Many ecosystems once evolved in isolation (i.e.: Hawaii, the Galapagos). With global
communication, the boundaries between ecosystems are diminishing with time, having a
dramatic effect on evolution. Many different ecoregions exist on the earth.
There is a complex manner in which all life forms are interdependent upon each other.
Peaceful co-existence and greater awareness of this complex interdependence is needed for
our balanced survival with other life forms.
We are a member of many different groups and different types of groups throughout our
lives upon which we have mutual impact. Groups impact our development, values and
behavior. Government, legal, regulatory, religious and other social systems create and
enforce different moral/ethical codes of conduct. The Health Care System is an additional
structure, whose goal is to make the benefits of many technical advances available to the
masses. The quality of our health care system can be viewed as a barometer of the morality
of our society. Our character is judged by our level of compassion in dealing with
vulnerable individuals-the young, the old, the sick, the disabled and the truly
disadvantaged.
A balance of power among people is the sign of a healthy society. There will always be
individuals and groups motivated to control by shifting the balance of power excessively
to their advantage. Some are much more motivated in this direction than others.
Throughout the animal kingdom we can see the trait to engage in struggles for dominance
and man is no exception. We are an exception, however, in the manner in which we compete
for control in so many different and creative forms. Throughout history, much of the
competition for control has been in physical, aggressive and military arenas. Now, we see
more of a shift to use economic strategies to control other people. The presence of the
industrial revolution and computer technology opened up entirely new opportunities for
individuals to usurp the balance of power away from the public.
When power struggles, either physically aggressive, economic or otherwise, are on a
small scale, there is a face-to-face, eye-to-eye balancing of control that no longer
exists when the same struggle occurs in a larger, more anonymous arena i.e.: large scale
business, government bureaucracies etc. The same phenomenon occurs when a victim is
blindfolded before he is tortured. The eyes are no longer visible making it easier to
abuse the individual. Large bureaucratic computerized systems, likewise, are anonymous,
lack empathy and open the door for abuse on a large scale.
In the past years we have witnessed examples of catastrophic loss as a result of
ruthless economic manipulations, i.e.: the Savings and Loan scandal, banking fraud, fraud
committed by insurance companies, Wall Street thefts etc. We are seeing the beginning of
similar large-scale scams, which are in the process of destroying an already vulnerable
American Health Care System.
Dealing with an abusive organization is like playing chess against an opponent having
twenty moves planned in advance. You have a fighting chance if you plan twenty-oneā¦you
also have a fighting chance if you don't play the game.
Intimate Relationship
"you love someone who meets your needs."
Eric Fromm, MD.
Finding a compatible partner is our most significant life decision and maintaining a
healthy intimate relationship is one of our greatest life challenges.
The goal in an intimate relationship is a genuine appreciation of the capabilities,
style and personality of a partner with closeness, comfort, compatibility, commitment, empathy,
sharing, respect, trust, friendship, fidelity, balance of power, mutual attraction and responsiveness,
the reciprocal sharing of vulnerabilities, the capacity for personal growth and the capacity to function
effectively either as individuals or together with mutual effort in the full spectrum of the activities
of life.
In most cases, the family is the core social system that impacts our development and
functioning to the greatest extent. Healthy family development strengthens us to better
adapt. Unhealthy dysfunctional family dynamics may restrict our potential. Communication
patterns within the family, particularly the manner of emotional communication is a
critical issue in development.
Our capacity to integrate our emotions to facilitate adaptation is a result of our
emotional maturation process. In a state of normal, healthy development, the family
facilitates this process. Nurturing family members recognize our emotions. Their
appropriate emotional responsiveness facilitates our capacity to recognize and express our
emotions in a socially appropriate manner. This process helps to develop our ability for
healthy emotional reciprocity with others.
Insight into the roots of our emotional development provides an explanation for the
development of our learned traits. Regardless of this explanation, the individual still
holds the primary responsibility to control the current and future direction of his/her
life.
In healthy family dynamics, there is a balance of power within the family. We are able
to adjust our coping mechanisms to appropriately impact and be impacted by other family
members.
Family Pathology
When pathological family dynamics prevail at times of critical development, it can
stunt our emotional maturation process unless compensated through nurturing relationships
with others. A failure of appropriate nurturance can greatly restrict our adaptive
potential, thereby increasing our vulnerability to abuse at a later point in life.