The concept of “authentic” in psychology. What is authenticity in modern conditions? How to understand authentic

Greek authentikys - genuine). A concept developed in humanistic psychology and psychotherapy and reflecting one of the most important integrative characteristics of personality. According to Rogers (Rogers S.R.), who actively used this term, A. is the ability of a person in communication to refuse various social roles (psychotherapist, professional, teacher, leader, etc.), allowing the manifestation of authenticity, characteristic only a given individual's thoughts, emotions and behavior. Along with the ability for unconditional acceptance and empathy, A. is an essential component of effective human communication.

The boundaries of the concept of A. are unclear. Often, as synonyms for the term A., definitions such as a fully functioning personality (Rogers S.R.), freedom (Allport F.N.), self-actualization (Maslow A.H.), selfhood, holistic personality (Perls F.S.), congruence (Grinder J., Bandler R.).

The psychological meaning of A. can be defined as a coordinated, holistic, interconnected manifestation of the basic psychological processes and mechanisms that determine personal functioning. The manifestation or non-manifestation of A. from this point of view is observed when personal motives and interests collide with social norms and dominant tendencies of social consciousness. In such a situation, authentic behavior presupposes an integral experience of direct experience, not distorted by psychological defense mechanisms. A person is involved in what is happening and then directly shows his emotional attitude towards it. His thoughts and actions are consistent with his emotions. In modern areas of psychology that develop the formal structure of communication, the behavior of such a person is assessed as congruent (i.e., from the point of view of an outside observer, the information coming from him through verbal and nonverbal channels is consistent).

In the traditions of humanistic psychology, A. also characterizes a certain ideal personality, as opposed to a neurotic personality. On the way to A. personal growth occurs. In Gestalt therapy, A., selfhood is preceded by the stages of awareness of the relativity of social norms, the ineffectiveness of behavioral patterns, the affirmation of one’s own value with the discovery in oneself of the possibility of expressing any, even negative, emotions, while simultaneously taking responsibility for authentic behavior in society. In this context, A. is not a role model, say, a hero, but the freedom gained through struggle with oneself in accepting one’s unique characteristics and a unique strategy for building one’s own life. An example of authentic behavior would be the behavior of a training group participant who, feeling afraid of the upcoming group discussion of the question “How are you feeling now?”, honestly admits that he is afraid.

When we looked at the concept of congruence, we touched on the word “authenticity.” The meaning of this word needs to be known not only by amateurs, but also by all educated people.

What is authenticity

Authenticity(ancient Greek αὐθεντικός - authentic) is a synonym for the words “original” and “real”. Let's give examples.

Let's say that one person decided to translate an English-language book into Russian. The author who wrote this work, after completing the translation, checked everything and confirmed that the translation truly fully conveys the meaning of the work. In this case, the translation of the text is said to be authentic.

Or, for example, your boss wrote instructions for a certain job. After that, he supplemented the instructions with special comments. Such comments will also be considered authentic since they were made by the same person.

Authenticity in psychology

In its broadest sense, authenticity is understood in psychology and philosophy and is, as we have already said, synonymous with the word “congruence.”

When a person refuses various social roles and behaves naturally, he is called authentic.

An example would be a person who is naturally cheerful and loves to joke. Everyone knows this.

And then at the next meeting with friends, he begins to behave too seriously and not naturally for himself. This is inauthenticity.

A person's authenticity, or lack thereof, is reflected in almost everything. Let’s say a young man has a naturally high timbre of voice, but he tries to speak in a low voice, that is, in a bass voice. In such a case we say that it does not correspond to its authenticity.

A synonym for the word “inauthenticity” is “falsification”, that is, a counterfeit or counterfeit.

