Thursday, June 9, 2022

Personal Incoherence From Relentless Habitus

One possible way that people can have multiple personalities is that for some part of their lives they develop their authentic view of the world -- just them and truth. Then, they maintain that authentic view in a container within them, while being surrounded by people who push the habitus of the social environment on them. But, to be in that container keeps them shut off from people around them. Sometimes this is sustainable, but limits their ability to speak to other people. Other times it is unsustainable. The ocean waves of convention beat them down until the container breaks. Then, they start identifying with their role in the habitus, but also with their authentic view that still remains. They switch between identifying with one and the other, and thus become incoherent on the level of the I. Before, they knew who they were and saw the role they played in society as a role. But now, the "actor" begins to lose their distinction from the role they play.

People in exile or captivity may struggle to remain themselves, and sometimes become incoherent.

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