Cognitive Psychology
Illustration- The Psychology of Relationships
This story and the 5 questions at the end represent an example of the text & curriculum found in a Cognitive Restructuring Manualized Workbook.
The Johnson and Miller families lived in the same area and attended the same public schools. They saw each other frequently. Scott Miller was Jason�s age and saved him in the sixth grade when a bunch of older bullies were beating him up.
Bloodied and nearly unconcious, Jason awoke to Jenny (Scott's little sister) with his head in her lap as she was crying and wiping his bloody face with her handkerchief. He was sad when his teacher showed up as he secretly had a crush on this angel with deep blue eyes.
As soon as Jason got out of detention he moved to another state to work for his uncle in construction and lost contact with Jenny. Before long he was out on his own. He bought old homes and then cleaned them up to resell. When Jason was 23, he went back to his place of birth and found most of his kin living in the swamp of misery.
Regardless of the fact that he endured various negative effects from childhood abuse, he had freed himself from the chains of his past. With new understanding, he forgave his mother and his father (who he barely knew). His view of others changed. He discovered a deep freedom. The world he encountered sprang from his new understanding and there lay his destiny � a life of trials, but a life of giving and receiving love.
Because of his change of heart and improved self-esteem, Jason was able to gather enough courage to knock on Jenny�s front door. Jenny was home from college for Christmas vacation. Jason used to be a frequent visitor at the Miller's house before he was arrested and sent to detention. He had saved Scott�s life when he had hit his head at the local swimming hole and almost drowned.
Jason hadn't seen Jenny for 6 years and he wasn�t prepared for the gorgeous girl who opened the door. In the beginning she did not even recognize him as he stammered and tried to speak. But, before long the words came, �Jenny. It�s me, Jason.� Crying out and catching Jason off guard, Jenny hugged her old friend.
As the weeks passed, with correspondence and his visits to Jenny�s college, their deep friendship grew into a deep love. In July they were married, giving to one another their eternal love and fidelity. Their life together became greater than what they could've become alone.
1. The greatest joy or pain life brings is a result of our relationships with those around us T or F?
2. The true feelings you have for those around you are seen as they are and not as you try to make them. No matter how vigorously you attempt to convince people that you love them it won�t work unless you really do love them. T or F?
3. Empathetic and genuinely kind people have magnetic personalities. Who do you know like this? Explain: ___________________________________________________________
4. Resistant, in-the-box individuals are users and they treat others as objects not people. Do you know someone like this? Explain: ___________________________________________________________
5. Answer �T� for true or �F� for false.
__ Living an angry life is living an empty life.
__ Closed eyes trip in the darkness.
__ Warring hearts grow faint.
__ Resistant people happily receive truth.
__ You can discover what you desire most in others.
___ Resistant people fall into the pits they dug for others.
___ The more you do for yourself the happier you are.
___ When you validate someone, you are accepting them without trying to change them.
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About the Author
Larry Lloyd is the founder of American Community Corrections Institute (ACCI), which sponsors a blog on the subject of criminal behavior and related issues.
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