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Sullivan - Interpersonal Theory
Sullivan - Interpersonal Theory
Harry Stack Sullivan was the first American theorist to construct a comprehensive
personality theory in which he believed that development of the personality
occurred within the context of the social group.
Knowledge of the individual can only occur within the context of interpersonal
relations.
Healthy individuals experience both intimacy (+) and lust (-) toward the same
person.
Tensions are the potential for action, including needs and anxiety. Whereas needs
are helpful or conjunctive when satisfied, anxiety is disjunctive, interfering with the
satisfaction of needs and disrupting interpersonal relations. Energy transformations
literally involve the transformation of potential energy into actual energy (behavior)
for the purpose of satisfying needs or reducing anxiety. Some of these behaviors
form consistent patterns of behavior called dynamisms. Individuals also develop
specific patterns of cognition including prototaxic, parataxic, and syntaxic thought.
Psychotherapy
Focuses on improving personal relations from one human being to another
It is a consensually validating relationship
It is concerned with patients understanding interpersonal problems, having
foresight to act, and the ability to actively participate in these relationships
Critique
Ability to generate research – 2
Free will > Determinism
Falsifiability – 1
Organize knowledge – 3
Practical guide – 3
Internally consistent – 2
Parsimonious – 1
Causal < Teleological
Biology < Social
Similarities > Uniqueness
Optimism = Pessimism
Conscious = Unconscious