Posted by fires on July 23, 2004, at 11:17:49
In reply to Re: Matt DDS? Other CBT'ers? » fires, posted by Dinah on July 23, 2004, at 6:44:02
I will respond to you since you did not use ad hominem attacks.:)
CBT is based on rational thinking and logic, which isn't always present in our "emotions."
>>For example. If someone I knew and trusted walked up to me and without a word shot me in the leg, I might feel hurt and surprised, and very very angry. I understand that the CBT take on it is that I could *choose* to feel another way entirely. But the facts are that I was happily wandering around, feeling safe and cheerful. Then someone I trusted deliberately shot me in the leg! If someone hadn't shot me in the leg, I'd still feel happy and cheerful. But now I don't. How can the person who shot me in the leg deny all responsibility for my mood by saying my mood is my own responsibility and no one else can *cause* my mood? It seems to me to be a very non-communal attitude to take, and not at all in keeping with the nature of mankind, which is very interpersonal in its orientation.<<
Let me answer your questions using the Socratic method. You probably would feel hurt and angry, after first being shot. But then you might think (logically): Maybe I didn't know this person as well as I thought. Maybe he wasn't as mentally stable as he appeared. Is it your responsibility to be the caretaker of ALL of your friends mental health? Or, maybe my friend has a brain tumor which disturbed his thinking and led to, my shooting. (Not too far fetched, as a number of serial killers have been known to have suffered traumatic brain injuries as children). Many incarcerated Americans have been shown to have abnormal brain functions in their frontal lobes which partially controls impulsivity.
You might also think: Well, I certainly didn't do anything to provoke the attack, therefore why should I feel angry (if any of it is directed at yourself) because of what someone else did?
You might also think, "I don't believe in instant Karma, therefore it wasn't "my fault" I got shot.
Just examples. I hope you find them thought provoking.
Thanks
poster:fires
thread:368717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040723/msgs/369402.html