University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 1983 The derivation of a psychological theory: Gestalt therapy Allen Richard Barlow University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Barlow, Allen Richard, The derivation of a psychological theory: Gestalt therapy, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, 1983. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/1685 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] THE DERIVATION OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY : GESTALT THERAPY A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of » DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY from THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by ALLEN RICHARD BARLOW, B.A. (Hons.l) DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY (1983) -i- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables xiv Acknowledgements xv xvi Abstract xvii CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1.1 The aim of this dissertation 1 1.2 Principles of Gestalt therapy 7 CHAPTER 2: Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis 2.1 Biography 12 2.2 Difficulties in comparing Freud's and Perls' works 13 2. 3 Freud ' s influence on Perls 16 2.4 Structure of the personality 20 2.4.1 Relationship between the three subsystems 22 2.5 Conscious/unconscious 24 2.6 Instincts 28 2. 7 Defence mechanism; 30 2.7.1 Regression 31 2.7.2 Repression 32 2.7.3 Reaction-formation 33 2.7.4 Introj ection 34 2.7.5 Proj ection , 35 2.7.6 Turning against the self (retroflection) 36 2.7.7 Rationalization 37 2.7.8 Denial 37 2.7.9 Identification 38 2. 8 Boundaries 39 -ii- Page 2.9 Anxiety 41 2.10 Resistance 42 2.11 Transference 44 2.12 Catharsis/cathexis .% 46 2.13 Neurosis 48 2.14 Therapeutic approach , 52 2.14.1 Aim of therapy 54 2.14. 2 The role of the therapist 55 2.14. 3 View of the patient 57 2.14.4 Style of therapy 58 2.14.5 Free association 59 2.14.6 Interpretation 61 2.14.7 Acting out 67 2.15 Dreams and , dreamwork 68 2.16 Conclusion 75 CHAPTER 3: Neo-Freudian influences 3.1 Carl Jung and analytical psychotherapy 76 3.1.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 76 3.1.2 Individuation 76 3.1.3 Body-mind position 78 3.1.4 Intellect 78 3.1.5 Polarities 79 3.1.6 Collective unconscious.... 80 3.1.7 Neurosis 81 3.1.8 Aim of therapy 84 -iii- Page 3.1.9 Therapeutic relationship 85 3.1.10 Therapeutic approach 86 3.1.11 Dreams and dreamwork 87 3.1.12 Conclusion 91 3.2 Wilhelm Reich and character analysis 92 3.2.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work 92 3.2.2 Character and body armor 94 3.2.3 Defences and blocks 96 3.2.4 Psychosomatics 98 3.2.5 Therapeutic approach 99 3.2.6 Neurosis 104 3.2. 7 Conclusion 106 3.3 Karen Horney 108 3.3.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 108 3.3.2 Here and now 109 3.3.3 Neurosis 109 3.3.4 Therapeutic approach 112 3.3.5 Holism 115 3.3.6 Self-actualization 115 3.3.7 Potentialities 117 3.3.8 Conclusion 117 3.4 Otto Rank and Will Therapy 119 3.4.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work 119 3.4.2 Here and now 12° 3.4.3 Integration 121 3.4.4 Therapeutic process 123 -iv- Page 3.4.5 Transference 128 3.4.6 Neurosis 129 3.4.7 Conclusion 130 3.5 Alfred Adler and individual psychology 131 3.5.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work 131 3.5.2 Holism . .. 132 3.5.3 Therapeutic approach 135 3.5.4 Neurosis 137 3.5.5 Dreams and dreamwork 141 3.5.6 Groupwork 143 3.5.7 Conclusion 144 3.6 Harry Stack Sullivan 145 3.6.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 145 3. 6.2 Language 145 3.6.3 Organism-environment interaction 146 3.6.4 Oral development 147 3.6.5 Therapeutic approach 148 3.6.6 Dreams 149 3.6.7 Conclusion 150 3. 7 Sandor Ferenczi 151 3.7.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 151 3.7.2 Active therapy 152 3.7.3 Resistance 153 3.7.4 Therapeutic material 154 3.7.5 Neurosis 156 3.7.6 Conclusion .158 -v- Page 3.8 Paul Federn. 159 3.8.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 159 3.8.2 Ego Boundaries 160 3.8.3 Contact boundaries 161 3.8.4 Demarcation at the boundaries. 