As is the case with contemporary generations, popular culture of the moment is influenced by Generation (“Gen”) Z’s use of the term “vibes.” Often, I hear this phrase used in conjunction with the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Describing this term, one source states:
Vibes are feelings, senses and energies that we pick up on. Everything around you is energy, including your own body. So when we sense a particular emotion or energy, we’re subconsciously reading a frequency that interacting with our own field of energy.
Given this interpretation, “vibes” is a shortened version of the word “vibrations.” Clarifying my perspective on the aforementioned description, I conceptualize “feelings” as either emotions (e.g., joy, fear, etc.) or bodily sensations (e.g., tingling throughout the body).
Colloquially, thoughts, beliefs, or hunches are referred to as “feelings.” However, if any cognitively-influenced derivatives of this word are used as substitutions for an emotion or bodily sensation, I consider these phrases as misapplications of the word “feeling.”
As an example, if person X says, “I feel like you don’t love me anymore,” I recognize that this isn’t an expression of emotion or sensation. A more appropriate expression would be, “I believe you don’t love me anymore.”
Matters become even more confusing in regard to the term “sense,” as suggested by the aforementioned source. For instance, person Y may state, “I sense that you don’t love me anymore.”
“Sense” is defined as a specialized function or mechanism (such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli. Still, this word is also defined as conscious awareness or a definite but often vague awareness or impression.
Therefore, person Y’s statement is incorrectly used if referring to a bodily sensation, though accurately used when referring to a cognitively-influenced impression. As an example, person Y may say, “I get the impression that you don’t love me anymore.”
Nuanced meaning of word use is whereupon the term “vibes” suffers subjectivity concerning effective communication. To illustrate this matter, imagine that person Z states, “That music festival was vibes!”
Is person Z communicating that the festival was an emotion? Could it be that when different artists played various songs, person Z experienced joy or pleasure? If so, does person Z’s subjective experience require an objective label regarding the entire music festival and its goers?
Suppose that another festival attendee despised the music played at the event. Does person Z’s objective label indicate that the festival was unequivocally enjoyable for all attendees, despite the experiences of other people?
Perhaps when person Z declared that the festival was “vibes,” this individual meant to convey the message that the event was a sensation such as exhilarating or euphoric. Again, this description suffers the matter of subjectivity, because it doesn’t apply to all attendees.
Then again, it may be the case that person Z’s statement about “vibes” regards energy. If so, we are now full-on into a woo-woo realm. Generally, as I understand the term, “energy” is often used to describe a combination of emotions, bodily sensations, and experience.
Of course, this phrase has other meanings. For instance, it’s sometimes used to describe spirituality. Nevertheless, I often hear statements such as, “I didn’t like his energy,” as to indicate that person X didn’t appreciate person Y’s observed emotion (e.g., anger).
Likewise, person X didn’t care for one’s own subjective sensation (e.g., rapid heartrate when interacting with person Y). As well, this term addresses an unpleasant experience overall (e.g., person X observing person Y when upset).
The nebulous nature of the term “energy” renders it an impractical dialogue element if one seeks to use effective communication. This is why I maintain that the subjectivity of the word “vibes” reduces the term to an unfeasible component when discussing one’s mental health.
For instance, suppose I were to see person Z for psychotherapeutic services. When discussing the music festival experience, I ask this individual to clarify the meaning of “vibes” as it relates to the person’s mental health interests and goals.
I’m a member of the Gen X cohort, so I don’t subscribe to the same popular culture references as my Gen Z client. However, without having devoted time to consider what “vibes” actually means, person Z responds, “I don’t know. It was just… vibes.”
Imagine that person Z wants to create more joyous and pleasurable experiences in life. This constitutes an interest. How then can we form a plan of action, which represents a mental health goal that requires effort in order to achieve, so that my client can attain that which is unknown?
We can’t aim to achieve something person Z can’t even define. This is why I maintain that the words we use matter – even if someone reads this post and unfavorably concludes, “Deric is being pedantic in this blogpost.”
Unlike other psychotherapeutic modalities, when practicing rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) I try to help my clients get better and not merely feel better. Colloquially, “vibes” is a term relating to the latter, not the former.
If a person can’t even define what sort of success is being sought, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to help the individual get to that goal. Does my perspective make sense to you?
Noteworthy, I’m not chastising Gen Z herein. After all, a global evaluation related to an entire generational cohort is antithetical to practice of REBT. Besides, Gen X has plenty of misappropriated terms such as “dope” to describe something which is pleasing.
Each generation uses its own slang, and I’m not ridiculing this phenomenon herein. Rather, I’m advocating the proper use of words when one is dealing with the process of seeking improved functioning and an enhanced quality of life through productive mental health practices.
Then again, far be it for me to tell people how they should, must, or ought to speak or behave. You’re a self-determined and autonomous individual. If tenuous vibes are what floats your boat or stuffs your Twinkie, I’m not unhelpfully demanding that you communicate more effectively.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging 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 helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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