"Subtlety is as necessary for the mind as grace for the body," Helvetius claimed. And what does society really know about who such people are with a subtle spiritual organization? In the mass consciousness, this is often a kind of collective image, implying listening to classical music, tearfulness and inability to solve difficult issues. Is this so and what does psychology say about this?
Fine mental organization: the psychology of individual differences
It is important for people who consider themselves in this category to know all aspects of the concept in order not only to better understand their own personality, but also to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strive for harmony within themselves and in relations with people.
The concrete concept of āsubtle mental organizationā is absent in psychology. Rather, they describe in a similar way a person who is of the sensitive type (from the English sensitive - "sensitive").
This feature characterizes a person as very sensitive, shy, able to worry about minor events, prone to increased anxiety and mood changes. A wide range of emotions experienced includes both positive affective states (joy, elation, euphoria), and extremely negative ones (lethargy, depression, despair). Such mood changes are caused mainly by external factors: events, peopleās words, assessments. But intrapersonal experiences are also possible: increased self-criticism, constant analysis of oneās actions and personality as a whole, reassessment of experience.
Thus, a person of fine mental organization is an impressionable person, prone to sharp self-criticism and low self-esteem, with a pronounced ability to empathize and the ability to feel the mood of others. The latter characteristic, on the one hand, gives a person the opportunity to be a good friend, not indifferent to the feelings of others. And on the other - it significantly exhausts him emotionally, shifts the emphasis from himself to other people. This makes a person dependent on the experiences of outsiders, as well as on their ratings. After all, sensitive people are able to feel good where everyone else is just as cheerful and friendly.
What does psychology mean by this personality trait?
In today's stressful world, a subtle spiritual organization can stand in the way of such a personās successful adaptation. He always reacts violently to what is happening, with difficulty abstracts from this, which leads to a constant tension of the nervous system. Of course, such a state does not lead to anything good.
Situations of an external assessment of oneās actions and qualities can lead a sensitive person to anxious states. Often it seems to such people that those around them are unfriendly, therefore they are afraid to express themselves, to stand out, and indeed to establish new contacts. In psychology, such self-absorption, comfort in being alone with oneself, and not in a company, is called introversion (from lat. Intro - "action directed inward"). Introverts, in contrast to extroverts, often have a subtle mental organization, because they are aimed at a deep analysis of internal experiences, and not at external interaction with people.
Hypersensitivity is also associated with human temperament. It is known that a wider range of emotions experienced, quick switching from one mood to another is more characteristic for choleric and melancholic than for sanguine and phlegmatic. For the last two types, the strength of the stimulus that causes the reaction should be much higher than for the first two. However, the reactions of the choleric and melancholic to the situation will also differ. The first behaves more irritably, he is quick-tempered and can show it externally. The second is more accustomed to āwithdraw into oneself,ā to long experience resentment inside and release the accumulated emotions through crying.
If we summarize the psychological views on this phenomenon, we can derive a conditional formula: a subtle mental organization is sensitivity, introversion, and the choleric or melancholic type of temperament.
What is she, a nature with a fine mental organization?
In addition to the difficulties that a sensitive person may experience, he has many of those qualities and opportunities that are not available to others. After all, a fine spiritual organization is, first of all, sensitivity, delicacy, the ability to understand the deep meaning of what is happening, and not just its external shell, flexibility, compassion and acceptance, as well as a developed artistic taste.
All artists, artists, musicians, philosophers, dancers and even scientific theorists are people with a subtle soul. Creativity is the best reflection of human feelings. Therefore, where there is any kind of art, there is a subtle spiritual organization.
Success in many professional sectors is impossible without such a characteristic, without the ability to understand and feel the other person. First of all, it is work with people. The one that aims to help another is psychology, teaching, education, volunteering and many others. And of course, all creative activities.
The success of these professions directly depends on the ability to understand the needs of another person, to be able to influence his inner world through various tools (words, works of art) in order to help, teach or just calm. āA man needs a man,ā as is known from the poem. The one who will be near is a finely organized personality.
The main advice to people with a fine mental organization
As psychologists and even some philosophers note, the refinement of the mind and soul of a person should be protected. Philosopher Tushkin V.R. says that it is a wonderful gift to see the world in all its diversity, in all shades and senses. But there is no need to let this outside world hurt itself, make you suffer, and constantly test your strength.
A large amount of aggressive influence on a person can enslave him, make him suggestible if he does not resist the negative influence from the outside. Living according to oneās own scenario, being free from external prejudices and feeling freedom inside oneself is what everyone should strive for. For a finely organized, sincere person, as for no one, it is important to be able to protect their inner world.
This does not mean responding with aggression to aggression. It is important that the hostility of the outside world does not in any way affect the internal state of man. This can be achieved only through self-improvement, work on the adoption of self, awareness of their uniqueness and beauty.
Critical remarks about fine mental organization
Not all researchers agree that the fine organization of the personality should be attributed to a separate type and that it exists in general. In their opinion, this is a set of certain characteristics (not the best) that only interfere with life.
For example, shyness is a consequence of the presence of complexes, emotionality - of neurosis, experienced traumatic situations and inability to control their impulses, and increased sensitivity is simply nervousness.
