Category: psychology

Shifting Values

The psychical structure known as the superego, within a Freudian context, represented the inculcation of values from society, that served to moderate the inappropriate impulses that originated in the Id. The ego is the mediating factor, between an individual’s impulses and the constraints learned from societal norms.

Freud lived in Austria during the first half of the 19th century when the norms of society were based upon a stringent level of morality and etiquette. So, the concept of the superego was dependent upon a set of moral norms that would serve to rebuff the unruly impulses an raw emotions of the Id. In other words, the strength of the superego was context-dependent upon the moral vigor of society.

However, the established norms of one society, and time period give way to the diminished values of another society and time period. Therefore, the influence of norms of the superego are dependent upon the shifting sands of the moral values of society.

If there is no stable set of norms in society, then the superego has nothing constancy to counteract the feelings, desires, and impulses of the Id. The more society devolves, the more the Id has influence over a person, if the cultural norms are accepted.

So, it is clear that the superego must be nourished by means other than going along with the zeitgeist, if indeed the current milieu of culture has gone astray. These are challenging times, whereof the lines are being drawn between those who seek righteousness, and those who abandon caution to the wind. Yet, true freedom is when we don’t let our Id rule our ego.

Therefore, we need something more substantial to nourish the superego of the psyche. In consideration of the superego’s strength, it can also be dependent on the values of one’s parents and community. Realistically speaking, it is our own personal obligation to boost the strength of the superego.

If as individuals, an appropriate value system can be developed, based upon moral philosophy, ethics, or religious principles, this will be the decisive factor in the battle for maintaining one’s moral character in the face of the onslaught of pseudo-values being proffered in the wake of the zeitgeist.

We are not meant to be subservient to the Id, representative of base desires and impulses that must be transformed into appropriate channels of expression. Rather, G-d has given mankind a conscience, that permits us to decide upon what is to be rejected, and what is to accepted, in regard to our inner being (Isaiah 7:15). Thus, the conscience is linked to the concept of the superego.

Our free will combines with the conscience, and the superego, creating a powerhouse, with the ability to choose right from wrong. This is the domain of the ego (as a psychical structure), to mediate between the inner conflicts within the psyche, and make decisions in accordance with reality.

We are not to be reduced to deterministic beings; rather, we have been given a soul, with the inunction to choose between good and evil. As is written, “see I have set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evil” (Deuteronomy 30:15).

The problem is that within the framework of the current cultural shift, that began decades, if not centuries ago, the demarcation between good and evil is being blurred. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

Redemptive Undertakings

The labyrinth of our lives has the potential to become so challenging to navigate, that we need to acknowledge that despite where we are in time, space, and the circumstances of our lives, we still may choose how to respond to any given situation or set of challenges. Additionally, I would contend that the circumstances of our lives are a reflection of our own perspective, attitudes, thoughts, speech, and actions, accumulated over time, and turned back upon us, so to speak, measure for measure.

We may not readily accept our circumstances as a product of our own existence over time on earth, and our interactions with self and others; yet, if we reflect in depth upon our existence, we may begin to see parallels, previously unnoticed, to the nature of our character, for example, how we treat others, is now how we are being treated. According to the will of the G-d, we reap what we sow. Middah k’neged middah – measure for mesure.

Otherwise, we may consider that the challenges, hurdles, and obstacles of our lives are placed there by a Benevolent G-d, Who ultimately has the best in mind for us, in regard to our personal and spiritual growth. Accordingly, one rule of thumb to adopt as a helpful reminder could be, that regardless of how we see ourselves having gotten into a certain “jam” in our lives, even if we are not to blame for having arrived there, we still can take responsibility for ourselves, in regard to how we respond. This is the juncture for spiritual growth, to make the right choice, by responding in a better manner than we might have in the past.

This ability to change over time, through opportunities that give us the chance to renew ourselves is key to character development. For, I am given this chance upon chance, everyday, for tikkun hanefesh (renewal of the soul) simply by the fact of my existence, granted to me each morning that I wake to a new day. The propensity each day to reclaim my past, and redeem the time is given to me by the Creator of all life. He is concerned for all of His creation, including myself, and every individual under the sun, even those who live without sunlight in the northern and southern hemisphere extremes, for part of the year.

Metaphorically, in our own lives there is light and darkness. Sometimes, we bring darkness into our lives through either inadvertent or (G-d forbid) intentional sins. Our sins will beget us, turning our lives into a reflection of negative versions of ourselves, that we are unable to defeat, unless we return to the origin of their development.

So, instead of fretting and running to a self-help book, we can examine our own conscience for the flaws that generate our negative perspective. Yet, our attitude is unlikely to shift on its own, through an act of will power. In most cases, our attitude is in place because of the underlying faults that taint our soul. Are we willing to do the work of self-transformation? This begins with awareness, and a deep reflection upon our individual existence.

Additionally, while our intuition is key to resolving challenges in our lives, and moving toward goals that we would like to establish for ourselves, how many of us realize the potential to receive our intuition from G-d? In fact, many of us may not already realize, that is precisely where our intuition may originate, when it is positive, helpful, and good for us and others.

 Otherwise, if we attempt to attribute our intuition to ourselves, perhaps, we would have a difficult time finding the origin within us. This is seriously something to think about, as is the origin of our conscience. I imagine that many different views abound, as well as seemingly opposing viewpoints on the subject.

For myself, there is another inward revelation, scriptural in nature, that comes to mind, inasmuch that it’s written, that G-d implanted eternity within the hearts of mankind (Ecclesiastes). The nature of eternity is such that the place whereof we will spend eternity is based upon how we live our lives.

Yet, some would seek to subvert natural law, and attempt to have a continual existence via some other means, namely through A.I. Their aim is to bypass the divine route of perfecting ourselves, based upon the Great physician’s prescription for remedying our lives. Instead, they seek to download their “brain circuitry” via an artificial intelligence construction. This may sound like science fiction; however, it is the ultimate dream of many transhumanists.

Everyday, may those of us who are conscious of the irreplaceability of our souls, seek to employ the day well, for the sake of eternity, in acknowledgment that all G-d’s creation lead finite lives on earth; yet, man, embodied with a soul, has the potential to transcend this life through the path shown by His Maker. For G-d will judge us after we are resurrected according to His divine plan and grant us our due reward or condemnation. There is no cheating death, as the transhumanists envision for themselves. Rather, the sting of death has already been defeated through the righteousness of the Holy One, who offers us an eternal reward for our own righteousness.