Cognitive fusion
Cognitive fusion is a state in which a person treats thoughts as literal reality rather than as mental events.
Definition
In ACT, cognitive fusion is one of the processes of psychological rigidity. When we are fused with thought, its content begins to directly control emotions and behavior, even if the action takes us away from values. The opposite is not fighting the thought, but defusion: noticing that the thought is a thought, not an order.
Key ideas
- Thought as a mental event
- Risk of automatic subordination
- Defusion as a change in the relationship with thought
Practice and life
When a difficult thought comes up, add the phrase before it: "I have the thought that..." See if this gives you some distance before reacting.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to try to eliminate all difficult thoughts. It is also a mistake to believe every thought just because it comes with a strong emotion.
> A thought becomes a trap when it is no longer seen as a thought.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What thought am I stuck with right now?
- Does this thought help me act in accordance with my values?
- How can I see it as a thought and not a fact?