Common processes of change in psychotherapy and seven other social interactions

Abstract

This paper argues that change processes in psychotherapy can be understood more clearly by comparing them with other change-inducing social relationships. In showing how this may be done, different social interactions (e.g. religion, parenting, education, politics, coaching, and sales) are described and discussed in terms of a parsimonious set of common factors in change. The importance of the cross-fertilisation of psychotherapy and other fields is stressed, and research recommendations are offered.