Rebirth of Reason

Forum : Article Discussions : Experiencing Objectivism through the Reality Model

Tuesday
August 24, 2004

Experiencing Objectivism through the Reality Model by Luke Setzer

This article uses the Franklin Covey Reality Model to illustrate the Objectivist theory that ideas shape the behaviors of individuals and, ultimately, nations. The model has great power to liberate people to examine their beliefs objectively and encourages them to correct those beliefs that fail to meet their needs adequately. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (20 messages)

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 8:05am

Franklin Reality Model Video Worksheet

Addiction is compulsive behavior with short-term benefits and long-term destruction.

The Franklin Reality Model

Seven Natural Laws:

If the results of your behavior do not meet your needs, there is an incorrect principle on your belief window.
Results take time to measure.
Growth is the process of changing principles on your belief window.
Addictive behavior is the result of deep and unmet needs.
If your self-worth is dependent on anything external (outside yourself), you are in big trouble.
When the results of your behavior do meet your needs, over time, you experience inner peace.
The mind will naturally seek harmony when presented with two opposing principles.

Five Steps To Follow:

Identify the behavior patterns.
Identify possible principles driving the behavior.
Predict future behavior based on those principles.
Identify alternative principles that may produce better results.
Predict future behavior based on the new principles.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 8:39am

Luther!,

Man, what is this? I couldn't wrap my brain around any of it...its like walking into a nightmare.

"Growth is the process of changing principles on your belief window." That quote is so messed up to be incomprehensible. Principles are universals, like: a leaf cannot be all green and all red at the same time. Changing a true principle for some rule will just undercut any possible growth, it will distort and deform anything it touches...on what you have show here I would burn it all and buried it so it couldn't harm some innocent seeker of growth!

Michael

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 8:45am

The book The Ten Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management makes this much more clear. The article and discussion offer a mere overview.

In this model, a "principle" on a person's Belief Window may or may not correspond to reality. People hold onto false beliefs all the time. Ayn Rand developed Objectivism to help people to craft an accurate and useful set of integrated principles for their Belief Windows.

Perhaps it should say, "Growth is the process of correcting and refining principles on your belief window so that they more accurately correspond to reality and thus better serve your needs over time."

Does that make more sense? I simply quoted the worksheet verbatim in my prior post to this discussion.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 12:25pm

That looks like it more should read 'wants', not 'beliefs'... as michael said, principles are universals.. and how would this tally with knowledge aquisition, which is different from mere beliefs.....

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 1:33pm

Robert, people often accept so-called "principles" on faith or through error. Read the first natural law on the list:

"If the results of your behavior do not meet your needs, there is an incorrect principle on your belief window."

How can I make this any simpler?

A stated proposition or principle either corresponds to reality or contradicts with reality, with predictable consequences for the people who believe it.

I "believe" that 2+2=4. Unlike an article of faith, I can substantiate my "belief" with reason and evidence. Someone who "believes" that 2+2=5 cannot do so.

Through the correspondence principle, a person can reason whether his beliefs are true or false.

Read The Ten Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management by Hyrum Smith to get the full story.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 1:34pm

Hi Luther,

I am glad you didn�t get pissed off at me! But I feel like one of us is coming from Mars because I have absolutely no clue what it is that you are offering here and the more detail I get the more I want to run for the hills. But, then, perhaps I am a good guinea pig to use, if you can convince me of the value of this thing that would be a complete turn-around!

But your work is cut out for you. First I wouldn�t pick up a book, not in a million years, called The Ten Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management. My crow epistemology is freaking out and I have a vision of timing my life by a horrible sounding buzzing clock! Ten (!) laws! How the hell do you hold them all in your head at the same time?!

On www.wetcanvas.com, a great site for artists, there was an instruction demo for composing landscapes. It�s called something like 28 rules to good landscape composition! Since art is my thing I enjoyed reading over what he had to say and everything he said was, indeed, excellent. But his concept of 28 rules is a disaster because no one, I mean no one!, can start a painting trying to remember 28 rules much less 3 or 4�it ain�t possible. The only thing he will achieve is to bind the students so severely that their souls will freeze. The man needed to find one concept that integrated all the others�so that the students as long as they could hold and grasp the main thread could know they were on track and then they could pull up other concepts as the need arose.

