Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!-Chapter 182 - 180: Objectifying Subjective Matters to Face Them Better

Chapter 182: Chapter 180: Objectifying Subjective Matters to Face Them Better

The "Rational Emotive Therapy," also known as "Reasonable Belief Therapy," is the most representative method within the Cognitive-behavioral Sect. The theoretical foundation of this therapy posits that people’s emotional and behavioral reactions are not caused by a specific event itself but by their cognition, interpretation, and evaluation of the event.

The reason it’s also called the "ABC model" is that this therapy involves three elements: Activating event (A), Belief (B), and Emotional and Behavioral Consequences (C).

The "Rational Emotive Therapy" analyzes the entire process from the occurrence of an event to the emotional and behavioral consequences using the aforementioned A, B, and C elements, identifying the problems to correct the beliefs accordingly.

Nan Zhubin looked at the visitor in front of him, who wrote down "A," "B," and "C" in sequence on the paper, and said slowly:

"In your narration just now, there were two events that triggered your negative emotions. We can use one for teaching practice and the other for your self-application."

"The first is this: you feel that your cognition can’t keep up with your friends, or you notice that your abilities are noticeably inferior to theirs."

Nan Zhubin formally guided, "What was the direct ’event’ in this process that caused your emotions?"

Zhuang Junzhe quickly responded, "I know they’re interning at big companies, and I feel..."

Nan Zhubin interrupted, "Let’s set aside the ’feel’ part first, just the simple ’event.’"

Zhuang Junzhe paused: "Then it’s ’knowing a lot of people have interned at big companies.’"

Nan Zhubin pointed to the paper: "Write it down, under ’A.’

Scribble—

The sound of a pen gliding quickly emerged and then stopped.

The visitor, having written as required, looked up and toward the consultant.

Nan Zhubin continued, "Then, let’s reflect on, what ’emotion’ did you experience in response to the ’event’?

Zhuang Junzhe pressed his lips together, taking longer this time to think.

Nan Zhubin observed his expression.

"I feel... very troubled."

[Gaze shifted away, no longer maintaining eye contact.]

[Something is hidden.]

Nan Zhubin immediately launched a Confrontation: "’Troubled’ is not an ’emotion,’ ’trouble’ is a ’state.’"

In everyday conversational exchange, some words often acquire various extended meanings over time. For example, "dumbass" was originally a noun, typically used in sentences like "you’re a dumbass"; later, when used as an adjective in sentences like "this thing is really dumbass," people also understand the meaning.

"Trouble" is similar, it’s not an accurate emotion in itself, just that when people now say "I’m very troubled," it can roughly convey the speaker’s state.

It’s not an accurate emotional description; instead, it’s a vague, unclear emotional depiction, one with Defensive characteristics.

Nan Zhubin looked at the visitor, gently guiding, "In psychology, we categorize emotions into Basic Emotions and Complex Emotions. Basic Emotions include joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust."

"Complex Emotions are composites of two or more Basic Emotions, with more types, like jealousy, shame, guilt, pride, etc."

"The ’trouble’ you just mentioned could refer to many different emotions, it’s not an accurate description."

Nan Zhubin looked at Zhuang Junzhe, still hopeful the other person could willingly explore himself a bit more: "Based on the examples I just gave you, what emotion do you think you experienced at that time?"

Zhuang Junzhe held his breath slightly.

When he first said "trouble," he hesitated; at this moment, with this answer being rejected by Nan Zhubin, he directly fell into a silence.

Nan Zhubin hoped it was the positive nature of reflective silence rather than the opposing nature of unwillingness to communicate, a negative silence.

Considering the visitor’s adeptness at thinking and active consultancy attitude, Nan Zhubin did not immediately break the current silence.

Fortunately, after about ten seconds, the visitor finally let out a long sigh.

The sigh was very long, as if exhaling all the wasted residue accumulated by holding his breath earlier.

"It’s anger, I felt anger at that..." Just having said it, Zhuang Junzhe shook his head and voluntarily revised his answer once more.

"And inferiority... does that count as an emotion?"

Nan Zhubin sighed in relief, nodding, "It does, write it down, under ’C.’

He didn’t respond to or console the visitor’s current situation but instead rapidly advanced the first session of Rational Emotive Therapy.

At this point, the paper was divided into three areas.

On the left was "A: Knowing a lot of people have interned at big companies."

The middle, representing Cognition, "B," was still blank.

The right was "C: Anger, inferiority."

It had now become a fill-in-the-blank mode.

This is the final step; Nan Zhubin asked, "So, lastly, let’s fill in your ’Belief’—how did you cognitively process this ’event’ at the time?"

Zhuang Junzhe thought for a moment, "I feel like them getting internships at big companies means they’re more capable than me."

Nan Zhubin said, "Write it down. This is ’B.’"

It sounded strange.

But Zhuang Junzhe’s attention was all on consulting by then; he immediately started writing, which only took a moment.

Now, the words on the paper became "I know a lot of people have interned at big companies →→ I feel like them getting internships means they’re more capable than me →→ I experience anger and inferiority," forming such a unidirectional transmission line.

An A+B=C formula thus emerged.

Zhuang Junzhe’s expression suddenly grew more complicated.

Nan Zhubin immediately noticed it and deliberately asked, "What’s wrong?"

"It’s just, my ’belief,’ it feels unfounded."

Zhuang Junzhe’s brows gradually furrowed.

Nan Zhubin smiled, "Because you’ve always just thought about it in your head and never wrote it down on paper."

Zhuang Junzhe blinked, "Is it that simple?"

His face full of disbelief.

Nan Zhubin nodded, "When these things only exist in your mind, they are ’subjective,’ and subjective things are led by thoughts and emotions. Many times, you may really have an ABC in your mind, but as you keep thinking, you forget about A, or even B, and just immerse yourself in C, that one negative emotion."

The consultant pointed to the words on the paper with his finger.

"Now that they are presented in written form, in a way, they become ’objective.’ It’s hard to ignore them, so you’re able to think more rationally and reasonably."

Nan Zhubin laughed: "That’s also why I kept emphasizing to you—’write it down.’"

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