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R I
H S D G PD - 7 l U N U P - 5 9
T O W A R D S M O D E L F H U M A NG R O W T H
A O
Telma Nudler
FundaciónBariloche
de
SanCarlos Bariloche,
Argentina
."Xìv,
rM""
CONTENTS
|. l m p o r t a n c e a n d l ' , l e e d f a T h e o r y o f H u m a nG r o w t h
o
or Development I
il. Outl ine of a Theory of Growth
ilt. l s M a t u r i t y G r o r v t h o s s í b l e ? ( C o n d i t i o n sw h i c h
P
Hamper nd Conditions which Foster Maturity)
a l5
l v . T h e P r e s e n t a t i o n o f T w o p a r a d i g m s : S u c c e s sv e r s u s
Maturity Growth 27
Notes
34
AC NO\^/LEDGEMENTS
K
I w i s h t o t h a n k J . G a l t u n g , M . d e l R . L o r e s , c . M a l l m a n n ,a n d
0 . N u d l e r f o r s u g g e s t i o n sa n d c r i t i c i s m s w h i c h e n a b l e d m e t o e n r i c h
a n d c o r r e c t t h i s p a p e r . I a l s o t h a n k M a r g a r i t a B d n d e l f o r t h e E n g li s h
v e r s i o n t r a n s l a t e d f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l S p a n i s ht e x t .
This paperby TelmaNudlerwasfirst presented the GPID lll meeting,
at Geneva, Octoberlg7g. lt can
2-g
be considered a contributionto the GplD study Groupon HumanDévelopment.
as
G e n e v a ,u n e1 9 7 9
J J o h a nG a l t u n g
This paperis beingcirculated a pre-publication
in form to elicit comments
from readers generate
and dialogue
on the subject this stage the research.
at of
I. I M P O R T A N C E D N E E DO F A T H E O R Y F H U I 1 A N R O \ ^ / T H D E V E L O P M E N T
AN O G OR
D e v e l o p e d S o c i e t y a n d U n d e r d e v e l o p e d u m a nB e i n g s
H
T h e s t a t e s m e n ,e c o n o m i s t s ,a n d p o l i t i c i a n s o f o u r a g e o f t e n p r o c l a i m
their anxiety over the development f nations. Phrasessuch as o
r
" d e v e l o p e d r " " u n d e r d e v e l o p e d , "' r d e v e l o p i n g r r e t c . f o r m p a r t o f t h e
language f the day, including popular speech.
o
In contrast, I ittle is heard of the development r growth of the
o
h u m a nb e i n g . E x c e p t a m o n gs m a l l g r o u p s o f t h i n k e r s c o n c e r n e da b o u t
t h e s u b j e c t , t h e p r o b l e m s o u n d si l e x o t i c , " t o p u t i t e l e g a n t l y .
\ ^ / h y o e s t h i s h a p p e n ? W h yd o t h e w e lì - b e i n g o f p e o p l e , t h e i r f u l I
d
growth, the quality of their life, n e v e r a p p e a ra s t h e p r o t a g o n i s t o f
t h e d e v e l o p m e n tp r o c e s s ? | t h i n k t h i s is probably due to two reasons:
l. 0n the one hand, it is often assumed hat whena society is
t
d e v e l o p e d e c o n o m i c ally a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a ll y , a n a d e q u a t e d e v e l o p -
m e n t o f i t s m e m b e r s s h u m a nb e i n g s t a k e s p l a c e a u t o m a t i c a l l y -
a
in other words, that the material development f a nation is not
o
o n l y n e c e s s a r yb u t a l s o s u f f i c i e n t for ful I development f its
o
population. R e a l , c o n c r e t e h u m a nb e i n g s w o u ì d t h u s b e t h e n a t u r a l
beneficiaries of this process. I n t h e m e a n t i m e ,h o w e v e r , t h r o u g h -
o u t t h e p r o c e s s- w h i c h i n f a c t is prolongedmoreor less
indefinitely - t h e y a r e r e g a r d e da s i n e r t m a t t e r , i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e
a n d t o t a l l y m a ll e a b l e p a r t s w h i c h c a n b e u s e d a s i n s t r u m e n t s .
t
V e r y f e w p e o p l e w o n d e r : r r l ^ / h aw i l I h a p p e n w i t h t h e p e o p l e i f t h i s
i or that methodis appl ied to incentivate productivity? tJhatwi l I
l h a p p e nw i t h t h e p e o p l e i f i n d u s t r y i s c o n c e n t r a t e do r d i s p e r s e d ,
I
I
I
I
I I
I
L-_- L-
if this or that form of energy is resorted to, etc.?
what wilr
happen ith the inhabitantsof this neighbourhood
w if thei r houses
l
a r e d e m o i s h e d t o c o n s t r u c t a c o m p r e xh i g h w a y s y s t e m ? "
rt is
taken as self-evident that anything will be good for
the common
c i t i z e n , m e m b eo f a n a t í o n , a s r o n g a s i n d u s t r i e s
r and trade
d e v e ì o p , t h e G l ' . l pn c r e a s e s , a n d t h e c i t i e s a r e m o d e r n i z e d .
i
0 u r c u l t u r e i s n o t h u m a n i s tb u t , r a t h e r , t e c h n o r o g i s t i c .
O n eo f
the proofs of this is the fact that the fundamentar
centre of
s t u d i e s a n d a c a d e m i cr e s e a r c ho f f i c i a ì r y s u p p o r t e d
i s a p p ri e d , t o
a m u c ng r e a t e r e x t e n t , t o t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n s t e a d
of the human
fíeld. T h e h y p e r - a c c e r e r a t e dd e v e r o p m e n o f t h e m a c h i n e
t and
a u t o m a t z a t i o n a n d t h e t e c h n o l o gi c a l a d v a n c e sw h i c h
i have been
attained a r e d a z z r i n g a n d e n o r m o u s ì yu s e f u l b o t h f o r t h e
state
and private interests. To what extent has this progress
helped to
r e a l l y i m p r o v e h u m a n' | i f e ? H o w c a n t e c h n o ' | o g i c a r
d e v e r o p m e n tb e
directed to provide trury greater weìr-being to
a l r p e r s o n sa n d t o
i m p r o v et h e i r p o s s i b i r i t i e s o f b e i n g h a p p y a n d b e c o m i n g
fur ry
r e a l i z e d h u m a nb e i n g s ? T o w h a t e x t e n t h a s t e c h n o r o g i c a l
growth
permitted (or will it permit) a radical improvement
of the human
s p e ci e s ?
T h e s eq u e s t i o n s s o u n d u t o p i a n a n d a b s t r a c t ; a m b i t i o u s
m e nw i t h
rrpractical'r
m i n d s ( w h oa r e , i n t h e e n d , t h o s e w h o a l m o s t a l w a y s
h a v e t h e p o l i t i c a l o r e c o n o m i cp o w e r , o r b o t h ,
and partiaily the
a c a d e m i c n d i d e o l o g i c a l p o w e ra s w e l l ) c a n n o t q u a l i f y
a such
"trivial ities"
a s b e i n g i m p o r t a n t . F u r t h e r Í ì o r e ,s t u d i e s a b o u t
h u m a nb e i n g s a c q u i r e s t a t u s a n d r e s p e c t a b i l i t y t o
the extent that
they are "useful" because
o f t h e i r c o n c r e t e a p p li c a t i o n i n i n d u s t r y ,
offices and workshops, in education, or in the armed
forces,
permitting an increase in efficiency, productivity,
adaptationof
individualsto their work, etc.
2. Perhapsanother reason why so few paople are interested
in the
s u b j e c t o f t h e f u l l d e v e l o p m e n t f p e r s o n s a s h u m a nb e i n g s
o is the
a s s u m p t i o nt h a t t h e m a x i m u m e q r e e o f g r o w t h t o w h i c h
d h u m a n sc a n
"pinnacler" so to speak,of
a s p i r e h a s a l r e a d y b e e n r e a c h e d ,t h e
t h e i r p s y c h i c d e v e ì o p m e na s a s p e c i e s . D i s p a r a g i n gr e f e r e n c e s
t
a r e o f t e n m a d et o w a r d s o t h e r f o r m s o f c u l t u r e a s b e i n g p r i m i t i v e
m
o r r u d i m e n t a r ym a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e h u m a n i n d .
It is considered that, thanks to the development f science and
o
t e c h n o l o g y a n d t h e p r e d o m n a n c e o f r a t i o n aI i s m a n d t h e p r a c t i c a I
i
spi ri t, primit ive forms of thought have now been surpassed(such
a s s u p e r s t i t i o n o r a n i m i s m r p o l y t h e i s m ,e t c . ) .
o G u i d e db y
p o s i t i v i s m , r a t i o n a l i s m , a n d s c i e n t i f i c m e t h o d ,w e h a v e b e e n a b l e
t o c o n s t r u c t T H Ec i v i l i z a t i o n a n d f r o m t h e m o u n t a i n t o p w e
h a u g h t il y r e g a r d t h e d e f i c i e n t , s u p e r s e d e ds t a t e o f p e o p l e o f o t h e r
cul tures, or earl ier ages. 0 u r p r o b l e m s o f u n d e r d e v e l o p m e na r e ,
t
in the end, only technical and material, but not mentaìand moral.
W e c o n s i d e r t h a t b o t h t h e a s s u m p t i o n sa n a l y z e d a b o v e a r e f a l s e .
Neither is it true that the rapid economic nd technologicaldeveìop-
a
mentof society guarantees in itself a n d i n d e p e n d e n t l yo f t h e m e t h o d s
adopted, the fuìl p s y c h i c d e v e l o p m e n t f t h e h u m a nb e i n g , n o r i s i t
o
h
t r u e t h a t i n o u r c u l t u r e a n d o u r c e n t u r y m e na n d w o m e n a v e a t t a i n e d
their maximum sychoìogicaì growth.2 0n the contrary' we bel ieve that
p
in spite of the immense evelopment chieved in the technological and
d a
m a t e r i a l p l a n e , i n s p i t e o f t h e e n o r m o u sp o w e r o b t a i n e d f o r h a n d li n g
and transforming matter and for processing information, the majority
o f h u m a nb e i n g s i n o u r c u l t u r e ì i v e i n a s t a t e o f p s y c h i c u n d e r d e v e l o p -
ment, they are impotent to reach the reaì unfolding of their
o o t e n t i a ìi t i e s a n d l a t e n t a b i l i t i e s a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e y a r e u n a b l e t o
a t t a i n i n n e r p e a c ea n d t r u e w e l l - b e i n g . The high rate of suicide,
c r i m e , a l c o h o li s m , a n d d r u g - a d d i c t i o n p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e m o s t d e v e l o p e d
c o u n t r i e s ' p r o v i d e s t r o n g e v i d e n c ef o r t h i s t h e s i s .
The Model of Growth
r r u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t r ro f
l{ow what do we mean b y r r d e v e l o p m e n t . a n d the
h u m a nb e i n g ? Very deta i I ed and subt I e scaI es have been const ructed
3
f o r m e a s u r i n g t h e e c o n o m i ca n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t
of nations,
but we are in a state of great poverty when it comes
to evaluating or
a p p r a i s i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t f t h e h u m a nb e i n g ( o r
o of communities,from
the point of view of the integral well-being of the population).
Actualìy, it i s n o t t h a t o u r s o c i e t y h a s n o m o d e ro f p s y c h o ì o g i c a r
d e v e l o p m e n to r g r o w t h . A s i n e v e r y s o c i e t y , a n i n c o r p o r a t e d
model of
t h e ' r n o r m a l "o r r r m a t u r e r r a d u l t ,b / h i c h i s c o h e r e n ta n d
functionalwith
i t s e c o n o m i cs t r u c t u r e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l s y s t e m ,
exists in our societv.
l ^ / h a tI w a n t t o p o i n t o u t i s t h e f o l l o w i n g :
a. I n t h e f i r s t p ' | a c e , t h a t m o d e r i s i m p ri c i t , i t i s
never anaìyzed
n o r d i s c u s s e d ' n o r i s a n y a t t e m p t m a d et o s u p p o r t
it; it forms
part of the sociar "fog," of the obvious,
of the underrying
p a r a d i g mw h i c h c o n d i t i o n s o u r c o n d u c t a n d
our perception of
r e a ì i t y w i t h o u t o u r b e i n g a w a r eo f i t .
b' I n t h e s e c o n d p ' | a c e , t h i s g r o b / t hm o d e r i s p o o r a n d
distorting, it
d o e s n o t c o n t e m p r a t et h e p o s s i b i r i t y o f t h e e m e r g e n c e
and
t
d e v e l o p m e no f a p t i t u d e s a n d p o t e n t i a l i t i e s w h i c h
are fundamental
f o r m a k i n ga p e r s o n p s y c h o r o g i c arry r i c h a n d p o t e n t ' i n
his
r e l a t i o n s w i t h r i f e , w i t h o t h e r p e r s o n s ,a n d w i t h
himserf .
S t a t e m e n ta d o e s n o t r e q u i r e m u c ht h e o r e t i c a l s u b s t a n t i a t i o n .
lt is
easy to see that every society has its implicit model
of growth or
n o r m a l d e v e l o p m e n t ,i t s c o n c e p t o f a m a t u r e p e r s o n ,
and arso its
b e l i e f s r e g a r d i n gw h i c h t h i n g s a p e r s o n n e e d s t o m a t u r e
p s y c h i c a ìI y
a n d o r g a n i c a ll y . 3 T h e e d u c a t i o n o f c h i r d r e n , s o c i a r
ry patterned, aims
at promoting in the young member f the community o the type of
t
d e v e l o p m e nw h i c h i s c o n s i d e r e dd e s i r a b r e . I n
the r ight of
sociologicaì and anthropologicalresearch, it becomes
quite evident
that the patterns of normaror desirable development
o f a h u m a nb e i n g
differ from one culture to another and that what
each cuìture will
e n c o u r a g ea n d r e p r e s s t o m a k e i t s m e m b e r s a t u r e
m or develop t'normally,,
will be different.4
I t i s a l s o q u i t e c l e a r t h a t t h i s model is not discussed,
that it forms
p a r t o f t h e u n d e r g r o u n d l a y e r s o f s o ci a l d y n a m i c s
that are incorporated
4
s ì o w l y , f i r m l y , a n d u n c r i t í c a ì l y b y p e o p ì et h r o u g h t h e s o c i a l i z a t i o n
p r o c e s s . T h i s i m p li c i t e x i s t e n c e o f a " n o r m a i r r r o w t h m o d e l i s
g
d e m o n s t r a t e d ,i n o u r o p i n i o n , b y t h e f a c t t h a t n e a r l y a l l a d u l t
p e r s o n sc o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s a p a b l e o f e d u c a t i n g t h e i r c h i l d r e n ; t h e
c
m a j o r i t y o f a d u l t s e m b a r kd e c i d e d l y a n d u n h e s i t a t i n g l y u p o n t h e
e n t e r p r i s eo f f o r m i n gt h e i r c h i l d r e n . H o wc o u l d t h i s b e e x p ì a i n e d i f
it were not by virtue of an internaì ized modelof what normal and
d e s i r a b l e h u m a n e v e ì o p m e n it s , o f w h a t a c h i l d s h o u l d b e , a n d w h a t a
d
person should be on reaching adulthood?
S t a t e m e n tb i s , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , h i g h l y c o n t r o v e r s i a l , s i n c e i t i m p li e s
a v a ì u e j u d g e m e n t ;a n d f u r t h e r m o r e , i t p r e s u p p o s e s n o t h e r s t a t e m e n t
a
a ì s o h i g h ì y c o n t r o v e r s i a l : t h e s t a t e m e n tt h a t t h e r e e x i s t s a n d
r r a u t h e n t i c "o r " i d e a l r r g r o w t h , w h i c h i n r e a l i t y w o u l d n e e d t o b e
demonstrated.
D o e sA u t h e n ti c G r o w t h E x i s t ?
