"Subtlety is as necessary to the mind as grace to the body," Helvetius said. And what does society know for sure about who are people with a fine mental organization? In the mass consciousness, this is often a kind of collective image, which implies listening to classical music, tearfulness and inability to solve difficult issues. Whether this is so and what psychology says about this, it is worth looking into.
Fine mental organization: the psychology of individual differences
People who consider themselves to be in this category, it is important to know all aspects of the concept in order not only to better understand their own personality, but also to determine their strengths and weaknesses, to strive for harmony within themselves and in relationships with people.
There is no specific concept of "subtle mental organization" in psychology. Rather, they describe in this way a person who belongs to the sensitive type (from the English sensitive - "sensitive").
This trait characterizes a person as very sensitive, shy, able to worry about minor events, prone to increased anxiety and changemoods. A wide range of experienced emotions includes both positive affective states (joy, elation, euphoria) and extremely negative ones (lethargy, depressive states, despair). Such mood swings are mainly caused by external factors: events, people's words, assessments. But intrapersonal experiences are also possible: increased self-criticism, constant analysis of one's 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 feel the moods of others. The last 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 hand, it significantly exhausts him emotionally, shifts the focus from himself to other people. This makes a person dependent on the experiences of outsiders, as well as on their assessments. After all, sensitive people are able to feel good where everyone else is just as cheerful and friendly.
What is meant by this quality of personality in psychology?
In today's stressful world, a subtle mental organization can stand in the way of the successful adaptation of such a person. He always reacts violently to what is happening, with difficulty abstracts from this, which leads to constant tension of the nervous system. Of course, such a state does not lead to anything good as a result.
Situations of external evaluation of one's actionsand qualities can lead a sensitive person into anxious states. Often it seems to such people that others are unfriendly towards them, so they are afraid to express themselves, stand out, and generally make new contacts. In psychology, such self-absorption, comfort in being alone with oneself, and not in a company, is called introversion (from Latin intro - "action directed inward"). Introverts, unlike extroverts, are more often characterized by a subtle mental organization, because they are aimed at a deep analysis of internal experiences, and not at external interaction with people.
Increased sensitivity is also associated with a person's temperament. It is known that a greater range of experienced emotions, quick switching from one mood to another is more characteristic of choleric and melancholic people than of sanguine and phlegmatic people. For the last two types, the strength of the stimulus that causes the reaction must be much higher than for the first two. However, the reactions of the choleric and the melancholic to the situation will also differ. The first behaves more irritably, he is quick-tempered and can show it outwardly. The second one is more accustomed to "withdraw into oneself", to experience resentment inside for a long time and release 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 a choleric or melancholic type of temperament.
What is she,nature with a fine mental organization?
In addition to the difficulties that a sensitive person may experience, he has many qualities and abilities that are not available to others. After all, a fine mental organization is, first of all, sensitivity, delicacy, the ability to understand the deep meaning of what is happening, and not just its outer 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 fields is impossible without such a characteristic, without the ability to understand and feel another person. First of all, it is working with people. It is the one that is aimed at helping others - 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 down. "A man needs a man," as we know from the poem. The one who will be there is a finely organized personality.
The main advice for people with a fine mental organization
As psychologists and even some philosophers have pointed out, refinement of the mind andthe human soul must be protected. Philosopher V. R. Tushkin says that it is a wonderful gift - to see the world in all its diversity, in all shades and meanings. But there is no need to let this outside world hurt you, 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 negative influence from outside. To live according to your script, to be free from external prejudices and to feel freedom within yourself - this is what everyone should strive for. For a finely organized, sincere personality, as for anyone else, it is important to be able to protect your inner world.
This does not mean responding to aggression with aggression. It is important that the hostility of the external world does not in any way affect the internal state of a person. This can only be achieved through self-improvement, work on the acceptance of one's own personality, awareness of one's uniqueness and beauty.
Critical remarks about subtle mental organization
Not all researchers agree that the subtle 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 the result of complexes, emotionality is the result of neurosis, experienced traumatic situations and the inability to control one's impulses, and increased sensitivity is simply nervousness.
