bloom the tragic nature of human existence
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
1/24
THETRAGICNATUREOFHUMAN
EXISTENCE
SandraL.
Bloom,
M.D.
THESADSTORYOFOEDIPUSTHEKING
Tragedyisnotexactlythesamethingasbadthingshappeningtogood
people,orjustoverwhelmingbadthingshappeningtoanybody,ortolots
ofpeople.Itsmorecomplexthanthatanditscomplexityhelpstoshed
lightonwhytragicoccurrencesaresooftenthecauseofindividualand
organizationalarrest
of
growth
and
change.
Its
really
amental
model
issue.TheOedipusMythisoneofthefoundingstoriesofWestern
civilization.MostpeoplehaveheardofOedipusbecauseofFreudsideas
surroundingpsychosexualdevelopmentandtheOedipalComplex.But
evenmorethanthat,thestoryofOedipusprovidesagoodillustrationof
childhoodadversity,multigenerationaltrauma,badluck,andfateandwe
suspectthatmanyofourreaderswillneverhaveheardthefullstoryof
thisunluckyman[1].Hereshowthestorygoes:
CadmuswasthelegendaryfounderofthecityofThebes.Becausein
Thebanmythicalhistory,victorysooftenentaileddisasterforthevictors,
aCadmean
victory
was
proverbial
in
Greek,
referring
to
avictory
that
damagesthevictorsasmuchasthevanquished[Vietnam?Iraq?).
CadmusgrandsonwasnamedLaius,andhewasanastypieceofwork.
Asaresultofyetanotherofaseeminglyendlesscycleoffamilyfeuds,
LaiushadtofleeThebesandhewastakeninbyPelops,KingofPisa.Not
beingaparticularlygratefulguest,Laiuscarriedoff(euphemismfor
sexualassault)Pelopsson,Chrysippus,wholatercommittedsuicide
(presumablyanancientGreekexampleofsexualabuseanditspossible
consequences).Whateverthecase,thegodApollothroughtheDelphic
oracle warnedLaiusthat,aspunishmentforhisbehavior,ifhefathered
ason,thatsonwouldkillhim.Butdespitehisperfidy,Laiusrecoveredhis
kingdomandmarriedthebeautifulJocasta(rememberthatname)buthe
remainedhauntedbythepredictionoftheoracle.Accordingly,whena
sonwasborn,Laiushadthebabysfeetpinnedtogetherwithaspike(yes,
letsrememberthatshowOedipusstartedlife)andthengavethebabyto
aservanttoabandononMountCithaeronwhereitwasexpectedthatthe
babywouldbeeatenbywildanimals.
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
2/24
Insteadtheservantgavethebabytoashepherdwhobroughthimto
Polybus,kingofCorinth,andMerope,hisqueen.Thesetwo,being
childless,broughthimupastheirownson,naminghimOedipus(swollen
feet)fromthedeformityofhisfeet.WhenOedipuswasgrownup,after
beingtauntedwithbeingnotruesonofPolybus,hewenttoDelphito
enquireabout
his
parentage.
The
Delphic
oracle
told
him
only
that
he
wouldkillhisfatherandmarryhismother.Oedipusimmediatelyassumed
thattheoraclewasreferringtohisadoptiveparents,sodecidingneverto
returntoCorinthbecausehelovedthepeopleheknewashisparents
(abandonedbyhisbiologicalparents,nowheisforcedtoabandonthe
parentshelovedinordertoprotectthem).Nowhomelessandindespair,
hebegantowanderinthedirectionofThebes.Ashewaswalkingalong
theroad,bychanceheencounteredastrangerandhisservantsataplace
wherethreeroadsmet.UnbeknownsttoOedipus,thiswasLaiuswhowas
onthewaytoseetheoracleagainbecausehehadreceivedomensthat
hissonwouldreturntokillhim.Inastandoff,Oedipusrefusedtogiveway
whenorderedtobythekingandLaiuseitherrolledachariotwheelover
Oedipusfootorhithimwithhiswhip.Inanger,OedipuskilledLaiusand
hisattendants,thusunwittinglyandunknowinglyservingasthe
instrumentofFate.
OedipuswentontoThebes,whichwasatthattimebeingterrorizedby
theSphinx,amonsterwhodestroyedthosewhocouldnotanswerthe
riddlesheposed.Creon,brotheroftherecentlywidowedJocastaand
regentofThebesofferedthekingdomandJocastaaswifetowhoever
shouldfreethecityoftheSphinx.Oedipusguessedtheanswertothe
riddle
and
the
Sphinx
killed
herself.
The
grateful
citizens
of
Thebes
appointedOedipustobetheirKingandinfairytalefashion,hemarried
thestillbeautifulJocasta,havingnoideathatshewashisbiological
mother.Thingswentwellforthecoupleforawhile.Theyhadtwolovely
daughtersandtwohandsomesons.ButthereisnoescapingFate.Thebes
becamedevastatedbyplagueandfamineandtheDelphicOracle
proclaimedthattheonlywaytosavethecitywastoexpelthekillerof
Laius.Noonehadputtwoandtwotogetherafteralltheseyears,sono
oneknewthatKingOedipuswastheguiltyparty,notevenOedipus.
