Freedom, Goodness, Power, and Belonging: The Semantics of Phobic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Eating, and Mood Disorders

Article

Ugazio, Valeria, Negri, Attà and Fellin, L. 2015. Freedom, Goodness, Power, and Belonging: The Semantics of Phobic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Eating, and Mood Disorders. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 28 (4), pp. 293-315.
AuthorsUgazio, Valeria, Negri, Attà and Fellin, L.
Abstract

Are the semantics of “freedom,” “goodness,” “power,” and “belonging” characteristic of the stories narrated in psychotherapy by individuals respectively with phobic, obsessive-compulsive, eating, and mood disorders? To verify this hypothesis, put forward by Ugazio's model of semantic polarities, the Family Semantics Grid (FSG) was applied to the transcripts of 120 individual video-recorded systemic therapy sessions, the first two sessions carried out with 60 patients with phobic (12), obsessive-compulsive (12), eating (12), and mood (12) disorders and asymptomatic patients (12) with existential problems who made up the comparison group. The results confirm the hypothesis. All but one patient were correctly assigned to their diagnostic group only by drawing on their narrated semantics. The semantics alone therefore seem capable of defining the correct diagnostic group to which each patient belongs. We suggest considering the semantics as contextual and cultural diagnostic dimensions, expressions of the bonds but also of the resources of people, and above all useful for a diagnosis aimed at fostering processes of transformation and change.

JournalJournal of Constructivist Psychology
Journal citation28 (4), pp. 293-315
ISSN1521-0650
1072-0537
Year2015
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2014.951109
Publication dates
Print12 Mar 2015
Publication process dates
Deposited06 Jan 2016
Accepted21 Jul 2014
Copyright informationThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Constructivist Psychology on 12.03.15, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10720537.2014.951109.
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