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A source book of Gestalt psychology.An approach to a Gestalt theory of paranoic phenomena.

A source book of Gestalt psychology.: An approach to a Gestalt theory of paranoic phenomena. Numerous theories have been advanced to account for psychoses with delusions of self-reference. One such theory emphasizes intellectual factors: the patient suffers from delusions; or, his memorial imagery is deranged; or, his critical faculties are insufficient; or, such a patient ignores all other modes of interpreting his environment except those referring to his own person. Another theory stresses emotional factors. The most important causes of paranoia according to this view are suspiciousness, uneasiness, a tense expectancy, uncertainty. A third explanation holds that the primary cause of paranoia lies in a pathological intensification of the ego-functions, abnormal over-emphasis upon the ego, a heightened self-consciousness. Finally we may mention a fourth theory, viz. that of characterological traits: certain types of people are constitutionally predisposed to paranoia and any shock or injury may bring it about. It is characteristic of all such theories that the symptom which each stresses is thought of as the primary and irreducible cause, and that all others must therefore be considered secondary and derivative. Yet despite these claims there is no single theory from which one could derive all of the principal symptoms. The present paper is an attempt to formulate such a theory. (The complete version of this article appeared as "Versuch einer Theorie der paranoischen Eigenbeziehung und Wahnbildung," Psychol. Forsch., 1924, 5, 1-23. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A source book of Gestalt psychology.An approach to a Gestalt theory of paranoic phenomena.

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Publisher
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company
Copyright
Copyright © 1938 American Psychological Association
Pages
362 –369
DOI
10.1037/11496-031
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

Numerous theories have been advanced to account for psychoses with delusions of self-reference. One such theory emphasizes intellectual factors: the patient suffers from delusions; or, his memorial imagery is deranged; or, his critical faculties are insufficient; or, such a patient ignores all other modes of interpreting his environment except those referring to his own person. Another theory stresses emotional factors. The most important causes of paranoia according to this view are suspiciousness, uneasiness, a tense expectancy, uncertainty. A third explanation holds that the primary cause of paranoia lies in a pathological intensification of the ego-functions, abnormal over-emphasis upon the ego, a heightened self-consciousness. Finally we may mention a fourth theory, viz. that of characterological traits: certain types of people are constitutionally predisposed to paranoia and any shock or injury may bring it about. It is characteristic of all such theories that the symptom which each stresses is thought of as the primary and irreducible cause, and that all others must therefore be considered secondary and derivative. Yet despite these claims there is no single theory from which one could derive all of the principal symptoms. The present paper is an attempt to formulate such a theory. (The complete version of this article appeared as "Versuch einer Theorie der paranoischen Eigenbeziehung und Wahnbildung," Psychol. Forsch., 1924, 5, 1-23. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Published: Aug 13, 2007

Keywords: Gestalt theory; paranoic phenomena

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