Long before Psychology came into existence, Edgar Allen Poe was actively exploring how human beings inexplicably create chaos and self-destruction in their lives. In his short story, "The Imp of the Perverse," Poe explores the energy within us that has the power to cause not only mischief in our lives, but total self-destruction as well. You may have experienced the "imp" when you were driving on a steep, narrow mountain road and had the sudden urge to drive your car right over the side of the road. While we generally resist the "imp's" urges, it is a force at the root of much of our human pain and suffering.

The "imp" takes many forms and disguises. One simple way to spot the "imp" is to notice when you have an overpowering urge to engage in behavior clearly harmful to yourself or others. The most striking characteristic of the "imp" is there is absolutely no rational explanation for engaging in the behavior. For example, most people choose to obey the law. Occasionally, however, even happy, "normal" people sometimes choose to drink and drive, experiment with illegal drugs, shoplift, or even physically harm to another. In each case, the force driving the "imp's" behavior is instant gratification without regard to consequences.

Another activity the "imp" uses to create irrational behavior is to dredge up the past. Since the "imp's" goal is to wreak havoc, what better way to do so than by focusing on what has caused you pain and suffering in the past. The "imp" seeks to increase any pain and suffering you may be experiencing in the moment by piling on all the old pain from the past as well.

The imp is even more effective at creating hurt, pain, and chaos when it seeks to deliberately "push another's buttons." When the "imp" can successfully provoke a negative reaction in someone else, it has gained control of two people rather than just one.

The "imp" also loves "putting something" over on another. The "imp" views damaging another as a means of showing how smart and powerful it is. It exacerbates this situation because it blocks out the link between your consequences and actions. In other words, if you shoplift in a store and "get away with it," the "imp" often prevents you from seeing the "consequence" when lose your wallet or lose something else of greater value such as your job.

How can you control the "Imp of the Perverse?" The strategy is simple. First, you cannot eliminate the "imp's" presence. The "enemy" of the "imp" is conscious choice and awareness. When your "imp shows up," simply acknowledge its presence—"Oh, that's my imp." Now when it urges you to do something that will create harm to yourself or others, be aware it's goal is to wreak havoc and make a conscious choice to do otherwise.

Coaching Tip:

A great resource for taming your "imp" is a wonderful book by Richard Davie Carson's called "Taming Your Gremlin." This delightful book shares how others have "tamed" their gremlins including their personal pictures of what their gremlins actually look like.

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