From an existential perspective, humanity's experiences have no universal meaning; Yet humans are creatures in search of meaning. Therefore, individuals attribute meanings to various dimensions of their fields (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993:43). Perls pointed out that thinking in contrasts is a fundamental feature of the human mind and life, and stated that individuals attribute meaning to their experiences through opposing concepts (Quoted in: Clarkson, 1994:8). For example, when we say we are happy, we actually define unhappiness. We also define satiety when we think we are hungry, and fatigue when we realize we are rested. Therefore, every concept we talk about, express or think about creates its own opposite.
The individual divides his field into two basic opposite poles: Those who meet his needs and those who do not meet his needs. While those that meet their needs take shape, the other pole remains in the background (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 43). In this way, the self; organizes and defines its movements in the form of poles. Likewise, it expresses the functions it owns or does not own in polar form (Kepner, 2008:25). For example, a person who describes himself as a hard worker also states that he is not lazy, and a person who says he cooks delicious food also states that he does not cook tasteless food. Poles are needed to create a strong, clear shape on the background. Poles coexist. The opposite pole of what is a form at that moment is definitely in the background (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 44). For example, in order for the need for warmth to take shape, cold must be felt, and in order for the need to be loved to take form, lovelessness must be felt. This process of differentiation is the process of separating possibilities into opposite poles. We cannot be aware of the distinctions without being aware of the poles. For this reason, opposites need each other and are related to each other (Latner, 1986: 28). For example, darkness cannot exist without light, and light cannot exist without darkness; the two are two interrelated ends of an ongoing continuum of awareness (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 44). This duality shapes our behavior and understanding (Latner, 1986: 29). Divide ourselves into body and mind We experience our reality subjectively and objectively. We divide our development into biology and culture, our expressions into work and play, our behavior into mature or childish, and our emotions into happy or sad. Each of us divides our own world into those we like and dislike, our friends and enemies, black and white, free or prisoner (Latner, 1986: 29).
Perls' existential approach that individuals are neither inherently good nor bad. has adopted it. He believed that all people have the capacity to adopt all human characteristics (Act: Daş, 2004: 218). In other words, the moment a person is born, all poles are present within him. However, the individual does not adopt characteristics that seem unacceptable because family, teachers or friends find them ridiculous or prohibit them (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 104). For example, a person who grows up in an environment where joking is not tolerated may stop making jokes over time and become a person who does not joke at all. Denying or disclaiming some aspects of the self results in an internal conflict in which the dominant feature clashes with the background one (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 104). In other words, the person who expresses that he does not like jokes at all is in a constant conflict with the humorous pole that remains in the background. In separation or polarization, the two opposite poles of the personality are fixed and have little interaction with each other (Philippson, 2009: 99). A person who does not make jokes and says he does not like them may become someone who not only does not make jokes himself, but also cannot tolerate jokes in his environment, does not watch comedy movies or programs containing joke elements, and condemns people who watch them. For example, a person who does not like jokes and defines himself as a serious person may constantly complain that the people around him are casual and cannot maintain their seriousness.
What should be understood from the poles is; It is not a situation where one feature is completely abandoned and only the other feature remains. Dr. Jeykill and Mr. A union like Hyde is not integrated but a split personality (Polster and Polster, 1974:248). Popular since it was written in 1886 ler is a novel, Dr. Jeykill and Mr. In Hyde, the dimension of good and evil is treated as two opposite poles within the same person. An extremely kind and respected person, Dr. Jeykill is also the monster Mr. It is also Hyde. What should be understood from the integration of the poles is Mr. He completely destroys Hyde and leaves only Dr. It doesn't mean to leave it alone. The purpose of studying the poles is to bring the two features to awareness, to show that the poles coexist, to reveal the conflict between the two poles, and to question their meaning for the person (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 105). In Gestalt therapy, these opposites are not irreconcilable, they are the differences that will be integrated in the gestalt formation process (Latner, 1986: 29).
Poles are unlimited, but each individual creates his own poles (Polster and Polster, 1974:62). The variety of polarities in the individual is almost infinite. Each individual is an endless series of poles. Each individual has his or her own polar distinctions, with their own names (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 106). As the individual begins to recognize his polarized characteristics and understand that they complement each other and coexist, his ability to move flexibly between these poles increases. It develops the potential to act as an integrated organism (Clarkson and Mackewn, 1993: 106). To give an example from the pole of being a hard worker, a person who should actually be lazy or continues to be hardworking even when he could be lazy is not being flexible. And in fact, the movement capacity is extremely narrow. This inflexible behavior style may cause him/her to become tired, worn out, or have problems with his/her social environment. As this person realizes and accepts the pole of being lazy, the potential to behave differently arises. Movement diversity increases and the potential for flexible reactions appropriate to conditions increases. The stronger the polarization, the more pronounced the synthesis that will emerge (Latner, 1986: 29). According to the Gestalt approach, the healthy person is aware of his opposite poles and accepts this diversity in his functionality, even if it is not desirable features, it is a part of his existence. It has been able to accept these dimensions that are a part of it (Kepner, 2008:27). A person who is not aware of and has not accepted many of the opposite poles within himself has lost the possibility of acquiring different experiences and behaviors, and is far from identifying and meeting many of his needs belonging to the poles he does not own. He tries to spend extra energy to prevent these needs from coming to awareness (Kepner, 2008:27).
The way to solve the poles is to ensure that both poles are lived to the fullest and at the same time they are in contact with each other. In this way, one of the poles is prevented from being overshadowed and it is enabled to take an active role in meeting its own needs (Polster and Polster, 1974:62). The main point in studying polarity is to increase the contact between two opposing forces. When contact is established between them, these opposite poles can act as collaborators in search of a better life. When contact is made, the individual sees that these seemingly disconnected poles have many aspects and enrich his life (Polster and Polster, 1974:248).
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