FORCES THAT IMPEDE CHANGE

Psychological Forces	Thoughts and Habits that Limit Change
Pain versus Pleasure	The immediate pleasure of the habit (gambling) is more powerful than the delayed pain (financial ruin).
Fear of failure	“If I don’t change, I will feel even worse than I do now.”
All or nothing thinking	“I must lose 50 pounds; losing 10 pounds is unacceptable”
Unconscious conflicts—unaware of problems	We may repeat maladaptive behavior because we fail to recognize the destructiveness of our acts.
Change is unpredictable	The discomfort of the status quo may be preferred over the anxiety produced by change.
Resisting authority	“I don’t like anyone telling me what to do.”
An undesirable habit may provide unmet needs.	Drinking relieves stress. Physical abuse provides attention. Eating fills a psychological void.