t u n b o r n p o s s i b i l it i e s is a

n o r m a l c o n s t i t u e n t o f h u m a n c o n s c i o u s n e s s . T o l e a r n h o p e i s

t o d i s c o v e r t h e n o t y e t c o n s c i o u s . B l o c h i n v e i g h s a g a i n s t d e p t h

p s y c h o l o g y because he has the im p re ss io n that i t is not a t a l l

c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e f u t u r e , a s i f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s c o n s i s t e d o f



Mother Archetype

151

n o t h i n g b u t m e m o r y . W h i l e t h is m a y be t r u e o f c e r ta i n c u r

rents i n d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y , those w h i c h w o r k w i t h a r c h e t y p a l

s y m b o l s d e a l w i t h t h e a n t i c i p a t o r y d i m e n s i o n o f t h e p s y c h e

t o o . I n t h e l a r g e r w o r l d t he a s s u m p t i o n is c o m m o n l y m a d e t ha t

m e m o r y i s d e c i s i v e , w h e r e a s a n t i c i p a t i o n i s r o m a n t i c a n d s p e c u

l a t i v e . T h e a n t i c i p a t o r y f u n c t i o n i s n o m o r e o r less prec ise than

t h e r e c o l l e c t i v e f u n c t i o n ; b o t h c a n b e h a n d l e d m o r e o r less specu

l a t i v e l y . There i s no bas ishere

f o r d e v a l u i n g t he a n t i c i p a t o r yf u n c t i o n o f t h e p s y c h e .

B l o c h w a s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e p r o s p e c t i v e d i m e n s i o n o f s y m

b o l s , th e n o t y et c o n s c i o u s t h a t m a y y e t become c o n s c i o u s . A

c o m p l e x i s t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a c o n f l i c t , b u t i t is a ls o a n o p p o r

t u n i t y f o r d e v e l o p m e n t . M e m o r y c a n f u n c t i o n as a si g n p o s t

g u i d i n g u s i n t o th e f u t u r e . T h e m e t h o d o f a ct iv e i m a g i n a t i o n

c a n h e lp us t o w o r k o u t t h e n o t - y e t- co n s c i o u s d i m e n s i o n o f s y m b o l s a n d c o m p l e x e s, w h i c h is n o t o n l y th e d i m e n s i o n o f t h e

f u t u r e b u t a ls o t h a t o f f r e e d o m . T h e q u e s t t o m a k e c o n s c i o u s

w h a t is no t yet consc io us was B lo ch ' s ques t , and i t i s the ques t

o f c re a ti v e p e r s o n s , y o u n g p e r so n s , a n d p i l g r i m s i n ti m e s o f

c h a n g e . W e become c o n s c i o u s o f t h e n o t y e t c o n s c i o u s b y e x

a m i n i n g o u r d a y d r e a m s a n d i m a g i n a r y w o r l d s . I n d i r e c t l y B l o c h

w a s a v e r y g o o d p s y c h o l o g i s t , a s k i n g w h a t d i s t in g u i s h e s i l l u s i o n f r o m v i s i o n a n d o f f e r i n g a v e r y s u c ci n c t a n s w e r : F a n t a s y

is i l l u s o r y w h e n i t i n d u l g e s u s a n d s h ie l d s us f r o m e v e r y d a y re a l

i t y ; i t i s v i s i o n a r y w h e n it a g i ta t e s, a n i m a t e s , a n d creates a p r o

d u c t i v e t e n s i o n .

H o p e c a n b e l e a r n e d f i r s t b y o u r b e i n g k n o w i n g l y d i s s a t

isf ied a n d r e j e c t i n g d e f i c i e n c y , a n d t h e n b y o u r p u r s u i n g t h e

d a y d r e am s a n d i m a g i n a r y w o r l d s t h a t p o i n t t he w a y t o c h a n g e .

B l o c h a t t e m p t e d t o t e a c h h o p e b y w r i t i n g t w e n t y - o n e h u n d r e d

pages d e s c r i b i n g t h e U t o p i a s o f h u m a n i t y , a t e s t i m o n y t o t he

u n i v e r s a l i t y o f i m a g i n a r y w o r l d s . I t c a n b e q u i t e b o r i n g t o r e a d

t h r o u g h s u c h a h e a p o f U t o p i a s , b u t t h e w a v e o f h o p e t h a t c a r-



H O P E

152

r i e d h i m aw ay d o e s n o t l e av e us un af fe c t e d w h e n w e r e ad i t ;

o u r e m o t i o n feeds o n a l o n g i n g f o r t he i m p o s s i b l e a n d t h e

creat ive .

H o p e f o r B l o c h w a s a k i n t o i n s p i r a t i o n a n d c r e a t i v i t y . D i s

a p p o i n t m e n t r e s u l t s f r o m n o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t Utopias m u s t

n o t b e m a d e w h o l l y r e a l . U t o p i a s are la m p s h i d d e n i n th e d a r k

ness, as B l o c h p o i n t e d o u t . T h i s d e f i n i t i o n c a n le a d t o a n u n d e r

s t a n d i n g o f h o p e as a fo r m o f r e v o l t . W e c an l e ar n to h o p e b yr e v o l t i n g ag a i n s t b ad e x p e r ie n c e s : " A g a i n s t m y better j u d g m e n t

I a m g o i n g to t ak e t he r i s k o f t h i n k i n g t he i m p o s s i b l e , a n d h o p e

f o r s o m e t h i n g better." T h e success o f S o l i d a r i t y i n P o l a n d i s

an e x a m p l e o f h o p e l e a d i n g t o s o m e t h i n g better. W e resist the

idea that t hi n g s have alway s been as they are , o r always have

t o b e , an d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g fa l l s ap ar t i n t h e e n d an y w ay . T h e

w o r d " r e s i s ta n c e " ha s m a n y o v e rt o n e s i n F r e n c h . H o p e c a n a l sob e a m a t t e r o f d e c i s i o n . B ut h o p e h as n o p o w e r o f resistance

i f i t is a s i m p l e d e n i a l o f h o p e le s sn e s s i n w h i c h w e t e l l o ur s e lv e s

t ha t " t h i n g s g e n e r a l ly t u r n o u t as w e l l as t h e y c an . " T h e r e v o l t

b e g i n s w h e n w e s ay , " Ye s , t h i n g s o f t e n t ur n o ut b ad l y , an d y e t

I a m f o o l i s h e n o u g h t o t h i n k th a t t h ey m a y i m p r o v e . How could

t h i n g s b e better?"

A s k i n g h o w t h i n g s c o u l d b e better m ar k s t h e onset o f q u a l i f ied d i s s a t i s fa c t io n . B l o c h ' s w e l l - i n f o r m e d h o p e is n o r e p re s s io n

of the darker s ide of l i fe . Ear l i e r we sa id that hope i s pat ient

i n c o n t r a s t t o e x p e c t a t i o n . B l o c h ' s h o p e , c lo s e t o l o n g i n g a n d

e x p e c t a t i o n , is n o t v e r y p a t i e n t .

H o w d o w e re a ch a b so l u te h o p e ? B o l l n o w w r o t e t ha t there

ar e s i t ua t i o n s i n w h i c h w e s ud d e n l y h av e t h e sense that the fu

ture i s open. We can exper ience th i s as a threat or as a sus ta in

i n g g r o un d . S i n c e o p e n n e s s t o t h e fu t ur e i s f r i g h t e n i n g , i t r e p

resents a h u g e c ha l le n g e . T h i n k fo r a m o m e n t o f a f e w t h i n g s

t h a t y o u c h e r i s h an d h av e c o m e t o expect, a n d t h e n i m a g i n e

t h a t t h e fu t ur e is o p e n t o an y c h an g e . Y o u m a y f i n d y o u r s e l f



Mother Archetype

153

t r e m b l i n g . B as i c t r us t p l ay s its p ar t h e r e . A l t h o u g h we are notn o r m a l l y c o n s c i o u s of i t , b as ic t r us t — t r us t i n o ur se lv e s an d o t h

ers , t rust in l i fe — u n d e r l i e s and s u p p o r t s a c t i v e h o p e . As l o n g

a s t h i n g s are g o i n g r e l a ti v e ly w e l l , w e h av e c o n c r e t e h o p e s f i l l ed

w i t h i m a g e s a n d id e as . W h e n w e c o ll a p se i n a heap of shat tered

h o p e s , we m a y s t i l l be s us t a i n e d by a h o p e t h a t is ab s o l ut e an d

d e v o i d of i m a g e s . G o n e are an y d e f i n i t e i d e as ab o ut the f u t u r e ;

o n l y a sense of b e i n g c a r r i e d a n d s u s t a i n e d r e m a i n s . T h i s is w h yB o l l n o w speaks of h o p e d e l i v e r i n g us to a new sense of safety

a n d s e c ur i t y , of Geborgenheit.

I w o u l d l i ke to offer an e x a m p l e . I o n c e g av e a s e m i n a r on

h u m a n crises in w h i c h I a t t e m p t e d to find out how m a n y of

t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s had e x p e r i e n c e d a creat ive l eap out of a d e a d

e n d s i t u a t i o n i n t o a s i t u a t i o n of n e w p r o m i s e . S u c h a leap w o u l d

be re lated to the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m a n x i e t y to h o p e . A w o m a nb e t w e e n the age of t h i r t y a n d f o r t y t o l d a b o u t her e x p e r i e n c e :

S he h a d h a d t w o a u t o m o b i l e a cc id e n t s t h a t h a d i n t i m i d a t e d her

a n d le ft her c o n v i n c e d t h a t she w o u l d have to w at c h e v e r y s t e p

f r o m no w on if she w a n t e d to s tay a l ive . She f o u n d t h i s way

o f b e i n g c o m p l e t e l y i n t o l e r a b l e . On e day she said to hersel f ,

" W h y am I h a n g i n g on so d e s p e r a t e l y to l i fe? There ' s no p o i n t

i n i t , " after w h i c h she let go of h e r s e l f , e x p e c t i n g to die. To

h e r s ur p r i s e , she f e l t c ar r i e d . "It was a joy to h o p e , " she re

p o r t e d . "I h a d no i d e a w h a t the f u t u r e w o u l d b r i n g , but I just

f e l t c ar r i e d an d f i l l ed wi th h o p e . " H e r b o d y w a s s t i l l s u f f e r i n g

f r o m severe in jur ies . The t a s k r e m a i n i n g w o u l d have been to

t r a n s f o r m her e x p e r i e n c e of a b s o l u t e h o p e i n t o c o n c r e t e h o p e .