But,wantingtosavethecity,KingOedipusdecidedtoinvestigatethe
decadesold
murder
of
his
predecessor,
King
Laius.
In
his
investigation
of
Laiusdeath,Oedipusdiscoveredthatthemanhehadkilledinthequarrel
onthewaytoThebeswasLaiusandworseyetthatLaiuswashis
biologicalfatherandhisbelovedJocasta,hismother.Apollospunishment
ofLaiushadbeenplayedoutthroughhim.Inhorroranddespair,Jocasta
hangedherselfandOedipusblindedhimselfwithapieceofherjewelry.
Hewasthendeposed,andsentintoexile,andlivedouthislifemiserably
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
3/24
[847,872].Hisdaughters,AntigoneandIsmene,andsonsEteoclesand
Polynicesallcametodisastrousends[12].
TheOedipusstoryunfailinglyillustratesthetragedythatishuman
existence.Evenasthesonofaking,Oedipusgetsaverybadstartinlife
abandonedtodie,withspikesdriventhroughhisfeet(presumably
alreadyatoddlerandwalking),thepartofthisstorythattypicallyisthe
mostignoredandthemosthorrificisthisancientstoryofchildabuse.
Theoriginalperpetratorisnevertrulysociallycondemnedforhiscrimes
forhissexualassaultofaninnocentboyorfortheabuseandintended
murderofhisownson andevenhisdeathdoesnotserveanysenseof
justicewewouldrecognize.Thegodsmakehimpay,butlargelythrough
wife,hisson,andhisgrandchildren.Oedipustooktheburdenofthis
multigenerationalviolenceonhimself,andtorehisowneyesout.Hisfate
washisdestinyandhecoulddonothingbutpunishhimselfforthe
twinnedsinsofkillinghisfatherandmarryinghismother.
TheOedipalstoryringsanoteoftruthtousbecauseitisnotunlikethe
storiesoftheyoungpeoplewhocomeintoresidentialtreatmentand
juvenilejusticesettings,whohavehurtothersandaredoingviolenceto
themselves.Theyhavemistakenthetraumaoftheirlivesfortheirdestiny
andinsteadoflearningwhatitmeanstobesafeintheworld,tomanage
emotions,toworkthroughloss,andenvisionadifferentlifeahead,they
keepmovingdeeperanddeeperintothemuck.Aswegettoknowtheir
stories,therootsofdestructionreachfarbackintimeandifwedo
nothingtohelp,thecontagiouseffectsofinterpersonalviolencecontinue
spreadingthroughthegenerationsastheydidforOedipusandforthe
childrenthat
followed
him.
ThisisNOThowweAmericanslikestoriestoworkoutatall.Behind
AmericanthoughttodaythereliesastrongJudeoChristianheritage
whichisbasedontheconceptofjusticeandthevisionofajustworld[3].
Wearenotcomfortablewithtragedy.Inourversionoftheworld,the
GoodGuyswinandtheBadGuyslose.Godisjustandifyoujustplayby
therulesyouwillbesafe.Andifthingshaventgonerightforyou,its
becauseyouscrewedupsomehow.Welargelyanderroneouslychoose
tobelieveinajustworld,whereeachpersongetswhatheorshe
deserves,aworldofinevitableprogressinwhichthejustarejustly
rewardedand
the
guilty
are
punished.
Sickness
is
the
problem
of
the
individual,probablygeneticallyandbiologicallybasedandtheconcern
onlyofthemedicalandpsychiatricexpertsassignedtoameliorateitor
simplytolerateit.Povertyisthefaultoftheimpoverished.Crime
warrantspunishment.Withinoursegregated,individualized,demystified,
andfragmentedlivesweavoidresonatingwiththesufferingofothers,
wearenotourbrotherskeepers.Wepretendwehavesolveda
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
4/24
problemoncewehavefoundsomeonetoblameforit.Lockthemupand
throwawaythekey;morelawandorder;morejailtimethosearethe
socialprescriptionsofthelastfewdecadesandforlongbeforethat.
Theprofoundexistentialandethicalproblemforpeoplewhoworkin
humanservicesisthatwhenwedeeplylisten,thestoriesofourclients
livesreadmuchmoreliketheOedipusstorythananoldcowboyWestern
orRushLimbaughsviewofreality.InOedipusstory,wheredoweput
theblame?Wheredoesitallstart?Whosefaultisitanyway?AndifLaius
wastoblame,whyisitthatOedipusandhisentirelyinnocentchildren,
aretheoneswhotakethefall?
AncientGreeceisoneofthebirthplacesofdemocracyandthebedrock
civilizationforWesternthought.TheGreeksdidnotseetheworldinthe
samewayastheancientHebrewsormodernAmericans.Deathisand
alwayshasbeenhumankindsgreatestmysteryandourawarenessofour
own
mortality
our
greatest
burden.
