Reframing

A new political order with global geopolitical, economic, social, and financial market implications is emerging. As the dust settles, firms will need to reassess their strategies and operations holistically.

When a deeply divided nation experiences a shift in political leadership, the impact on the ‘losing’ citizens is significant, too. For it is, indeed, a loss. The sweeping electoral victory of a national leader who single-handedly defied the Establishment forces many individuals to confront an unfamiliar and unpalatable reality. While they may have presumed to represent a comfortable majority, they now realize they represent a minority. There is a new norm. There is a new reality.

‘Cognitive reframing’ offers a psychological pathway to process this sociopolitical shift. The concept is rooted in ‘cognitive behavioral therapy’ (CBT), a technique pioneered by Dr. Aaron Beck in the 1960s.

A psychologist, Dr. Beck, noticed that patients with negative thoughts were often affected by ‘cognitive distortions’ or, more simply, errors in logic. These distortions include dichotomous thinking (no shades of grey), overgeneralizing, and obsessing about the worst possible outcomes. Dr. Beck emphasized the importance of identifying and reinterpreting these thought patterns: ‘Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to alleviate psychological stresses by correcting faulty conceptions and self-signals. By correcting erroneous beliefs, we can lower excessive reactions.’

Cognitive reframing (or reappraisal) is a cornerstone of CBT. It aims to help individuals see a challenging situation from a different, more balanced perspective, making it easier to adapt and move forward. Reframing does not imply denial. It is a tool for reshaping beliefs and assumptions, primarily when they no longer serve one’s mental well-being. It can be successfully self-administered and significantly affects parameters such as autonomy, mastery of one’s environment, and life satisfaction (check the study here.)

For instance, reframing in a corporate setting can help a team move from viewing a merger as a threat to their roles to seeing it as an opportunity for career growth and skill development in a stronger firm.

Applying this to politics, a newly identified minority is left to grapple with new government policies alien to their world views. Here, cognitive reframing becomes more than a personal tool. The process becomes a collective necessity.

For individuals challenged by the electoral results, whether domestically or internationally, reframing may involve viewing the outsider candidate’s victory not as a rejection of their beliefs but as a consensual expression of a desire for systemic change. The electoral outcome also represents a critical moment for them to reflect on their party’s direction and policies. This reframing can foster a spirit of inquiry and, potentially, unity rather than deepening outrage and antagonism.

Reframing is not an easy task, nor is it a quick one. It may not even be readily applicable for some, given their circumstances. For others, it may offer a possible way to cope with a significantly altered environment – without compromising on deeply held values.