Understanding Psychology

Understanding Psychology

By Spencer Bassett (Thoughts on Thinking)Education
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Understanding Psychology episodes

  • #9 - Jungian Psychology: The Greatest Sin Is To Be Unconscious

    Emotions disrupt our path to fulfilment.

    The Christian tradition ingeniously identified certain emotions that objectively disrupt our ability to attain virtue and therefore regarded them as sin.
    If we exist within our vices unconsciously, we are committing the greatest sin of all: unconsciousness.
    When our ability to attain virtue is blocked, our path towards fulfilment also declines.
    1. Lust spoils devotion
    We can only have devotion when our intentions are pure, true commitment requires true intention. But lust is the opposite, lust is non-committal and therefore impure. Devotion cannot be actualised through lust.
    2. Anger spoils knowledge
    Anger clouds our understanding of life, for knowledge requires a calm and open mind to expand and thrive. Anger instead leads us down a path of anti-knowledge, towards rash absolutism that denies the reality of perspective, incrementalism and empathy.
    3. Greed spoils sacrifice
    The insatiable desire to find fulfilment in that which is temporary through stubbornness bankrupts our ability to find fulfilment in that which is everlasting through sacrifice.
    When we have our eyes on sacrifice our fulfilment can be found by giving ourselves up selflessly for a noble cause, greed only leads to selfishness which then leads to misery when no greater purpose for our lives is found.

    8 min
  • #8 - Law of Attraction DEBUNKED: You Cannot Attract What You Want

    You cannot attract what you want.
    You can only attract WHAT YOU ARE.
    The law of attraction is a metaphysical pseudoscience that claims that one can attract anything they desire by thinking positively. However, there is no empirical scientific evidence supporting the law of attraction, and it is widely considered to be based on erroneous, unfounded assumptions.
    Many people get caught up in the idea of the law of attraction but most of the time it is wishful thinking maintained through the negation of suffering.
    Positive affirmations of grandiosity are not going to change your life, they are only going to inflate your own sense of self-importance which is going to hurt you in the long run.
    This is because positive affirmations don't lead to real-world behaviour change. The law of attraction claims that you can attract things simply by the power of thought but doesn’t emphasis the most powerful act you can commit: behaviour change.
    Instead, positive affirmations only create a blanket of comfort which negates the most important message you need to know:
    If change in your life is desired, the toleration of suffering that comes from stepping into the uncomfortable unknown through behaviour change must also be accepted.
    This is because change requires you to do things you don't usually do, those things are usually not comfortable at first.
    You cannot attract what you want by remaining to be the same person you have always been and expect different results.
    That would be the definition of insanity.
    New age thought negates the necessity of suffering so that its message gains popularity through the power of false hope wrapped in positive, pseudo-spiritual platitudes of self-righteous pride.
    This usually leads you back wanting more of their “magic formula” because they only tell you what you want to hear, not what you actually need to hear.

    Find meaning, reinvent yourself, and create your ideal future:
    Free 1-1 Coaching Call: https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co

    8 min
  • #7 - MBTI-Labelling: Why Personality Tests Are Unreliable In Psychology

    The core of the individual is a mystery of life, which dies when it is "grasped" (MBTI-labelling)

    You are NOT a "character type".
    We instead have a system-Self that regulates, transforms and evolves depending on life experience that are based around 4 core archetypes of the psyche.
    This is because the ego can be broken down and reformed.
    This system-Self is maintained by (in)expression of universal archetypes, such as: The King, Warrior, Magician & Lover within masculinity in men.

    It is these archetypes that can fall in and out of their shadow components during different periods of life which change and evolve the structure of your personality and ego-identity.

    This is why you will never remain a singular personality type throughout your entire life. Because typology cannot discover objective truths as it claims it can.
    We are subjective beings living through objective archetypal experiences.
    In 2 years ahead of time (depending on your individuation progress and maturity) you will have a different personality that is not the same as before, this is also why your personality type test results will change over time.
    If it doesn't change it either means one of two things:
    1. You are very self-aware and have a strong sense of Self that remains consistent throughout the years, through the journey of self-discovery you have come to understand who you are very well.
    Or...
    2. That you are not living out your life as you should to experience the growth needed to evolve and overcome the results of your personality types inferior functions, not confronting your inferior functions holds you back from complete self-awareness to be able to develop a well rooted ego-identity.
    Identifying and working on your inferior functions in relation to your present personality test result is the key to developing a well rounded ego-identity through self-development.

