Adaptive specificity of the self and complexity of the inward and outward Personal Meaning Organizations (PMO)

Starting from Guidano’s model and based on each individual’s subjective adaptation abilities, I began to investigate the PMO by considering them not in relation to possible clinical diseases, but as an expression of adaptability. The PMO allow to identify and cope with new socio-cultural and situational types of stress. The “Controller” inward PMO matures in an environment with available care-givers in case of need and leads to development of competence in managing stress as an expression of danger. The “Detached” inward PMO matures in an environment where there are no available care-givers and leads to development of competence in managing stress as an expression of loneliness. The “Contextualized” outward PMO matures in an environment providing “online” guidance and leads to developing competence in managing stress as an expression of the opinion of others. The “Principles-Oriented” PMO, which matures in an environment providing “offline” guidelines, develops competence in managing stress as an expression of duty, i.e., having to do what is right. The most significant findings from recent clinical and neurobiological investigations confirm not only the importance and clinical efficacy of Guidano’s epistemological and psychotherapeutic construct, Post-Rationalist Cognitive Therapy, but also, through the tools that have by now become available, some his insights, such as the concepts of PMO and the difference between inward and outward ways to self relate experience.