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Cognitive balance, primary groups, and the patient‐therapist relationship
Author(s) -
Pilisuk Marc
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830080206
Subject(s) - psychology , balance (ability) , psychotherapist , cognition , balance theory , interpersonal communication , neuroticism , ideal (ethics) , therapeutic relationship , interpersonal relationship , social psychology , cognitive psychology , epistemology , personality , philosophy , neuroscience
The relationship between a patient and his psychotherapist is, in its ideal form, unique among the various interpersonal relationships studied by social psychologists. By combining the theory of cognitive balance with an analysis of the social aspects of the neurotic's problem one can gain insights into this relationship and into the nature of the therapeutic process itself. This paper reviews the contribution of balance theory to the understanding of psychological conflict.