I see h o p e as the basis for i n s p i r a t i o n , c r e a t i v i t y , a n d joy

because it c o n t a i n s the d i m e n s i o n of b as i c t r us t . A r c h e t y p a l i m

ages t h a t ex p re ss j o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , and hope a l so express bas ic

t r u s t . At t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s b o o k , I presented a v i e w of e m o

t i o n as e x is t en t ia l i n v o l v e m e n t c o m m u n i c a t e d to o t h e r p e r s o n s

i n the f o r m of s ignals that have an o ut e r , p h y s i c a l s i d e as w e l l



H O P E

154

as an i n n e r , u n c o n s c i o u s s i d e a n d c a n be e x p r e s s e d i n a r c h e t y p a li m a g e s . I s p o k e o f j o y as a m e a n i n g f u l c o i n c i d e n c e of the ego

and the Se l f in the a n t i c i p a t i o n of s o m e t h i n g u n e x p e c t e d . The

a r c h e t y p a l i m a g e of t hi s e m o t i o n w o u l d be the m o t i f of w a i t i n g

fo r the a r r i v a l of the d i v i n e c h i l d . The e x p e r i e n c e of h a r m o n y

i n the a n t i c i p a t i o n of s o m e t h i n g m o r e has e l s e w h e r e b e e n de

s c r i b e d as the process of i n d i v i d u a t i o n . I re fer red to D i o n y s u s

as an a r c h e t y p a l i m a g e of i n s p i r a t i o n . The a r c h e t y p e of the d i v i n e c h i l d can t a k e m a n y f o r m s ; D i o n y s u s is a f o r m t h a t em

phasizes the aspects of u n a n t i c i p a t e d n e w n e s s a n d i n d e s t r u c t i b i l

i ty. Joy is not i n d e s t r u c t i b l e ; it ca n be k i l l e d . D i o n y s u s s u g g e s t s

e te rn a l t ra n s f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h v i t a l i t y . It is c lear that a m o t h e r

be lon gs here , too — m oth er goddesses , fem inin e goddesses . Th ere

is no d i v i n e c h i l d w i t h o u t a m o t h e r .

T h e e m o t i o n of h o p e , l i k e i n s p i r a t i o n , has r o o t s in the ar

c h e t y p e of t h e d i v i n e c h i l d . In h o p e , the q ual i t i e s of i n d e s t r u c

t i b i l i t y , d i s c o r d , and r e v o l t are s e c o n d a r y to the q ual i t i e s of

g e n e r a t i o n a l g r o w t h , a c t i o n , a n d r e d e m p t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , Je

sus represents the ar c h e t y p e of the d i v i n e c h i l d that expresses

t h e q ua l i t i e s of l i fe associated w i t h h o p e : "But we h o p e he w i l l

r e d e e m I s r a e l . " A g a i n , Jesus s h o u l d be seen in r e l a t i o n to his

m o t h e r , M a r y , as the C a t h o l i c C h u r c h w i s e l y re co g n iz es . W i t h

each of the m a n y v a r i a t i o n s on the m o t i f of the d i v i n e c h i l d ,

w e f i n d a m o t h e r c o m p l e x a n d a m o t h e r a r c h e t y p e . I see h o p e

a s b e l o n g i n g p r i m a r i l y — t h o u g h not e x c l u s i v e l y — t o the r e a l m

o f the m o t h e r a r c h e t y p e v i e w e d as the f o u n d a t i o n of l i fe and

v i t a l i t y , w h i c h i n d uc e s fe e l i n g s of Geborgenheit, fu l l n e s s , and

assurance that the necessit ies of l i fe w i l l be p r o v i d e d . A l s o asso

c i a t e d w i t h t h i s a r c h e t y p e are fee l ings of oneness w i t h o t h e r

p e r s o n s and w i t h the c o s m o s .

T h e a r g u m e n t of t h i s b o o k c o u l d be s u m m a r i z e d by s a y i n g

t h at we are not o n l y flung i n t o l i f e , as the e m o t i o n of a n x i e t y

suggests , but we are a l s o c ar r i e d by l i f e . We h a v e b e e n a s k i n g



Mother Archetype

155

w h e t h e r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l s o takes p la ce w h e n w e s u rr e n d e r o u r

s elv es t o t h e e la t e d e m o t i o n s , a n d I h av e a t t e m p t e d t o p r o v i d e

an a n s w e r . T r a n s f o r m a t i o n takes p l a c e i n b o t h cases, t h r o u g h

a n x i e t y a s w e l l as t h r o u g h j o y ; t he q u e s t i o n i s o n l y w h e r e d o es

e a c h l e a d ? T h r o u g h t h e e l a t e d e m o t i o n s w e find s y m b i o s is , a n d

o u r e g o b o u n d a r i e s a re n o t so d e f i n e d . Y e t b y e x p e r i e n c i n g m o r e

f u l l n e s s , w e g a t h e r s t r e n g t h a n d p a r a d o x i c a l l y become m o r e a u

t o n o m o u s . W e e x p e r i e n c e b e i n g c a r r i e d a n d s u s t a i n e d , a n d w e

e x p e r i e n c e s e l f - e x i s t e n c e b y fo r g e t t i n g o ur s e l v e s r a t h e r t h an b y

fighting fo r o ur s e l v e s . W e e n jo y v i t a l i t y , the r i chness of the

d i s c o v e r a b l e . T h i s i s a f o r m o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s b a s e d o n

t h e r e a l m o f t h e m o t h e r a r c h e t y p e , i n c o n t r as t t o t h a t b as e d

o n t h e fa th e r a r c h e t y p e , w h e r e w e r ef le c t o n o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s i n

o r d e r to become c o n s c i o u s o f t h e m . I n d i v i d u a t i o n i n t h i s c o n

text h a s m u c h m o r e t o d o w i t h s e p a r a t i o n .W e have deal t a t l ength w i t h p r o b l e m s as s o c i a t e d w i t h j o y

a n d s y m b i o s i s : b o u n d l e s s n e s s , o v e r l o o k i n g t h e b a la n c e b e t w e e n

h e i g h t a n d b r e a d t h , b e c o m i n g " h i g h f l o w n , " a n d l o s i n g t o u c h

w i t h r e a l i t y . W e hav e a ls o ask e d w h e t h e r t h e e m o t i o n s o f e l a

t i o n c a n b e l e a r n e d , c o m m u n i c a t e d , o r s t i m u l a t e d .

B i o g e n e t i c s t e ll s us t h a t o ur c ap ac i t y fo r j o y an d h o p e is

p r e d e t e r m i n e d . D e p t h p s y c h o l o g y o ffe rs a d i ff e re n t v i e w . I m y self t h i n k w e c a n b e i n f e c t e d b y t h e e l a t e d e m o t i o n s . R e c o l l e c

t i o n o ffe rs o n e w a y t o l e a r n j o y . T h r o u g h th e b i o g r a p h i c a l r e

c o n s t r u c t i o n o f j o y , w e ca n " r e i n f e c t " o u r se lv e s b y d i p p i n g i n t o

p as t j o y s an d a l l o w i n g t h e m t o ris e a g a i n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h is

is n o t s o easy t o a c c o m p l i s h w i t h i n s p i r a t i o n a n d h o p e . W e e x

p e r ie n c e i n s p i r a t i o n a n d h o p e m u c h l a te r i n l if e t h a n j o y , a n d

they are less c o m m o n th a n j o y , as w e l l . H o w e v e r , i t s h o u l d bep o s s i b l e t o r e c a l l s i t ua t i o n s i n w h i c h w e w e r e i n s p i r e d o r w e r e

i n s p i r i n g , an d p e r h ap s a l s o s i t ua t i o n s i n w h i c h h o p e came

t h r o u g h . W e h a v e f o u n d t h a t there ar e i n fe c t i o us texts, i n s p i r

i n g i m a g i n a r y w o r l d s , a n d p e r ha p s a bo v e a l l , m u s i c . M u s i c a n d



H O P E

156

d a n c e a re e x t r e m e l y c o n d u c i v e t o i n f e c t i o u s j o y . I a l w a y s sa y

t h a t o n e s h o u l d r e a l l y d a n c e a n d n o t just t a l k a b o u t d a n c i n g .

I f y o u h a d e x p e r i e n c e d t h is b o o k i n it s o r i g i n a l f o r m — as l e c

t u r e s — y o u w o u l d have spent the las t few minutes w i t h m e l i s

t e n i n g t o B ee th o v en 's " O d e t o J o y , " w h i c h w a s a m u s i c a l r e n

d i t i o n o f S c hi ll e r 's p o e m " F r e u d e s ch o n e r G o t t e r f u n k e n " ( Jo y

o f D i v i n e S p a rk s ): " W i r b et re te n f e u er t ru n k e n h i m m l i s c h D e i n

H e i l i g e n t u m " ( D r u n k e n w i t h f i re , we enter y o u r h o l y s h r i n e ) .

P e rh a p s th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t l i n e is " A l l e M e n s c h e n w e r d e n B r i i -

d e r . S e i d u m s c h l u n g e n M i l l i o n e n d ie se n K u s s d e r g a n z e n W e l t "

( A l l h u m a n i t y becomes o n e f a m i l y . M a y m i l l i o n s o f these kisses

embrace t h e w o r l d ) .

T h e e m o t i o n s o f e l a t i o n m u s t n o t be r eg a r d e d as s e c o n d a r y

o r l o w e r e d t o t h e status o f o r n a m e n t s ; t h e y a r e e s s e n t i a l i n t h e i r

o w n r ig h t. T h e i s o l a t i o n p r o d u c e d b y a n x i e t y i s o n e - s id e d w i t h ou t the a l l iance created by jo y . I f w e are ab le to see jo y , in sp ira

t i o n , a n d h o p e a s s h a r i n g t h e same l e v e l o f i m p o r t a n c e a s a n x i

e t y a n d g r i e f , those a r o u n d u s w i l l n o t r e m a i n u n a f fe c te d . W e

s h o u l d n o t b e a s h a m e d o f o u r d e l i g h t . I t w o u l d be a n o d d t h i n g

t o b e a s h a m e d o f p l e n t y a n d n o t o f p o v e r t y .



Epilogue

IT IS I M P O R T A N T t h a t w e h u m a n b e i n g s fe e l o u r w o u n d s a n d

k n o w o u r i n h i b i t i o n s , t he p la ce s w h e r e w e are b l o c k e d . T o k n o w

o u r d i f f i c u l t s id e s , w h i c h o f t e n m a k e u s w h a t w e a r e , w e m u s t

b e a b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d accept t h e s t o r y o f o u r s u f f e r i n g a n d

m i s f o r t u n e .

B u t i t i s just as i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w o u r s t r e n g t h s , t o see

th e oases o f h a p p i n e s s w h e r e t h e y a p p e a r i n t h e l a n d s c a p e o f

o u r l i f e s t o r i e s , a n d t o g i v e d u e w e i g h t t o o u r c a p a c i t y , i n s p i t e

o f e v e r y t h i n g , t o t a k e d e e p d e l i g h t . O t h e r w i s e w e c a r r y a r o u n d

a o n e - s i d e d i m a g e o f o u r s e l v e s t h a t l o c k s u s i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f

v i c t i m s : v i c t i m s o f o u r p a r e n t s a n d o f l i f e . B u t w e a r e n o t s i m

p l y v i c t i m s ; l i f e h a s i t s successes a n d j o y s f o r us , to o . O u r oaseso f h a p p i n e s s g i v e u s t h e s t r e n g t h b o t h t o face o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s

r e a l i s t i c a l l y a n d t o r e a l i z e h o w w e p e r p e t u a t e t h e b a d e x p e r i

ences w e h a v e s u f f e r e d b y r e c r e a t i n g t h e m f o r t h o s e a r o u n d u s .

