On the Problem of Psychological Interpretation and Exploration of Symbol in Psychotherapy

 
Audio is AI-generated
1043

Abstract

All existing psychotherapeutical approaches to the understanding of symbol are limited by the conceptual frames of particular schools of thought and thus cannot provide the grounds for a universal psychological interpretation of symbol in the context of aims and tasks of the psychotherapeutic practice. The article suggests that cultural-historical psychology may act as a promising methodological foundation for the exploration of symbol in psychotherapy since it provides the opportunity to understand the 'work' of symbol as a psychological means in the client/therapist relationship. The paper describes an approach to the scientific psychological investiga¬tion and understanding of symbol that interlocks the general philosophical, psychological and psychotechnical levels. This approach enables one to consider symbol as a means of meaning-related transformation of con¬sciousness and to regard therapeutical techniques that employ symbols as means of facilitating the dynamics of meaning processes. Through interiorization of the means of using a symbol the client creates his/her own inner methods of generating meanings that help change his/her attitude to a difficult situation or life on the whole.

General Information

Keywords: cultural-historical approach, psychotherapy, symbol, meaning, consciousness

Journal rubric: Psychotherapy and Psychocorrection

Article type: scientific article

Published

For citation: Tsybulya, V. (2014). On the Problem of Psychological Interpretation and Exploration of Symbol in Psychotherapy . Cultural-Historical Psychology, 10(3), 114–122. (In Russ.). URL: https://psyjournals.ru/en/journals/chp/archive/2014_n3/71905 (viewed: 05.12.2025)

