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Psychological rigidity sets those people hostage to a staunch cognitive and behavioral pattern. These are profiles that do not open up to new perspectives, that do not admit other points of view or tolerate changes. They don’t understand that mental flexibility is essential for a healthy life, to face difficulties, to have happier social relationships…
While someone we know who follows this pattern of behavior certainly comes to mind, we must admit that all of us, to some extent, apply a certain psychological rigidity at some point. It is common to think, for example, that certain things can only be solved one way, or that the values and beliefs that define us so much are universal truths.
Each of us is attached to a series of concepts that we assume are immutable in some areas. In other areas, we know how to give in, we open ourselves mentally to other opinions and perspectives with ease and without any resistance. That it happens this way is not negative, not as long as there is a balance in which we always tend to practice psychological flexibility.
On the other hand, those who do not give in, those who become a prisoner of their own mental schemes, are bound by a clear suffering and discomfort. However, it is necessary to take into account that this characteristic can go beyond a personality style to become a typical trait of certain disorders, such as some types of dementia, autistic spectrum disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Let’s see more data below.
3 components that define psychological rigidity
In acceptance and commitment therapy, the concept of psychological rigidity is fundamental. In this type of treatment approach framed in what we know as third-generation therapies (focused on educating and reorienting the patient’s life from a more holistic point of view), it is essential that the person detect this lack of mental flexibility.
In this way, it is understood that much of our suffering as people stems from our own immutable beliefs. They are the same ones that, in some way, are nourished by what they have taught us culturally, and also by the values and schemes that we use without questioning and that permeate our lives, leaving us in a reality that lacks momentum, variability, and openness to change. and opportunities.
For this type of therapy, psychological rigidity is therefore a problem that we need to resolve. It should be noted that this concept was first mentioned by Sigmund Freud in psychoanalysis. For the Viennese psychiatrist, it was the patient’s resistance to change, it was that point at which different attitudes and behaviors emerged that made progress very difficult and that highlighted the tip of the iceberg of a problem.
Psychologists Robinson, Gould and Strosahl (2011) explained in the book
not connecting with the present
People characterized by psychological rigidity do not appreciate the present. They live in their private mindset, where all the windows are closed. They don’t admit the novelties of the here and now where so many things happen. These profiles do not appreciate opportunities, do not tolerate variability, flee from the unknown, from all unforeseen events.
All these dynamics capable of breaking with their “hard stability” provoke fear and contradiction in them.
Not knowing how to recognize priorities
When someone has clear priorities, all paths are clear. When someone knows what they consider important, they are not afraid to take risks, generate change, open up to new perspectives to allow themselves to grow and take better care of what they value.
However, a person with psychological rigidity limits himself to following fixed rules, his own. She is unable to look beyond her comfort zone, and what worries her most is being in complete control of her reality. This makes, for example, they are unable to give in to others, to meet the needs of others, to be tolerant, to connect with people understanding their points of view.
Little by little, the quality of their relationships deteriorates, frustration arises, and many of the things that were important to them (and that they didn’t know how to appreciate) end up passing or leaving.
Cognitive closure: not tolerating uncertainty
Psychological rigidity does not tolerate the unforeseen, let alone uncertainty. So, something we must understand is that our world is governed precisely by this characteristic: unpredictability. Knowing how to adapt to changes, being able to react in a creative, original and flexible way, undoubtedly allows us to unravel these variations that are so typical of everyday life.
A profile with psychological rigidity presents what we know as cognitive closure. It is the need to “eliminate” as soon as possible all the uncertainty or ambiguity that arises in any situation. These are people who, in the face of all problems, issue only one answer and often choose the most extreme.
They are also men and women who, in the face of an argument or disagreement, adopt the least useful or constructive behavior, such as breaking up the relationship or simply not speaking to the person involved.
In conclusion, if you are wondering how and how you can combat psychological rigidity, we want to point out that therapies such as cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapy are very helpful in this process.
Furthermore, as a study by Jonathan Greenberg, from the University of Beer-Sheva, Israel, reveals, practices such as mindfulness are very suitable for training a more flexible mental focus in everyday life.