I n d i v i d u a t i o n m e a n s b e c o m i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n , o n e

w h o i s separated f rom one's p a r e n t s t o a d e g r e e a p p r o p r i a t e t o

one's a g e , a n d w h o i s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f r o m one's p r o j e c t e d p a r e n

ta l c o m p l e x e s a s w e l l . I n d i v i d u a t i o n a lso m e an s b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s in g l y o n e s e lf a n d i n c r e a s i n g l y w h o l e . T h e c o n c e p t o f i n d i

v i d u a t i o n c l e a r l y d r a w s o n t h e i d e a o f e m a n c i p a t i o n : w e s h o u l d

b e r u l e d n e i t h e r f r o m w i t h i n n o r f r o m w i t h o u t i f w e a re t o

b e c o m e m o r e a u t o n o m o u s , m o r e i n d i v i d u a l . E v e n i f J u n g says



E P I L O G U E

I 58

t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p to onese l f is at o n c e r e l a t i o n s h i p to o t h e r h u m a n

b e i n g s [ J u n g , v o l . 16, par. # 4 4 5 ] , I s t i l l t h i n k t ha t c o n n e c t e d

ness to o t h e r p e r s o n s , w h i c h goes fa r b e y o n d s t e r e o t y p i c a l w a y s

o f r e l a t i n g as d e f i n e d by t r a d i t i o n a l m a r r i a g e a n d s o c i e ta l r o l e s,

receives too l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n in the c o n c e p t of i n d i v i d u a t i o n as

i t s t an d s .

T h e p r o c e s s of i n d i v i d u a t i o n takes on its f u l l e s t p o t e n t i a l

a n d s i g n i f i c a n c e o n l y w h e n we are able to u n d e r g o r e p e a t e d ex

p e r i e n c e s of s y m b i o t i c f u s i o n w i t h o t h e r p e r s o n s , t h u s c r e a t i n g

t h e e m o t i o n a l b a s i s for s o l i d a r i t y and f e l l o w s h i p . It seems to

m e t h a t the e l a t e d e m o t i o n s g i v e us access to this aspect of the

i n d i v i d u a t i o n process .

T h e se s y m b i o t i c c o n n e c t i o n s are not to be seen as m e r e l y

a k i n d of g e n e r o s i t y , an a b i l i t y to put aside our o w n i n t e r e s t s

w h e n we feel taken care of w i t h i n an e n l a r g e d c o n t e x t of r e l a t i o n s h i p . S y m b i o t i c c o n n e c te d n e s s c o n v e y s a g e n u i n e f e e l i n g of

Geborgenheit (safe, s e c ur e , p r o t e c t e d ) . E l a t e d fe e l i n g s g i v e us the

e x p e r i e n c e of f e e l i n g s u s t a in e d a n d c a r r i e d i n l i f e , an e x p e r i e n c e

w e c a l l h o p e — h o p e in the u n f o r e s e e n , h o p e for the bet ter , for

n e w n e s s a n d c h a n g e . T h i s h o p e c a r ri es us w i t h it, a l l o w i n g us

t o b e a r m u c h of w h a t we o f t e n t h i n k is u n b e a r a b l e .

Geborgenheit, w h i c h ar i s e s e s p e c i a l l y w h e n joy a n d i n s p i r a t i o n are shared w i t h o t h e r s , has an i m p o r t a n t s o cia l d i m e n s i o n :

i t a l l o w s us to a p p r o a c h e a c h o t h e r w i t h a t r a n s fo r m e d a t t it u d e .

F r e e d of o ur c o n s t an t fe ar of a t t a c k , s la n d e r , a n d h a r m , we are

less apt to erect b ar r i e r s , and m o r e apt to b u i l d b r i d g e s . The

e x p e r i e n c e of b e i n g a b l e to c o n s t r u c t s o m e t h i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h

others af fords s t i l l m o r e j o y a n d h e i g h te n s o u r sense of s t a n d i n g

w i t h i n an i n t e r l o c k i n g w e b , a w e b t ha t s u p p o r ts m u t u a l d e p e n d e n c e in a p o s i t i v e sense: I do not always have to c o n s t r u c t

e v e r y t h i n g c o m p l e t e l y by m y s elf . A n d I w i t n e s s ho w my i n i

t i a t i v e has a r i p p l e effect t h a t t r an s c e n d s my o w n e f f o r t s , re

t u r n i n g to affect me in n e w w a y s . In e n t h u s i a s m , ego b o u n d a -



Epilogue

159

r i e s a r e l o o s e n e d s o t h a t i d e a s s t e m m i n g f r o m t h e u n c o n s c i o u s

r e ac h m e m o r e r e ad i l y , an d at t h e s am e t i m e t h e r e c e p t i o n o f

these id e as is m o d i f i e d b y t h e i n f l u e n c e o f o t h e r p e r so n s , w h o

are less d i s t a n c e d f r o m m e .

In t h i s f o r m o f i n s p i r a t i o n t h e q ue s t i o n i s less w h a t m y u n

c o n s ci o u s w a n t s f r o m m e , a n d m o r e w h a t t he c o m m u n a l u n

c o n s c i o u s , o r e v e n t h e c o l l e c t i v e u n c o n s c i o u s i n t h e J u n g i a n

sense, h a s t o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y s i t u a t i o n , n o t

o n l y fo r t h e s e l f - r e g ul a t i o n o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l p s y c h e , b ut fo r

t he s e l f- r e g ul a t io n o f p s y c h ic d y n am i c s ap p e ar i n g i n la r g e r g r o up s

o f p e o p l e f a c i n g i m p o r t a n t e x i s t e n t i a l i s s u e s t o w h i c h they de

l i b e r a t e l y m ak e t h e m s e lv e s v u l n e r ab l e . T h i s i m p ul s e fo r s e lf-

r e g u l a t i o n c a n o n l y b e t a k e n u p a n d p a ss ed o n b y p e rs o n s w h o

a r e e m o t i o n a l l y i n v o l v e d , w h o a l l o w th e m se lv e s t o b e g r i p p e d

b y a p r o b l e m , a n d w h o ca n m o v e t he m s e lv e s t o a ct — i n o t h e rw o r d s , p e r s o n s w h o c an l e t t h e m s e lv e s g e t e n t h us i as t i c ab o u t

t he s e ar ch f o r th e s o l u t i o n t o a p r o b l e m , a n d w h o , a m i d s t t h e i r

e n t h u s i a s m , a r e s t i l l c a p a b l e o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e i r i d e a s t o

e a c h o t h e r a n d o f t r a n s l a t i n g t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c a l m e a s u r e s . I n

s p i r a t i o n a n d e n t h u s i a s m t h e n f u n c t i o n a s a u n i t i n g p r i n c i p l e

t h a t lay s an e f fe c ti v e fo un d a t i o n fo r c r e a ti v e c h an g e , w h e t h e r

i n a s m al l c i r c l e , t h e fam i l y , a w o r k i n g t e am , o r e v e n e n t i r en a t i o n s a n d t h e w o r l d .

O b v i o u s l y enthus iasm i s not a lways e f fect ive ; i t cools of f ,

a l l o w i n g rout ine to s tep into i t s p lace as a u n i t i n g p r i n c i p l e .

T h i s m a y p r o v i d e t he o c c a s i o n f o r m o r e s o be r r e f l e c t i o n , w h e r e

s c r u t i n y o f c o n c e p t s goes h a n d i n h a n d w i t h t h e e r e c t i o n o f

b a r r i e r s b e t w e e n u s . U n d e r these c i rc um s t an c e s i t is m u c h m o r e

d i f f i c u l t t o o r g a n i z e m a j o r c r e at iv e p r o je c t s. W e are m u c h m o r e

f a m i l i a r w i t h the phase of re f lec t ive sobr ie ty than we are w i t h

t h a t o f p as s io n at e i n s p i r a t i o n . A t i m e o f s o b r i e t y is a ls o neces

s ar y , b u t i t is i m p o r t a n t t o r e t u r n e v er a g a i n t o a t i m e o f i n

s p i r a t i o n . T h o s e w h o k n o w t h e s p e c i a l c o n n e c t e d n e s s w i t h o t h e r



E P I L O G U E

160

p e r s o n s t h a t a r is es o u t o f sh are d j o y an d e n t h us i a s m fo r a c o m

m o n p r o j e c t — w h o s e i n v o l v e m e n t is e m o t i o n a l r a th e r t h a n s tr a

t e g i c , w h o k n o w t h e f e e l i n g o f b e i n g c a r r i e d a n d s u s t a i n e d t h a t

comes of shared j o y — w i l l , e v e n i n t i m e s o f i n c r e as e d separate-

ness an d n e e d fo r c l a r i t y , h av e a l o n g i n g fo r t h e e x i s t e n t i a l f e e l

i n g o f connectedness a n d w i l l w a n t t o avai l t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e i r

r i g h t t o i t .

W e m u s t become c o n s c i o u s o f h o w i m p o r t a n t t h e e l a t e de m o t i o n s r e a l l y a r e f o r o u r l i v e s a n d f o r t h e l i f e o f c o m m u n i

ties a n d o f s o c i e t y . B o u n d together i n t h e i r deepest c o r e s , j o y ,

i n s p i r a t i o n , an d h o p e s t r e n g t h e n e ac h o t h e r . J o y is t h e m o s t

c o m m o n , ev e ry d a y e m o t i o n o f t h e th r e e, a n d is t h u s t he m o s t

r e a d i l y accessible ; i t comes w h e n w e a l l o w i t i n t o o u r l iv e s d i

r e ct ly , o r i n d i r e c t l y — t h r o u g h m e m o r y o r i n th e c o m p a n y o f

c h i l d r e n o r o t h e r p e r s o n s . J o y i s an e m o t i o n t h a t w an t s t o b eshared . A s j o y m u l t i p l i e s , i t o p e n s d o o r s t o in s p i r a t i o n a n d h o p e ,

p ut s us o n t h e fa r s i d e o f d i v i s i v e n e s s b y fo c us i n g o ur a t t e n t i o n

o n w h at w e s h ar e , an d d e l i v e r s us t h e e n e r g y w e n e e d t o r e a l i z e

o u r c o m m o n g r o u n d .



