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On the advantages of symptoms: Exploring the client's construing
Author(s) -
TSCHUDI FINN,
SANDSBERG SIGRID
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9450.1984.tb01009.x
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , psychology , construct (python library) , personal construct theory , meaning (existential) , process (computing) , psychoanalytic theory , control (management) , epistemology , psychotherapist , social psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence , philosophy , programming language , operating system
From the perspective of George A. Kelly's Personal construct theory the article outlines points of view concerning “advantages of symptoms” A procedure for eliciting possible advantages is presented (“The ABC‐model”) and compared with a more conventional psychoanalytic approach as exemplified in a previously published case story. From a Kellyan view people are “personal scientists”, seeking—by testing their hypotheses—to predict and control events. Personal scientists may, however, get stuck with their hypotheses, possibly resulting in “symptoms”, and may need a fellow scientist (e.g. therapist) to encourage them to see and try out alternative procedures. The authors underscore that the therapist should beware of imposing own interpretations on the clients, but rather invite them to participate in a joint effort to elaborate and understand (analyze). This is a joint process, but principally based on the client's own personal meaning structure (construction). Since there is more than one alternative or one answer to the client's situation, the therapeutic process will probably call for frequent reconstructions.