Category: Mussar
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Psychobiological Expression of #Yirah and Its Shadow Side (Fear as anxiety and depression)
Psychobiological Expression of Yirah and Its Shadow Side (Fear) Yirah (awe and reverence) and its shadow side (yirat ha’onesh, fear) activate psychobiological responses such as fight, flight, freeze, and attach. These responses are deeply tied to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its regulation of emotional and physiological states. Understanding how these mechanisms operate provides…
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Cognitive Neuroscience of #Yirah: Cognitive Biases and #SMART Goals
Yirah (awe and reverence) is deeply influenced by cognitive processes that shape perception, decision-making, and behavior. Cognitive biases can either hinder or enhance the skillful practice of yirah. Addressing these biases with a neuroscience-informed approach provides practical strategies for cultivating yirah in a balanced way. Cognitive Biases That Hinder Yirah Bias Description Impact Practical Exercises…
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Attachment Theory Analysis of #Yirah and Its Shadow Side
Attachment Theory Analysis of Yirah and Its Shadow Side Attachment theory provides a robust framework for understanding how yirah (awe/reverence) and its shadow (fear, anxiety, or avoidance) are expressed through attachment styles. Secure attachment fosters a healthy connection to awe, while insecure attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, or disorganized) may distort yirah into fear-based responses. Attachment…
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Bitachon as seen through Sociological analyses generally
To analyze bitachon (בִּטָּחוֹן), or “trust in God,” from a sociological perspective, one must consider its role as a relational, institutional, symbolic, and affective construct embedded in Jewish life. Below are the five most rigorous and interdisciplinary ways to analyze bitachon sociologically, each grounded in peer-reviewed literature and real sociological theory. 1. Bitachon as a…
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Bitachon and IFS Wounds through the Lens of Attachment Theory, IFS Therapy, Mussar, and NVC
Bitachon (trust in God) is not only a theological or ethical posture but also a relational state. In IFS therapy, parts that carry wounds from early attachment ruptures may resist trust, either by adopting extreme protective roles (overcontrol, avoidance, cynicism) or by collapsing into vulnerability (anxiety, dependency, despair). The Mussar tradition locates bitachon in the…
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Cognitive biases and s.m.a.r.t goals for #bitachon
Relevant Cognitive Biases Influencing the Skillful Practice of Bitachon Cognitive biases can significantly impact the practice of bitachon (trust in God) by distorting perception and decision-making. Below are key biases that affect bitachon, along with detailed NVC-themed S.M.A.R.T. goals to mitigate their impact. ⚠ Warning 1. Confirmation Bias Impact: Effect: Focusing only on evidence that…
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Intersections among psychology, philosophy, and theology and Bitachon (roughly, trust as meeting needs for security)
Exploring the further research questions identified in the analysis of your SWOT on bitachon (trust in God) reveals profound y. Below is a comprehensive examination of these areas: 1. Bitachon and Attachment Theory Attachment Theory Overview: Developed by John Bowlby, attachment theory posits that early relationships with caregivers form the foundation for future emotional and…
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How different frames (definitions) of responsibility impede or enhance the skillful practice of achrayut
The definitions of responsibility provided from Wikiwand offer various contexts in which responsibility is applied, ranging from corporate and social responsibility to professional and moral responsibility. In the context of Mussar and achrayut (the Jewish concept of responsibility), the application and understanding of these various types of responsibility can either enhance or impede the skillful…
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Accountability vis-a-vis achrayut
The concepts of accountability and achrayut (responsibility) are often used interchangeably, but they carry distinct meanings in different cultural, philosophical, and psychological contexts. Accountability, commonly discussed in both Western organizational theory and social sciences, refers to the obligation of an individual or group to account for their actions, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the…