Centeredness Theory

Centeredness Theory (CT) is a systems model of individual and workplace wellbeing developed and 2010 by MAP Biotech and its founder Zephyr Bloch-Jorgensen.
The theory addresses drivers of wellbeing and their interrelations across five core life domains—the self, family, relationships, community, and work. It applies an open-systems perspective of human functioning to propose that an individual’s wellbeing and self-actualization(centeredness) are facilitated when experiencing balance and compatibility of goals within and between these five domains.
In 2011 an e-health industry partnership study was created with Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Sydney, Australia. This partnership aimed to measure and improve mental health using the Centeredness Theory framework. Centeredness Psychology has helped to facilitate better interventions for public health. For example, the "Centeredness Theory Interview" is a new clinical treatment for people who have suffered traumatic brain injury. In 2020, American Psychological Association reported the CT Scale and Psychological Test.
Theoretical Foundations
Centeredness theory proposes a dynamic interplay between five domains of human experience that may affect an individual’s wellbeing. and aspirations will be achieved.
The community, family, work, and relationship dimensions represent the theory’s four external domains. The domain of self represents the fifth internal domain that must be balanced with the previous four to facilitate centeredness. The more a person does this, the more they can maintain centeredness despite exposure to trauma and adversity, leading to greater resilience.
Centeredness theory argues that individuals can achieve greater centeredness through goal setting (thought) and goal pursuit (action). When meaningful goals exist in all five domains, greater centeredness is facilitated.
* Productive orientation: The healthiest and most productive of six character orientations proposed by psychoanalytic theorist, Erich Fromm. With increased centeredness comes a greater drive to be optimally productive across all domains.
* Self-actualization: The highest level of psychological development in . As centeredness increases, an individual moves toward greater self-actualization.
* Individuation: Put forward by Carl Jung, individuation is the process by which individuals recognize their uniqueness. As centeredness increases, individuals increasingly discover this uniqueness of self.
* Flow: The state of being wholly immersed in a state of energized focus. As centeredness increases, individuals experience an increase in flow states.
* Sensitive dependence on initial conditions: Drawn from chaos theory and fractal geometry, this principle suggests ‘butterfly effects’ occur within and between domains. According to centeredness theory, seemingly minor actions and thoughts (as well as inaction) can have large-scale, non-linear effects for the individual and the broader environment.
* Catastrophe Theory: Argues that self-intensification is inherent in natural systems and that stability in a system is a prerequisite for producing new pathways. An example is when a person leverages stability through stillness to fortify neural networks that support centeredness via mindfulness practice.
Influencing Factors
Centeredness theory puts forward several factors that facilitate centeredness and characterize those high in centeredness. Centeredness increases when individuals reframe debilitative stress as a positive challenge or opportunity for growth. This is done by leveraging self-awareness and goals to close the gap between a person’s current and ideal state of wellbeing when faced with difficult situations. This form of attention supports centeredness by bringing receptive, non-judgmental awareness to present-moment experiences that can inform the creation and pursuit of meaningful goals across the five domains. A range of specific goal-setting strategies have also been proposed to aid centeredness.
* Value-congruent: Goals should align with the individual’s personal beliefs and values. Goals that do not can misalign with the domain of self and reduce centeredness.
* Personally relevant: Goals should be personally relevant to an individual’s psychological needs or address demands presented by their environment.
History
Bloch-Jorgensen put forward a conceptualization of centeredness and draws on principles from philosophy, spirituality, psychology, and the natural sciences to present a new paradigm for mental health and wellbeing.
Meta-Analysis Profile
MAP is a scientifically validated wellbeing assessment and digital health intervention. Data from this assessment were used to validate the theoretical principles on which it is based (i.e., Centeredness Theory) and enable further development of the tool.
The five dimensions of MAP are represented as a geometric pattern of five spheres. The central middle sphere represents the endogenous self, which is surrounded by and overlaps with the four exogenous spheres. Each sphere comprises four subdimensions, reflective of the underlying factor structure of the assessment. Centeredness theory has been used to guide the development of a motivational interviewing schedule in this field, which explore life aspects that are important to patients and interact across the theory’s five domains.
Centeredness has also been applied in discussions on domestic violence and flourishing in education systems and schools.<ref name":1" /><ref name":6" />

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