KAXL Interview With Dr. Michael Mannia on The Conditioned Mind

Thought you might be interested in this interview I conducted with radio personality, Matt Pelishek, from KAXL radio:

http://www.kaxl.com/interviews/

Peace!

Self-Deception - Part Three - Rationalization

We’ve been working through this series on self-deception; which can be likened to a three-legged table. One leg represents denial, the second leg involves repression, and the third leg has everything to do with rationalization. To rationalize is to attempt to explain or justify (one’s own or another’s behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if they are not true or appropriate. It is the latter part of this definition that is of most concern when it comes to overcoming the crippling effects of sin and guilt. When we practice self-deception, we tend to rationalize as a means of justifying that which we know is wrong. The compulsive gambler, shopaholic, sex addict, etc., have at least one thing in common, they are entrenched in a mindset predicated on denial, repression, and rationalization. However, one need not be battling compulsion to practice self-deception. For example, it is a sad fact that one-in-four females, and one-in-five males will be molested in the U.S. prior to reaching the age of eighteen. Perhaps even more sad is the fact that a majority of those abused tend to remain entrenched in maladaptive modes of coping as a result of their self-deceptive practices; and, thus, live for years (if not their whole life) stymied to fulfill their God-given purpose in life. Regardless if we are battling compulsion, or are unresolved with past abuses, to one degree or another, we all practice acts of self-deception at times. These actions inhibit the Christian most when they become habitual modes of coping with life's distress.

Consider this verse: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). The Hebrew word used here for death is maveth (maw’-veth), which literally means just that—the dead, their place or state. However, maveth figuratively relates to pestilence or ruin. There really are ways that seem right to us, but in the end they lead to pestilence, ruin, and, in some cases, death. While denial is an attempt to refuse reality, and repression is striving to avoid it, rationalization is a process through which we seek to alter reality. It is a self-satisfying, but irrational type of behavior aimed at maintaining our own will. When we rationalize, we will for things to be a certain way. The more we rationalize, the less reason we exercise. When we seek to justify a harmful behavior, our ability for sound thinking is inhibited, and we cease operating within the bounds of God’s will.

Next post, we’ll wrap-up this series on self-deception. I pray this has proven useful in helping you live more in the power, love, and soundness-of-mind God has always intended for you (see II Timothy 1:7). Portions of this post were excerpted from my book, The Conditioned Mind. If you would like to discover more about self-deception, and how to overcome the crippling effects of sin and guilt, select the book title link above. Have a blessed weekend!

Self-Deception - Part Two - Final Thoughts on Repression

We’ve been taking a fascinating look into the human condition; specifically, how we tend to use self-deceptive processes to cope with the distress of life. In prior posts, it was determined that we practice denial in various forms (simple, minimization, and transference). In such instances, to one degree or another, we are attempting to reject the impact reality is having on our world. All of this is complex enough, but when we shift our focus onto another form of self-deception, namely, repression, we come to find a even greater degree of complexity to how we cope with distress. God’s Word is clear, we are not to live in these self-deceptive modes (i.e., Ephesians 5:11, James 5:16, II Corinthians 7:10). So, as followers of Jesus Christ, it is in our best interest to be aware of when we might be duped into such modes, and how to overcome life’s distress using God’s mechanisms for coping.

In today’s post we wrap-up our focus on repression by looking at one other factor involved in this self-deceptive mode of coping. Our tendency toward a certain type of repressive behavior (inhibitive or elaborative) appears to be predicated, in large part, on operant conditioning (positive or negative reinforcement). In this regard it is important to note, that, both healthy and unhealthy means of coping can be positively reinforced. For example, let us say I am stressed because I am late for a meeting, and happen to get away with driving fast and running a red light or two. My distress is lowered as I walk into the meeting less late than what I would have had I not driven this way. Thus, the effect of my behaviors could be considered positive because they lowered my overall level of distress. But my driving fast and running red lights would never be considered positive behavior.

The more positively a particular behavior is reinforced, the greater the likelihood the behavior will be repeated as a means of coping. While repression is mostly viewed as being negative, as it is maladaptive and can produce pathology, our inclination to engage in it can be attributed to the fact that repression often proves successful at lowering our level of distress. However, the success of repression is short-lived. Even when negative behavior proves successful at reducing our distress, the net results are always negative. For instance, getting drunk as a means to cope with distress will most likely prove successful. Alcohol numbs our painful emotions for a time, which lowers our distress; thus, the behavior will be positively reinforced. However, getting drunk has negative consequences; therefore, it is considered to be a negative mode of coping. Alcohol is a poison, and drinking poison is generally not found to be a positive thing. Drinking alcohol impairs perception and judgment, which all too often results in serious consequences. Depending upon the degree and frequency of reinforcement, getting drunk as a means to resist distress can lead to attachment, which opens the door to addiction. So, in the short run, getting drunk might very well prove effective at numbing painful feelings and lowering distress. But, in the long run, this method of coping only serves to avoid dealing with issues. The more we do so, the less we are likely to find healthy resolutions. Therefore, repression could never be considered a viable solution. Rather, it complicates our life, which inevitably increases our distress.

