Intermediate beliefs are those thoughts that are rooted in our core beliefs. If one of my core beliefs is that "I am unwanted," which is rooted in childhood, my intermediate belief may be that in my marriage that "she really wants to leave me, if she gets the opportunity." If my core belief is strong enough, there is a high probability that I will create a situation that validates my belief. As a result, my wife and I will separate.
Core Belief
Intermediate Belief
Situation ---> Automatic Thoughts ---> Reactions
--------------------------------------------- Emotional
--------------------------------------------- Behavioral
--------------------------------------------- Physiological
To change my thinking, I am going to become aware of my automatic thoughts. I will then back track my automatic thought to my intermediate belief, and then to my core belief. The goal is to change my core beliefs, which will affect me emotionally, behaviorally, and physiologically. This is the Cognitive Model developed by Aaron T. Beck M.D.
What are some of your automatic thoughts, positive and negative? How do these thoughts relate to your core beliefs?
About Me
- David Michael
- Katy, Texas, United States
- Being a husband and a father is the greatest blessing in my life. I am also a Special Educator to students with an autism spectrum disorder.
2 comments:
Cognitive therapy is one of the most popular and effective therapies to heal unipolar depression. If a person is suffering from major depression, medication may be needed to give a person enough mental space to process and change their negative thinking patterns.
David - you nailed it on this post.
I honestly believe my the power of ones core beliefs eventually come to fruition. I am an example.
My core beliefs from childhood and those of my former husband was the combination of a perfect storm waiting to happen, and it did.
My automatic thoughts are more fine tuned and I am acutely aware of my past and do not want to repeat them or go down that path.
Gosh, you are so smart.
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