Born
in
utter
helplessness,
we
strugglefrombirthuntildeathwithourdesiretobeincontrol,tonever
againexperiencetheterrorassociatedwithbeinghelplessand
vulnerable.FortheancientGreeks,humanlifewascontrolledbyforces
thathumandesigncouldnotcontrolandwhichwerefrequently
capriciousandbeyondrationalexplanation.Theyperceivedthatwe
wouldalwaysstrugglebutthatthestrugglewashopelessthat
ultimatelywecannotcontrolourlivesandthatweallendinthesame
place.Forthem,yourfatewasyourfateandyoucouldnotoutrunthis
naturallawthatgovernedtheuniverse.Itisfromthisrecognitionthatthe
Greekscreateddramaandparticularly,thetragicdrama.AsGeorge
Steinerhas
said,
tragic
drama
must
start
from
the
fact
of
catastrophe.
Tragediesendbadly.Thetragicpersonageisbrokenbyforceswhichcanneitherbefully
understoodnorovercomebyrationalprudenceTragicdramatellsusthatthespheres
ofreason,order,andjusticeareterriblylimitedandthatnoprogressinourscienceor
technicalresourceswillenlargetheirrelevance.Thereisnouseaskingforrational
explanationormercy.Thingsareastheyare,unrelentingandabsurd.Wearepunished
farinexcessofourguilt(p.8)[3].
IntheGreekworld,partofbeingahumanbeingwascomingtogripswith
thissenseoftragicconsciousness,lookingexistentialterrorintheface
andstaringitdown.InaninterestingconnectionbetweentheGreeksand
ourmodern
world,
psychiatrist
Jonathan
Shay
(see
Chapter
9),
after
years
ofworkingwithVietnamVeterans,cametobelievethattheGreekshad
actuallyinventedtragicdramaasatherapeuticmethodtohelpyoung
combatveterans,scarredwithwhatwenowrecognizeasPTSD,tobe
abletocomebackandhealsothattheywereabletoparticipateina
democraticcommunity.Herecognizedthatinordertoparticipatein
combat,soldiershadtoovercomesocialmoralityornomosinordertokill
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
5/24
whatsoldiersmustdoinwararetransgressionsinsociety.TheGreek
philosopherAristotlesawtheaterasamethodforproducingcatharsis
andenablingreturningsoldierstobereintegratedintothecommunity.
Bycatharsis,Aristotleusedthreemeaningsofthewordthatwerecurrent
inhisday:1)religiouspurificationofaritualtaintandexpiationofa
religioussin;2)medicinalpurgationofsomethingunhealthy,poisonous,
orimpure;3)mentalclarification,removingobstaclestounderstanding,
thepsychologicalequivalentofproducingclearwaterfrommuddywater.
Hebelievedthatallthreewerenecessaryfordifferentbattlescarred
individualsandthattheexperienceoftragicdramacouldprovidethem.
AsShaywrote,
MyconjectureisthatthedistinctivecharacterofAtheniantheaterarosefromthepoliticalneedtopurify,purge,andreclarifycivicunderstandingtoitsreturningsoldiers,
sotheycouldagainfulfilltherolesofcitizensofademocracy.TheancientAthenians
hadadistinctivetherapyofpurification,healing,andreintegrationofreturningsoldiers
thatwas
undertaken
as
awhole
political
community.
Theater
was
this
community's
primarymeansofreintegratingthereturningveteranintothesocialsphereas
Citizen(p.3)[4].
ItisinterestingtonotethatinordertotreatreturningWorldWarII
veterans,MaxwellJonesalsoturnedtotheusesofdramaasaprimary
methodofsuccessfultreatmentwithintherapeuticcommunities.Some
ofthemostsuccessfulprogramstotreatVietnamveteranssufferingfrom
chronicPTSDwereprogramsthatusedritualandthecreativearts.Inthe
developmentoftheSanctuaryModel,psychodramagroups,threetimesa
week,werefortwentyyearsacrucialpartofourtreatmentofadult
survivorsof
childhood
abuse
[5].
And
today,
many
of
our
participating
programsaroundNewYorkCityareworkingwithCreativeAlternativesof
NewYork,implementingdramatherapytohelptraumatizedclientsto
heal[6].
FortheGreeks,everytragicheroandbyextensioneveryhumanbeing
hasaHamartiaoratragicflawanditiswovenintohisorhercharacter.
Thehamartiaissomequalityuponwhichcivilization,humanfreedom,
andhumanwellbeingdependqualitiessuchascourage,wisdom,
intelligence,piety,resoluteness,integrity,andconcernforothersthat
areliableincertainunforeseeablesituationstoleadtodisaster[875].
Theforce
of
tragedy
is
then
that
the
highest
virtues,
the
qualities
that
are
most
necessaryforanywellledlifethemselvescandefeattheachievementoftheir
appropriateend,eudaimonia,awellled,happyhumanlife[7].Fortheancient
Greeks,therootsourceofWesternculture,therewasnosuchthingas
autonomousart.Therewas,instead,aunityofculturalpractices
religiousworship,tragicandcomictheater,architecture,sculpture,
painting,poetics,dance,andmusicwereintegrated.FortheGreeks,art
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
6/24
wasalwayssimultaneouslypersonalandpolitical,expressiveand
therapeutic[8].