For a clearer understanding of the term discussed, we recommend that you read about

AUTHENTICITY
(Greek authentikys - authentic). A concept developed in humanistic psychology and psychotherapy and reflecting one of the most important integrative characteristics of personality. According to Rogers (Rogers S.R.), who actively used this term, A. is the ability of a person in communication to refuse various social roles (psychotherapist, professional, teacher, leader, etc.), allowing the manifestation of authenticity, characteristic only a given individual's thoughts, emotions and behavior. Along with the ability for unconditional acceptance and empathy, A. is an essential component of effective human communication.
The boundaries of the concept of A. are unclear. Often, as synonyms for the term A., definitions such as a fully functioning personality (Rogers S.R.), freedom (Allport F.N.), self-actualization (Maslow A.H.), selfhood, holistic personality (Perls F.S.), congruence (Grinder J., Bandler R.).
The psychological meaning of A. can be defined as a coordinated, holistic, interconnected manifestation of the basic psychological processes and mechanisms that determine personal functioning. The manifestation or non-manifestation of A. from this point of view is observed when personal motives and interests collide with social norms and dominant tendencies of social consciousness. In such a situation, authentic behavior presupposes an integral experience of direct experience, not distorted by psychological defense mechanisms. A person is involved in what is happening and then directly shows his emotional attitude towards it. His thoughts and actions are consistent with his emotions. In modern areas of psychology that develop the formal structure of communication, the behavior of such a person is assessed as congruent (i.e., from the point of view of an outside observer, the information coming from him through verbal and nonverbal channels is consistent).
In the traditions of humanistic psychology, A. also characterizes a certain ideal personality, as opposed to a neurotic personality. On the way to A. personal growth occurs. In Gestalt therapy, A., selfhood is preceded by the stages of awareness of the relativity of social norms, the ineffectiveness of behavioral patterns, the affirmation of one’s own value with the discovery in oneself of the possibility of expressing any, even negative, emotions, while simultaneously taking responsibility for authentic behavior in society. In this context, A. is not a role model, say, a hero, but the freedom gained through struggle with oneself in accepting one’s unique characteristics and a unique strategy for building one’s own life. An example of authentic behavior is the behavior of a training group participant who, experiencing fear of an upcoming group discussion of the question “How are you feeling now?”, honestly admits that he is afraid.

Psychotherapeutic encyclopedia. - St. Petersburg: Peter. B. D. Karvasarsky. 2000.

Authenticity is:

Authenticity

Authenticity(ancient Greek αὐθεντικός - genuine) refers to the correctness of principles, properties, views, feelings, intentions; sincerity, devotion.

Authenticity can also mean:

Authenticity in art- this is the reliability of the transmission, the authenticity of the sample. In some cases, it is used to determine the originality of the work and is contrasted with the concept of plagiarism. In literature - author's texts without edits or editorial changes. Often the concept is applied to diaries, personal correspondence, manuscripts, etc. of specific authors. In painting - the author's style, special technique or presentation. In music - a special manner of performance, the use of certain instruments.

Authenticity in Traditional Art

Authenticity is attributed to folk art if this art comes from a bearer of a certain culture. Also, the characteristic of authenticity can be attributed to the art that accurately reproduces folklore samples. For example, playing music on folk instruments, using traditional methods of creating paints and other materials for painting and decorative arts, preserving original phonetics in folk songs.

Authenticity and contemporary art

In modern art, the concept of authenticity is more often applied to the author's style, author's technique, and original idea. Moreover, authenticity can often be attributed not only to the original work, but also to its copies. This approach is especially typical for easily reproduced modern forms of art, where the copy is indistinguishable from the original. In this case, authenticity does not mean the authenticity of the sample, but the originality of the idea of ​​the work of art.

Authenticity in performing musical instruments

Main article authenticism

Authenticity in performance is complete or partial copying style performance of this or that musical work of the time when it was written. For example: the performer plays a composition written in the 18th century, but performs it in the 21st century, the playing style has changed over so many years, and in order to convey the atmosphere, the performer uses those techniques of playing a particular instrument that were used at the time when the composition was written.

Links

• Authenticity in contemporary art - the boundaries of meaning
• Where to look for authenticity
• W. Benjamin “The work of art in the era of its technical reproducibility”

I was called authentic. What does it mean?