Criticism comes down to considering yourself a subtle personvery comfortably. Because you can relieve yourself of responsibility for the course of your own life and not make any effort to change. They believe that all such qualities can be eradicated by working on oneself.
Be that as it may, most agree on the existence of certain prerequisites (eg, innate, like temperament) that make one person more sensitive than others. But what to do with it and whether to do something at all is the right of everyone to choose.
Fine mental organization in women and men
It is generally accepted that the fine mental organization of a girl is more common than the same quality in men. Of course, women are naturally more emotional and sensitive. They are evolutionarily inherent in such qualities as care, compassion, sensitivity. Whereas a man has always been considered a conqueror and protector.
But among the representatives of the stronger sex there are also more sensitive and finely organized. Often they choose a profession 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 is so often lacking in women.
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, we can give a few recommendations.
- Stop labeling yourself. It's worth the workstart with a way of thinking. Simply - stop thinking of yourself as a person with a fine mental organization. Do not use this phrase in relation to yourself. Stop identifying yourself with this category of people, and it will be easier for you to perceive your individual weaknesses as ones that can be de alt with.
- Closer to reality. Creative and sensitive people often unconsciously (and sometimes consciously) identify themselves with fictional characters in books, movies, etc. They want to live in an ideal world in which the story always ends with a happy ending. A person of fine mental organization considers this a standard to which one should strive. But in real life, things are different. 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 a different angle. For example, suicide due to unrequited love can be perceived, on the one hand, as the highest proof of true feelings, and on the other hand, as a manifestation of ordinary weakness, an 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 impressionability and exposure to stress, learn relaxation techniques. And in order to cope with neuroses and the consequences of traumatic situations, it is better to work them out with a psychologist. For every difficulty there is a solution that deserves its own topic of discussion.
Generic Methodsself-help
Advice for people with a subtle mental organization includes such universal methods that are used by many others to balance mood, create a more optimistic mood in life:
- Accepting your emotions. Often a person is so immersed in the world of his own experiences that it seems to him hopelessness. In this case, awareness of one’s experience (internal monologue, for example: “Yes, I’m nervous now …”), its rationale (“I worry because …”) and the way out of it (“But this will end, this is not forever”, I can handle it" or: "Everyone reacts like this to this situation, I am no exception", etc.).
- "Deception of emotions". In a situation that provokes unpleasant experiences, do the opposite of it. For example, an aggressive person to smile and wish a good day; in bouts of apathy and despondency, start doing anything, as long as it is an action (even meaningless); deliberately not sharing your violent emotions when it is already customary to do so. Over time, the habit of doing things differently will become ingrained and become a natural, effortless way of doing things.
- Learning to live "here and now". This well-known principle from psychology is most appropriately applicable in this case. After all, what does the term "thin" mean? They say so about mental organization, meaning life in the world of their own fantasies, reflections on how it could be. In this case, it is worth consciously shifting attention to what is happening exactly inthis time, in this place. Pay attention to what you are doing right now, without wasting energy thinking about what might not happen.
- Learn to relax. Removing emotional stress is a necessary element of working with your feelings. There are many techniques that you can choose to your taste: sports, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and others.
Training sensitivity, or what to do for those who do not have it?
While many are thinking about what to do with a fine mental organization, the rest are concerned about the question of its development. And no wonder: the ability to understand the feelings of another person, to predict his actions are important qualities in establishing close relationships, as well as necessary skills in some professional areas.
Psychologists have long created the so-called sensitivity training, or "meeting groups". In these 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;
- growing 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 in themselves. This type of training helps group members acquire skills that sensitive people already have:
- observant(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 people's behavior, about their feelings and experiences;
- the ability to predict a person's behavior by relating it to a certain type of personality;
- the ability to understand another person and accept him in all his diversity of qualities, emotions and behaviors.
Do I need to fight myself?
A man or woman of 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 with which they are endowed far exceeds the number of weaknesses. So is it worth it to fight yourself? Is it worth making someone else out of yourself at the expense of your individuality?
Humanistic psychologists believe that every 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 self-acceptance, a feeling of comfort with oneself can bring long-awaited satisfaction.
