Alexithymia and the reflexive self

Implications of congruence theory for treatment of the emotionally impaired

Bibliographic Data

ID19429682
AuthorsLouise Sundararajan (0000-0003-3442-6897, University of Rochester, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume29
Issue1-3
Pages223-248
Publication date2001-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Humanistic Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0887-3267 • E-ISSN: 1547-3333
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/08873267.2001.9977015
OpenAlexW2064639833
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited20

This paper attempts to articulate a so far neglected dimension of congruence theory, the reflexive self to self transaction. My claim is that self reflexivity is a tacit but fundamental assumption behind Carl Rogers’ formulations of the relationship—what he refers to as “congruence” or “incongruence—between experience and its symbolization in awareness. Gendlin's elaboration of the congruence theory in terms of “experiencing” and “inward sensing” has made clear and explicit the important role self reflexivity plays in the relationship between symbols and “unformed emotional experience.” A case vignette of Focusing is used to demonstrate the relevance of self reflexivity to our understanding of verbal expression of emotions, and by extension, to our understanding and treatment of alexithymia and related conditions of emotional impairments

Alexithymia · Psychotherapist · Reflexivity · Clinical Psychology · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology

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