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Mind Reading

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • 6 hours ago
  • 6 min read

 

On the electronic dance music (EDM) song “Read My Mind” (2009), by Reshum and featuring John Keys, the vocalist states, “What will it take for you to see? What will it take for you to really feel me? What will you do for peace of mind? The answers are here, just read my mind.”

 

Quite often, while providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I’ve heard similar statements. Thus, when using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I advocate thinking that is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason).

 

As an example of irrational thinking, person X says to person Y, “If you want peace of mind, then you could just read my mind.” Similarly, an example of an irrational belief would be if the same individual stated, “If you want peace of mind, then you should just read my mind.”

 

The relevant distinction regards description versus prescription. Although it may not be both logical and reasonable, a description serves as a flexible presentation of observations about the characteristics of someone or something.

 

While still functioning on the same irrational premises, a prescription serves as a rigid action of laying down authoritative rules or directions. Irrespective of descriptive thoughts or prescriptive beliefs, it isn’t rational for person X to expect that person Y can engage in mind reading.

 

In common parlance, “mind reading” is known as the art or faculty of perceiving another’s thought without normal means of communication. However, I’ve seen no convincing evidence of fallible human beings actually demonstrating the ability to read one another’s minds.

 

Of this, the American Psychological Association states that mind reading is “a form of alleged extrasensory perception in which an individual claims to have access to the thoughts of another person. With thought transference, it is one of the two main forms of telepathy.”

 

Though I’ve encountered some people who irrationally think that mind reading is a valid practice, further irrationally believing that others must believe as they do, I’m not going to commit the same cognitive error as person X. For context, one source rationally states:

 

Humans cannot literally read the minds of others, but can create mental models so as to effectively intuit people’s thoughts and feelings. This is known as empathic accuracy, and it involves “reading” cues telegraphed by the words, emotions, and body language of another person.

 

Most people are able to read others to some degree, but those on the autism spectrum or individuals afflicted with psychotic disorders may struggle to discern the emotions or social cues of others.

 

Often, knowing our own mind and motivations is challenging enough, let alone the minds of strangers or even relatives, friends, or partners. In relationships, many people make the critical mental mistake of overestimating a partner or family member’s ability to read their own thoughts, assuming that anyone who knows them well should also know what they think or feel, even if they haven’t said it out loud.

 

With this view, I think of DJ Fait’s song “I Can’t Read Your Mind (Jumpstyle Mix)” (2012) in which lyrics state, “I can’t read your mind. So, baby, come on, tell me what you like, ‘cause I can’t read your mind. Please be so kind to tell me, ‘cause I’m in love with you, my darling.”

 

Rather than engaging in illogical and unreasonable mind reading behavior, whereby one jumps to inaccurate and often negative conclusions, I use REBT when teaching people how to think for themselves—rationally believing rather than irrationally doing so.

 

Once you stop expecting others to read your mind and you cease with the wacky notion that you have mastery over the minds of others, you can learn to live rationally. If you’d like to know more, then I look forward to hearing from you. After all, I can’t read your mind, so…reach out.

 

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, Designed by Freepik, fair use

 

References:

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