The downward arrow technique: what is it and how is it used in therapy?

This tool is used in psychotherapy to detect the patient's basic beliefs.

Our thoughts are cognitive products that are shaped by these beliefs, which in more conscious stages take the form of assumptions that explain what happens if certain conditions are met.

However, behind all this there are our most basic core beliefs, which are long-lasting and difficult to modify. Nuclear beliefs are, as we have said, behind a large part of our way of seeing reality and ourselves.

In this sense those people with especially rigid beliefs or who have internalized values and deep beliefs that conflict with how they are or how they live can feel great suffering, and may require psychological help to modify them. To do this, the first thing to do is to bring the core beliefs to light from our thoughts, something for which we can use techniques such as the technique of the descending arrow..

Downward Arrow Technique

It receives the name of technique of the descending arrow to a basic technique within the cognitive-behavioral current that is characterized for seeking to locate the nuclear and deepest beliefs of the subject, so that we canIn such a way that we can make these beliefs conscious and work on them in case they are maladaptive.

It can be used in any type of problem, although it is especially useful in those in which the subject manifests some type of difficulty with himself or by the existence of some way of acting that is dysfunctional.

The technique in question has an apparently simple basis: it involves starting with the patient's thoughts and asking about the meaning of those thoughts. starting from the patient's thoughts and asking about the meaning of these thoughts, what they say about the subject or what they would mean for the subject if they were true or not.What do these thoughts say about the subject or what would they mean for the subject if they were true or not.

Based on the answer to this question, the question asked is repeated or some other equivalent question is used in order to search for thoughts and beliefs on which the thoughts that have arisen after reflection are based. This process is repeated again and again until the person is unable to give an answer, or the answer does not seem to him or her to beor the answer is not credible.

To give an example, a person may state that he or she is a perfectionist and needs to do things well, which when asked what this means to that person may respond that when he or she does things well he or she is complimented, which may lead to an analysis of the idea that he or she needs to be recognized by others, which in turn may lead to the belief that the person does not see himself or herself as valid.

How is it used in therapy?

The name downward arrow comes from the fact that it goes from a particular thought (which is generally sought to be regarding a dysfunctional aspect, a self-demand or a difficulty with oneself) to the beliefs that support it, and deeper and deeper into the core and deeper elements and beliefs. and deepest elements and beliefs.

In addition to evaluating beliefs, it can also be used to assess what elements we use when drawing conclusions about a particular event, specifically when assessing what evidence or elements are used to reach a particular conclusion.

The descending arrow technique is a useful technique in order to identify deep beliefs on the part of a patient. This in itself has a certain therapeutic effectIt allows to bring to light and express deep beliefs and thoughts in such a way that the subject reflects and processes contents that sometimes he/she does not recognize himself/herself.

However, in general this technique is usually only a first step, prior to the realization of other techniques that allow to verify or modify these beliefs in case the patient finds them dysfunctional. In this sense different cognitive restructuring techniques are often used, as well as Socratic dialogue or the formulation of behavioral experiments.as well as Socratic dialogue or the formulation of behavioral experiments.

However, although the descending arrow is fundamentally cognitive, this does not imply that the techniques that have to follow it must also be cognitive: it is possible to apply techniques from other psychological currents such as systemic, humanistic or even psychodynamic to work on the core beliefs that are discovered.

On what problems is it used?

The technique of the descending arrow is a fairly basic and very useful technique that can be used in a great majority of problems. can be used in a great majority of disorders and alterations that can be explained by the patient's beliefs and the possible biases beliefs of the patient and the possible biases that these generate.

Among the multiple difficulties in which it can be applied, some examples within the clinical field can be major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or personality disorders.

In general, it can be used in any problem in which rigid beliefs or a high level of self-demandingness are present. Even in the absence of any disorder, people who have had a rigid environment or upbringing or have self-esteem problems may benefit from the use of the downward arrow to dive into the beliefs that support them.

Bibliographical references:

• Bados, A. and García Grau, E.(2010). The technique of cognitive restructuring. Universitat de Barcelona. Facultat de Psicologia, Departament de Personalitat, Avaluació i Tractament Psicològics.
• Burns, D.D. (1990). Feeling good. Barcelona: Paidós.