Socratic Disputation "Arguing yourself well" [form] Name[text,r_name,30] Email [text,r_email,30] Disputing an irrational belief using this form: Please don't sabotage your disputing efforts by not setting aside some undisturbed time to do this. How to go about disputing The object is to challenge the belief or HOT thought with a selection of questions phrased to prove or disprove such by challenging 1. Its Evidence support or lack of it. 2. Its Logical flow or lack of it 3. Its balance in terms of Practical benefits and costs Example: If your irrational belief is: "All those significant to me must show me love and approval, if they don't I can't stand it" You will start with the Evidence menu, and choose an "evidence" question that asks you where the evidence is to support the thought which you will try and answer. You then do the same with a "logic" menu, then the "practical outcome" menu. Think hard about the questions you select to answer. If you find you have no answer to the question, try another form of question from that set to see if it helps. IF you cannot find a satisfactory or realistic answer, write in "NO ANSWER" A word about functional ROLES In terms of interaction with our self, others and the world the two essential functional roles we use are that of consumer and supplier. We are either receiving what we want or we aren't. We are either giving what we want to give or we are not. When we expect to function in one of those aspects, and that expectation is frustrated, and you view it more negatively than normal, you can expect some kind of negative emotion, behaviour or even body response. Please think about this belief and select your role aspect associated it noting some are pointing to the past and some to the future. [list,my TIME and ROLE context is] [option,0,Choose your TIME and ROLE context in the Journal Issue] [option,PAST CONSUMER I got something I did not want 00,YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T WANT] [option,PAST CONSUMER I did not get something I wanted 00,YOU DIDN’T GET SOMETHING YOU WANTED] [option,PAST SUPPLIER I could not give what I wanted to give 01,YOU COULDN’T GIVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO GIVE] [option,PAST SUPPLIER I gave what I did not want to give 01,YOU GAVE SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE] [option,FUTURE CONSUMER I will get what I do not want 10,YOU WILL GET SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO GET] [option,FUTURE CONSUMER I will not get what I want 10,YOU WON’T GET SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET] [option,FUTURE SUPPLIER I will not be able to give what I want to give 11,YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GIVE] [option,FUTURE SUPPLIER I will give something I do not want to give 11,YOU WILL GIVE SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO GIVE] [/list] Now type in the Belief or HOT thought you want to dispute or challenge: [textarea,the irrational belief,5,70,My belief is...] THE QUESTIONS IN THE DISPUTES ALL REFER TO THE BELIEF YOU'VE TYPED IN ABOVE and it is NOTATED AS "your I.B." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Evidence Challenge Questions about evidence or facts that prove your belief is valid. Select a potent question that challenges your belief and answer it in the text box beneath. [list,first evidence challenge] [option,0,Please select your Evidence challenge question] [option,Where is the evidence that you or others must,Where is the evidence that you or others must your I.B.] [option,Is there any evidence that you or others must,Is there any evidence that you/others must your I.B.] [option,Where is there a law of the universe which authorises your belief,Where is there a law of the universe which authorises your belief?] [option,If there’s a law of the universe how come you didn't automatically obey it,If there’s a law of the universe how come you didn't automatically obey it?] [option,Would a scientist think that there was evidence in support of your belief,Would a scientist think that there was evidence in support of your belief?] [/list] [textarea,evidence influence,3,70,Write the answer to the evidence question you selected...] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Logic Challenge Questions about the logic of your belief. Select a potent question that challenges your belief and answer it in the text box beneath [list,logical] [option,0,Please select your Logic Challenge question] [option,Where is the logic in that you/others must,Where is the logic in that you/others must your I.B.,selected] [option,How is it logical to believe that you/others must ,How is it logical to believe that you/others must your I.B.] [option,How does it follow that because you hold your I.B.Therefore it must be delivered,How does it follow that because you your I.B. Therefore it must be delivered?] [option,Does that must logically follow from your assumption,Does that must logically follow from your assumption?] [option,Would a philosopher think that it was good logic to believe,Would a philosopher think that it was good logic to believe your I.B.] [/list] [textarea,logical influence,3,70,Write the answer to your logic question in here...