ISBIOLOGYDESTINY? OURTRAGICFLAW
Butintheinterveningcenturies,wehavelostourawarenessofthetruenatureofhumanexistence,oftragicconsciousness,ofthetragicsense
oflife[9].Dowe doallhumans haveatragicflaw?Exposureto
overwhelmingtraumaticeventsandhumanevolutionareintimately
entwined.Inherbook,BloodRites,BarbaraEhrenreichhaspointedout
that,Theoriginaltrauma,meaningofcourse,notasingleeventbutalongstanding
condition wasthetraumaofbeinghuntedbyanimalsandeaten[10].Viewingour
distantpastfromthisperspective,itisawonderthatourspecieseven
survived,givenourlackofadequatedefenseorprotectiveadaptations.
Todoso,wedevelopedsomeveryspecialadaptiveskills.Welearnedto
bondtogetherandfighttogether,notonlyforfoodbutalsoformutual
defense.Wedevelopeduniqueformsofcommunicationinorderto
conveyinformationovertimeandoverspacesymbolsandthen
language. Ourbrainsenlarged,becomingcapableofmakingthousands
ofassociationstoanyevent.Ourmemoriesbecamemoretenaciousthan
thoseofourmammalianancestors,compellingustoholdonto
informationthroughoutalifetime,particularlymemoriesinducedbyfear.
Ouremotionalsystems,hardwiredtoourautonomicnervoussystemas
aninheritancefromourmammalrelatives,becameevenmoreintimately
connectedtoourmemories,ourneedtoattachtoothersofourkind,and
ourcomplex
network
of
thoughts
and
ideas.
Althoughultimatelythisgrowingcomplexitygaveussuperiorityover
otherspecies,thereweresomedistinctiveproblems.Likeourmodern
computers,thesophisticatedfunctioningofourcomplexbrains
demandedahighdegreeofsystemintegrationandcertainoptimal
conditionsforproperoperation.Ourbigbrainsmayhavebeenthe
reasonwestartedkillingotheranimalsforfoodbecausethebrain
consumesproportionately,suchahighlevelofenergy[11].
Traumaticexperienceproducesaphysiologicaloverloadthatthebrain
andbody
are
unable
to
adequately
manage
ifthey
are
to
continue
functioningnormally.Ourprimarydefensetocopewiththisphysiological
overloadisthemechanismwediscussedearliercalleddissociation.
Althoughalifesavingcopingskillintheshortrun,dissociationproduces
fragmentationofvitalmentalfunctions,andtheresultisdiminished
integrationandthereforeimpairedperformance.Becausewehave
foresight,wecananticipateproblemsahead;forthesamereasonwecan
anticipatetheendofourownlivesandofeverythingwehaveever
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
7/24
known.Ourcapacityfordissociationgrewoutofanothervitalneed
springingfromourtraumaticpast.Ourcentralnervoussystemisvery
vulnerabletotheeffectsofstress.Overwhelmingstressisphysiologically
andcognitivelydisorganizing.Dissociationhelpstoprotectandbufferthe
centralnervoussystemfromthisphysiologicalandemotional
hyperarousal.
Ouremotionsalertusthatsomethingisoutofkilter,notright,notwhat
wewant.Theyareoursensitivementalradar.Weperceivethe
experienceofourfeelingsthroughourmindsbutbecauseeveryseparate
emotionevokesaspecificpatternofresponseintheautonomicnervous
system,everyemotionradiatesaneffectthroughouteveryorganinour
body.Everylanguage,infact,hasdozensofexpressionsforemotions
thatareexpressedinphysicaltermsalumpinthethroat,abroken
heart,bowelsinanuproar,asickeningfeelingallareexamplesof
thisdeepknowledge.Butbecauseouremotionsaresointimately
connectedto
our
vital
organs,
it
is
entirely
possible
to
die
of
fright
or
die
ofabrokenheart.Additionally,prolongedemotionalarousalhasnegative
consequencesforvitalorgansystemsintheformofstressrelated
illnesses[12].
Sinceoneofthemainpurposesofouremotionsistoalertustothe
occurrence,significance,andnatureofeventsandexperiencesthatare
partofourreality,anydisorder,anydisruptionofestablishedmeaningor
belief,willevokeapowerfulemotionalresponse.Thisresponsewillnot
stopuntilthedisparitiesareresolved,untilwehavereorderedourreality
[13].Ourfeelingswillnotletusrestuntilourinnerconflictshavebeen
resolved.
Underconditionsofextremestress,victimsoftraumaexperience
speechlessterror.Thislossoflanguagefunctionisfrequentlyprofound
andextremelyimportant.Thetraumaticexperienceandallassociations
toitcannotbeincorporatedintoacognitiveschema,partlybecausethe
brainsystemthataccomplishesthistaskisshutdownundertheimpact
ofextremestress.Thevictimexperiencesandremembersthetraumain
nonverbal,visual,auditory,kinesthetic,visceral,andfeelingmodalities,
butisnotabletothinkaboutitorprocesstheexperienceinanyway.
