Harmonic Triads Revisited

The three of us have been discussing some possible reworking of the names of the Harmonic Triads. While we haven’t yet come up with perfect names (Reactive is particularly on the chopping block), the discussion about what these triads really are left us with some insights that we wanted to share. Below is a summary I (Joseph) have written on each triad; and below that you’ll find an expansion on that summary written by David in connection with the Object Relations.

Summary by Joseph:

4-6-8: Quickly/Impulsively provoking to uncover hidden negative truth for catharsis; putting people through stress test to find their truth

6: the truth is the information you don’t have (head), I have to offer it: the truth is the bad thoughts and actions people are hiding, I need to get everyone on board with exposing it (attachment)

8: the truth is in your sense of boundary (gut); if I push you into a corner (rejection), that’s who you really are, a universal “no”

4: the truth is what’s under the personality mask (image); if I’m singularly separate and honest about my negative emotions (frustration), I’ll provoke the truth about yours, you can’t possibly be happy, trying to get people to talk about their negative feelings

2-7-9: Avoiding the full processing of negativity in favour of widespread hopefulness

2: A proud hopefulness that my goodness (image) is exactly what’s needed (rejection)

7: Rapidly ejecting my running wheel of playful thoughts (head) to alleviate the existential boredom (frustration)

9: Offering a universal “yes” to all existence (gut attachment)

1-3-5: Becoming a machine to detach from or reconcile the polarity of negative/positive

1: Detaching from self to be an on ongoing catalyst for a universal sense (gut) of corrective (frustration) right and wrong

3: Neutralizing positive and negative emotions (image) by adapting (attachment) to an image of self-improvement

5: Acting as a thought island (head rejection) to avoid the external chaos of humanity, thereby becoming a machine

Elaboration by David:

Bottom line (reactive type baseline) takes me to 6 and ‘level playing field’, seeking grounding in reality, etc…

…and the idea that the Attachment type in each triad illustrates or embodies the core of the thing/theme.

6 *is* that horizontal line at the bottom of the Triangle. Bottom line.

3 is the upward line rising. Competency gets things done. Competent skilled people and excellence naturally rises.

9 — line going down to 6, indicates that *hoping* for the best is doomed to failure (instead of starting from the reality of the bottom line in a given scenario, and coming up with a competent strategy).

The downward line symbolizes the neurotic ‘work’ that the positive outlook types are engaged in — what they’re fighting against.

i.e. there’s an underlying unconscious knowing that hope/positivity won’t bring what they actually seek so positive outlook has to work overtime to keep the illusion/delusion/fantasy alive.

Kind of like ‘attachment to disconnect’ — attachment types create disconnection so that the neurotic attachment engine has ‘work’ to do.