Gestalt

Samar Khandwala 15th February 2011 “My Contact Boundary Disturbances’’ Gestalt theory, a need-based approach, is the study of the organism in the here-and-now as it goes into the environment for need fulfillment. When it goes into the environment, it comes into contact with many things and forms figures and grounds. The figure comes from its most emergent need, which when fulfilled goes into the background and becomes the ground. Then, a new figure emerges from the next dominant need. This process is called the figure-ground formation. A healthy organism self-regulates by clear figure ground formation whereas an unhealthy organism does not self-regulate effectively, by staying on a fixed figure. Consequently, there is no figure ground change to address the next emergent need. Need fulfillment is represented by the Gestalt cycle, which has 6 stages, namely; sensation, awareness, mobilization, action, final contact, satisfaction and withdrawal. An organism is said to be in equilibrium when it has no needs or desires. After some time, when a need emerges, a sensation occurs. This sensation comes into its awareness, after which it mobilizes to take appropriate action. When it takes action, it comes into full contact with the environment, thus satisfying its need and then withdrawing. Once it withdraws, it comes back into a state of equilibrium until a new need emerges. A healthy self-regulating organism fulfills its needs by moving along the cycle without any interruptions. However, the cycle is often interrupted and any disturbance causes dis-ease. When a figure emerges and the organism does not complete the cycle, the need is left unsatisfied which results in ‘unfinished business.’ This unfinished business represents an incomplete Gestalt and is usually shown in unexpressed feelings such as resentment, rage, hatred, pain, guilt, abandonment etc. Because these feelings are unresolved, they are not fully experienced in awareness and therefore are carried forward to present life- psychologically and physiologically. A person with unfinished business is not able to enjoy a complete and fulfilling life in the here-and now because they are operating on a fixed figure. However, it is important to note that not all contact boundary disturbances are unhealthy. Gestalt theory talks about six contact boundary disturbances which can occur at any all or stages of the cycle. These disturbances are; desensitization, deflection, introjection, projection, retroflection and confluence. Desensitization takes place when an organism consciously or unconsciously chooses to ignore its sensation. Deflection occurs when an organism stops the sensation from coming into its awareness and avoids meaningful contact with the environment. An organism introjects when it swallows values, beliefs and ideas from the environment, without taking into consideration whether it wishes to keep them or reject them. It projects when it disowns parts of itself and puts it back into the environment. Retroflection occurs when an organism holds back from taking action, therefore not coming into contact with the environment. Lastly, confluence occurs when an organism merges with the environment. By doing this, it loses a sense of itself. The first thing that comes into my mind when I think about my own “unfinished business” is that I am not able to express to my parents, my dissatisfaction at my deadline of having to come home at 1:30 am. Previously, I used to ignore the matter and go along with whatever they would say because I had not completed my twenty seven months of treatment at Willing Ways, according to which I had to comply with whatever my parents said. I always thought that there is no point in approaching this subject and asking them to increase my deadline because their answer will definitely be no as I am still under treatment. And I knew this answer would make me more frustrated and angry. Also I felt immense guilt for all that I had put my parents through over the years and felt that I owed it to them to do as they wanted to. I kept on telling myself that once my twenty seven months are over, I will talk to them and then they will have no excuse. But now when they are over, for some reason I can’t get myself to ask them and always avoid the topic. I fear that they will still say no, which will make me disappointed and I will not be able to do something about it as I live under their roof and I would never go against their wishes as I always have this need to please them. Hence I avoid having this conversation with them which is making me increasingly frustrated and irritated. When I apply my unfinished business to my incomplete Gestalt cycle, there are many disturbances that I can think of. I am fully aware of my feelings of wanting to be out for longer after having done my entire treatment but I do not mobilize upon them because I introject by saying to myself “ I should do as my parents want.’’ This introjection comes from the numerous times my mother has told me that they have sacrificed so much for me and after having put them through so much, I should appreciate what they have done. Therefore I always feel that I have to make them proud and do as they please, so I end up coming home whenever they want me to. It also comes from the fear that was instilled in me at Willing Ways where they used to train my parents by telling them that if I exhibit rude behavior, they need to send me back into treatment for two weeks. Because of this fear I always hold back voicing my opinion in case they take it as rude behavior and send me back. Therefore I come home when I am expected to. Secondly, I retroflect by internalizing my anger, frustration, resentment and irritation, out of the fear of the consequences of directing it outwards. I turn back in on myself my frustration, which I should express to my parents but it seems too difficult. I feel that I have already done enough and should not express my feelings because I will disappoint them further. Hence I keep my feelings to myself and suppress them, as a result of which I get depressed, and sit alone by myself and brood. I get stressed out and find myself very lethargic. On a particular day when I am feeling like that, I don’t end up going for my workout. This retroflection comes from the belief that expressing my emotions will lead to frustration because my parent’s answer will always be no. Also I feel that if I express my emotions I will be disappointing them, hence I suppress them out of the need to make them proud of me after all that I have put them through. Lastly, confluence is another contact boundary disturbance which I identify with because I lead a life in which my differences of opinion, feeling, wants and needs are suppressed to fit those of my parents. I rarely disagree with them and always want to keep things pleasant. That is why I have not yet approached them to discuss my need of wanting to stay out till later. I want to avoid any situation where they will not be happy with me. Hence I continue doing as I am told to do.