Confusional consequences of illogical interaction.
A personality theory rooted in interpersonal interaction is presented herein. The theory rests on a simple reward-punishment paradigm in which interpersonal interactions are viewed not as a series of discrete phenomena but as continuously recurrent experiences. Effects of interaction patterns thus reflect an accumulated experience rather than individual, discontinuous events. This basic learning paradigm keeps intact a simplicity and appealing logic. At the same time, invoking a cumulative learning experience, rather than the more common view, a series of individually discrete events, invests the theory with a conceptual underpinning sufficient to explain the role of interaction patterns in forming the complexity of thought, emotion, and behavior that is the reality of the human condition. Major dimensions of this identity-acquiring process are described herein. These vary hugely and are understood to underwrite in a direct, logical, ultimately simple way the various attributes that are the basis of identity. This applies to normal identity and can be applied as well to those identities that may form the core of such conditions as mania, depression, and even schizophrenia. The manner in which this theory incorporates tenets of other extant interactive theories is also described.
David
O
O
Department of Psychiatry, SUNY-HSCB (Health Science Center Brooklyn) 11213, USA.
D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010553:Personality Development; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012649:Self Concept