Posted on: October 29, 2025

Three interconnected levels of congruence | Alignment an individual maintains within themselves, with existence, and with others.

Author: Josi Joseph, Psychologist +91 94468 48191

Abstract

Psychological suffering has traditionally been addressed through a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that much distress arises less from biological dysfunction than from misaligned expectations, maladaptive thought patterns, and incongruence between the self and reality. This paper proposes a minimalist model of psychological healing grounded in logic, self-awareness, and attitudinal change. Central to the framework are three levels of congruence—self-congruence, existential congruence, and social congruence—that determine individual well-being. By shifting the emphasis from symptom suppression to logical alignment and acceptance, this model outlines a pathway toward sustainable psychological healing that minimizes dependency on medication. Integrating philosophical reasoning, empirical insights from humanistic psychology, and recent cognitive-behavioral research, this paper argues for a paradigm shift: from medication-driven psychiatry to logic-centered healing.

Introduction

The human mind, though highly adaptive, is also vulnerable to distortions of perception and expectation. Psychological distress often arises not primarily from external circumstances, but from the way individuals interpret and react to them. As Stoic philosophy recognized two millennia ago, “It is not things themselves that disturb us, but our judgments about them.” Contemporary psychology has echoed this principle through cognitive-behavioral approaches, acceptance-based therapies, and mindfulness practices.

Yet, despite these advances, psychiatric treatment remains dominated by pharmacological interventions. While medications can be life-saving for severe conditions, their widespread use for distress that could otherwise be addressed through self-awareness, logical reasoning, and attitudinal change raises concerns. This paper argues for a minimalist approach that privileges logic and congruence over medication. It suggests that much of human suffering can be alleviated by realigning expectations, strengthening congruence at three levels, and cultivating a rational, accepting mindset.

Misaligned Theory of Suffering

Human suffering largely arises not from external reality, but from misalignment between expectations and reality.

• We suffer because people or situations do not turn out as we wish or expect.
  
  
• Since every person is unique, continuous validation of our actions and thoughts is unrealistic.
  
  
• Understanding this truth—that misaligned expectations create suffering—eliminates much of the distress people carry.
  
  

This principle resonates with Buddhist teachings on craving, the Stoic emphasis on control, and cognitive-behavioral concepts of distorted thinking. Yet the proposition here is simpler: suffering can be reduced not by deep therapeutic excavation or extensive pharmacology, but by logical acceptance of life’s inevitabilities.

The Three Levels of Congruence

Central to the proposed model are three interconnected levels of congruence. These represent the alignment an individual maintains within themselves, with existence, and with others.

1. Self Congruence

Self congruence refers to harmony between one’s inner desires, beliefs, and actions. When individuals live in alignment with their authentic selves, they experience psychological ease. Conversely, self-deception, suppressed desires, or inner conflict generate distress.

This idea parallels Carl Rogers’ notion of congruence in client-centered therapy, where authenticity and alignment between the real self and ideal self promote well-being. However, the present framework emphasizes a logical dimension: individuals can consciously reason through their contradictions and realign themselves.

2. Existential Congruence

Existential congruence reflects the alignment between the individual and the broader realities of life—mortality, impermanence, and unpredictability. Psychological distress often intensifies when individuals resist these realities, holding unrealistic expectations of permanence or total control.

Existential congruence thus demands acceptance. Logic teaches that impermanence is universal; therefore, resisting it is futile. By integrating this insight, individuals can reduce existential anxiety and live with greater peace.

3. Social Congruence

Humans are inherently social beings, and misalignment with others—whether through unmet expectations, conflicts, or rejection—causes profound suffering. Social congruence entails aligning one’s self with realistic expectations about others: recognizing diversity, respecting boundaries, and avoiding overdependence on external validation.

This expands upon attachment theory and social psychology by proposing that logical acceptance of interpersonal differences is the foundation of harmonious living.

Logic as a Tool of Healing

Logic, in this framework, is not abstract reasoning detached from life. Rather, it is the disciplined use of reason to correct distortions, realign expectations, and restore congruence. For example:

• If suffering arises because “others do not act as I wish,” logic reveals the irrationality of expecting universal conformity.
  
  
• If distress arises from loss, logic reminds us of impermanence as an inevitable law.
  
  
• If anxiety arises from self-doubt, logic clarifies that perfection is neither possible nor necessary for worth.
  
  

This logical restructuring can be practiced independently or guided by therapists, offering an accessible, cost-free, and side-effect-free complement—or alternative—to medication.

Integration with Existing Theories

This minimalist approach does not reject prior psychological theories; instead, it integrates and simplifies them:

• Humanistic Psychology: Like Rogers’ model, it stresses congruence, but expands it into three interconnected domains.
  
  
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): It shares CBT’s focus on thought patterns but grounds interventions more in philosophical logic than structured techniques.
  
  
• Existential Psychology: It resonates with existential therapy’s confrontation with mortality and meaning, but frames acceptance as a logical necessity rather than a therapeutic option.
  
  
• Mindfulness Traditions: It aligns with mindfulness in reducing attachment to outcomes, but replaces meditative practice with logical reasoning accessible to all.
  
  

Thus, the proposed model functions as both a bridge between traditions and a simplification of them.

Minimalism and Medication

This paper does not deny the utility of medication. For severe psychiatric conditions—such as psychosis or bipolar disorder—pharmacology remains crucial. However, the minimalist approach suggests that a large proportion of everyday psychological suffering can be alleviated without drugs. By treating distress as a problem of misaligned expectations and incongruence, logic becomes a therapeutic tool, empowering individuals and reducing dependency on external interventions.

Implications for Therapy and Education

The implications of this framework are profound:

1. Therapy: Counselors and therapists could employ logic-based dialogues to help clients recognize misaligned expectations and restore congruence.
   
   
2. Education: Schools could incorporate lessons on expectation management, self-awareness, and logical reasoning, promoting resilience in young people.
   
   
3. Public Health: Reducing over-reliance on psychiatric medication could decrease healthcare costs and empower individuals to manage distress more independently.
   
   

Conclusion

Human suffering is not primarily rooted in external events, but in misaligned expectations and incongruence at three levels: self, existential, and social. By recognizing this truth and applying logic to realign perceptions, individuals can significantly reduce psychological distress without overreliance on medication. This minimalist model offers a philosophy and practice of healing accessible to all—an approach that prioritizes awareness, acceptance, and reason.

In an age of medicalization, this paper calls for a shift: from medication to logic, from suppression of symptoms to alignment with reality. Such a shift could not only reduce suffering but also foster a more resilient, authentic, and congruent humanity.

References

• Beck, A. T. (2011). Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Press.
  
  
• Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
  
  
• Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. Guilford Press.
  
  
• Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
  
  
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2018). The hope circuit: A psychologist’s journey from helplessness to optimism. PublicAffairs.
• Smith, J. A., & Jones, M. L. (2022). Expectation management and psychological resilience: a meta-analysis. Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(3), 284–298.