W's Report

WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU?

If you are like most people, at one time or another these thoughts have occurred. Man is curious. He is not only curious about his environment, but also about himself. Why and how does man function in a society composed of others as complex as himself? The purpose of this paper is to explain what man is and how he can be studied from a Social Psychological viewpoint.

The Three-Fold Nature Of Man

Although not new, Dr. James has introduced the three-fold nature of man into the field of Social Psychology. While Psychology has acknowledged the physical and mental capabilities of man, it has been reluctant to accept the spiritual aspect of man. And yet without it, man would be incomplete. From the beginning of time as we know it, man was made in the image of his creator. If God is a Spirit (Jn.4:24), man must be also (although not an omnipresent one). So our body is only a shell that houses the real person. And what that real person is, has been what Dr. J has tried to reveal. Apostle Paul wrote, "I pray your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord" (lThes.5:23). Man is a spirit, he has a soul, and he lives in a body.

The body naturally refers to what Dr. J calls- The Sensorimotor State. At this level one can taste, touch, smell, see, and hear. Hunger and thirst are also at this level. This is the outermost level. Dr. J said that 98% of the time we are on this automatic self. That is alot of time to be led around by dumb flesh! Here man operates on a natural, carnal, physical level. This level is most easily seen, observed and unfortunately, most cared for. That's why God says, "man looks on the outward appearance, but I look on the heart" (lSam.16:7).

The next level or inner level, is called-The Cognitive State. Here man thinks, reasons, and plans. The Bible calls this the soul and includes ones emotions and personality. Here the soul, or mind of man operates on a rational (sometimes irrational), intellectual level. Paul said, ìwith the mind I myself serve the law of God; but the flesh the law of sin" (Romans7:25). The mind has to be renewed (Rom.12:2) and thoughts have to be guarded. As the saying goes, you can't keep the birds from landing on your head, but you can keep them from building a nest there.' That is why we are told to "set our mind on things above" (Col.3:2) and think on things that are good, just, honest, pure, lovely and of a good report (Phil.4:8). The last level is the one least accepted as existing by Scientists and Psychologists. That is because it is the innermost self and cannot be seen or scientifically measured. Dr. J calls it-The Affective State. Here lies the spirit, or heart of man; the real you! "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov.4:23). It is the life force. "The body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26). At this affective state is the origin of ones motives, loves, values, and principles. What is in your heart or spiritual self will affect what people think of you. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov.23:7). The sensorimotor state is the result of what takes place in ones affective state. Paul said to walk in the flesh and be led by our automatic self is to walk in sin and be in bondage; but to walk in the spirit and follow our principles and moral values is to be free.

III.	SPIRIT	Affective	Innermost
II.	SOUL	Cognitive	Reflective
I.	BODY	Sensorimotor	Automatic

The Self-Witnessing Method

As a born-again, Spirit filled Christian, I have wanted an approach to Psychology that did not conflict with my religious beliefs (for who could better describe man than his creator?). Psychology 222 has done just that for me. From the first day of class I was able to relate with what was said; but more importantly, I was able to apply it.

For the past year I have wanted to keep a journal of my thoughts, record events of the day, and write those precious things that God would speak to my heart. But I guess I didn't know how to begin. I now have a method to empirically study my three-fold self through self-witnessing. I believe I will be able to apply much that I have learned to the juvenile counseling that I plan to do in the future.

What is self-witnessing? Self-witnessing is the way in which social psychologists can study the spiritual level as well as the cognitive and sensorimotor levels of man. Because one can not see the mind and spirit of man, these levels are studied differently than the way one would study the sensorimotor level. Self-witnessing is able to accomplish just that.

Self-witnessing is the verbalization of the internalization. It is the expression of that which is happening in site, the language of the mind expressed in logical terms. Self-witnessing traces a thought, or sentence spoken back to its origin.

Because self-witnessing reveals our innermost self, one is able to have things revealed about self that were not previously known. Self-witnessing allows one to discover personal management and modify skills. This can be helpful to reveal what one is-doing, how it-is being done, and if the goals are being accomplished. Self-verbalization helps one to think analytically, translate the language of the mind, and break down resistance to slow down.

How is self-witnessing done? Because the sensorimotor level can be seen, it is the easiest place to begin. This can be done by recording an event that happened, and what were the emotions, feelings or words that were spoken by you during the event. Writing down your feelings, emotions, or words spoken is recording at the 'C' or sensorimotor level. The next step in internalization is to record your reasons, explanations, and motives as to why you said what you said, or felt what you felt. This is recording the 'B' or cognitive level. Next, your assumptions, principles, and loves are recorded. At this level, one has reached the innermost , affective 'A' level.

Thus, what we see (and others see) at the 'C' level is a result of what is in our 'A' level. While self-witnessing seems relatively new, its usage will no doubt increase in the near future.

The Negative & Positive Bias

If you wanted to study a micro-organism, you would not describe what it's solution felt like. You would examine it under a microscope. That would be the appropriate method to study a micro-organism. In like manner, we don't know how to scientifically study the spiritual self, but we do know how to empirically study it. To empirically study something is to observe by the five senses rather than guessing or reasoning. The approach can be done with either a negative or positive bias.

To observe something with a negative bias is to assume that it is not there: that it does not exist. This is based on a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is an experimental method that continues to record data but assumes there is no correlation between certain events and results or products that appear. If a pattern of correlation continues to appear even though it is assumed there is no correlation, then the null hypothesis is discarded and a correlation is established. It is impossible to study the spiritual self from a negative bias because it has to be studied on a higher level. This is known as the positive bias.

A positive bias assumes that something is there whether it can be seen or not (like the spiritual self). It can also be called a belief or faith. ( Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1) A positive bias can either be confirmed or unconfirmed. Most of the things we believe are unconfirmed. (Have you ever seen a proton?) To empirically study the affective state from a positive bias is to assume it is there and record data using the elf-witnessing method. Thus a positive bias can be used to explain behaviors and actions that otherwise might have only been guessed at. In court a positive bias rather than a negative bias is used. (One is innocent until proven guilty.) This is on a higher level because it is based on reporting or witnessing of that which has taken place.

As was mentioned in class, the generation we presently live in is more negative bias than those that have preceded us. And in the process we have lost contact with the spiritual level of man and also contact with God because "the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord" (Prov. 20:27). God speaks to us in our spirit, for "His Spirit bears witness with our spirit"(Romans 8:1 ).

Lines taken from Krupat's Psychology is Social

In your lifetime...	Krupat/Rubin	In apparent contrast...
A New Look at Love	Miscellaneous	We are finally...

Conclusion

Self-witnessing has been an interesting and useful tool in studying my three-fold self. Because the spiritual nature of man is not readily accepted by scientists and cannot be tested experimentally, it has to be studied empirically. For example, a policeman 'witnesses' what he saw at a crime. It cannot be recreated experimentally.

One of the things I noticed most while reading self-witnessing reports done by others, is that many times we behave contrary to the values, principles, and loves that are within. Why? Because there is so much emphasis placed on the body or sensorimotor level, this is usually what leads us around (98% of the time).

The self-witnessing method has been very useful in making me aware of how I process information. It will also be a useful tool as I undertake the task of straightening out America's youth. I do realize that while Psychology has some good ideas and concepts, only Jesus Christ can make someone completely new. "For if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things are become new" (2Cor.5:17).

Good luck in Psy 222 and may you be able to apply to your life what you learn as I have been able to do in my own life. And remember, " the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Pro.1)

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