What is reframe the problem?

Answer 1

"Re-framing" is a psychology term that basically means "look at this in a different way". The easiest way to explain "re-framing" is to understand the basics of "perception". Perception is what we believe we see, know, or... perceive about a person, place, situation, or even emotion. Here's an example: Look at the center of your TV screen, and ONLY look at the center. If the TV is on and getting a signal, you'd most likely tell me you see whatever television show is on at that time. If I asked how you knew that show is there you'd likely say, "because it is showing on the screen!" And you'd be right--- in part. If I asked, "How can you SEE the pictures you see there?" you'd probably say "Because I see it with my eyes!" And again, you'd be right-- in part. But what if I said to shift where you are looking, to wherever your cable box is sitting. Again, I ask "How can you SEE the pictures you see on your TV screen?" Another answer, just as partly right, is that you can see the TV image only because the cable box acts as a converter to change the signals sent by the cable company into a form that your television set can decipher. Your "frame of reference" at first only focused on the television set. Then when I asked about seeing, you included your eyes. But when you look further, your answer also can include the fact that you have a cable converter box. Without the converter box, you could just have a blank or fuzzy TV screen.

"Re-framing a problem" uses the same kind of "widening your perception" or "including more things in what you see, think, feel, believe". A married woman might angrily say, "My husband doesn't love me because he is never home to see me! I have to get a divorce!" But re-framing might include: "My husband works 12 hour days so we can pay for our nice house, nice clothes, and nice cars. He loves me and the children because he works very hard for us." By re-framing her problem, the woman includes more information before she labels or categorizes the information-- and the outcome!

There was a movie with Goldie Hawn who lost her memory and went from being rich to living with a man to whom she owed money. The man fooled her into thinking she was his wife. At one point, the "wife" thinks he is seeing other women and so, she is hurt and angry. But she follows him one night when he was supposed to be "Bowling". She sees him doing a hard labor job and she believes he is now a loving "husband". The same kinds of situations happen all the time; we think we know the 'truth' but then we get more information that allows us to "re-frame" our perceptions, and then, to change how we think, feel, believe, or act.