Contact Differentiation / A + X

Description

(+) Positive attentional valence

Affirming what's good, present, working: "Nice day! The sun is shining."

Attention drawn to what is good, available, and working.

Default expectation of favorable outcomes.

Hopeful and bright emotional baseline.

Accumulation of problems along Assimilation functions. Instrumental problem-solving along Differentiation.

General Meaning

Foregrounding the positive

Achieving a good outcome takes priority over avoiding negative consequences

Intellectual Level

Similarity-based thinking (connection, integration, completion)

Social Level

Trusting and open in initial contact

More accepting of strangers and outsiders

Psychological Level

Lower emotional guardedness, higher suggestibility

Physical Level

Lower baseline tension (needs activation)