Re: On Cognitive Fusion and Experiential Avoidance According to GOYMIYL

[Guest guest]

C,I don't know if I'm understanding your question.    I guess I don't know what you mean when you ask if Experiential Avoidance is largely caused by fusing with our evaluations (especially implicit ones) and our self-conceptualizations?By " largely caused " are you asking if these two things, evaluations and self-conceptualizations, are the cause of a large portion all experiential avoidance?  GOYMIYL just says these are two biggest buttons without saying what share of all experiential avoidance is caused by these two buttons.

Are you worried that there are other buttons of considerable size that are not addressed in GOYMIYL or at least not in this particular section of GOYMIYL?

 

Hello fellow ACTors,So I've read about Cognitive Fusion from pg.57-59 of GOYMIYL. However, I'm unclear whether I've interpreted it correctly so I'd like to hear others feedback. I've read the following passage from " Why Thinking Has Such An Impact: "

" Cognitive fusion refers to the tendency to allow thought to dominate other sources of behavioral regulation because of the failure to pay attention to the process of relating over and above the products of relating. To put it into less abstract terms, cognitive fusion involves treating our thoughts as if they are what they say they are. "

I've understood that Cognitive Fusion is the process of letting our thoughts largely regulate our behavior. Furthermore, this usually involves literality, treating our thoughts too literally. Did I interpret that correctly?

Also, I've read that Cognitive Fusion is the cause of Experiential Avoidance under " Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion. " But I've read the following: " [...] any road sign you encounter could lead off the road down into an embankment if it pushes your buttons sufficiently. The question is: What are those buttons?

" The two biggest buttons are the processes of evaluation and self-conceptualization. " Does this mean that Experiential Avoidance is largely caused by fusing with our evaluations (especially implicit ones) and our self-conceptualizations? "

C.

[Guest guest]

"By "largely caused" are you asking if these two things, evaluations and self-conceptualizations, are the cause of a large portion all experiential avoidance?"No, I'm interpreting from the book that fusing with them would largely cause experiential avoidance."Are you worried that there are other buttons of considerable size that are

not addressed in GOYMIYL or at least not in this particular section of

GOYMIYL?"I'm simply curious to see if my interpretation of the book is accurate. We all have to remember that it is easy to misinterpret certain text; just look at the word "acceptance" and you'll see what I mean. C.>> C,> > I don't know if I'm understanding your question. I guess I don't know> what you mean when you ask if Experiential Avoidance is largely caused by> fusing with our evaluations (especially implicit ones) and our> self-conceptualizations?> > By "largely caused" are you asking if these two things, evaluations and> self-conceptualizations, are the cause of a large portion all experiential> avoidance? GOYMIYL just says these are two biggest buttons without saying> what share of all experiential avoidance is caused by these two buttons.> > Are you worried that there are other buttons of considerable size that are> not addressed in GOYMIYL or at least not in this particular section of> GOYMIYL?> > > > > On Wed, Nov 16, 2011 at 12:36 PM, receptiveobserver> solesoul3909@...wrote:> > > **> >> >> > Hello fellow ACTors,> >> > So I've read about Cognitive Fusion from pg.57-59 of GOYMIYL. However, I'm> > unclear whether I've interpreted it correctly so I'd like to hear others> > feedback.> >> > I've read the following passage from "Why Thinking Has Such An Impact:"> >> > "*Cognitive fusion refers to the tendency to allow thought to dominate> > other sources of behavioral regulation because of the failure to pay> > attention to the process of relating over and above the products of> > relating. To put it into less abstract terms, cognitive fusion involves> > treating our thoughts as if they are what they say they are.*"> >> > I've understood that Cognitive Fusion is the process of letting our> > thoughts largely regulate our behavior. Furthermore, this usually involves> > literality, treating our thoughts too literally. Did I interpret that> > correctly?> >> > Also, I've read that Cognitive Fusion is the cause of Experiential> > Avoidance under "Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion." But I've> > read the following:> >> > "[...] *any road sign you encounter could lead off the road down into an> > embankment if it pushes your buttons sufficiently. The question is: What> > are those buttons?> >> > "The two biggest buttons are the processes of evaluation and> > self-conceptualization.*"> >> > Does this mean that Experiential Avoidance is largely caused by fusing> > with our evaluations (especially implicit ones) and our> > self-conceptualizations?"> >> > C.> > > >>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

When I'm fused with something, including values, I just don't have the

perspective and wiggle room I prefer. Fusion in my experience naturally

precipitates fertile breeding ground for rule governance as well as undermines

ability to see what is workable in the moment. It's like constantly having

something flat up in my face, (e.g, my hand) versus a few inches away, where

there is breathing room, open up more choices in the moment.

Avoidance is unwillingness to have what you're having right here, right now.

Sometimes we choose to avoid things, based on context and values. That would be

a good thing, a healthy move. With avoidance that is toxic or creating

suffering, and moving you away from valued living, away from who you are, there

are often fused thoughts and rules tucked in there: " I can't have that one, only

this one at this time, this particular thought/feeling is just too fearful, too

wrong, too unfamiliar, too horrible " .

Hope that helps a bit.

>

> Hello fellow ACTors,

>

> So I've read about Cognitive Fusion from pg.57-59 of GOYMIYL. However,

> I'm unclear whether I've interpreted it correctly so I'd like to hear

> others feedback.

>

> I've read the following passage from " Why Thinking Has Such An Impact: "

>

> " Cognitive fusion refers to the tendency to allow thought to dominate

> other sources of behavioral regulation because of the failure to pay

> attention to the process of relating over and above the products of

> relating. To put it into less abstract terms, cognitive fusion involves

> treating our thoughts as if they are what they say they are. "

>

> I've understood that Cognitive Fusion is the process of letting our

> thoughts largely regulate our behavior. Furthermore, this usually

> involves literality, treating our thoughts too literally. Did I

> interpret that correctly?

>

> Also, I've read that Cognitive Fusion is the cause of Experiential

> Avoidance under " Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion. " But I've

> read the following:

>

> " [...] any road sign you encounter could lead off the road down into an

> embankment if it pushes your buttons sufficiently. The question is: What

> are those buttons?

>

> " The two biggest buttons are the processes of evaluation and

> self-conceptualization. "

>

> Does this mean that Experiential Avoidance is largely caused by fusing

> with our evaluations (especially implicit ones) and our

> self-conceptualizations? "

>

> C.

>