Psychic Equivalence

Psychic equivalence and embeddedness are two related terms originating from attachment theory that are useful to reflect upon when we consider how we experience and react to the world around us. 

Psychic equivalence is a mental state where no distinction is drawn between the contents of the mind and the external world. For example, when a person experiences fear they may automatically view the world as threatening and project their fears onto others. In extreme forms, this person may become paranoid and believe that others are out to get them. In this example, the person is equating internal thoughts and feelings with external reality, which may or may not be true. 

When in a state of psychic equivalence, our subjective experiences of the internal world and external reality are fused and experienced as a single true reality. We are trapped in a position of feeling as if we are the object of an experience, rather than being an interpreting subject of an experience. This leaves us with little incentive or mental space to deliberately think about our experience and we can be swept up in an emotional state that drowns out thought, leaving little capacity to think rationally or step back to reflect objectively. 

Similarly, embeddedness is a frame of mind or stance in which we are swept up into an experience such that it is the only thing occurring. Our experience is the experience. This can be useful in reacting to actual threats or when in a state of flow, such as when immersed in art or sports. However, it can be maladaptive in situations that require us to step-back and reflect or understand multiple perspectives. 

When in a state of embeddedness, we are merged so deeply with the experience that we have no capacity to reflect on feelings, sensations, or mental representations as information in our awareness. In most healthy adults, this is context dependent, such that some events and relationships can leave us swallowed up and swamped by emotion. If we can step outside of this embedded state, we would see that our feelings, sensations, thoughts, and mental images are separate, internal representations of external experiences that we can reflect upon when interpreting events as they unfold before us. 

In our example, the person experiencing fear would be able to label this as a feeling, think through the external events as they unfold, evaluate thoughts, understand multiple perspectives, make rational conclusions about any actual threats, and act accordingly. In contrast, should they remain embedded in their experience of psychic equivalence, they might view others with suspicion and experience a single reality in which others are looking to undermine them. When challenged they might struggle to modulate their emotions and react defensively to what they perceive as threatening.  

Depression, anxiety, and overall stress can make us more vulnerable to psychic equivalence and embeddedness, which can thereby worsen our mood and negatively impact our relationships and self-worth. Stepping outside of psychic equivalence and an embedded stance requires us to recognize and label this pattern in our own lives. Slowing down and regulating our emotions in the moment can help us to develop and strengthen our reflective capacity, which allows us to better understand ourselves and others. Taking space to reflect and talking with others to reality-test our experiences is also helpful. Lastly, mindfulness takes this capacity to the next level and can be seen as the natural growth of our capacity for reflection as we learn to rest in state of awareness that encourages and supports our reflective capacity. 

Dr. Thomas Lindquist, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Contact: t.lindquist.psyd@gmail.com