Healing Experiments — What interferes with relational capacity?
Each experiment is framed as:
“Test whether this reduces distortion and increases relational clarity.”
Integral Deep Listening (IDL) interviewing is a core tool in these experiments. By actively engaging with internal, dream, or transpersonal perspectives, you can uncover and dissolve toxic patterns that interfere with relational capacity.
Use these exercises to explore, measure, and improve respect, reciprocity, trustworthiness, and empathy in daily life and dreaming.
Surfacing Scripts
Test: Does identifying biological, familial, and cultural assumptions improve respect and empathy?
Practice
Use IDL interviewing to explore recurring internal scripts: ask your perspectives or dream characters how they influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Journal what emerges and notice patterns in real-time interactions.
Predicted Relational Effect
Greater awareness of underlying assumptions enhances sensitivity to others’ viewpoints, improving respect and empathy in relational interactions.
How to Test It
- Interview internal or dream perspectives about habitual responses.
- Observe whether reactions become less automatic and more considered.
- Track relational impact in waking interactions.
What to Track
- Number of times a script is noticed before reacting
- Respect and empathy ratings (0–10)
- Emergent patterns or insights from journaling or interviews
Related Theory / Essays
Exiting Toxic Drama
Test: Does eliminating Drama Triangle roles reduce reactivity in waking, thinking, and dreaming?
Practice
Use IDL interviewing to explore the dynamics of Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer roles. Ask dream or internal perspectives why you adopt these roles and what alternative behaviors they suggest. Consciously step out of these dynamics and observe reactions.
Predicted Relational Effect
Stepping out of toxic drama should increase relational clarity, calmness, and stability, reducing reactive patterns.
How to Test It
- Interview internal/dream perspectives about your participation in drama roles.
- Apply alternative behaviors in waking life and observe responses.
- Monitor for neutrality, thoughtful responses, and absence of triggering the Drama Triangle.
What to Track
- Number of times you step out of drama roles
- Reactivity ratings (0–10)
- Dream or thought patterns reflecting reduced drama
Related Theory / Essays
Clearing Toxic Thinking
Test: Does identifying distortions, biases, and fallacies increase trustworthiness (with self and others)?
Practice
Interview internal or dream perspectives about recurring cognitive distortions (e.g., overgeneralizing, catastrophizing). Ask how these patterns impact your decisions and relationships. Replace distortions with neutral, fact-based perspectives. Journal observations and changes.
Predicted Relational Effect
Greater awareness of distortions enhances reliability, consistency, and trustworthiness in communication and interactions.
How to Test It
- Interview perspectives about biased thinking and its impact.
- Apply corrective perspectives in decisions and interactions.
- Compare relational trustworthiness and clarity before and after.
What to Track
- Number of cognitive distortions identified and corrected
- Self and others’ trustworthiness ratings (0–10)
- Observed impact on relational clarity and collaboration
Related Theory / Essays