Gregg, and that brings up another realm of discussion--epigenetics. If we look at Harlow's mistreated monkeys (lacking maternal touch), they were all stress-reactive in similar ways (for which we have neuroscientific explanations now--suboptimally developed HPA, vagal tone, endocrine systems, neurotransmitter systems) from lack of evolved maternal care. Humans are even more epigenetically shaped than any other animal, including temperament which is shaped by gestational experience, birth experience and caregiver treatment in the first days, weeks and months (temperament is typically measured first at 4 months of age--LOTS has happened before that).  Plus there's epigenetic inheritance from the experience of parents and grandparents. So what is called "psychological traits" are by and large intergenerationally shaped, experienced-based outcomes, including the wide range of psychopathologies (off the the optimal trajectory of human development when properly supported) that are common today.

On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 12:22 PM, Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

This opens up a whole separate line of inquiry regarding the viability of traits. As such, I will offer just a few points.

 

Unlike Costa and McCrae and a few others, I am NOT a trait essentialist. However, the idea of traits as temperament, a predisposition to respond a certain way to certain situations clearly has some validity.

 

For example, trait neuroticism is, to me, a crucial concept. Here is a blog on how I think about.   People differ in terms of the sensitivity of the negative affect system. Folks high in TN are more sensitive to being stressed, experience negative affect more intensely and are harder to calm down. Of course, that is not to say that folks can’t change or that what you do doesn’t matter.

 

But there is a wide variety of differences in the negative emotional reactions to situations and the construct of trait has value in that.

Best,

Gregg

 

From: tree of knowledge system discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeffery Smith MD
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018 9:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Stephen Pepper's "World Hypotheses"

 

I strongly support Darcia's point of view. I think that we use a person's name as a hook on which to hang the illusion of consistency across situations and across time. Neither is accurate. One clinical observation is how anxiety problems sometimes resolve over decades. We don't observe that because we assume that any important changes will take place in 12 sessions, or some brief time.In another example, I'm working with a person who was ritualistically abused, but is now 60 and has done a lot of work. Her issues are not mostly those of abuse, but the ordinary problems of growing and adapting to life.

 

Jeffery Smith

 

On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 9:35 AM, Darcia Narvaez <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thanks, Steve!

The critiques of contextualism seem weak to me. They don't take into account developmental differences and changes through the lifespan (where some characteristics may be consistent for a time and then shift as the dynamism of development continues).

Further, the implicit assumption of the critique assumes that one can measure meaningful consistencies across time--sure but they are veneers of the dynamism of being a human being (unless a person has been toxically stressed/traumatized and oppressed into being robotic and rigid). Lots of information is lost in trying to categorize things one way or another.

Social cognitive theory of personality offers at least a remedy to thinking about personality consistency: rather than a trait carried situation to situation (as trait theory tends to assume), there is a consistent personality signature in a person by context variability across situations (e.g., extrovert with family, introvert at work).

But a virtuous person responds to each situation appropriately (e.g., with compassion and egolessness). Each situation is different so behavior is different each time. Holistic virtue cannot be measured in a controlled manner, since every situation is different and requires different skills/responses appropriate at that moment.

Darcia

 

On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 9:03 AM, nysa71 <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

So would Heraclitus be an example of a Contextualist considering quotes like:

"You could not step twice into the same river."

"Everything changes and nothing stands still."

"All entities move and nothing remains still."

?

~ Jason Bessey

 

On Sunday, January 28, 2018, 10:28:02 PM EST, Steven Quackenbush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

 

 

Hello ToK Community,

 

Attached is the penultimate episode of Stephen Pepper's World Hypotheses.  

Included as a special bonus feature is an optional "deleted scene"! 

 

~ Steve Q.  

 

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Young Child Flourishing: Evolution, Family & Society (OUP)

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