In a study of five individual cases, the hypothesis is investigated as to what extent ‘hearing thresholds’ can be used to make a statement about personality. In the theoretical foundation, approaches are shown that support this hypothesis. For example, the psychophysiological measurement ‘hearing threshold’ is determined not only by a perceptual component but also by a decision-making component.
This includes the person’s willingness to take risks when responding. In addition, the ‘listening threshold’ as the result of an interaction between the person and the environment is very similar to the dynamic-interactionist personality paradigm in terms of both its temporal, medium-term stability and its long-term instability. This structural similarity is an important prerequisite for mapping personality traits at the level of the ‘hearing threshold’. Furthermore, as the hypothesis is a basis in Tomatis therapy, Tomatis’ findings are also presented. The methodological implementation for clarification is carried out in three steps:
1.) The measurement of the ‘auditory thresholds’.
2) The interpretation of the ‘hearing thresholds’ by a Tomatis therapist.
3) The verification of these statements on the basis of anamnestic data and the characteristics in two personality questionnaires.
The result of the analysis of the five individual cases shows that the interpretations of the ‘hearing thresholds’ according to the Tomatis findings and criteria are accurate and realistic with a hit rate of 94.6%. A visual validation of three cases results in an approval rate of 98.0%. On the basis of this study, the above hypothesis can be regarded as confirmed. As a consequence, the subjective element of the ‘hearing threshold’ should be expanded.
It is not only a ‘cognitive factor’ and a ‘factor of willingness to take risks when making decisions’ that are included in the ‘hearing threshold’, but the entire personality with its psychosomatic appearance, including its emotional side. The ear is the focus of a structural analogy. Therefore, the connection seems to apply that the interactive process of hearing influences the personality and that this finds a measurable resonance in the ‘hearing threshold’. Finally, the next research steps are outlined in an outlook. The Tomatis criteria and the conditional structures of the parameters that make it possible to predict personality need to be clarified. A common ‘random’ finding in the five cases of the study is used to make an initial substantive approach.