    Free 1-1 Coaching Call: https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co/
    Free Individuation Mini-Course: https://thoughtsonthinking.gumroad.com/l/unlockingindividuation/

    11 min
  • #6 - How To Have Infinite Motivation (Psychology Hack)

    People underrate the power of motivation because they cannot tell the difference between what extrinsic and intrinsic motivation is and how the latter (intrinsic motivation) is the true source to never-ending drive, persistence, inspiration and action.

    Intrinsic motivation stems from internal factors, where individuals find personal satisfaction, enjoyment, or fulfilment in performing a task. This form of motivation is driven by inherent interest, curiosity, or a sense of accomplishment.
    Extrinsic motivation instead relies on external rewards or punishments, such as praise, recognition, financial incentives, or fear of consequences, this form of motivation will NOT reap you the discipline you are looking for because it has nothing to do with your passion or purpose.
    But there is much more to this...
    To cultivate PERMANENT motivation with regards to what we are doing on a daily basis we need to optimise the 5 key intrinsic motivators, these are:
    1. Curiosity: the insatiable itch to learn everything you work on.
    2. Mastery: the pursuit for excellence and continuous improvement.
    3. Autotelicity: the love for the activities you do at work.
    4. Purpose: how the work you do fulfils a higher meaning beyond yourself.
    5. Autonomy: being in control of the when, how and what of your work.
    If you want to optimise your motivation YOU HAVE TO optimise these 5 key principles to intrinsic motivation the best you can so that your motivation becomes unstoppable and that you never hit a dead end ever again.
    The best way I would recommend doing this is by identifying which principal of #intrinsicmotivation is FLAT-LINING the most in your work or career.
    Once you have identified it you should then shift focus towards boosting your work or career towards that intrinsic motivator principle in relation to your personal needs. You want to always make sure that your #curiosity, #mastery, #autotelicity, #purpose and #autonomy are maintained and aligned towards your #idealpersonality and desire.

    1-1 COACHING: ⁠⁠⁠https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠FREE INDIVIDUATION COURSE: ⁠⁠⁠https://thoughtsonthinking.gumroad.com/l/unlockingindividuation/⁠⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsonthinking/

    9 min
  • #5 - Accessing The Archetypes of The Mature Masculine

    How do we access the archetypes of the mature masculine within male psychology?


    The 4 archetypes of the mature masculine within Jungian psychology are embodied within the king, warrior, magician and lover framework.

    How do we overcome the shadows of these archetypes and the passive/active expression of their forms?
    Understanding this is essential for any man to maintain an understanding of what it means to be a man of virtue in his transition from boyhood to manhood in his psychological, philosophical and personal development.


    1-1 COACHING: ⁠⁠https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠FREE INDIVIDUATION COURSE: ⁠⁠https://thoughtsonthinking.gumroad.com/l/unlockingindividuation/⁠⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsonthinking/

    13 min
  • #4 - Romantic Projection: How To Avoid Toxic, Co-Dependant Relationships

    In Jungian psychology, the dynamic between the victim complex and the saviour complex can be understood through the concept of psychological projection and the interplay of archetypes within the psyche.

    Two wounded lovers are often going to find themselves unconsciously producing a relationship of co-dependency whereby they fall in love with the projection of their own shadows.
    One common union we are likely to find that emerges from co-dependency is that of the victim and saviour complex relationship.
    This is where the relationship is created and maintained on the basis of the projection of their own unintegrated shadow content.
    Someone with a saviour complex is actively embodying and projecting outwards the shadow or the inversion of their own internal hero archetype. For this reason (and this is mostly in men towards the romantic projection of a woman) they believe they have to rescue the “damsel in distress”, they have to “save” her in some way or another leading themselves to be attracted towards the person who is embodying the victim complex through projection.
    It is also the same the other way round for women. The individual who has a victim complex will be attracted towards the person who they see can rescue them rather than them rescuing themselves.
    Ultimately, this is all coming from a place of internal lack, people projecting their own unmet needs onto other people without accountability which leads into the development of a mutually co-dependent, toxic relationship rather than a healthy interdependent relationship that has boundaries.
    The difference between a healthy and unhealthy relationship is the difference between co-dependence and interdependence.
    You might be thinking as to why and how this all occurs?
    The glue that binds this form of relationship is through what we can call projective resonance.
    This is when two forms of projection merge together from two individuals who are seeking external desires that they believe the other individual can fulfil but cannot find fulfilment from oneself.
    This ultimately forms the resonance or glue that binds the toxicity together through mutual fantasy.
    Therefore, the personal insecurities that feel relinquished which maintain the relationship, which could be:
    Fear of rejection, need for validation, desire for recognition, avoidance of conflict.
    All masquerade as the binding glue for the “true love” they have fallen for which ultimately feeds the fantasy they are both in.
    It isn’t that they are actually in love, but that they are instead using each other to try and heal their own personal insecurities which they both lack accountability for.