164 3.8.5 Conclusion 165 3.9 Frieda Fromm-Reichmann. 166 3.9.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 166 3.9.2 Therapeutic approach 167 3.9.3 Interpretation 168 3.9.4 Experience vs. intellectualization 169 3.9.5 Conclusion 170 3.10 Paul Schilder .' 171 3.10.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work.. 171 3.10.2 Personality 172 3.10. 3 Experience 172 3.10.4 Psychosomatics 174 3.10.5 Conclusion 174 CHAPTER 4: Gestalt psychology 4.1 Introduction 175 4.2 Perls' grounding in Gestalt psychology 175 4.3 The naming of Gestalt therapy 176 4.4 Reactions of Gestalt psychologists 178 4.5 The organism-environment interaction 180 4.6 Figure-ground differentiation/Pragnanz 181 4 . 7 Closure 185 -vi- Page 4. 8 The concept of equilibrium 186 4.9 The role of attention, awareness, and experience 187 4.10 The here and now 188 4.11 The concept of boundaries and neuroses.... 189 4.12 Mind-body position 191 4.13 Psychotherapy and integration 195 4.14 Conclusion 196 CHAPTER 5: Philosophy 5.1 Existentialism 198 5.1.1 Introduction 198 5.1.2 Martin Heidegger 201 5.1.2.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls. 201 5.1.2.2 Holism 202 5.1.2.3 Being 202 5.1.2.4 Being-in-the-world 203 5.1.2.5 Choice, responsibility and self-support... 205 5.1.2.6 Language 206 5.1.2.7 Authenticity 206 5.1.2.8 Conclusion 210 5.1.3 Soren Kierkegaard ; 211 5.1.3.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 211 5.1.3.2 Individuality 211 5.1. 3. 3 Therapeutic approach 213 5.1.3.4 Polarities 216 5.1.3.5 Conclusion 216 -vii- Page 5.1.4 Friedrich Nietzsche 218 5.1.4.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work 218 5.1.4.2 Unfinished business 219 5.1.4.3 Daydreams and fantasies 219 5.1.4.4 Self-support and self-surpassing 221 5.1.4.5 Choice 223 5.1.4.6 Character 224 5.1.4.7 Incomplete individuals 225 5.1.4.8 Introjection 226 5.1.4.9 Retroflection 227 5.1.4.10 Style of writing 227 5.1.4.11 Conclusion 228 5.1.5 Hans Vaihinger 229 5.1.5.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 229 5.1.5.2 The role of fictions—"as if" 229 5.1.5.3 Neglective fiction 232 5.1.5.4 Use of fictions 233 5.1. 5.5 Thought, fictions and neurosis 235 5.1.5.6 Equilibrium and fictions 236 5.1.5.7 Conclusion 238 5.1.6 Martin Buber 240 5.1.6.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls. 240 5.1.6.2 I-Thou and I-It 241 5.1.6.3 Different "l's" 243 5.1.6.4 I and It 244 5.1.6.5 Responsibility in the I-Thou dialogue 245 -viii- Page 5.1.6.6 Individuality 246 5.1.6.7 Reflexion and retroflection 247 5.1.6.8 Conclusion 249 5.1.7 Paul Tillich 250 5.1.7.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 250 5.1.7.2 Polarities and organism-environment interaction 251 5.1.7.3 Anxiety 252 5.1.7.4 Health and neurosis 252 5.1.7.5 Role of the therapist 254 5.1.7.6 Kairos or critical point 255 5.1.7.7 Conclusion 256 5.1.8 Ludwig Binswanger .. .. 257 5.1.8.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 257 5.1.8.2 Therapeutic approach 258 5.1.8.2.1 Rej ection of explanations 258 5.1.8.2.2 Experiential basis 258 5.1.8.2.3 Role of therapist and patient 259 5.1.8.2.4 Dreams 259 5.1.8.2.5 Cure 260 5.1.8.3 Conclusion 260 5. 2 Phenomenology 261 5.2.1 Introduction 261 5.2.2 Edmund Husserl—biography 262 5.2.3 Experience 263 5.2.4 Here and now 265 5.2.5 Therapeutic approach 266 -ix- Page 5.2.6 Language 267 5.2.7 Interpretation 270 5.2.8 Figure-ground 270 5.2.9 Conclusion -. 271 5.3 Henri Bergson 272 5.3.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 272 5.3.2 Elan vital 273 5.3.3 Intuition 274 5.3.4 Past, present and future 275 5.3.5 The role of the body 276 5.3.6 Experience 277 5.3.7 Conclusion 278 5.4 Sigmund Friedlander 279 5.4.1 Biography and acknowledgement of his work 279 5.4.2 Polarities 280 5.4.3 Awareness and creative indifference 281 5.4.4 Conclusion 281 5.5 Jan Smuts and holism 282 5.5.1 Biography and acknowledgement by Perls 282 5.5.2 Origin of holism 283 5.5.3 Holism and Gestalt therapy 284 5.5.4 Organism-environment interaction 287 5.5.5 Conclusion 289 5.6 Taoism 290 5.6.1 Introduction 290 5.6.2 Centering 291 -x- Page 5.6.3 Unity and polarities 292 5.6.4 Holism .