more info from here (the website of the people who came up with this whole thing:
"Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) is a transdiagnostic treatment which targets a spectrum of disorders characterised by excessive inhibitory control or overcontrol (OC). It is intended for clinicians treating clients with such chronic problems as refractory depression, anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Maladaptive overcontrol is characterized by four core deficits:
Low receptivity and openness: manifested by low openness to novel, unexpected, or disconfirming feedback, avoidance of uncertainty or unplanned risks, suspiciousness, hyper-vigilance for potential threat, and marked tendencies to discount or dismiss critical feedback.
Low flexible-control: manifested by compulsive needs for structure and order, hyper-perfectionism, high social obligation and dutifulness, compulsive rehearsal, premeditation, and planning, compulsive fixing and approach coping, rigid rule-governed behavior, and high moral certitude (e.g., there is only one right way of doing something).
Pervasive inhibited emotional expression and low emotional awareness: manifested by context inappropriate inhibition of emotional expression (e.g., exhibiting a flat-face when complimented) and/or insincere or incongruent expressions of emotion (e.g., smiling when distressed, showing concern when not feeling it), consistent under-reporting of distress, and low awareness of body sensations.
Low social connectedness and intimacy with others: manifested by aloof and distant relationships, feeling different from other people, frequent social comparisons, high envy and bitterness, and reduced empathy.
Radical Openness is a way of behaving as well as a state of mind, informed by the central premise that emotional well-being involves the confluence of three features: openness, flexibility and social connectedness. As a state of mind, radically open living involves actively seeking our personal unknown in order to learn from an ever-changing environment. Radical openness also enhances relationships because it models humility and the willingness to learn from what the world has to offer. As such, radical openness often requires us to sacrifice our firmly held convictions and self-constructs – and this is why the practice of radical openness can be painful.
Radical openness is more than mindful awareness. It means actively seeking those areas of our lives that we want to avoid or may find uncomfortable, in order to learn. It involves purposeful self-enquiry and a willingness to be wrong, with an intention to change if needed."