Ourcognitiveprocessesaredependentonlanguagefunctionandwithout
wordswe
cannot
think.
Trauma
produces
adisconnection
syndrome,
a
functionalsplitbrainpreparationinwhichthetwohemispheresappear
tofunctionautonomously,atleastasitconcernsthetraumatic
experience.
Thetraumatizedpersonbecomespossessed,hauntedbythetheaterin
hismind.Hecannotcontroltheintrusiveimages,feelings,sensations.
Theycomeintoconsciousnessunbidden,terrifyinglyvivid,producinga
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
8/24
viciouscycleofhelplessselfrevictimization.Butherewearefacedwitha
dilemma thevictimoftraumaistrappedwithinthesilenceof
unwitnessedmemory.Toheal,hemustspeak,hemustfeel,andhearing
thewords,hemustincorporatetheexperienceintosomekindof
cognitiveschemathatallowshimtomakemeaningandfinallyputthe
experiencebehind
him
so
he
can
go
on.
But
the
biological
responses
to
traumainhibitandprohibitsuchspeech.Thebrainisdisconnectedfrom
itselfandperceivesanyattempttoreconnectasadangerousthreatto
survival.Sointrusivesensoryexperiencesandnegativefeelings
predominate,behaviorbecomesincreasinglyseparatedfromthesocial
meaningsystem.Thepersondisconnectsfromotherpeopleasthey
activelyavoidlisteningorparticipatinginadialoguewiththevictim.
Trappedintime,whiletheworldmovesonaroundhim,heisneither
alivenordead.Hecannotescapethetrapalone,thebiological
reverberationshavesetupasnarewhichgrabsathimandrefusestolet
go.So,hedoestheonlythinglefttodo hespeaksintheonlyvoicehe
hasinthelanguageofthenonverbalbrain.Heacts.
Anyeffortshetooktoprotecthimselforothersatthetimeofthetrauma
wereafailure,andyetimagesofwhathecouldhavedone failed
enactment continuetoobsesshim.RobertLiftonhastalkedabout
failedenactment,inwhichsomebeginning,abortiveimageforms
towardenactmentinamorepositivewaythatisneverpossibleto
achieve...aschemaforenactmentthatisnevercompleted(p.9)[14].This
failedenactmentisassociatedwithprofoundfeelingsofhelplessness,
whichisafundamentalcharacteristicofanytraumaticexperience.Pierre
Janet
believed
that
traumatization
resulted
from
failure
to
take
action
againstapotentialthreat.Theresultinghelplessnessgaveriseto
"vehementemotions"which,inturn,interferedwithpropermemory
storage. Hethoughtthatsuccessfulintegrationofmemoriesdependson
successfulactionoftheorganismupontheenvironment[15].Itisthis
failedenactmentthatpropelstraumaticreenactment,theprofound
tendencytocompulsivelyandbehaviorallyrelivethetraumatic
experienceoutsideofconsciousawareness.ItwasFreud,ofcourse,who
focusedattentiononthisphenomenonthathetermedtherepetition
compulsion:Hereproducesitnotasamemorybutasanaction;he
repeatsitwithout,ofcourse,knowingthatheisrepeating...hecannot
escapefrom
this
compulsion
to
repeat;
and
in
the
end
we
understand
that
thisishiswayofremembering(p.150)[16].
Afterthetrauma,oneofthemostperplexingexperiencesforthe
individualvictimisthattheworldgoesonasbefore,evenastheirown
worldhasbeencompletelyshattered.Otherpeopleoutsideofthe
traumaenvelopeappearrelativelyoblivioustothetraumaticevent
[17].Forthevictim,personalrealityisnolongercongruentwithcultural
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
9/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
10/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
11/24
cognitiveintelligence,emotionalintelligence,socialintelligence,and
moralintelligencebecamehighlydependentonattachingtoothersof
ourkindandasthathappened,ourrelationshipswitheachother,within
families,withinourlargerculturesbecameintimatelyconnectedto
survival.Ourprofoundandinnateneedtobondtoothersmakesthe
unvarnishedinevitability
of
loss
unbearable
unless
we
can
alter
the
realityinsomeway,unlesswecantransformthetragicintosomekindof
sharedmeaningonanintellectual,butmoreimportantly,an
emotional/culturallevel.
Collectivetraumatendstobeapowerfulstimulusforgroupdissociation.
Inducingdissociation atrancestate isfareasierinfact,inagroup
settingandallcultureshavesocialmechanisms,oftencloselytiedto
artisticperformancethatusuallyincludesdrumminganddancing
rhythmicactivitiesthataredesignedtoinducegrouptrances [20].
