A substantial neuro-physiological and neuro-psychological literature suggests that mind is so organized that at least two general systems organize thought and behavior. In my articles, the first of these systems I term the “logico-linguistic system”, and the second, the “configural system” (van den Daele, 1994). In the Western culture belt, the logico-linguistic system is identified with conscious thought, with examination of cause and effect relations, with regularized transactions, with conceptual deliberation. Hence, the logico-linguistic system is described as “linear”. The “coin” of the logico-linguistic system, identified with the so-called “dominant” hemisphere, is language. In contrast, the configural system is associated with unconscious processes, with non-linguistic spatial, mathematical, musical, and artistic productions, with the relations of multiple juxtaposed elements (as occurs in chess, aesthetic judgment, imaginative processes, and dreams). The configural system, identified with the non-dominant hemisphere, organizes a plethora of nonlinguistic adaptations. Although the chimera of hemispheric dominance has long beclouded discussions of hemispheric differences, no doubt can exist that the functions associated with the non-dominant hemisphere are as significant as those of the dominant hemisphere.
In my research on dreams reported in journal articles, I have described how the configural system through the intermediary of symbolic/ imagistic construction (represented in dreams) establishes pathways by which conscious thought and deliberation are guided (van den Daele, 1992a, 1992b). In addition, the configural system determines sense of “reality”, “numinosity”, affective value, relevance, and much of the experienced quality of everyday life. As Freud long ago suggested, consciousness is akin to a rider who sits upon a horse, but it is the horse that guides the rider, and the rider only has the illusion that he guides the horse.
The emerging picture of how mind is organized and regulated presents a problem to conscious mind. Once conscious mind recognizes that it is not master of its own house, that it does not control even its own thought (except to a restricted degree), conscious mind is left with the issue of how can it (and how does it) influence the course of everyday conduct. How can it exert any will at all? This is so because the configural system does not respond to the same determinants as logico-linguistic system. It is just not enough to say to the self to do so and so, because except in areas of “automatic control” or areas of trivial interest, this is not sufficient.
The logico-linguistic system is guided primarily by written and spoken instructions, signs, logical argument, and regularized (habitual) functional expectations. The configural system resonates to images, symbols, melodies, moods, and contexts. Moreover, the two systems may display distinctive response times. The logico-linguistic system is a quick responder to instructions that may be acted upon immediately and is slower with convoluted logical or linguistically complex statements, such as this utterance. The configural system is a quick responder to simple spatial tasks, such a rotations, and is slower with contextual and configural interpretive issues. In my dream research which evaluates the cognitive complexity and content of reported dreams in dream diaries, individual dreamers appear to remain preoccupied with the same issues for days at a time until the dreamers shift to some new area of interest (van den Daele, 1996). In fact, the results of configural endeavor represented in dream material appear to guide the logico-linguistic mind in its conscious deliberations. Therefore in acts of will where major endeavors are concerned, the two systems may not be equal, with the configural mind playing a leading role. If this is so, then in the guidance of will, ways must be identified to influence the configural system.
Will and Determination
Intention is not simply a matter of “will”. If an act of will is to have any efficacy, any follow-through, it must be grounded in a deeper substance than mere wish, desire, or calculation. The will must be prepared in a network of unconscious deliberations. The mind requires the proper support to sustain the will. We may think that an act of will is merely a local matter. So, for example, I will to go to the grocery store today, not tomorrow, because I want some butter for my toast. In like manner, we may think I will “to go to school and get a degree”, or I will to “exercise daily and become physically fit”, or I will “to write a book” are similar to the act of will to go to the grocery store. Perhaps there is some similarity, but we all know that the latter acts of will are more difficult to realize than simply going to the grocery store. The latter acts are more complex and more global in their implications.
Ordinarily we think the more global is an act of will the more difficult because more steps must be made, more obstacles must be overcome, and in any long-term project, circumstances change which require readjustments. In fact, you could argue that an initial act of will, like “going to school” is only a promissory note, and that every day, in some new way, will must be reinvented, or the decision must be “re-willed”. While that line of argument seems reasonable, it does not accord with observations that we have all experienced of people who in spite of every obstacle overcome every difficulty because of a singular determination. The determination is more than a promissory note; it is an organizer which gives (or seems to give) coherence to action to carry the person through difficulty to achieve the person’s aim.
But perhaps this formulations renders a false perception of causality. Is it the case that the determination gives coherence to action, or is it that something deeper gives rise to both the determination and the integrity of character to carry out the determination?
In a mathematical sense, a network is an aggregation of elements and relations where a relation is a transition rule which links elements. Neural nets describe probabilistic relations between or among neural nodes. A network can also describe purely “cognitive” or linguistic constructions to model the associative links that exist among concepts or words. Networks may be congruent or in-congruent. A congruent network is determined by its inputs; an non-congruent network is chaotic. Chaotic networks may arise because of low associative values among network links or equi-probable bifurcations at choice points.
Local decisions require congruent local networks, and global decisions require congruent global networks. A congruent local network is established by habit linked to reward and reinforcement. A congruent local network has adaptive value, no trip to the grocery store, no food. But the formation of a congruent global network is another matter entirely. That’s because local networks tend to be context-dependent and situationally-based, and in fact the same means-ends path, “going to the grocery store to get bread”, depends upon individual location, the bread desired, the company, and, in broader perspective, the person’s maturity and financial means. While much may be in common in a local network, much may be different. As a person matures, networks from adolescence may survive along side adult networks. In contemporary western societies, adolescent norms and expectations may be in diametrical opposition to adult norms. In fact, the older the person, the more networks he acquires, and depending how well the networks are entrenched, the more difficult may be the task of formation of a congruent global network or “integration”.
Fortunately, powerful counter trends occur to the natural “entropy” (trend toward increased disorganization) of mind. Too many competing local networks would lead to inertia or confusion of action, and this is not adaptive. I think most people cope with this problem by some kind secondary network or system for control and implementation of congruent local networks. I suspect that this is the Executive System (ES) which, in my research, becomes more general and abstract with maturity. The role of ES is to bring coherence to the self and real or illusory control. It selects, owns, or disowns dispositions, preferences, and habit patterns. The Executive System supports congruent patterns so that the person doesn’t step on his own toes too often. Consistent networks are favored. As a general rule, these arise from local experienced and practiced behaviors.These are mental contents and behaviors about which the person has likely reflected, understood, and evaluated. These areas of knowledge exist along side the usually larger areas of ignorance which include areas of inconsistency. The psychoanalytic appraisal of knowledge and action reveals how highly conditioned and often “unconscious” choice and behavior. As this is usually the case, a person will find any major act of “will” or change of life pattern problematic because choice and behavior is ruled by a collection of habit patterns bridged by “secondary” cognitive structures.
These thoughts bring us no closer to an answer to the problem of how do you provide proper support to the mind to give strength to the will, but these reflections clarify the complexity of the issues. Moreover, these thoughts help us to understand why people often fail to make good on their “will” and why people are often in a muddle about their direction, purpose(s), and aim(s). How to give strength to the will is examined in another post.
References
van den Daele, L.D. (1992). Direct interpretation of dreams: Some basic principles and technical rules. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 52, 99-118.
van den Daele, L.D. (1992). Direct interpretation of dreams: Typology. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 52, 307-326.
van den Daele, L.D. (1994). Cartography of mental organization: A revision of the topographic and structural theories. Psychoanalysis and Contemporary Thought, 17, 407-446.
van den Daele, L.D. (1996). Direct interpretation of dreams: Neuropsychology. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 56, 253-268.