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Poststructuralist Interpretations of Self Construction and Psychotherapy· Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. THEORISING 'SELF' Poststructuralist Interpretations of Self Construction and Psychotherapy· A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University Karen Frewin 2002 ii ABSTRACT Through post-structuralist theory this study offers a critical view of relationships between self and psychotherapy. It suggests that 'belief systems' concerning the self are embodied in institutional and technical practices through which forms of individuality are specified and governed. It proposes that psychotherapy, as 'modern knowledge and expertise' of the psyche plays a role in the stimulation of subjectivity. Making use of narrative inquiry and psychotherapeutics as devices of access to self engagement, it argues that psychotherapeutics are psychological intervention technologies of domination and power functioning to assist the assemblage of selves. The study originates through the assumption that psychological knowledge contributes to the way we are in the world, and that we are often produced with little knowledge of production processes. Concern with subjectification of self, and relationships between assembling of selves and psychological intervention strategies designed to assist assemblage, warrants theoretical discussion combined with an ethnomethodological partiCipant observation strategy. Through a re-presentation and interrogation of contemporary post-structuralist debate on the constitution of self the study considers therapeutic process as a situated product of temporal discursive practices of technology and power and delivery of subjectified self as a terrain of understanding through which psychotherapeutics perform, both as interpretative technology and producer. Narrative is deliberated as an assembling and organising device through which meaning-making can be accessed. Processes of subjectification are constituted through a partiCipant observation study of four psychotherapeutic practices offered through training institutions in New Zealand. They are Bioenergetic Analysis, Gestalt, Narrative Therapy, and Psychodrama. Engagement with training programmes produces five discrete narratives that articulate and reflect on the experience of self in relation to these technologies. The study analyses processes of subjectification through interpretation of the narratives. In particular, interpretation draws attention to issues of embodiment, multipliCity, constraint, and positioning, suggesting that they are articulated through power relations, questions of authority, and of legitimacy. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All works merit acknowledgements and this one is no exception. Many people have contributed, both directly and indirectly. In particular, it has been a privilege to enjoy the supervisory expertise of Or Mandy Morgan, an exemplary teacher and mentor without whom this study would have remained a dream. Her enthusiasm, encouragement, perceptiveness, creative skills, wisdom, and patience have contributed in large measure to the production of this work. My gratitude goes to Associate Professor Kerry Chamberlain for early input and suggestions, and to Or Keith Tuffin who has maintained unwavering support over the years. Thanks must also go to Keith for his learned reflections and rigorous evaluation of the penultimate draft of the manuscript. Thank you to the Massey University Library staff for their most excellent service. I am grateful for the support of colleagues, Paul White, Linda Sain, Christina Howard, and Rachael Pond, each of whom have affirmed the work, been interested, and made innumerable offers of help. Thank you Rachael for your invaluable mentoring skills during the later days. For their anticipation and interest in my musings I wish to thank members of The New Zealand Society for Sioenergetic Analysis, specifically, Ferrell Irvine, Pye Sowden, Kathryn Carmichael, Heidi Young, Phil Straker, and Michael Short. To Linda MacKnight, thank you for looking after Owight. I could not have finished without you taking responsibility for his care. Special thanks go to my family for their confidence and reminders that there is more to life than intellectual pursuits alone. Last, but not least, my heartfelt appreciation goes to my partner Marcus Boroughs for his generosity, warm encouragement, interest, support, and understanding throughout the long days and nights of thesis production. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................... ................................................................. ii Acknowledgments........................................ ...................... ... ......iii Chapter One Introducing the Subject.. .................................................................... 1 Chapter Two Bringing Self into View ........ .......................... ................. ...... ............ 7 Chapter Three The Practice of Psychotherapy .......................... ............... ........... ..... 39 Chapter Four Psychotherapy and Self...... ............ ..... ............................................ 53 Chapter Five Converging with Narrative: An Organising Strategy .......................... 60 Chapter Six Reflecting on the Process.. ...... ..... .............................. .......... ... ......... 79 Chapter Seven Bioenergetics and the Self. .... ...................................................... ....93 Chapter Eight Experiencing Psychodrama ..... ................ ...................... ........ ........ 104 Chapter Nine A Gestalt Exposure ........................ ........................ ......................... 124 Chapter Ten Narrative Therapy .............. .... ..... ................................... ........... ...... 144 Chapter Eleven A Story About Bioenergetics .......... .......... ...... ..... ..................... ... ... 170 Chapter Twelve Speaking Subjectivity: Engaging with Self............... .. ........ ............ 177 Chapter Thirteen A Parting Word.... .............. ................ ...... ...... .......................... ......219 References ... .................................................................................222 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCING THE SUBJECT This is a study about self. It is about my self, your self, our selves. Technically the study is concerned with the subjectification and constitution of self, and the relationship between the assembling of selves and psychological intervention technologies designed to assist assemblage. The study is articulated through a post-structuralist standpoint but also makes use of narrative inquiry and psychotherapeutics as devices of access to self engagement. I will argue that post-structuralism produces access to subjectification, construction, and issues of power and domination. Narrative acts as both organising strategy and meaning-making device. Psychotherapeutics are employed as technologies of domination through which subjectification of self can be accessed. It is an evolving study, enabled through each device to emerge as a treatise of self. The study originates through the assumption that psychological knowledge contributes to producing the way we are in the world, and that we are often produced with little knowledge of production processes. It comes through the idea that 'belief systems' concerning the self are embodied in institutional and technical practices (for example, spiritual, medical, political, economic) through which forms of individuality are specified and governed (Rose, 1990). My interest in relationships between the constitution of self and psychological intervention technologies designed to assist such constitution inspired me to contest the arrangements which have been invented for us, and aroused curiosity about re-invention. As an academic and a practicing and training psychotherapist, a particular focus is the 'technology' of psychotherapy, and the proposal that psychotherapy, as 'modern knowledge and expertise' of the psyche plays a role in the stimulation of subjectivity, for example, promoting self-inspection and self-consciousness, and shaping desires. Consequently the study argues that psychotherapeutics are psychological intervention technologies/apparatus of domination and power, designed to assist the assemblage of selves (Rose, 1990). However, despite orbiting psychotherapeutics, it soon becomes apparent that discussion concerning self produces self as a point of convergence and 2 focus of research with other constructs serving as devices of access rather than principal performers. As far as linearity is concerned, during Chapter Two readers will enjoy a re-presentation and interrogation of contemporary post-structuralist debate upon the constitution of self; in Chapter Three, consideration of therapeutic process as a situated product of temporal discursive practices of technology and power, and, in Chapter Four, delivery of subjectified self as a terrain of understanding through which psychotherapeutics perform, both as interpretive apparatus and producer. In order to access processes of subjectification I discuss, in Chapter Five, relationships between narrative metaphor, psychology, and post­ structuralism, including ethnographic and participant observation strategies which I use to access prevalent psychotherapeutic practices offered through training institutions
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