Glossary

a c t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n . T h e p r o c e s s b y w h i c h a s t r o n g but f lex ib le

e g o c o m p l e x a l l o w s i n t a n g i b l e u n c o n s c i o u s m a t e r ia l ( c o m

plexes , dreams , and images) t o b e e x p r e s s e d i n a t a n g i b l e

p r o d u c t s u c h a s p a i n t i n g , p o e t r y , o r s o n g .

affects. M o r e p r i m a r y t h a n fe e li n g s, affects a re e m o t i o n s t h a ts h o o t t h r o u g h a p e r s o n w i t h a n i n t e n s i t y t h a t p r o v o k e s a

p h y s i c a l r e a c t i o n a n d u s u a l l y a s o c i a l r e a c t i o n a s w e l l .

a n i m u s . A n a r c h e t y p a l m a s c u l in e f i g u r e c o n t r a s te d w i t h the ar

c h e t y p a l f e m i n i n e f i g u r e , t h e a n i m a . F a s c i n a t i n g a n i m u s fig

ures appear in the dreams, fantas ies , and pro ject ions of w o m e n

an d men, for example in the guise o f the myster ious s t ranger ,

t he d i v i n e y o u t h , th e f a s ci n a ti n g t h i n k e r , th e l i g h t n i n g - q u i c kd i v i n i t y , t h e m y s t e r i o u s , c h r i s t l i k e m a n , a n d s o f o r t h . I n

a s u r v e y I c o n d u c t e d a m o n g c o l l e a g u e s , t h e e m o t i o n a l q u a l

i t y m o s t o f t e n u s e d t o d e s c r i be a c o n s t e l l a t e d a n i m u s w a s

" m e n t a l l y o r s p i r i t u a l ly g r i p p e d , " f o l l o w e d b y " i n n e r t r e m

b l i n g , " " m o v e d b y d e s i r e , " " s e a r c h i n g f o r t h e c o n n e c t i o n s

b e t w e e n t h i n g s , " a n d " f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h w o r d s . " T h e e m o

t i o n associated w i t h t h e a n i m u s m o v e s u s t o g r a s p , o r t o

w a n t t o g r a s p , " w h a t m a k e s t h e w o r l d cohere i n i t s i n n e r

m o s t c o r e , " t o penetrate a m a t t e r , t o c o m e t o a s o l u t i o n ,

" to smite the f i re out o f th ings , the f i re out o f f i re i t se l f . "



G L O S S A R Y

16 2

T h e s p a t ia l d i m e n s i o n a ss ig n e d t o t h e a n i m u s is u n e q u i v o

c a l l y v e r t i c a l .

a r c h e t y p e . A n t h r o p o l o g i c a l constants o n t h e p l a n e s o f e x p e r i

e n c i n g , i m a g i n g , p r o c e s si n g , a n d b e h a v i n g . A r c h e t y p e s r e g u

l a te , m o d i f y , a n d m o t i v a t e t h e m i n d ' s c o n s c i o u s c o n t e n t s .

T h e y are e xp r e ss io n s o f t he h u m a n c o n d i t i o n a n d o f h u m a n

b e i n g t h a t cause u s i n g i v e n s i tu a t i o n s t o e x p e r ie n c e t y p i c a l

i m a g e s , e m o t i o n s , i n s t i n c t s , a n d p h y s i c a l r e a c ti o n s . A r c h e t y p a l ideas and events e x p e r i e n c e d c o n s c i o u s l y m u s t b e d i s

t i n g u i s h e d f r o m t h e a r c h e t y pe s t h e m s e l ve s , w h i c h are basic

f o r m s c h a r a c t e r iz e d b y p a r t i c u l a r f o r m a l e l em e n t s a n d f u n

d a m e n t a l m e a n i n g s t h a t c a n b e o n l y a p p r o x i m a t e l y c o m

p r e h e n d e d . These a r c h e t y pa l i de a s a r e m o r e o ve r a l wa y s m e

diated t h r o u g h o u r p e r s o n a l c o m p l e x e s , w h i c h e x p la in s w h y

i n a r c h e t y p a l s i t u a t i o n s a great de a l o f pe r s o n a l m a t e r i a l i si n t e r w o v e n w i t h m a t t e r t h a t is t y p i c a l . T h e a r c h e t y p e is

t h u s i n p a r t a s t r u c t u r i n g f a ct o r i n t he p s y c h i c a n d p h y s i c a l

r e a l m . A n a rc he ty p e possesses a v e r y s p e ci fic d y n a m i c . T h i s

d y n a m i c f u n c t i o n s t o b r i n g s o m e t h i n g f r o m p o t e n t i a l i t y i n t o

a c t u a l i t y , to create a c o n s t e l l a t i o n , t o m a k e u s fe e l s o m e

t h i n g l i k e i n s t i n c t u a l e n e r g y .

c o l le c t iv e u n c o n s c i o u s . J u n g d i s t i n g u i s h e d b e t w e e n t he c o l le c

t i v e u n c o n s c i o u s , w h o s e s t r u c t u r a l e l e m e n t s a re th e a r ch e

t y p e s , a n d t h e p e r s o n a l u n c o n s c i o u s , w h o s e s t r u c t u r a l e l e

m e n t s a re ab o v e a l l t h e fe e l i n g - t o n e d c o m p l e x e s c o m p o s e d

of repressed experiences, w h i c h a r e c a pa bl e o f be c o m i n g c o n

s ci o us . A c c o r d i n g t o J u n g , t he c o l l e c ti v e u n c o n s c i o u s , b e

i n g i d e n t i c a l i n e v e r y o n e , fo r m s a c o m m o n , t ra n s p e r s o n a l

p s y c h i c g r o u n d .

c o m m u n a l u n c o n s c i o u s . A m y s t e r i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p o r f u s i o n a p

pe a r s t o e x i s t be t we e n t h e u n c o n s c i o u s o f t h e a n a l y s t a n d

t h a t o f t h e a n a l y s a n d . T h i s s h a r e d u n c o n s c i o u s i s s e n s e d a s

t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p , a n d i t c a n e x p l a i n w h y



Glossary

163

a p s y c h i c " i n f e c t i o n " i s p o s s i b l e , i n w h i c h , f o r e x a m p l e ,

the analyst feels i n h i s o r h e r b o d y t h e u n p e r c e i v e d a n d u n

e x p r e s s e d a n x i e t y o f t h e a n a l y s a n d . T h i s u n c o n s c i o u s r e l a

t i o n s h i p i s t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r " c o u n t e r t r a n s f e r e n c e " a n d

w h e n t h i s i s f u n c t i o n i n g a t i t s best provides the bas is by

w h i c h the analysand can take advantage of the analys t ' s self-

r e g u l a t i o n .

c o m p l e x . A n e m o t i o n a l l y c h a rg e d , a u t o n o m o u s o r s p l it - o ff p e r

s o n a l i t y — l i k e p a r t o f one's o w n p s y c h e a n d s e l f — t h a t i s r e

l a t e d t o p e r s o n a l t r a u m a t i c c o n f l i c t s a n d a r c h e t y p a l themes

a n d issues.

e g o . T h e center o f one's c o n s c io u s n e s s a n d c o n s c i o u s i d e n t i t y .

e g o c o m p l e x . T h e m e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e e g o c o m p l e x r e v o l v e

a r o u n d t h e i s s u e s o f i d e n t i t y , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i d e n t i t y ,

a n d the se l f -es teem connected w i t h t h e m . T h e b a s i s o f o u ri d e n t i t y i s t h e f e e l i n g o f v i t a l i t y , w h i c h is c losely associ

ated w i t h t h e f e e l i n g o f e g o a c t i v i t y . I t i s t h e f e e l i n g o f

b e i n g a l i v e , a n d r o o t e d i n t h i s f e e l i n g l i e s t h e ego's chance

t o m o b i l i z e i t s e l f a c t i v e l y i n l i f e a n d f i n a l l y t o r e a l i z e i t s e l f .

V i t a l i t y , e g o a c t i v i t y , a n d s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n a r e m u t u a l l y d e

pen den t . Th e ego com ple x has, l ike every com pl ex , an arche

t y p a l c o r e , n a m e l y , t h e Self i n t h e J u n g i a n sense. ( In theF r e u d i a n t r a d i t i o n , t h e e g o c o m p l e x i s c a l l e d t h e self.) T h e

Self i s u n d e r s t o o d here as the center a n d t o t a l i t y o f t h e p e r

sonali ty as i t has become a n d w i l l become i n t h e f u t u r e .

T h e Self y i e l d s u p i n t h e c o u r s e o f a l i f e t i m e o u r h i d d e n

l i fe g o a l t h r o u g h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e g o c o m p l e x a s

th e Self i n t e n d e d i t t o b e . T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e e g o c o m

p l e x's p ro ce ss o f b e c o m i n g c o n s c i o u s s h o u l d b e v i e w e d d y n a m i c a l l y : e v e r n e w c o n s t e l l a t i o n s a r e t o b e e x p e c t e d i n t h e

course o f a l i fe t im e, related to the phases an d stages described

b y d e v e l o p m e n t a l p s y c h o l o g y . A c o m p l e t e l y u n i q u e i n d i

v i d u a t i o n process over l ies th is ty p ica l course o f l i fe - span



G L O S S A R Y

164

events that has to do w i t h o u r f u l l y i n d i v i d u a l l i fe p o s s i b i l i

ties a n d o u r p r i v a t e e n c o u n t e r s w i t h f o r m a t i v e s i t u a t i o n s .