Just now a questioned popped up into mind: do you have a need to bind people up?

Mischievously yours,

Michael

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 2:29pm

Michael Newberry asked;

... do you have a need to bind people up?

I had a discussion about this with another SOLO member I met for lunch yesterday. He asked me why I have this compulsive obsession with Franklin Covey.

Before I start, I want to emphasize that the Franklin part of Franklin Covey used The Psychology of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden -- specifically, the relationship between productivity and self-esteem -- to serve as the foundation for its time management seminar.

The short answer is: I have a powerful personal need for structure and order in my life. It likely comes from my strong, left-brain, analytical thinking. I cannot blame my engineering degree because I know lots of engineers with sloppy work areas that stand in stark contrast with my pristine cubicle. So blame it on my own uniqueness.

The longer answer is: Before I got exposed to their planning and organizing concepts, I experienced a load of stress. Stress arises from lack of control. Lack of control arises from lack of knowledge or lack of willingness to apply that knowledge rightly. My desk was a mess, I kept falling behind in assignments, I felt like I was putting out fires on all sides of me, and I was getting dogged by management for it.

One of the few good results to come from my brief involvement with a multi-level marketing (MLM) company called Nu Skin was my discovery of the Franklin Day Planner. The moment I saw it, I said, "This will solve all my problems!" That was how bad life had started to spin out of control. After I attended their day-long seminar, I completely tore apart my cubicle, trashed a load of junk, reordered my files and started laying out my days and weeks with the conviction bordering on religion. The discipline paid off and I got the many different assignments under control and working together like a symphony orchestra.

Not everyone thinks this way! On one end of the order spectrum lives the BO (Born Organized). At the opposite end lives the SLOB (Spontaneous, Lighthearted, Optimistic and Beloved). The book Get Your Act Together! by the Slob Sisters makes this distinction. The former studies The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People; the latter, The Seven Habits of Minimally Effective People. Visit http://www.flylady.net/ to learn more.

Bottom line: I do not have a need to bind other people up, but I do have a need to focus myself. I just have to keep in mind that not every Objectivist thinks the way I do about how best to achieve focus.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 2:49pm

Michael Newberry asked:

I am a good guinea pig to use, if you can convince me of the value of this thing that would be a complete turn-around!

I think I can do that.

To persuade someone of the value of Objectivism, I have to persuade them of the importance of ideas. The Belief Window metaphor offers an excellent way to illustrate that ideas matter. With or without Objectivism or even formal philosophy, the reality of human nature is that we are abstract thinkers and conceptual beings. I can explain the Belief Window concept in a few minutes and most people generally "get it." I can then walk people through the model and show how different beliefs on the Belief Window will influence not only behavior, but focus. In other words, a belief about what is important or not -- a value judgment -- will influence the externals on which the believer will focus or not focus, notice or not notice.

Suppose I have a belief on my Belief Window that says, "All Martians steal," and then find myself in a room full of Martians. Later, I discover my wallet missing. How will I act? I will immediately begin attempting to track down which Martian took it! If I held an opposing belief that says, "No Martian ever steals," I would then pursue other explanations for my wallet's disappearance.

I can use this analytical storytelling method to move to heavier subjects like religion, politics, social issues, etc.

The point of the Franklin Reality Model is to attempt to understand how abstract beliefs get driven by certain basic human needs and manifest themselves concretely in human behavior. More importantly, the metaphor allows us to separate ourselves objectively from our beliefs, taking down the Belief Window, judiciously examining it and willingly cleaning and rewriting the parts that fail to serve us. While it falls far short of the rigors of Objectivism, it does serve to awaken people to the fact that they have a philosophy -- a Belief Window -- in the first place. Recognizing this is the first step to appreciating philosophy in general and Objectivism in particular.

Finally, the central elements of the model -- Belief Window, Rules and Behavior -- correlate in their own ways to the Objectivist ethics of Self-Esteem, Reason and Purpose.

