The Role of Opposites in Human Behaviors

Enantiodromia (from Greek ‘enantios’  meaning ‘opposite’ and ‘dromos’ meaning ‘running course’) has been widely described as “the tendency of things to change into their opposites, especially as a supposed governing principle of natural cycles; and of psychological development.”  

In the cliche or common parlance of language usage, this means that the principle of enantiodromia, during the running course of time, displays a dynamic dialectical behavior of both attraction and repulsion; seeking a higher synthesis that is idealistically evasive.

Imagine now two forlorn young lovers (Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet comes to mind); so much in love; so attracted to each other, that they are literally ‘tied to the hip bone.’  Where you see one, you always seem to see the other; each a shadow of the other.

Yet this same couple,  enraged by family disputes, rivalries, jealousy or distrust, are , by these intervening circumstances, violently pulled apart; and move away in opposite directions; perhaps even unto death; no longer wanting to, or capable of desiring each other’s intimate company.  This would be considered as demonstrative of an act of enantiodromia; a change into opposite courses and opposing directions.

Consider this too, now.  A nation having been long colonized for centuries under hegemonic ruling; not having a true identity of its own that is native to its own cultural and linguistic circumstances; smothered by the maternalistic umbilical dictates of its imperial landlords; now belatedly finding power, strength and authority to seek a new direction; to frame a new government that is independent of colonial ruling and oversight; to forge a bold new pathway that will lead to its independence.   That, too, would be a demonstrative act of enantiodromia.

Consider yet another example.  In this case, let us examine a nation or nations, long engaged in bitter warfare and rivalries ( Our chosen examples take us to World War Two, involving, on the one hand, Germany, Italy, and Japan; and, on the other hand, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States of America);  now allied with each other; and, in this arrangement, finding common agreements, however tenuously so; in political, governmental, and economic relations.  This, too, would be considered to be a classical case of enantiodromia.

Consider yet another example.  A person of strong religious faith and conviction, now turned away from such beliefs; and considering or embracing contrary or opposing beliefs.  Or, alternatively, an individual of of agnostic faith, a nonbeliever or an atheist, now reversing prior beliefs to become a staunch confessor of the faith (We can think of the apostle Saint Paul, then known as Saul; a persecutor of Christians, now converted on the way to Damascus to become a Christian zealot; and to thereafter change his name ceremonially from Saul to Paul).  This, again, must be considered as an example of the active phenomenon of enantiodromia in display.

We recognize, then, that enantiodromia is an act of nature; and it is ever occurring; and in its own timing, with unending examples, some of which are here provided: ‘daytime’ transformed into nightfall, ‘the good’ into ‘the bad’ and ‘the right’ into ‘the wrong’ or all life forms; ultimately, in time, leading to death.

These are all examples of the pervasive phenomenon of enantiodromia that abounds in human nature and in all facets of human behavior.  The dynamic phenomenon of enantiodromia is universally identified and recognized in the polar Taoist principles of yin-yang; in which both the  ‘psychological  ‘feminine’ yin and the psychological’ masculine’ yang,  act on one another, affect one another; and keep each other cyclically and dynamically in place.

Yes, enantiodromia, the behavior of the opposites in human nature, is indeed the tendency of things, during the course of time, to change into their opposites, especially as a supposed governing example of natural cycles and of psychological development.