Pschotherapeutic methods between scientific foundation and everyday knowledge

Perrez, Meinrad

doi:10.1016/0732-118X(89)90019-6

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Journal article

Pschotherapeutic methods between scientific foundation and everyday knowledge

Perrez, Meinrad Université de Fribourg

1989

Published in:

New Ideas in Psychology. - Elsevier. - 1989, vol. 2, no. 7, p. 133-145

English Several hundred psychotherapeutic methods are actually in use. The question is formulated how to distinguish scientifically founded methods from those that are not scientifically founded. For this purpose psychotheraptic methods are interpreted as technological rules in the sense of M. Bunge. The relations of technological and nomological knowledge are discussed and minimal criteria for the scientific formation are proposed.Nomological and technological knowledge may be integrated in the epistemic and heuristic structure of the long-term memory of scientific psychologists. Non-scientific psychologists build up their cognitive structure on the basis of private experience. In both cases therapeutic action is influenced by the acquired public or private knowledge. Sorne ethical aspects of psychotherapy are sketched.

Faculty

Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines

Department

Département de Psychologie

Language