The Triumvirate of Consciousness: Emotion, Intellect and Will

Our conscious lives are increasingly fragmented. So many things demand our attention. Many of us struggle to find meaning in our lives and accomplish goals dear to us. It is simpler to follow the easy path of opportunity, rather than work to craft what we want in life. 

Constantin Stanislavski developed a system which provides tools to address this. Stanislavski was an acclaimed Russian actor and director around the turn of the 20th century. He wrote extensively about his system for preparing actors to portray characters on stage with truth and a sense of reality. In his system, he introduced the three inner motive forces or triumvirate that can direct and influence consciousness: emotion, intellect and will. I believe that Stanislavski’s system is applicable outside the world of theatre. Stanislavski’s triumvirate helps us to become more self-aware, discover our goals, define steps to achieve them, and actually do those steps.

How can a system designed for actors and make-believe be useful in the real world?

“Let me remind you of our cardinal principle: Through conscious means we reach the subconscious.” (Constantin Stanislavski, An Actor Prepares)

Stanislavski believed that when actors felt inspiration in a role, they were accessing the subconscious and able to perform with truth and conviction. However, inspiration does not happen often. Therefore, he developed his system as a way to access subconscious inspiration through conscious exercises and awareness. 

We often struggle with understanding ourselves – why we feel, say, and do things or don’t feel, say, and do things. Equally, we cannot see into others’ heads – we can often only guess at their minds and emotions. To take control of our lives, we need to craft them. We need to spend time and effort figuring out what we want and how we can achieve that given our circumstances. If we follow Stanislavsky’s system for preparing ourselves and preparing a role, then we have a structure to guide us. 

We can use these techniques to understand ourselves and direct our lives more effectively. We can also use the techniques to understand and empathise with others, and engage with them more effectively.  

Emotion, intellect and will

According to Stanislavski, our intentional lives, our actions, are controlled by the triumvirate of emotion, intellect and will.  

“... we have three impelling movers in our psychic life, three masters who play on the instrument of our souls. …Since these three forces form a triumvirate, inextricably bound up together, what you say of the one necessarily concerns the other two.…we need to evolve an appropriate psycho-technique. Its basis is to take advantage of the reciprocal interaction of the members of this triumvirate in order not only to arouse them by natural means, but also to use them to stir other creative elements.” (Ibid)

Stanislavsky called it a triumvirate which is the master of our ‘inner instrument’. In his thesis, to achieve the goal of truthful and effective action, one must stimulate at least one of the triumvirate. Since they are bound together, arousing one should stir the others. If you feel strongly about something, you are more likely to act; if you feel an intellectual interest in the details of something and how it plays out, you are more likely to act; if you have an aspiration or goal which is compelling enough, you are more likely to act. 

Let’s unpack what we mean by each member of the triumvirate. 

Emotion

Angered at the service in a restaurant, you feel compelled to write a bad review.

Frightened that your child has not come home, you drive around looking for them.

Delighted at receiving a bonus at work, you rush out and buy that pair of boots you’ve been eyeing up.

Emotion and its consequences are the easiest to understand. We’ve all felt emotions: anger, sadness, joy, etc. By themselves, they do not necessarily translate to effective action. One can be overwhelmed with emotion and thus paralysed. One can act in haste with emotion and come to regret it. However, feelings are a strong spur to action; this is especially the case with negative emotions about perceived unfairness in the world. Sometimes this action happens because you imagine that you can make a difference, sometimes it is just venting to take the edge off and make yourself feel better. 

Intellect

Realising that your tomato plants are too dry, you decide to water them every day.

Calculating how much money you need for home renovations, you apply for a second job.

Planning to wake up early and see the dawn, you take yourself to bed earlier than usual.

Intellect is our rational selves, the part that takes in information and makes plans. Without an understanding of what one wants in life and the possible steps to get there, any actions run the risk of being counterproductive. Thinking things through makes it more likely we will act effectively. However, intellect doesn’t necessarily translate to action. All too often, thinkers are paralysed by indecision. The quality of thought makes a difference here: if thinking is goal-directed and not circular, based on our true circumstances and not in fantasy, it is more likely to be productive. Having a clear idea of what to do next makes taking action more likely.

Will

Determined to run the marathon successfully, you get up early each morning and practice.

Resolute about your interest in plants, you sign on for a botany course and study hard.

Intent on meeting new people, you join a social club.

Will is the most difficult of the three to consider practically. Emotion and intellect are forces that can drive us to action, whereas will is more directly tied to action. Once your will is engaged, action will follow. Will is the spur to action. It is determination, grit, and bravery. Will usually arises out of the other two forces: it is the quality that takes inputs from feelings, knowledge and circumstance, and pushes us to do something with them. 

So what now?

There is no point in knowing about the triumvirate unless it helps us to take positive actions in life. Stanislavski, as an active theatre practitioner, provided very practical exercises to this effect. His system was entirely about taking action to discover the power and value of the lessons he was teaching. His writings are filled with tools for exploring and practising ‘conscious means to reach the subconscious’, and thus find inspiration in life. 

If we can learn to understand, stimulate and positively arouse the three motive forces, then our ability to act effectively will be enhanced. We can develop a more conscious, intentional life. In the following chapters, I will describe exercises that work on each of the three motive forces and the ideas behind each exercise. I will also show how, as each force is strengthened and developed, it stimulates the others. Follow the links below, as they appear, to go directly to each topic.

1. Emotion - emotion and sense memory (Part 1 and Part 2), tempo & rhythm (Part 1 and Part 2)

2. Intellect - observation, concentration of attention, imagination and the magic if (Part 1 and Part 2), given circumstances, units & objectives

3. Will - the super-objective & through line of actions, relaxation of muscles, truth & belief, adaptation, nagging critic