A s w i t h e v e r y c o m p l e x , t h e e g o c o m p l e x c o m p r i s e s a t h e m e

o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a t h e m e o f i n h i b i t i o n . O n th e sid e o f

d e v e l o p m e n t w o u l d b e t h e i n c r e a s e o f a u t o n o m y i n self-

r e a l i z a t i o n , se l f -express ion , the g r o w th o f se l f-consc iousness ,

t h e a b i l i t y t o p r a c t ic e s e l f -p r e s e r v a t i o n , t ak e r i s k s , a n d t o

enter i n c r e a s i n g l y i n t o r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h one's self. O n th e

s i d e o f i n h i b i t i o n w o u l d b e t h e i ss u e o f h e t e r o n o m y , b e i n g

c o n d i t i o n e d f r o m t h e o u t s i d e b y s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s a n d c o n

crete h u m a n r e l a t io n s h i p s , a n d f r o m t he i n s i d e b y c o m p l e x es

t h a t a re s p l i t o f f f r o m c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

e g o f u n c t i o n s . F u n c t i o n s t h a t w e n o t o n l y a s cr ib e t o t he e g o

but may even assume to be ident ica l w i t h t h e e g o a n d w h i c h

g i v e u s t h e m e a n s t o p e r ce i v e a n d o b s e r v e o u r e g o c o m p l e x ,t o d e v e l o p c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f o u r s e l v e s , a n d t o s y s t e m a t i z e

th e w o r l d o f c o n s c io u s n e s s i n g e n e r a l . T h u s these f u n c t i o n s

g i v e u s t h e m e a n s t o o r i e n t o u r s e l v e s , t o k n o w w h a t i s

o u t e r a n d w h a t is i n n e r , t o d i f fe r e n t i a t e e g o f r o m n o n - e g o ,

t o p e r c e i v e t h e r e a c t i o n s o f o u r f e l l o w s a n d t o a d j u s t o u r

b e h a v i o r a c c o r d i n g l y . T h e n a m e s g i v e n to t he p r i m a r y a u

t o n o m o u s e g o f u n c t i o n s ar e: c a p a c i ty f o r p e r c e p t i o n , se n sa t i o n , m e m o r y , t h i n k i n g , c o n c e p t u a l fo r m a t i o n , s p at ia l a n d

t e m p o r a l o r i e n t a t i o n , o r i e n t a t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o one's o w n

p e r s o n , a t t e n t i o n , m o t o r a c t i v i t y , a n d e ve n defense m e c h a

n i s m s . These e g o f u n c t i o n s ca n b e s u f fi c i e n t l y f u n c t i o n a l ,

o r t h e y c a n b e d e f i c i e n t i n v a r i o u s w a y s .

e m o t i o n . T h e i n c lu s i v e t e r m c o v e r i n g fe e l in g , affect, a nd m o o d .

f e e l in g . A n e m o t i o n t h a t c a n b e p er ce iv e d a n d n a m e d , a c c o m

p a n i e d b y im a g e s t h a t c a n b e c o m m u n i c a t e d . I t ha s d e f in i t e

causes a n d g o a l s .

i n d i v i d u a t i o n . T h e l i f e - l o n g p ro ce ss t o w a r d w h o l e n e s s , i n d i v i d -



Glossary

165

ual i ty , d i f fe r e n t i a t i o n f r o m one's parents , parenta l complexes ,

a n d p r o j e c t i o n s .

m o o d . T h e e m o t i o n a l state o r a t tu n e m e n t o f a p e rs o n 's b e i n g .

p s y c h e . O r i g i n a l l y t h is m e a n t s o u l , b u t i t h as c o m e t o m e a n

t h e e n t i r e t y o f one's m i n d , w h i c h i n c lu d e s c o n s c io u s a n d

u n c o n s c io u s c o m p o n e n t s , i n c l u d i n g th e s o u l .

Self. T h e center an d t o t a l i t y o f t h e p s y c h e , t h e p e r s o n , an d t h e

w o r l d . I t is v e r y c lo s e t o th e c o n c e p t o f a S up r e m e B e i n g

i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e t h e i n d i v i d u a l . T h i s i s i n d i s t i n c t i o n t o

the "self" ( s m al l s), w h i c h is i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e e g o c o m p l e x .

s y m b i o s i s . F u s i o n w i t h a n o t he r. I d e a ll y f u s i o n is o n l y m o m e n

t ar y ; o t h e r w i s e i t c an l e ad t o extreme d e p e n d e n c y .

t ra n s c e n d e n c e . I n v o lv e s o v e r c o m i n g t h e d i v i s i o n o f c o n s c i o u s

( eg o ) an d un c o n s c i o u s , us u a l l y b y a f e e l i n g s uc h as l o v e o r

an ar c h e t y p a l s y m b o l t h a t un i f ie s an d c o n t a i n s t h e t e n s i o no f o p p o s i t e s .



References

A n d e rs on , C . M . 1974 . Jo y beyond Grief. G r a n d R a p i d s : Z o n d e r v a n .

A n d er so n , H . H . 1959. Creativity and Its Cultivation. N e w Y o r k : H a r p e r

and R o w .

Bachmann, I . 1971. Malina. F r a n k f u r t : S uh r k am p .

Binswanger , L . 1955. "U b e r die manische Leben sform" in AusgewdldteVortrdge und Aufsdtze, v o l . I I . Be rn : Francke.

Bleuler , E . 1966. Lehrbuch der Psychiatric B e r l i n : Sp r i nge r .

B l o c h , E . 1959. Das Prinzip Hoffnung. Frankfur t : Suhrkam p .

B o l l n o w , O . F. 1956. Da s W esen der Stimmungen. F r a n k f u r t : Roster-

m a n n .

1955, 1979- Neue Geborgenheit: Das Problem einer Uberwindung

des Existentialismus. Stuttgart: K o h l h a m m e r .

C a m u s , A . 1955. The M yth of Sisyphus. N e w Y o r k : R a n d o m H o u s e .

C z i k s z e n tm i h a l y i , M . 1975. BeyondBoredom and Anxiety: The Experi

ence of Play in Work and Games. Sa n Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

D a t a n , N . , a nd L . H . G i n s b er g , e ds. 1975. Life-Span Developmental

Psychology: Normative Life Crises. N e w York: Academic Press.

E lia d e , M . 1978. A History of Religious Ideas. C h i c a g o : U n i v e r s i t y o f

C h i c a g o Press.

E l l u l , J . 1973. Hope in Time of Abandonment. Tra ns. C . E . H o p k i n . N e w

Y o r k : Seabury.

E r i k s o n , E . 1959. Identity and the Life Cycle. N e w Y o r k : I n te r n a ti o n a l

Universi t ies Press.

E ur i p i de s , The Bacchae, i n D . Grene and R . L a t t i m ore , e ds. 1959,



References

167

i 9 6 0 . The Complete Greek Tragedies. Chicago: University of C h i

cago Press.

Fr i sch , M . 1972. Tagebuch 1946-1949. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp.

Fromm, E. 1964. The Heart of M a n : Its Genius for Good and Evil. New

Y o r k : H a r p e r and Row.

Henseler, H . 1974, 1980. Narzisstische Krisen: Zur Psychodynamik des

Selbstmords. Reinbek: Rowohlt.

Izard , C. E. 1977. Human Emotions. New York: Harper and Row.

Jaspers, K. 1965. Allgemeine Psychopathologie. Berlin: Springer.

Jung, C. G. 1921. Psychological Types. In The Collected Works, vol. 6.

Princeton : Princeton U n i v e r s i t y Press.

1946. The Psychology of the Transference. In Collected Works,

v o l . 16. P r i n c e t o n : Princeton U n i v e r s i t y Press.

1955, 1956. Mysterium Coniunctionis. In The Collected Works,

v o l . 14. P r i n c e t o n : Princeton U n i v e r s i t y Press.

K a h l , G., ed. 1981. Logik des Herzens: Die Soziale Dimension der Gefuhle.Frankfurt : Suhrkamp.

Kast, V. 1980. Das Assoziationsexperiment in der therapeutischen Praxis.

Stuttgart: B o n z .

1986a. The Nature of Loving: Patterns of Human Relationship.

Trans. Boris M a t t h e w s . Wilmette, 111.: C h i r o n Publicat ions .

1986b. Sisyphos: Der Alte Stein —Der neue Weg. Stuttgart:

K r e u z .

. 1988. A Time to Mourn: Growing through the Grief Process. Ein-

siedeln: D a i m o n .

1990a. The Creative Leap. Wilmette, 111.: C h i r o n Publications.

1990b. Die Dynamik der Symbole: Crundlagen derJung'schen

Psychotherapie. Olten: Walter.

Kerenyi, K. 1976. Dionysus: Archetypal Imageof Indestructible Life. Prince

t o n : Princeton U n i v e r s i t y Press.

Koestler , A. 1964. The Act of Creation. L o n d o n : H u t c h i n s o n .Kretschmer, E. 1951. Korperbau und Charakter. Berlin: Springer.

L a n d a u , E. 1984. Kreatives Erleben. M u n i c h : Reinhardt.

Lersch, P. 1970. Aufbau der Person. M u n i c h : Johann Ambrosius Barth.

M a r c e l , G. 1964. Philosophic der Hojfnung. M u n i c h : List.



R E F E R E N C E S

168

M a s lo w , A . 1962. "Emot iona l B loc ks to Crea t iv i ty . " In A Source Bookfor Creative Thinking, ed. S. Parnes an d H . H a r d i n g . N e w Y o r k :

Charles Scribner's Sons.

M a y , I. 1853. " T h e N a tu r e o f C r e a t i v i t y . " I n H . A n d e r s o n , e d ., Cre

ativity and Its Cultivation. N e w Y o r k : H a r p e r a n d R o w .

M o s e r , U . 1978. "Affektsignal und aggressives Verhalten." Psyche 3 2:

229-58.

Nablowsky, I . 1889. Das Gefiihlsleben. Leipzig : Rec lam.

N e u m a n n , E . 1955. The Great Mother. Olten: Wal ter .

N i n , A . 1975. A Woman Speaks. Ch ic ago: Swal low Press.

Nietzsche, E 1956. The Birth of Tragedy. New York: D oubleday.

P l ii g g e , H . 1954. " U b e r d i e H o f f n u n g . " I n P l i i g g e , e d . , Wohlhefinden

und M iss befinden. T u b i n g e n : M o h r .

O t t o , W . E 1981. Dionysus: Myth and Cult. D al las : Spr ing.

Rosner, S. , and L. Abt. 1972. The Creative Experience. New York: D e l ta .

Sartre, Jean Paul. 1946. L'existentialisme est un humanisme. Paris: Nagel.Scheler, N . 1983. Die Stellung des Menschen im Kosmos. 10th edition.

Bern: Francke.

Schutz, W . 1967. Joy: Expanding Human Awareness. N e w Y o r k : G r o v e .

Taylor, C , ed . 1964. Creativity: Progress and Potential. N e w York: M c -

G r a w H i l l .

T o l l e , R . 1986. Psychiatric Berl in: Springer .

U l i c h , D . 1982. Das Gefiihl. M u n i c h : U r b a n , Schwarzenberg.v o n U e x k i i l l , T. , and W . Wesiack . 1986. "Wissenschaf ts theor ie un d

psychosomatische M ed izi n , e in b io-psych o-soziales M o d e l l . " In

v on U e x k i i l l , ed. , Psychosoma tische M edizin. M u n i c h : U r b a n a n d

Schwarzenberg.

v on Uslar, D . 1987. Grundfragen der Psychologic Das Bild des Menschen

in der Psychologic Stuttgart: H i r z e l .

Ziegler, T. 1912. Das Gefiihl. Ber l in : Goschen'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.