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF YOUR BELIEF IN TERMS OF ITS BENEFITS AND COSTS TO YOU AND YOUR LIVING: The belief is refered to as your expectation or assumption What are the BENEFITS of your expectation being met? [textarea,benefits of X being met,3,70,These are the BENEFITS of my expectation being met...] What are the COSTS of your expectation being met? [textarea,costs of X being met,3,70,These are the COSTS of my expectation being met...] What are the BENEFITS of your expectation NOT being met? [textarea,benefits of X not being met,3,70,These are the BENEFITS of my expectation NOT being met...] What are the COSTS of your expectation NOT being met? [textarea,costs of X not being met,3,70,These are the COSTS of my expectation NOT being met...] Questions about your Costs and Benefits Select a potent challenging question and using your work above write your answer beneath [list,First pragmatic challenge] [option,0,Please select your question to answer] [option,What overall outcome will it deliver you to hold this present belief,What overall outcome will it deliver you to hold this present belief?] [option,What impact will it have on your emotions and behaviours,What impact will it have on your emotions and behaviours?] [option,Will holding this belief unchange give you good results,Will holding this belief unchange give you good results?] [option,How is it healthy for you to believe this expectation,How is it healthy for you to believe this expectation?] [option,How does this belief help you to achieve your goals,How does this belief help you to achieve your goals?] [/list] [textarea,pragmatic influence,3,70,Write the answer to the question you selected here...] NOTE: What makes a belief or expectation irrational? An irrational belief will usually fail two or all three cognitive tests. The goal is to alter the belief until it matches what reality can confirm. IF the belief contains a demand that neither humanity nor reality can deliver then it is simply not realistic. i.e. irrational FOR EXAMPLE To hold rigidly that all others significant to you show love and approval without fail is irrational, but what if you put, "I would prefer it if they showed me love and approval, but they're human and they'll fail, I don't like it but I will cope" What has been altered? You have altered the absolute demand to a strong preference which allows reality to fall short of full compliance. When you test this new form, you'll find you it will pass all three tests. TAKE TIME to think about why it will. Now to make those changes... IF your present form of the belief have parts in it that do not allow you or others to fall short of compliance THEN Look for the rigid inflexible parts and think what you could change in them to make your belief more conditional (versus unconditional) Write the belief in a form that allows you to hold it as a strong preference rather than an absolute expectation. Write up what the new conditional (rational) form or your belief... [textarea,the conditional rational form,3,70,THIS is my altered belief...] NOW run your new belief through the challenges! Evidence Challenge Questions about evidence [list,second evidence challenge] [option,Where is the evidence that you or others must,Where is the evidence that you or others must your I.B.] [option,Is there any evidence that you or others must,Is there any evidence that you/others must your I.B.] [option,Where is there a law of the universe which authorises your belief,Where is there a law of the universe which authorises your belief?] [option,If there’s a law of the universe how come you didn't automatically obey it,If there’s a law of the universe how come you didn't automatically obey it?] [option,Would a scientist think that there was evidence in support of your belief,Would a scientist think that there was evidence in support of your belief?] [/list] [textarea,empiricalb02,5,70,Write the answers to your evidence questions in here noting which question you're answering...] The Logic Challenge Questions about logic [list,second logic challenge] [option,Where is the logic in that you/others must,Where is the logic in that you/others must your I.B.,selected] [option,How is it logical to believe that you/others must ,How is it logical to believe that you/others must your I.B.] [option,How does it follow that because you hold your I.B.Therefore it must be delivered,How does it follow that because you your I.B. Therefore it must be delivered?] [option,Does that must logically follow from your assumption,Does that must logically follow from your assumption?] [option,Would a philosopher think that it was good logic to believe,Would a philosopher think that it was good logic to believe your I.B.] [/list] [textarea,logicalb02,3,70,Write the answer to your logic question in here...] The Practical Costs and Benefits Challenge What are the BENEFITS of your expectation being met? [textarea,practical positive benefits02,3,70,These are the BENEFITS of my expectation being met...] What are the COSTS of your expectation being met? [textarea,practical positive costs02,3,70,These are the COSTS of my expectation being met...] What are the BENEFITS of your expectation NOT being met? [textarea,practical negative benefits02,3,70,These are the BENEFITS of my expectation NOT being met...] What are the COSTS of your expectation NOT being met? [textarea,practical negative costs02,3,70,These are the COSTS of my expectation NOT being met...] Questions about your practical costs and benefits [list,second pragmatic challenge] [option,0,Please select your question to answer] [option,What overall outcome will it deliver you to hold this present belief,What overall outcome will it deliver you to hold this present belief?] [option,What impact will it have on your emotions and behaviours,What impact will it have on your emotions and behaviours?] [option,Will holding this belief unchange give you good results,Will holding this belief unchange give you good results?] [option,How is it healthy for you to believe this expectation,How is it healthy for you to believe this expectation?] [option,How does this belief help you to achieve your goals,How does this belief help you to achieve your goals?] [/list] [textarea,pragmaticb,5,70,Write the answer to your practical outcome challenges in here...] CONGRATULATIONS FOR HANGING IN! If this belief is challenged a number of times or whenever it shows its head again, using this form of challenge will reinforce your gains. Your counsellor can provide you and ACTION PLAN form or an EXPERIMENT PLAN form to give you further gains [checkbox,send copy,checked] Send me a copy please ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU WISH ADDRESSED? [textarea,My questions or comments are,3,70] [submit,SEND this Work][reset,Start Over again] [/form]