The left brain functions, as described by Iain McGilchrist in his work, and the features of protective parts in Internal Family Systems (IFS) share several similarities in how they approach the world, manage information, and protect the self. Here’s an exploration of these parallels:
1. Focus on Control and Order
Left Brain Functions: According to McGilchrist, the left hemisphere is characterized by a preference for control, certainty, and order. It seeks to categorize, analyze, and impose structure on the world, often favouring clear, predictable patterns. The left hemisphere tends to prioritize what is known and familiar, resisting ambiguity and complexity.
Protective Parts in IFS: Protective parts in IFS, such as managers and firefighters, are similarly focused on maintaining control and order within the internal system. Managers, for instance, work to prevent discomfort by controlling behaviour, thoughts, and emotions. They might impose rigid rules, routines, or beliefs to keep the person safe from perceived threats. Firefighters act in the moment to distract from or numb overwhelming feelings, often through impulsive behaviours. Both types of protective parts strive to create a sense of stability and predictability, much like the left brain's desire for control.
2. Analytical and Problem-Solving Orientation
Left Brain Functions: The left hemisphere is analytical, logical, and detail-oriented. It excels at breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable components and focuses on solving problems through step-by-step reasoning. It tends to be highly task-focused and efficient in dealing with immediate challenges.
Protective Parts in IFS: Protective parts often adopt a similar analytical and problem-solving approach to managing internal conflicts or external stressors. For example, a manager part might constantly strategize about how to avoid situations that could trigger emotional pain or vulnerability. These parts often engage in overthinking, planning, or other forms of mental activity designed to protect the self from harm or discomfort, paralleling the left brain’s emphasis on logic and problem-solving.
3. Narrow Focus and Reductionism
Left Brain Functions: McGilchrist argues that the left hemisphere tends to have a narrow, reductionist focus. It breaks down experiences into discrete parts, often losing sight of the whole or the broader context. This can lead to a fragmented or mechanistic view of reality, where things are seen in isolation rather than as interconnected.
Protective Parts in IFS: Protective parts often adopt a similarly narrow focus. They concentrate on specific threats or dangers, sometimes to the exclusion of other aspects of experience. For instance, a protective part might become fixated on avoiding failure or rejection, to the point where it overlooks other potential positive outcomes or alternative perspectives. This reductionist approach is aimed at minimizing perceived risks, much like the left brain’s focus on narrow, specific tasks.
4. Resistance to Change and New Information
Left Brain Functions: The left hemisphere is often resistant to change and new information that doesn't fit its existing framework. McGilchrist suggests that it prefers familiar patterns and is slow to adapt to new circumstances. This can lead to rigidity in thinking and behaviour, as the left brain tends to stick with what it knows.
Protective Parts in IFS: Protective parts can also be highly resistant to change. They are designed to maintain the status quo and protect the self from perceived threats, often by sticking to established patterns of behaviour, even when those patterns may no longer be helpful or appropriate. For example, a protective part might resist therapeutic efforts to explore painful emotions, fearing that doing so could lead to more harm. This mirrors the left brain's reluctance to incorporate new, potentially disruptive information.
5. Instrumental and Task-Oriented Approach
Left Brain Functions: The left hemisphere is instrumental and task-oriented, focusing on achieving specific goals through concrete, measurable actions. It tends to view tasks in a linear, sequential manner, prioritizing efficiency and productivity.
Protective Parts in IFS: Protective parts often take on an instrumental role within the internal system, working to achieve specific goals such as avoiding pain, maintaining control, or ensuring safety. They are often task-oriented, directing the person's actions and thoughts in a way that serves their protective function. For instance, a manager part might keep the person constantly busy to avoid confronting difficult emotions, focusing on productivity as a way to protect the self from deeper psychological pain.
Conclusion: The Protective Role of the Left Brain and IFS Parts
In summary, the functions of the left hemisphere, as described by Iain McGilchrist, align closely with the features of protective parts in IFS. Both are oriented towards control, order, and protection, often through analytical, reductionist, and instrumental approaches. They focus on maintaining stability and minimizing risk, sometimes at the cost of flexibility, openness, and holistic understanding. Recognizing these parallels can help in psychotherapy, as it allows therapists and clients to better understand the protective strategies at play within the internal system and work towards more integrated and balanced ways of being.