ResearchersattheMaxPlanckInstituteforHumanDevelopmenthave
shownthat
playing
music
together
actually
synchronizes
brain
waves
[21].Therearegoodevolutionaryreasonsforthis.Thecentralproblemforanyspecieswhoseprimaryadaptivetechniquesdependlargelyoncollective,ratherthan
individual,action,istodevelopandmaintainsocialcoherenceandcoordinationover
time(p.28)[22].Dissociationservesthistaskextremelywell,allowing
participantsinasociallycontrivedtranceinductiontoenterthesame
emotionalstate,thesamelevelofarousal,andthesamelevelof
vulnerabilitytosuggestion.Allofthesefactorsservetoenhancegroup
cohesion,decreasegroupconflict,andbemoreopentotheinstructions
ofaleader.Tribaldances,music,drummingandchantingallservethis
purpose,affectingnotjustourpsychebutourbrainfunctionaswell.
Theresultisthatdefiningasharedculturalrealityasabufferagainst
existentialterrorisacentralfunctionofanyworkablefamily,community
andculture.Religious,moral,political,andeconomicideologicalsystems
aredesignedtoprovideabasisforthatsenseofculturalrealityinwhich
eachindividualparticipates.Themaindifferencebetweenculturally
acceptedalterationsofrealitycommonlynotedinreligiousceremonies
andpoliticalevents,andthecommonformsoftwistedrealitynotedas
thesymptomsofpsychopathology,isthatintheformerpeopleagree
togethertoignoreanddenythedistortionsandcontradictionsthatexist,
whileinindividualpathologynooneelseagreeswiththeviewofreality
sharedbythatindividual.Instead,thepersoniscalleddelusional,mad,orattheleasteccentric.
Theresultofthisphenomenonisthathealthisassociatedwithillusions,
infactaconsiderableamountofinsanity,inthesenseofbeingoutof
touchwithreality,isrequisitetooptimalmentalhealth(p.21)[20].
Accordingtooneresearcherwhohasextensivelystudiedpositive
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
12/24
illusions,ourabilitytoredefineourrealityresultsinanincreasein
productivework,improvesaspectsofourintellectualfunction,improves
ourmemory,inhibitsdisturbingmemories,increasesmotivation,
improvesperformance,improvescoping,andgivesusbetterphysical
health[23].Accordingtosomeauthorities,peoplewhoarehighlyself
conscious,know
themselves
well
and
have
more
realistic
perceptions
of
theworldalsotendtobemoredepressed[20].Asthephilosopher
Santayanaputit,Sanityismadnessputtogooduses;wakinglifeisa
dreamcontrolled(p.261)[24].
CREATIVITYASEVOLUTIONARYNECESSITY
Therehasalwaysbeenaborderlinebetweenthetworealities,thatofthe
existingstatusquocultureandthatofthoseconsideredtobeinsane.
Children,artists,prophets,visionariesandsomepsychotherapists
spendtime
in
this
shadowy
area
and
how
they
will
be
greeted
in
their
culturewillbedeterminedbymanyfactorsincludinghowwillingthe
cultureistocometogripswithadeniedrealityandhowwellthe
individualcanmanagetofitintotheculturewithoutappearingtoo
threatening[20].Foraslongashumanshavebeencapableofpondering
thenatureofillness,diseasehasconstitutedadisintegration,alossof
intactness,abreakup,adeterioration,areductiontofragmentsorparts.
OnewordfortheDevilisDiabolos thedivider,thesplitterinto
fragments[25].Westernmedicinetracesitsrootstothesameancient
Greeksandtheoriginaltherapists,thetherapeutes,werethosechosenas
the
attendants
of
the
cult
of
Asclepius,
the
god
of
healing.
According
to
Plato,itwasAsclepiuswhowasabletobringaboutloveand
reconciliationbetweenthemostantitheticelementsinthebody(p.i)[26].
Asthestorygoes,AsclepiuswasthesonofApollowholearnedtheartof
healingfromChiron,theCentaur,halfman,halfbeast.Healingthetwo
Chironsidesofman,theirrationalandtherational,wastheworkof
Asclepius,whopracticedthedoublesideofmedicine thescienceand
theart.Butlargelyforgotteninthesedaysofmachinesandmanaged
care,istheothervitalpositionthatAsclepiusheld.Hewasalsothe
patronofartists.Servingthegodrequiredartisticperformanceinthe
form
of
ritual,
poetry,
songs,
music,
and
performances.
Musical
and
poeticcompetitionswereheldathisplaceofworshipandthetempleof
AsclepiusinAthenswasimmediatelyadjacenttothegreatTheatreof
Dionysus[26].
TurningtothenonWesternworld,theNativeAmericanculturesprovide
uswithotherexamplesoftherelationshipbetweenhealingandthearts.
