You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June, 2008.
I find the notion of “plausible deniability” very applicable to psychological defense mechanisms. (1) Originally, this term was used to describe aspects of political maneuvering pertaining to the Bay of Pigs invasion.
“In the case that assassinations, false flag or black ops or any other illegal or otherwise disreputable and unpopular activities become public, high-ranking officials may deny any connection to or awareness of such act, or the agents used to carry out such act.” (2)
This means that the high command gives some kind of implicit permission to carry out certain kinds of acts, and the people performing the acts don’t inform their superiors of what they are doing.
So, with defense mechanisms, they operate within the realm of ‘plausible deniability.’ Based on the severity of the psychological problems that an individual has, the range of ‘plausible deniability’ varies. For the schizophrenic, the range of plausible deniability is far ranging….they are able to believe things that most people aren’t able to believe. With other difficulties, the range of plausible deniability is more constricted.
As an example, a patient might state, “I suppose you think this has something to do with my mother!! Well, it has nothing to do with her. Don’t try to get me to talk about her, because I won’t do it!!” And, I respond, “I wasn’t thinking that….if you want to talk about your mother, I suppose you will if you want to…” And the patient goes on to talk about their mother for the remainder of the session. On a conscious level, they think that whatever they are talking about has nothing to do with their mother, but on an unconscious level, they are stating clearly that it does. For them, whatever the difficulty is, it is plausible on a conscious level that it has nothing to do with their father…at least to some extent. The emotion that is expressed, indicates something different on an unconscious level….I’ll just be patient and see what emerges as they explore their feelings further. Just like investigations into government activities, our investigations often lead to the the truth….and just like government investigations, the truth can be very hard to find. In treatment…we follow the evidence where it leads….
So, what determines how a defense mechanism will operate is its plausibility and deniability.
“I love him to death. But I really can’t understand why he treats me the way he does.”
You’ve probably heard an expression like that. Death and love used in the same sentence. What makes it plausibly deniable is that fact that, “it’s just an expression…a lot of people use that expression.”
“I hate you…I wish you were dead.”
Some teens like to use this one. It’s usually followed up with, “I really didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.” And the person believes they really didn’t mean it. We don’t like to think we have murderous impulses. We explain this away by saying, “Oh, I was just kidding about that.” Or, “I really didn’t mean it. It’s just an expression.”
But as I’ve written before, we’re all murders, liars, thieves, adulterers, covetors, and so forth in our hearts if not in action. This is taught in the Bible, and I see it as true-to-life in my practice and within myself. It’s hard to admit–we want to see ourselves as “good people,” but the Bible teaches, “There is none good but God.” So, I dispense with the whole notion to begin with. As my wife, The Christian Scribbler, opines, You’re a Sinner, I’m a Sinner and explains this better than I do.
So, we start out with the basic nature of the human being, which is consistent with the teachings of the Bible, and then see the various ways that human beings try to mask this basic nature with defense mechanisms. Again, it’s a very individual thing as to how plausible these defensive operations need to be to the individual. Sometimes, it’s extremely obvious to others, and other times it is extremely subtle and refined.
I differ with Freud in that (1) I believe in God, and (2) I believe that the unconscious mind has very powerful positive abilities that can be utilized to help and individual resolve their difficulties. With #2, this is in the vein of Milton H. Erickson, who revolutionized the study and utilization of hypnosis. Freud viewed the unconscious in altogether negative terms, “a seething cauldron of expectations,” and “repressed instinctual drives,” but I think he missed the whole positive side of the unconscious. And, this is the trouble with an atheistic perspective on psychology.
(1). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism
(2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plausible_deniability
Books that may be of interest:
My Voice Will Go With You: The Teaching Tales of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.
Uncommon Therapy: The Psychiatric Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D.
Nearly all psychologists will admit that people have psychological defense mechanisms. However, the concept of repressed memories is much more controversial….probably with good reason. You see, memory is not static…meaning it is not like a movie that is played back. It runs through the filter of the mind, emotions, and life experiences. It is susceptible to suggestion. Such as, “You remember him touching you, don’t you.” Patient responds “maybe….yes I think I do…” And comes to believe that this imagined event really happened.
Now, apart from the fact that memory is subject to suggestion, people REALLY DO have the capacity to repress memories. I can’t tell you the precise circumstances that are needed, it is an interaction of individual personality characteristics and the situation. Many people worry that, “Maybe something happened to me that I don’t remember.” I tell them, “Maybe, but don’t worry about it. If it is important that you remember, you will. If not, then you won’t. Trust your unconscious mind.”
I’ve seen it unfold in my office. Piece, by piece, the memory comes back as the emotion attached with each level of repression is released. Usually this is when there is a general knowledge of a ‘fact’ that something happened, but no memory for any specific details. As the emotion is released at each level, there is a deepening of experience and recall of more details. This unfolds in the safest way as dictated, determined, and seen as needed by the unconscious mind. I don’t press or suggest things to these patients…I’m just there to listen, empathize, and support. It unfolds on its own, and occurs only if needed to help the patient overcome their difficulties.
Now there have been times when repressed memories from the “infantile” stage of development come out in symbolic form in a dream. I remember one patient who dreamed of “squeezing” down a well and was attacked by 3 alligators. I told her, “They used forceps during your delivery at birth.” She had no conscious knowledge, or memory of this, as nobody does. She had never been told anything about this by her mother. However, she checked with her mother, and sure enough, it had occurred.
I don’t worry about, or focus on recovering repressed memories in treatment. I follow the patient’s needs. If it is needed, it will occur…I trust the unconscious mind of the patient. You see, God has created us with incredibly self protective minds…that also have self-corrective properties that can be utilized. I trust that completely.