E v e r y ì i v i n g o r g a n i s mn e e d s t o d e v e l o p t o i t s m a x i m u ma c c o r d i n g t o i t s
,
nature. T h i s a p p e a r st o b e a l a w o f l i f e in general. \^/e ould think
c
b
that in the case of a human eing this wouìdaìso be applicable. The
h u m a n i s tp h i l o s o p h e r so f a l ì times havepostulated that the path of
m o r a l i t y i s t h a t w h i c h l e a d s t h e p e r s o n t o a n a u t h e n t i c d e v e l o p m e no f
t
h i s p o t e n t i a li t i e s a n d a b i l i t i e s a s s u c h . )
T h e p r o b l e m , h o w e v e r , b e c o m e sv e r y c o n ì p ì e x s i n c e h u m a nb e i n g s a l w a y s
appearto be modeìledby culture. Thus it could be asked: Does
authentic growthexist, one which is most suitable for human ature?
n
p
0 r a r e t h e n r o d e l s r o p o s e db y t h e d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e ,
l
e q u a ll y v a l i d m o d es ?
T h e c u l t u r a l r e l a t i v i s t w i l l a n s w e rd e c i d e d l y t h a t t h e y a r e a l t e r n a t i v e
m o d e l s ,a l l e q u a l l y v a l i d . T h e t h e s i s w e m a i n t a i nh e r e i s t h a t t h e r e
b
a r e m o d e l sm u c hm o r e s u i t a b ì e f o r h u m a n e i n g s , i n , w h i c h t h e i r r e a ì ,
o b j e c t i v e n e e d sa r e s a t i s f i e d m o r e t h a n i n o t h e r s . o In other woros,
I 5
L
according tct our point of view, there exists
a n a u t h e n t i c p s y c hi c
growth and aìso other forms of growth
t h a t a r e n o t a u t h e n ti c b u t
s p u r i o u s o r i n a d e q u a t ef o r m s o f d e v e l o p m e n t
f o r h u m a nb e i n q s .
I n c o n n e c t i o nw i t h t h i s , f o u r g r e a t t a s k s
needto be undertaken:
T o m a k e e x p l i c i t t h e m o d e l o f h u m a ng r o w t h
or deveropment
prevailing de facto in our cuìture,
t h e m o d e lw h i c h f e e d s a n d is
fed by social dynamics.T
T o d r a w u p a m o d e .o f a u t h e n t i c g r o w t h ( a n d . | a y
| its foundations).
T o c o m p a r et h e p r e v a i . |i n g m o d e l o r m o d e l s
with the model
c o n st r u c t e d .
d. T o a n a l y s et h e s t r u c t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s ( e c o n o m i c ,
sociar, politicar.
i n s t i t u t i o n a l , a n d p s y c h o - s o c i a rw h i c h w o u r d
) permit growth in
a c c o r d a n c e i t h t h e p r o p o s e dm o d e r ( c o n d i t i o n s
w of feasibir ity of
t h e m o d e) . 8 l
M y p u r p o s ei n t h i s a r t i c l e i s t o d r a w a p r e ì i m i n a r yo u t ì i n e o f a m o d e l
o f h u m a n r o w t h ; t h i s w i I I b e u n d e r t a k e ni n p a r t
g
I l. In part l l t l
s h a ì l d e a l b r i e f l y w i t h p s y c h o - s o c i a lc o n d i t i o n s
w h i c h p r o m o t eo r
h i n d e r h u m a ng r o w t h a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r o p o s e d
model.9 In part r v I
s h a l l m a k ea c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n t h e m o d e r p r o p o s e d
and a model i m p l i c i t
i n u t i I i t a r i a n c u lt u r e .
II. I
O U T LN E O F A T H E O R Y F G R O ì J T H
O
I_t_tl" Crrrt n "" a m"t,
rV
In the first place it wil I be useful if, for the sakeof analys s , w e
i
d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e nt v ' / ot y p e s o f p o s s i b ì e g r o w t h , w h i c h w e s h a l I c a l l
primary Erowth and maturity gjowth respectíveìy.
P r i m a r y g r o w t h i s u s u a l ì y k n o w na n d s t u d i e d a s g r o ' , v t h r d e v e l o p m e n t
o
o f t h e c h i l d , t h e p r o c e s sw h i c h o c c u r s i n i n f a n c y a n d a d o l e s c e n c e n d
a
w h i c h l e a d s t o t h e f i n a l m u t a t i o no f t h e c h i ì d i n t o a n a d u l t .
During this siage of growth, there occurs an overt, rnanifestcorporal
growth and a rapid psychic developmenwhich takes place at the same
t
t i m e a n d c l o s e ì y c o n n e c t e dt o t h e c o r p o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t n d o r g a n i c
a
m a t u r a ti o n .
T h i s g r o w t h ì e a d s t h e c h i l d t o t h e a c h i e v e m e no f f u n d a m e n t a s k i l l s ,
t l
s u c h a s s p e e c h a n c i l o c o m o t i o n , m a k e sp o s s i b l e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t f h i s
o
t h i n k i n g f r o m t h e s t a g e o f s e n s o r y - m o t o ri n t e l I i g e n c e u p t o t h e
a c q u i s i t i o n o f a b s t r a c t t h o u g h t , e n a b l e sh i m t o l e a r n t h e f u n d a m e n t a i
t i m e - s p a c en o t i o n s a n d a b a s i c c o n c e p t u a l s y s t e n r l ì o w i n g h i m t c
a
m a n a g eh e r e a l w o r l d , e t c .
t
P r i r n a r yg r o w t h c o n s t i t u t e s ( a t l e a s t i n p a r t , o r i n c e r t a i n a s p e c t s )
a bioìogical demand pon the organism.
u l t m a y b e c o m ei m p e r f e c t o r
d e f i c i e n t t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t a d e q u a t en u t r i m e n t s a r e n o t e n c o u n t e r e d
( U o t no r g a n i c a n d p s y c h i " ) , 1 0 o r t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t is openìy
i m p a i e d b y s o m eo u t s i d e a g e n t o r c a u s e ( t r a u m a t i s m s , î I l n e s s e s ,
r
intense psychological repression) or even to the extent to which
7
organic maturing is aìtered by some
congenitarcause, but in generaì
(and in a first approach
to the subject) it maybe said that
growth
in this period of l ife responds
t o i n t e r n a r r a w so f t h e o r g a n i s m
ano
w i l l t a k e e l e m e n t sf r o m w h e r e v e r
i t c a n i n o r d e r t o a c c o m p ì i s ha n
i n n e r d e v e l o p m e n t a ll o q i c .
\ ^ / i t h i no u r c u l t u r e i t i s g e n e r a i l y c o n s i d e r e dt h a t g r o w t h
concludes
w h e nw h a t w e h a v e h e r e c a ì r e d p r i m a r y
g r o w t h e n d s . H u m a nr i f e i s
v i e w e da s a p r o c e s s i n w h i c h t h e r e
is a period of growth (chirdhood,
a d o l e s c e n c e ) ,a p e r i o d o f p e r m a n e n c ea d u l t h o o d )
( and a period of
d e c a d e n c e o l d a g e , s e n iI i t y ) _ _
(
see fiqure l.
(permanence)
adoI escence
( g r o w t h)
( d e c a d e n c e)
senil
Bi r t h o
Death
FlG. l. T h e p r o c e s so f H u m a n i f e a c c o r d i n g
L to the Dominant onception
c
i n 0 u r C u lt u r e
The concept of grolvth is thus defined
according to what are considered
to be strictly bioìogical limits. rtNatura'r
l i m i t s o f g r o w t ha r e
a s s i g n e dn o t o n l y t o c o r p o r a r d e v e ì o p m e n t ,
of course, but also to
mental functions; thus,for exampre,
r e f e r e n c e i s m a d et o a ' n a t u r a l r l
development f íntell igencewhich
o s t o p s a r o u n d t h e s e c o n d d e c a d eo f
life.ìl
\ , J es h aI I m ai n t a i n h e r e t h a t i n a d di t i o n t o p r í m a r y g r o w t h
there exists
for a human eing the possíbility
b of another type of growth - nmturity
growth- which does not recognize
any I imit in time. The intensity
B
a n d d u r a t i o n o f m a t u r i t y g r o w t h i s n o t d e t e r m i n e db y t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s
genetic code as, at ìeast in certain aspects, physical growthor
primary mental growth lvouldappear to be. Rather, it becomes
a
reality (or is restricted, as the case maybe) on the basis of a
certain type of interaction with a given environment. flaturity growth
i s n o t e x p r e s s e dt h r o u g h a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s c o r p o r a l s i z e
n o r t h r o u g h a r a p i d , e v i d e n t a c q u i si t i o n o F s e n s o r y - m o t o o r
r
iniel lectual aptitudes; it i s s l o w e r a n d l e s s s p e c t a c u l a rt h a n p r i m a r y
growth. Neither does it appear to respond,as we have said, to a
biological exigency, such as primary growth, but instead to a psychic
p o t e n c yo f t h e h u m a n e i n g i n s e r t e d i n t o a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e o f c u l t u r e .
b
H e n c ei t is both very difficult t o d i s c o v e r a n d a n a l y z es c i e n t i f i c a l l y
and very easy to frustrate or restrict b e c a u s eo f c i r c u m s t a n c e s
w
connected ith the individual's I ife history and his insertion in the
e n v ir o n m e n t . S i n c e i t i s m a d ep o s s i b l e b y p s y c h o s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n ,
m a t u r i t y g r o w t h i s a f u n c t i o n d e p e n d i n g s m u c ho n t h e b i o - p s y c h i c
a
p o s s i b i ìi t i e s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a s o n t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h t h e
e n v i r o n m e n th a s o f f e r e d h i m f o r h i s o e r s o n a l r e a l i z a t i o n .
W h i l e t h e p o t e n t i a l i t y f o r p r i m a r y g r o w t h s e e m st o r e c o g n i z e a
b i o l o g i c a l I i m i t a n d f i n d s i t s n a t u r a ì c u l m i n a t i o ni n t h e ' a t t a i n m e n t
of certain stagesof physical maturity and certain basic cognitive-
affective structures, the potential ity for maturity growth does not
r e c o g n i z e ,a t l e a s t a p r i o r i , a n a g e ì i m i t ( p e r h a p sw i t h t h e s o l e
e x c e p t i o n o f s e n i l e r e g r e s s i o n p r o d u c e db y s t r i c t l y biochemical
processes). 0n this understanding,the potentiaì growth schernen
i
t h e l i f e o f a h u m a n e i n q w o u l d b e a s s h o w ni n f i q u r e 2 .
b
M a t u r i t y G r o w t ha s P s y c h i c G r o w t h
M a t u r i t y g r o w t ho c c u r s b a s i c a l l y i n t h e p s y c h i c d i m e n s i o n . l t is
closely I inkedwith human eingsr learning capacity and with being
b
o p e n t o c h a n g ea n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s .
L e t u s p a u s e f o r a m o m e n to v e r t h e c o n c e p t o f p s y c hi c g r o w t h . \^/hat
9
senility
old
o
age
Death
f4aturity
g rowt h adulthood
adoI escence
Primary
g rowt h ch i I dhood
o
Bi r t h
FlG. 2. A s c e n d i n gL i n e o f C o n t i n u o u s o t e n t i a ì
p Growth
d o w e m e a nb y r r g r o w t h ' i n t h i s d i m e n s i o n ?
can one,,grow,rpsychotogi-
cally? Obviously,this depends
on the use of language nd the meaning a
we attribute to the word,grovrth.r'
In the corporar sense, the idea of
g r o w t h s e e m si n s e p a r a b . | y o n n e c t e d
c with the idea of increase in
physical size. rn this l imited sense, the expression
would not be
s u i t a b l e ' N e v e r t h e ì e s s ,e v e n i n
t h e s e n s eo f p h y s i c a r g r o w t h , t h e
t e r m i s b y n o m e a n sr e d u c e d t o a q u a n t í t a t i v e
increase in corporal
d i m e n s i o nb e c a u s ep h y s i c a ì g r o w t h
involves certain transformations
w h i c h p r o d u c e q u a ri t a t i v e c h a n g e s
too. so it is important to recail
t h a t p h y s i c a l g r o w t h i m p li e s a n i n c r e a s e
in the individual,s potencies
and a maturing of his whoìe organic
system. I^/e hal.| use the term
s
rrgrowth'r '|imíted
i n a w i d e s e n s ew h i c h i n c r u d e s b u t
is not to physical
grob/th' I'/eshat say that growth
c o n si s t s o f d e v e r o p m e n to f t h e
c
p s y c h o s o m a t i p o w e r sa n d a p t i t u d e s
o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d , e s p e c i a rr y
in the psychicaspect, of a display
o f n e w , m o r e c o m p l e xp o s s i b i l i t i e s
of fruítful i n t e r c h a n g e b e t w e e nt h e s u b j e c t
and his environment. ln
this sense, there is growthof inteiligence
in the chi.|d, which passes
from a state of undifferentiated perception
to an unfolding of
abstract, logicar-conceptuar perations. o I n t h e d e v e l o p n e n to f
intel I igence there is a constant acquis
it íon of new, more comprex,
l0
more powerful tooìs for knowing real ity and for an adequate exchange
with it, \ ^ / h i c hi n s o m ew a y a d d t o o r i n t e g r a t e p r i o r s t a g e s o f t h e
capacity for adaptation. Eachstage thus introduces a perfecting and
i
a c o r n pilc a t i o n o f t h e c o g ni t i v e s t r u c t u r e c o r r e s p o n dn g t o t h e
previous stage. P s y c h o ì o g i s t sh a v e d e s i g n e d t e c h n i q u e sf o r m e a s u r i n g
d e g r e e so f intel lectuaì development nd this contributes to make
a
quite natural the notion of growthas applied to intelligence. But
is is not onìy as regards inteiligence that the child grows
p s y c h o l o g i c ally . H e a l s o m a t u r e s , d e v e l o p s , i n c r e a s e sh i s a f f e c t i v i t y ,
h i s p e r c e p t i o no f h i m s e l f , h i s g r a s p , a n d s t r u c t u r i n g o f s o c i a l a n d
naturaì real ity, etc. Thus, for example,to the extent that the
c h i l c i p a s s e s f r o m a p r i m a r y , a f f e c t i v e s y m b i o s i sw i t h h i s m o t h e r t o a n
incipient structuring of the seìf which leadshim to a primary
e g o c e n t r i s ma n d f r o m t h e r e t o h i s g r a d u a l i n t e g r a t i o n i n a g r o u p o f
peers, we can say that he has grown in his adaptation to the
e n v i r o n m e n t , n h i s p o s s i b i li t i e s f o r i n t e r a c t i n g w i t h t h e w o r l d .
i An
e x t r e m ee x a m p l eo f l a c k o f g r o w i n g i n t h i s d i m e n s i o n i s t h e c a s e o f
a u t i s t i c c h i l d r e n , c l o s e d t o c o m m u n i c ao n , b ì o c k e d i n t h e i r
i t
p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f e x c h a n g e i t h t h e w o r l d a n d , f o r t h e s a m er e a s o n ,
w
with themselves. l'laturity growth, which characterizes the adult stage
of ìife, i s m a i n l y a c e r t a i n t y p e o r e x p r e s s i o no f p s y c h o l o g i c a l
q r o w tn . t2
C h a r a c t e r i s ti c s o f M a t u r i t y _G r o w t h _
VJe ave said that in our culture it
h is taken for granted that
i
individual growth reaches i ts peak in adolescence. Wemust recognze,
h o w e v e r ,t h a t i n o u r s o c i e t y i t is quite usual to think that a human
b e i n g o f t e n a t t a i n s i n t h e c o u r s e o f h i s I i f e a n i n c r e a s i n gm a t u r i t y
i n t h e s e n s eo f a n i n c r e a s i n g l y b e t t e r a d a p t a t i o n t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t ,
a greater masteringof concrete real ity. S o t h e i m p o r t a n c eo f
a c c u m u l a t e dI i f e e x p e r i e n c e i s s t r e s s e d . Terms I ike 'rmature,"
r r c e n t r e d , r"' r e a l i s t r ' r a r e i n t e n d e d t o c h a r a c t e r i z e a n a d u l t a n d
differentiate him from a youth or a chi ld.
il
' u r p a r a d i g m f p s y c h o l o g i c a lg r o w t h
o differs greatry from what is
u s u a ll y c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a p r o c e s s
to ilmaturity.,, The main feature
which characterizes individuar
maturity accordingto the usuar point
of view is the capacity to behave
ì
s u c c e s s f ur y \ ^ / i t h i n s o c i e t y ;
i n s t e a d ' o u r p a r a d i g mo f g r o w t h
i s c o n c e r n e da b o u t t h e w h o r e r a n g e
of
a p t i t u d e s a n d p o t e n c i e so f t h e
human syche. In our model, maturity
p
g r o h / t he x p r e s s e s i t s e r f t h r o u g h
a strengthening and enriching of
p e r s o n a li t y ' lt involves a processof construction
a n d c o n s o li d a t i o n
o f t h e s e l f , a d e v e r o p m e no f c e r t a i n
t psychic capacities and powers
which in adequate onditions, c i . e . , w i t h i n a f a v o u r a b r es o c i o _ c u ì t u r a r
context, shourd be encountered
in a state of active tension or
latency in the individuaì once
he has begunto pass through the
rast
stages of primary growth.
