Üsküdar University Psychology Club organized the “Self-Differentiation” event. Exp. Psychologist Dilay Süloğlu was the guest of the event, which was held online via Zoom. Süloğlu stated that anxiety is defined as a response to real or imaginary threats.
“They do not rely on others for their successes”
Süloğlu, speaking about people with a high level of differentiation, said: “These individuals make clearer distinctions between emotion and thought. They express their beliefs without attacking others' beliefs and without blindly defending their own. They do not rely on others for their successes. They can position themselves more accurately relative to others, without overestimating or underestimating themselves. In marriage, partners can express a range of emotional intimacy without losing themselves; they can allow their children to grow and develop autonomous selves without trying to make their children copies of themselves.”
“They live in a world dominated by emotions”
Exp. Psychologist Dilay Süloğlu spoke about people with a low level of differentiation. Süloğlu stated: “Even individuals at the lowest level of self-differentiation have a minimum amount of differentiation. They live in a world dominated by emotions. People cannot truly distinguish emotion. They are relationship-oriented, constantly seeking approval, love, and harmony, so they lack the energy to pursue their own life goals. If they have an adequate attachment system, they can function symptom-free throughout their lives. Many suffer from severe psychological, physical, and social symptoms and high chronic anxiety.”
“Anxiety is defined as a response to real or imaginary threats”
Süloğlu, stating that anxiety is a response to real and imaginary threats, said: “Stress is another variable in Bowen theory. It is an external source of pressure that can create anxiety and emotional reactivity in individuals. Stressors include many life events, such as the birth of a child or the separation of a child. Anxiety is defined as a response to real or imaginary threats. Chronic anxiety is a response to a perceived or imagined threat, often limitless over time. Higher levels of chronic anxiety are associated with lower basic self-differentiation levels. Lower chronic anxiety levels are associated with higher self-differentiation levels. The lower the level of differentiation, the more frequent the episodes of emotional reactivity. These occur at higher intensity levels.”