The AIP (Adaptive Information Processing) model forms the theoretical basis of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro.
According to this model, each individual has an innate capacity for healing and adaptation, a natural tendency towards well-being without conscious effort. In other words, everyone has their own adaptive information processing system, fueling their resilience.
Adaptive information processing system and nervous system
In daily life, the human body reacts to various situations via its nervous system, allowing it to respond to potential dangers (including high levels of adrenaline and cortisol) and then returning to a calm state once danger has erupted. dismissed.
The adaptive information processing system generally integrates these various hazard or safety information. Take the example of an individual who suffered a car accident and is resting at home after returning from the hospital. During this period, its adaptive information processing system can integrate the event, based on various conscious or unconscious data:
He is now safe at home, with reduced adrenaline and cortisol levels.
He is aware of his current surroundings through his senses.
He has driven for years without an accident before.
Thus, the individual can gradually resume driving, understanding that the accident was isolated. The event will eventually be stored in his autobiographical memory and can be recalled without raising his stress level or arousing other charged biological or emotional reactions in him.
However, in more extreme situations, the nervous system can be overwhelmed. The individual can be activated into a fight/flight or immobilization state. One's adaptive resources may be insufficient, leading to inappropriate storage of the traumatic experience in raw (undigested) form. Thus, the individual finds himself with certain fragments of memories which are not processed, such as access to a strong odor linked to the event, an intense vision of a particular moment, etc.
EMDR therapy aims to restore proper functioning of the adaptive information system, so that the individual can find their own path to healing. Using bilateral stimuli such as eye movements, sounds, or tapping, EMDR allows the brain to reorganize traumatic memories in a healthy, less disruptive way. In doing so, the individual will eventually be able to think back on the event, and be able to generally remember what happened, without being overwhelmed by overwhelming or uncomfortable sensations.
In summary, the AIP model posits that every human being has the innate capacity to heal. However, when this innate capacity is temporarily altered, the adaptive information processing system is unable to digest the traumatic event, the individual can experience symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder. EMDR aims to facilitate the process of reprocessing the traumatic memory, to promote healing.
Gabrielle Pitre
Gabrielle Pitre is a psychologist specializing in the most recent approaches to the treatment of complex trauma and owner of Evolution, a psychology clinic.
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