Maturity growth reveals itse'|f
t h r o u g h t h e f o r . | o w i n gf a c e t s o r
dimensions f the human eing:
o b
a. P r o f o u n de m o t i v i t y .
b. C a p a c t y f o r c o m m uin a t i o n .
i c
c. R a t i o n a il t y , i m a g i n a t i v e a p a c i t y ,
c
and intuition.
d' constructionof the self and consor
idation of personar identity.
e. Sensitivity and experiential openness.
f. C r e a t i v i t y a n d e x p r e s s i v ec a p a c i t y .
S. Psychosomaticntegration (greater
i s e c u r i t y i n h a n d li n q a n d
o p e r a t i n g t h e b o d y ).
h Adult realism.
i. Capacty for construct ive work.
i
j. lmpul e towards act ive social
s transcendency.
Wecan say that maturity growth in
the individual exrsts or occurs in
s o m eo f t h e s e a s p e c t s i n t h e f o l l o w i n g
cases:
There is a consolidationand increase
in the capacity to estabrish
a u t h e n t i c p r o f o u n da f f e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s
with other incrividuals,the
capacity to offer adurt rove, the
capacity for ,rsurrender,,,and
enjoymentin communication; apacity c f o r e m p a t h yi n c r e a s e s a n d
c h i l d i s h e g o c e n t r i s mr e c e d e s . ( i n i s
impriesgrowth in the
l2
d i m e n s i o n s w e h a v e c a ì l e d " c a p a ci t y f o r c o m m ui n a t i o F , " " p r o f o u n d
c
e m o t i v i t y , " a n d ' r i m p u l s etowardsactive social transcendency.")
T h e r e i s c o n s o ìi d a t i o n o f r a t i o n a l c a p a c i t y , c a p a c i t y f o r
i n t e g r a t i n g k n o w l e d g ei n e v e r m o r e p o w e r f u l s y s t e m s , a n d c a p a c i t y
f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n gr e a l i t y ; a t t h e s a m et i m e t h e r e i s c i e v e l o p m e n t
o f i m a g i n a t i o n ,c o g n o s c i t i v e c u r i o s i t y , c a p a c i t y f o r w o n d e r i n g .
( f f r i s i m p li e s g r o w t h i n t h e d i m e n s i o n s e c a l I ' r r a t i o n a l i t y " a n d
w
rrcreativity.")
3. T h e r e i s a p r o g r e s si v e s u r m o u nitn g o f t h e a f f e c t i v e d e p e n d e n c y
bonds (of a symbiotic nature) with the primary parental group and
o t h e r s u b s t i t u t e f o r m s o r e n t i t i e s ; ( r e a l ) s e c u ri t y i n o w n i d e n t i t y
( " o n t o l o g i c a l " s e c u r i t y ) l 3 i s a c q u i r e d a n d a c j v a n c es a c h i e v e d i n
i
I" L
the construction of a real or authentic self, a b a n d o n i n gi n c r e a s -
ingly artificial m a s k su s e d f o r t h e s o c i a ì p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e
l q
self .') F e a r o f a n d s u b m i s s i o nt o a u t h o r i t y ( a n , lo t h e r i r r a t i o n a l
' '16
f e a r s ) ' - a r e o v e r c o m ea n d a g r a d u a l m o v i n g a w a y f r o m e x t e r n a l ,
formal rules is achieved; there is progressin self-knowledge
a n d i n i n t r o s p e c t i v e p o w e r ; a g r e a t e r c o h e r e n c ea n d u n i t y i n
p e r s o n a l i t y a r e a c h i e v e d . ( f f r i s i m p ìi e s g r o w t h i n t h e d i m e n s i o n
w e h a v e c a l l e d r r c o n s t r u c t i o n f t h e s e l f a n d c o n s o li d a t i o n o f
o
p e r s o n a li d e n t i t y . " )
4 . T h e r e i s a n o p e n i n g a n d d e e p e n i n go f c a p a c i t y f o r a e s t h e t i c a n d
s e n s o r i a l p l e a s u r e a n d f o r i n t e g r a l e r o t i c p l e a s u r e . ( t n i s i m p li e s
growth in the dimensions e havecalled "sensitivity and
w
e x p e r i e n ti a l o p e n n e s s " n d ' r p s y c h o s o m a t i icn t e g r a t i o n . r ' )
a
5. C r e a t i v e p o t e n ti a l i t y d e v e l o p s , u n f o ì d s , a n d i s c o n s o li d a t e d , a n d
new, fruitful waysof personal expressionare found (growth in the
d i m e n s i o n" c r e a t i v i t y a n d e x p r e s s i v ec a p a c i t y " ) .
6. T h e h a r m o n i o u si n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e a d u ì t r s o w n b o d y i m a g ew i t h
p e r s o n a ì i d e n t i t y i s c o n s o li d a t e d ; t h e r e i s a n u n f o l d i n g o f
corporal powers (as regards movementelasticity,
, sensory-motive
l3
co-ordination, strength, etc.) and
o f t h e a c c o m p a n y í np l e a s u r e i n
g
the use of these powers. A more satisfactory
antl integra''
operation of the body is achieved(growth
in,,psychosomatic
i n t e g r a ti o n n a n d i n ,'express
ivity, at corporal ìevel).
7' There is an increase in the capacity
of understanding nd a
adaptation(creative, critical) to
reality, in the capacity to
f a c e a n d s o . | v ec o n f r i c t s a t m o r e a n d
more satisfactory revers of
í n t e g r a t i o n a n d e q ui I i b r i u m ; t h e n r e c h a n
i s m s o f r e g r e s si v e e s c a D e
recede ( s e a r c h f o r r e c o v e r yo f r r u t e r i n e
equiìibrium,,) (growth in
t h e d i m e n s í o n , , a d u lr e a li s m , ' ) .
t
8. T h e r e i s c o n s o li d a t i o n o f t h e c a p a c i t y
for constructive work with
personalmotivation and creativity (non_mercenary,
non_
b u r e a u c r a t i c , n o n - p r o s t i t r t. e d ) a n d
r w i t h a s e n s eo f s o c ì a l
transcendency. Perception of the 'rother person',
becomes ore m
a c u t e , a n d t h e ' s e n t i n r e n to f s o ì i d a r i t y
a n d z e a ì f o r - iu s t i c e t r e c o m e
stronger (growth in the dimension,,impu,,se
t o w a r d sa n a c t i v e
s o c i a ì t r a n s c e n d e n c y ".)
l4
lil I S M A T UIR Y G R O \ ^ / T H S SB L E ? ( C O I ' I O I O N SW H C H H A M P E A N D
T PO I T I R
D I M T
C O N I T I O N SW H C H F O S T E R A T UIR Y G R O W T H )
M a t u r i t y G r o w t h l s R o o t e d i n P r ! n r a r yG r o w t h
In part | | w e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e np r i m a r y a n d m a t u r i t y
growth. This difference enables us to see maturity growth as a growth
w h i c h o c c u r s i n t h e i n n e r m o s tr e c e s s e so f t h e i n d i v i d u a l r s p s y c h i c
l i f e , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g i t f r o m g r o w t h o f a s o m e w h am o r e ' r n a t u r a ì " o r
t
" b i o l o g i c a l i l n a t u r e a n d e m p h a s i z i n g h a t i t c a n o n l y h a p p e na f t e r
t
c e r t a i n b a s i c s t a g e s o f p s y c h i c I i f e h a v e b e e na t t a i n e d .
It i s n o w t i m e , h o w e v e r ,t o p o i n t o u t t h a t s u c h a c l e a r - c u t d i s t i n c t i o n
b e t w e e nt h e t w o t y p e s o f g r o w t h d o e s n o t e x i s t a n d t h a t m a t u r i t y
growthsink its roots deeply into the primary growth stage. lt also
b e c o m e s e c e s s a r yt o a s k w h e t h e r p r i m a r y g r o w t h i s r e a l l y u n i v e r s a l
n
and identical in alI cultures and even in alI individuaìsfrom the
s a m ec u l t u r e a n d w h e t h e r t h i s g r o w t h i s a c c o m pils h e d " i n n o c u o u s l y " o r
i n a n a x i o l o g i c a ìl y n e u t r a ì w a y . Q u i t e t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e w a y i n
which primary growth develops is to a great extent conditioned
cultural ly. F u r t h e r m o r e ,t h e w a y i n v l h i c h p r i m a r y g r o r ^ r t h e v e l o p s i n
d
a n i n d i v i d u a lw i l l h e a v i ì y c o n d i t i o n ( e i t h e r n e g a t i v e ì yo r p o s i t i v e i y )
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h a t p e r s o n ' s s u b s e q u e nm a t u r i t y g r o w t h .
t
l n t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s p s y c h i ch i s t o r y t h e f i r s t s i g n i f i c a n t e v e n t sa r e
t h o s e w h i c h c o n c e r nt h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f b a s i c b i o l o g i c a l a n d p s y c h i c
d e m a n d s . A s m e n t i o n e db e f o r e , i t h a s b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e dt h a t , a t t h e
b i o l o g i c a l ì e v e l , d e f i c i e n t n o u r i s h m e nd u r i n g t h e f i r s t
t yearsof life
p r o d u c e sa c e r e b r a ì u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t h i c h i s i r r e v e r s i b l e a n d w i ì I
w
o b v i o u s l y h i n d e r a l I s u b s e q u e n ti n t e g r a l d e v e l o p m e n t . l t is therefore
c l e a r t h a t a s a n e c e s s a r yc o n d i t i o n t o a t t a i n m a t u r i t y g r o w t h , t h e
l5
individuar must be assured
i n c h i r d h o o do f a b a s i c l e v e . |
of organic
w e l ì - b e i n g . t 4 / h í r eh i s i s a
t necessary ondition, it is
c iar f rom
b e i n g a s u f f i c i e n t c o n d i ti o n .
T h e r e a r e m a n yp s y c h i c n e e d s
which
should be satisfied if maturity
growth is to be fostered
or encourage,J
from earl iest chi ldhood. The
p e r i o d w e h a v e c a rr e d p r i m a r y
growth is
strongly determined y the inf.'uenceb w h i c h , , s í g n í fi c a n t a cu ì t s , ,
i
e x e r c i s e o n t h e m o d e l iì n g o f
t h e c h i r d , s p e r s o n a iìt y . In this first
s t a g e o f r i f e t h e p o s s i b i ìi t y
for deveroping r brockingrater
o
maturity growth is aì ready
being defined. Thus for example, .,dren
, chi
must have affect ion, recogn i t ion, and act ive protect ion
frorn thei r
primary parentar group. They
must be stimuìated and encouraged
in
their aptitudes and potentiaìities.
Theyshouldnot be overwhermed
by the weightof irrational
autho ity.lT
r T h e ys h o u l db e g i v e n
a d e q u a t es e n s o r i a r , s e n s o r y - m o t í v e ,
inteì rectual, and affective
ts
e n c o u r a g e m e nw h i c h f o s t e r
or stimulate the different stages
of their
development' They shouid be
able to join in peer groups where
sol idarity' mutuarrespect,
a n d s e ì f - e x p r e s si o n a r e e n c o u r a g e d .
T h e ir
c u r i o s i t y a n d e a g e r n e s st o i n v e s t i g a t e
s h o u r dm e e t w i t h a n a t t i t u d e
of approvar and stimurus. These
w o u r d b e s o m eo f t h e i d e a ' |
or optrmum
psychic conditions which
wculd pave the way for íntegrai
maturitv
g r o w th .
T h i s i s b u t a c o m p r e s s e di s t
l o f t h e v a r i a b r e s w h i c h c o m ei n t o
pray
in the primary growth process
and v.rhich ffect the subsequent
a
m a t u ri t y g r o w t h . T o u n d e r s t a ' d
properly the nature of the
l ink
b e t w e e no n e s t a g e o f g r o w t h
a n d t h e o t h e r , i t w o u r d .b e n e c e s s a r y
to
develcp in detail at reast
s o m eo f t h e s e a s p e c t s t o s e e
how they
positively or adversely
affect the indívidual's growth
in the different
d i m e n s i o n s o i n t e do u t i n
p the f inaì sectionof part ll.
Let us take just a few exampres
as iilustration. A child who passes
his first years of l ife in a primary
parental group wherehe is
s y s t e m a t í c a ll y t r e a t e d w i t h
c o n t e m p to r d i s d a i n , w h e r e h e
finds no
basic affective support nor
recognitionor acceptance f o his person,
will havelittre probabirity
of deveroping positive serf_image
a which
w o u l da l l o w h i m t o a t t a i n a
s u i t a b l e c o n s t r u c t i o no f h í s
serf and his
r6
personal identity. Since this latter i s a n e c e s s a r yc o n d i t i o n f o r
reaching an adequateìevel of communication nd surrender in human
a
f
r e l a t i o n s , t h i s p e r s o n w i I I b e h a n d i c a p p e do r a c h i e v i n g a d e q u a t e
m a t u r i t y g r o w t h i n s e v e r a l o f t h e i n d i c a t e d d i m e n s i o n s( e . g . , i n b ,
c a p a c i t y f o r c o m m u n i c a t i o na n d d , c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s e ì f ; a n d
,
very probably in f, c r e a t i v i t y a n d e x p r e s s i v ec a p a c i t y , a n d g ,
it
p s y c h o s o m ac i n t e g r a t i o n ) .
A n o t h e r e x a m p ì ec o u l d b e o n e r e f e r r i n g t o r a t i o n a ì i t y . t
D e v e l o p m e no f
rational capacity begins in earl iest infancy and is the result of a
s l o w , c o m p l e xp r o c e s s . l f d u r i n g t h e e d u c a t i o n o f a c h i l d e m p h a s i si s
given to shibboleths and dogmatic ruìes of conduct imposed
authoritarianly, if he receives few sensorial, affective, motive,
v e r b a ì , a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s t i m u li , i f h i s e d u c a t i o n a lt r a i n i n g i s
I i m i t e d , f o r e x a m p l e , t o p a s s i v e m e c h a n i c a l ,c o e r c i v e i n t a k e o f d a t a ,
all this wilì havea negative effect on the growthof rational
capacity. H i s c o g n i t i v e s t r u c t u r e s w i I ì p r o b a b l y r e m a i na t a l e v e ì
t
o f d e v e l o p m e nw h i c h w i l l prevent him from attaining full maturity of
r a t i o n a ìi t y .
M o r e o v e r ,t h e r e a r e a l s o s u b t l e I i n k s w h i c h i n t e r c o n n e c t v a r i a b l e s
from different fields. Fr:r exampìe,up to what point can a weak
self-perception retard development f intel lectual capacity?
o lf we
were to explore in what way the different d i m e n s i o n so f m a t u r i t y
g r o w t h a r e c o n n e c t e dw i t h a s p e c t s o f p r i m a r y g r o w t h a n d a r e s u b o r d i n a t e
to it, we wouìd have to go deeply into psychologicaì theory and to
fol low (no doubt cr i t icaI Iy) the tracks explored by current
d e v e l o p m e n t a lp s y c h o l o g y .
