Do you ever assume your manner out of inauspicious feelings somewhat than really feel them? In psychology this is called intellectualization. Let’s discover what it entails.
Unfavorable feelings are like a wedgie.
They’re uncomfortable and one thing we often wish to repair immediately.
Typically individuals handle their detrimental emotions via a course of referred to as intellectualization. Let’s discover what intellectualization and the way it can have an effect on the best way you course of feelings and recuperate from challenges.
Disclaimer: This info just isn’t an alternative to the skilled opinion of a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist or medical physician.
What’s Intellectualization?
Contents
In psychology, intellectualization refers to a protection mechanism whereby a person turns into excessively depending on logic as a strategy to keep away from having to confront distressing feelings.
In different phrases, it’s after we use logic to flee uncomfortable feelings like unhappiness, disappointment and anger.
Intellectualization is a type of dissociation as a result of it entails separating oneself from the issue at hand and taking a pseudo-objective viewpoint.
The method of intellectualization has been described as a “flight into cause” as a result of an individual who intellectualizes their emotions runs away from their emotions, beneath the guise of rationality.
An individual will often flip to intellectualization as a coping mechanism as a result of it permits them to distance themselves from beliefs that problem their sense of self.
What does intellectualization appear to be in follow?
An individual who’s intellectualizing their emotions could also be fast to make statements akin to “It is not a giant deal”, “I will recover from it” or “I am being too emotional“, simply moments after experiencing an emotionally distressing occasion akin to a breakup or loss.
Such behaviour is intellectualization as a result of it’s an try to defy the conventional emotional reactions that invariably comply with these experiences.
Listed below are a pair extra examples of intellectualization:
- An individual who focuses all their power on funeral preparations as a strategy to keep away from confronting the ache and grief of dropping their partner.
- An individual who begins both working time beyond regulation or overextending themselves socially after a breakup, as a strategy to keep away from time spent alone with their ideas, so they do not must course of the top of the connection.
- An individual who’s identified with a power illness spends an extreme period of time studying books, watching informational movies, and attempting to determine all of the intricate particulars of their situation as a method to keep away from coming to phrases with how the prognosis makes them really feel.
Why Intellectualization is Harmful
People are delicate, delicate creatures.
Our unimaginable capability to acknowledge and really feel feelings is a key trait that distinguishes us from different residing creatures.
Intellectualization is harmful as a result of it turns a human into an automaton.
And the factor is: we weren’t designed to be automatons.
We weren’t created with an “off swap” for our feelings.
Feelings demand to be felt, and for those who attempt to push them away with logic, these feelings do not truly disappear.
They simply develop and fester inside you, till they’re so highly effective that they burst forth in methods you can’t management.
Take for instance, the sensation of despair.
Here’s a quote by Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who is called the daddy of analytical psychology.
It occurs to be one among my favorite quotes:
“Despair is sort of a girl in black. If she turns up, do not shoo her away. Invite her in, supply her a seat, deal with her like a visitor, and hearken to what she has to say.”
When confronted with a tough emotion akin to despair, you can’t remedy it via intellectualization.
You in all probability can relate to this deeply for those who ever have been in a depressive temper and had somebody say to you: “Cheer up! You should not be depressed! Your life is nice.”
Positive, in idea, your life could also be nice.
You’ll have the job, the home, the connection – all the pieces might look good on the skin.
However you should still be depressed…and that is allowed.
If detrimental emotions come up, you do not have to scold your self for feeling unhappy, regardless of all the pieces.
You might be allowed to really feel.
You might be allowed to sit down with these feelings with out rationalizing them away.
Fairly often, the solely manner out of inauspicious intervals of our lives is via. Which means sitting with disagreeable feelings and listening to what they’ve to show us.
As a result of there’s at all times one thing you’ll be able to be taught for those who give your self a second for introspection and reflection.
The Distinction Between Intellectualization and Emotional Regulation
Now, let’s make it clear: there is a distinction between intellectualization and emotional regulation.
Simply because you may have the capability to really feel your entire gamut of human feelings, it does not imply that it’s a must to act on each emotion you’re feeling.
Whereas intellectualization entails avoidance and dissociation from detrimental feelings, emotional regulation entails the conscious acknowledgment and integration of detrimental feelings as a part of a wholesome and totally developed sense of self.
You possibly can pay attention to, and settle for your feelings with out giving them free rein in your actions.
The essential factor is to acknowledge your feelings with out attempting to repress them or feeling disgrace that you simply really feel the best way you do.
Last Ideas
It may be high-quality to place off an emotional burden for a time frame – actually fashionable life typically necessitates it.
For instance chances are you’ll delay reflecting on a painful occasion that occurred yesterday if it’s a must to put together for a last examination tomorrow.
It may also be helpful to typically consider issues in summary, logical phrases to keep away from making impulsive, emotion-driven selections.
Nonetheless, steadiness is required.
If feelings are by no means addressed – they will construct up time beyond regulation and grow to be a giant ugly monster that later bites us within the bottom.
So it pays to decide on the route that brings us higher peace of thoughts in the long run: Tonight we’d forgo sleep – crying and screaming into our pillow over an emotionally distressing scenario – however it might be simply what we have to have a sound, peaceable sleep tomorrow.
Thanks for studying! In the event you preferred this content material, share with a good friend:
