Toward a scientific framework for the Personal Meaning Organization (PMO) paradigm: neuroimaging and genetic studies

Abstract

Introduction

Reciprocity with primary care-givers drives subjects’ adaptive abilities towards the construction of the most useful Personal Meaning Organization (PMO) with respect to their developmental environment.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the post-rationalist approach over the last ten years focusing on the construction of a specific framework for distinguishing immediate experience from explanations of the experience, the moviola technique, and the analysis of awareness and resistance. Functional neuroimaging (fNI) was used to conduct a scientific in vivo study of PMO.

Results

Predictable, invariable care-giver behaviors allow an inward focus and a physical view of reciprocity: when reciprocity is high, a controller-type inward PMO develops; when it is low, the inward PMO develops in a detached manner. The Controller PMO is focused on the need for protection/exploration; the Detached PMO is focused on need for expression during isolation. Variable, non-predictable care-giver behavior allows an outward focus and a semantic view of reciprocity: when reciprocity is high, a contextualized outward PMO develops; when it is low, a principle-oriented outward PMO develops. The former interprets changes in the relational environment one by one; the latter focuses on the management of antithetical aspects of reality.

Discussion

Focusing on the PMO promotes the emergence of adaptive individual resources, thereby improving skills needed for the control of perturbing emotions and more flexible behavior strategies.