Page 126 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 7

Challenges for Christian Psychology

anthropology, psychology, philosophy, different fore, Durand’s AT.9 test (which will be descri-
cultures, and religions, and found that human bed later) not only provides the structures for
activities are revealed in various fundamental assessing one’s category of the imaginary (he-
structures of the imaginary. There lie the origin roic, mystical and synthetic), but also offer a
of human culture, namely in a wealth of ima- framework to assess and better understand
ges and symbols that continue to shape ways one’s unstructured category of the imaginary.
of thinking and relating. Durand (1960) found In sum, the use of Durand’s theory of the ima-
that structures of the imaginary may be identi- ginary combined with Rizzuto’s theory on God
fied as 1) “heroic” : this structure relates to sym- image appears relevant to the study of the ima-
bols that refer to fighting in battle, to victory, to ginary and images of God among Vietnamese
making a stand, to separating what is good from immigrants living in Canada. This study pro-
what is bad or evil. These symbols and images poses that those Vietnamese immigrants whose
refer to a heroic struggle as part of a daily life imaginary falls in the synthetic category would
spent countering the anxiety of time and the th- most likely embrace a positive God image. Ac-
reat of death. Theheroic structure is commonly cording to Wunenburger (2013), it offers a va-
associated with the rigour of the rational thin- luable heuristic potential to foster relevant ana-
king; it is also concerned with the tendency to lytical tools for intercultural studies. The next
look for elevation and liberation; 2) “intimate or section will further discuss on the AT.9 Test and
mystical” : the symbols attached to this struc- the Questionnaire of God Image.
ture are more commonly associated with heart-
felt ways of living: finding peace without turbu- AT.9 Test
lence; seeing everything as friendly, gentle and Using the Anthropological Structures of the
peaceful; life is warm when internalized, like Imaginary as basis, Yves Durand (2005) develo-
good food that we absorb to nurture ourselves ped an archetypal test comprised of a drawing
(Xiberras, 2002. 3). Third category of the imagi- that tells a story, using nine universal symbolic
nary, called “synthetic” refers to a harmonious elements (Durand, 2005) to measure the struc-
integration between the above two categories. tures of the imaginary. Practically speaking,
In fact, this third category of the imaginary can this test uses a sheet of paper and a pencil wit-
enable the two opposing structures (heroic and hout an eraser; the participant is asked to draw,
mystical) to achieve a healthy harmony while and later, to compose a written narrative of the
remaining in each other’s presence, instead of drawing (i.e. “what happens in the drawing?”).
excluding the other. The synthetic category is Note that the AT.9 follows a strict protocol along
revealed in one’s ability to overcome existential with these instructions: “Tell a story by drawing
fear with faith in the fullness of time and in fi- the following elements: a fall, a sword, a refu-
nal salvation (Xiberras, 2002, p. 94-95); it is also ge, a devouring monster, something cyclical, a
is found in several different cultural traditions character, water, an animal, and fire” (Durand,
and myths (monotheistic and polytheistic). 2005). Durand (2005) suggests that the above
However, Durand (2005) indicates that if one nine symbolic elements would: 1) bring forth
of the two opposing structures (heroic or my- the problem of time, death, and anguish (i.e.
stical) of the imaginary takes too much space the fall and the devouring monster); 2) suggest
at another’s expense, then an unhealthy sta- tools to resolve anxiety: the sword, the refuge
te develops and causes discomfort (i.e. mental and/ or something cyclical (these archetypes re-
illness, social discomfort, conflicts). In other spectively serve as the functional starting points
words, the person’s imaginary could come to for the heroic, mystical, duex and/or synthetic
light in a „defective“ manner“. Furthermore, a categories); and 3) serve as complements: the
non- structuring category showed in one’s dra- person’s role is to be the main actor in relation
wing and storytelling may be observed with with another eight elements.
AT9 test (Archetypal test with nine elements, The interpretation of the AT.9 is primarily
Durand, 2005, p.11), which identifies the type grounded on the manner in which the “drama-
of imaginary an individual possesses. There- tic-design story” is organized, and secondly, on

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