The criticism boils down to the fact that it is very convenient to consider oneself a subtle personality. Because you can relieve yourself of responsibility for the course of your own life and not make any effort to change. It is believed that all such qualities can be eradicated by working on oneself.
Be that as it may, the majority agrees with the existence of certain prerequisites (for example, innate, like temperament) that make one person more sensitive than the rest. But what to do about it and whether to do anything at all is the right of everyone to choose.
Fine mental organization in women and men
It is generally accepted that the subtle mental organization of a girl is a more common phenomenon than the same quality in men. Of course, women are by nature more emotional and sensitive. They are evolutionarily inherent in such qualities as caring, compassion, sensitivity. While a man has always been considered a conqueror and defender.
But among the stronger sex, there are also more sensitive and finely organized. Often they choose professions of a creative plan. The subtle mental organization of a man is often accompanied by self-doubt, the search for his place, but at the same time this person is more caring, he will be able to support, listen. He is able to talk about his feelings, which women so often lack.
What should people with fine mental organization do?
Those who have their own emotionality, vulnerability and dependence on the opinions of others significantly spoil the quality of life, you can give a few recommendations.
- Stop labeling yourself. Work on yourself is worth starting with a way of thinking. Simply - stop thinking about yourself as a person with a fine mental organization. Do not use this phrase in relation to yourself. Stop attributing yourself to this category of people, and it will be easier for you to perceive your individual weaknesses as those that can be dealt with.
- Closer to reality. Creative and sensitive people often unknowingly (and sometimes consciously) identify themselves with the fictional characters of books, movies, etc. They want to live in an ideal world in which history always ends with a happy ending. A person with a fine spiritual organization considers this a standard to which one should strive. But in real life, everything happens in different ways. It is worth taking a closer look at the reality that surrounds a person, studying real stories from people's lives, looking at all events and actions from different angles. For example, suicide due to unrequited love can be perceived, on the one hand, as the highest evidence of true feelings, and on the other, as a manifestation of ordinary weakness, inability to accept the situation and cope with it.
- Work on weaknesses. With increased emotionality, it is worth learning to control your emotions, with high sensitivity and exposure to stress - to learn relaxation techniques. And in order to cope with neurosis and the consequences of traumatic situations, it is better to work them out with a psychologist. For each difficulty, there is a solution that deserves a separate topic for discussion.
Universal methods of self-help
Tips for people with subtle mental organization include such universal methods that are used by many others to balance the mood, create a more optimistic attitude in life:
- Acceptance of your emotions. Often a person is so immersed in the world of his own experiences that he thinks this is hopelessness. In this case, awareness of oneās experience (internal monologue, for example: āYes, Iām nervous now ...ā), its justification (āIām worried because ...ā) and the way out of it (āBut it will end, it helps not forever, "I can handle" or: "Everyone reacts in a similar way to this situation, I am no exception," etc.).
- "Deception of emotions." In a situation that provokes unpleasant experiences, reverse her actions. For example, an aggressive person smile and wish a good day; in bouts of apathy and despondency, to start doing anything, if only it would be an action (even meaningless); deliberately not to share your violent emotions when itās already customary to do so. Over time, the habit of doing otherwise will be fixed and will be a natural, effortless mode of action.
- Learn to live "here and now." This well-known principle from psychology is very useful in this case. After all, what does the term āsubtleā mean? They say this about spiritual organization, implying life in the world of oneās own fantasies, thoughts about how it could be. In this case, it is worth consciously switching your attention to what is happening exactly at this time, in this place. Pay attention to the actions performed at this moment, without wasting energy on thinking about what might not happen.
- Learn to relax. Relieving emotional stress is a necessary element of working with your experiences. There are many tricks that you can choose to your taste: sports, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and others.
Sensitivity training, or What to do for those who do not have it?
While many are thinking about what to do with subtle mental organization, the rest is concerned with the question of its development. And no wonder: the ability to understand the experiences of another person, to predict his actions are important qualities in building close relationships, as well as necessary skills in some professional areas.
Psychologists have long created the so-called sensitivity training, or "meeting groups." In such classes, people try to achieve certain goals:
- expanding the arsenal of behavioral habits;
- development of self-understanding and understanding of another person;
- development of sensory perception of reality;
- growth of social competence.
Of course, it is impossible to possess all the qualities of a person with a fine mental organization after passing the training. But many people consider it useful to develop some of its qualities. Such training helps group members to gain such skills that sensitive people already have:
- observation (the ability to pay attention to the study of a person, remembering his appearance and speech);
- the ability to put forward theories about the causes of human behavior, about their feelings and experiences;
- the ability to predict human behavior by correlating it with a certain type of personality;
- the ability to understand another person and accept him in all the diversity of his qualities, emotions and behaviors.
Do I need to fight with myself?
A man or woman of a fine mental organization is not such a rare occurrence in the modern world filled with stress and competition. As you can see, the number of valuable qualities that they are endowed with significantly exceeds the number of weaknesses. So is it worth fighting with yourself? Is it worth it to make someone else out of yourself to the detriment of your personality?
Humanistic psychologists are sure that each person is beautiful in his own way. The only thing worth striving for is harmony with oneself. You can overcome excessive emotionality, but not become happier. And only accepting oneself, feeling comfortable with oneself can bring long-awaited satisfaction.