    1-1 COACHING: ⁠https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co

    ⁠FREE INDIVIDUATION COURSE: ⁠https://thoughtsonthinking.gumroad.com/l/unlockingindividuation/⁠

    INSTAGRAM: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsonthinking/

    10 min
  • #3 - Psychiatry DEBUNKED: Proven To Be 'Scientifically Meaningless'

    1-1 COACHING: https://antiprocrastination.carrd.co

    FREE INDIVIDUATION COURSE: https://thoughtsonthinking.gumroad.com/l/unlockingindividuation/

    INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsonthinking/

    Read the research paper: https://neurosciencenews.com/meaningl...
    The study, led by researchers from the University of Liverpool, involved a detailed analysis of five key chapters of the latest edition of the widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), on ‘schizophrenia’, ‘bipolar disorder’, ‘depressive disorders’, ‘anxiety disorders’ and ‘trauma-related disorders’.
    Diagnostic manuals such as the DSM were created to provide a common diagnostic language for mental health professionals and attempt to provide a definitive list of mental health problems, including their symptoms.
    The main findings of the research were:
    1. Psychiatric diagnoses all use different decision-making rules
    2. There is a huge amount of overlap in symptoms between diagnoses
    3. Almost all diagnoses mask the role of trauma and adverse events
    4. Diagnoses tell us little about the individual patient and what treatment they need
    The authors conclude that diagnostic labelling represents ‘a disingenuous categorical system’.
    Lead researcher Dr. Kate Allsopp, University of Liverpool, said: “Although diagnostic labels create the illusion of an explanation they are scientifically meaningless and can create stigma and prejudice. I hope these findings will encourage mental health professionals to think beyond diagnoses and consider other explanations of mental distress, such as trauma and other adverse life experiences.”

    14 min
  • #2 - Carl Jung: Why Do We Procrastinate?

    Free 1-1 Coaching Discovery Call: ⁠antiprocrastination.carrd.co⁠

    Free Individuation Course: ⁠Unlocking The Mechanics of Individuation⁠

    Instagram: ⁠@thoughtsonthinking⁠


    What would Carl Jung say about procrastination?

    He would regard it as a form of neurosis.
    Jung clearly explained that neurosis is: “always a substitute for legitimate suffering” which means that procrastination is done out of the desire to avoid pain in our lives.
    Nobody fundamentally wants to feel pain, so we do whatever we can do to avoid pain. This is an effort to protect our ego from the reality of pain and how it can break our egos down if we let it. However, when we attempt to delay suffering by replacing pain with temporary pleasure, our growth is always delayed.
    Why?
    Because growth requires suffering, for when growth stops, decay begins.
    This is why we always need to accept pain as a required for growth.
    The pain of going through challenges you have never done before (call to adventure) in an attempt to expand your consciousness and build confidence through experience (by making the unconscious conscious) is so that you overcome your own fears. This is necessary if you want to build any form of personal growth in your own life and be on your path towards individuation.
    Procrastination by definition blocks our journey towards individuation.

    7 min
  • #1 - How To Overcome Psychological Projection

    In this episode I talk about how the principles of the middle way within Buddhism offer us a way to confront and overcome our tendency of psychological projection on both a philosophical and spiritual level.

    Free 1-1 Coaching Discovery Call: antiprocrastination.carrd.co

    Free Individuation Course: Unlocking The Mechanics of Individuation

    Instagram: @thoughtsonthinking

    12 min

About Understanding Psychology

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This podcast is focused on the understanding of psychology and the workings of mind and psyche with the aim towards self-improvement and the betterment of ourselves in the modern world that we live…