Problem 12 - An Introduction to Theories of Personality

Question

At the moment someone dies, the person's favorite picture falls off a wall and is shattered. How might this be understood as a mere coincidence, rather than as an example of synchronicity?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The picture falling can be seen as a mere coincidence rather than synchronicity because the fall could have been caused by other factors like wind or a weakened support and simply occurred at the same time as the person's passing, without a certain meaningful connection.

Step 1: Define Coincidence and Synchronicity

Coincidence can be defined as a random event that has no explanation, while synchronicity is a term popularized by psychologist Carl Jung, which refers to meaningful coincidences that seem to have a cause, but can't be explained by conventional, causal relationships. The occurrence of two or more events at the same time, with no obvious causal mechanism, could be seen as synchronistic.

Step 2: Apply Definitions to The Scenario

In the provided scenario, the picture could have fallen off the wall due to various natural causes such as wind, vibration, or weakened support, occurring at the same time as the person's passing. This could be viewed as a mere coincidence, since the death and picture falling don't necessarily cause one another, but simply happen simultaneously.

Step 3: Understand Difference Between Coincidence and Synchronicity

The difference between viewing the event as a coincidence vs. a synchronicity is essentially about whether or not you attribute meaning to the timing of the two events happening simultaneously. If you see the events as merely coincidental, you don't assign any meaningful connection between the two. If you view them as synchronistic, you are assigning some unexplainable but significant connection between the two events, such as viewing the picture's fall as a response to the person's death, even though the connection doesn't follow conventional causality.