If you served in the military no matter what branch of service you were in, you learned at some point the importance of having space to maneuver. Whether you were maneuvering pairs of boots, a tank, a ship, or a fighter jet, having adequate physical space was essential to executing maneuver smoothly and safely. Likewise, when we encounter challenges in life, our minds need maneuver space to mentally negotiate difficult moments. This series will highlight each month a different brief cognitive tool that you can use in your daily life to potentially create more maneuver space. Remember having maneuver space, or space to think, is a gift in life. Once you create it, use it to your advantage!
Chain Analysis
During almost two decades of counterinsurgency operations, members of the U.S. military became experts at identifying complex networked insurgencies. Identifying the links, or connections, between the nodes of these networks was particularly critical to reducing and fragmenting their capabilities. Just like the struggle of identifying links in counterinsurgency operations, our minds similarly struggle to understand a problem and create an effective solution that leads ideally to a more positive outcome. The Behavioral Chain Analysis technique from Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an effective tool at identifying links that if not countered, can create negative consequences from problematic behaviors. “The ability to analyze our own behavior allows us to determine what causes it and what maintains it. Knowing this is important for any of us if we want to change our own behavior.”[1] Just like in counterinsurgency, success in a behavior chain analysis is measured by one’s ability to apply skills that can ‘break’ the links of problem behaviors a keep them from creating negative consequences.
Behavior Chain Analysis
“The purpose of a chain analysis is to figure out what the problem is; what prompts it; what its function is; what is interfering with the resolution of the problem; and what aids are available to help solve the problem.”[2] Just like identifying links in counterinsurgency operations, problematic behaviors can also be visualized and understood as a series of linked events that are chained together. These links are triggered by a prompting event, often brought on by vulnerabilities in ourselves or our environments. The following visual helps illustrate this concept:
Chain Analysis Step by Step*
Describe the specific problem behavior.
Example: “I drank too much Friday night and punched my friend.”
- Describe the specific prompting event.
Example: “Saw my ex with another person on social media.”
- Describe specific vulnerability factors.
Example: “Stress, temptation from social situations, availability, negative emotions.”
- Describe in excruciating detail the chain of events that led to the problem behavior.
Example: “I thought I am lonely, I miss my ex. I am not loveable. I screwed things up and they left. How can a be so stupid. I am awful. I don’t want to feel or think about this anymore.”
- Describe the short-term and long-term consequences of the negative behavior.
Example: “I initially felt relief because I forgot about my ex. I even remembered laughing with my friend. But I drank so much I got into a fight with them and punched them. I passed out and Im not sure how I got home. Now I have a bad hangover. I feel guilty. My body can’t take this anymore.”
- Describe in detail at each point where you could have used a skillful behavior to head off the problem behavior.
Example: “I need to remember that I have battle buddies, friends, and relatives I can call. I need to check the facts in my mind better. I don’t know who that person was with my ex, and it really does not matter. I need to give myself time to grieve the ending of the relationship and talk about how a feel in therapy. I want to engage in more pleasurable activities I enjoy like going to the gym, walking my dog, playing music, reading, and watching sports.”
- Describe in detail a prevention strategy for how you could have kept the chain from starting by reducing your vulnerability to the chain.
Example: “I need to minimize going to bars or places where social drinking occurs. If I do drink, I need to make sure I don’t drive and have a plan to get home safely. I need to develop some more coping strategies for when I feel stressed and lonely in the future. I need to minimize social media in my life.I am a good and loveable person and I want to start to date again. I want to start to engage in more healthy activities and get back in shape.”
- Describe what you are going to do to repair important or significant consequences of the problem behavior.
Example: “I am going to call and apologize to my friend for hitting them. I want to reduce the amount I drink as it is having negative consequences on my health.”
*[4]
When we have a problem, our first instinct is often to try to solve it. However there many alternate ways to manage any given situation. Changing the situation, avoiding the situation, leaving the situation, or changing our perspective of the situation could all also be ways to manage it. In counterinsurgency operations, success was achieved not only in identifying links but also in the ability to break the connection between these links. A behavior chain analysis can be an effective technique to create mental maneuver space in our mind by examining the chain of events that leads to ineffective behaviors, as well as the consequences of those behaviors that may be making it hard to change them.[5]
About the Author: Mr. Bongioanni is a licensed mental health counselor who alsoworks for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He is also a senior leader in the U.S. Army Reserve. His professional interests include human behavior, applied psychology, and military cultural competence. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
Check out past issues of Maneuver Space below:
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 1
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 2
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 3
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 4
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 5
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 6
Maneuver Space: Volume 1, Issue 7
Needs vs. Wants: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 8)
Marksmanship and Mindfulness: Maneuver Space (Volume 1, Issue 9)
[1] DBT UP: DBT United Peers, Lesson 6: Behavioral Chain Analysis. https://dialecticalbehavioraltherapy.wordpress.com/behavioral-chain-analysis/
[2] DBT UP: DBT United Peers, Lesson 6: Behavioral Chain Analysis. https://dialecticalbehavioraltherapy.wordpress.com/behavioral-chain-analysis/
[3] Adapted From: Behavior Chain Analysis, https://www.helpwithdbt.com/behavior-chain-analysis
[4] Linehan, M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition. New York: Guilford Press; 12-13.
[5] Linehan, M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition. New York: Guilford Press; 10.
As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.
Buy Me A Coffee
The Havok Journal seeks to serve as a voice of the Veteran and First Responder communities through a focus on current affairs and articles of interest to the public in general, and the veteran community in particular. We strive to offer timely, current, and informative content, with the occasional piece focused on entertainment. We are continually expanding and striving to improve the readers’ experience.
© 2024 The Havok Journal
The Havok Journal welcomes re-posting of our original content as long as it is done in compliance with our Terms of Use.