Attention INFJ's !! Big important Experiment ...

J

James

Infamy, infamy.. they've all got it infamy
Retired Staff
MBTI
INFJ
Hi all,
I recently saw a documentary that encouraged me to try some very very simple, CBM (cognitive bias modification). It is very easy, just a website that shows 'smiley' face amongst sad ones, and you guessed it, you have to click the smiley face. The theory is that our brains are fairly plasticine and can be 're-trained' to focus on positive things and, damp down anxiety and negativity.

Just 5-10 minutes a day, for as little as 6 weeks can seemingly make a significant difference. As it is at my favorite price of 'free' I have decided to give it a whirl. Does anyone else want to join me? No biggie. I am just interested to see if anyone has a go and, whether it makes any difference to them. My suggestion is of course hugely 'unscientific' but I have never allowed such things to block my progress in the past, as I boldy go, where no (sane) person has gone before.. Here is the link.

http://www.creativemedia.org.uk/cbm/index.php
 
@James
I tried the link...the half or upturned smilies are difficult for me to pick out at first.
Due to A-TBI in a MVA in '88 subtle shifts in visual/spacial context can stump me. Especially with subtlties in color.
However, this was fun...thank you.

Was the documentary online? If so do You have a link? I'd like to know more about CBM. (will be doing an independent search too lol)
I'm always looking for reading & media associated with thought processes. :)
 
Sandie33 said:
@James
I tried the link...the half or upturned smilies are difficult for me to pick out at first.
Due to A-TBI in a MVA in '88 subtle shifts in visual/spacial context can stump me. Especially with subtlties in color.
However, this was fun...thank you.

Was the documentary online? If so do You have a link? I'd like to know more about CBM. (will be doing an independent search too lol)
I'm always looking for reading & media associated with thought processes. :)
Click to expand...

I have been stuck trying to write something for quite a long time, and today after trying this ? I got going again and clocked up a few thousand words. I am going to stick with this and see if it does change me. My 'negative' brain would say, no way, no chance etc, but I am going to persist and see what happens.

The Documentary was BBC Horizon, The Truth About Personality - this CBM thing was really only one small part along with meditation etc and they used proper human photo's not this website, but I think the principle is roughly the same. Good luck with it if you keep going.


 
James said:
I have been stuck trying to write something for quite a long time, and today after trying this ? I got going again and clocked up a few thousand words. I am going to stick with this and see if it does change me. My 'negative' brain would say, no way, no chance etc, but I am going to persist and see what happens.

The Documentary was BBC Horizon, The Truth About Personality - this CBM thing was really only one small part along with meditation etc and they used proper human photo's not this website, but I think the principle is roughly the same. Good luck with it if you keep going.


Click to expand...
Wonderful news about unlocking the flow of words! I can relate...I fancy myself an artist and my muses go to sleep on me at times.

Thank you for the info...I'll look into it further. Also...I'll check back here from time to time in six weeks it says. LOL. Please be sure to share your progress. I am a sucker for grand expierements & adventures; this will be fun...;)

Hope you maintain your writing flow:mthumb:
 
It kind of made me sad to see all those sad, upset faces, then just that one lonely happy face lost in the sea of sadness. :(

Interesting idea though, and worth a try.
 
This looks worthy of a try. Interestingly, it has worked kept me constantly happy for two hours now. My usual mood is being a bit lethargic and melancholic.

It would be interesting to see if it also works for executives in the medical-industrial complex. They see dollar signs in front of themselves, not smiley faces.
 
I've been doing this for 3 days now. I know it says 6 weeks ? but I thought I'd be completely fixed by now... bah ... I will continue for the rest of the time, only so I can prove it didn't work. Confession ? Even after three days I think it 'might' have slightly improved my mood/attitude. Hmm..
 
I am probably the only person still doing this thing. Whose dumbass idea was it anyway ? Oh yeah, it was me.. Irritatingly it does seem to be working a bit. In fact I suggested it to a friend on Facebook who is having a rough time. Almost immediately others commented they'd done it etc, and recommended it.

I guess I'll carry on then. Just as a throw away comment ? When I first typed "probably" my phone auto corrected the text to "potbelly". My next experiment is to check whether this phone is spying on me, or has developed consciousness, and is quietly mocking me...
 
Hahaha...
Well, I join!
This is the kind of thing that would typically make me look into Google Scholar to search for answers and all, but hey! Whatever! I'll just do it because it's fun.
 
James said:
I am probably the only person still doing this thing. Whose dumbass idea was it anyway ? Oh yeah, it was me.. Irritatingly it does seem to be working a bit. In fact I suggested it to a friend on Facebook who is having a rough time. Almost immediately others commented they'd done it etc, and recommended it.

I guess I'll carry on then. Just as a throw away comment ? When I first typed "probably" my phone auto corrected the text to "potbelly". My next experiment is to check whether this phone is spying on me, or has developed consciousness, and is quietly mocking me...
Click to expand...
Oh no @James you are not alone, lol....I'm still hanging in the play for the six weeks. :)
 
I feel totally dumb saying this, and maybe it's totally imagined, but I think this thing is actually helping me. I don't know if it's something else, or if it's a placebo effect but I do feel better. Worse still, I look forward to doing it now, and I feel better after doing it !! I was quite skeptical at first, and maybe I'll change my mind later on, but it just feels like such an easy little 'mental work out' just 5 mins (I usually do the full 10).

Given how important my mood/feeling is when I am doing something I think I may persist with this long after the 6 weeks. If I am not on a good 'vibe' doing anything, I still stick with things, but it's not the same is it? I love that feeling of 'flow' or 'being in the zone' you occasionally get, when everything you do seems to work out, and even when it doesn't it doesn't matter, you just adapt and carry on. I think this is what musicians must feel like, when they really learn how to play a 'solo' and improvise, which is something I am trying to learn currently. I can play riffs, and I hear/feel the melody and counter point etc, I just haven't developed the technique and skill yet to go along with what's in my head (I play guitar).

Ok enuf from me, Mork out..
 
James said:
I feel totally dumb saying this, and maybe it's totally imagined, but I think this thing is actually helping me. I don't know if it's something else, or if it's a placebo effect but I do feel better. Worse still, I look forward to doing it now, and I feel better after doing it !! I was quite skeptical at first, and maybe I'll change my mind later on, but it just feels like such an easy little 'mental work out' just 5 mins (I usually do the full 10).
Click to expand...

Technically, it would be psychosomatic and not placebo as you're not actually ingesting or injecting anything, effective or not, which is completely intentional. No need to feel dumb for feeling it is effective just because you believe it to be. That's how it's supposed to work.
 
Guess what ? I have been doing this every day and really do feel like it's making some kind of difference to my approach and attitude. However, today I read an article extolling the value of being grumpy and pessimistic, basically saying that it can give a more accurate balanced view of the world. I will carry on, as I am unpersuaded, but still ? It makes you think.
 
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