Parent node: Stan Gooch | Integral Approach as Synthesis
Sibling nodes: Unified Science | Yin and Yang
Psychological polarities - "Total Man"
Review (external link)
A very comprehensive psychological theory of polarity and symbolism, explaining such polarity in consciousness in terms of the different parts of the brain and nervous system, has been propounded by the English psychologist Stan Gooch, beginning in his book Total Man.
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(Labour, Communism) |
(Fascism) |
One of the most fascinating things about Gooch's list is his identification of the political spectrum with his polarities. The left-wing, with it's more "feminine" (nuturing) ideals of compassion and equality, really does belong to the feminine (left-hand) polarity.
Further symbolism is suggested on the following page with the following pairs of archetypes:
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Of course it doesnt take much effort to see here the Chinese polar opposites of Yin and Yang!
The B-system can in turn be divided into a "good" or light asexual side and a "bad" or dark sexual sensual side (which brings in religious symbolism as well):
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fear |
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active |
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Once again, paralells with Yin and Yang (I Ching and Taoism), Shakti and Shiva (Tantra), Gevurah and Hesed (Kabbalah)
Gooch argues that this polarity can be traced back to the structure of the brain and nervous system. According to him, the brain and central nervous system generates the A polarity, and the Cerebellum (part of the "old brain") and the Autonomous nervous system generates the B-consciousness.
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