CLIENT REACTIONS TO THERAPIST OPERATING IN CONTROLLED GROUP SITUATIONS

Abstract

Information about psychotherapy has come primarily from the empirical level. Perhaps the richest source of observation and theory in the development of psychotherapy is that provided by Freud and his colleagues, both protagonist and antagonist. While the contribution of Freud and other investigators is tremendous, their theory and techniques have been founded almost entirely on clinical observations with little interest in systematic research. Considering the nature of the data, ethical restrictions with human subjects, the paucity of therapists and the incessant demands made upon their service, research in this area has lagged, and consequently, relevant knowledge concerning therapeutic techniques has not developed. One factor also to be considered is the rather uninviting complexity of human interaction as a field of inquiry to the investigator. Many interested scientists have bypassed this complex area in favor of problems more readily adaptable to current methodology.