Inference Chain

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Photo credit (edited), fair use

There’s a scene in the stoner comedy film Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000) in which character Jesse Montgomery III self-disturbs when at a fast food drive-thru and an employee uses an inference chain (a sequence of inferences, where each inference leads to the next).

For context, an inference is the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former. Thus, an inference chain is a series of logical steps or deductions that connect premises to a conclusion.

Noteworthy, 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. In order for a conclusion to be rational, it empirically must remain in accord with both logic and reason.

An inference chain is also known as forward chaining, about which one source states, “Forward chaining (or forward reasoning) is one of the two main methods of reasoning when using an inference engine and can be described logically as repeated application of modus ponens.”

The basic argument form of a modus ponens syllogism is: if x then y; x; therefore y. For instance, if you want to know more about inference chains (x), then you’ll pay close attention to the current blogpost (y). Now, using a forward chain construct, consider the following example.

Suppose you want to conclude a specific species of waterfowl, given that the animal quacks and waddles when it walks, and that the rule base contains the following four rules:

1. If x quacks and x waddles when it walks – then x is a duck.

2. If x chirps and x sings – then x is a canary.

3. If x is a duck – then x is classified as waterfowl.

4. If x is a canary – then x is classified as Serinus canaria.

Understanding a forward chain construct helps one to comprehend inference chains such as: from w we conclude x, from x we conclude y, and from y we conclude z. Inferential or inference chains were alluded to in my blogpost entitled Play It Through, in which I stated:

When working with clients regarding hostility, rage, aggression, and violence matters, I find that the play-it-through technique can help people consider the consequences of their irrational beliefs before they aggress against people.

“Wait a minute, Deric,” you may interject, “earlier, you said something about Jesse from Dude, Where’s My Car? disturbing himself. Can you share more about that?” Not a problem, imagined reader.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and one Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s one’s unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of one’s unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. The helpful utility of the ABC model is that it helps to un-disturb oneself. Does that make sense?

Presuming you comprehend the ABC model, I find it helpful to use inference chains when disputing unfavorable beliefs in my personal and professional life. Of course, this tool can unhelpfully contribute to self-disturbance, as was the case in Dude Where’s My Car?:

Employee: Chinese Foooood. May I help you?

Jesse: Yeah, I’d like to place an order.

Employee: What you like?

Jesse: Yeah, I’d like three orders of garlic chicken.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And then three orders of white rice.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And then… [speaking to other occupants in the car] Hey, you guys want soup? Yeah, three orders of wanton soup.

Employee: And then?

Jess: Oh, uh, some fortune cookies, too.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: Uh… actually, think that’s about it.

Employee: And then?

Jess: No, that’s it!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No “and then”! I… I… that’s all I want.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And then, um, and then, um, and then nothing else, ‘cause I’m done ordering. Okay?

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No, no. See, all I want is the three orders of the garlic chicken and the three orders of the white rice.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: [corrected by a vehicle occupant] Oh, and the wanton soup.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And the fortune cookies, yeah. So it’s just the… it’s the, the chicken… the rice, the soup, and the fortune cookies, and that’s it.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And then you can put it in a brown paper bag and come put it in my hand, ‘cause I’m ready to eat.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: Hey, I refuse to play your Chinese Foooood mind games.

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No, no “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: No, no “and then”!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: You’re really starting to piss me off, lady!

Employee: And then?

Jesse: And then I’m gonna come in there and I’m gonna put my foot in your ass if you say “and then” again!

Employee: And then? And then? And then? And then? And then?

Jesse: [punches drive-thru speaker post]

Employee: And then?

The inference chain used by the employee is a fairly common tactic used in the fast food industry to prompt the ordering and purchase of additional items. Unfavorably, Jesse self-disturbed when the employee didn’t relent with this undesired practice.

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

For instance, from an A-C perspective, punching a speaker post (Action) can result in injury to one’s hand (Consequence). However, using a B-C connection, Jesse disturbed himself with unhelpful Beliefs about the fast food employee’s behavior, which caused anger (Consequence).

Using the play-it-through technique, which serves as a form of inference-chaining, Jesse could’ve said to himself, “I could punch this speaker post. And then? I’d hurt my hand. And then? I wouldn’t receive any food. And then? I’d have a hurt hand and grumbling stomach.”

It’s worth noting that inference chains don’t require unnecessarily long inferences, as used in Dude, Where’s My Car? Expanding on the utility of relatively short inference chains, one source states:

It’s my feeling that legitimate inferential chains in philosophy are short. Because in philosophy (except for logic) we don’t have the luxury of reasoning with perfect certainty, and rather must appeal to intuition and analogy most of the time, long inferential chains have a high chance of being flawed. The situation is more like common-sense reasoning.

Although I didn’t particularly care for the film Dude, Where’s My Car? I found value in the referenced scene. Presuming that you comprehend the psychoeducational lesson outlined herein; would you be willing to try the helpful tool of an inference chain?

Suppose you do. And then? Suppose you don’t. And then? And then, and then, and then, and then? If you’d like to know more about REBT and a pursuit of rational living through use of inference chains and other disputational techniques, then I look forward to hearing from you.

..… and theeeennnnn…..?

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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