Elena Kazakova

AUTHENTICITY - (Greek authentikys - genuine). A concept developed in humanistic psychology and psychotherapy and reflecting one of the most important integrative characteristics of personality. According to Rogers (Rogers S.R.), who actively used this term, A. is the ability of a person in communication to refuse various social roles (psychotherapist, professional, teacher, leader, etc.), allowing the manifestation of authenticity, characteristic only a given individual's thoughts, emotions and behavior. Along with the ability for unconditional acceptance and empathy, A. is an essential component of effective human communication. The boundaries of the concept of A. are unclear. Often, as synonyms for the term A., definitions such as a fully functioning personality (Rogers C.R.), freedom (Allport F.N.), self-actualization (Maslow A.H.), selfhood, holistic personality (Perls F.S.), congruence (Grinder J., Bandler R.). The psychological meaning of A. can be defined as a coordinated, holistic, interconnected manifestation of the basic psychological processes and mechanisms that determine personal functioning. The manifestation or non-manifestation of A. from this point of view is observed when personal motives and interests collide with social norms and dominant tendencies of social consciousness. In such a situation, authentic behavior presupposes an integral experience of direct experience, not distorted by psychological defense mechanisms. A person is involved in what is happening and then directly shows his emotional attitude towards it. His thoughts and actions are consistent with his emotions. In modern areas of psychology that develop the formal structure of communication, the behavior of such a person is assessed as congruent (i.e., from the point of view of an outside observer, the information coming from him through verbal and nonverbal channels is consistent). In the traditions of humanistic psychology, A. also characterizes a certain ideal personality, as opposed to a neurotic personality. On the way to A. personal growth occurs. In Gestalt therapy, A., selfhood is preceded by the stages of awareness of the relativity of social norms, the ineffectiveness of behavioral patterns, the affirmation of one’s own value with the discovery in oneself of the possibility of expressing any, even negative, emotions, while simultaneously taking responsibility for authentic behavior in society. In this context, A. - this is not a role model, say, a hero, but the freedom gained in the struggle with oneself in accepting one’s unique characteristics and a unique strategy for building one’s own life. An example of authentic behavior is the behavior of a training group participant who, experiencing fear of an upcoming group discussion of the question “How are you feeling now?”, honestly admits that he is afraid.
AUTHENTIC AND INAUTHENTIC - (Authentic and inauthentic; authentisch und inauthentisch) - existentialist terms used in depth psychology to distinguish between human actions that turn out to be true or false in relation to oneself, to the self. Practicing psychoanalysts are able to distinguish between these concepts, interpreting inauthentic behavior as defensive. The meaning of these terms is that a person’s “real” feelings and motives for behavior are different from those that he himself feels, his “insincerity” is dictated by the desire to avoid confrontation with certain aspects of the situation or himself.

Authentic personality is a concept that occupies an important place in psychology, translated as “genuine”. It blossomed and found its current meaning in the works of humanistic psychologists and existentialists. For a person, gaining authenticity is the revelation of his true self.

Very close concepts to the word authenticity are: congruence, freedom, self-actualization, selfhood and integrity. They appear in almost any fundamental work that touches on the concept of human personality, choice, values ​​and meanings.

All our prejudices are an attempt to protect ourselves from the surrounding chaos, from new problems, but we create them ourselves or cannot solve existing ones, closing our eyes to reality with our own hands and not seeing the possible answers hidden in it.

Rogers gives the example of a man who, as a result of his life experiences, became convinced that others wanted him to be “strong.” He neglected to take care of his health, could not openly express feelings of love or pain, because this made him vulnerable. His family moved away from him, his illnesses worsened. All it took was not to consider oneself obligated to be someone else.

2. People who have discovered their true self trust the signals that they feel in their own body, their emotions and memory.

Our emotions, feelings, experiences are the main guideline in life. Each person has needs - some general, and some individual. For one person, it is enough to be with people for an hour, and then he will feel tired, while for another, a whole day is not enough.

These differences are difficult to explain, but in general we can talk about different constitutions of the psyche. If we do not satisfy desires that are important to us, we feel annoyed, tired, and bitter. And until a person changes his behavior, his condition will not change.

As a result of the fact that people renounce their personal experience, they stop hearing feelings, experiences, states of discomfort, and renounce them. Meanwhile, constantly ignoring one's own needs can lead to depression. What is she? In mild forms, this is a sign that signals a person: “Change your behavior, something is wrong.”

The more we trust our own body, the easier it becomes for us to maneuver through the events of life, the more pleasure we get from it. At first it can be very difficult, because hundreds of thoughts are swarming in your head, dozens of reactions to one incident can arise, but then everything will work out.

