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 %RECOGNIZE NAME DESCRIBE TALK DYSFUNCTION BEHAVIOR 951112

     It  is important to learn how to name,  describe  and
talk  about dysfunctional patterns of  behavior---else  we
are  likely  to  slip into  and  engage  in  dysfunctional
patterns of behavior.

     The  difference  between  dysfunctional  patterns  of
behavior  and  functional  patterns of behavior  is  often
obscured  by  people engaged in dysfunctional patterns  of
behavior---for they seek to try to appear functional  when
they are not.   Dysfunctional people  are preoccupied with
appearing  to conform to conventional expectations of good
behavior.

     Dysfunctional  people  do not learn much  from  their
mistakes---because they are  more preoccupied with finding
people  to blame for all that goes wrong around them; than
they  are with honestly understanding why things go  wrong
around them.

     Dysfunctional patterns of behavior generate confusion
about:   ideals,  values,  causes,  consequences,   truth,
deception,    realities,   appearances,   good  and  evil.
Dysfunctional  people  do not work  for  clarity---because
clarity would make clear in what ways they are responsible
for much that goes wrong around them.

     Dysfunctional   patterns  of  behavior  grow  out  of
personal and communal alienation---which is occasioned  by
trying to  draw sharp boundaries between good  people  and
evil  people.     People who are preoccupied with  drawing
such sharp  boundaries generate alienation which leads  to
dysfunctional patterns of behavior.

     Dysfunctional  people are more preoccupied with sharp
definitions of  good  people and evil  people---than  with
describing   the  tragic  ideals,    values,    attitudes,
assumptions, beliefs and  convictions which lead people to
generate alienation; which leads to dysfunctional patterns
of behavior.

     In confusing situations it is often difficult to tell
the difference between functional people and dysfunctional
people---for  the  difference  is  not  the  same  as  the
differences between the rich and the poor,  the  respected
and  the  rejected,  the powerful and the powerless,   the
pious and the impious, the professionals and the laborers,
the educated  and the ignorant,  the intellectuals and the
simple folk.   All kinds  of  dysfunctional people work to
confuse   the  differences  between  them  and  functional
people.  It is the functional  people  who  can  tell  the
difference by recognizing,  naming and talking about their
own personal experiences openly and honestly.

     Authoritative    people   are   often   engaged    in
dysfunctional   patterns  of  behavior  intended  to  take
advantage  of the confusion which  they  generate.    Such
attempts   to   gain  control  are  based  upon   confused
understandings of the origins of the confusion  which they
intend to take advantage of.

     People who are preoccupied with issues of control are
usually more concerned with mere  appearances  of being in
control---than  they  are concerned  with  clarifying  the
origins and consequences of  real  alienation,  confusion,
and dysfunctional patterns of behavior.

     When  we  are  immersed in  chaotic  situations  much
reflexive  work is required to clarify for our selves  and
for others what the origins of confusions are.   Such work
cannot  be  based upon objective paradigms  which  presume
that  the  person  doing the work is  separated  from  the
objects of attention which are being worked on.

     When we are immersed in chaotic situations we need to
work within  our situation of immersion---and so we cannot
be separated from that upon which we need to work---and so
we cannot be objective  about it our situations of chaotic
immersion.   In  such situations of  chaotic  immersion in
confusion about our reflexive contexts---we cannot improve
our  context by pretending  that we are  being  objective,
scientific,   and technically  competent  to transcend our
dilemmas---through  technocratic manipulations of  objects
from which we have separated ourselves.

     Scientists  and  scholars  who are  preoccupied  with
objectivity,   measurements,  computations and engineering
considerations---cannot  deal  with  the  consequences  of
alienation---for  alienation  is not an objective  reality
from  which those affected by alienation can detach.     A
non-objective  paradigm  must play a central role  in  any
honest  efforts to deal with the origins and  consequences
of alienation,  confusion,  and dysfunctional  patterns of
behavior.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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