Understanding memory networks and core beliefs through Inside Out 2: an EMDR perspective
Therapists can’t stop talking about Pixar’s recent release of Inside Out 2 and I am one of them. Through a whimsical and dramatic storyline, the film strengthens its central thesis that memories influence not only our personality characteristics and beliefs, but also our behaviors and emotional responses. As a trauma therapist specializing in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I also thought that the film depicted a compelling allegory for the mechanisms underlying EMDR.
The movie follows Riley, now a 13-year-old navigating the tumultuous period of adolescence. Her personified emotions—Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust—oversee a newly evolving area of Riley’s mind called the "Sense of Self.” With Joy at the helm of organizing this intrapsychic space, the Sense of Self becomes a repository of positive memories that influence Riley’s beliefs (e.g., “I am a good person”). Joy has also created a mechanism that represses negative memories by sending them through a vacuum tube directly from headquarters to the back of Riley’s mind so as not to tarnish her Sense of Self. But as Riley faces the challenges of high school and the onset of puberty, new emotions move into headquarters, necessitating a significant renovation to make room for Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. The narrative arc of Inside Out 2 captures a conflict between old and new emotions that vie for relevance in Riley’s Sense of Self. The key contenders are Joy versus Anxiety. This internal conflict mirrors the way our memories and inner emotional experiences can shape our core beliefs. Interestingly, the tethering of memories to emotions and beliefs is central to understanding the underlying theoretical framework of EMDR.
In EMDR, memories are conceived to be organized into networks that form the foundation of our perceptions, behaviors, and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. These networks are not merely collections of past events; they are intricate matrices that include sensory information, emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations that are all interlinked through associative channels.
Inside Out 2 visually represents Riley’s beliefs as cords of light resembling sound waves, with each cord anchored to a specific memory in Riley’s Sense of Self. When these cords are plucked, the audience hears them expressed instrumentally alongside Riley’s voice, creating a poignant depiction of the impact that Riley’s beliefs have on her emotional state. This cinematic portrayal aligns with the EMDR conceptualization that memories form interconnected networks that underpin our self view.
A central tenet of EMDR is that psychological distress often stems from unprocessed memories that have been stored in maladaptive memory networks. These networks are complexes of interrelated experiences, emotions, and beliefs that are experientially linked. When a person encounters a situation that resonates with these networks, it can trigger a cascade of negative emotions and behaviors. In the movie, Riley’s old emotions—Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust—are cast out from headquarters by Anxiety and trapped in a memory vault. Anxiety subsequently dominates Riley’s Sense of Self, populating it with negative beliefs (e.g., “I’m not good enough”) linked to anxiety-ridden memories. This is analogous to how maladaptive memory networks can contaminate our sense of self, leading to distorted views of self and others, in turn catapulting us into fraught emotional and behavioral patterns.
In EMDR, memories are conceived to be organized into networks that form the foundation of our perceptions, behaviors, and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us.
Adaptive memory networks in EMDR consist of positive memories and experiences which form the basis of healthy self-esteem, adaptive behaviors, and positive resources. These networks provide the necessary counterbalance to the maladaptive networks and facilitate the metabolization and integration of disturbing memories. When Riley’s old emotions return to headquarters and re-engage with her Sense of Self, her adaptive memory networks become reintegrated. This process is central to EMDR therapy, where adaptive experiences and memories can link up to previously isolated and distressing ones, promoting overall psychological healing and resilience. The movie also highlights how new experiences, when linked to existing memory networks, can either reinforce maladaptive patterns or promote adaptive change. Riley’s interactions at ice hockey camp and her evolving relationships with her friends illustrate how new experiences are continually woven into her existing self view, shaping her perceptions and behaviors.
This cinematic portrayal aligns with the EMDR conceptualization of how memories form interconnected networks that underpin our self view.
Inside Out 2 provides a powerful and accessible illustration of the intricate relationship between memory networks and core beliefs, which are central to the theoretical model of EMDR. By personifying Riley’s emotions and visually depicting her Sense of Self, the film offers a vivid analogy for understanding the complexities of our inner psychological landscape.
References
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.