M a t u r i t y G r o w t ha n d C u ì t u r e : P s y c h o s o c i a lC o n d i t i o n i n g
Theway in which the individual passesthrough the stage of primary
d e v e l o p m e nits n o t t h e o n l y t h i n g w h i c h a f f e c t s t h e n a t u r e o f h i s
s u b s e q u e nd e v e ì o p m e n t . T h e c h i l d s l o w l y w i d e n s t h e s c o p e o f h i s
t
c o n t a c t s w i t h h i s e n v i r o n m e n ta n d i n t e g r a t e s i n t o o v e r a l I s o c i e t y .
t7
c u ì t u r e , w h i c h i n c h i l d h o o d i s c o n d i t i o n e da n d t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e
c h i l d o n l y b y h i s p r i m a r y g r o u p s , b e g i n s t o o p e r a t e m o r ed i r e c t l y o n
t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d d e t e r m i n et h e w a y s a n d p a t t e r n s o f h i s
p s y c h o ì o g i c a le v o l u t i o n , t h e m e c h a n i s ma n d f a c e t s o f h i s p s y c h i c ì i f e
s
which can be encouraged nd those which must be repressed. There are
a
m a n yp s y c h o s o c i a lm e c h a n i s mts w h i c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l w i I I h a v e t o
o
adapthimself, whichforman unavoidable art of his daily I ife, which
p
c o n t r i b u t e t o m o d e l li n g h i s c h a r a c t e r , t h e t y p e o f h i s a s p i r a t i o n s
a n d d e s i r e s , h i s e x p e c t a t i o n sa s r e g a r d s h i s o w n I i f e a n d p e r s o n a l
evolution. I n f a c t , t h e g e n e r a l s o c i o - c u l t u r a l e n v i r o n m e n ti s s o
d e t e r m i n a t i v e , i t c o n d i t i o n s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t f h u m a nI i f e t o s u c h a n
o
e x t e n t t h a t t h e r e i s n o t m u c hs e n s e i n d e s i g n i n g a m o d e l o f h u m a n
g r o w t h w i t h o u t s t u d y i n g c l o s e l y a t t h e s a m et i m e w h i c h a r e t h e
p s y c h o - s o c i a lc o n d i t i o n s w h i c h m a k e i t p o s s i b l e f o r g r o w t h t o t a k e
the desired direction and which are the oneswhich restrain, hamper,
or deflect it. T h i s m e a n s n a l y s i n gc r i t i c a l l y a c e r t a i n s o c i a l
a
r e a l i t y a n d p r o p o s i n g , i m p ìi c i t l y o r e x p l i c i t l y , " i d e a l , ' m o d e l so f
social functioning. A t a s k I i k e t h i s i m p li e s a n a m b i t i o u s w o r k
project. t r / es h a l l I i m i t o u r s e l v e s h e r e t o p o i n t i n g o u t s o m e I i n e s
which we consider significant and inportant to exDlore.
T h e A d u lt a n d H i s V / o r k
\ , / eb e l i e v e t h a t i n t h e a d u l t r s w o r l d t h e r e a r e s o m e, ' k e y " e l e m e n t s
w h i c h h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e p r o m o t i o no r m u t i l a t i o n o f i n t e g r a l g r o w t h .
In the first place, his relation to his work. lt is difficult for an
aduìt to achievecontinuousintegral growth if he is conditionedand
f o r c e d b y c i r c u m s t a n c e st o h a v e a n a l i e n a t i n g k i n d o f w o r k . F o r a n
adult, his work is the axis of his life. This is so at least for
three reasons:First, because ork fills
w a great part of the waking
hours of his I ife. s e c o n d , b e c a u s et h r o u g h h i s w o r k h e a t t e n d s t o t h e
b a s i c s u r v i v a l n e e d so f h i m s e l f a n d h i s f a m i l y ; t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
losing his job o r h a v i n g c o n f l i c t s i n h i s w o r k g e n e r a t e sa n e n o r m o u s
a n x i e t y o r t e n s i o n f o r a ì l t h a t i t m e a n si n i n d i v i d u a l l i f e a n d ,
a b o v ea l l , i n f a m i l y l i f e . T h e t h i r d r e a s o nf o r w h i c h w o r k o c c u p i e s
s u c h a n i m p o r t a n tp l a c e i n a n a d u l t r s l i f e is that the opinionor
s o c i a l e v a l u a t i o n m a d eo f h i m w i l l d e p e n dh e a v i l y u p o n h i s k i n d o f i o b .
t8
F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s t h e p s y c h o s o c i a ìc o n d i t i o n s i n w h i c h a p e r s o n
d e v e l o p s h i s w o r k h a v e a t r e m e n d o u si m p a c t o n t h e w a y i n w h i c h h i s
developmenwi I I take place.
t In order for maturity growth to be
p o s s i b l e , t h e i n d i . . , i d u a ls h o u ì d h a v e t h e p o s s i b i ì i t y o f b e c o m i n g
r e l a t e d m a t u r e l y a n c lc r e a t i v e l y t o h í s w o r k , h e s h o u l d h a v e t h e
p o s s i b i li t y c f p r o j e c t i n g h i m s e l f , o f t r a n s c e n d i n g n h i s w o r k , o f
i
feeling his daily labouras a form of realization and not, as occurs
i n t h e m a j o r i t y o f c a s e sw i t h i n s o c i e t i e s s u c h a s o u r s , a s a p a i n f u l ,
o p p r e s s i v eo b l i g a t i o n .
W e c a n s a y t h a t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e sv h i c h
r
s u r r o u n dt h e w o r l d o f w o r k w i t h i n a r r u t i l i t a r i a n " s o c i e t y l S " r "
general y far from being suitable for promoting integral development
o f o e r s o n s . S o m eo f t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e sa r e :
a. Theworker does not participate in the organizationor planning
activities of his work. He only carries out the smal part
ì
w h i c h h a s b e e n a s s i g n e d t o h i m w i t h o u t k n o w i n gt h e w h o l e n o r
h a v i n gp a r t i c i p a t e d i n i t s p l a n n i n g .
b. He is submittedto an authority which orders and directs him and
which he must obey; he rnustfol low instructions without
u n d e r s t a n d i n g r q u e s t i o n i n gw h a t t h e y m e a n .
o
c. H e m u s t c o m p ì yw i t h r i g i d t i m e t a b l e a n d p r o d u c ti o n r e g u l a t i o n s ;
his task is often monotonous nd hard; there is rarely any
a
opportunity to apply his creativity or ingenuity; he is rarely
askedto give an opinion.
d. H e h a s a " m e r c e n a r y ' rr e ì a t i o n w i t h h i s w o r k ; h e w o r k s f o r p a y m e n t
but does not enjoy the product nor can he find pleasure in his
w o r k ( p a r t l y b e c a u s eo f c o n d i t i o n s € , b , a n d c ) .
e. W i t h t h e i n d u c e m e n o f a p r o m o t i o n , t h e w o r k e r i s s o m e t i m e si e d
t
t o c o m p e t ew i t h h i s o w n c o r n p a n i o n s .
G o i n g o v e r t h e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , \ . v es e e t h a t t h e w o r k e r c a n n o t b e h a v e
r e a lI y I i k e a n a d r - t l p e r s o n i n h i s w o r k ; r a t h e r , h e i s o b l i g e d t o
r
a b i d e b y i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d r e s p e c t a u t h o r i t y I i k e a w e l l - b e h a v e dc h i l d
in order to get his reward (the wages in the case of workl affection
a n d r e c o g n i ti o n i n t h e c a s e o f t h e c h i l d ) .
t
M o r e o v e r ,a p a r t f r o m t h e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w h i c h a r e m o r e o r l e s s
i
tg
L
g e n e r a l , o n m a n yo c c a s i o n s t h e v e r y n a t u r e o f t l r e w o r k r e q u i r e s g r e a t
p h y s i c a l e f f o r t a n d / o r p s y c h o l o g i c a lv i o l e n c e , w h i c h c a u s e s s e r i o u s
impairment o the person (tf,is would be the case with work involving
i n t e n s e n o i s e , r e l e a s e o f n o x i o u s g a s e s o r s u b s t a n c e s ,v e r y h i g h o r
v e r y ì o w t e m p e r a t u r e s ,a n d i n v o l v i n g t h e t r a n s p o r t o r m a n i p u ì a t i o no f
very heavyobjects, etc. ) .
l f t h e p s y c h o - s o c i a lc o n d i t i o n s w e r e f a v o u r a b ì e , t h e I i n k w i t h h i s
w o r k s h o u l d c o n d u c t t h e p e r s o n t o w a r d s g r o w t h i n t h e d i m e n s i o nw e
h a v ec a l l e d " a d u l t r e a l i s m " ( c i n t h e l i s t i n p a r t l l ) , " c a p a c i t y f o r
constructive workr' (i), "impulse towards active social transcendency"
(j), a n a r r c r e a t i v i t y a n d e x p r e s s i v ec a p a c i t y " ( 1 ) . At the same
t i m e , i t s h o u l d r e i n f o r c e o t h e r d i m e n s i o n s ,s u c h a s r a t i o n a l i t y ,
n
c o m m u n i c a t i o c a p a c i t y , a n d c o n s o li d a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l i d e n t i t y .
g
However, iven the circumstances e indicate as prevailing in
w
util itarian societies, it is difficult for this to occur. 0n the
contrary, adaptation to the worìd of work is one of the most frequent
s o u r c e so f f r u s t r a t i o n i n i n t e g r a l m a t u r i t y o r f u l I g r o w t h .
T h e u s u a l l y a c c e p t e d m o d e l o f m a t u r i t y i s t h a t o f a m a nw h o c a n a c c e p t
a n d e n d u r ew i t h r r f o r t i t u d e l a n ' r a d e q u a t e ir le ì a t i o n w i t h h i s w o r k , a
relation which is in fact, because f the circumstances l ready
o a
pointed out, a source of personal mutilat ion.
,)
T h e A d u lt a n d P u b li c L i f e
A n o t h e r a s p e c t t o b e c o n s i d e r e di s p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e i n d i v i d u a ì i n
t h e h a n c iiìn g o f p u b l i c a f f a i r s . lf true maturity growth is to be
o b t a i n e d , t h e i n d i v i d u a l m u s t h a v e t h e p o s s i b iI i t y o f r e a ì l y
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e g r o u p s w h i c h m a k ed e c i s i o n s t h a t a f f e c t t h e
di rection and organÌzationof social I ife. Real, effective participa-
tion in decision-making hich affects the courseof the sociaì r^rorld
w
aroundhim and in which he is immersewould give the individual the
d
p o s s i b i ì i t y o f f e e l i n g h i s p o w e r , c a p a b l eo f h a v i n g a n e f f e c t o n t h e
destiny of his own I ife and that of his community, nd this would
a
p r o m o t eh i s m a t u r i t y g r o w t h i n d i f f e r e n t d i m e n s i o n s . B u t i f a n
20
i n d i v i d u a l i s o b l i g e c i t o o b e y a n d r e n r a i na s a m e r e p a s s i v e o b s e r v e r
o f d e c i s i o n sw h i c h a f f e c t s o c i e t y , a n d t h e r e f o r e h i s I i f e , h i s f a m i l y ,
a n d h i s n e i g h b o u r s ,h e c a n n o t t r u ì y r e a c h a f u ì l i n t e g r a ì d e g r e eo f
grourth. ln tlris case it i s o u r o p i n i o n t h a t t h e m a t u r i n go f t h e
s a m ef a c e t s a s i n t h e p r e v i o u s c a s e i s t h w a r t e d .
3. R
T h e A d uI t a n d H u m a n e la t i o n s
A n o t h e rf u n d a m e n t a v a r i a b ì e , w h i c h c u t s a c r o s s t h e o t h e r t w o i n a
l
c o n s t a n t , d y n a n r i ci n t e r a c t i o n , i s t h a t o f t h e p r e v a iI i n g m o d e l o F
h u m a ne 'a t i o n s .
r l T h i s m o d e lw i t h i n a s o c i e t y i s g e n e r a l ì y f u n c t i o n a l
or adaptedto the exigency of the society in such a way that the
i n d i v i d u a l s m a y a c c o m pi ìs h , n a t u r a l l y [ t h e r o l e s a n d t a k e p a r t i n
n e c e s s a r yo r m s o f i n t e r a c t i o n w h i c h m a i n t a i n t h e s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s .
f
"social
T h i s c o n c e p t i s l i n k e d w i t h w h a t F r o r n m a s d e s c r i b e da s
h
c h a r a c t e r " " l 9 T h e m o d e lo f h u n a n r e ì a t i o n s í s g e n e r a l l y i n c o r p o t ' a t e d
a t a n e a r l y s t a g e i n t h e c h i l d a n d t h e n c o n s o li d a t e d i n h i s
c o n s t a n t i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h t h e e n v ir o n m e n t .
T h e t y p e o f h u m a nr e l a t i o n s w h i c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l i n c o r p o r a t e s i n t o
t h e b a s i c s t r u c t u r e o f h i s p e r s o n a iì t y a n d h i s m o t i v a t i o n a l s y s t e m
w i l l h a v e a s t r o n g i n f l u e n c e o n t h e s c o p eo f O i m e n s i o n s a ( p r o f o u n d
emotivity), b (communication pacity), and e (sensitivity and
ca
e x p e r i e n t i a lo p e n i n g ) . l t s e e m s a i r ì y o b v i o u s t h a t i f a n i n d i v i d u a l
f
i s s o c i a l i z e d w i t h i n a m o d e ìo f v e r y g o o d h u m a n o m m u n i c a t i o no f
c ,
g e n e r o s i t ya n d s i n c e r i t y , i n a m o d e lw h e r e s e n s l t i v i t y a n d a f f e c t i v e
o p e n i n ga r e c o n s i d e r e dv a l u a b ì e , h i s w o r l d o f e x p e r i e n c ea n d
w
emotions ilì b e c o m e n r i c h e d a n d h i s c o m m u n i c a t i ow í t h o t h e r s w i ì l
e n
be openand fluid. lf, on the other hand, the modelof human
r e l a t i o n sw h i c ha r i s e s f r o m i n s t i t u t i o n a ì p ì a y a n d i t s s t r u c t u r a l
necessitiesleads to the isoìation of the individual and to a
d e f e n s i v e - o f f e n s i v ea t t i t u d e , t
t h e p e r s o n r ^ r i ì l b e c o n d e m n e do
p s y c h o l o g i c a lu n d e r - d e v e l o p m e n t .l f t h e p r e v a i l i n g i d e a l i s o n e o f
c o m p e t i t i o n ,o f i n d i v i d u a l c o m p e t i t i v e s u c c e s s , i t is obvious that
it i s c o n t r a d i c t o r y t o p o s t u l a t e s e n t i m e n t so f s o l i d a r i t y o r h u m a n
love. T h u s , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e nt h e c u s t o m e r a n d t h e
m e r c h a n t , b e t w e e nt h e b u y e r a n d t h e s e l l e r , the boss and the worker,
2l
e x i s t i n g i n a n u t i I i t a r i a n t y p e s o c i e t y , a r e b a s i c a ll y a n t a g o n i s t i c
relationships which cannot generate(at least systenratically)
attitudes of affection and mutuaìsupportor help.
In this case qrowth is ìimited i n t h e d i m e n s i o n s a ( p r o f o u n c ie m o t i v i t y )
b (conrmunícation apacity) and e (sensitivity
c and experiential
o p e n i n g ) , i v h i l e e v e n t h e d e v e l o p m e n to f d ( c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the self
and consolidation of personal identity) and of f (creativity and
e x p r e s s i v e c a p a ci t y ) b e c o m ed i f f i c u l t , to the extent that the
individual rnust protect and hide hinrself insteaciof showinq himself
and expecting from the other affective and sympathetic approvaì ano
a posi t ive support for consoì idat ion of h is sel f-esreem.
l! l r n p o r t a n c e f t h e G r o u p sf o r P e r s o n a l G r o w t h p r o c e s s ; t h e " h e a l t h y ' ,
o
groups
S i n c e a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e p r o c e s so f s o c i a ì i z a t i o n a n d i n c o r p o r a t i o n
o f c u l t u r e a s w e lI a s a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e p r o c e s so f c o n s t r u c t i o n
a n d c o n s o li d a t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n a l s e l f b e c o m ep o s si b ì e t h r o u g h t h e
i n d i v i d u a l b e l o n g i n gt o s r n a l l h u m a n r o u p s , w e c a n c a t e g o r i c a l l y s t a t e
g
t h a t t h e g r o u p s t o w h i c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l h a s r e a ì l y b e l o n g e dt h r o u g n o u t
h i s l i f e p ì a y a d e c i s i v e r o l e i n t h e n a t u r e o f h i s c e v e l o p m e n t .T h e
d i f f e r e n t w a y s w h i c h a n i n d i v i d u a l ' s p s y c h r : i o q i c a ld e v e ì o p m e nc a n
t
f o ì l o w d e p e n dd e c i s i v e l y o n t h e s m a l l g r o u p s t o w h i c h h e h a s b e l o n q e d .
