A scary thing about life and a difficult truth is how important nuance is to holistically understanding the truth about something. It forces us to confront extremely uncomfortable truths that may be hard to hear.
It forces us to face the cognitive dissonance we have head on. We have to face the consequences of our preconceived notions being wrong.
But that's what it means to get closer to the truth. It is PAINFUL and JOYFUL. Seeing through a whole new lens (or a change of prescription if you will) can help us more wholly live life, closer to the truth of how things are.
It is freeing yourself.
Hello everyone, it’s the exam season! I had the idea to combine blogging about tulpamancy and revision for A-level psychology. I’m going to talk a bit about the cognitive approach, in particular, a theoretical information processing model called ‘schema theory’. Applying schema theory to tulpamancy is an idea that has been sitting in my head for a long time. I believe it is a good explanation for how a tulpa develops.
This is going to be a very sciencey post with some evaluation as I intend for it to form part of my revision. If you’re interested, continue reading under the cut and we’ll discuss some A-level cognitive psychology~
The Cognitive Approach
This is one of the main approaches in psychology that studies processes like perception, memory, thinking and problem solving. ‘Cognition’ simply means ‘thinking’. Cognitive psychologists believe that in order to understand human behaviour, we should look at a person’s internal mental processes. In order to do that, they observe behaviour and make inferences (educated guesses) about the person’s cognitive processes. More recently this is done using brain scans to link particular thoughts and activities with patterns of brain activity (known as cognitive neuroscience).
A strength of cognitive psychology is that it has good real life application in psychopathology. This approach has led to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which has resulted in many successful treatments of people suffering from illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia and OCD.
However a limitation of this approach is that there is a great deal of reliance on computer models. Mental processes are simplified by models that liken human cognition to the workings of a computer. Terms such as ‘encoding’, ‘storage’ and ‘retrieval’ are borrowed directly from the field of computing. The problem is, computers do not feel emotions, make mistakes, or forget information. Humans do all of these things. The simplified models simply do not encompass the human experience.
Cognitive psychologists utilise models to understand how people think and perceive, and one such model is schema theory.
[Source: Cardwell & Flanagan Psychology A Level Year 1 and AS 4th edition]
Schema Theory
A schema is a cognitive framework that helps to organise and interpret information in the brain. You can think of it as a script. Schemas are a pattern of thinking that help us make sense of new information. A few examples: We have a schema for how to behave in, say, a cafeteria. Even if we visit a new cafe we have never been to before, our schema of previous cafes tell us we need to find a barista at a till to order our drink, pay for it, then find a seat, wait for the drink to cool down so we don’t burn our tongue, etc. When we encounter new situations, we unconsciously look to our schemas for a clue as to how we should act, and follow the most relevant pattern of thought/behaviour.
Schemas can also encompass general semantic information, such as what an apple is and how to eat it. We also have a schema for concepts such as love, anger, joy, what they feel like, how to express them, and any colours or objects associated with those feelings. Our schemas tell us how to behave in certain situations. For example, if we encounter an older person, our schemas tell us we should be more formal and polite in our behaviour. A consequence of schemas is that we form stereotypes of people or social groups because we associate certain qualities or behaviours with them.
So as you can see, a schema is simply a web or collection of information relating to a single concept. Schemas are acquired by experience and learned from other people. I have a schema for psychology which I study at college, and over time I have added more and more information to my schema for A-level psychology. I know how to structure a psychology essay or interpret an exam question because I have a schema to do so. Schemas act almost like a template that tell us what to do in an unfamiliar situation that is similar to something we’ve encountered before.
Tulpamancy
So how can we apply schema theory to tulpamancy? I believe that the creation and development of tulpas can be seen as building a new schema for them. Over time, and with experience, tulpas become more complex as more information is added to their schema. Our communication with them become more fluid and effortless. They become patterns of thought and behaviour, and fit themselves into our everyday lives.
My thoughtforms are now part of many of my cognitive processes. My daemon’s voice is part of my train of thought when I make decisions or debate on a plan of action. My tulpas counter my negative thinking and attack damaging ideas I have about myself. They tell me to focus when I get distracted, and remind me to look after myself, even something as simple as mentioning “wear a scarf” if it’s cold outside. This happens almost automatically because I have been practicing tulpamancy for several years.
Tulpas can be seen as schemas in themselves. They develop a personality, which is in essence a pattern of mood and behaviour. They develop a style of speaking and behaving that forms part of their uniqueness. They can provide a completely different perspective on a situation that is in concordance with their pattern of thinking. They become associated with certain materials and abstract concepts the more we get to know them.
I hope you enjoyed this essay on cognitive psychology and schema theory applied to tulpamancy. Take care!
