I Shouldn't Enjoy AmokK

[DISCLAIMER]

When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness.

For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how 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. That negative outcome is disturbance.

In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to disturb themselves: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive Beliefs, think of the acronym GLAD.

It’s worth noting that the two forms of should, must, and ought-type 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.

An absolute must narrative is, “You absolutely must do as I say!” A conditional should narrative is, “Either you should do as I say, or you should be punished!” Significantly, in REBT literature, demandingness of this sort is said to function as a primary appraisal mechanism of disturbance.

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. Together, GLAD will make you sad or mad, etc.

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

Logic is the interrelation or sequence of facts when seen as inevitable or predictable, and reason is a statement offered in explanation or justification. As such, I often use syllogisms (deductive schemes of formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion).

Importantly, a syllogistic statement, proposition, or belief may be logical while simultaneously unreasonable. In this case, even though the logic consequentially follows (the conclusion is a necessary and inevitable result of previous facts or premises), it’s considered irrational.

While still functioning as prescriptive rather than descriptive, flexible use of recommendatory, preferential, ideal, empirical, moral and ethical, and legal ought beliefs won’t inevitably cause disturbance, as they may align with distress. Thus, rigidity versus flexibility makes a difference.

As well, a rigid form of irrational belief results in self-disturbance (e.g., rage) while a flexible form of rational belief results in self-distress (e.g., righteous indignation). Ergo, what one thinks, feels (i.e., emotions and sensations), and behaves reveals what type of beliefs are being used.

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.

Remarkably, natural forms of distress are tolerable (e.g., mild anxiousness, sorrow, frustration, annoyance, disappointment, etc.). Even though unnatural forms of disturbance are also tolerable (e.g., enragement), my approach to REBT seeks the outcome which is more likely to be endured.

Now, I offer a finer point of understanding in regard to the ABC model. In particular, I invite you to consider use of a hypothetical syllogism.

Form –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

Example –

Major premise: If I routinely practice REBT, then I’ll likely self-disturb less.

Minor premise: If I’ll likely self-disturb less, then I’ll probably have a better life.

Conclusion: Therefore, if I routinely practice REBT, then I’ll probably have a better life.

Rather than concluding this blogpost with an example of a healthy hypothetical belief, I’ll instead offer a personal anecdote regarding an unhealthy hypothetical attitude I once held. In order to do this, some context is necessary.

When assigned to the Marine Security Guard detachment in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (1999-2000), I maintained my Christian beliefs up with which I was raised. Simultaneously, there were many contradictory mental scripts I used which directly opposed my religious foundation.

One such instance regarded an electronic dance music (EDM) song entitled “AmokK” by German DJ duo 666, from their album Paradoxx (1998). Aside from the group’s name was imagery serving as an affront to my faith-based beliefs, as it was categorically anti-Christian.

Photo credit, fair use

I experienced mild self-disturbance when using an absolutistic form of demandingness. Specifically, when dancing to “AmokK” in nightclubs across Rio and purchasing the music of 666, I maintained that I absolutely shouldn’t enjoy such content, as follows:

Form –

If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.

Example –

If I’m supposed to abide by Christian values (p), then appreciation of 666’s content isn’t allowed (q). If appreciation of 666’s content isn’t allowed (q), then I shouldn’t enjoy “AmokK” (r). Therefore, if I’m supposed to abide by Christian values (p), then I shouldn’t enjoy “AmokK” (r).

The consequence of violating my moral belief was unpleasant guilt. Back then, I knew nothing about REBT. Therefore, I used rationalization to remedy the undesirable experience. For context, the American Psychological Association thusly defines rationalization:

[A]n ego defense in which apparently logical reasons are given to justify unacceptable behavior that is motivated by unconscious instinctual impulses. In psychoanalytic theory, such behavior is considered to be a defense mechanism.

Examples are “Doesn’t everybody cheat?” or “You have to spank children to toughen them up.” Rationalizations are used to defend against feelings of guilt, maintain self-respect, and protect oneself from criticism.

In psychotherapy, rationalization is considered counterproductive to deep exploration and confrontation of the client’s thoughts and feelings and their effect on behavior.

When in Rio, I rationalized my behavior by telling myself something along the lines of “Though I know that I shouldn’t enjoy ‘AmokK’, being Christian doesn’t mean that I’m gonna be perfect.” With that excuse, I was free to violate any tenet of Christianity imaginable.

All these years later, no longer subscribing to the principles of religious dogma, I keep mindful of how rationalization impacts my behavior. Similarly, I remain aware of how self-distressing and self-disturbing beliefs influence how I act.

Now, I offer this psychoeducational lesson to you. What is it you tell yourself that results in guilt? What may you be telling yourself to relieve that uncomfortable experience? Rather than using rationalization, I invite you to instead use rational thinking.

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

References:

666 – Topic. (2015, November 10). AmokK (Xtended 666 Mix) [Image; video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/aM6dl05pHqQ?si=vxy331opNcD8FxjF

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