Re:addictions and self-control

Re point #1: I'm not sure what is strange about a Cognitive therapist suggesting that individuals may engage in a variety of behaviors in an attempt to avoid aversive affect. I don't think Beck would have any trouble with the idea and I believe Rachman and his colleagues have published several papers on the topic. I'm not sure what you mean when you say "I rather suspect a lot of cognitive therapists are really affect people in disguise." Are you suggesting that Cognitive Therapists shouldn't discuss affect?

Re point #2: My objection to the concept of "schema avoidance" is that I think that it is an unnecessary complication of a theory which is perfectly fine as is. If the individual is avoiding the emotional pain which is associated with the activation of the schema, why do we need to add the concept of schema avoidance to CT? CT already includes the idea that people often avoid aversive stimuli (including aversive affect elicited by schema activation) so I don't see what the concept of schema activation adds. One difference between Jeff Young and I is that my preference is stay within a CT framework when trying to understand complex phenomena such as personality disorders while Jeff has decided to develop a new theoretical framework (which he now sees as being distinct from CT).

Re point #4: When you say "I agree whole heartedly with Jim but like to put it into cognitive terms" you imply that I am not putting it in cognitive terms. Do you think the only possible CT response to dysfunctional affect is to identify (and modify) the schemas which contribute to the painful affect? While this is a perfectly fine line of intervention, CT also encompasses using rational responses to reduce dysfunctional affect, using behavioral interventions (activity scheduling, assertion training, relaxation training, etc.) to reduce dysfunctional affect, working to increase affect tolerance, and/or helping the individual find more adaptive "tension-reducing" behaviors.

Re point #5: At least as far as my non-response to many of your suggestions, I tend to respond when I disagree with what has been posted or when I have something to add. When a suggestion is posted and I do not respond, it usually means that I think that it is fine. Occasionally it simply means that I simply haven't had time to respond (I moderate this forum in my spare time without compensation) but I try to find time to respond if I disagree or have something to add. Your contributions to this forum have been quite valuable.

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.