CHARACTER STRUCTURE: A GESTALT-COGNITIVE THEORY

Most theories of behavior and therapy have tended to focus on why behaviors are present. By contrast, the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy have focused primarily on how behaviors are present. This article describes a Gestalt model of character structure and function from the point of view of G...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2004-09, Vol.41 (3), p.321-331
Main Authors: Burley, Todd, Freier, M. Catherin (Kiti)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt Therapy
Human
Personality
Theories
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Most theories of behavior and therapy have tended to focus on why behaviors are present. By contrast, the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy have focused primarily on how behaviors are present. This article describes a Gestalt model of character structure and function from the point of view of Gestalt process theory in coordination with E. Tulving's (1985) concept of procedural memory from cognitive and developmental psychology. Current developmental research is used to clarify how character as an operating system is developed. This conceptual framework permits a description of how character functions and has implications for creating change in psychotherapy. Examples of the application of this formulation are provided.
ISSN:0033-3204
1939-1536
DOI:10.1037/0033-3204.41.3.321