Smalì groups reflect of course the features of their overall society.
I t i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o m a k ea s o c i a ì " i s ' I a n d , , ' a t t h e m a r g i n o f t h e
r e s t o f t h e p s y c h o s o c i a ìm e c h a n i s mw h i c h d o m i n a t ea c u ì t u r e .
s It
w o u ì d t h e r e f o r e n o t s e e mt o m a k em u c h s e n s e t o a n a ì y s e a g r o u p a s i f
i t c o u l d g e n e r a t eo r m o u l d i t s e l f i n d e p e n d e n t l y f t h e w h o l e i n s t i -
o
tutional inter-play of tfre society. In this sense, the study of
groups is not unrelated to the study of the aspects we have just
i n t r o d u c e d i n p a r a g r a p h sl , 2 , a n d 3 , s i n c e t h e h u r n a n r o u p s a r e
g
i n s e r t e d i n i n s t i t u t i o n a l m e c h a n i s ma n d r e c e i v e f r o m t h e m t h e i r
s
infìuence and to a certain degreetheir cha.""t"..20 Nevertheless e
w
believe it i m p o r t a n tt o p o s e t h e s u b j e c t a s s i g n i f i c a n t o n i t s o l v n
f o r o u r p r o b l e m , b e c a u s ed i r e c t h u m a n o n t a c t , l o a d e d w í t h a f f e c t i v i t y
c
22
a n d i m p li c i t m e s s a g e sw h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s m a l ì g r o u p s ( w h e t h e r i n t h e
,
famiìy, the factory, the office, t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o dt,h e s c h o o l , e t c . ) 1
h a s a d i r e c t , p a r t i c u ì a r i n f l u e n c e o n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f p e r s o n a iì t y .
E v e nw h e n c u l t u r e a n d o v e r a l I s o c i e t y p e n e t r a t e a n d d o m i n a t e t h e
general vision of the members f a given society, the development f
o o
individuaìs is to a ìarge extent a dependent unction of the groupsto
f
which they have real ly and personal y beìonged. It is not something
ì
m e c h a n i c a w h i c h d e r i v e s a u t o m a itc a l l y f r o m t h e g l o b a l s o c i a ì s t r u c t u r e .
I t i s a p r o c e s s i n v o l v i n g p e r s o n sw h o , w h i l e t h e y r e f l e c t i n s o m ew a y
the social character, also have individualcharacterirti.=.21
T h u sw e c a n s t a t e t h a t i f a p e r s o n i s t o r e a c h f u l l psychic development
it i s n e c e s s a r yt h a t h e h a s t h e p o s s i b i ì i t y o f i n t e g r a t i n g i n t o o n e o r
g
m o r e h u m a n r o u p s w h i c h e n c o u r a g eo r p r o m o t e t h i s d e v e ì o p m e n t . l t is
very difficuìt t o b e i n t h e p r o c e s s o f c o n t i n u o u sm a t u r i t y g r o w t h i n
soli tude. M a t u ri t y g r o w t h r e q ui r e s t h e s t i m u lu s a n d s u p p o r t o f o t h e r
h u m a nb e i n q s.
N o t e v e r y s m a l ì h u m a ng r o u p , h o w e v e r , e n c o u r a g e so r p r o m o t e s t h e
integral growth of i ts members. 0n the contrary, there are certa in
g r o u p sw h i c h b y t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a r e m o r e l i k e l y t o a t r o p h y o r
m u t i l a t e t h i s p r o c e s s( p a r t i a l l y o r t o t a l l y ) .
V J e h a l ì s a y t h a t a h u m a ng r o u p i s " h e a ì t h y " w h e n i t p r o m o t e so r
s
e n c o u r a g e sh e m a t u r i t y g r o w t h o f a l l i t s m e m b e r s a n d t h a t i t i s
t ,
"sick" whenit tends to atrophy it. ln general groupsusually have
both " h e a l t h y " a n d " s i c k ' r e l e m e n t so r a s p e c t s .
Some f the fundamentalfeatures of a healthy group would be the
o
fol lowing:
a. Thereis no "authoritarianrrauthority. Theauthority, if there
i s o n e , r e s p o n d st o w h a t w e c o u l d c a l l I ' r a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y r r ( s e e
note l3). o
A u t h o r i t y c o m e sf r o m a c e r t a i n c o m p e t e n c e r s p e c i f i c
a b i l i t y i n a n a r e a a n d d o e s n o t t r y t o e x p a n do u t s i d e t h a t a r e a .
I t a c c e p t sc r i t i c i s m , i s w i ì I i n g t o g i v e r e a s o n sf o r i t s r u l i n g s ,
d o e s n o t a t t e m p t t o i m p o s ea r b i t r a r y r e g u l a t i o n s , e t c .
23
b' The whole group properìy respects and values each of its members
f o r h i m s e ì f , n o t s o m u c hf o r h í s k n o w r e d g ea b i r i t i e s , o r
,
aptitudes as for his human ondition and for his latent
c
potentialities. N o m e m b ef e e l s t h a t h i s p e r s o n a l i d e n t i t y i s b e i n g
r
h a r m e do r i g n o r e d .
c. T h e r e i s a p o s i t i v e , a f f e c t i v e s t r e a m a m o n gt h e m e m b e r s f
o the
group; there is faith and confidencein eacnother.
d. E a c h m e m b e ri s e n c o u r a g e dt o g i v e h i s b e s t t o t h e g r o u p , t o c r e a t e
and expresshimself throughthe task he carries out in the group.
e. H i d d e n , u n d e r l y i n g v a l u e s a r e m a d ee x p ì i c i t a n d w h e nn e c e s s a r y , i f
l
f u n d a m e n t a d i s c r e p a n c i e sa r í s e , t h e y a r e d i s c u s s e d . T h e
t
a c h i e v e m e n o f c o h e r e n c ei n v a l u e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s i s s o u g h r ,
as
w e l l a s t h e a v o i d a n c eo f " d o u b r e " o r d u a r s t a n d a r d s .
f. T h e a t t i t u d e s o f t h e m e m b e r a r e d i s c u s s e ds i n c e r e l y a n d o p e n l y .
s
T h e r e i s n o h y p o c r i s y o r p r e t e n c e s . T h e m e m b e r sr y t o b e a s
t
sincere as possible with eachother and they venti ìate their
criticisms, fears, and doubtsas regardsthe others.
s. There is no rivalry, either for power(since there is no
i r r a t i o n aI a u t h o r i t y ) , o r f o r r e s p e c t a n d c o n si d e r a t i o n f r o m
the
others ( s i n c e a l I t h e m e m b e r a r e a p p r e c i a t e df o r
s t h e m s e l v e s ) ,o r
f o r p r e s t i g e ( w h i c h i s r e d u c e da f t e r a ì I t o t h e p r e v i o u s p o i n t ) ,
o r f o r t h e g o o dw i i l of the authority (since there is no
írrational a u t h o r i t y a n d m o r e o v e re a c h r n e m b ee n c o u n t e r s a f f e c t i v e
r
r e w a r d s w i t h i n t h e w h o le g r o u p ) .
h. P r o b l e m s e a l i n g w i t h e s s e n t i a ì s a r e c o n s i d e r e dm o r e i m p o r t a n t
d
t h a n r i t u a l o r c e r e m o n i a lf o r m a r q u e s t i o n s ( " . s . , r í c h n e s s a n d
e x p r e s s i v i t y o f l a n g u a g er a n k h i g h e r t h a n f o r m a ì r e q u i r e m e n t s ) .
i. l t s m e m b e r s r e n o t c o n c e r n e da b o u t p r o v i d i n g a n i m a g e . T h e y d o
a
n o t w o r r y t o o m u c hw h e t h e r t h e o t h e r s n o t i c e t h e i r s u p p o s e d
defects or imperfections. Theydo not try to hide behinda mask
in order to appear moreacceptableor worthy of respect.
j. The group as such tries to transcend towardsother groups or
lndividuals. lt i s n o t a s y m b o r i c ,s e l f - s a t i s f y i n g g r o u p . l t
does not generate ethnocentrism, nor produce rival ry with other
groups, but quite the contrary.
k. I n s t r u m e n t a li z a t i o n r e l a t i o n s a m o n gt h e m e m b e r s o n o t o c c u r
d
2\
within the group (one member oes not use another as an
d
r r i n s t r u m e n t io r " t h i n g " ) , n o r d o e s t h e g r o u p i n s t r u m e n t ailz e i t s
l
m e m b e r s , o r d o t h e m e m b e r s f t h e g r o u p i n s t r u m e n t a li z e e a c h
n o
other.
l. There are shared objectives. The group works earnestly and
s y s t e m a t i c a ll y o n t h e a c h i e v e m e n to f t h o s e o b j e c t i v e s .
l f a p e r s o n w e r e f o r t u n a t e e n o u g ht o b e a b l e t o j o i n a g r o u p w i t h
t h e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , h e w o u l d r e a c h a c e r t a i n d e g r e eo f b a s i c
s e c u r i t y a n d w o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e dt o e x p r e s s h i m s e l f f r e e l y , to release
his creative powers, and to transcend positively towards the group.
I t i s m o s t c e r t a i n l y t r u e , h o w e v e r ,t h a t i n a c u l t u r e w h e r e
i n d i v i d u a il s t , c o m p e t i t i v e , a n d u t i I i t a r i a n a t t i t u d e s p r e d o m i n a t e ,
there is I ittìe I i k e ì i h o o d o f i n t e g r a t i n g g r o u P sw h i c h f u n c t i o n i n
accordance ith these patterns.
w E v e n w i t h i n t h e f a m il y n u c l e u s w h e r e
i t i s s u p p o s e dh a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l w i l l
t find his principal affective
r e f u g e , s o m eo f t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a r e o f t e n a b s e n t . The adult
h
i n d i v i d u a l i s i n c l i n e d t o p l a c e h i s . u n c o n s c i o u s o p e so f a h e a l t h y
g r o u p i n t h e c o u p l e , w h e r e a r e l a t i o n s h i p o f a f f e c t i v e s y m b i o s i so f t e n
occurs, perhapsby the effect of contrast as regards the outside
e n v i r o n m e n t . B u t s y m b i o s i s i s a s t u m b li n g b l o c k i n t h e w a y o f p e r s o n a l
growth.
5. T h e M a t e ri a I C o n d t i o n s o f L i f e
i
T h e m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s o f ì i f e m u s t m e e t f u n d a m e n t a lb a s i c r e q u i r e -
mentsif a person is to develop psychicalìy in a complete, adequate
manner. Strictly speaking, the maturity growth modelmay be
i n c o m p r e h e n s i b la n d e v e n a c r u e ì i r o n y i f
e it is attempted to refer
i t t o h u m a n r o u p s w h o s e b a s i c f u n d a m e n t a ls u r v i v a l c o n d i t i o n s h a v e
g
not been sat i sf i ed.
w
T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a c h i e v i n g i n t e g r a l , h a r m o n i o ud e v e l o p m e n t i l l
s
be in fact drastically a n d d r a m a t i c a l l y r e d u c e df o r a n y p e r s o n w h o i s
u n d e r n o u r i s h e d r a f f l i c t e d b y e n d e m i cd i s e a s e s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f
o
p o v e r t y , w h o m u s t d w e lI i n p r e c a r i o u s , s u b - h u m a n o n d i t i o n s , w h o i s
c
o b li g e d t o c a r r y o u t b r u t a l i z i n g w o r k . In this sensethe material
25
c o n d i t i o n s o f I i f e a r e a n u n a v o i d a b l ec o n d i t i o n w h i c h ,
if not suitably
c o v e r e d , w i I I c r u e ì l y r e t a r d m a t u ri t y g r o w t h b y
affecting in the first
instanceprimary growth.22
Therefore, a fundamental requirement f o r d i g n i f y i n g
h u m a nI i f e i s t o
e l i m i n a t e s o c i a l , e c o n o m i ca n d p o l i t i c a ì c o n d i t i o n s
, w h i c h m a i n t a i na
large part of the world,s population in a state
of biological and
psychicmisery.
T h e d i ì e m m aw h i c h a r i s e s h e r e i s w h e t h e r t h e s t e p s
to be taken to soìve
t h i s f i r s t p r i o r i t y p r o b l e mo f m a n k i n ds h o u l d f a c e
from the very begin-
ning the issue of psychic growth or if it wourd
be better to postpone
i t f o r m o r e a d v a n c e ds t a g e s o f t h e s o c i a l c h a n g e p r o c e s s .
In our
o p i n i o n , b o t h t h e a n a l y s i s o f s o c i a l c h a n g ea n d
the design of different
m o d e l so f s o c i e t i e s m u s t i n d e e d i n t r o d u c e t h e p r o b ì e m
of psychic growtn
from the start. F r o mt h i s s t a n d p o i n t , a u t h o r i t a r i a n a n d p a t e r n a l
istic
pol icies of social transformation have to be
reiected.
Now' iust as we are convincedthat a minimum f weH-being o and
m a t e r i a l o r b i o l o g i c a r s e c u r i t y i s a n e c e s s a r yc o n d i t i o n ,
we are arso
sure that it is not a sufficient condition. rt is
not onry the bad
m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n so f l i f e t h a t l i m i t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y
of maturiry
g r o w t h . A p e r s o nc a n h a v e a l l h i s b a s i c n e e d ss a t i s f i e d a n d e v e n
r n o r e ' s a t i s f i e d i n e x c e s so f h i s b i o r o g i c a r n e e d s ,
but he can be
e s s e n t i a ll y a t a s t a n d s t i I I i n h i s p s y c h o l o g i c a ld e v e l o p m e n t .
In this
s e n s e , h e m a y p r e s e n t t h e a p p a r e n t p a r a d o xo f a s o c i a l l y p o w e r f u l
man
who is weak and impotent as regards his own personar
growth.
The fact is that it i s n o t o n l y s o c i o - e c o n o m i ca c t o r s w h i c h l i m i t a n d
f
condition maturity gror^rth ut also cultura'| patterns,
b the systemof
values and the different
cogs in the psycho-sociarmechanism, uch as
s
those we have beenanarysing in the previous paragr"phr.23
In our
opinion, therefore, it is not arbitrary or frivolous to introduce this
subject when referring to possible waysof overcoming
the economic
u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t f a n a t i o n , b e c a u s et h e d i f f e r e n t
o styles of social
d e v e l o p m e n t a r r y w i t h t h e m d i f f e r e n t p a t t e r n s o f h u m a nq r o w t h .
c
26
lv. T H E P R E S E N T | 0 N 0 F T \ ^ / 0 A R A I G M S S U C C E SV E R S U S1 A T UIR Y
AT P D : S I T
GROI^/TH
U t i I i t a r i a n C u lt u r e a s 0 p p o s e dt o M a t u r i t y G r o w t h
I t f o l l o w s f r o m p a r t I I I t h a t t h e p s y c h o - s o c i a lc o n d i t i o n s w h i c h
c h a r a c t e r i z e u t i l i t a r i a n , i n d i v i d u a li s t , a n d c o m p e t i t i v es o c i e t y a r e
a
n o t t h e m o s t f a v o u r a b l e f o r e n c o u r a g i n gm a t u r i t y g r o w t h .
l/e could take as a significant indicator of the social expectations
i n t h i s s e n s e t h e s t e r e o t y p e d f i g u r e o f t h e s u c c e s s f u l m a nw i t h i n a
"success"
c u l t u r e o f t h i s t y p e . W e s h a l l b e a b l e t o s e e t h a t a m a no f
i s n o t p r e c i s e l y o n e w h o h a s e x p e r i e n c e da t r u e m a t u r i t y g r o w t h .