Does it mean you’re crazy??? That’s what everybody wonders….they’re afraid they’ll be seen as crazy. This is extremely rare to happen for those who are in treatment. And frankly, if you’re worried about it, you’re probably not ‘crazy.’ People who are seen by others as ‘crazy’ rarely seek treatment from a psychotherapist. They are usually forced into treatment by their families with a psychiatrist to get medication.
So, what kind of person seeks treatment?? A person who is having difficulty coping with their life situation, a person with anxiety, a person who is disatisfied or depressed, a person with anger problems, a person having relationship problems, a person who has suffered a traumatic event in the past or in the present, a person who wants to improve their life in other ways, a person who has self-destructive patterns, and many other reasons. If you feel like you could benefit from treatment, you should try it. Don’t let your fears that you will be seen as ‘crazy’ get in the way. Chances are, this will never happen to you.
Many folks with dyslexia or other learning disabilities come to believe that they are ‘defective’ in some way. They often think they are ’stupid.’ In my experience, this is not the case at all….they just have trouble with one or more specific tasks, but can be highly intelligent.
You might find this link interesting with a list of famous people with dyslexia.
Sometimes, they will have what I call a ‘defectiveness complex.’ In other words, they interpret most of their actions and things that happen in the world as more evidence that they are defective on some level. A ‘complex’ has an overiding effect on interpretation of events, and is often strongly defended. So, someone with a defectiveness complex will reject any and all information to points to the fact that they are not defective, and automatically accept any evidence that may point to the fact that they are defective.
These kind of complexes often take years of treatment and direct challenges to change. But, they can be changed. A person can come to believe that they are intelligent and effective in many areas of life, while having difficulty in one specific area. Again, this takes a lot of challenges to the complex and a lot of evidence which contradicts the notion that a person is ‘defective.’ It also helps to understand the origin of this type of thinking, and how information is filtered through the ‘complex.’
This type of ‘complex’ can develop in other ways than dyslexia, or a learning disability, and I will write more on this in the future.
Freud thought there were only two variables important for successful treatment….time and money. While I agree with those two variables, I think there is more to the story.
Most importantly, you need to find a counselor, psychologist, psychotherapist who is the best fit for you. You may have a negative emotional reaction to a psychotherapist, and don’t base your decision just on this. First, ask yourself if you are responding this way because they told you the truth or that they challenged you to make changes. If there are other reasons you had this reaction (such as they really don’t seem to have a clue or completely misunderstand you), you may want to find a different psychotherapist. I even tell my patients that I am probably not the right shrink for everyone, and that if they feel like I am not, then they should feel free to seek treatment from someone else. Shrinks have personalities and patients have personalities….sometimes, they just don’t work well together.
Be willing to work to overcome your difficulties. As Milton Erickson said, “You must remember, that all change takes place within the patient.” Sometimes, even if you are uncertain if suggestions will be effective, you must have a willingness to try the suggestions. AND, you must be willing to see that you have benefited from suggestions. Some folk are so negativistic that they say they attempt a suggestion and it, “Made it worse.” It doesn’t matter what the suggestion is…the response is always the same. If that’s your response pattern, then you will not succeed in treatment.
Be willing to challenge your shrink. The most successful patients I worked with were extremely challenging to me. They were skeptical. They were defensive. They were hostile at times. But in the end, they were able to see the truth. They were able to accept feedback. They were willing to try things and believe that their effort might prove beneficial.
Think about your sessions after they are over. If you don’t do this, you will receive very little benefit. Psychotherapy has to have enough emotional significance to you that you do not forget everything that took place after the session is over. Psychotherapy is not just for venting and complaining. If you use it just for this, you will not find a long-term benefit. Psychotherapy is for the resolution of emotional difficulties, and this is never easy. If your treatment is too easy, it’s unlike you will benefit in the long-term.
If you have faith in God, feel free to ask if your shrink believes. They are often taught to respond with answers such as, “What would this mean to you if I answered one way or the other?” You have a right to a non-defensive answer to this question, because it is such an important aspect of people’s lives. If your shrink doesn’t respect the power of the Almighty and you do, then you are unlikely to have a good match.
This story on CNN is an excellent analysis of how some come to lack empathy for their fellow human beings, and how through treatment, can come to experience empathy and greater depth in their relationships. We all lack empathy at times…that’s just a result of being human. And…sometimes, empathy is not what’s needed. It’s not adaptive to always be empathic, but it’s good to recognize when it’s important to be empathic.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/06/18/o.empathy/index.html
I wrote before that folks in the sticks take their right to bear arms seriously. There are a lot of people across the fruited plains that are pleased today….and well they should be. It’s almost enough to make me think the world is not completely insane….almost.
I hope that now will be the time when there are lawsuits on behalf of ‘mentally ill’ individuals regarding their second amendment rights, and the truth can come out that as a whole, that mentally ill people are no more likely to be violent than others in their communities. The factors that predict violence much better are substance abuse and a history of violence. It’s not right to take someone’sright to bear arms away just because they’ve visited a psych ward. If they’ve commited a violent felony….okay. Otherwise, buzz off…
However, I note the following in the text of the decision, which shows me that the court did not fully consider the issue and wanted to placate certain political elements of the public.
The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. (emphasis added).
So there you go…My idea of lawsuits are out the window. Probably anything short of a case going to the supreme court forcing an examination of this issue, is unlikely to be successful. Well maybe the ACLU will take up the case….that’s a laugh.
So, in real-world implications, this ruling does nothing for the ‘mentally ill,’ or most of us living in the sticks. It does do something for those living in metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C. Disappointing to me…..