Psychology Update : The Abreaction Therapy

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Written by : Radhika Bhattacharyya

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Abreaction is a psychoanalytical term which refers to vividly imagining or reliving a painful memory from the past, usually in order to purge or cleanse the strong negative feelings associated with it.

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For example, a brave soldier who has fought several years for his country and has lost one of his limbs in a war; even after treatment by the best doctors in the country, his lost limbs have left him permanently disabled. He might end up being a bitter and depressed man recollecting his days in the army where everyone revered and saluted him versus now when wherever he would go people would look at him with a sense of pity or revulsion. He might feel an increasing desire of ending his life rather than living on pity of others. 

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Abreaction Therapy is used when a person is in need of a spiritual or emotional  succour after a breakdown. It is only used for people severely affected by hardships or trauma in life to such an extent that it affects their feelings of trust, affection, self esteem and in general, relations with others. They may end up engaging in activities which are detrimental to their health and state of well being.

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By leading the client through the event; the feelings of fear, rejection or guilt are released that have been for long preserved in the vestiges of the clients' memory. As a process that brings out difficult emotions, the client will go through an emotional upheaval that will slowly and steadily provide a release from the burden of the traumatic event. After the treatment, the client gains a new clarity and understanding of the event and should be able to talk about the event without any feelings of discomfort.

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For instance , a rape survivor who is haunted by traumatic reminiscences, may follow an illogical thought process whereby she irrationally assumes herself to be somehow guilty of herself bringing about the horrendous situation she was in , for instance, by reason of her dress code.

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But after the abreaction therapy, there would be a proper clarity in her thinking, and the illogical, self defeating feelings of guilt and remorse are swept aside. She would then come to the proper conclusion that no matter her circumstance, the rapists are the ones entirely to be blamed.

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Psychology Update: The Mirroring

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Written by : Shreya Jain

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Mirroring, is a phenomenon wherein people mimic another person’s gestures, actions, postures or words, in a social setting. It is a form of non-verbal behavior, and most of the times, it takes place subconsciously. Mirroring is a way of showing trust, empathy, and a way of bonding and staying in tune with the others.

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Mirroring is quite a common phenomenon. It is the elemental nature of human beings. Couples walking in perfect synchronization, pointing fingers at each other in a conversation, thinking while scratching your head, sitting cross legged if the one beside you in a meeting sits so or smiling and laughing when the others in a group do; are all everyday instances of mirroring.  Even in politics, we see how Presidents of different countries mirror each other to ascertain trust and harmony. The way a person behaves non-verbally, through his postures, gestures, hand movements, tells a lot about his personality and the way he thinks.

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We all mirror our fellow mates, colleagues, bosses or partners, just that we are oblivious to the fact that we’re doing so. Mirror neurons, a set of nerve cells in the brain, are responsible for mirroring. Activation of these, leads a person to subconsciously mimic the other to allow a greater level of connection between them. The earliest form of mirroring can be seen in an infant-parent relationship. Parents are found imitating their children’s voice, way of speaking and expressions as a way of validating the child’s emotions. This helps the child bond well with the parents. Infants too, mimic their parents’ body languages, words, and actions to be able to connect with them.

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People mirror each other to show that they are on the same page or wavelength and in sync with one another. It helps establish rapport and trust between them. Mirroring also shows that a person is willing to understand the other, empathizes with them or feels connected to them. It is a way of portraying harmony and comfort in another’s company.

Mirroring is also a technique of survival. Usually, in offices, the employees mirror their subordinates or the leaders to stay attuned to them. They all follow unspoken codes of conduct and formal dress codes as a way of fitting in. Be it bridesmaids adorning the same outfits, bikers wearing similar clothes in rallies or crowds jumping and applauding at concerts, they’re all a way of mirroring each other to have a sense of security and belonging towards the group. It has been a way of survival.

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In all, it is a great way of establishing a good relationship with someone, as the one being mirrored feels that he is being reflected in someone else. The fact that someone feels, thinks and acts the way you do, is enough to form a good bond with them and automatically connect with them.  

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Psychology Update : The Double Bind

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Written by : Aakriti Agrawal

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Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The line perfectly explains the psychological theory called Double Bind. It is a situation in which you feel like whatever you decide, you will be wrong. It is something which most of us have experienced at least once in our lives. It is basically a no-win situation. 

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Examples of such situations can be when a student wants to go abroad to expand his or her learning opportunities but, at the same time they do not want to leave their family and friends behind and move to a completely unknown country. This is an example of a no-win situation because whichever path they decide to go on, they will lose something or the other. Another example can be when a person wants to lose weight but, can not leave fattening products.

Gregory Bateson and his colleagues believed that the double bind or no-win situation was a contributing factor in schizophrenia. It is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave clearly. They proposed that contradictions in the interaction between family members predisposes it’s members to schizophrenia. But, later on the theory was discarded for the lack of convincing support. 

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People have now come up with many ways to deal with a double bind situation. Such a situation can make you feel angry, helpless, trapped or even depressed. So, one of the first steps to deal with a situation like this is to take a few steps back and analyze the problem. You can talk to a close friend or even write it down step by step. In either of these cases you tend to find a loophole in the situation which can take you out of it. If you can’t then think of other ways to deal with it like believe in yourself that you can come up with a better solution and walk away, take help from others or from sites that deal in such problems, choose situation that makes you feel better and benefits you the most.

In the end, just believe that no situation is permanent and every problem has some or the other solution to it. Everything gets sorted at the end of the day and you can be happy again.

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How Mother Teresa Inspired Us

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Written by : Shreya Jain

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History has seen many significant figures that have made lasting efforts and contributions to make this world a better place to live in. Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership qualities and philosophies, Helen Keller’s undying spirit, Nelson Mandela’s incessant efforts towards justice and freedom, Jesus Christ’s message of love and forgiveness, Albert Einstein’s ‘never give up’ attitude, continue to be an inspiration to people worldwide even today. One such beautiful soul is Mother Teresa, an embodiment of love, care and selfless devotion. A woman, whose contributions to the society cannot be compared.

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Mother Teresa, whose birth name was Agnes Gnoxha, was raised in a Catholic household in Skopje. From an early age, she began to feed and help those in need. She believed that God had called upon her, asking her to dedicate her life to the betterment of others. 

She had utmost faith in God, and all determined to spread positivity, she began her missionary work in India. She learnt nursing; how to deliver babies, giving injections, medicinal doses. She lived amongst the poor and lived a life resembling theirs. She made tireless efforts to enrich their lives. 

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Mother Teresa came as a ray of hope in the lives of thousands of people.  Her selfless acts of serving people also influenced many others, who joined her in her journey. Mother Teresa successfully developed a community of around 4000 sisters, who helped her in establishing charity centers, orphanages, and hospitals and in serving the homeless, the blind, the refugees, the aged, the poor, the disabled and the victims of natural calamities. 

She was devoted to living a life for others. Mother Teresa did everything with a great smile on her face, and always remained young at heart. She felt utmost satisfaction and joy in the art of giving. Mother Teresa’s dedication, love and compassion continue to inspire people even today.

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‘I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.’ - Mother Teresa

It’s the little things that make all the difference. Be it spending time at old age homes, volunteering activities, feeding the hungry or not wasting food, smiling at people, we all have the power to make a big difference, in our own little ways.  So let’s continue getting inspired, spreading smiles and being happy!  

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