Beliefs on the Belief Window about oneself amount to Self-Esteem beliefs: "Am I able to live? Am I worthy of living?"
How one sets up deductive If-Then Rules amount to a specific application of Reason: "If I am worthy of living, then what am I worthy of experiencing in this life?"
How one conducts his Behavior depends upon what his reasoning tells him he should set as his Purpose: "The goal of my pursuit of this woman is..."

I hope this sheds some light on why I have such fondness for this model.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 3:05pm

Gee Michael, only 28? Have a book here that guarentees a likeness in 42 steps.. you had it easy... :-)

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 3:07pm

PS - the 42 steps did work, but had to type them on a sheet to use each time trying it....:-/

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 5:45pm

Luke, your examples and ideas are useful and sometimes inspirational to me.

It would help to put a couple complete examples through your diagram, so that people can associate the meaning of the diagram with concrete examples. The examples will also help explain what a "belief window" is and such.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 8:22pm

Dean wrote:

It would help to put a couple complete examples through your diagram, so that people can associate the meaning of the diagram with concrete examples. The examples will also help explain what a "belief window" is and such.

Certainly. I will share this from memory since my book is not directly in front of me at the moment.

Straight from the book I mentioned earlier came a story about Hyrum Smith teaching this model to a group of roughly 60 teenagers known to the principal as the "druggies" and "alcoholics" of their high school. Smith explained the model to them and actually had students in chairs at the front of the room for each element of the model. He explained the four basic needs -- to live, to love, to feel important, to experience variety -- and then selected members of the audience to explain how their behavior tied back to the basic needs.

After a couple of fairly superficial inquiries regarding long hair and body piercing, Smith cut to the chase and asked the audience how many of them engaged in the use of alcohol and other mind-altering substances. Most of the hands raised. Smith suggested that a common principle on the Belief Windows of the persons in the room stated, "Drugs and alcohol are fun." A roar of agreement filled the room.

One young man boasted that he drank several beers per night and got smashed on the weekends. Smith asked him what needs that behavior satisfied.
"Variety, baby!" came the brazen response.
"Will that behavior satisfy your needs?" Smith asked.
"You bet!"
"Yeah?" Smith challenged.
"Yeah!" the young man retorted.
"Well, then I guess that you have a correct principle on your Belief Window," Smith challenged.
"Uh...yeah?"
"Yeah. But you forgot one of the natural laws: Results take time to measure. Do you think you can keep engaging in this behavior into old age?"
"You bet I can! Watch me!"
"You can do that. It's the dumbest way to see if it works over time, though."
"Well, Hyrum," the young man snarled, "what do you suggest I do?"
"Name some people you know shared that principle on your Belief Window that says, 'Drugs and alcohol are fun.'"

This is really where the power of the model hit home with these youths. The first name to spring from the crowd was John Belushi.

"John Belushi?", Smith asked incredulously. "Where is he?"
"He's dead," came a reply. "He died of a drug overdose."
"Did that satisfy his needs over time?"
Heads in the audience shook, "No."

The next name shouted from the audience was Janis Joplin.

"Janis Joplin?!", Smith reflected. "Where is she?"
"She's dead," came a reply. "She died of a drug overdose."
"Did that satisfy her needs over time?"
Heads in the audience shook, "No."

The next name suggested was Elvis Presley. (Smith swears this is a true story.)

"Elvis Presley?", Smith asked, shocked. "Where is he?"
"He's dead," came a reply. "He died of a drug overdose."
"Did that satisfy his needs over time?"
Heads in the audience shook, "No."

After much discussion, one youth finally stood up and said that he had been involved with drugs since he was eight and had endured countless hours of detainment, therapy and counseling. He said this was the first time anything said to him about the harm of drugs ever made any sense to him. Others offered similar positive feedback.

If you do a Google search on "Franklin Reality Model" you will find a number of pages explaining how volunteers have been taking this into prisons to help those inmates who seek to reform themselves. Here are some links:

http://www.nicic.org:81/read/messages?id=2203

http://www.survivingthesystem.com/colbert_demetrius.htm

http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/releases/3q_2002/perspectives_and_solutions.htm

That said, I want to emphasize that this model originated for the Franklin Covey Rethinking Stress seminar. It aims at normal law abiding citizens and not just criminals! Here are some other links:

http://www.franklincovey.com/training/business/stress.html

http://www.gwcinc.com/C_Reddick/FranklinRealityModelAsCognitiveRestructuring.htm

http://www.dbharmony.com/article.php?ID=33

http://qhc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/12/6/398

I hope this post better illustrates the power of the Reality Model.

