In 1999, I sat at a computer in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil while corresponding with an online friend in Sydney, Australia via ICQ—a cross-platform instant messaging and voice over internet protocol client—as she told me about an electronic dance music (EDM) song that she thought I may enjoy.
The track was “Kernkraft 400” (English: Nuclear Power 400) by German DJ and producer Zombie Nation. “You haven’t heard it?” my friend uttered in disbelief, “You gotta download it, because it’s what all the W.O.G.S. love and I bet you’ll like it!”
At the time, I didn’t know what W.O.G.S. meant, though I was open to the suggestion about the song. According to one source:
“Kernkraft 400” is commonly used as a sports chant at sport stadiums (such as in American football, Association football, baseball, basketball, and hockey) all over the world and was ranked number eight by Sports Illustrated in their list of “Top 10 Stadium Anthems”.
Relatively new at the time, Napster—a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing application—was the go-to source for free music. As downloading files on the program may’ve violated copyright infringement statues, I’m not admitting to a crime herein.
I’m merely stating that Napster was a source of digital audio file distribution. Somehow, I acquired “Kernkraft 400” and enjoyed the anthem, as my friend speculated that I would.
About a year later, a separate P2P file sharing client was released, known as LimeWire. “Kernkraft 400” and many other EDM tracks were readily available for download, though I’ll not be admitting to use of the application herein. Rather, I know some people who used LimeWire.
According to one source, “In addition to criticism for allowing users to illegally share and download copyrighted material, it was also infamous for spreading malware and for its use of bundling, i.e. installing various items onto users’ systems without their knowledge.”
Hypothetically speaking, some South American computers with which I came into contact may or may not have been infected with malware as a direct result of LimeWire usage. When contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when Actions occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about these events, it’s one’s unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – that cause unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. For a relatively simple mnemonic device to remember these beliefs, consider that G.L.A.D. can lead to sad.
Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of these unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Noteworthy, Actions and Consequences aren’t Disputed, as only unproductive Beliefs are challenged.
It’s worth noting that from a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves when using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
As an example, if one were to have used LimeWire on a home or government computer (Action), the application may’ve installed malware on one’s device (Consequence). This is a naturalistic world A-C connection.
However, if viruses were incurred when using LimeWire (Action) and one unhelpfully Believed, “It’s awful that this has happened, because malware shouldn’t infect this computer,” then this assumption may’ve caused anger (Consequence). This is a psychological B-C connection.
Although “Kernkraft 400” may’ve been enjoyable, one imagines that a self-disturbed B-C connection in regard to ruining a personal or government computer wouldn’t have been pleasing. All the same, the takeaway point herein is that LimeWire wasn’t responsible for one’s unpleasant psychological consequence.
Ultimately, understanding the B-C connection is an important step toward the reduction of self-disturbed suffering. If you’d like to know more about REBT and how the practice of rational living may better serve your interests and goals, I’m here to try to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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