Psychologist Michael H writes: "When people are more comfortable with their true selves, they become more aware of every aspect of themselves and strive to integrate them into a cohesive self-structure." ”
Authenticity means unity of identity, and this powerful ability is not only a functional state of mind, but also helps us to face change. Authenticity is a very comfortable feeling. However, the true self is obtained by knowing that we are not true, and this process continues throughout our life cycle.
So, what does authenticity mean?
We can imitate a lot of people, but, can you fake yourself?As mentioned earlier, discovering the aspects of one's own unreality represents the growth of the mind – beginning to mourn the false mask to which one has to cling to, not wanting the growth of one's true self to be hindered by it.
In getting to the heart of authenticity, psychologists analyze decades of philosophical, sociological, and psychological scholarship – from Aristotle to Sartre – and extract a range of psychological and behavioral processes that explain how individuals "discover, develop, and construct a core sense of self, and how to maintain it over time and in the face of changing circumstances."
The four aspects of authenticityAuthenticity is a very simple thing to see in psychologists, which they define as the unhindered functioning of one's core self in everyday life – it includes four distinct aspects: consciousness, unbiased mental processing patterns, behavioral patterns, and relational orientations.
These 4 aspects transcend the value of authenticity, and their trust and security extend to everyday life and play a role in the background.
1. Awareness. Do you know what foods you like and don't like?Do you know in what situations you are more likely to show your talkative side?How well do you know about your hobbies and personality traits?
Self-awareness is an important part of health functioning. This is where authenticity begins. Self-knowledge is the basis of both authentic behavior and authentic relationships with others.
For example, the following statement is a statement of who you are:
I often don't understand my actions and am confused by them. I was able to distinguish between what my true self was important and what wasn't. I stay in touch with my motivations and desires. I try to know as much as I can about myself. Authentic self-awareness partly reflects how much you know and trust your motivations, feelings, desires, and self-perception. It includes not only knowing your strengths, weaknesses, personality, emotions, and their role in behavior. It also includes some complex and even contradictory selves (introverts and extroversions).
2. Unbiased processing (psychological processing mode).
How objective are you when dealing with positive or negative information about yourself, your internal experience, and private knowledge?How do you deal with external comments about you?
Unbiased processing means no distorted interpretations, and it also means a lack of self-defense mechanisms. Do you seek refuge in selfish prejudices in the face of failure?Unbiased processing of information helps build accurate self-awareness and supports behavioral choices that will further self-development.
When dealing with information related to oneself, internal experience, and external evaluations. With little or no denial, distortion, exaggeration, or ignorance, then you can claim to be true and you will objectively evaluate and accept your strengths and weaknesses.
Interestingly, the researchers found that people who handled information about themselves without bias showed self-care when they received negative information about themselves.
Here are some biased vs. unbiased statement responses:
If I consider my limitations and shortcomings objectively, I feel very uncomfortable.
I tend to have a hard time accepting my personal shortcomings, so I try to look at them in a more positive way.
I often deny the validity of any compliments I receive.
Only when you have accurate self-knowledge and the ability to process information about yourself clearly can you make your actions authentic – that is, to act in accordance with your own values, preferences and needs, rather than to please others or to receive rewards or avoid punishment.
Acting according to your true self does not guarantee to always be in sync with the dictates of your social environment, but it does assume being aware of the impact of the behavioral choices you make.
3. Behavior.
Acting authentically is not about impulsively expressing your true self. It's more of a natural expression of the other inner part of the truth.
Research shows that because behavioral authenticity stems from inner self-perception, those who score high on behavioral authenticity do not make extensive social comparisons.
The authenticity (or lack thereof) of the action becomes apparent when you consider the following statement:
If the reward is desirable enough, I am willing to change myself for others.
I rarely, if ever, put a mask on someone.
I am willing to live with the negative consequences by expressing my true belief in things.
