How do we acquire and integrate the deep tacit assumptions that form and inform how we view, and how we choose to live in, ‘the/our’ world? I am focusing on the assumptions we possess that inform and form our understanding of human nature (for example, that people are inherently violent or that people are inherently benevolent) and that inform and form our views about the organization of social life (for example, because people are inherently violent society must ensure that all social institutions and laws keep our violent nature in check).
In 1985 Stephen Brookfield described two types of assumptions: psychological assumptions and cultural assumptions (these two types continue to be two of the major ones embraced today by those who research and write about our topic).
Psychological Assumptions are rules that are unconscious and that inhibit and that provide us boundaries; when we ‘cross’ a boundary (think: break a rule) we experience high anxiety and guilt. Here are a few of these psychological assumptions that I integrated early in life: ‘Avoid Conflict,’ ‘Don’t Rock the Boat,’ ‘See All Sides,’ ‘Never Be Angry’ and ‘Be a Peacemaker.’
Cultural Assumptions are deeply embedded in both the dominant culture and in the dominant sub-cultures (the sub-cultures are where we spend most of our time). They contain, among other things, the ‘core values’ of the culture and sub-cultures and are transmitted to ‘new members’ via a number of pathways. Among other things these assumptions form and inform our conduct when it comes to politics, economics, occupations, and faith-traditions.
As ‘mature’ adults one of our challenges is to become aware of our psychological and cultural assumptions so we can determine the ways they serve us and hinder us (this process involves our learning to become critical thinkers. ‘Thinking Critically’ is a skill to be learned, integrated and applied).
As human beings, we, by our nature, seek to find meaning in our lives and we seek to make sense of all that happens to us. Our assumptions are one of the frameworks we develop in order to help us do both of these. What is important for me to understand – and perhaps for you, too, gentle reader, to understand – is that I might well (and I do) find other people’s frameworks to be, a minimum, foolish (‘How could you assume that?’) or at maximum repugnant (‘What do you mean, ‘people are inherently evil’?) and at the same time I cannot deny that they are, just as I am, striving to find meaning in their/the world and they are striving to make sense of their/the world.
For example, I cannot understand why anyone would think that a certain person would make a ‘good president’ and yet, if I am honest with myself I cannot claim that their views are irrational – irrational in the sense that they are not being grounded in any framework of values, beliefs, and deep tacit assumptions that help them make sense of their/the world. Given this, their views are reasonable. How often I forget this is beyond counting.
[to be continued]
Searcher-Seeker 
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