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Self‐Other and Third‐person Anchored Modes of Thinking in Psychological Expertise: Cognitive Concomitants of Behaviourist, Client‐centred, and Psychoanalytic Concepts
Author(s) -
Peeters Guido,
De Wit Rein
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1080/00207599508246573
Subject(s) - psychology , psychoanalytic theory , mode (computer interface) , cognition , vertical thinking , psychotherapist , social psychology , cognitive psychology , convergent thinking , creative thinking , psychiatry , creativity , computer science , operating system
Information about people (A and B) can be processed consistent with two alternative modes of thinking: (1) an SO‐mode conceiving of A and B as “self” versus “other,” and (2) a 3P‐mode conceiving of A and B as “he/she called A” versus “he/she called B.” Previous research showed strong SO‐anchoring biases in laypersons' thinking, so the present study focused on psychological experts' thinking. SO‐ and 3P‐modes were associated with the formation of personalized and depersonalized representations of A and B respectively, so it was hypothesized that thinking in psychoanalytic terms would involve both modes, whereas the use of client‐centred and behaviourist terms would trigger the SO‐ and the 3P‐mode respectively. Data obtained from experts in psychotherapy confirmed the hypotheses except that the SO‐mode was not less but more dominant in thought shaped in the behaviourist way than in thought shaped in the client‐centred way. The results shed light on the role of scientific language and discourse as a general instrument of professional thought and communication.