The successful man in a society of this kind is one who has amassed
f o r t u n e , p o \ ^ / e r ,p r e s t i g e o r f a m e ( w h e t h e r i n t h e s p h e r e o f b u s i n e s s ,
politics, intellect, s p o r t s , e t c . ) , o r a c o m b i n a t i o no f s o m eo f t h e s e
attributes. l n g e n e r at ( U u t n o t n e c e s s a r y a l w a y s ) t l ' r e m a n w h o d e v o t e s
his life t o t h e a c h i e v e m e n to f t h e s e g o a l s is one who must neglect
h i s i n n e r s e l f , w h o s ei n t e r i o r g r o w t h i s f o r s a k e n .
A s a p a r a d i g m a t i c e x a m p l ew e c a n t a k e t h e p r o s p e r o u s b u s i n e s s m a n w h o
,
h a s b e e na b l e t o a c q u i r e a f o r t u n e , w h o p r o v i d e s h i s f a m i l y w i t h a n
abundance f goods and soì id comfort, who enjoys prestige and
o
admirationand arouses considerable envy. His main concerns revolve
a r o u n dh i s b u s i n e s s . H e r n u s tm a i n t a i n h i s p r e s t i g e a n d o u t w a r d
"aggressive" man. The greater
c o m p o s u r e h i s i m a g eo f a d e t e r m i n e d ,
,
part of his time has to be devoted to paying attention to his
p o s s e s s i o n a n d h i s b u s i n e s sa f f a i r s ,
s u n d e r p e n a li t y o f l o s i n g t h e
position achieved. Since he had to concentrate a large part of his
p s y c h o l o g i c a la c t i v i t y on the effort of makinghis way in the worìd,
27
w h i c h h a s m e a n t o v e r c o m i n gm a n y d i f f i c u ì t i e s ,
t h i s m a nw a s p r o b a b l y
c o n d e m n e do f o r g e t a b o u t h i m s e l f , t o a m p u t a t e
t certain dimensions f o
h i s p s y c h i s m h i c h c o n s t i t u t e d o b st a c I e s t o
w a d a p t i n g w eI I t o t h e
e n v i r o n m e n.
t
l { o wt h i s i s o n e o f t h e a r i e n a t i n g m e c h a n i s m s
o f t h e s e ' | f: t h e m u t i -
ì a t i o n o f p o t e n t i a ì p s y c h i s m ,w h i c h h i n d e r s
and atrophies maturity
growth. The other important way for "good"
adaptation is to create
rrcorrect' defensive-offensive
s
m e c h a n i s mo f t h e s e ì f , t o r a i s e s o ì i d
barriers to avoid being battered by the medium,
to avoid being
d e s t r o y e db y o u t s i d e a g g r e s s i o n . T h i s r e a d s
t o t h e a r m o u r - p r a t i n go f
t h e s e l f : w h e nt h e i n d i v i d u a l f e e ì s c o m p e l ì e d
to act in an essentially
a g g r e s s i v e e d i u mw i t h i n w h i c h h i s v i t a l o p t i o n
m , is to adapt himself
and win or not adapt himserf and fail, he becomes
obì iged to create
i m p e n e t r a b l eb a r r i e r s t h r o u g h w h i c h o u t s i d e
a g g r e s si o n c a n n o t
infiltrate. T h i s e n a b ' | e s i m t o o f f e r a n i m a g eo f s e c u r i t y
h and power
t h a t d i s c o u r a g e sh i s s u p p o s e d d v e r s a r i e s a n d d i s s i m u l a t e s
a his
p r i m o r di a I n e e d o f a f f e c t i o n , p r o t e c t i o n ,
a n d r e c o g ni t i o n f r o m h i s
fel low beings.
T h e a r m o u r - p l a t i n go f t h e s e l f a l m o s t a l w a y s r e i n f o r c e s
the mutiìation
of potential psychism. Constantcamoufìaging
of the inner
t e n d e n c i e s ,t h e d i s s e m b . | i n o f h i m s e r f w h i c h t h e
g m a n i s c o m p e i l e dt o
do in front of others to avoid being taken unawares,
reads to a
profound self-convincing that the image
he presents to others is his
t r u e i m a g e . A f t e r m a n yy e a r s o f s t r u g g l i n g a g a i n s t
himserf, this
m a nw i l l h a v e m a n a g e do a s s i m i l a t e h i m s e l f
t t o t h e d o m i n a t i n gs o c i a l
m o d e la t t h e p r i c e o f h a v i n g a t r o p h i e d h i s i n d i v i d u a l
original ity and
h i s p o t e n t i a l e x p e r i e n t i a l w e a l t h . v J ec a n s a y
that the defensive-
o f f e n s i v e m e c h a n i s mo f t h e s e l f w h i c h t h e i n d i v i d u a l
s is led to
construct form a castrating armour to the extent
that they put a I imit
o n t h e p o s s i b i I i t i e s o f f u n d a m e n t a lc o m m u n i c a t i o n
with the other and
t h e c r e a t i v e s e a r c ho f h i s o w n i n d i v i d u a r p o s s i b i
r ities.
28
T w o P a r a d i q m s :S u c c e s s v e r s u s G r o w t h
W i t h i n t h e p r e v a i l i n g c o n c e p t i o no f w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s a s u c c e s s f u l m a n ,
we can point out a serîes of typical achievements. lt would be
i n t e r e s t i n g t o c o m p a r et h e s e a c h i e v e m e n t o r a c q u i s i t i o n s w h i c h a r e
s
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e s u c c e s s f u l m a no f u t i I i t a r i a n c u l t u r e to the
achievements hich could be attained by the strong, matureor developed
w
p e r s o nw h o ì i v e s o u t a r e a l , p r o f o u n d p r o c e s s o f m a t u r i t y g r o w t h .
This comparison ill
w b e m a d eu s i n g i d e a l o r p u r e t y p e s , e m p h a s i z i n g
the moresignificant features. W e s h a ìì d i v i d e t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f
the paradigms ccording to the different environments r aspectswhich
a o
c o m ei n t o p ì a y i n d i f f e r e n t a c h i e v e m e n t s e . g . ,
( " h u m a nr e l a t i o n s , "
"power,"etc.). lt wiìl be interesting to observethe character of
i n s t r u m e n t ai lz a t i o n w h i c h b e h a v i o u ra d o p t s i n t h e f i r s t paradigm
( s u b o r d i n a t i o n f a c h i e v e m e n t s o t h e u l t i m a t e p u r p o s eo f o b t a i n i n g
o t
p o w e r , p r e s t i g e , s o c i a l s t a t u s , e t c . ) , w h i l e i n t h e s e c o n dp a r a d i g m
e a c ha c h i e v e m e nh a s i t s o w n v a ì u e , i n i t s e ì f p r o f o u n d l y s a t i s f y i n g
t
for the individual.
T A B L El . C o m p a r i s o n f T w o P a r a d i g m s( t a e a l T y p e s )
o
Area A c h i e v e m e n t so f t h e A c hi e v e r n e n t so f t h e p e r s o n
s u c c e s s f uI p e r s o n, w e l ì who has achievedmaturity
a d a p t e dt o u t i I i t a r i a n and strength through hi s
c uI t u r e m a t u ri t y g r o w t h
T h e f a m iì y To have a worthy, Fe- T o c o n s t r u c t a n d m a i n t al n
s p e c t a b l e f a m il y , a p r o f o u n d , m u t u a ll y g r a t t -
s p o u s ew i t h g o o d s o c i o - fying, lasting family t tes,
e c o n o m i ca n d c u l t u r a l w h i c ha l l o w a r e a l ,
status, welI -adapted i ndependent,and persona I
c h i l d r e n w h ow i l l b e developmenof each familY
t
future successful member
citizens
Human To enjoy sociaì prestige; To be capable of feel ing
relat ions t o b e a d m ir e d a n d e n v i e d p o s i t i v e s e n t i m e n t so f
for oners social status ìove and affection towards
o t h e r h u m a nb e i n g s a n d o f
a r o u si n g t h e s e s e n t i m e n t s
i n others
29
Powe ;
r To occupy positions of T o i n t e g r a t e i n h e a lt h y
social power; to know how to hunan groups. To have no
groups command;o be able to
t d e s i r e t o d o m i n a t eo r b e
d o r nn a t e o t h e r s f i r m ly
i dominated;to have no
and with authority yearning for power. Not
t o d e p e n du n d u l y o n t h e
o pi n i o n o f o t h e r s
Social T o m a i n t a i ns o c i a l T o c o m m u n i c a tw i t h o t h e r
e
reìations relations of a suitable individuals in depthand
I e v e ì , c o n v e ni e n t f o r r v i t h o u t a d e f e ns i v e /
one's own social offensive mask;to try to
p r o m o ti o n u n d e r s t a n da n d v a ì u e o t h e r s
and create a bondof mutuaì
support with them; to enjoy
f r i e n d s hi p f o r i t s o w n s a k e
trJork To have somekind of To be absorbed in a
activity which confers personal constructive work,
prestige, security, and directed to makingsome-
fortune. To instrumen- th ing of one,s own
t a ì i z e o n e ' s w o r kí n g creat ion
c a p a ci t y a d e q u a t e ly t o
meet these obj ect i ves
A d a p t a ti o n To be able to insert To insert oneself into
and realism o n e s e l f i n t < . rs o c i a I social reality with a
r e a li t y w i t h g r e a t critical, non-mímical
realism and capacity for realism in order to
a d a p t a ti o n ( i n s t r u m e n t a l transform it and imDrove
rnimicry)in order to be it. To ain at social
successful,outstanding t r a n s c e n d e n c ya n d t h e
w e ì f a r e o f t h e c o m m uin yt
Reason, T o u n d e r s t a n dr e a l i t y i n To think, to meditate
k n o w le d g e order to adapt to it; to creatively and crit ically,
a n d r e s e ar c h haveoriginal ideas, to for the intrinsic pleasure
d i s c o v e r , t o i n v e s ti g a t e , of doing so and for the
or invent for winning contr i but ion i t may mean
f a m e , p r o m i n e n c e ,s u c c e s s . t o t h e c o m m o ng o o d . T o
To create objects, works have creative power, to
of art, newtechniques, b e a b l e t o m o u l do r r e b u i l d
etc., for achievinq aspectsof real ity, to
s u c c e s s ,p r e s ti g e , o r improve it, to express the
r]oney ínner abundance nd bestow
a
i t on others
S e lf - T o k n o wo n e s e l f w e l l T o k n o w o n e s e lf a s p r o -
k n o w le d g e enoughto act conven- f o u n d ì ya s p o s s i b l e i n o r d e r
i ent I y, to cont rol one- to acquire morecoherence,
self and project the greater psychological open-
best possible image ness and capacity for com-
m u n i c a t i n g ,a n d a r i c h e r
psychicI ife
30
Sensitivity To control feel ings and To experience intensely
emotionsadequately so f e e l i n g s a n d e m o ti o n s . T o
that they suit the medium keepal ive primary sensi-
and to prevent being hurt. t i v i t y b u t e n r i c h e da n d
T o d i s s i m u l a t ea n d h i d e m a t u r e ,s p i r i t u a l l y d e n s e ,
e m o t i o n sw h i c h w o u l d m a k e I a d e n w i t h c o n s tr u c t e d
o n e v u l n e r a b ìe . T o p o s t - p e r s o n a v aI u e s . T o f e e l
I
pone emotions which com- e m p a t h ya n d e n j o y a f f e c t i v e
p l i c a t e t h e s t r u g g ìe t o surrender
succeed. To i nstrumen-
t a l i z e a d e q u a t e l yt h e
" a g g r e s si o n - d e f e n c e "
i
m e c h a ns m a n d t h e
funct ional concealment
of one's true self
The body To use one's body ad- To feel one's bodyas fully
equately so as to be integratedwith one's psychic
successful in I i fe; to I ife and as a vehicle for
enjoy good health for c
c o m m ui n a t i o n . T o e n j o y
workingwell; to havea s
movement, trength, abi I ity
s t r o n g , w e ìl - f o r m e d , h e e d l e s so f s u c c e s so r
athletic, elegant body rivalry with others - only
w h i c h h e l o s t o m a k ea i
a s a n e x D r e s so n o f
good image. Perhaps to be v i ta I i ty and one's own
c h a m p i o ni n s o m e s p o r t a n d p o t e n t i a li t i e s . T o ì i n k
thus win fame, prestige, erot ic enjoymentwi th
and money. To enjoy communication nd affective a
p h y si c a I p l e a s u r e s . s u r r e n d e ra n d w i t h t h e
S e x u a li t y I i v e d a s a s h e e rt h r i l l o f v i t a l i t y
separate domain, un-
w
connected ith sensitivity,
in
v i t a ì i t y , c o m r n uc a t i o n
Learning, To learn enoughfor work To have capacity and readi-
b e li e f s , a n d and social adaptation. To ness for change, in order
changes c h a n g es u f f i c i e n t l y f o r to transform oneself, to
a d a p ti n g t o a n o b j e c t i v e l y learn from experience to
changng si tuat ion. To
i incorporate new ideas and
a v o i d b e c o r n i n gp a s s é o r emotions,integrating them
out of date. To knowwhat i n t o o n e 's p e r s o n a s Y s t e r n
l
a p e r s o no f c e r t a i n s t a t u s and possibly reconstructing
s u p p o s e d l yo u g h t t o k n o w . the system. To maintain
To be able to convince p s y c h i c m a l l e a b i li t y . To
others, by instilling I
f o s t e r t h e s a m em a I e a -
into them ideasor values b i I i t y a n d c a p a ci t y f o r
which suit one's purpose d y n a m i cl e a r n i n g i n o t h e r s
without attemptingto im-
p o s e d o g m a t i s mo r r i g i d
s
b e l i e f s . T o a c q u ir e a b i I i -
ties and knowledge hich w
enabìe one to inteqrate oners
3l
personal system in a
p r o g r e s s i v e l y h ar m o n o u s
i
m a n n e ra n d t o i n t e r v e n e
m o r e e f f i c a ci o u s ly o n
behalf of the medium nd a
of one's own search for
personal real ization
An Ant i o f U t i l i t a r i a n C u l t u r e : I n d i v i d u al ì s m
versus Vacuous
I n d i v i d u a lL í f e
\^/ehave a t tempted to s how t hat u t i l i t a r i a n
cuìture doesnot suppìy,at
ì e a s t a t t h e l e v e l o f i t s m o r eg e n e r a l i z e d
,
m e c h a n i s m ss t i m u l i f o r
maturity growth.
M o r e o v e r ,u t i l i t a r i a n c u ì t u r e g e n e r a t e s
an irreducible contradiction:
w h i l e i t u r g e s i n d i v i d u a ì i s mw h i r e i t
, c o n v e r t s i n c i i v i d u a ì i s mn t o
i
a n e t h i c a l - a n t h r o p o ì o g i c a rp o s t u l a t e a n d
stimurates the tenciency f o
t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o w a r d sh i s p e r s o n a rs u c c e s s ,
i t o f f e r s a s a m o c i eo f r
i n d i v i d u a l r e a li z a t i o n a p a r a dg m s a d ì y
i racking in psychorogicar
achievements, imiting on general I ines
ì t h e s u c c e s so f i n d i v i d u a l I i f e
to the obtaining of satisfactions such as
c
econorniwer-being, socia'l
p r e s t i g e , o r p o w e r . T h e s ea c h i e v e m e n t s ,
w h i c h a r e p u r s u e da s u r t i m a t e
objectives or goaìs, do not ìead to the
i n c r e a s eo f i n d i v i d u a ' |
psychological richness or powerbut
c o n t a r i w i s e , a s w e m e n ti o n e c
earl ier, i n t h e s t r u g g ' | et o o b t a i n t h e m , t h e i n d i v i d u a , |
impoverishes
o r d r i e s u p t h e s o u r c eo f h i s p o t e n t i a l p s y c h o l o g i c a r
growth. There_
fore, a cuìture of this kind tends
to create a state of constant
anxiety and insatiabil ity in its members.
