Posted by Adam on September 27, 1999, at 15:54:38
In reply to Re: Normal is Sick?, posted by Bob on September 26, 1999, at 16:26:43
I have always been rather intrigued by the notion that "normal" people are to a certain extent mildly
deluded. That is to say, they see good where often it does not exist. There are some who theorize that
the depressive mindset is actually more accurate. It is interesting to juxtapose this view with what
seems to prevade the theory of cognative-behavioral therapy (which I am a "fan" of), that the depressive
mindset is distorted, and that combatting these distortions (wheather they be the cause or effect of
depression I don't know) is a key element in curing depression. So which is it? I am often struck by
what I percieve as the level of self-deception the eternal optimist experiences, and yet the optimist seems
to have the ability to make their delusions a reality, and create good where it did not at first exist.
It is a true form of power. And to think, under many circumstances, when we assess our lives and the world
around us, when we assess ourselves and ponder our strengths and weaknesses, an "accurate" or "realistic"
view may be of little value. It does us no good to be right, it would seem. Strange that the depressed
find any value in their negative (perhaps realistic) convictions.So can this "normal" self-deception be learned? I hope so. Religious converstion/epiphany whatever you want
to call it makes me think this is at least possible. What greater form of self-deceptoin (read "faith") is
there than religious belief? What an unimaginable world it would be if psychoanlysis and therapy could achieve
the impact of spirituality.
> > There is a British psychoanalyst named Christopher Bolas who coined the term "normotic" and I think he uses it to refer to abnormally normal people. Too normal. Just thought you'd like to know...
>
> Normotic?! I *LOVE* it! I had a housemate in grad school whose whole family is normotic. Parents met at UMich as undergrads, moved from Chicago to Ann Arbor once all three kids went to school there as well so the family could be together. Even after undergrad, when two of the kids were in grad school and living away from home, they'd still have Sunday dinner together. Meanwhile, my housemate is dating this extremely neurotic guy with an over-protective (even at 25) single mom. My housemate thought something was wrong with her because all of her best friends seemed to have some "personal" issues to deal with, particularly dysfunctional families, and she didn't. Her dad never even yelled at the kids -- she yelled at him once because in a situation that should have started an argument, he said "Well, let's sit down and talk about this ..."
>
> Normotic ... LOL!
> Bob
poster:Adam
thread:12034
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/12134.html