Theory of the inversion

The theory of the inversion or theory of the psychological inversions is centered on the Expérience subject. It can be considered and used as a theory of the Motivation although its field of investigation overflows the motivation narrow with-direction.

This theory proposes a model of the psychological fluctuations of the individual as well between behaviors different as in the course-even from a Comportement. Michael Apter developed of them the bases with the assistance of the Psychiatre Kenneth C.P. Smith, and the talk in “The experiment off motivation” published in 1982 made of it. The fluctuations or inversions are induced by elements contingent and independent of the subject, or on the contrary by autogenous feelings of Frustration like satiety. Challenged by uninterpretable forms of behaviors by Reasoning, this theory seeks to give off the elementary springs of the apparent inconsistency of the individuals and by doing this it underlines the vital interest of this natural inconsistency, for example for the spontaneous maintenance of the Mental health.

The theory of the inversion seeks to escape the limits from the traditional models which rest on the Homéostasie and the reduction from the tension. It strongly renews the range of it by grafting elements of flexibility inspired there of the Cybernétique (multistability) and by introducing descriptors of lived individual which notably enrich the pallet by possible whose model can return account.

Its assumptions suppose a individual Complexité and a Logique relatively independent of the environmental requests and cognitive treatment which is made by it. Among its methods and results in the course of validation, a Typologie based on pairs was released from mental states or frames of mind, such as l' state telic and the state paratélique.

Between two states, called " states métamotivationnels" , an inversion is usually possible, without this swing from one state to another being mainly an answer to an evolution of the context. Several work confirmed that the individuals had variable preferences for one of the modes of these bipolar structures while being likely to pass to the other mode for durations varying according to a certain coherence of the personal dynamism.

The states métamotivationnels indicate particular methods to make the experiment of the world, one can qualify them states expérienciels . A " state métamotivationnel" (the " is lived; corrélats mentaux") motivations. Each state has three facets: a tendency or forms land motivation, an emotive tonality and a projection like vision of the world. In a given context and in coherence with his personal history, the individual regulates the point of the most suitable balance motivationnel or the optimal level of activation.

The model was explored successfully in the plan of the Psychophysiologie (university of Trondheim).

The states métamotivationnels telic and paratelic

The principal pair of states métamotivationnels is the telique/paratelic pair: their springs, their spectra of emotions and their visions of the world implicit are quite different just like their various consequences in the plan from the behavior.

In the telic mode or state (of the Greek telos, tended towards a goal), the behavior is justified and regulated by the tracking of a target; the blooming of the individual appears to depend on the achievement of an intention, the means and practical conditions of this achievement not having priority as for satisfaction.

The paratelic mode is less complex, less likely of Ambivalence: satisfaction is directly related to the behavior, the interest is in the activity itself and not in its result.

As regards the emotional spectrum, the state telic sees growing the serious frame of mind of relieving until the anxiety, whereas in parallel the state paratelic sees decreasing the satisfaction of the Euphorie to the Ennui. The people in state telic would be less tolerant with the effects of Stress than those in state paratelic which can even cultivate the stressing situations. Paratelic predominance is correlated with a greater immediate adaptability, the relaxed attitudes and the Humor.

Test S, as well as psychometric measurements, were developed to evaluate the telic predominance , i.e. the preference of an individual for a mode rather than another, or the mode which is dominating at a given time.

The principal states métamotivationnels

Let us begin again without deteriorating them the remarks of Michael Apter:

“L'état serious (telic) , centered on important goals and planning, opposed to the état enjoué (paratelic) , centered on the immediate pleasure and the spontaneous action.
L'état disciplined (conformist) , centered on the obligations and the maintenance of the rules and the routines, opposed to provocative style (transgressive) , which is a state protestor, centered on personal freedom.
L'état of maîtrise, centered on the capacity, control and the domination, opposed to the état of sympathie, centered on the kindness, the attention towards the others and harmonizes it.
L'état directed towards oneself (autic) , centered its own needs, opposed to the état directed towards the other (alloïque) , centered towards the needs for the others.”

Fields and methods of experiments:

there exists a classification of the states métamotivationnels compared to four fields of experiments: - Field of the ends and the means: characterize the state Télique and Paratélique; - Field of the rules (waitings social pressures, conventions,…) : characterize the state conformist and transgressive; - Field of the transactions (with the others and oneself): characterize the Maîtrise state and Sympathy; - Field of the relations : state Autique and Alloïque.

Application to the depression

Naturally, the theory of the inversion took into account and integrated certain pathological forms. Thus the depression it is interprée either as the demonstration of a problematic inversion or like blocking in a level of excitation:

the individual does not solve any more the Complexité and suffers by frustration of its preferred states: the combination of the environmental factors, personal parameters and of current waitings do not allow the selection of a " state métamotivationnel" acceptable.
the reversibility dysfonctionne:

the individual suffers not to be able to rock from one state (even preferred) to another: in paratelic mode , it does not manage any more to be projected and be invested with an aim (Aboulie); in telic mode , it does not manage any more to be devoted to activities for their simple approval.
the individual suffers not to be able to change level of excitation: in paratelic mode especially, it does not manage to find the excitations which seem essential to him to leave the felt trouble (depression related to the trouble); in telic mode , there is caesura between the conceptualized goal and the concrete motivation (depression of Apathie) or on the contrary, it does not manage any more to slacken (depression related to the anxiety).

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