There is a sort of tension
or basic anxiety for individual plenitude
w h i c h i s c o n s t a n t l yd i v e r t e d ,
within a culture suchas ours, towards
t h e p o s s e s s i o n f m o r ea n o
o
better materiaì goods. This appetence
will never be satisfied,
b e c a u s et h e r e a ' | n e e d i s c o n n e c t e dw i t h
the capacity or psychorogicar
p o w e ro f t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o l i v e ,
t o f u l l y e x p e r i e n c e ,t o c o m m u n i c a t e
with others, to love other persons intensely
a n d b e l o v e c iw i t h t n e
s a m e i n t e n s i t y , t o t h r i ì I w i t h e m o ti o n s
a n d s e n s a ti o n s , t o t r a n s c e n d
32
and
t o w a r d so t h e r s , a n c l t o b e p r o j e c t e d i n t o a c r e a t i v e a c t i v i t y
be
c o n s t r u c t i v ew o r k w i t h i n a c o m m u n i t yw h i c h e n a b l e sh i m t o
,
p r o j e c t e d b e y o n dh i s o w n f l e e t i n g e x i s t e n c e "
of
M a n yp e o p l e a t t r i b u t e t h e i r d i s a p p o i n t m e n w i t h ì i f e t o t h e f a c t
t
h a v i n gb e e n u n a b l e t o a c h i e v e a l l t h e c o m f o r t , s e c u r i t y , o r m a t e r i a l
e c o n o m i c e ll - b e i n g t h e y w i s h .
w T h i s m a s ko f m a t e r i a ì d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
the
n e v e r t h e l e s sh i d e s a m u c hm o r e r a d i c a l d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n : i t h i d e s
void of a spiritually mutilated, atrophiedìife, limited at an early
s t a g e i n t h e d y n a m i c so f i t s c l e v e ì o p m e n t '
33
NOTES
l. P e r h a p sw h a t r e a r r y h a p p e n s i s t h a t t h e ' | e a d i n g
protagonists of
t h i s p r o c e s s a r e t h e e c o n o m i ca n d p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s
which come
i n t o p l a y ; t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t e a c h e c o n o m i co r p o l
itical group
seeks its own advantage, indivicruarpeopreare
only usefrÍ p"rn,
i n t h i s g a m eo f p o w e r a n d e c o n o m i cb e n e i i t .
rt courd therefore
be thought that it is the State which takes
care of the weil-
being of people (the thesis of the welfare State)
uui ir,i, i,
also relativer-since eachgovernmenin turn rooks t for its own
o b j e c t i v e s , w h i c h a r e r e r a t e d t o t h e c o n s o ri d a t i o n
of po*.r,'
supremacy ver other nations, etc.
o
2. lt is essential to cìarify that we do not under
any circumstances
d e n y t h e d e c i s i v e i m p o r t a n c e o f m a t e r i a r c o n di
t ions for a
d e c o r o u s h u m a ne x i s t e n c e a n d f o r f u i l g r o w t h
of a person. we
consider that the satisfaction of the io-caì led
b a s i c n e e d so f
al I the inhabitantsof the world is an absolutery primordial
urgent condit ion, a challenge to the moral conscience
of al I
h u m a nb e i n g s w h o e n j o y l i f e w i t h o u t f u n d a m e n t a rp r i v a t i o n s .
Moreover,the discussion which centres around
the question of
h u m a nd e v e l o p m e n t b u t d o e s n o t c o n t e m p r a t e t h e
incidence of
material conditions of l ife and everydayexperience
upon peopìe,
appears to me unacceptable,
My point of view regarding the connection between
economic
d e v e l o p m e n ta n d h u m a ng r o w t h c a n b e b r o k e n d o w n
into two aspects:
(l) Referring to the so-calred deveroped
countries, wherethe
basic needsare covered for the great majority
or the whore of
the populationand wherehighly sophisticated industries,
a d v a n c e dt e c h n o r o g i e s , e t c . h a v e b e e n d e v e r o p e d . ( z )
À"i.rring
t o t h e s o - c a l l e d , d e v e ì o p i n g ' rc o u n t r i e s , w h e r e a n i m p o r t a n t
part
of the populationsuffers pénury,maìnutrition,
e n d e m i cd i s e a s e s ,
i I I iteracy, promiscuity, etc.
As regards l, the question lies in analysing up
to what point
technological deveropmenhas t r y h e i p e d h u m a ng r o w t h a n d u p
ea
t o w h a t p o i n t i t h a s a t r o p h i e . r o r rd e f l e c t e d i t .
d Here it is
n e c e s s a r yt o s t u d y w h a t w e r e t h e r e a l o b j e c t i v e s
a n d m e t h o d sw i t h
which the material, industriar, and techíorogicar
deveropr"na
took place and what resuìts did this developi"nt moder
have on
t h e p r o f o u n d p s y c h i c w e ll - b e i n g o f t h e p o p u l a t í o n .
A s r e g a r d s t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e p r o b l e m so f p o v e r t y
s u b sl s t o n a
m a s sv e s c a l e , t h e p o i n t i s t o e x a m i n e h a t w i l I b e
i w t h e obj ect i ves
3\
a n d m e t h o d st o e n c o u r a g et h e p r o m o t i o n o f t h e i r e c o n o m i c -
t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n ts i n c e - a s d e m o n s t r a t e db y t h e C e v e ì o p e d
c o u n t r i e s - t h i s w i l l c o n d i t i o n t h e w h o ì e f o r m a n d q u a li t v o f
I ife of thei r inhabtants. i
T h e c o n t r o v e r s ya r i s e s f r o m t h r e e d i f f e r e n t a t t i t u d e s r ( a ) l t i s
e s s e n t i a l t o o b t a i n e c o n o m i cd e v e ì o p m e n t y a n y m e a n sw h a t e v e r ,
b
b e c a u s ei t i s a n e c e s s a r ya n d s u f f i c i e n t c o n d i t i o n f o r a t t a i n i n q
w e l l - b e i n g , a s h a s b e e n p r o v e d b y t h e d e v e l o p e dc o u n t r i e s .
( u ) i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o o b t a i n e c o n o m i cd e v e l o p m e n tb y a n y m e a n s
whatever. we do not knowif that is a sufficient condition,
m a y b en o t , b u t t h a t i s n o t t h e i m p o r t a n t p o i n t . f r / h a t i s r e a l l y
i m p o r t a n t i s t h a t e c o n o m i cd e v e ì o p m e n ti s a n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n
for raising mill ions of human eingsout of misery. The methods
b
d o n o t m a t t e r ; p e r h a p s i t i s n e c e s s a r yt o s a c r i f i c e s o m e
g e n e r a t i o n s ; t h e f i n a l o b j e c t i v e s a r e w h a t m a t t e r ( f i n a l l y w e ll -
b e i n g w i l l b e a c h i e v e d ) . ( c ) l t i s n e c e s s a r yt o a t t a i n a f o r n r
o f e c o n o m i c - p o tl i c a l - s o c i a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o nw h i c h , w h i l e
i
r a d i c a ll y s a t i s f y i n g t h e b a s i c n e e d s o f a l I t h e p o p u l a t i o n , ì a y s
the foundations for the development f a healthy society which o
c a n i n t e g r a l l y e n c o u r a g et h e g r o w t h o f i t s m e m b e r s . T h e m e t h o d s
d o m a t t e r b e c a u s et h e y d e c i s i v e l y c o n d i t i o n t h e e n d s . F u r t h e r m o r e ,
it is not licit to sacrifice one generation in favour of another.
This final attitude is the one which is assumed ere. h
3. Thevariety of the organizationof the different motívational
s y s t e r n si n t h e d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s i s t r u l y r e m a r k a b ì e . B y w a y o f
e x a m p l e( m o r e p i c t u r e s q u e t h a n s c i e n t i f i c ) w e q u o t e b e l o w t w o
texts: one describes the expectations and desires of an average
N o r t h A m e r i c a no f t h e p r e s e n t d a y s , a s p e r c e i v e d b y R o s s e r R e e v e s ,
a f i r s t - c l a s s s a l e s m a n h o s ew o r k c o n s i s t s p r e c i s e l y o f k n o w i n g
w
what peopìewant. The other text is taken frorn the lliad and
s h o w st h e n r , o t i v a t i o n sa n d i d e a ì s o f a g r e a t w a r r i o r 6 T - I E r o i c
T r o y . R o s s e r R e e v e s s a y s : t ' \ ' / ek n o w , f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t w e d o n ' t
want to be fat. i l e d o n r t w a n t t o s m e l l. \ ^ 1 w a n t t o h a v e c h i l d r e n
e
whowill have good health and we also want to enjoy good health.
W ew a n t t o h a v e b e a u t i f u l t e e t h . w
l,Je ant to dress vlell. \,/e
want people to like us. I^/e on't want to be ugìy. \^/e re looking
d a
for love and affection. \ y ' ew a n t m c n e y . \ y ' el i k e c o m f o r t . W e
h o p e t o h a v e a n i c e r h o u s e . V / ew a n t h o n e s t y , s e l f - r e s p e c t , a n d
a place in the community. fle want to own things that wilì make
us feel proud. \{e want to be successful in our work. \^/e ant w
t o e n j o y s e c u r i t y i n o l d a g e . , ' ( F r o mG . M i I l e r , p s y c h o l o g y :T h e
S c i e n c e o f M e n t a l _ _ ! i f . , N e wY o r k , 1 9 6 6 . )
In the ll iad, whenHector is about to leave for the war, his
w i f e A n d r o m a c ht e i e s t o h o l d h i m b a c k : , ' 0 h H e c t o r ! y o u r
r
b r a v e r yw i l l b e y o u r u n d o i n g . Y o u h a v e n o p i t v f o r t h e l i t t l e
c h i l d n o r f o r m e , u n h a p p ym e , w h o w i l l s o o n b e y o u r v , / i d o w .
B e c a u s eh e A c h a e a n s i l l a l l a s s a u l t y o u a n d d e s t r o y y o u . l t
t w
would be better that the earth swallow me up if I should lose you
becausef you die there wiìl be no consolation for me, only
i
sorrows. So have pity on me, stay here in the castle.
D o n ' t m a k et h e c h i l d a n o r p h a n a n d y o u r w i f e a w i d o w . r t T h e
g r e a t H e c t o r , h l t h e l m e tp ì u m e s a v i n g ,
w replies: r,Aìl this
worries me, my dear, but how r wourd Éiush
before the Trojans and
t h e T r o i a n w o m e ni n t h e i r ì o n g d r e s s e s i f
r were to flee from the
battle I ike a coward. Nor doés my heart
prompt me to do so, I
always knewhow to be va'|iant and f ight
in the f r-ont line among
the Trojans continuing my fatherrs iimense
knowthis very we, and i kno, it ís ftory "n,t ,y o*n. I
certaii trrat one day the
c i t y o f T r o y a n d p r i a m a n d t h e p e o o r eo f
in. *""rthy priam wiil
perish. But the future misfortune
of the Trojans, of Hecuba
h e r s e lf a n d l ( i n g p r i a m d o n o t w o r r y Í ì e a s m u c ha s w h a t y o u
will suffer whenone of the Bronze-armoured
Aquaeans arries you
c
a w a ; rw e e p i n g , t a k i n g y o u c a p t i r r e . A n d p e r h a p s
someone ill w
e x c l a i m oo n s e e i n g y o u w e e p : r r h a t w a s
the wife of Hector, tne
g r e a t e s t w a r r i o r a m o n gt h e T r o - a n s
i t h e h o r s e _ b r e a k e r s , r , v h e nh e y
t
were fighting around I I ion. . . rr And so sayíng the i I lustrious
Hector stretched out his arms to his
s o n : , , Z e u sa n d a i l y e g o d s !
Grantthis chird of minebe, like me,
iìlusfrious amonghe t
T r o j a n s a n d j u s t a s c o u r a g e o u s ;m a y h e
reign pcwerfully in il ion;
may they say of him whenhe returns from
bàttìe: ,He ii more
v a l i a n t t h a n h i s f a t h e r ' a n d t h a t w h e nr a d e n
with the broody
r e m a i n so f t h e e n e r n y e h a s k i i l e d , h e
h wiri mat<eis motherrs
h
hea t rejo ice.'l
r
4' s e e , f o r e x a r n p r et h e i n t e r e s t i n g t e s t i m o n y
, of a maturity concept
q u o t e d b y F r o m m n T h e S a n eS o c i é t y : " l
i aeiine maturíty,,says Dr.
Strecherrras the caffiTy-ló-Dersevere
in a ob, the capacity
t o y i e l d i n a n o c c u p a t i o n m o r e t h a n i s r " q u . ri t u a
of one,
truthfulness' persistence in carrying out
a pìan to the end in
spite of the dtfficurties, capacityior
w o r k ì n gw i t h o t h e r p e r s o n s
w i t h i n e n o r g a n i z e dg r o u p a n d u n d e r a n
authority, capacity for
takinq decisions, the wir '' to r ive, frexibi ''
itv, independence,
and tolerance.r,
tr R e g a r d i n gt h e t r a d i t i o n o f h u m a n i s t i c
ethics in this direction,
s e e a m o n go t h e r s , E . F r o m m ,M a n f o r H i m s e l f .
N e wY o r k , 1 9 4 7 ,
chap. 2.
6. l / i t h r e g ar d t o i ^ r hta I u n d e r s t a n d b y
t r D o e sr t M a k e o b j e c t i v e n e c e s si t y , s e e m v
article S e n s e t o r n v e s t -g a t e H u m a n e e d s ? ' ,
i N
p r e s e n t e d a t t h e S e c o n dL a t i n A m e r i c a n
ú e e t i n g o n R e s e a r c ha n d
H u m a n e e d s , M o n t e v i d e o ,J u n e 1 9 7 8 .
N
7 . B v - d e f i n í n ge x p l i c i t r y t h e p r e v a i ri n g m o d e r , t h e p o s s i b i r
ity of
m a i n t a i n i n gd o u b l e s t a n d a r d sa n d a x i ò t o s i c a Í i n c o h e r e n c ei s
r e d u c e d . M a n yt i m e s , a t t h e l e v e ì o f
declarations, manifestos,
o r p u b l i c s p e e c h e s ,a n i m a g eo f t h e h u m a n
being is posturated
which has nothing to do with the true prevaiìiÀg
mocrer. According
t o t h i s , t h e r e w o u r d b e s o m e t h i n gr e s e m birn g
a àoubrestandard:
a n a l l e g e d m o r a li t y a n d a r e a r m o r a ri t y .
0 i m a k i n gt h e r e a ì
m o d e le x p l i c i t i t w o u ì d b e g i v e n a p u b i
íc, controversiaì
character, al lowing analysii and poremics,
weakeníng ypocrisy
h
and self-delusion.
50
0 u r t h e s i s i s t h a r a m o c i e lo f i d e a ì h u m a ng r o w t h u n d e r l i e s n o t
only every society but aIso the sociai and human ciences. Some s
s o c i o l o g i c a l c u r r e n t s , f o r e x a m p l e ,a r e c o n f o r m i s t a n d n a t u r a l l y
a d o p t t h e d o m i n a t i n gc u l t u r a i p a t t e r n s a s p a r t o f t h e s o c i a ì f o g
w h i c h a l s o e n v e l o p s t h e r e s e a r c h e ra n d h i s i n t e r n a l i z e d s y s t e m
o f v a l u e s . S o m e t h i n g i m i l a r o c c u r s w i t h s o m ep s y c h o t h e r a p e u t i c
s
a n d p e d a g o g i c a l c u r r e n t s . T o u n f o i d a d e s i r a b l e h u m a ng r o w t h
m o c j e a n a ì y t i c a ì l y w o u l d p r o v i c i ec e r t a i n e p i s t e m o l o g i c a lb e n e fi t s ,
l
to the extent that this would permit:
a . A n a l y s i n g t n e t h e o r y d r a w nu p , f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f i t s
(
i n t e r n a l c o h e r e n c e l o g i c a ì a n al y s i s ) .
b . A t t e m p t i n g t o d e m o n s t r a t ei t ( o r r e f u t e i t ) t h e o r e t i c a ì l y
(theoretical integration attempt).
c " A t t e m p t i n gt o p r o v e i t ( o r r e f u t e i t ) e n r p i r i c a ì l y ( e m p i r i c a l
contrast attempt).
d . C o n f r o n t i n g i t w i t h a l t e r n a t i v e t h e o r i e s a n d c o m p a r i n gt h e m
both frornthe theoretical and empiricaì point of view and
from their internaì coherence.
e . A n a l y s i n gw n e t h e r t h î s m o d e l o f g r o w t h e x i s i s i n o u r c u l t u r e
o r s o m eo t h e r a n c i i f s o , w h i c h .
f . A n a i y s i n g t h e t h e o r i e s o f e c o n o m i c e v e l o p m e no f t h e n a t i o n s
d t
i n ì i g h t o f t h e t h e o r y o f d e v e l o p m e n t f h u m a nb e i n g s ( f o r
o
e x a m p l e , t o w h a t e x t e n t c j o e s t h e s t r a i e g y o f e c o n o m i ca n d
technologicaì deveìopment ol lowed by the so-calìed developed
f
countries contribute to promotinggrowth as we have defined
it?).
