Ontological Orientation as a Mediator of Perceptual Change

Self-other dualism results in a view of the self as continually under threat. A foreboding of fear, anxiety, depression, sorrow, and ultimately panic are likely outcomes. Belief withdrawal, particularly relinquishment of self-other dualism, has however been found to mitigate these outcomes. This art...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of mental health and addiction Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 193 - 206
Main Authors Watts, Shane, Dix, Michael, Sohrabi, Hadi, Elphinstone, Bradley
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.02.2021
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Clinical Case Studies
Community and Environmental Psychology
Health Psychology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Ontology
Otherness
Perceptions
Philosophers
Psychiatry
Psychology
Public Health
Rehabilitation
Non-duality
Mind training
Self-other belief relinquishment
A Course in Miracles
Mental health
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Summary:Self-other dualism results in a view of the self as continually under threat. A foreboding of fear, anxiety, depression, sorrow, and ultimately panic are likely outcomes. Belief withdrawal, particularly relinquishment of self-other dualism, has however been found to mitigate these outcomes. This article reports on a study examining the effectiveness of belief withdrawal attained through engagement with A Course in Miracles (ACIM), as devised by Dr Helen Schucman, a Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University’'s College of Physicians and Surgeons. One-on-one interviews were conducted with thirty-three participants (sourced through ACIM Meetup groups) who had completed the ACIM self-study program of 365 workbook lessons aimed at restoring mental health through the discontinuation of dualistic perception. The data indicates self-other belief relinquishment may be achieved through ACIM facilitating significant attitudinal and behavioural change. ACIM’s ontological orientation was found to play a significant role in facilitating these changes.
ISSN:1557-1874
1557-1882
DOI:10.1007/s11469-019-00165-3