AccordingtotheNavaho,tobesickistobefragmented.Tobehealedistobecome
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
13/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
14/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
15/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
16/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
17/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
18/24
Similarly,whensomethinggoesverywronginaninstitution,itisvirtually
impossibletoplacetheblameadequatelyontheshouldersofone
person,evenifwefindcomfortintryingtodoso.Thesituationsarefar
toocomplexforthat. Asinthelivesofindividuals,traumaticexperiences
canputaninstitutiononanincreasinglydestructivetrajectorybringing
withit
asense
of
inevitability,
helplessness
and
hopelessness
for
all
those
involvedwiththatinstitution.Institutionsserveasthemediators
betweenindividualsandcultureandtheyaredesignedtosupportthe
versionsofrealitythattheculturecreatesinordertogivethemembers
ofthecultureasharedperceptionofbeingsaferthanwereallyare.This
needtocreateasharedrealityasabufferagainstexistentialterrorhas
deeproots.
Livingsystemsgrowandchangeallthetime.Changeisafundamental
attributeoflife.Andyettraumaandlossputbrakesontheconstancyof
changeforindividuals,forfamiliesandfororganizations.Oneofthemain
reasonsfor
refusing
to
deal
with
grief
and
loss
in
our
individual
clients
as
wellasatanorganizationallevelistheaccompanyinghopelessnessthat
accompaniesgrief.Itisthepermanencyoflossthatissostaggeringly
difficulttomanage.Itexposesustotheexistentialterrorthatwetalked
aboutearlierandoncethatterroristriggered,individualand
organizationaldefenseswediscussedmoveintoplacetodenyand
discounttheimportanceofthelossesthathavebeensustained.Weare
culturallyunpreparedtodealwiththerealityoftragedy.Itsnotthe
Americanwaytobelievethatlifeitselfhasatragicendingandthatmany
smalltragediesoccuralongtheway.Wearemorecomfortablefinding
someone
or
something
to
blame
because
it
provides
us
with
the
illusion
ofcontrolandavoidsexistentialterror.Whenwetouchthatfear,that
lossofcontrol,wewantrevengewewanttoseethepersonorpersons
punishedforfrighteningusandforhurtingus andineveningupthe
scorewecanmakeourselvesbelievethatwehaveregainedcontrol.
Ourmainprotectionagainstbeingoverwhelmedbyexistentialterroris
culture.Culturalbeliefs,rituals,andthetransformationsthatculture
provides,offerabufferagainstthetragicnatureofhumanexistence.Itis
thesharedsupportofotherpeoplewhocompriseourculturethathelp
usmoveoutofterror,fearandhelplessnessandmoveintothefuture.
Whencommitted
to
nonviolence
and
emotional
intelligence,
aculture
cancurbourvengefuldesires.Thiseffectofcultureistrueforindividuals
andfororganizations.Likewise,organizationsrequireculturalsupport
fromtheculturewithinwhichtheyareembeddedinordertomoveinto
thefutureandnotgivewaytothepullofrevenge,reenactmentand
ultimately,decline.Significantproblemsandsometimesdisaster
ariseswhentheculturedoesnotprovidethesustainingbufferingand
leavestheindividualunprotected.Worseyet,whenthecultureitself
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
19/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
20/24
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
21/24
Wearebarbarians,yetwehavethepossibilityofproducingagenuine
cultureinthefuture.Butlanguage,themostimportanttoolwithwhichto
furtherthis,almostentirelyfailsus.Perhapsothermeanswillappear
laterwhicharemoreusefulforthespiritandfortruth(p.264)[882].
Dr.GeorgGroddeck,Language,1912
REFERENCES
1. "Oedipus",TheConciseOxfordCompaniontoClassicalLiterature.Ed.
M.C.HowatsonandIanChilvers.OxfordUniversityPress,1996.
OxfordReferenceOnline.OxfordUniversityPress. DrexelUniversity.
25November2008
.1996.
2. Naiburg,S.,Betweenfateanddestiny:Oedipusandreactivecertainty
intheconsultingroom.PsychoanalyticDialogues,2006.16(4):p.445
463.
3. Steiner,G.,TheDeathofTragedy.1961,London:Faber&Faber.
4. Shay,J.,TheBirthofTragedyOutoftheNeedsofDemocracy.
Didaskalia,1995.2(2):p.
http://www.didaskalia.net/issues/vol2no2/shay.htmlAccessed
October12,
2008.
5. Bloom,S.L.,CreatingSanctuary:TowardtheEvolutionofSane
Societies.1997,NewYork:Routledge.
6. Weber,A.M.andC.Haen,eds.ClinicalApplicationsofDramaTherapy
inChildandAdolescentTreatment.2005,BrunnerRoutledge:New
York.
7. Eldridge,R.,Howcantragedymatterforus?T.heJournalof
AestheticsandArtCriticism,1994.52(3):p.287298.
8. Dubois,P.,ThePrehistoryofArt:CulturalPracticesandAthenian
Democracy.,in
The
Subversive
Imagination:
Artists,
Society
and
Social
Responsibility,C.Becker,Editor.1994,Routledge:NewYork.
9. DeUnamuno,M.,TragicSenseofLife.NewYork.1954,NewYork:
DoverPublications.
10.Ehrenreich,B.,BloodRites:OriginsandHistoryofthePassionsof
War.1997,NewYork:HenryHolt.
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
22/24
11.Blackmore,S.,TheMemeMachine.2000,NewYork:Oxford.
