Chapter 2 Interpersonal Learning

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Chapter 2 Interpersonal Learning

• The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
• Irvin Yalom, Ph.D

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Importance of Interpersonal Learning

• As in John Bowlby studies on attachment noticed,
  there is a genetically built in need for social
  system or connection
• a. Hence, there is the dilemma that man is a
  social being. Here is where you begin to value
  group therapy, because all pathology is
  manifested interpersonally.
• How does someone meet their needs while meeting
  those of others?
• b. A need for connection, approval, acceptance,
  esteem or identity?
• c. Hence, in research there is the data to
  suggest that people that are lonely die earlier.
• d. In fact, Sullivan thinks or attributes
  personality significantly to I.L. during
  development. (i.e. a child is shaped by their
  interpersonal interactions)

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Importance of Interpersonal Learning

• In Grunebaum and Solomon's studies of
  adolescents, self esteem and satisfying others
  are inseparable.
• But, how do we put this element to work within a
  group?
• Sullivan assigned the term Parataxic Distortions
  to the behavior or our tendency to distort our
  perceptions of others.

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Parataxic Distortion

• This occurs in an interpersonal situation. One
  person relates to another not on the basis of the
  realistic attributes of the other, but on the
  basis of a personification that exists chiefly in
  the former's own fantasty
• 1. similar to the concept of transference
• 2. It differs in two ways
• a. the scope is broader
• b. the theory of origin is broader

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Parataxic Distortion

• This leads to circular causality or a self
  fulfilling prophecy which is self perpetuating
  cycle.
• (e.g. someone with derogatory, debased self image
  may through selective attention or projection,
  incorrectly perceive others to be harsh or
  rejecting.)

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Parataxic Distortion

• These distortions are modified by consensual
  validation
• one sampling someone else's views on an incident
  in order to confirm it (but the sampling is not
  directly leading to a maladaptive conclusion)
• Psychological health has been described as " the
  expanding of the self to such a final effect that
  the patient as known to himself is much the same
  person as the patients behaviors with others."

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Parataxic Distortion Interpersonal Learning

• This is played out in group therapy.
• After the initial phase of group therapy,
  symptom relief may not be the major goal.
• Instead, a more interpersonal preoccupation
  unfolds - learning to trust and to love others.
• Hence, the idea of Near vs Far.

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Benefits of Interpersonal Learning by the way of
Group Therapy

• Corrective Emotional Experience
• A. The opportunity to expose a pt under more
  favorable circumstances to emotional situations
  that he could not handle in the past.
• Franz Alexander 1946 when discussing the
  psychoanalytic cure stated the above.
• He mentioned that insight alone is insufficient.
• There must be an emotional component and
  systematic reality testing. (Consensual
  Validation)
• 1. This obviously is more difficult in
  individual therapy.
• 2. The eliciting of raw emotion is insufficient.
  This experience requires
• 1.group must be seen as safe and supportive in
  order to openly express
• 2. there must be sufficient engagement and honest
  feedback
• 3. Good example on p25

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Importance of Interpersonal Learning

• 4. In research related to this topic noticed that
  emotional expression with some form of cognitive
  map or intellectual system was most successful.
• 5. Social microcosm p.29 the grand dame
• a. dynamic interaction leading to a number of
  interpretations of reality
• b. Observe consensual validation via a number of
  behaviors not just one.
• c. Is it real p41
• 6. Insight