Associative Catastrophizing
I will enlarge upon the examples provided by the experts in order to sketch out this category of catastrophizing. Let us consider Beck's college student, convinced that he will fail his examination and then flunk out of college. This is an example of a very basic causal catastrophism (because I fail my exam, I will flunk out of college). However, it could also be the springboard for an associative reading. Or rather, it will be such a springboard, because such a springboard is needed at this point in our discussion.
I will fail this exam and flunk out of college,
Just as I failed my parents when I didn't get a scholarship,
And failed my girlfriend when I gained all that weight,
And failed my dog when I was too busy to walk him.
In this case, the catastrophism focuses on the idea of failure, but the possibilities for associative catastrophizing are limited only by the pessimistic imagination. For example, the catastrophizer could instead concentrate on the reason he fears he'll fail his exam:
I will fail this exam because I did not prepare,
Just as I failed to prepare properly for leaving home,
And for losing my virginity,
And for finding a summer job.
OR
I will fail this exam because I've always been terrible with numbers,
Which is why I have never filed my taxes,
And why I can't budget my money,
And why I can't count the times I've disappointed my parents.
Causal catastrophizing the future; associative catastrophizing teases out the common thread that links various events and disappointments. A determined and artful catastrophizer should endeavour to shift effortlessly between these two genres, to knit them together into a complex and elegant tapestry of fear and defeat.
I've made the nature of catastrophizing brilliantly clear, but some of the more plodding among you might persist in wondering: why do it? Unsurprisingly, I'm prepared and preparing to tell you why.
Visit with THE CATASTROPHIZER
I will fail this exam and flunk out of college,
Just as I failed my parents when I didn't get a scholarship,
And failed my girlfriend when I gained all that weight,
And failed my dog when I was too busy to walk him.
In this case, the catastrophism focuses on the idea of failure, but the possibilities for associative catastrophizing are limited only by the pessimistic imagination. For example, the catastrophizer could instead concentrate on the reason he fears he'll fail his exam:
I will fail this exam because I did not prepare,
Just as I failed to prepare properly for leaving home,
And for losing my virginity,
And for finding a summer job.
OR
I will fail this exam because I've always been terrible with numbers,
Which is why I have never filed my taxes,
And why I can't budget my money,
And why I can't count the times I've disappointed my parents.
Causal catastrophizing the future; associative catastrophizing teases out the common thread that links various events and disappointments. A determined and artful catastrophizer should endeavour to shift effortlessly between these two genres, to knit them together into a complex and elegant tapestry of fear and defeat.
I've made the nature of catastrophizing brilliantly clear, but some of the more plodding among you might persist in wondering: why do it? Unsurprisingly, I'm prepared and preparing to tell you why.
Visit with THE CATASTROPHIZER
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