In my next post, we’ll move-on to the final leg used in self-deception – rationalization. Portions of this post were excerpted from my book, The Conditioned Mind. To learn more about the ways we practice self-deception, and how to overcome the crippling effects of such acts, click the book tittle above.

Free Book Giveaway

This is the last week for entry into a contest to win a free copy of my book, The Conditioned Mind. Go to my website to enter: www.theconditionedmind.com. :-)

Self-Deception - Part Two - Elaborative Repression via Symbolization

Good morning friends! I invite you to take a moment and consider the fact that God has always known of you, even before He created the cosmos. Indeed, He has placed a unique and special purpose on your life. I pray, that, today is the beginning of your living to greater and greater extents in the power, love, and soundness of mind afforded us via God's Spirit (see II Timothy 1:7).

We've been covering the means by which we become conditioned to avoid dealing with life's distress. Such acts typically fall outside of God's will (see Ephesians 5:11; 6:10-13); and that which we think and do outside of God's will equates to sin. Thus, us followers of Christ would do well to acknowledge our sins (see Psalm 32:5; 51:3, 4), so that we can move off of these modes of thought/behavior (see Romans 6:1-22). Doing so helps us to align with the will of God (see Hebrews 12:1-6). In this way we more likely to be kept from the effects of our transgressions, and, as noted above,  live in the power, love, and soundness of mind afforded us through God's Spirit.

In today's post we'll be addressing a third coping mechanism found in elaborative repression known as symbolization. This occurs when an object or idea takes on a new meaning in which emotional energies related to some other matter are transferred onto the symbol. We actually engage in symbolism more than you might think, such as the way a wedding ring symbolizes a lifelong commitment and a love without end, or how the flag of the United States represents freedom to many Americans. However, when it comes to matters of repression, symbolization tends to distort our view of reality. For example, when Lizette was twelve, her uncle began to molest her. He threatened that if she ever told anyone, he would likely go to jail, and his brother (Lizette’s father) would be so angry with her that he would never forgive her. Because Lizette knew her father and uncle were close, she believed his lie and kept the abuse secret. As an adult, she practices symbolization by being tough; wherein she is highly oriented toward getting tasks done by taking charge in a direct, no nonsense manner. She is out to conquer her emotions, and holds others at bay through her impatience and anger. By doing so, Lizette succeeds in showing others (especially men) that she is in charge, which helps her to feel safer and less distressed. Yet her act of avoidance via this form of repression keeps Lizette stuck in the pain and anguish of her past abuse. Her ability to receive and reciprocate love is stifled, thwarting her purpose in life.

It is my sincere prayer these posts on self-deception are providing you with insight into the ways we can be conditioned into sin (i.e., ways of thinking/behaving that do not align with God's will). A portion of this post was excerpted from my book The Conditioned Mind. To discover more about repression and how it might be effecting your walk with Christ, click on the book title above to learn more.

Self-Deception - Part Two - Elaborative Repression via Displacement

Greetings! The psalmist wrote, "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). But sometimes, what life brings our way makes this mindset challenging to walk in. Yet, God is very much intentional about His creation of this day (and every day for that matter). The world we live in is not like some giant clock left to tick away on its own without the involvement of its Creator. The psalmist helps us to understand God's intentionality for this very day; He has wonderful plans for us (see Jeremiah 29:11-14). But we cannot discover and live-out these plans if we're stuck in a mindset of avoidance. Thus, we continue with today's post on repression; specifically, the matter of displacement.

A second method of coping found in elaborative repression is known as displacement. In this mode, we are not so much attempting to avoid our feelings as much as we are looking for a more secure way to experience them. For instance, Kaylee is a teenage girl who finds herself crushing on a boy at church, only she senses the boy does not share the same feelings for her. Yet her attraction does not stop just because his feelings are not mutual. So she works to reduce her distress by focusing her energies on befriending this young man’s girlfriend, and, of course, she does not disclose her true feelings. He is often the topic of conversation between these two girls. By maintaining the front, Kaylee vicariously experiences a form of relationship with the boy by practicing displacement with her friend.

In my previous post, we looked at the concept of reaction formation, the means by which we attempt to cope with distress by convincing ourselves of an alternate, i.e., opposite realty to that which is stressing us out. Today, we discover our attempts to repress can be further complicated by means of displacement. A portion of today's post was excerpted from chapter five of my new book, The Conditioned Mind. To learn more about the ways in which we practice acts of self-deception, and, thus, stay stuck in life, as opposed to following the good plans the Lord has for us, click on the book title link above.

New Author Video for The Conditioned Mind

Grateful that our first President, George Washington, was a man of God! On another note, I put together what's called an author's video for my new book, The Conditioned Mind, here's the YouTube link if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmvlEJj8-fk

Self-Deception - Part Two - Elaborative Repression via Reaction Formation

The primary focus of my book, The Conditioned Mind, is overcoming the crippling effects of sin and guilt. By sin, I mean, anything we think or do that falls outside of God's will. Psalm 4:4, Ephesians 5:11, and several other passages in God's Word inform us that He does not want us to live a repressed life.  In this post, I continue my address of the means by which we practice repression. It is my prayer this brings some level of revelation to those in need.

