Exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) Through Inside Out 2
Spoiler alert: This article contains some information about plot lines in the film. If concerned about this, you may wish to read this after watching the film.
Disney/Pixar
Inside Out 2 continues an exploration of the emotional landscape of the mind. The sequel adds layers of complexity to the concepts introduced in the original Pixar film and provides a perfect backdrop for understanding the Internal Family Systems model.
Goal of IFS
The film opens to Riley and her teammates playing in a championship hockey game. Riley's emotions: Joy, Fear, Sadness, Disgust and Anger are all taking turns, actively working together at the control panel inside Riley’s mind. They each step in briefly when Riley needs them, at just the right amount.
The opening scene of Inside Out 2 demonstrates an overarching goal of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) mode:that one's internal world be able to work in harmony. Each of the emotions (or parts as they’re referred to in IFS) presents when needed and appears to be working for Riley’s greater good.
Within Inside Out 2, we see this balanced system quickly change as Riley begins puberty. The film demonstrates this change by installing a new, more complex control board in Riley’s mind and introduces new emotions. The new emotions are Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, Ennui (which is explained to be boredom/dissatisfaction). There’s a few brief encounters with Nostalgia as well.
Disney/Pixar
Understanding the IFS model
For those new to understanding the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, it embraces the idea that the mind is made up of “parts” or subpersonalities. It also believes that in addition to each of us having multiple parts, we also possess what’s called Self energy.
Inside Out 1 & 2 illustrate the concept of internal parts by depicting Riley’s emotions such as Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust as individual characters. The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model identifies two main types of parts: Exiles & Protectors.
Exiles: These are parts buried deep inside that hold pain from past experiences, often carrying feelings like shame, loneliness, or rejection. Inside Out 2 introduces the concept of exiles when Joy and the other core emotions are bottled up and taken to the Vault, a place filled with Riley’s secrets. While not every secret we hold is equivalent to an exiled part within the IFS model, this visual demonstrates how exiled parts are kept away from the rest of the internal system and difficult it can be to access them.
Protectors: Protectors develop within our system to keep us from feeling the painful emotions that exiles hold. Each protector part has its unique job, aiming to prevent us from experiencing pain. In Inside Out 2, all the emotion characters are protectors. Anxiety, for instance, states her job is to “help Riley plan for the future for all the things she can’t see.” Throughout the film, Anxiety takes over Riley’s mind, trying to protect her from feelings of rejection from not making the team and loneliness since her current friends will be going to a different school. A core concept of the IFS model is that there are “no bad parts”. We see in the film that even Anxiety has positive intentions to help Riley. However, when Anxiety takes over completely, she makes Riley engage in behaviors that don’t align with her true self.
Self Energy: The IFS model believes that we all have a “Self,” a core part of our being described by eight qualities, all starting with the letter C: calm, compassionate, curious, courageous, clear, connected, confident, and creative. Whenever you feel any of these qualities, it means you have some amount of Self energy present. The IFS model posits that Self has the capacity to heal and harmonize parts.
Image from Inside Out 2 Golden Book. Disney/Pixar
Concept of Self
Riley’s “sense of self’ is newly introduced in Inside Out 2, presented as a tree-like image that is formed by her beliefs about herself. These beliefs are influenced by which parts are in control of her mind. For a long time, Joy had dominated Riley’s mind, actively working to keep her sense of self positive by launching any negative memories into the back of her mind. When Anxiety appears, she bottles up Joy, Anger, Sadness, Disgust, and Fear, sending them to the Vault. Anxiety then takes over Riley’s control panel, and we slowly see Riley’s sense of self changing as her positive thoughts are replaced with anxious beliefs. This change leads Riley to make decisions and act in ways that align with her anxious thoughts, illustrating what the IFS model calls a “part taking over.”
IFS posits that all parts have good intentions and are trying to help in some way. Anxiety’s positive intention is to protect Riley from feeling rejected and alone. When a part fully takes over, it often negatively impacts other parts in the system. We see this when Anxiety takes full control during a hockey game, causing Riley to steal the puck from a teammate and, desperate to win, she runs into and hurts her friend. Sadness and Embarrassment are triggered when this occurs, but Riley was unable to connect with these parts because Anxiety had pushed them away and taken over completely. This scenario represents what many people experience when starting IFS therapy: certain parts in their system take over, leading them to act in ways that activate other parts, causing feelings like shame or guilt.
There are some slight differences between how the film describes Riley’s sense of self and the concept of Self within IFS. In the IFS model, the Self always holds the eight C qualities and never changes. What changes is the degree of access one has to their Self energy. When a part completely takes over, we can lose access to our Self energy, but it is always there. In a healed internal system, parts are present with Self, and Self can listen to each part’s concern and chooses a response that’s best for the entire system. Through the IFS lens, the sense of self in Inside Out 2, is a visualization of time spent by parts at the control panel.
An Internal System in Harmony
At the end of the film, Anxiety starts to become aware of the impact her taking over has on Riley. In the IFS model, this represents a step in the process called updating parts. Joy tells Anxiety she has to let her go, when she agrees and does so, Riley is able to find some Self energy. In IFS, the process demonstrated here is often referred to as, “asking a part to give space”. When parts step back and give space, it allows us to connect with our Self energy and feel calm, connected, curious, etc.
As this occurs in the film, we see that the parts start to realize that they can all work together to support Riley/Self. This is the goal in the IFS model: an internal system that works together in harmony. All parts have roles to play that are equally important and they can each be helpful at different times, so long as they work with Self and the other parts for the greater good.
Image created by Bobbi-Jo Molokken
Takeaways:
All parts/emotions have good intentions and are trying to help in some way.
It’s best to notice, listen to, and validate your parts/emotions rather than sending them to the back of mind or locking them away.
The mind is complex and shaped by all of our life experiences (and hormones/developmental changes).
When parts take over completely it can lead to intense experiences, such as when Riley has what most would label as a panic attack.
It’s possible to work with and heal parts so they don’t have to work so hard and take over anymore.
All parts working together in harmony feels best and allows us to feel most like ourselves.
Inside Out 2 provides a beautiful backdrop to understanding the Internal Family Systems model. It illustrates the internal impacts when parts are taking over or competing for control as well as how it looks when parts are working together with Self. Watching the film may activate parts within your own system as your parts may connect to something Riley experiences. You may wish to seek additional support from a qualified mental health professional to process anything that arises for you.
Resources:
To learn more about the Internal Family Systems Model, check out their website https://ifs-institute.com/
Directory of IFS Therapists/Practitioners: https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners
A curated playlist of youtube videos for IFS Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnleRDtUfuB-4mD5s2g2xJ-wQFBWpnmR8
Official Website for Inside Out 2: https://movies.disney.com/inside-out-2
Inside Out 2 official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEjhY15eCx0
Author: Bobbi-Jo Molokken, LISW, CCTP - psychotherapist
Disclaimer: This article is for informational/entertainment purposes and does not constitute psychotherapy or medical advice. If you have or suspect you have a mental health concern, contact a licensed mental health professional for consultation before implementing any changes.
