Development Model of “Indivisible”

with Integrated Theories and Potential Therapy

By Seth Porter
November 10, 2019

The movie “Indivisible” offers a great story to show the development of a man who
serves in the United States Army as a chaplain. The movie is based on the true events of
Chaplain Darren Turner during his first deployment soon after becoming a chaplain. The movie
shows a number of people, events, and situations that offer chances for development for Darren.
The movie also depicts the development of another individual; Major Michael Lewis who takes
another road to get to a similar developmental stage. The model on the pages below shows the
route that Darren Turner had to take, as depicted in the film.1

Changes and Challenges

Some of the developmental changes that Darren undergoes in the film include a change in
his relationship with his wife and family, a test of faith, a change in his world views, and a
change in his relationships with others, including his friends and fellow Soldiers in the Army. In
most instances, his views and ideals are challenged and he regresses developmentally only to
recover through the help of his community and he obtains a greater level of development than
before. The quotes at the top of each column depict his change in focus from self to community.

Stages
I have named the stages for my integrated model below: Simplicity, Complexity, and
Simplicity Beyond Complexity. These are taken from a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. “I
would not give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the
simplicity on the other side of complexity.” This quote was further expounded upon by Marie
and Bruce C. Hafen in their book Faith is Not Blind. In that book they describe how a faith crisis
works and use the same stages I have to explain how someone can navigate faith crises. The
names of the stages suggest that the initial stage of simplicity is a naïve understanding that must
undergo a complex situation and be tested to create a better, more developed and stronger form
of simplicity.2

Theories
I have chosen to focus on the developmental theories given by Robert Kegan,3 Erik
Erikson,4 and John Bowlby.5 Kegan’s theory shows how Darren was able to develop his world
views and relationship. Erikson’s theory shows how Darren was able to develop primarily his
relationship. Bowlby’s theory shows how Darren was able to develop both his relationship with
his wife and with God.

Compassion Focused Therapy

The final row explains how a new form of therapy (CFT) could help in the situations
which Darren finds himself in. This was included in an attempt to help those who may find
themselves in similar situations. The basic tenants of CFT are that we must understand that we
are all in different circumstances and that having strong compassion for ourselves helps us to
face our difficulties.6 Note, these are not things that Darren did, but what he could have done.
 “Indivisible” Integrated Model of Development

Interventions
SIMPLICITY
BEYOND
COMPLEXITY
DEVELOPMENT PATH OF

Snap
CHAPLAIN DARREN TURNER

SIMPLICITY

Return Home
COMPLEXITY

Where and how Compassion Focused Therapy

principles can help during crises

SIMPLICITY BEYOND
STAGES SIMPLICITY COMPLEXITY
COMPLEXITY
“I really think I can make a “It’s a little harder than I “We know what to expect
difference here.” expected.” now, we know how to
prepare.”

- Strong, untested marriage - Getting big and difficult - Redefining healthy

and faith.
- Naivete about true nature
of the Army and effect on
family.
- Assumption that his faith,
BELIEFS/
schooling and experience
EVENTS in the past has prepared
him for what is to come.
questions from Soldiers.
- Effects of war begin to
manifest.
- Little desire to
communicate and tell the
truth to his wife.
- Onset of PTSD, faith
crisis, shame, fear,
anxiety, etc.
- Creating distance.
communication and
working with others.
- Getting “grounded” in a
hands-on job, in his
marriage, and in his faith.
- Learning to lean on his
wife and on a better
understanding of God.