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 8:35pm

It is interesting to see this book mentioned. Hyrum Smith's book is excellent. A tad simplisitic in some areas, but I think most people would find highly useful. It is, in many ways a handbook for those who want to apply The Objectivist Ethics to every part of their daily lives. Thanks for bringing this one up Luther. This is one I've been meaning to reread.

- Jason

Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 11:00pm

Anyone who mentions the ten steps to anything, or the seven best habits of anyone, or uses the terms "paradigm" or "Belief Window," or brings out a flow chart or a spread sheet at SOLOC4 will be shot. In the left-brain.

Linz

Friday, April 1, 2005 - 3:41am

Linz threatened:

Anyone who mentions the ten steps to anything, or the seven best habits of anyone, or uses the terms "paradigm" or "Belief Window," or brings out a flow chart or a spread sheet at SOLOC4 will be shot. In the left-brain.

Too late! My right-brained, hot-blooded, passionate, spontaneous, first generation Latina wife from the Republic of Panama has already made futile attempts to shoot, stab, strangle, drown, poison and hang my left-brained, cold-blooded, dispassionate, orderly, multi-generational farming thought process from Germany without success. Call us Yin and Yang.

By the way, she was the one who brought the Franklin Reality Model to my attention after being thoroughly impressed with Hyrum Smith's presentation of it at a Nu Skin world convention in Utah in 1993. So it really does appeal to all types.

(Edited by Luther Setzer on 4/01, 3:53am)

Friday, April 1, 2005 - 4:04am

Luther - your wife clearly needs to be rescued from your anti-emotional, anti-spontaneity vulcan-like clutches. I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I'll even marry her.

Friday, April 1, 2005 - 5:23am

Linz offered:

Luther - your wife clearly needs to be rescued from your anti-emotional, anti-spontaneity vulcan-like clutches. I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I'll even marry her.

Can you ballroom dance? I have been looking for a "ladysitter" for quite a while now. You and she can go waltzing while I stay home and draft more charts! ;)

Friday, April 1, 2005 - 9:47am

Jason, thanks for the positive feedback. Check out the SOLO Florida main page for a link to my article on the "Enhanced Tri-Quation" which discusses Smith's follow-up book What Matters Most. I recommend that book and the Focus audio book by Stephen Covey since you liked the first book I mentioned. I have links to these at the bottom of the SOLO Florida main page. Note also the link to the free Barnes and Noble course on Focus which one of my SOLO Florida members recommended highly.

In the Amazon customer reviews of What Matters Most, one Objectivist reader named Eric Kassan noted:

The only shortcoming is the book's failure to show how reality precludes certain choices. I recommend the book Viable Values by Tara Smith to cover that gap.

I have not read Tara Smith's book but I agree with his critical assessment.

(Edited by Luther Setzer on 4/01, 9:51am)

Saturday, January 8, 2011 - 8:45pm

At the time this article was posted I had been facilitating the FRM in a correctional setting for five years. I found that there were some individuals who responded to this material las did some in this forum. They refused to open themselves to it, fought it, totally rejected it before developing a clear understanding of its application and value. At first I wondered why but eventually I came to understand it was a waste of time trying to convince them of its benefits. Some people are threatend by and refuse to engage in self-introspection and are unwilling to challenge their beliefs, expectations, attitudes, comfort zones, habits and skills. They retain a belief pattern because it is comfortable or the stress of changing is too difficult for them to deal with. They usually respond similarly to those in this forum thread claiming they can't understand it, that it makes no sense, etc.
I have a principle on my belief window, its a waste of my precious time to focus my efforts on those who are unwilling to receive the model and its benefits.

Sunday, January 9, 2011 - 12:08am

Welcome to RoR, Holden McGroin.

If that's your real name, you may never forgive me for this, but I can't help it.

Jules R. Soar

:-)

p.s. If that is your real name, then I'm betting that you've developed near-infinite patience for such crude jesting