Connected

[DISCLAIMER]

From time to time, I re-watch movies. This is usually done for one of two reasons. First, I have traumatic brain injury (TBI), as I often forget the entirety of films I’ve previously watched. Last, if I’m able to remember bits of a movie, I like to see if its contents hold up to modern scrutiny.

Sometimes, I question why I ever finished watching a movie the first time around. Other times, I tell myself in the moment, “I look forward to watching this again in the future,” suspecting that I’ll again forget about a film. (This occurs quite often.)

While some people may upset themselves about this inconvenient standard of living, I’m unbothered by it. Herein, I’ll explain why I’m un-disturbed. In any event, given understanding about my condition, I recently re-watched Hackers (1995). About the film, one source states:

The film follows a group of high school hackers and their involvement in an attempted theft. Made in the mid-1990s when the Internet was just starting to become popular among the general public, it reflects the ideals laid out in the Hacker Manifesto quoted in the film:

“This is our world now... the world of the electron and the switch... We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias... and you call us criminals... Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity.”

Though I recalled the pivotal scene within a transit station upon re-watching the film, as well as remembering various scenes related to Angelina Jolie, in 1995, I didn’t recollect understanding how life-altering the Internet would one day become. I thought it was merely a novelty.

In any case, I was delighted by my beliefs about the electronic dance music (EDM) soundtrack for the film while re-watching it. For those people who are unfamiliar with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I realize how I worded that sentence may seem strange.

For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an Action occurs and you maintain an irrational Belief (iB) about the event, it’s your unhelpful assumption, not the actual occurrence, that causes an unpleasant cognitive, emotive, sensory, or behavioral Consequence.

In particular, there are four predominate iBs which people often use: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. Noteworthy, unhelpful demands are said to function as primary appraisal mechanisms.

Global evaluations (i.e., self-downing, other-downing, and life-downing), low frustration tolerance (also known as frustration intolerance), and awfulizing (e.g., terrible, horrible, etc.) function as secondary appraisal mechanisms. Both primary and secondary appraisals are iBs.

It’s also worth noting that the two forms of should, must, and ought demands with which people most often self-disturb are associated with use of absolutistic and conditional should beliefs. Generally speaking, these serve as rigid commands used toward oneself, others, and life.

From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection (associated with iBs). Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Activating event-Consequence (A-C) connection.

From an A-C perspective, enduring multiple concussive events (Action) resulted in my impaired memory (Consequence). However, impairment of memory (Action) isn’t what causes an unpleasant Consequence. Rather, that outcome is the result of a B-C connection.

As an example, when I forget the content of movies in association with TBI (Action), I could use an iB by telling myself, “I absolutely shouldn’t forget the films I’ve watched, as having TBI is an awful experience!” With this self-disturbing philosophy of life, I’d become sad (Consequence).

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of these unproductive assumptions in order to explore an Effective new belief (rational belief, rB). Generally speaking, the ABC model is the primary tool of REBT.

For the secondary tool, also related to rBs, REBT uses the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

Whereas the ABC model is a scientific approach to wellness, UA serves as a philosophical method for un-disturbing yourself. I view the former as an abortive approach to disturbance and the latter as a preventative method. Of course, not all REBT practitioners use the same style as I.

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Do you recall earlier when I stated that I was delighted by my beliefs about the EDM soundtrack for Hackers while re-watching the film? If not, then perhaps your memory is more impaired than mine and you may benefit from contacting a memory care specialist!

Supposing that you do remember how I phrased the sentence, I’ll provide a bit more context about my rB. The Hackers soundtrack featured a song from English hip hop and EDM group Stereo MC’s entitled “Connected”, from their 1992 album Connected, as lyrics state:

If you make sure you’re connected

The writing’s on the wall

But if your mind’s neglected

Stumble, you might fall

Stumble, you might fall

Hear me out

Stumble, you might fall (yeah)

When re-watching Hackers and hearing “Connected”,  the rB I used was something like, “This song impressively alludes to REBT, even if unintentionally, and I preferably should write a blogpost about it – addressing the connection between iBs and rBs with Consequences.”

With that helpful attitude, I was content and I’ve now concluded a psychoeducational blogpost about REBT. If you “make sure you’re connected” to rBs, then you likely won’t trip yourself up. “But if your mind’s neglected” use of REBT, as you use iBs, then “stumble, you might fall!”

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

As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues 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

Photo credit, fair use

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