Whenever we experience distress, we generally attempt to cope in ways that will inhibit it from continuing. But when our attempts prove unsuccessful, we are then forced to adapt. This is where we attempt elaborative acts of repression. One such attempt is understood to involve the method of reaction formation. In this method, we transpose, i.e., reverse our desires associated with a particular person or thing. For example, let us say Juan really wants to be included with a certain group of kids at school, only this particular group does not seem all that welcoming. In the beginning, he thinks to himself, I really want to be a part of what they’re doing. But as time passes, only a couple of members seem interested in allowing him in; the others are more standoffish. As a means to cope with the distress of rejection, Juan begins to transpose his desires, telling himself, I’m not so sure I want to join now. In reality, his desire has not changed, Juan still wants to be a part of the group; however, if they do not accept him, he can cope with the distress by convincing himself otherwise. So Juan represses his desires, along with the pain of rejection, by working to convince himself that he is the one rejecting the group—not the other way around.

Part of this post was excerpted from chapter five of my book, The Conditioned Mind, to learn more about repression and how to overcome the crippling effects of sin and guilt, click on either of the highlighted links.

Self-Deception - Part 2 - Repression

In effect, repression involves the avoidance of painful thoughts and feelings. It is different from denial, in which we choose not to accept an issue. When we repress, we tend to acknowledge a problem is present but seek to avoid the associated distress. Does God want us to live repressed lives as followers of Jesus? I assert the answer is no. Recall that God fashions us with needs so that we might best fulfill the purpose He created us with. In effect, when we choose not to cope with sin, we are avoiding certain thoughts and feelings. This not only stifles fulfillment of our needs, but we tend to become entrenched in the sin.

Essentially, there are two subclasses of repression involving inhibitory and elaborative processes. Inhibitory processes seek to achieve the goal of decreasing or stopping distress through acts of avoidance. Whenever we experience distress, we generally attempt to cope in ways that will inhibit it from continuing. Most significant in all of this is the fact that repression stifles us in taking thoughts captive for Christ (see II Corinthians 10:5).

In my next post, I'll go into more detail about elaborative processes of repression. Part 2 of this series on self-deception will also address the specific ways in which repression stifles our walk with Christ.

Portions of this post were excerpted from my new book, The Conditioned Mind.

 

   

Self-Deception - Part 1 - Denial - Factor #3

We practice transference when we take the unresolved feelings toward one person and transfer them onto another. Cain's murderous actions against his brother, Abel, is an example of this form of denial (see Genesis 4:1-16). The apostle Paul wrote that in such a state of mind, our behaviors end up involving acts of sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (see Galatians 5:19-21). An interesting side note here is the word rendered witchcraft. The Greek word Paul used here is pharmakeia, which is where we derive the word pharmacy, the underlying implication being self-medicating. In effect, acts of denial tend to result in discord, wherein our behaviors fail to line up with our awareness, perception, reasoning, or judgment. Whenever this occurs, we experience conflict in the form of dissonance. In such cases, we must either change the way we think or change the way we behave. In the end, our thoughts and behaviors must line up, or else we will live in distress. If we find our behavior to be problematic but choose not to change it, we must then practice some form of denial as a means to cope with the cognitive dissonance. The net result is all too often a cycle of sin and defeat.

Discover more about denial and how to overcome its crippling effects in my new book, The Conditioned Mind.

Visit The Conditioned Mind website.

Self-Deception - Part 1 - Denial - Factor #2

When the facts of an issue are accepted but the significance or impact is denied, it could be said we are minimizing. For example, a woman might admit that her husband has an “issue” with anger, but it is the impact of his abuse that she cannot accept. We tend to minimize in such cases because we are afraid and feel powerless. This is especially true where the threat of further abuse is present. In these situations, the survivor attempts to minimize the impact of the abuse, because she is terrified of reprisal and generally feels powerless in the cycle of abuse. Yet something must be done to resist or adapt to the distress. In cases where simple denial is no longer effective, survivors are likely to cope with the ongoing distress by acknowledging that a problem exists, but accepting the impact of the abuse will prove to be a whole other challenge. Conversely, in cases where we have perpetrated sin upon others, we might admit to the facts but minimize the damage caused by our actions.

Discover more about denial and how to overcome its crippling effects in my new book, The Conditioned Mind.

Self-Deception - Part 1 - Denial - Factor 1

The term simple denial relates to the manner by which we are able to so thoroughly deny reality in certain situations. We practice this form of denial when the unpleasant facts of an issue are denied altogether. It is typically the mechanism we employ when someone close to us dies, or when we suffer a traumatic event. The greater the intimacy and dependency on the person who was lost, or the more severe the trauma, the greater the likelihood of denial. But if we remain too long in this state, we become delayed in processing through our grief/trauma, which in turn stymies healing and recovery. In such instances, pathology tends to breed, which can manifest into complicating factors like persistent and deep depression, excessive hostility, moodiness, guilt, substance abuse, hyperactivity, suicidal thoughts, and more.

Discover more about denial and how to overcome its crippling effects in my new book, The Conditioned Mind.