Analysis of verbalized emotions in the psychotherapeutic dialogue during change episodes

Abstract

As described by many theorists, emotional expressions contribute to the activation and regulation of personal emotional experiences and communicate something about internal states and intentions. These emotional expressions can be observed in the words used in our speech and nonverbal behaviors, even when nonverbal behaviors are synchronized to one's own speech or to the speech of others. Using a quantitative and qualitative methodology, this article reports a classification of verbal emotional expressions of both psychotherapists and patients in change episodes. Assuming that the emotions loaded in linguistic contents are explicit emotions shown by emotion words, this methodology allows for a complete and differentiating assessment of affective qualities in both patients and psychotherapists during the psychotherapeutic dialogue.

Abstract

Viele Theoretiker haben beschrieben, dass emotionale Äußerungen zur Aktivierung und Regulation persönlicher emotionaler Erlebnisse beitragen und etwas über den inneren Zustand und Intentionen aussagen. Diese emotionalen Erfahrungen können durch Wortäußerungen, die wir in unserer Sprache verwenden und durch nonverbales Verhalten beobachtet werden, selbst wenn nonverbales Verhalten mit der eigenen Sprache oder der Anderer synchronisiert ist. Unter Verwendung einer quantitativen und qualitativen Methodik, stellt dieser Artikel eine Klassifikation von verbalen emotionalen Äußerungen sowohl des Psychotherapeuten als auch des Patienten in Episoden der Veränderungen dar. Unter der Annahme, dass Emotionen, die sich im linguistischen Inhalt widerspiegeln, explizite Emotionen sind, die sich in Emotionswörtern ausdrücken, erlaubt diese Methodik eine vollständige und differenzierende Einschätzung affektiver Qualitäten sowohl des Patienten als auch des Psychotherapeuten während des psychotherapeutischen Dialogs.

Abstract

Comme décrit par de nombreux théoriciens, les expressions émotionnelles contribuent à l'activation et la régulation des expériences émotionnelles personnelles et communiquent quelque chose à propos des états internes et des intentions. Ces expressions émotionnelles peuvent être observées dans les mots utilisés dans le langage et le comportement non verbal, même lorsque les comportements non verbaux sont synchronisés avec sa propre parole ou celle de l'autre. A l'aide d'une méthodologie quantitative et qualitative, cet article rapporte une classification des expressions verbales émotionnelles des psychothérapeutes et des patients durant des épisodes de changements. En supposant que les émotions incluses dans les contenus linguistiques sont des émotions explicites montrées par des mots émotionnels, cette méthodologie permet une évaluation complète et différenciée des qualités affectives chez les patients et les psychothérapeutes durant le dialogue psychothérapeutique.

Abstract

Tal como tem sido descrito por várias teorias, as express[otilde]es emocionais contribuem para a activação e regulação de experiências emocionais pessoais e comunicam informação relativa a estados internos e intenç[otilde]es. Estas experiências emocionais podem ser observadas nas palavras usadas no nosso discurso e em comportamentos não-verbais, mesmo quando estes comportamentos não-verbais estão sincronizados com discurso do próprio ou com o discurso de outros. Recorrendo a uma metodologia quantitativa e qualitativa, este artigo reporta à classificação de express[otilde]es emocionais verbais, tanto de psicoterapeutas como de pacientes, em episódios de mudança. Assumindo que as emoç[otilde]es que os conteúdos linguísticos comportam são emoç[otilde]es explícitas reveladas por palavras relativas a emoção, esta metodologia permite uma avaliação completa e diferencial da qualidade afectiva tanto em pacientes como em psicoterapeutas, durante o diálogo psicoterapêutico.

Abstract

Come descritto da molti teorici, il contributo delle espressioni emotive e la regolazione di esperienze personali emotigene consiste nella comunicazione di qualcosa che riguarda gli stati interni e le proprie intenzioni. Queste espressioni emotive possono essere osservate nelle parole utilizzate nel nostro linguaggio e nel comportamento non verbali, anche quando questi comportamenti non verbali sono sincroni ad un discorso proprio o altri. Attraverso l'uso di una metodologia quantitativa e qualitativa, questo articolo riporta una classificazione delle espressioni verbali emotive rilevate sia dagli psicoterapeuti sia dai pazienti in episodi di cambiamento. Partendo dal presupposto che le emozioni rintracciate nei contenuti linguistici sono esplicitamente dimostrate dalle parole espresse, questa metodologia consente una valutazione completa e differenziale di qualità affettive nei pazienti e negli psicoterapeuti nel corso del dialogo psicoterapeutico.

Abstract

Keywords:

• communicative actions
• emotions
• change episodes
• psychotherapeutic dialogue

Acknowledgements

The research reported in this article was funded by Chilean National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Projects 1030482 (“Towards an Effective Practice in Psychotherapy: Study of Relevant Change Episodes, in Different Types of Psychotherapy and Their Effects in the Psychotherapy Outcome”) and 1060768 (“Facilitating Change in Psychotherapy: Effective and Ineffective Communicative Interactions in Different Psychotherapeutics Approaches”).

We express our gratitude to Dr. Annette Kämmerer, who supported this study by consulting.

Notes

1. The change episodes were individually encoded by researchers at the first stage of the analysis process and reviewed together at the second stage in order to reach an intersubjective consensus.