S. To confront the different psychological,psychotherapeutical,
and educationaltheories with this theory of growth.
h . T o s t u d y p s y c h o - s o c i a l f a c t o r s w h i c h r n a ya r r e s t t h i s g r o w t h .
i . T o i n v e s t i g a t ew h i c h a r e t h e t r a i t s o r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a
society lvhich would prcmotesuch growth.
j. T o e v a l u a t ea n y g i v e n h i s t o r i c a l , r e a ì c u Ì t u r e i n t h e l i g h t
of this theory.
k . T o a n a l y s e t h e p r o b i e mo f s o c i a l s i c k n e s s ( d r u g s , s u i c i d e s ,
m u r d e r s , s e x u a l v i o l e n c e , a l c o h o ì i s m ,e t c . ) i n t i r e l i g h t o f
thi s theory.
A t h e o r y o f g r o w t h o f f e r s a t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k ,a n e x p l i c i t
c o n c e p t u a lp a r a d i g m Ì t h i n w h o s e I i n r i t s a p s y c h o l o g i c a l ,
w
a n t h r o p o l o g i c a ì , e d u c a t i o n , o r s o c i o l o g i c a l h y p o t h e s i sc a n b e
e v aI u a t e d, í n t e g r a t e c i, o r r e j e c t e d .
9. O n ev e r y i m p o r t a n t p o i r r t w h i c h i s n o t b r o a c h e di n t h i s a r t i c l e
i s t h e t h e o r e t i c a l a n c ie m p i r i c a l f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s e c ì
m o d e. l I a m a w a r e t h a r t h i s u n d o l r b t e dy w e a k e n s t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n
l
o f t h e m o d e ìa n d m a k e s i t v u ì n e r a b ì e . l t w o u l d a ì s o b e
necessaryto cieploy each of the facets r.rrd imensons of growth i
a n d t h e i r m u t . uIa i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h m u c h greater cieta I so that
i
this enumerations not something bstract
i a and difficult to
v i s u a l i z e i n c o n c r e t e h u r n a ne a l i t y .
r A n o t h e ra s p e c t w h i c h w o u l d
require deeper study concernsthe types of social structure
w h i c h e n c o u r a g eo r s t u n t g r o w t h a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m o d e l p r e s e n t e d .
T h i s a s p e c t i s c r u c i a l f o r a d e f e n s eo f t h e m o d e l s i n c e i t w o u l C
r e m o v ei t f r o m t h e m e r e ì y i d e a l p l a n e o n a n a l y s i n g i t s s t r u c t u r a l
a n d p s y c h o - s o c i a lc o n d i t i o n s o f f e a s i b i ì i t y .
Aì| these are in
fact different steps of a theoreticar work
on which I amengaged.
ì 0 . T h e e n o r m o u si m p o r t a n c e b o t h o f o r g a n i c n u t r i e n t s
and of
psychological s t i m u ì i f o r t h e n o r m a i d u u " l o p m e n to f t h e o r g a n i s m
h a s b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e db y s e v e r a r r e c e n t r e s e a r c h e r s
in biorogy
a n d p s y c h o ì o g y ( f o r e x a r n p r e ,t r r e s t u d i e s b y
- g; - r s ;
D o b b i n 0 a;n di - ;a ;n à i
i n l 4 a n c h e s t e r ,l 4 a r k R o s e n z w e i g n B e r k e l e y , ' e t c .
i ).
findings was that during the iirst four years
of r ife the rack of
a d e q u a t en u t r i t i o n p r o d u c e sa d e t e r i o r a t í o n
in brain development
b y a l t e r i n g t h e n o r m a l d e v e l o p m e no f t h e c o n n e c t Í v e
t nerve
a n d m y e ìi n i z a t i o n . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e s t u d i e s , .|dren tissue
chi who have
b e e n d e f i c i e n t l y n o u r i s h e dd u r i n g t h e í r f i r s t y e a r s
of r ife wi.|ì
suffer an irreversibre underdeveiopmeof nt the brain which wi I .|
o b v i o u s l ya f f e c t t h e i r i n t e ì r e c t u a r y i e r d . \ { i t h
regardto
s e n s o r i a l s t i m u li , i t w a s p o s s i b l e t o p r o v e i n
e x p e r i m e n t sw i t h
r a t s t h a t t h e p r e s e n c eo f r i c h e r s e n s o r i a r s t í m u ì
i fosters a
greater development f the cortical zones
o of the brain. ùo.t n",
also been done on this subject in psycho-pedagogic
experiments
k n o w na s " c o m p e n s a t i n gp r o g r a m m e s , n w h i c h l t
i' ias attempted to
p r o v i d e b e t t e r e d u c a t i o n a lo p p o r t u n i t i e s
to children from a
c u l t u r e w h i c h g a v e t h e m f e w s t i r n u ' I ia n d d e v e l o p m e n t
possibi'|ities.
T h e c h a n g e s i n t h e l e v e l s o f d e v e l o p m e na c h i e v e d
t were significant.
M g C i ov E d u c g g i ó n E d . s a l v a t , B u e n o s i r e s ,
, A
t
Í ly: /; 4 ,-,)H eI1 e n c i a ,
t n connection ith this subject J. Ajuriaguerra
w says:
'rlt has been
d e m o n s t r a t e dh a t s t i m u . | i a r e e s s e n t i a r f o r
t the
m a t u r i n g o f t h e n e u r o n a l s y s t e m s . r / h e ne x t e r n a l
stimul i do not
e x i s t - o r a r e i n s u f fi c i e n t * t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n
of the activity
of the cerebral cortex is retardedor functions
incorrectìy.r,
J. AjuriaEuerra,
, Barcelona, 1973.
il See, for example,the following f igures taken f
rorn
H . G a r r e t , G r e a t E x p e r i m e n t si n p s y c h o l o g y ,N e wy o r k ,
ì951.
I
1 0 0 .L
90
80
n^
tv
Average ó0
score 50
obta i ned 40
30
20
10
0
1 0 1 5 20 z5 30 35 40 45 50 55 6 0 6 5
Age
C h a n g e s i n I l e n t aI C a p a ct y r v i t h A g e
i
38
40
30
0tis A.A. 25
l5 min. 20
s c or e s
ì5
l0
q
r r r r t i t i
U
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 9C
Age în Semidecades
Reduction of Score in the Intel I igence Test after Puberty
1 2 . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,t h e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f a r e a l . ì n t e g r a l m a t u r i t y
growthalso appear at the corporaì level (for exampìe, in
g r e a t e r p l a s t i c i t y a n d I i b e r t y o f m o v e m e n t se n r i c h i n g o f
,
e x p r e s s i v ep o s s i b i l i t i e s t h r o u g h g e s t u r e s , f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s ,
etc. ) .
13. For this concept see R a p a1 l e , L a i n g , P a r i s , 1 9 7 2 .
i
14. F o r t h i s c o n c e p t s e e A . J a n o v , T h e P r i m a l S c r e a m ,p a r t i c u l a r l y
chaps.2, 3, and 4.
1 5 . I n c o n n e c t i o nw i t h t h i s , s e e E . G o f f m a n ,T h e P r e s e n t a t i o n o f
S e l f i n E v e r y d a yL i f e , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 5 9 ,
r6. 0 n t h e c o n c e p to f a u t h o r i t a r i a n p e r s o n a i t y s e e t h e c l a s s i c a ì
w o r k b y T . \ ^ / .A d o r n o e t a l . , T h e A r . l l l h o r i t a r i a n e r s o n a ì i t y , N e w
P
York, 1950.
t7. 0n the conceptof rationaì and irrational authority, see E. Fronnm,
l
M a nf o r H i m s e l f , c h a p . l l , p a r a g r a p h .
t 8 . F o r t h e c o n c e p t o f u t i l i t a r i a n c u l t u r e , s e e A . G o u l d n e r ,T h e
C o m i n g r i s i s o f t ^ / e s t e r n o c i o ì o g l , N e wl o f k , 1 9 7 0 , f i r s t
C S part,
p a r a g r a p h: U t i l i t a r i a n C u ì t u r e a n d S o c i o ì o g y '
l
t9. E. Fromm, he SaneSociety, chaP. V.
T
20. It wouldbe interesting to study the structural conditions
( e c o n o m i c p o ì i t i c a l , a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l ) w h i c h m a k ep o s s i b l e o r
,
"healthy
p e r t u r b t h e e x i s t e n c e o f w h a ta r e h e r e d e s c r i b e d a s
groups." The structural characteristics of a society mouldthe
g r o u p sd i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t ì y i n s o m ew a y . A m a r k e d l y
a u t h o r it a r i a n p o I i t i c a , | s t r u c t u r e w o u l d
have the effect of
r e p r o d u c i n gi n s i d e t h e s r n a i rg r o u p s
t h e d o m i n a t i o nr e r a t i o n s h i p s
t h r o u g ht h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f h i e r a r c h i c a r
r o ì e s . r f i t s h o u ì db e
possibleto constitute a hearthy
g r o u pw i t h i n a c u r t u r e w h i c h
o o e s n o i e r ì c o u r a g ei t n a t u r a r , ; v ,
t h e n e g a t i v e i n f . ' u e n c e so f t h e
m e d i u m i l l b o m b a r dt c o n t i n u a l r y ,
w i ,orétimessubtiy, sometimes
m o e o p e nI y .
r
2l F o r t h í s r e a s o n , 't h e - s o c i o r o g i s t
a p p r o a c hw h i c h r e d u c e s t h e
p r o b ì e mo f p s y c h o , l o g i c ac o n i i t i o n i n g
r to " ,"iies of economic_
social constraints is insufficient
t o e x p r ai n t h e d i f f e r e n t w a y s
t h a r t h e p s y c h o ì o g i c a ih i s t o r y o f a
rear, .on.r"a" individual
may iake.
2 2 . S e e , f o r e x a m p l e ,o n e o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s
of an inadequate
e n v i r o n m e n t :' r l ' / h e n
protection against the cold is not
b y n o r m a l n r e a n s( c l o t h i n g a n d c o m f o r t a b l e obtaíned
d w e lI i n g ) t h e o r g a n i s m
resorts to an increase in the product
ion of internar heat Éy
b u r n i n g u p s u b s t a n c e sr e c e i v e d w i t h
focd or those heìd in reserve
i n c e r t a i n c o r p o r a l s t r u c t u r e s . Si n c e
t h e i n a d e q u a t e o n di t i o n s
c
o f h o u s i n ga n d c r o t h i n g o f ì a r g e s e c t o r s
o f t h e p o p u r a t i o na r e
g e n e r a l y a c c o m p a n i eb y d e f i c i e n t
d energy-producing iet, the d
o r g a n i s ml o s e s i t s c a p a c i t y f o r p r o t e c t í o n
against the coid arrd
o n l y t h e r e d u c t i o n o f m u s c u ì a ra c t i v i t y
a n d p r o Ì o n g e dp e r i o d s
o f r e p o s e e n a b r e s t h e e n e r g y e q u i . 'i b r i u r n
- T h e ' e c o n o m i co r i r , " i n d i v i d u a r t o
be relativeìy maintained.
and sociar consequences
originating from this situation, which
constitutesa trury
v i c i o u s c i r c ì e , h a v e a p r o f o u n ds i g n i f
icance. .' . In babies,
n e e d so f r r u r r i e n t s , e s p e c i a l y p r o t e i n s ,
tl :i s o s
ll în-c r le ao le ag i c a l
a resurt of the frequent bouts of infectious
which causea reduction in ingestion úiseases
a n d a g r e a È e r m e t a b o il c
d e t e ' i o r a t i o n . rf t h i s d e f i c i e n c y
cannot be compensated ith w
h i g h e r t h a n n o r m a i n g e s ti o n a f t e r
i recovery from the di sease, a
p r o q r e s s i v ed e f i c i t o c c u r s i n e a c h
e p i s o d e . n J à i t i o n a rl y ,
p a ' a s í t i c i n F e c t i o n sa n d d i a r r h o e i c
iilnessesdiminish the
i n t e s t i n a l a b s o r p t i o no f n u t r i e n t s
essentiarto the diet. The
c o m b i n e de f f e c t o f t h e s e f a c t o r s i s
a greater need for
n u t r i t i o n a i s o u r c e sa n d l o r c a ì o r i e s ,
,o th"t the'ations of pre-
s c h o o l a g e c h i l c ìr e n , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e .,owest
f rom the socia.,
l e v e i s , o u g h t t o b e . c o n s i d e r a b i yg r e a t e r
than those caìcurated
f o r a n o r m a ls i t u a t i o n . " ( S a b u i s k y
and Battellino, ,,El problenra
d e l a A l i m e n t a c i ó n u m a n a , C,i e n c í a
H , N u e v a ,; 3 , ' B u e n o sA i r e s , 1 9 7 3 )
23. A s F r o n mp o i n t s o u t i n T h e s a n e s o c i e t y ,
i t c a n n o t b e c r a i n r e dt h a t
themateriaìprogreSSo@atlonsrrasbroughtwith
i t t r u e p r o g r e s s i n p s y c h o r o g i c a rb a r a n c e
a n d g r o w t h : , , w es e e ,
r n o r e o v e r ,t h a t t h e m o s t d e r n o c r aítc , p a c i f
ic, anc p.osperous
countries of Europe,and the most prosperous
country in the
w o r l d , t h e u n ,t e d s t a t e s , p r e s e n t t h e
i most serious symptoms f o
mentaldisturbance. The objectíve of
ar r the socio-economic
development f the r{esternworrd is
o t o h a v e a m a r e r i a rr y
c o m f o r t a b ì eI i f e , a r e ì a [ í v e l y e q u i t a b l e
distribution of wealth
and stabre democracy nd peace. yet a t h e s e s a m ec o u r ì t r i e s w h i c h
40
show the gravest":I:::Î::"tt
i
h a v e c o m e c l o s e s t t-o . t h a t o b j e c t i v e in_themselves
; ti ìl e " li L d J ; ; u ;q;r;q; r. r v e ' , - . ; . i ti -s. t t r ua- et h a t t h e s er i s u r et si n g '
f ; r " , lu r r i "^t ; ls
prove nothing, but at.all events th:Y-:.t.",":::o:i,:
I i f e o f p r o s p e r i t yw t r i c ht,h e
- i r r r i d t e tl a q ss
n r idlo c as c
ii";r:;;i;';À";"the
o u r m a t e r i a l n e e d s ' s h o u -ltd^ le ^a vl e u is r a
l
| - l - - . . I 1 l ^ ^ . , ^ r r c I
i;"il;";;ii"-;;;isrvins
llll]lril';; il;il; É . r . a o *a n dr h a r s u i c i d e n da ^l c o h ocs m
a. h^ iì
"r."p ins f romth i s boredom?
rL i ^ l-.^rar|nm
: ; H î : ' ; ' i ; ; . " ; I t r , o r o si c a ì w a y s o f
i ' J " ì . " 0 . "; ; ; " " ; ; ; ; ; É ' ; ; r i sM as , c o nn iottuIt i? .e. iI :y, d r e:al d': ll : :n e"' ' ' ' "
r : - - I i I I ..^ + r
'r' s J.: ra o :i
r nd o e s v b b
:; l;"T;iin'1, that sayins
does not satisfy s o m ep r o f o u n d
a n d r e v e a ì t h a t m o d e r nc i v i I i z a t i o n
n e e c i s f t h e h u m a ni n d i v i d u a l ? "
o
