Just the Facts

[DISCLAIMER]

When attending military police (MP) school in 1997, a number of the instructors advised future MPs to consider “just the facts, like Joe Friday from Dragnet” when conducting investigations. For context, one source states:

The popularity and influence of Dragnet is attested to by the number of Dragnet-related items that have become firmly embedded in our pop culture idiom: the distinctive “dum-de-dum-dum” opening four notes of its theme music; the characters’ rapid-fire, staccato delivery of dialogue; the somber “The story you are about to hear is true; the names have been changed to protect the innocent” intonation of its prologue; and, of course, Sgt. Joe Friday’s famous business-like catch phrase, “Just the facts, ma’am.”

For clarity, a fact is something that actually exists or occurs: an actual event, situation, etc.; information or a piece of information presented as true or accurate. Unhelpfully, it’s common for people to blurt out “facts” when attempting to validate information with which they agree.

However, as I was taught as a burgeoning MP, facts exist whether one agrees with them or not. That’s “just the facts.” When thinking further about this matter, I’m reminded of the psychotherapeutic modality I practice and a book that I’ve been steadily reading.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

One challenging aspect about facts is that what you perceive to be true in one moment can change quickly. Facts then alter when using Bayesian reasoning (a method of updating the probability of a hypothesis, like a belief or guess, as new, relevant evidence becomes available).

For example, when conducting investigations as an MP, I maintained that hypothesis X of a case was true. After further inquiry that included evidence-gathering, I updated the facts to favor hypothesis Y. Unfortunately, this is a difficult process for many law enforcers to adapt.

This is because fallible human beings sometimes rigidly cling to pre-established narratives while seeking only information that supports their “facts,” known as confirmation bias. It’s this unproductive mindset that often results in wrongful convictions.

Alternatively, there’s an unhelpful process that also tends to occur whereby people continuously cloud their own judgement when overcomplicating narratives rather than merely considering just the facts. Regarding this effect, Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius once stated (page 244):

Don’t tell yourself anything more than what the initial impressions report. It’s been reported to you that someone is speaking badly about you. This is the report—the report wasn’t that you’ve been harmed.

I see that my son is sick—but not that his life is at risk. So always stay within your first impressions, and don’t add to them in your head—this way nothing can happen to you.

Sticking to just the facts in this regard can spare an individual the self-disturbed experience of neurotic anxiety and fear. About this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 244):

At first, this can seem like the opposite of everything you’ve been taught. Don’t we cultivate our minds and critical thinking skills precisely so we don’t simply accept things at face value? Yes, most of the time. But sometimes this approach can be counterproductive.

To provide an example of what the authors mention, I recently spoke with friend X. Typically, when asked closed-ended questions (structured queries designed to elicit short, specific answers, usually “yes” or “no,” or from a predefined set of choices) she provides convoluted answers.

For example, I said, “When that happened, did you feel either positive, neutral, or negative?” Friend X responded, “All three.” Ummm, no. Just the facts, ma’am. One cannot possibly feel positive, neutral, and negative simultaneously, given her circumstances.

After assisting friend X with the gathering of additional evidence (i.e., sorting through her thoughts and beliefs), she indeed provided just the facts. I was then better suited to help her. Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 244):

What a philosopher also has is the ability, as Nietzsche put it, “to stop courageously, at the surface” and see things in plain, objective form. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, Stoics were “superficial,” he said, “out of profundity.”

Today, while other people are getting carried away, that’s what you’re going to practice. A kind of straightforward pragmatism—seeing things as their initial impressions make them.

I value consideration of just the facts. I also appreciate critical thinking. Yet, when overthinking matters exacerbates an issue, as was the case with friend X, then I prefer focusing on the Joe Friday method—just the facts. And you? Are you able to use varying approaches to problems?

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

Photo credit, property of Mark VII Limited, Universal Pictures, and NBC Television, fair use

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

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