LIMINALITY OF THE SUBJECT AS AN OPEN RESEARCH PROBLEM IN ADULT PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract

This paper conducts theoretical research of liminality as a subject ability to threshold self-knowledge and self-changing in adulthood. Based on a comparative analysis of scientific sources, it is established that in modern psychology liminality is studied mainly as a socio-cultural phenomenon. The author points out that liminality development theory has not been elaborated in Ukrainian psychology, and in adult psychology, in particular. Some starting points of the psychosynthetic concept of liminality and development stages of this phenomenon on the personality level (as a natural process) and on the subject level (as arbitrarily organised by means of self-therapy and professional assistance) are substantiated. The initial supposition is that liminality of the personality is the transient state of threshold self-awareness, which is characterized by uncertainty and disorientation and is caused by sufficient predominance of divergent subpersonalities, one of which is false negative (traumatised identification) and the other is false positive (protective identification). Liminal states take place on the preliminal stage of liminality development, which coincides with the period of early adulthood and does not depend on changes of social roles, status or socio-economic shocks directly. Characteristic features of personality liminality are nostalgic experiences and unmet needs for self-identification («loss of the unlost» paradox). It is also suggested that the liminality of the subject develops on the actual liminal stage (in the middle of adult life) as an ability for threshold self-knowledge and self-changing on the basis of disidentification with dominant subpersonalities with the aim of their transformation. At the postliminal stage liminality could become a new formation, due to which further transformation of personality is carried out for the purpose of self-identification on the basis of the ideal models. The concept also applies to the neurotic type of liminality   development in the case of an adult’s “getting stuck” on the edge of preliminal and liminal stages, accompanied by the compensatory defence mechanism – a liminal pause.

References

1. Kasianova, O.M., & Razumna, A.H. (2022). Aktualizatsiia ekzystentsialnoho aspektu profesiinoi identychnosti yak chynynk vykhovannia osobystosti maibutnikh likariv v umovakh voiennoho stanu v Ukraini [Actualization of the existential aspect of professional identity as a factor of future doctors personality upbringing under conditions of martial law in Ukraine]. Hraal nauky – Grail of Science, 17, 301–307. https://doi.org/10.36074/grail-of-science.22.07.2022.055 [in Ukrainian].
2. Kaufman, S. (2021). Za mezhamy piramidy potreb. Novyi pohliad na samorealizatsiiu [Beyond hierarchy of needs. A new look at self-actualization]. (Markovska, Trans.). Kyiv : Laboratoriia [in Ukrainian].
3. Kurhanska, L.O. (2013) Liminalni stany yak etap stanovlennia profesiinoi identychnosti: do postanovky problemy [Liminal states as a stage of professional identity formation: to posing of the problem]. Horyzonty obrazovanyia – Horizons of education, 3(39), 149–154 [in Ukrainian].
4. Kucherenko, Ye. (2018). Psykhosyntez: teoriia i praktyka psykhoterapii : navchalno-metodychnyi posibnyk [Psychosynthesis: the theory and practice of Psychotherapy]. Vinnytsia : TOV «TVORY» [in Ukrainian].
5. Lushin, P.V. (2007). O psikhologii cheloveka v perekhodnyy period: kak vyzhit’, kogda vse rushitsya? [About the psychology of a person in a transition period: how to survive when everything collapses?] (2nd ). Kyiv : Naukoviy svít [in Russian].
6. Andrews, H., & Roberts, L. (2015). Liminality. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition). Editor : James D. Wright (p. 131-137). https://doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.12102-6
7. Assagioli, (1974). Psychosynthesis. A Manual of Principles and Techniques (A Collection of Basic Writings) (An Esalen Book). New York : Viking Compass Edition.
8. Blows, E., Bird, l., Seymour, J., & Cox, K. (2012). Liminality as a framework for understanding the experience of cancer survivorship: a literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(10), 2155–2164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.05995.x
9. Ferrucci, P. (2009). What We May Be: Techniques for Psychological and Spiritual Growth Through Psychosynthesis. London : Penguin Publishing Group.
10. Firman, J., & Gila, А. (2006) On Religious Fanaticism. A Look at Transpersonal Identity Disorder. Palo Alto : Psychosynthesis Palo Alto.
11. Homans, P. (1979). Jung in Context: Modernity and the Making of a Psychology. Chicago : University of Chicago.
12. Horvath, A., Thomassen, B., & Wydra, H. (2009). Introduction: Liminality and Cultures of Change. International Political Anthropology, 2(1), 3–4.
13. Gray, D. (2016). Liminal Thinking: Create the Change You Want by Changing the Way You Think. Rosenfeld Media.
14. Gilligan, S.G. (1987). Therapeutic Trances: The Co-Operation Principle In Ericksonian Hypnotherapy. New York–London : Taylor & Francis Group.
15. Revonsuo, A. (2009). The Science of Subjectivity. New York : Psychology Press.
16. Rogers, C.R. (1961). On Becoming a Person; a Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. Boston : Houghton Mifflin.
17. Shorter, B. (1988). An Image Darkly Forming: Women and Initiation. London : Routledge.
18. Stein, M. (1983). In Midlife. A Jungian Perspective. Texas : Spring Publications.
19. Söderlund, J., & Borg, (2017) Liminality in Management and Organization Studies: Process, Position and Place. http://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12168
20. Turner, V.W. (1967). The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
21. Turner, V. (1969). The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-structure. Chicago : Aldine Pub.
22. Van Gennep, A. (1977). The rites of passage. Routledge & Kegan Paul.