Notice the possibility of, or actually run into, harsh part - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Notice the possibility of, or actually run into, harsh parts of reality that weren’t on one’s map

Map of reality becomes unrealistically positive or even grandiose

Cope by forming bias toward comforting perceptions & beliefs

Feel better for awhile, living in a rosy bubble

Stressed by one’s over-reactions

Extreme reaction to un-anticipated stressor

Cycle of Grandiose DelusionsSlide2

Encounter problems due to one’s exaggerated response to imagined dangers

Map of reality becomes unrealistically threatening

Cope by forming bias toward seeing signs of threat & betrayal

Feel safer for awhile, because it seems all threats are anticipated

Stressed by one’s unpreparedness for external threat & betrayal

Blame the new problems on external sources

Cycle of Paranoid DelusionsSlide3

Maps of Self

Note that maps of self are prone to similar distortionsBias to see self as competent protects against problems caused by lack of self confidenceBias to see self as incompetent protects against being surprised by unexpected threatsSlide4

Relationship between paranoid and grandiose distortions

Both types of distortion can be seen as a “correction” for the other typeSo when people feel overwhelmed by one cycle, they may switch to the otherCreating inconsistency, flip/flops, from one kind of distortion to anotherOr they may do some of each simultaneouslyCreating an overall messSlide5

Attempted solutions that lack balance:

Sometimes try to consciously think one’s way outResulting in too much reliance on conscious control of perceptionSometimes try to escape by relinquishing conscious thought, just being spontaneous, dreamyResulting in a willingness to accept highly irrational interpretationsSlide6

Better solution:

When lots of bias exists, need a fresh look at thingsA look that balances spontaneous interpretations with conscious reflectionThis “fresh look” is sometimes seen as a rebirth of the selfNeeds a safe place to occurThe therapy relationship is one way of creating this safe place