The "Authentic" Person

Psychology points to Maslow and Rogers when it talks about the authentic self and describes it much in the manner of the Websterís Dictionary when it says that when something (or someone) is authentic it is ìentitled to acceptance or belief...î As far back as the works of existential philosopher Martin Heidegger (about 1927) acknowledged that authentic life was the result of a process wherein one comes to grips with their own mortality, and ability because of it to exercize ones freedom to create a meaningful existence. This entailed living a life freely chosen, not dictated by the morals or expectations of others. In which ones internal sense of self regulates external behaviors. The concept fueled much of Abraham Maslowís hierarchy of needs theory and Carl Rogersí person-centered approaches to psychology.

Maslow believed that a self-actualized person was one who was spontaneous (not necessarily bound by the conventions of society), problem-centered (concerned with basic ethical and philosophical issues) , had an efficient perception of reality (with an unusual ability to judge people as good), and most importantly was characterized by acceptance of self , of others and of nature. Rogers built his lifeís work on what he called an innate need for unconditional positive self-regard. That is achieved when a person perceives his whole self as worthy of positive regard, irrespective of how he evaluates specific aspects of his behavior.

The Authentic Self and The Transgendered

For some what is going on is wild tumult. A battle rages between the social self and the real self. The social self yearns to live the life it has been taught, years of male/female paradigmatic influence striving to make your behaviors comply with the programming that society has completed on you. It wants to be male and to feel male and to be perceived male so that it can be at peace with the social self. The other forces want an expression of authentic self. The real, or authentic self is striving for a lifestyle wherein expression is based on internal expectations. The expectations that are often at odds with those of the social self. Expectations which sometimes take on a decidedly feminine flare and manner to them and which the social self strives to sublimate. For many in the trans-community the battle has raged for years; the victims are marriages, jobs, family, and personal physical and mental health. For some, the battle has ended with suicide attempts and, sadly, successes. The power of the social self and the programmers of the social self is great. The reinforcers of this power present in everyday life.

The goal is to balance the Chakras and foster inner peace. The Oriental yin-yang is the accepted symbol of balance in us. It suggests an ability within us to weight the pans of the scale evenly such that neither side has control without consent of the other. This, when taken at a more macro-level, can be seen as a lifestyle of compromise. For the true transsexual this can only be achieved by aligning body and mind with spirit and forming the balance that results. For the non-transsexual crossdresser, this means the compromise with self, with family and with society and can mean both physical and mental health. I hear frequently from transsexuals on the inbound edge of RLT that they are more often mistaken as a woman when dressed as a man than the opposite. This may be key to understanding the true nature of their ëself.í If the TS is a woman in a manís body, this is the perception one would expect. If on the other hand, the TS claims to ëfeel like a womaní we might predict that this misperception by society would occur less frequently or not at all. Its the inner-self that society sees when the call the TS, dressed as a male, ëMaíam.í

For the TG the dividing line may be less visible and may come in the form of inner peace. For some being feminine and casual is every bit as comforting and ërightí as is being ready for work or a evening out. This inner peace will no doubt be visible only to the observers of the soul and be manifest in a calm, self-assurance (such as the ones spoken of by Maslow and Rogers). The TV may only feel this sense of inner peace while dressed unmistakably

feminine and the balance then must come in accepting and appreciating the feelings they have while in a male mode. The quest which drives us all, according to Maslow and others, is the search for our own, balanced self. It may be self-actualized, consist of positive unconditional self regard or be embodied in any number of theoretical constructs. The acquisition is clear to us when we get it and the fight then becomes to hold on to it. The acquisition is also clear to those around us and the achievement is obvious when it is fulfilled.