Index

a b s o l u t e h o p e , x i , 150

a b s u r d h e r o , 140

a c t i o n : a n d e m o t i o n s , 12

active i m a g i n a t i o n , no-II , 151, 161

A c t s of t h e A p o s t l e s , 111-12

affects: a r c h a i c , 13; a t t i t u d e s tow a r d , 13; d e f i n e d , 21, 23, 161

a f f i l i a t i o n , 17, 156. Seealsor e l a t e d

ness

aggression, 76

a l c o h o l i s m , 6

anger, 105

a n i m u s , 131, 161-62

A n t h e s t e r i a , 118—9

a n t i c i p a t i o n , 70-71, 143a n t i c i p a t o r y h e a l i n g , 7, 151

a n x i e t y , 9 0 , 127, 136, 137, 144, 148,

153, 154; c o l l e c t i v e , 76; as f u n d a

m e n t a l e m o t i o n , 14-15; a n d h u

m a n n a t u r e , 15; a n d i s o l a t i o n , 15,

156 ; an d jo y , 51-52

A p o l l o , 127, 128

archetypes, 7, 43, 151, 153-54, 162;

o f D i o n y s u s , 125; a n d i n s p i r a t i o n ,

n o ; a n d j o y , 19. Seealso c h i l d ,

archetype of

A r i a d n e , 118

A t h e n a , 123-24

A t m a n , 127

a u t h o r i t y c o m p l e x e s , 142

a u t o n o m y , 142-43, 164

Bacchae, The, 116, 118, 121, 124,

127

B a c h m a n n , I n g e b o r g , 41

b a l a n c e , 103, 104, 127, 128

barrenness, 121

basic t r u s t , 7, 137, 153

beauty, 52

B e e t h ov e n , L u d w i g v a n , 126, 156

B i n s w a n g e r , L u d w i g , 5, 6, 16, 17,

128; on m a n i a , 9 8 , 103, 104-105

b i o g r a p h y , e m o t i o n a l , 31-32; per

spectives i n , 54b i o g r a p h y o f j o y , 53, 54-63, 129,

155; goals of, 56-57

B l o c h , E r n s t , 7, 137, 150-51, 152

b o d y language, 35, 57

B o l l n o w , O . E , 21, 143, 150, 152

b r a i n s t o r m i n g , 105

b u l l , 118, 120

C a m u s , A l b e r t , 7, 139, 140, 141,

1 4 2 , 149

case h i s t o r y , 54

c e l e b r a t i o n , 83

change, 159. Seealsot r a n s f o r m a t i o n

C h r i s t , 118



I N D E X

c h i l d : a r c h e t y p e of, 80, 117, 118; joy

of, 117

c h i l d h o o d : h o p e f r o m , 137; joy i n ,

56 , 57. 79

c h i l d i s h n e s s , 43

c i r c l e : s y m b o l i s m of, 119, 130, 131

c i r c l e of e m o t i o n s , 33-34

c i r c l e o f j o y , 50, 6 0 , 63

c o l l e c t i v e u n c o n s c i o u s , 159, 162

c o m m u n a l u n c o n s c i o u s , 159, 162-

63

c o m p a r i s o n : as so urc e o f j o y , 88

c o m p e t e n c e , 83

c o m p e t i t i o n , 86, 126-27;a n <

f s p o i l

i n g j o y , 88

c o m p l e x , 23, 137, 142, 146, 148, 151,

162, 163

c o n c e n t r a t i o n : as so urc e o f j o y , 75

c o n n e c t e d n e s s . See re latednessc o n s c i o u s n e s s , 140, 142; a n d h a p p i

ness, 67; and h o p e , 150

c o n s e q u e n c e s , 80

c o n s o l a t i o n , 136

c o n t a g i o u s n e s s : o f j o y , 76

c o n t r o l : a n d e m o t i o n s , 81

c r e a t i v i t y : c o l l e c t i v e , 52; i n s p i r a t i o n

a n d , 108, i n ; a nd j o y, 6, 79, 109;

an d p lay , 109; s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n and,

109; andu n c o n s c i o u s , 109, n o;

versus m a n i a , 103

cr i ses , 153

c u l t u r e , 52

c u r i o s i t y , 77

C y b e l e , 117, 118

c y c l o t h y m i a , 98-100, 101, 115

d a n c e , 104, 107, 121, 122, 125-26,

130, 131, 156

d a y d r e a m s , 139

d e a t h , 106; a n d ecstasy, 114; g od of,

117, 121; and h o p e , 136-37

de f i c i e n c y : r e j e c t i o n of, 151-52

D e l p h i c o r a c l e , 128

D e m e t e r , 117

d e n i a l , 141-42

d e p r e s s i o n , 92, 100 , 101, 105; a t t i

t u d e s t o w a r d , 14, 97; a n d e l a t i o n ,

c o n t r a s t e d , 14; i n p s y c h o l o g y , 15

d e p t h p s y c h o l o g y : a n x i e t y i n , 15;

e m o t i o n s i n , 3; a n d e x i s t e n t i a l

i s m , 143; and f u t u r e , 150-51, 155;

i n d i v i d u a t i o n i n , 3; and t r u s t ,

137

d e s t r u c t i o n , 89, 90

d e v e l o p m e n t a l stages, 93, 94, 129,

163

d e v i l , 130, 131

D i c k i n s o n , E m i l y , x i i i

d i g n i t y , 89

D i o n y s i a c s , 126, 130D i o n y s u s : as a r c h e t y p e , 125, 129,

154; andecstasy, 98; e m o t i o n a l

s y m b o l i s m of, 6, 115, 116, 120,

123, 130-31; andm a n i a , 98; s o c i a l

i m p l i c a t i o n s of, 121, 122; w o m e n

a n d , 121-23, I 2

5> ! 3 °

d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , 71, 144

d i s c o v e r y : as so urc e o f j o y , 50

disease: res i s tance to, 70

d i s s o l u t i o n , 127, 128

d i t h y r a m b , 119

d i v i n e c h i l d a r c h e t y p e , 7, 154;

D i o n y s u s as, 117, 118, 154

d r e a m s : and D i o n y s u s , 130-31; and

h o p e , 139; i n s p i r a t i o n f r o m , 113;

as source o f j o y , 51

d r u m m i n g , 131

ecstacy, 6, 103, 108, III, 112, 136;

a n d d e a t h , 122; D i o n y s u s a n d ,

119, 123, 125, 131; fear of, 121,

122-23,I 2

8 ; loss of, 107; r e l i -



I N D E X

171

ecstacy (cont.)

g i o u s , 107, 111-12, 128; and r i t u a l ,

119, 124, 125; s o c i a l c o n t e x t of,

114; and s y m b i o s i s , 127, 130

e g o , 7, 154, 163; d e v e l o p m e n t of,

9 2 ; and D i o n y s u s , 125; d i s s o l u

t i o n of, 128; i n m a n i a , 99, 103;

a n d r e p r e s s i o n , 121; and S i s y p h u s ,

142; s t a b i l i z a t i o n of, 129

e g o b o u n d a r i e s , 6, 129; A p o l l oa n d , 127; r e l a x a t i o n of, 47, 50,

113, 114, 155. 158-59

e g o c o m p l e x , 92 , 94 , 142, 163-64

e g o f u n c t i o n s , 164

e l a t e d e m o t i o n s : a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d ,

3 , 4; effects of, 5; fear of, 17;

g r o u n d of, 135; i m p o r t a n c e of, 14,

156, 158; m y t h i c i m a g e s and, 131;

n e e d to j u s t i f y , 17, 18; and r e l a t e d

ness, 5, 7; and t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ,

108, 155

E l i a d e , M i r c e a , 127

e m o t i o n a l c y c l e , 99

e m o t i o n a l h i s t o r y , 35

e m o t i o n s : a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d , 4, 13,

14; b i o g r a p h y of, 31; and b o d y ,

12; c a p a c i t y for, 33; c lus te r s of,

2 8 , 29, 30, 115; d e f i n e d , 13, 14,

21, 164; e x p r e s s i o n of, 33; i m p o r

t a n c e of, 12; i n f e c t i o usn e ss of, 33;

a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n , 16; p e rs i s te n c e

of, 30, 31; p o s i t i v e , 14; as self-

e x p r e s s i o n , 38; s u b l i m a t i o n of, 13

e m p a t h y , 35-36, 37-38

e m p t i n e s s , p s y c h i c , 144-45

energy, 108, n o, 162; h o p e and,138; m u s i c a n d , 107

e n g a g e m e n t , 141

e n t h u s i a s m , 131, 158-59, 160

e n v y , 51, 78, 79, 83, 87, 97

E r i k s o n , E r i k , 7, 137

e s c a p i s m , 139

e t h i c a l s p i r i t , 127, 128

E u r i p i d e s , 116, 118, 121, 125

e v i l , 128

e x i s t e n t i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y , 139-43;

a n x i e t y i n , 15; and d e p t h p s y c h o l

o g y , 143; and h o p e , 7, 139, 149

e xp an s i ve n e ss : and m a n i a , 102

e x p e c t a t i o n : c o n t r a s t e d w i t h h o p e ,

7 0 , 141, 143, 144, 146, 147, 150;a n d fantasy, 71; and i l l u s i o n , 150;

a n d l o n g i n g , 145-46

e x p r e s s i o n : f a c i a l , 12, 43; o f j o y , 44,

51, 63; n o n v e r b a l , 35, 36. Seealso

gestures

e x t r a v e r s i o n : a n d j o y , 19

f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n , 12; a n d j o y , 43

f a i t h , x i , 7, 150

f a m i l i a r i t y : a n d j o y , 51

f a n a t i c i s m , 114

fantasy: and D i o n y s u s , 116; and

h o p e , 139; as so urc e o f j o y , 51, 71

F a s n a c h t , 44, 105

f a t h e r a r c h e t y p e , 155

f a t i g u e , 102

fear, n o, 138; of e m o t i o n s , 17; of

s e x u a l i t y , 128

f e e l i n g s : c harac te r i s t i c s of, 22; de

f i n e d , 21, 164

f e r t i l i t y , 116; fest iva ls for, 118; s y m

b o l of, 117

f i re : and i n s p i r a t i o n , 71, 112

flight o f i de as , 101, 102, 105, 107

f r e e d o m , 142

F r e u d , S i g m u n d : andp le asure p r i n c i p l e , 18

F r i s c h , Max, 67

f u s i o n , 127. See alsos y m b i o s i s

f u t u r e , 113, 144, 149; d e p t h p s y

c h o l o g y a n d , 143, 150; e m o t i o n s



I N D E X

172

f u t u r e {cont.)

a n d , 136; an d h o p e , 136, 141, 146,

148, 152-53; openness to, 127

Geborgenheit, 138, 143, 154, 158. See

also s e c u r i t y

g e n e r o s i t y , 44; and s o l i d a r i t y , 16,

158

gestures, 36-37; i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of,

37-38; of j o y , 45 , 76 , 83g l o a t i n g , 86, 87, 88

goat, 122

G o e t h e , 106 , 108

g o o d , the, 52

grace, 51, 137

g r a n d i o s e self, 89, 90 , 9 2 - 9 4 ; an d

i n s p i r a t i o n , n o; and m a n i a , 97,

101, 102, 103, 105

g r a p e v i n e , 120, 122, 123

g r a v i t y , 43, 44, 45, 104, 109

grief, 14, 15

g r o u n d e d n e s s , 104

g u i l t , 15, 91

H a d e s , 117

h a p n o t h e r a p y , 129

h a p p i n e s s : an d h o p e , 141; t r a n s f o r

m a t i o n t h r o u g h , 20, 43

h a r m o n y , 86, 126, 128, 135

h e a l i n g , 43, 6 8 - 6 9 , 70 . 129.See

also a n t i c i p a t o r y h e a l i n g

H e i d e g g e r , M a r t i n , 15

H e r a , 117

H e r a c l i t u s , 117

h e r o , 140 , 142

h i g h - f l o w n n e s s , 6, 103, 108, 113h o l y , the, 148

H o l y S p i r i t , 6, 111-12, 113

h o p e , 108, 141, 146, 154, 158; de

f ined, 70, 135, 148; and D i o n y s u s ,

130; as e v a s i o n , 138, 139, 143, 149;

h o p e (cont.)

