The psychodynamics of the ECF-Nexus: Monasticism and psychospeciation in Western Europe, ca. 500-1500 C.E.

Abstract

The Evolutionary Context-Free Nexus comprised a group of institutions, more or less monastic in character, that arose during what S.N. Eisenstadt has called the 'Axial Age'. After defining the domain and range of this Nexus, this paper will focus on the monastic and ecclesiastical structures of Western and Eastern Europe and show how the emotional and psychological structures peculiar to Western monastic communities helped transform European culture by assisting the transition from abandoning to ambivalent child-rearing patterns. The paper concludes by discussing some of the monastic survivals still to be found in post-Christian secular society.