The Fall: The Soundtrack to Psychological Flexibility

Mark E Smith

Ever wanted an excuse to mix pop music with psychology? Well, here’s mine! Lately, I’ve been thinking about the sheer originality of The Fall. The legendary John Peel summed them up perfectly: “Always different, always the same.” They were a band that thrived on contradictions—constantly reinventing themselves while somehow staying unmistakably The Fall. With their ever-changing lineup, unpredictable sound, and Mark E. Smith’s cryptic yet razor-sharp lyrics, they’re a great example of psychological flexibility in musical form.

So, what exactly is psychological flexibility? In a nutshell, it’s a key concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that’s all about rolling with life’s punches. It’s the ability to adapt to new situations, juggle competing desires, and stay present in the moment. Think of it as the mental agility to accept discomfort, adjust to new realities, and keep moving towards what truly matters—even when your brain is screaming at you to do the opposite.

Back to The Fall. Take No Bulbs (1984). Its chaotic rhythm and hypnotic repetition capture that feeling of being stuck in rigid thought patterns. But then Smith throws in a paradox: “The more I see, the less I see.” That’s cognitive flexibility in action—sometimes, the more perspectives we gain, the less certain we become. The song’s relentless drive paired with its questioning lyrics is a perfect metaphor for shifting focus instead of staying stuck in dogma.

Then there’s Hip Priest (1982)—a dripping-with-irony track about a self-important figure who keeps hearing, “He is not appreciated.” This back-and-forth between self-belief and rejection is a classic example of psychological flexibility. True resilience isn’t about ignoring criticism or crumbling under it—it’s about staying on course without becoming rigid or defensive. Smith knew this well, navigating a career of cult adoration and critical dismissal without ever losing his essence.

Or take Drago’s Guilt (1993), a song riffing on Rocky IV’s Ivan Drago. It explores the downside of sticking too rigidly to one belief system—something psychological flexibility helps us avoid. Drago’s downfall? His inability to adapt. The Fall, on the other hand, constantly evolved, welcoming new influences instead of getting stuck in a single furrow.

Fast-forward to Theme from Sparta F.C. (2003), a late-career banger about resilience, tribalism, and power struggles. By this point, The Fall had been through countless iterations, yet their essence remained intact. That’s what psychological flexibility is all about—not just change for the sake of it, but knowing when to shift, when to stand firm, and how to keep growing.

At Bonmotus, our premium behavioural and psychological skills training product, Mind to ACTion, is built around this very concept—helping individuals, teams, and leaders cultivate psychological flexibility to boost performance, resilience, and decision-making.

Now, The Fall and the corporate world might seem like an odd mix, but hear me out—if psychological flexibility is the key to success, The Fall might just be its soundtrack. Their constant reinvention, refusal to conform, and embrace of contradiction mirror the very principles that drive growth, adaptability, and resilience. As Mark E. Smith put it, “If it’s me and your granny on bongos, it’s The Fall.” A perfect reminder that identity isn’t about staying the same—it’s about knowing how to evolve.