e x p l a n a t i o n s of, 137; as f o u n d a

t i o n a l , 6-7 , 131, 135, 153; in psy

c h o l o g y , 137; as r e v o l t , 152; an d

r o u t i n e , 149-50; s t i m u l a t i o n of,

137, 138, 139, 150; and v i s i o n , 136,

137, 150. See also a b s o l u t e h o p e

h u m i l i t y , 83-84

h y p e r t h y m i a , 100-101

i c o n o g r a p h y : of D i o n y s u s , 118, 120,

130-31

i d , 18

i d e a l i z a t i o n , 93

i d e a l self. See g r a n d i o s e s e l f

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 93

i d e n t i t y , 92, 93, 163; an d e m o t i o n s ,

11

i l l u s i o n , 127, 151; an d e x p e c t a t i o n ,

147, 150; h o p e as, 138, 139, 143,

149

i m a g i n a t i o n , 79, 139, 144

i n d i v i d u a t i o n , x, 3, 8, 154, 155,

163-64; d e f i n e d , 157, 164-65;

e l a t e d e m o t i o n s i n , 4, 127; an d

s y m b i o s i s , 127, 129, 158; and un

c o n s c i o u s , 137

i n f l a t i o n , p s y c h o l o g i c a l , 125

i n h i b i t i o n , 81, 157; and m a n i a , 98

i n s p i r a t i o n , 6, 71, 108-14; and

A p o l l o , 128; b i o g r a p h y of, 114,

129; and c r e a t i v i t y , 108, 159; de

fined, i n ; an d D i o n y s u s , 123,

131; d r e a m s and, 113; and eg o,

129; loss of, 108; and m u s i c , 155-

5 6 ; an d r i t u a l , 6; an d v i s i o n ,136

i n t e g r i t y , 94

i n t e r e s t : d e v e l o p m e n t of, 77

i n t o x i c a t i o n , m y s t i c a l , 112

i n t r o v e r s i o n : a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d , 19



I N D E X

i n v o l v e m e n t , 14 1; a n d e m o t i o n s , 4 ,

11, 14

i s o l a t i o n , 4 4 , 12 7, 1 4 3 ; a n x i e t y a n d ,

15

James, W i l l i a m , x

Jaspers, K a r l , 21

j o y : a n d a f f i li a t i o n , 17; a n d a n t i c i

p a t i o n , 5 ; b i o g ra p h i e s o f, 5 3 , 5 4 -

6 3 ; i n c h i ld re n , 5 ; c re a ture s o f ,7 4 ; d y n a m i c s o f , 6 3 ; e x p r e s s i o n s

o f , 4 4 , 4 5 , 57, 58 , 6 3 ; fear of, 17;

f o r m s o f , 5 , 6 7 ; a s f o u n d a t i o n a l ,

5 2 , 5 3 , 1 6 0; g e n e t i c d e t e r m i n a t i o n

of, 77-78, 1 5 5 ; i n d u c i n g , 19-20,

6 3 ; l e a r n i n g a b o u t , 56 ; m a x i m i z a

t i o n o f, 6 0 ; a n d m e m o r y , 5 , 5 5;

p e r c e p t i o n o f , 4 7 , 6 7 ; a n d p e r s o n

a l i t y d e v e l o p m e n t , 5; q u i e t , 6 2 ; a sr e a c t i o n f o r m a t i o n , 17; r e i n f o r c

i n g , 77 , 78 ; sh ad ow s ide o f , 5 , 60 ,

8 5 - 94 ; share d , 58 , 6 3 , 16 0 ; as

s ide-e f fect , 75 ; sources o f, 5 , 4 9 -

5 3 , 7 5 , 8 8; sp o i l i n g o f , 59 , 7 4 ,

81-84, 154 ; ar

>d t h e r a p y , 5 4 ; u n i n

h i b i t e d , 8 1 ; v i c a r i o us , 8 3

J u n g , C a r l G . , 157-58, 162 ; an d an i

m us , 13 1; an d j o y , 19; a n d p syc h e ,

7, 151

K e r e n y i , K a r l , 115, 116, 122 , 124 ,

125

K r e t s c h m e r , E r n s t , 5 , 98-100

l i f e : D i o n y s u s as s y m b o l o f, 116,

130, 131l i f e -e ve n t re se arc h , 6 2 , 163-64

l o n g i n g , 135, 145-46

l o v e , 9 2 ; a n d i n s p i r a t i o n , 114 ; a n d

j o y , 4 , 6 3 ; a n d t r a n s c e n d e n c e ,

104, 165

173

m ae na ds , 120, 122, 124 , 131

m a l i c i o u s n e s s , 8 1 , 85-89

Malina ( B a c h m a n n ) , 4 1 - 4 4

man i a , 5 , 10 5 ; de f i n e d , 97 , 98 ; de

s c r i b e d , 98-103; D i o n y s u s a n d ,

9 8 ; fear of, 17

m a n i c t r i a d , IO I

m a n i p u l a t i o n : j o y a n d , 6 0

M a r c e l , G a b ri e l , 7 , 137 , 140 , 150

M a r y , 154masks , 123

m a t e r n a l w o m b , 127

m a t u r i t y , p s y c h i c , 18 -19

m e m o r y , 55 , 151; an d j o y , 6 7 , 6 8 -

6 9 , 91

mi rac le s , 1 2 3

m i r r o r i n g , e m o t i o n a l , 3 5 , 93

m o o d , 165; changes i n , 26-27,2%<

c h a r a c t e r o l o g i c a l , 2 5 ; d e f i n e d , 2 1,23-24; i n f e c t i o usn e ss o f , 3 4

m o o n f l o w e r : s y m b o l i s m o f, x i i - x i i i

m o t h e r a rc h e typ e , 7 , 1 54 , 155

m o t i v e s , 8 6

m ys t ic c i rc le , 1 19 , 13 1

m y s t i c i s m , 112; i n d i v i d u a t i o n i n ,

12 9

Myth of Sisyphus, The, 139-42

n a r c i s s i s m : a n d j o y , 6 0

n a tu re , 52, 121, 125, 126, 127

neuroses , 1 3

N i e t z s c h e , R , 1 1 5 , 125-26, 127, 128,

13 0

N i n , A n a i ' s , 6 8 - 6 9

n o t - y e t - c o n s c i o u s h o p e , 7

ohuntu, botho, x i i i

ope nne ss , 4 7 , 50 , 127

O t t o , W . F., 115, 116, 124 , 125

O v i d , x i i i



I N D E X

i n v o l v e m e n t , 14 1; a n d e m o t i o n s , 4 ,

11, 14

i s o l a t i o n , 4 4 , 12 7, 1 4 3 ; a n x i e t y a n d ,

15

James, W i l l i a m , x

Jaspers, K a r l , 21

j o y : a n d a f f i l i a t i o n , 17 ; a n d a n t i c i

p a t i o n , 5 ; b io g r a ph ies o f, 5 3 , 5 4 -

63 ; in ch i l d r e n , 5 ; c r ea t u r es o f ,

7 4 ; d y n a m i c s o f, 6 3 ; e x p r e s si o n s

o f , 4 4 , 45 , 5 7, 58 , 6 3 ; fear of, 17;

f o r m s o f , 5 , 6 7 ; a s f o u n d a t i o n a l ,

5 2 , 5 3 , 1 6 0 ; g e n e t i c d e t e r m i n a t i o n

of, 77-78, 1 5 5 ; i n d u c i n g , 19-20,

6 3 ; l e a r n i n g a b o u t , 56 ; m a x i m i z a

t i o n o f , 6 0 ; a n d m e m o r y , 5 , 5 5;

p e r c e p t i o n o f , 4 7 , 6 7 ; a n d p e r s o n

a l i t y d e v e l o p m e n t , 5; q u i e t , 6 2 ; a sr e a c t i o n f o r m a t i o n , 17 ; r e i n f o r c

i n g , 77, 78 ; sh ad ow s ide of , 5 , 60 ,

8 5 - 9 4 ; s h a r ed , 5 8 , 6 3 , 160 ; as

s ide-ef fect , 75 ; sources of, 5 , 4 9 -

5 3 , 75 , 88 ; s p o i l i ng o f , 5 9 , 74 ,

81-84, I54»" and therapy , 54 ; u n i n

h i b i t e d , 81 ; v icar ious , 83

J u n g , C a r l G . , 157-58, 162; a nd a n i

m us , 13 1; an d jo y , 19 ; an d psy che ,

7, 151

K e r e n y i , K a r l , 115, 116, 122 , 124 ,

125

K r e t s c h m e r , E r n s t , 5 , 98-100

l i fe : D io ny s u s as s y m b ol o f , 116 ,

130, 131

l i f e - ev ent r es ea r ch , 62 , 163-64

l o n g i n g , 135, 145-46

l o v e , 9 2 ; a n d i n s p i r a t i o n , 114 ; a n d

j o y , 4 , 6 3 ; a n d t r a n s c e n d e n c e ,

104,165

173

m ae na ds , 120, 122, 124 , 13 1

m a l i c iou s nes s , 8 1 , 85-89

Malina ( B a c h m a n n ) , 4 1 - 4 4

m a nia , 5 , 105 ; d enned , 9 7 , 9 8 ; d e

s c r i b e d , 98-103; D i o n y s u s a n d ,

9 8 ; fear of, 17

m a n i c t r i a d , 101

m a n i p u l a t i o n : j o y a n d , 6 0

M a r c e l , G a b r i e l , 7 , 137 , 140 , 150

M a r y , 154

masks , 123

m a t e r n a l w o m b , 127

m a t u r i t y , p s y c h i c , 18 - 19

m em or y , 5 5, 151; a nd jo y , 67 , 6 8 -

6 9 , 91

miracles , 123

m i r r o r i n g , e m o t i o n a l , 3 5 , 93

m o o d , 165; changes i n , 26-27, 28;

c h a r a c t e r o l o g i c a l , 2 5 ; d e f i n e d , 2 1,23-24; in f ec t iou s nes s o f , 3 4