Recent Commission First experiences with death Seeking help

Deployment Experience with war Opening up
Death of close friend Change in perspective
Hollow answers/counsel
 3rd Order of Mind
“Socialized Mind”
Object: His own needs,
interests and desires
Subject to: Interpersonal
ROBERT relationships and mutuality
KEGAN’S
- His needs and desires are
Orders of met by his family.
Conscious - His faith works for him in
everyday life.
- Knows where he fits in
his own family, but does
not have all the
experience for the world.
5th Psychosocial Stage
“Identity vs. Identity
Diffusion or Confusion”
Core Ego Strength: Fidelity
ERIK - Understands who he is
and what he believes, but
ERIKSON’S
has not quite had that idea
Psychosocial tested.
Theory - Has a deep and abiding
faithfulness to his wife.
- Very focused on the
wellbeing of his peers.
Relationship with wife:
Secure, but untested
- Marriage seems perfect
because they have not had
difficult situations come
JOHN between them.
BOWLBY’S
Attachment Relationship with God:
Theory Perceived as secure, but
actually is Insecure-Anxious
- Believes in a God that
does things according to
his own sense of right.
Transition
(Regression)
Task: Broaden his views
- He begins to lose sight of
how to help his wife and
build/rely on his
relationship.
- When his faith is found
wanting, it breaks down.
- His views are challenged
by others and situations to
broaden his view.
Transition
(Regression)
Task: Test his identity and
create true intimacy.
- His ideas of who he is and
what he believes are
challenged. For a moment
they break down.
Relationship with wife:
Insecure-Avoidant
- Begins to shun his wife in
an attempt to protect her
happiness and image of
him. Seeks distance.
Relationship with God:
Insecure-Disorganized
- Realizes that God’s
agenda is different than
his and loses trust.
4th Order of Mind
“Self-authoring Mind”
Object: Interpersonal
relationships and mutuality
Subject to: Self-authorship,
identity, and ideology
- His relationship deepens
to make his marriage firm.
Begins to rely on his wife.
- He begins to own his faith
and it works in all
situations.
- His world views are
increased. He sees where
he fits in a greater picture.
6th Psychosocial Stage
“Intimacy vs. Isolation”
Core Ego Strength: Love
- His believes and ideas are
secured and improved
upon through work.
- Discovers a deeper level
of commitment to his wife
through compromise,
sacrifice, honest
communication and love.
- Shifts focus from peers
(Soldiers) to partner.
Relationship with wife:
Secure
- Moves from the perfect
world marriage to a true
and secure relationship.
Relationship with God:
Secure
- Moves from a civilian
faith to a warrior faith that
better understands where
God is in combat.
 - Realized that he was born
and created with a “tricky
brain,” a brain that has
both sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous
systems that he can
control.
- Understood that he is a
Compassion developing person with
Focused bio-psycho-social needs.
- Cultivating a sense of
Therapy
humility, he would realize
(CFT) that he might not be quite
Principles at the developmental level
and Tools that he thinks he is at, and
this would prepare him
better for the coming
issues.
- When first noticing his - In the future, if symptoms
physiological distresses, of PTSD arise again, he
he could tap into his can use his mindfulness
“grounding” techniques of techniques to ground
breathing and himself in the present
mindfulness. moment and avoid/ cope
- When faced with shame at with flashbacks.
his perceived weakness, - When he finished
he could remember the navigating through
“tricky brain” once again Complexity, he could look
and begin to tap into his back and think to himself
“Compassionate Self.” that he can face difficult
- Realizing that if he had challenges.
little compassion for - Compassion makes us
himself, he would stronger, not weaker.
recognize that he would Compassion is not
also have little “mushy.”
compassion for others. - After facing such difficult
The Dalai Lama says “If situations, he could help
you have no compassion others to do the same in
for yourself then you are his counseling by teaching
not capable of developing them CFT principles and
compassion for others.” tools.

References
1
Indivisible. Directed by David G. Evans. Pure Flix, 2018. DVD.
2
Hafen, Bruce and Marie. Faith is Not Blind. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2018.
3
Robert Kegan, various class materials, presentations and class lectures.
4
Erik Erikson, various class materials, presentations and class lectures.
5
John Bowlby, various class materials, presentations and class lectures. Also, an understanding comes from the
CFT conference cited below.
6
Paul Gilbert (developer of CFT). Principles and tools are suggested based on extensive study of many of his
publications and a conference held at BYU September 26-27.