Understanding the Therapeutic Relationship as a Personal Relationship

Bibliographic Data

ID2923711
AuthorsBarbara A Winstead (0000-0003-4996-1104, Old Dominion University), Valerian J Derlega (Old Dominion University), Robin J Lewis (0000-0003-4010-9396, Old Dominion University), Stephen T Marguli, Stephen T Margulis (Grand Valley State College)
Year1988
Volume5
Issue1
Pages109-125
Publication date1988-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407588051007
OpenAlexW2137299995
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited10

Theories of personal relationships are reviewed to help us understand the therapeutic relationship as a personal relationship: Chambliss's (1965) theory of friendship which focuses on impression management; Kelley & Thibaut's (1978) theory of interdependence and Rusbult's (1980a) investment model of relationship satisfaction and commitment which focus on social exchange processes; and Levinger's (Levinger & Snoek, 1972) incremental exchange theory which focuses on developmental changes in a relationship. Taking these theories into consideration enables us to view psychotherapy as a personal relationship and suggests avenues for research and hypothesis testing. Conversely, the unique characteristics of therapy as a personal but asymmetric relationship also suggest implications for the development of concepts and research on other types of personal relationships

Friendship · Personal development · Psychotherapist · Social exchange theory · Therapeutic relationship · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology · Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy

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