m o o n f l o w e r : s y m b o l i s m o f, x i i - x i i i

m ot h er a r ch et y p e , 7, 1 54 , 155

m o t i v e s , 8 6

m yst ic c i rc le , 1 19 , 13 1

m y s t i c i s m , 112; i n d i v i d u a t i o n i n ,

12 9

Myth of Sisyphus, The, 139-42

n a r c i s s i s m : a n d j o y , 6 0

n a tu re , 52, 121, 125, 126, 127

neuroses, 13

N i e t z s c h e , P . , 1 1 5 , 125-26, 127, 128,

13 0

N i n , A n a i ' s , 6 8 - 6 9

n o t - y e t - c o n s c i o u s h o p e , 7

ohuntu, botho, x i i i

ope nne ss , 4 7 , 50 , 127

O t t o , W . F., 115, 116, 12 4 , 125

O v i d , x i i i



I N D E X

17 4

Pa n, 118 roo ted ne ss , 106, 113 . See also

p a n t h e r s , 118 g r o u n d e d n e s s

P e n t e c o s t , 6 , 111-12, 113 ro u t i n e , 14 9 , 150, 159

P e n t h e u s , 124, 127

Persephone, 1 17 s a d i s m , 8 6 , 8 9 - 9 2 ; c o l l e c t i v e , 9 1

per s ona l i t i e s : f ee l ing s a nd , 28 Sar tre , Jea n- Pa ul , 7, 14 1 , 149

per s pect i v e , 5 4 , 5 5 satyrs, 120, 130

phallus , 1 17, 118, 12 0 scapegoat, 122

play , 4 3 , 61 , 82 , 109 S c h i l l e r , F r i e d r i c h v o n , 156

pleasure p r i n c i p l e , 1 8 s c h i z o p h r e n i c s , 9 7

Pl ot in u s , 127 sec ur i ty : ho pe an d , 1 36 , 138 , 15 3 .

po et ry : go d of , 115 See also Geborgenheit

p o s i t i v e m o t h e r a r c h e t y p e , 7 , 154 self, 92, 100, 127 ; acceptance of,

presentness, 10 4 4 7 ; sense of , 45 . See alsoe g o

p r i d e , 4 9 c o m p l e x

p r o j e c t i o n , 142 Self, 6 , 7, 9 2 , 127, 137, 154 , 163 , 165

pr op he cy , 1 12, 113 , 1 19, 127 sel f - ab an do n, 79

psy ch e, 7 , 151, 165 se l f -acce ptance , 4 7 , 9 0 , 93 , 94

p s y c h o l o g y , 6 2 ; d e f i n e d , x ; o f e m o self-centeredness, 101t io ns , 4 , 11, 21 self-esteem, 6 0 , 9 3 , 109 , 163 ; jo y

ps y ch o s i s , 9 7 a n d , 4 , 4 7 ; as s ou r ce o f j o y , 4 9 ,

88

rage, 15, 97, 105 sel f - i m ag e, 89

ra m , 118 se l f - re a l i za t io n, 109 , 163 , 164

r e a c t i o n f o r m a t i o n : j o y as, 17 s e l f - r e g u l a t i o n , 1 5 9

r e b i r t h , 121 Semele, 117

r e g r e s s i o n , 9 4 , 1 4 3 separat ion, 155

relate dn ess , 5 , 6, 15, 4 4 , 101, 158, se re ni ty, 17, 128

160 . See alsoa f f i l i a t ion s er pen t , 4 3 , 1 22

r e l a t i o n s h i p s : i n e x i s t e n t i a l i s m , 1 4 2 ; s e x u a l i t y , 8 9 ; D i o n y s u s a n d , 116 ,

i n m a n i a , 9 8 118, 120, 122; fear of, 128

r e p e t i t i o n c o m p u l s i o n , 148-49 s h a m a ns , 107

r epr es s ion , 121 s h a m e, 8 4 , 9 0 , 9 1; in ps y ch o l o g y ,

r e s i g n a t i o n , 1 4 8 15

respect: a nd joy , 81 s h i p , D i o n y s u s ' , 1 2 0 , 130-31

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , 1 4 1 s i b l i n g r i v a l r y , 8 8

r e s t r u c t u r i n g , p s y c h o l o g i c a l , 14 5 s i l e n i , 120, 124

revol t , 152 s i n , 122

r i s k , 3 8 , 13 6 , 1 42 , 14 3 s inc er i t y , e m ot io n a l , 3 8

r i t u a l , 6, 113, 114, 119, 123, 125 s i n g i n g , 58, 61

r i v a l r y , 8 8 , 8 9 S i s y p h u s , 7 , 140-42



I N D E X

s o c i a l e n v i r o n m e n t : o f e m o t i o n s ,

13

s o c i a l i z a t i o n : o f j o y , 7 6 - 8 1

s oc i a l o r d e r : ecstasy a n d , 121, 122;

w o m e n an d , 12 1, 1 24 , 125

s o l i d a r i t y . See a f f i l i a t i on : r e l a te d -

ness; s y m b i o s i s

s o u l : a n d n a t u r e , x i i i ; e m o t i o n s r e

l a t e d t o , x i ; i n p s y c h o l o g y , x

stress fac tors , 62

su ic ide , 1 36

s u r r e n d e r , n o

sy m bi os is , 7, 154 , 155, 156, 165; an d

d e v e l o p m e n t , 1 29 ; a n d ecstasy,

12 7, 13 0 ; a n d i n d i v i d u a t i o n , 1 29 ,

158; w i t h na tu re , 125, 126, 127;

s a d i s m a n d , 9 0 , 9 1

sy m bo ls , 151; D io n y s i a n , 6 , 115, 116 ,

120, 123

s y n c h r o n i c i t y , x

t e m p e r a m e n t , 24-25; a n d m a n i a ,

1 0 0 ; s w i n g s i n , 2 5 , 26-27

Teresa o f A v i l a , 128

t h e r a p y : a n d affect, 13 ; a n d e m o

t i o n s , 12; goals of , 1 5 ; and hope ,

13 8; j o y a n d , 4 - 5 , 7 , 2 0 ; t e c h

n i qu e s o f , 4 , n o , 12 9

T o l l e , R. , 101

tragedy, 119

t r a n s c e n d e n c e , 4 3 , 4 7 , 13 9 , 165

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , 4 , 2 0 , 4 3 ; D i o n y

sus a nd , 1 23 , 1 54 ; e la ted em o

tio ns a n d , 108, 123 , 155; need for,

108

tra ns i t io ns , 63 , 153

t r a n s p e r s o n a l Self, 6, 7. See also

S e l f

175

tru st , 1 37; in self, 4 5

T u t u , D e s m o n d , x i i i

un co ns c io us , 6 , 94 , 12 1, 1 59 , 162;

and c r e a t i v i t y , 1 0 9 , n o ; a n d e g o ,

128-29; a n d h o p e , 13 7 ; a n d i n s p i

r a t i o n , 1 09 , n o ; a n d l o n g i n g , 14 5;

and v i s i o n , 1 3 7

u n i t y , 127, 128. See alsos y m b i o s i s

u n i v e r s a l h o p e . See a b s o l u t e h o p e

unus mundus, 127

U t o p i a s , 113, 151-52

v a r i e ty : a n d i n te r e s t , 77

v e g e t a t i on : c e r e m on y o f , 121; g o d

of, 116-17

v i s i o n , 113, 119, 124, 129, 139; and

ho p e, 1 36, 1 38, 148; an d i l l u s i o n ,

co nt ra ste d , 1 49 , 15 1; for l i fe , 137

v o n D r o s t e - H u l s h o f f , A n n e t t e , 14 7 ,

14 9

v o n U s l a r , D . , 21

w a r m t h , 71, 112

w ho le ne ss , 127, 137, 157

w i l l to l i v e , 136

w i n e , 118, 119

w i n e g o d , 116

w i s h e s , 1 4 5

Woman Speaks, A ( N i n ) , 6 8 - 6 9

w o m b , 127

w o m e n : a n d D i o n y s i a n m y s te r y,

121, 122, 123 , 124 , 125, 131

W o r d s w o r t h , W i l l i a m , x i i i

w o r k , 1 4 2 ; a s s ou r c e o f j o y , 4 9 ; a n d

m a n i a , 10 6

Zeus, 117



Joy, Inspiration, and Hope was c o m p o s e d i n t o t y p e on a C o m p u -

g r a p h i c d i g i t a l p h o t o t y p e s e t t e r in t w e lv e p o i n t B e m b o w i t h two

p o i n t s of s p a c i n g b e t w e e n the l in e s . B e m b o was also selected for

d i s p l ay . The b o o k was d e s i g n e d by Ji m B i l l i n g s l e y , t yp e s e t by

M e t r i c o m p , Inc., p r i n t e d o f f s e t by T h o m s o n - S h o r e , Inc., and

b o u n d b y J o h n H . D e k k e r&

S o n s ,Inc. The

p a p e ron

w h i c h thisb o o k is p rin te d carr ies a c id-free character is t ics for an effect ive life

o f at l ea s t t hre e h u n d re d ye a rs .

T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y P R ESS

C o l l e g e S t a t i o n



V e r e n a K a s tT R A N S L A T E D B Y D O U G L A S W H I T C H E R

F O R E W O R D B Y D A V I D H . R O S E N



" E m o t i o n i s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e self," V e r e n a K a s t w r i t e s i n t h i s s t u d y o f t h e

n e g l e c t e d e m o t i o n s o f o y , i n s p i r a t i o n , a n d h o p e . " I f w e d e c i d e w e n o l o n g e r w a n tt o h i d e b e h i n d e m p t y s h el ls , t h e n w e w i l l h av e t o a l l o w c e r t a i n e m o t i o n s m o r e

r o o m . W e w i l l h a v e t o l e t o u r s e l v e s l a u g h l o u d e r , c r y l o u d e r , a n d s h o u t f o r j o y . "

K a s t m a k e s t h e case t h a t n o t o n l y th e r a p i s t s a n d a n a l y st s b u t a ls o i n d i

v i d u a l s s e e k i n g g r o w t h i n t h e ir o w n l iv e s s h o u l d g i v e m o r e a t t e n t i o n t o t he

e l a t e d e m o t i o n s . F e a r o f excess ( m a n ia ) a n d a n a l y t i c p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h g r i e f ,

a n x i e t y , a n d d e p r e s s i o n h a v e together c a u s e d j o y a n d h o p e t o b e s h u n n e d as a

f o c u s i n i n d i v i d u a t i o n (t he p r o c e ss t o w a r d w h o l e n e s s ) . J o y a n s w e rs t h e h u m a n

n e e d f o r e la t e d f e e l i n g a n d m e a n i n g i n o u r li v e s , a n e e d w h i c h i s o f t e n f i l l e d i n

m o d e r n s o c i e t y b y s e c u l a r i z e d p a r o d i e s o f r e l i g i o u s ecstasy, s u c h as a d d i c t i o n

a n d c o m p u l s i v e n e s s .

Date post:	09-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	mittelbach1
View:	221 times
Download:	0 times

Kast - Joy Inspiration Hope

Documents