“Negative thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them.” – Andrew J. Bernstein

In mathematics a double negative equals a positive.  A negative number times a negative number yields a positive number.  In English grammar we are warned against using the double negative because it is just too confusing.  “I am not unhappy” is confusing because it does not equate to “I am happy”.  The double negative does not work for grammar.

But what about using the double negative in psychology?  Are there any potential benefits in the double negative in terms of treatment?  When people are avoidant could they avoid their avoidance?  When people are self-doubting could they doubt their self-doubt?  Likewise, when people are procrastinating could they put off their procrastination 'til later?

 Avoid Your Avoidance

Avoidant behaviour does not work.  When we avoid something unpleasant the best we can hope for is a delay.  The problem will not go away and may stay around even longer.

There is a metaphor, from early Native Americans, suggesting that the buffalo reacts differently to a storm than a cow. Native Americans first witnessed this phenomenon on the western plains of the United States.

Apparently, when a storm would come, cows would try to outrun the storm and subsequently spend more time suffering in the storm.  The buffalo on the other hand were seen to run at the storm and escape the storm’s effects more rapidly by coming out the other side. 

Avoiding the storm lasted longer than facing the storm.  It is probably a human illusion that we believe avoidance will work.  The buffalo is evidence that delay will not really work.  This metaphor makes one wonder about the word ‘coward’.

When we avoid our avoidance, we turn to action not delay.  Since avoidance is an ongoing issue for many, the sooner we act the sooner we meet the challenge and the less time we spend in the problem.

“Self-doubt kills talent.” – Edie McClurg

Doubt Your Self-Doubt

Most of the doubts about ourselves are past their used by date. They were learned earlier in life.  Maybe by being bullied on the playground. Or, they were taken on board through how we were judged by parents or siblings that never took the time to know us.

Doubting ourselves kept us safe from risky situations that ruled our behaviour through fear. Many of these experiences are so distant from who we are now that they do not relate to us in the slightest.

Why do we still adhere to all these self-doubts as if they still apply? The answer is reinforcement. We are keeping the self-doubt alive through constant reinforcement. Self-doubt has become self-inflicted. Which means it can also be self-limited!

When we doubt our self-doubt, we are reinforcing a positive view of ourselves by not reinforcing the outdated negative view.  What we reinforce stays with us and what we fail to reinforce goes away.  A positive reinforcement schedule will allow your self-doubt an exit strategy that will develop a more positive self-worth.

Procrastinate Later

When you are really good at procrastination could you procrastinate your procrastination? Could you put off putting things off? Self-doubt reinforces procrastination and the act of procrastinating will also reinforce self-doubt. Procrastination is just another form of avoidance, which is related to a lack of confidence and self-doubt.

When we put off putting things off, we are in action again.  Being in action is better than inaction.  The reinforcement of inaction leads to lethargy.

Lethargy is usually an aversion to activity or movement, either physical or mental. There is a lack of enthusiasm.  Instead, we are left with listlessness and indifference. These symptoms may eventuate into episodes of depression.

“New Year's resolutions often fail because toxic emotions and experiences from our past can sabotage us or keep us stuck with the same old thoughts, patterns and regrets.” – Debbie Ford

When to Use a Double Negative

Using the double negative applies to any circumstance where you are aware that you want to change your behaviour in the opposite direction.  What I am reinforcing is not working and I need to move in the opposite direction to break the cycle.  Self-sabotage keeps the negative cycle active.

Some have suggested that fear of failure, or even fear of success, could be a possible precursor to self-sabotage.  Why does this happen?

Perhaps by taking a pre-emptive view of self-judgement the self-saboteur eliminates or at least minimalizes the possible impact of any judgement from others. Self-sabotage thus becomes an avoidance strategy to circumvent any external critique or evaluation.  However, self-sabotage also increases self-doubt.

A pre-emptive strategy of self-sabotage when reinforced gives one a perceived increase of control over the assessment of their performance.   However, self-sabotage also reinforces the negative cycle that one is trying to change.  The double negative is one approach that is a pre-emptive technique to alter this unwanted pattern of behaviour.  Oddly, when reinforced, these double negatives have the potential to turn into a positive.