The word “infer” means to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises. For example, you observe smoke and infer fire. As well, the word “meaning” relates the thing one intends to convey, especially by language. A synonym of this word is “significance.”
Thus, an inferred meaning concerns the idiomatic act of reading between the lines. For instance, if you say, “I hate people who drive slowly in the fast lane,” I may deduce that your inferred meaning relates to the belief that people shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to inconvenience you.
Significance of this sort is something I frequently encounter when practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with clients. For context, allow me to briefly explain one of the core tenets of REBT.
REBT theory uses the ABC model to illustrate how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people use: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. Addressing these, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs.
Regarding inferred meaning, page 150 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion encourages REBT practitioners to teach clients the effects of irrational Belief inferences at the point of Action and on their subsequent thinking, feeling, and behaving at the point of Consequences.
Sticking with the original example related to demandingness; consider the following A-B-C chain of self-disturbance:
Action – When on the highway, someone in front of you is driving slowly in the fast lane.
Belief – “I hate people who drive slowly in the fast lane,” as the inferred meaning relates to the irrational belief that people shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to inconvenience you at the point of the action.
Consequence – Because your rigid demand regarding the act of being inconvenienced is violated, your thoughts ruminate about how unfair it is that your demand isn’t being obeyed. You then become angry and feel tightness in your shoulders and jaw. As well, you tailgate the other motorist, riding dangerously close the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you.
It isn’t merely the belief that you hate people who drive slowly in the fast lane with which you upset yourself. Rather, your inferred meaning – that you shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to be inconvenienced – is what creates your self-disturbing outcome.
I assist people with disputing irrational beliefs and unhelpful inferences which cause unpleasant outcomes, as described herein. When you can alter the significance of your beliefs, you can change how you respond to events. If you’d like to know more about REBT in this regard, I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you 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 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
Photo credit (edited), fair use
References:
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. ISBN 0-917476-26-3. Library of Congress Control Number: 20031044378
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Chain link. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/chain-link
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model
Hollings, D. (2022, November 15). To don a hat. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-don-a-hat
Wayhomestudio. (n.d.). Photo of thoughtful woman with curly Afro hair, keeps hand under chin, has calm pensive expression, wears casual green t shirt, isolated over rosy wall […] [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/photo-thoughtful-woman-with-curly-afro-hair-keeps-hand-chin-has-calm-pensive-expression-wears-casual-green-t-shirt-isolated-rosy-wall_13408232.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=18&uuid=363f75f5-fa0a-475b-9956-69daf459105d
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