Journal Article
Human life is an emotional roller coaster,
and when confronting emotionally charged
events, individuals, groups, and larger collectivities
instinctively frame their predicaments
in a binary way—as a polarity encompassing
a dimension of choice with two mutually
exclusive alternatives. Events are thus
construed as dilemmas to be resolved in
favor of one alternative or the other.
However, the inherent tension leading to polarization
conceals an important developmental
opportunity, if we “hold” the tension long
enough to permit exploration, differentiation,
and resolution by a third, “mediating”
element. In this article the authors explore
the regressive (defensive) and progressive
(developm ental) functions of the archetypal
human propensity to polarize.
The neural
underpinnings and the psychology of binary
thinking are considered followed by an examination
of the dialectical patterns found
in various schools of psychotherapy and the
ways in which they represent attempts to
harness the energy of polarization for healing
and growth.
Faculty
Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour