The Russians burned my toast! I was looking forward to a delicious breakfast, though those Russki bastards probably snuck into my kitchen and sabotaged my toaster oven. Damn those Russians!
Now that I think of it, their destructive programming is taking effect. They’ll be irresistibly drawn to large cities where they’ll likely backup sewers, reverse street signs, and steal everyone’s left shoe! (If you know, you know.) Those damned Russians are at it again!!
As a matter of fact, they’ll probably steal my plunger stick while I’m sleeping tonight, replace the prepared chicken in my fridge with potted meat, and scribble a message in chalk on my driveway that says something vile like, “Доброй ночи.” Damn Russkis!!!
Does my ranting seem irrational to you, as it doesn’t comport with logic and reason? To illustrate the absurdity of the above claims, consider the following syllogism:
Form (modus ponens) –
If p, then q; p; therefore, q.
Example –
If something undesirable takes place, then the Russians are responsible for my situation.
Something undesirable takes place.
Therefore, the Russians are responsible for my situation.
Literally anything could fit into this logically sound though unreasonable format. Using this irrational construct, I could blame the Russians if I fell down and scraped my knee on the sidewalk. Those low down, no good Russians will never stop wreaking havoc!!!!
If to a sensible person this sort of rhetoric seems ridiculous, that’s because it is. Nevertheless, this sort of Russophobia is quite common in the United States (U.S.) at the moment. In fact, it has occurred since my childhood, albeit related to the metaphorical Iron Curtain.
I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, various films depicting the Soviet Union (USSR) as an enemy of the U.S., and even rumors of a nuclear attack from the Russian Federation (Russia) when I was young. One of my recurring fears at that time related to a Russian invasion.
I eventually outgrew that fear and began to better understand geopolitics. By the time I worked in the field of diplomatic security as a U.S. Marine, I realized that Russia wasn’t our enemy. One wonders whether or not life would’ve been easier for me had I known that as a child.
Rather than some fiendish entity, Russia was merely one of many nations which were apparently a threat to other countries. Moreover, all nations seemed to be in the business of spying on each other. Yes, this includes the U.S. We spy on Russians and they spy on us.
Of the two most powerful nuclear nations in the world, the USSR/Russia was deemed our enemy at some point. And as irrationally as it may seem to the sensible mind, once an entity is deemed an existential adversary it succumbs to the effect of a global evaluation.
In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), universal ratings of this kind are used in relation to oneself, others, and life. For instance, I may globally evaluate myself by irrationally believing, “I’m worthless!”
The problem with a universal rating of myself is that it discounts elements of my existence which may actually have worth. As an example, in my adolescence I may or may not have stolen the plunger sticks from various homes to which I went for parties.
If I had actually done that, and I’m not saying I didn’t, then my behavior wasn’t something I now consider as kind. Nevertheless, I’m not my behavior. Therefore, while you and I may currently disapprove of my hypothetical past actions, I have worth as a human which isn’t reflected by my behavior.
Likewise, even when I may or may not have also stolen the batteries out of remote controls during that same time period – as I’m really making a case for a teenager with undesirable behavior – I did serve the role as a life coach to other people at that time in my life.
As a fallible human being, I’m capable of behaving poorly while also behaving well. I also maintain some positive and negative traits. Thus, to irrationally conclude that “I’m worthless” is to illogically and unreasonably discount evidence regarding the universal rating of myself.
The same sort of global evaluation is often used concerning Russians. Simply because the powers that be have labeled the USSR/Russia as an enemy of the U.S., people maintain irrational beliefs about all of Russia or all Russians. The same beliefs occur in regard to Vladimir Putin.
For instance, U.S. government official X uses the Mockingbird media to spread misinformation, disinformation or malinformation about Putin. In REBT, using the ABC model, this constitutes an Activating event (or merely an “Action”).
Unlike the naturalistic world in which an Action-Consequence (A-C) connection exists, it’s a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection that causes self-disturbance from a psychological perspective. From an A-C outlook, a cut finger (Action) may bleed (Consequence).
Still, if when your finger is cut (Action) and you unhelpfully assume, “Life sucks, because I hate being injured” (irrational Belief of the global evaluation variety), then you’ll likely disturb yourself into an angry disposition (Consequence). This is the B-C connection at play.
Thus, when U.S. government official X tells only a partial truth (i.e., a lie) about Putin (Action) and uninformed U.S. citizen Y unproductively Believes, “Putin is a piece of shit,” then it’s the unhelpful assumption and not the lie that causes an unpleasant Consequence such as anger.
Or as a child, when being exposed to carefully constructed narratives which weren’t necessarily truthful about the USSR (Action) and I unfavorably Believed that all people associated with the Iron Curtain were dangerous, it was my unchallenged assumption that caused fear (Consequence).
Of course it’s irrational to conclude that Putin and the Russians are entirely bad. Everyone alive is merely a fallible human being who doesn’t rate the label of “bad.” As such, Disputation of unhealthy Beliefs is necessary in order to arrive to an Effective new assumption of this sort.
Keeping this psychoeducational lesson in mind, perhaps you will be influenced less by biased U.S. propaganda about the Russians. Oh, you still aren’t convinced that the U.S. is capable of disseminating disinformation—deliberately inaccurate information?
Consider that in 2020, one source reported, “More than 50 former senior intelligence officials have signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden, pictured here, ‘has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
Those dastardly Russians were at it again!!!!! Or, were they? That nonsense from questionable intelligence officials served as an October surprise that may’ve impacted the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Imagine that! U.S. personnel ostensibly meddled with the U.S. democratic process while claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop was a Russian ploy to influence elections. Turns out, as so many rational thinkers already understood at the time, those intelligence personnel were wrong.
People who irrationally believe that the U.S. government is entirely good (global evaluation) and the Russians are entirely bad (universal rating) fell for what was so obviously a lie. One wonders if U.S. citizens will use the same irrational beliefs for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
According to one source, the “U.S. announces plan to counter Russian influence ahead of 2024 election.” Oh, we’re doing this dance again? No thank you; I didn’t like the music the first time around. I think I’ll sit this one out.
Keep in mind that the U.S. has contributed just under $114 billion to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Keep in mind that to date Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, continues to suspend elections in his country. At one point historically, that was referred to as a dictatorship.
Keep in mind that one source reports that “Ukraine has a genuine Nazi problem — both past and present.” Does that mean that the U.S. is providing billions of dollars to neo-Nazis? Is this something you voted for?
Keep in mind that rather than a defensive strategy of fighting the Russians at home Ukraine has reportedly taken an offensive approach by entering Russia. How might this impact the U.S. when we’re essentially the main nation funding, arming, and training Ukraine fighting forces?
Personally, although he’s seemingly a dictator, Zelenskyy isn’t entirely despicable. Nor are the people of Ukraine to be globally evaluated. Likewise, Putin, the Russians, and anyone from the U.S. – to include lying intelligence agency personnel – aren’t worthy of universal ratings.
We’re all fallible human beings. Rather than irrationally rating and blaming the Russians for burning my toast, perhaps I could find better use of my time by attempting to educate those who lack knowledge about how often they disturb themselves. No global evaluation is necessary.
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
References:
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