LadyCamelot's Hypothesis of Psychologically-Applied "Tunnel Vision"
By LadyCamelot
Generally, tunnel vision is a physical dysfunction of the eye. If one can imagine viewing the world around him or herself through a narrow tube, that is tunnel vision. Now, the positive outcome of any physical discrepancy is that other senses tend to "kick in" and make up for the disability. For example, if a person is deaf, eyesight becomes keener. If a person cannot see, hearing is more concentrated. Thus, with tunnel vision, a person can either accentuate the positive or the negative -- the choice, however, is up to the individual entirely. An equivelent thought would be to either see the glass half full or half empty.
Hypothetically speaking, one could apply "tunnel-vision thinking" in both positive and negative ways. Tunnel-vision thinking is when persons act or think in either one of two ways. Primarily, the positive ideal of tunnel-vision thinking would be for an individual to narrow his goals to a single, harmonic pattern and leave the shady and non-essential areas to the wayside. The negative form of tunnel-vision thinking is when a person becomes obcessively drawn to self-destructive and delusional behavioral patterns.
Positive tunnel-vision thinking can encourage excelling in one's career, family life, social life and an overall healthier and happier physical, mental and emotional constitution. Using the mental thought process of visualization, a person may view his or her life as a long passage. As the individual views this pathway, there are shady areas to the left and right of himself -- but when he gazes further, there's a brilliant, beckoning light at the far end. This light mimics the priorities, goals and ideals of our lives. When we concentrate on the positive energy of the tunnel-vision light, we find enlightenment, encouragement and ultimately -- we discover our inner-psyche that demonstrates the force of human and spiritual willpower.
If we utilize the power of positive tunnel-vision thinking, we can set goals, find resolve and create a harmonic environment. Positive tunnel-vision thinking reinforces creative thought processes and extinguishes destructive behavior. In other words, practicing tunnel-vision visualization with the combined psychological conditioning of life being viewed through a metaphorical "tunnel," we allow ourselves to remain focused in a positive light.
On the other hand, negative tunnel-vision thinking is when persons are so blind-sided, that s/he can't see the wood for the trees. Otherwise, negative tunnel-vision thinking is when an individual becomes consumed by his or her own necessity, self-preservation and selfishness. This form of tunnel-vision thinking forces persons to disconnect from reality; making life more intolerable and destructive due to negative behavioral patterns. Negative tunnel-vision thinking also impairs a person's ability to reason; therefore individuals who suffer from negative tunnel-vision become detached from social responsibility and relationships, in general.
In this aspect, the person's poor tunnel-vision ultimately leads to anti-social or paranoid dilusional behavior. These persons are typically consumed by wreckless and intentional acts that advertantly cause mental and emotional neglect or harm to others around them. Negative tunnel thinkers are also inclined to be less apirational, non-motivated and lack self-restraint and discipline. Negative tunnel-vision thinking is a learned behavior, and may take years of psychological counseling to repair.
If there are any practicing psychologists, psychiatrists or counselors who have encountered this form of learned, mental behavior, I would like to hear his or her perspective on my hypothesis of tunnel-vision thinking. And, furthermore, would like to know if there are any counseling programs available for persons who suffer from this self-induced, mental illness. I will glady produce anonymous subject study cases for review and welcome any feedback in relation to tunnel-vision thinking -- both positive and negative aspects pertaining to this particular topic of review.
I also invite fellow readers to participate in my quest to obtain knowledge on this specific category. Do you know a positive tunnel-vision thinker? A negative tunnel-vision thinker? How has he or she effected your life? Are you a tunnel-vision thinker? What type of tunnel-vision thinker are you?
{NOTE: Although I am not a clinical psychologist, I have avidly observed and studied the behavioral constitutions of countless persons (myself included) over the course of 15+ years. What I have theoretically discovered is that there are a mariad of personality types. But what I realized the most was that there are some negative and positive tunnel thinkers among us all. These tunnel thinkers tend to reveal themselves quite evidentually.}
About the Author
LadyCamelot is the author of "Windows to the Soul," an inspirational book of poetry and the Public Relations' Director of Holisticjunction.com
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