Dialectics, What Is It?
Dialectical means that two seemingly opposing positions can both make sense at the same time, and when considered together, it can create a new way of looking at the situation.
Dialectical Life = Balanced Life
When we approach life dialectically, we are able to:
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see that all people have unique qualities and different points of view.
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honor the truth on both sides of a conflict. We validate others' points of view without giving up our values.
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become more flexible in our thoughts, and more likely to find a new way to solve the problem wisely.
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avoid extreme positions such as “black or white” or “either...or” thinking. Instead, we use “both...and” thinking to find the middle ground in life situations.
Examples of Dialectical Self-Statements
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I am doing the best I can AND I can try harder, do better, and be more motivated to change.
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I can be shy AND I can be outgoing.
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My parents are really strict AND they really care about me.
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I feel sad when I got an F on my math exam AND I can still enjoy the rest of the day.
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I feel nervous about public speaking AND I feel excited to interact with the audience.
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There are a lot of tasks at hand AND I can focus on doing one thing at the time.
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I can be honest about my opinions AND thoughtful without hurting others' feelings.
What Is DBT's Biosocial Theory?
DBT theorizes that a person's severe emotional dysregulation and problematic behavioral strategies stems from a combination of biological predisposition (e.g., emotional vulnerability) and environmental factors (e.g.,chronic invalidation from one's environment).
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Invalidating Environment - The invalidating environment is defined by the tendency of others (often with good intentions) to negate and/or respond erratically and inappropriately to private emotional experiences.
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Normal Invalidation - It is natural and normal that even within a well-meaning, caring, and loving family, invalidation can still occur. It is defined as a “normal level” of invalidation.
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Development of Emotional Dysregulation - The transactional nature of biosocial theory implies that individuals may develop patterns of dysregulation via different routes. Emotional dysregulation can result from the transaction between a person with a high level of emotional vulnerability and a family with a normal level of invalidation. It can also result from the transaction between a person with a low level of emotional vulnerability and a family with a high intensity of invalidation.