Psychotherapy: How correcting faulty assumptions leads to wisdom.

In an separate article I describe the definition of Wisdom as “seeing through illusion.” It is interesting that in Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A cognitive perspective (1985) Aaron Beck talks about “major maladaptive assumptions” that people make and use to understand the world around them. When over-used these maladaptive-assumptions become a client’s “major concern” and are the subject of therapy. The maladaptive assumptions Beck is talking about sound very much like “illusions” to me. They are a “faulty” or “illusory” picture of reality.

Beck proposes methods for “restructuring” these major concerns. It makes sense to me that the result of restructuring these maladaptive-assumptions (illusions) would be to “see through” them. That is, the result of therapy that restructures faulty assumptions is “wisdom.“ Now… that is cool.

What are my illusions? Beck outlines three areas and some of the maladaptive-assumptions people make that result in “major concerns.” These “illusions” are worth thinking about:

Acceptance

  1. I have to be cared for by someone who loves me.
  2. I need to be understood.
  3. I can’t be left alone.
  4. I’m nothing unless I’m loved.
  5. To be rejected is the worst thing in the world.
  6. I can’t get others angry at me.
  7. I have to please others.
  8. I can’t stand being separated from others.
  9. Criticism means personal rejection.
  10. I can’t be alone.

Competence

  1. I am what I accomplish.
  2. I have to be somebody.
  3. Success is everything.
  4. There are only winners and losers in life.
  5. If I’m not on top, I’m a flop.
  6. If I let up, I’ll fail.
  7. I have to be the best at whatever I do.
  8. Others’ successes take away from mine.
  9. If I make a mistake, I’ll fail.
  10. Failure is the end of the world.

Control

  1. I have to be my own boss.
  2. I’m the only one who can solve my problems.
  3. I can’t tolerate others telling me what to do.
  4. I can’t ask for help.
  5. Others are always trying to control me.
  6. I have to be perfect to have control.
  7. I’m either completely in control or completely out of control.
  8. I can’t tolerate being out of control.
  9. Rules and regulations imprison me.
  10. If I let someone get too close, that person will control me.