4. Relationship orientation.
How much do you want people close to you to know the real you, i.e., how easily they know the real you?
The relational orientation of authenticity means valuing (and striving for) openness and authenticity in some intimate relationships. At the same time, it's important not to involve the deep, dark, or potentially dark side of yourself when interacting with other people.
In addition, the authenticity of the relationship not only opens the door to being a close friend, but also to the ability of others to perceive themselves accurately, and it fosters secure attachment.
The veracity of the relationship is assessed by responding to the following statements:
I tend to idealize non-intimate people rather than look at them objectively as they really are. ”
If asked, someone close to me can describe exactly what kind of person I am.
If someone close to me discovers something hidden inside me, they will be shocked or surprised.
Authenticity is a passport to growth
Not only makes us feel good. It is also a cornerstone of personal growth. The study found that high authenticity was associated with fortunate authenticity, perceived accuracy, and improved functioning in all domains.
Being less defensive about your authenticity means not feeling threatened by yourself and your self-image, and it also means less stress.
The researchers, who compared those with high and low authenticity, found that those with high scores were less likely to blame others or engage in verbal defense when confronted with "self-threatening messages."
In addition, real people have greater adaptive coping, including positive coping and planning, and also have very few maladaptive coping – venting, behavioral detachment, mental dissociation, very little denial, and no substance abuse behavior.
Because those with a high degree of authenticity are able to integrate their different, even contradictory, aspects, they have a strong self-concept and are able to play an important role in a variety of social roles.
Authenticity also tracks a number of aspects of mindfulness, including the ability to maintain non-judgmental attention.
People who exhibit greater authenticity also tend to look at change in a constructive way and are more likely to endorse incremental change rather than unrealistic leaps that are prone to failure.
At the end of the day, facing all aspects of life authentically is related to the consistency of the true self – known in the psychological world as "self-consistency", which also defines the happiness of true love. It is the product of a meaningful pursuit of a worthy purpose, guided by deep-rooted core beliefs. Real people may satisfy their most basic psychological needs.
Cultivating authenticity
With its source of confidence in ourselves, authenticity can be an antidote to the current cultural chaos and guide us to the light.
If the above statement is true, you may ask: Why is not everyone true?
This is because some self-knowledge can be painful – knowing that you are not as talented or socially gifted as you think or want to be is a painful thing.
While it's usually a good thing to cover-up, obscure, or hide through psychological defenses, it can lead to unpleasant information about yourself. For some, distorting self-relevant information into positive information is a more necessary process.
Second, there is no system in this world that ensures authenticity. Nonetheless, psychological counseling can help improve authenticity, although this is rarely a stated goal.
After all, counseling is a place where you can – perhaps should – be honest. Counselling allows people to find themselves and discover who they are.
The counseling room is a place where you can get in touch with your true self, avoid your false self, identify and remediate defenses, distortions, and disintegrations. The core elements of authenticity can be found to help people build their authentic selves.
For example, mindfulness and self-care can accept one's imperfections;Accepting commitments** can improve non-judgmental self-perception and the ability to be kind: motivational interviewing can build intrinsic motivation and goal pursuit.
Psychodynamics** that combine insight with behavioural change can improve self-awareness. They promote development by understanding how defenses distort perceptions of oneself and relationships.
Finally, authenticity is also an impossible goal to some extent – because we always need to change and adapt, and accepting the new always feels better than sticking to the old as being real. This is what Herminia Ibarra, a psychologist at London Business School, calls the "paradox of authenticity".
Even when we embrace change, growing up is always uncomfortable, and people often feel unreal until they grow up with a new psychological identity. We all want to evolve as understanding and circumstances change.
Stepping out of one's comfort zone always triggers a reverse urge to protect one's identity, Ibarra says. Feeling unreal can be a sign of growth, and clinging too closely to what feels like your true self can hinder that growth.
Instead of maintaining an unwavering self-outlook, take a slightly looser approach – adapting to authenticity.
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