(I confess this is a repeat from a few years ago, but I felt it was worthy of repeating – with a couple of updates — mainly because it’s a long-weekend so I didn’t feel like challenging my muse).
A few years ago I devised an entirely new psychological theory. It’s called Acknowledge your Inner Bart Simpson. I suppose I’ll have to also nod in the direction of Matt Groening for using his character in my theory, but the idea was mine. And I think it’s brilliant, possibly even revolutionary.
It came about when I was at a clinical workshop a few years ago. A workshop attended by assorted counsellors (as I was at the time), social worker sorts, shrinks, nurses, etc. and we were bandying around various bits of stuff, and we got into Inner Child musings. I’m not going to disparage Inner Child considerations, because I believe there’s a lot of validity in getting in touch with that whimpering, simpering, pooping, peeing, frightened little wretch we all keep deep within us. At our most fundamental we remain forever frightened to go to school and be separated from Mom.
But, I threw out for their consideration that I also believe we have an Inner Bart Simpson. Our Inner Bart is like that little demon on our shoulders when we’re tempted to do something bad. Now, the bad thing can be eating an extra slice of chocolate cake all the way through to having a torrid affair with your neighbor. My point was we all have such nefarious impulses within us, too. But, as we have become functional adults, we’ve learned to suppress that little Bart guy. But I think, quite seriously, that it is a mug’s game to ignore him. He is there. No matter how functional, pious, responsible we might be as adults, there remains a lurking Bart. We know Mitt Romney has a massive inner Bart, but like Ned Flanders he’s filled with denial.
What does our ‘Bart’ want to do, as opposed to what our big adult actually does? Well, he wants to:
– Bare his bum and run naked.
– Eat everything that is bad for him, and the more of it the better
– Ignore all and every health consideration
– Scream out profanities at the hypocritical and dogmatic (I do this, but within the solitude of my home, but not necessarily beyond Wendy’s earshot, and she has been driven to opine; “Oh shut the fuck up!”
– Drive well over the speed limit in a fuel-thirsty pig of a vehicle with 200 horsepower more than necessary
– Have sex with absolutely everybody who tickles his fancy, even if she’s a complete stranger in a supermarket aisle. Oh, and that encounter may actually be in the supermarket aisle
– Drink like he doesn’t have a liver and never get hungover
– March always to his own drummer, with no consideration for the feelings of others.
– Be highly politically incorrect and say what “he really thinks” about certain strictures of society that demand that we never, ever offend anybody. Bart wants to offend
Sound like your neighbor or brother-in-law? Well, that’s for you to live with. You who have your ‘Bart’ under control even though he’s never really gone away.
And such is the way it goes on. Now, I wasn’t suggesting the aforementioned were things I want to do, they are what Inner Bart wants to do. And, as with your inner child, be kind and gentle with Inner Bart. He needs nurturing, though not encouragement. Remember he always wants to break through if you weaken. Better for all if you don’t, but a lot more fun if you do.
And I still think so 