And, by the way, understanding the dynamism and complexity of what is happening is already an indicator of awareness; For the one who closes himself, reality is always very clear. By practicing a conscious approach to reality, a person will gradually begin to more and more quickly realize the unsatisfactory consequences of his choices and change them, correcting mistakes.

Rogers emphasized: the main obstacle to a sober view of reality is the inclusion of fantasies and prejudices in one’s experience. For example, in a romantic relationship, a girl may not notice the negative qualities of a young man, because of this it is easy to make mistakes, but only a sober look was enough to avoid problems.

Those who gain authenticity depend less and less on the opinions of other people. They do not seek approval and encouragement, but set their own living standards. A person realizes that his whole life consists of his choices, and reality can satisfy him only if he proceeds from his own needs.

This component speaks of responsibility. True and complete personal development begins with taking responsibility for your own life and choices.

When a person takes this responsibility, he can no longer approach his choice carelessly, but asks himself questions to what extent his decisions meet his internal needs, to what extent they express him. Interest and responsibility lead to the fact that the emerging personality becomes more proactive and independent.

4. Lack of need to put oneself in strict limits, acceptance of the changeable nature of personality.

Authenticity is an ideal to which one can strive, but it is unlikely to ever be realized in its entirety. Every day a person reveals his own self, or rather, creates his own personality, encountering new experiences that carry him into the future. There are no precise definitions through which to express this.

Tendencies characteristic of authentic people

What are the character trends for those who strive to discover authenticity? What most accurately characterizes the path that will lead a person to himself? There are only a few of them, and they are the main ones on the path to the true self:

• Dropping masks, an authentic person does not pretend to be someone else.
• Debunking “right” and “ought.” A person following the path of searching for authenticity does not consider that duty and rule are higher than his own perception of the world.
• Letting go of the desire to meet expectations and please people. Since a person dropped his masks and stopped being guided by obligations and rules, he became independent. Authentic individuals do not think about how to please someone so that they fulfill their desires - they go about achieving their dreams themselves, and there is no need to satisfy the expectations of others.
• Responsibility for yourself and your path, independence.
• Refusal of strict schemes and rules.
• Acceptance of the dynamism of life and one’s own personality (the next point follows from this).
• Silent permission for people to be Others (an authentic person does not believe that others or reality should correspond to her expectations, be a certain pattern, but accepts them as they are).
• Cultivating self-confidence and, most importantly, a high appreciation of your own uniqueness. It doesn’t matter whether we meet the standards or not, it is important to value ourselves regardless, because standards are standard paths, and any discovery and any life is an amazing path not yet traveled.

Authenticity is difficult to achieve, because we are surrounded by social rules and norms, breaking which we risk earning big bucks. However, who became the author of the concept of “self-actualization”, close to the one under consideration, argued that self-actualizing people can behave completely within the boundaries of the norm, but only if they do not encounter resistance to this within themselves, they will not go against themselves.

He believed that authentic individuals can accept any social norms if they were comprehended and deeply felt by them, recognized as true and, on this basis, included in their behavior and worldview. Therefore, authenticity is not always a challenge to the rules, but it is always a very active, conscious position, which means it does not accept thoughtless adherence to the rules.

An authentic person has no need to look up to anyone. She does not classify herself as a good artist or excellent mathematician. She has her own path, and she is the only one on it.

According to one physicist, what one person has done can be repeated by another, but what about what no one has ever done? This is creativity, accomplishment, experiment. We don’t know that this is definitely possible, but when we gain authenticity, we also gain the courage to move forward without guarantees, to express ourselves without hoping to fit in with someone else, to create our own place in the world. Author: Ekaterina Volkova

What is authenticity? According to the dictionary, to be authentic means to be genuine or real. It's hard to describe what authentic people should look like, but you can instantly recognize which person is authentic and which one is not. Perhaps it is the way a person speaks or behaves (or rather, the way he does not say or do) that allows one to know in an instant whether he is authentic or not.

Either way, authentic people do a lot of things right, which makes them extremely likable. It's a pleasure to spend time with them. I'm sure you prefer to deal with real people rather than those who pretend. Here are 15 things authentic people will never do, so you too can learn how to live an authentic life.

1. Don’t fake feelings

Authentic people don't hide their feelings or pretend to feel something that they don't. If they are upset, they show it. If they don’t like someone, they let the person know about it. They express their feelings honestly and openly, without fear of causing harm. When you show your true feelings, you let people know who you are and what you're worth. Authentic people do this all the time, which frees them from bottled-up emotions.

