Understanding the psychology of violence according to W. Wolf
Nearly 70 years ago, the existential psychologist W. Wolf published Values and Personality. An Existential Psychology of Crisis (1950). In this pioneering work, he proposed a reading of human violence based not on social determinism, but on a conflict internal between core values and personality structures.
“The origin of violence is not in the world outside the individual, but in the tension between his values and his inner structure. »
Violence as a reflection of inner conflict
According to Wolf, violence arises from a imbalance between the central values of an individual and the demands of his personality or environment. These are not simply behavioral pathologies, but a existential suffering.
“A man may become aggressive when he denies or betrays his own values — even when he is unaware of doing so. »
It is this inner betrayal, sometimes unconscious, which creates a deep psychological tension which can lead to violent or destructive behavior, towards oneself or others.
The existential therapeutic approach
Rather than correcting a symptom, existential psychotherapy seeks to clarify values of the individual. It questions contradictions, internal dissonances, to reintegrate inner coherence.
“Therapy is not a process of adaptation, but of recognition. The patient must recognize what he truly values — and live accordingly. »
Healing therefore does not come from social conformity, but from a return to authenticity, to what Wolf calls “faithfulness to oneself.”
Societal crises and personal crises: a mirror
Wolf also emphasizes the link between social disorder and existential crisis. For him, a society in crisis is the sum of its disintegrated individuals.
“Societal collapse often reflects personal collapse on a mass scale. Our politics mirror our personal contradictions. »
He thus invites us to an inner change, the only true lever for lasting collective change.
Revalue the symbolic dimension
Wolf was also a pioneer in the analysis symbolism of valuesHe saw in the psychic conflicts of living myths, powerful representations that shape our behaviors.
“Our values are not just ideas. They are forces — symbolic energies shaping our acts. »
This symbolic approach today joins the transpersonal psychology and the initiatory traditions which place inner transformation at the heart of the path of consciousness.
Conclusion: a lesson that is still relevant today
In these times of collective crises and of loss of meaning, rereading W. Wolf is salutary. He reminds us that the source of our violence — and of our healing — is found in ourselves, in our deepest values, and in the way we embody them.
“Violence is not a cause. It is a symptom. The real disease lies deeper — in the disconnection between personality and value. »
References
Wolf, W. (1950). Values and Personality: An Existential Psychology of Crisis. New York: Grune & Stratton.
Carrio, E. (2015). Existential coaching and spiritual intelligence. Vie Editions.
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