12.Horowitz,M.J.,ed.Stressresponsesyndromes(2nded.).1986,Jason
AronsonPress.:Northvale,NJ.
13.Harber,K.D.andJ.W.Pennebaker,Overcomingtraumaticmemories,
inThe
Handbook
of
Emotion
and
Memory:
Research
and
Theory,
S.A.
Christianson,Editor.1992,LawrenceErlbaum:Hillsdale,NJ.p.359
387.
14.Lifton,R.J.,Understandingthetraumatizedself:Imagery,
symbolization,andtransformation,inHumanAdaptationtoExtreme
Stress: FromtheHolocausttoVietnam,J.P.Wilson,Z.Harel,andB.
Kahana,Editors.1988,PlenumPublishing:NewYork.
15.vanderKolk,B.andO.vanderHart,PierreJanetandthebreakdown
ofadaptationinpsychologicaltrauma.AmericanJournalof
Psychiatry,1989.
146:p.
1530
1540.
16.Freud,S.,Remembering,repeatingandworkingthrough(Further
recommendationsonthetechniqueofpsychoanalysisII),inThe
StandardEditionoftheCompleteWorksofSigmundFreudJ.
Strachey,Editor.1924,Hogarth:London.p.147156.
17.Erikson,K.,Notesontraumaandcommunity,inTrauma:Explorations
inMemory,C.Caruth,Editor.1995,JohnHopkinsUniversityPress:
Baltimore,MD.p.183199.
18.Pitman,R.K.andS.P.Orr,Theblackholeoftrauma.Biological
Psychiatry,1990.27:p.46471.
19.Coates,D.,C.B.Wortman,andA.Abben,Reactionstovictims,inNew
ApproachestoSocialProblems,,I.H.Frieze,D.BarTal,andJ.C.
Carroll,Editors.1979,JosseyBass.:SanFrancisco:.
20.Schumaker,J.F.,TheCorruptionofReality:AUnifiedTheoryof
Religion,Hypnosis,andPsychopathology.1995,Amherst,NY:
Prometheusbooks.
21.Lindenberger,U.,etal.,Brainsswinginginconcert:corticalphase
synchronization
while
playing
guitar
BMC
Neuroscience,
Accessed
March31,2009,http://www.biomedcentral.com/14712202/10/22,
2009.10(22).
22.D'Aquili,E.,LaughlinJr.C.D.,andJ.McManus,eds.TheSpectrumof
Ritual:ABiogeneticStructuralAnalysis.1979,ColumbiaUniversity
Press:NewYork.
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
23/24
23.Taylor,S.,PositiveIllusions:CreativeSelfDeceptionandtheHealthy
Mind.1989,NewYork:BasicBooks.
24.Santayana,G.,InterpretationofPoetryandReligion.1927,NewYork:
CharlesScribner.
25.Skynner,
R.
and
J.
Cleese,
Life
and
How
to
Survive
It.
1993,
London:
Methuen.
26.Meier,C.A.,HealingDreamandRitual.1989,Switzerland:Daimon
Verlag.
27.vanderHart,O.,RitualsinPsychotherapy:TransitionandContinuity.
1983,NewYork:IrvingtonPublishers.
28.Ellenberger,H.F.,TheDiscoveryoftheUnconscious:TheHistoryand
EvolutionofDynamicPsychiatry.1970,NewYork:BasicBooks.
29.Diamond,J.,TheThirdChimpanzee:TheEvolutionandFutureofthe
HumanAnimal.
1992,
New
York:
Harper
Collins.
30.LucieSmith,E.,ArtandCivilization.1992,NewYork:HarryN.Abrams,
Inc.
31.Dissanayake,E.,WhatisArtFor?1988,Seattle:Universityof
WashingtonPress.
32.Turner,V.,FromRitualtoTheatre:TheHumanSeriousnessofPlay.
1982,NewYork:PAJPublications.
33.Driver,T.F.,TheMagicofRitual:OurNeedforLiberatingRitesThat
TransformOurLivesandOurCommunities.1991,SanFrancisco:
HarperSanFrancisco.
34.Donald,M.,OriginsoftheModernMind:ThreeStagesinthe
EvolutionofCultureandCognition.1991,Cambridge,MA:Harvard
UniversityPress.
35.Sewall,R.B.,TheVisionofTragedy.1990,NewYork:ParagonHouse.
36.Foucault,M.,MadnessandCivilization:AHistoryofInsanityinthe
AgeofReason.2001,NewYork:Routledge.
37.LeviStrauss,C.,MythandMeaning:CrackingtheCodeofCulture.
1978,
New
York:
Schocken
Books.
38.Garrison,J.,AmericaasEmpire:GlobalLeaderorRoguePower?2003,
SanFrancisco:BerrettKoehler.
39.Bloom,S.L.,Neitherlibertynorsafety:Theimpactoffearon
individuals,institutions,andsocieties,PartI.Psychotherapyand
PoliticsInternational,2004.2(2):p.7898.
-
7/27/2019 Bloom the Tragic Nature of Human Existence
24/24