2. Don't try to please everyone

Highly authentic people strive to show compassion and understanding to everyone, but they do not live to meet others' expectations or please everyone. They know it's impossible, so they shouldn't even try. Just be confident in who you are and what you do. This way you will attract the right people who will value you for who you are.

3. Don't compare yourself to others

We are all unique. We have different abilities, aspirations, and access to resources that are necessary for success and happiness in life. This is why our life paths cannot be compared with what other people have. Highly authentic people understand this fact and avoid social comparisons to evaluate their own progress. They don't compare themselves to others. Instead, they do everything they can to stay true to their aspirations and dreams. Do your best, but don't compare your progress to others. What works for others doesn't necessarily work for you.

4. They don’t seek or need other people’s assessments.

Genuine people feel comfortable with something and know their worth. They don't need other people to know how special they are. If you feel comfortable even knowing your own shortcomings, you can walk with your head held high and your steps confident.

5. Don't lie

Insecure people who don't know their own worth lie so easily and willingly that it becomes second nature to them. But genuine people always tell the truth because they know that lying destroys trust in a relationship. Tell the truth, even if it's hard to do, and you will never look back and regret what you did. Being honest is the best way to be at peace with yourself and other people.

6. Don't pretend to be something you're not.

Many people pretend that they are not who they really are. Authentic people do not pretend that they are more famous, poorer, or more talented than they really are. They always remain themselves. They do not hide what they have and do not pretend to what they do not have. Being yourself is truly wonderful. It is inspiring and deeply satisfying to live your own life.

7. Don't dwell on the past

Highly authentic people live in the moment. They don't let the past dictate their future. If you worry about this, you will repeat past mistakes. You will not have the freedom to create new experiences and relationships. Do what you can now, learn from past mistakes and believe in the future. This will help you find meaning in life.

8. Don't allow others to make decisions for themselves.

Only you can make important decisions in your life. Authentic people are always in the driver's seat of their lives. They make important decisions themselves. If you let other people make decisions for you, you will eventually lose. Also, if you don't have the courage to take charge of your life, then you won't have the strength to succeed.

9. Don't blame others for your own mistakes.

Authentic people do not blame others for their own failures. They take responsibility for every decision and action they make in their lives, regardless of whether the outcome is positive or negative. When you are the first to admit that you were wrong or made a mistake, you open the door to real help, support and guidance from others. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. What matters is what you do after that mistake.

10. Don't envy other people's success

Authentic people support and motivate others, helping them move forward and become better people. They know that if others can do it, then they are no exception. Therefore, authentic people are happy when others succeed. View other people's achievements as proof that you too can succeed. In any case, do not try to reduce the other person's chances of success.

Authentic people trust their own sixth sense. They will not act before assessing the situation and understanding their feelings about it. If you think things through, you improve your chances of considering all your options and making the right decision. You can ask other people for advice, but the final decision should be yours.

12. They don’t value material possessions over life experiences.

Highly authentic people see beauty in experiences and relationships. They know that meaningful experiences make life worth living. You need to look for a better life and material wealth, but don't underestimate the people, relationships and experiences you have in your life. It's not about how much money you've accumulated, but what you've learned along the way.

13. Don’t deny love and kindness

To be authentic is to be loving. Authentic people cannot hate, demoralize or devalue others. Instead, they show love, kindness and gratitude. They encourage others to be authentic and avoid all forms of discrimination and judgment. Treat everyone fairly and kindly. When showing love, don't expect anything in return.

14. Don't close your mind

Authentic people are always open to new ideas and life lessons. They know they don't exist in a vacuum. When you keep your mind closed, you are more likely to be rude or insult other people's feelings and beliefs. Free yourself from beliefs and begin to perceive new arguments and ideas. You don't have to agree with everything that is said to you, but you should accept it as a tolerant and moderate person.

15. Don't spend time with toxic people

Highly authentic people know that they are somewhere in between all the people around them. If the people you spend most of your time with bully others and drag them down, then you are most likely doing the same. Get rid of all the ill-mannered and critical people who surround you. This is the easiest way to stay true to your innate kindness and love for the world.