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An Untenable Position: Appealing to Emotion

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • 35 minutes ago
  • 8 min read

 

The word “untenable” refers to that which is not able to be defended. The term “position” regards the laying down of a proposition (something offered for consideration or acceptance: proposal) or thesis (a proposition to be proved or one advanced without proof: hypothesis).

 

When these terms are combined, an “untenable position” regards a proposal that cannot be maintained or defended, especially in a debate, argument, or assertion. Specifically, I consider this matter when practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).

 

Particularly, when examining beliefs, I focus on that which is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason). Here, “logic” is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable, and “reason” is a statement offered in explanation or justification.

 

When providing psychoeducational lessons on REBT, I often use syllogisms to illustrate whether or not beliefs are rational. For instance, consider the following hypothetical syllogism (form: if p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r):

 

If it’s morally and ethically unacceptable to question behavior regarding the spouse of a murdered individual (p), then standards in criminal investigation are impermissible which assume that the surviving spouse is a suspect (q).

 

If standards in criminal investigation are impermissible which assume that the surviving spouse is a suspect (q), then people absolutely shouldn’t proceed to think critically, or express skepticism or cynicism about the surviving spouse (r).

 

Therefore, if it’s morally and ethically unacceptable to question behavior regarding the spouse of a murdered individual (p), then people absolutely shouldn’t proceed to think critically, or express skepticism about the surviving spouse (r).

 

This proposition follows logical form. However, I argue that it isn’t reasonable. Therefore, I maintain that it’s irrational. To support my stance, I invite you to consider the ABC model of REBT.

 

For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This is known as self-disturbance.

 

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

 

Noteworthy, with my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I invite people to contemplate mental scripts which are rational, especially regarding events which correlate with strong feelings.

 

On the topic of feelings, I often find it valuable to clarify what this element represents in regard to the construct of beliefs. I say this, because people generally misuse this term.

 

A “feeling” relates to either: 1. Emotion (i.e., joy, fear, anger, sorrow, disgust, surprise, etc.) or 2. Sensation (e.g., tightened or stiffened jaw). If the word “feel” (or any derivative thereof) can be replaced with “hunch,” “thought,” or “belief” (or any derivative thereof), it’s not a feeling.

 

Thus, it’s improper to say something along the lines of “I feel like you did that to get back at me,” because what one typically intends on communicating is “I believe that you did that to get back at me.” Noteworthy, there’s a foundation for quibbling with this sort of vernacular misuse.

 

In REBT, unfavorable beliefs which cause unpleasant consequences are rigorously challenged. However, feelings (i.e., emotions and sensations) aren’t confronted. Thus, proper use of feelings-based language affords a person the opportunity to examine both the logic and reason one uses.

 

With this comprehension, positions which some people perceive as rational are viewed by other individuals as irrational. To address this matter using my approach to wellness, I invite you to consider what one REBT source has to say about rational versus irrational positions (page 5):

 

B in the ABC framework stands for [B]eliefs. These are evaluative cognitions or constructed views of the world that can be either rigid or flexible. When clients’ beliefs are flexible, they are called rational beliefs.

 

Rational beliefs often take the form of desires, wishes, wants, and preferences (rather than dogmatic musts or shoulds). When clients adhere to such flexible premises, they will tend to draw rational conclusions from them.

 

Let’s now return to my hypothetical syllogistic example. I maintain that it establishes an irrational conclusion, because of inflexible use of an absolutistic demand (i.e., people absolutely shouldn’t proceed to think critically, or express skepticism about the surviving spouse).

 

In addition to using an unaccommodating form of belief, the untenable position established in the example distortedly infers an appeal to emotion. Regarding this unhelpful rhetorical matter, one source states:

 

This is the general category of many fallacies that use emotion in place of reason in order to attempt to win the argument. It is a type of manipulation used in place of valid logic.

 

Logical Form:

 

Claim X is made without evidence.

 

In place of evidence, emotion is used to convince the interlocutor that X is true.

 

Let’s use a similar example as the hypothetical scenario I’ve previously outlined, though evoking children. Suppose that a school of underage students is subject to a mass shooting event. Claim X is then made without evidence, “This wouldn’t have happened if gun ownership was illegal!”

 

Yet, when this irrational belief is disputed, the individual expressing the claim then states, “You clearly don’t care about the lives of children!” Rather than offering evidence to address claim X, this person appeals to emotion by challenging the compassion of one who disputes the claim.

 

Whether it regards the spouse of a decedent or children who are subject to a school shooting, I maintain that it’s a matter of irrationality to rigidly demand that people can’t question matters by appealing to emotion. Such behavior isn’t conducive to the proper function of a civil society.

 

Likewise, insistence upon maintaining sacred classes of people (i.e., deceased spouses, survivors of school shootings, etc.) isn’t how a society supposedly based on equality operates. Thus, masking an untenable position by appealing to emotion isn’t a matter of rational living.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW


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References:

 

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© 2024 by Hollings Therapy, LLC 

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