Dark Thoughts: Why Do We Have Them?
Have you ever thought of walking naked on the street, punching your in-law on the face, or setting your neighbour’s home on fire? All of us have experienced random thoughts and impulses that we don’t really like nor dare to do in real life. We all have dark thoughts and surprisingly, they arrive when we least expect them. Isn’t it weird? Why do they happen?
For many years, experts have tried to explore the rationale behind people’s dark impulses. Some psychologists see dark thoughts as a process or strategy by which the mind tests and reaffirms its internal rules to understand its limitations. One such example is the thought of rape. Research reveals that it is common for women to think about being raped. But according to Barry Schwartz, professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, unusual fantasies are sometimes the brain’s way to tell the person what the consequences tied to them are. But sooner or later, the dark thoughts will go away once they realised that the consequences hurt.
Just as other people have dark thoughts to know the limits of their inner selves, some people, particularly artists, authors, and creative individuals use their dark impulses to explore the outer limits of their culture. Have you seen the movie “Hunger Games”? It’s an example of “thinking the unthinkable”. According to experts, some of the artistic, political and cultural breakthroughs come about when an individual starts to think outside the box.
How to deal with dark thoughts
Dark thoughts can include impulses and temptations that are not just extremely embarrassing but also illegal, immoral, absurd, and downright disgusting. But no matter what those thoughts are, what is important is how we handle them. Denying that we have experienced dark thoughts may often do us more harm than good. So instead of trying to suppress or hide these thoughts, giving time and attention to understand what they are trying to tell us is the key to defy the possibility of putting those thoughts into actions. In his study, Daniel Wegner, psychologist at the University of Virginia found that the harder a person tries not to think about a specific thought or image, the more likely it will become intrusive and repetitive.
While this is affected by one’s personality, studies suggest that past experiences play a major role in how people respond to their dark thoughts. For example, one study shows that people raised in heavily religious families where dark thoughts are considered evil deeds-in-waiting are more likely to fixate on such thoughts. This is perhaps due to their low self-esteem and self-control.
In severe cases, individuals confronted with dark thoughts may need help from a professional therapist. While the use of drugs and intensive treatment is needed in worse cases, in less serious instances, therapies simply help the patient create a more realistic perspective of their thoughts. Sometimes, stress from work, feelings of anger and other negative emotions trigger the onset of dark thoughts. But according to Neil Jacobson, professor of psychology at the University of Washington, the key is to strive for a sense of realism and perspective.
Instead of feeling guilty because of those dark thoughts, why not use them as a way to have a deeper understanding of yourself – of what you can do and what you can’t?
Dear Readers,
As a therapist what ways to promote positive thoughts would you recommend? And do you think these type of thoughts are down to personality?
Share your comments below!
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