© Tsybulya V., 2014

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

  1. Adler A. Praktika i teoriya individual'noi psikhologii Psikhoterapiya, 2008. 384 p. [Practice and theory of individual psychology]. Moscow: 3. Afanas'eva A.P. Simvol kak sredstvo diagnostiki tsen-Akademicheskii Proekt, 2007. 240 p. nostno-smyslovoi sfery lichnosti. Diss. kand. psikhol. nauk. [Symbol as means of diagnostic of personal sphere of values and senses. Ph. D. (Psychology) diss.]. Moscow, 2002. 149 p.
  2.  Binsvanger L. Bytie-v-mire [Being in the world]. Moscow: "KSP+"; St-Petersburg: "Yuventa", 1999. 300 p.
  3.  Bochaver A.A. Metafora kak sposob vnutrennei reprezen­tatsii zhiznennogo puti lichnosti. Diss. kand. psikhol. nauk. [Metaphor as a way of internal representation of the individual life path. Ph. D. (Psychology) diss.]. Moscow, 2010. 220 p.
  4.  Buyakas T.M., Zevina O.G. Vnutrennyaya aktivnost' sub"ekta v protsesse amplifikatsii individual'nogo soznaniya [Internal activity of subject in the process of amplification of individual consciousness]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of Psychology], 1999, no. 5, pp. 50—61.
  5.  Buyakas T.M., Zevina O.G. Opyt utverzhdeniya obshchechelovecheskikh tsennostei — kul'turnykh simvo­lov — v individual'nom soznanii [Experience of affirmation of universal human values — cultural symbols — in individual consciousness]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of Psychology], 1997, no. 5, pp. 44—56.
  6.  Buyakas T.M. Initsial'nyi put' razvitiya lichnosti: voz­mozhnosti psikhologicheskoi raboty [Initial way of personal development: opportunities of psychological work]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of Psychology], 2003, no. 5, pp. 68—79.
  7.  Buyakas T.M. Lichnostnoe razvitie v usloviyakh raboty samoponimaniya, oposredovannoi simvolami [Personal devel­opment in the process of self-understanding activity mediated by symbols]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of Psychology], 2000, no. 1, pp. 96—108.
  8.  Vasilyuk F.E. Psikhologiya perezhivaniya: Analiz pre­odoleniya kriticheskikh situatsii [Psychology of intensive experience: Analysis of overcoming critical situations]. Moscow: Publ. Moskovskogo universiteta, 1984. 330 p.
  9.  Vasilyuk F.E. Model' khronotopa psikhoterapii [Chronotope model of psychotherapy]. Moskovskii psikhoter­apevticheskii zhurnal [Moscow Psychotherapeutic Journal], 2009, no. 4, pp. 26—50.
  10.  Venger A.L. Kul'tural'nyi podkhod v psikhoterapii [Cultural approach to psychotherapy]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya [Cultural-Historical Psychology], 2006, no. 1, pp. 32—39 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
  11.  Veraksa A.N., Gorovaya A.E., Kisel' A.V. Vozmozh­nosti ispol'zovaniya znakovykh i simvolicheskikh sredstv v obuchenii doshkol'nikov (na primere osvoeniya fenomena radugi) [Elektronnyi resurs] [Opportunities of using signs and symbols in preschool education (by the example of learning the phenomenon of rainbow)]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie psyedu.ru [Psychological Science and Education PSYEDU.ru], 2014, no. 2. Available at: https://psyjournals.ru/ psyedu_ru/2014/n2/69248.shtml (Accessed 24.08.2014). (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  12.  Veraksa A.N. Osobennosti simvolicheskogo oposred­stvovaniya v poznavatel'noi deyatel'nosti mladshikh shkol'nikov. Diss. kand. psikhol. nauk [Peculiarities of sym­bolic mediation in learning activity of junior school students. Ph. D. (Psychology) diss.]. Moscow, 2008. 164 p.
  13.  Veraksa N.E., D'yachenko O.M. Sposoby regulyatsii povedeniya u detei doshkol'nogo vozrasta [Ways of regulation of behavior and preschoolers]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of psychology], 1996, no. 3, pp. 14—26.
  14.  Volkova D.E., Orlov A.B., Orlova N.A. Znak, metafora, simvol — metodologiya sub"ektnosti [Sign, metaphor, sym­bol — methodology of subjectivity]. Zhurn. "Psikhologiya" Vysshei Shkoly Ekonomik [Journal "Psychology", by Higher School of Economics], 2010, no. 3, pp. 89—119.
  15.  Vorob'eva E.V. Osobennosti simvolicheskikh pred­stavlenii mladshikh shkol'nikov ob odnoklassnikakh. Avtoref. diss. kand. psikhol. Nauk [Peculiarities of junior school stu­dents' symbolic representation of classmates. Ph. D. (Psycho­logy) Thesis]. Moscow, 2010. 24 p.
  16.  Vygotskii L.S. Psikhologiya [Psychology]. Moscow: Publ. EKSMO-Press, 2000. 1008 p.
  17.  Vygotskii L.S. Psikhologiya iskusstva [Psychology of Art]. Moscow: Labirint, 2010. 352 p.
  18.  Zinchenko V.P., Morgunov E.B. Chelovek razvivayushchi­isya. Ocherki rossiiskoi psikhologii [Developing People. Essay on Russian Psychology]. Moscow: Trivola, 1994. 304 p.
  19.  Kop'ev A.F. O prototipakh psikhoterapevticheskogo opyta [About prototypes of psychotherapeutic experience]. Gumanitarnye issledovaniya v psikhoterapii [Humanitarian Research in Psychotherapy]. Moscow: MGPPU, PI RAO, 2007. pp. 146—156.
  20.  Kravtsova E.E. Psikhoterapiya s pozitsii kul'turno­istoricheskogo podkhoda [Psychotherapy from the point of cultural-historical approach]. Vestnik RGGU [Bulletin of the RSUH], 2008. Vol. Psikhologiya, no. 3, pp. 15—32.
  21.  Kulagina N.V. Simvol i simvolicheskoe soznanie [Symbol and symbolic consciousness]. Kul'turno-istorich­eskaya psikhologiya [Cultural-Historical Psychology], 2006, no. 1, pp. 3—10 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
  22.  Leiner Kh. Katatimnoe perezhivanie obrazov [Katathymic Affective Experience of Imagery]. Moscow: Eidos, 1996. 253 p.
  23.  Leont'ev D.A. Psikhologiya smysla: priroda, stroenie i dinamika smyslovoi real'nosti [Psychology of Sense: Nature, Structure and Dynamic of the Semantic Reality]. Moscow: Smysl, 2003. 487 p.
  24.  Losev A.F. Problema simvola i realisticheskoe iskusst­vo [The Problem of Symbol and Realistic Art]. Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1976. 376 p.
  25.  Mamardashvili M.K., Pyatigorskii A.M. Simvol i soz­nanie [Symbol and Mind]. Moscow: Progress-Traditsiya, Fond Meraba Mamardashvili, 2009. 599 p.
  26.  Mindell A. Uchenik sozdatelya snovidenii [Dreammaker's Apprentice]. Moscow: OOO "Publ. AST", 2003. 204 p.
  27.  Mei R. Muzhestvo tvorit' [The Courage to Create]. Moscow: Institut Obshchegumanitarnykh Issledovanii, 2008. 160 p.
  28.  Perlz F. Praktika geshtal't-terapii [Practice of Gestalt Therapy]. Moscow: Institut Obshchegumanitarnykh Issledo­vanii, 2005. 408 p.
  29.  Podzorova E.L. Emotsional'noe predvoskhishchenie rezul'tatov resheniya poznavatel'nykh zadach v doshkol'nom vozraste. Avtoref. dis. kand. psikhol. nauk [Emotional antici­pating the results of solving learning tasks in preschool age. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Moscow, 2008. 25 p.
  30.  Polyakov A.M. Simvol kak uslovie produktivnogo deistviya [Symbol as a condition of creative act]. Voprosy psikhologii [Question of Psychology], 2006, no. 1, pp. 63—72.
  31.  Polyakov A.M. Simvolicheskaya funktsiya soznaniya kak osnova razvitiya sub"ektnosti (Nachalo) [Symbolic func­tion of consciousness as base for development of subjectivity]. Filosofiya i sotsial'nye nauki [Philosophy and social sciences], 2007, no. 4, pp. 61—69.
  32.  Polyakov A.M. Simvolicheskaya funktsiya soznaniya kak osnova razvitiya sub"ektnosti (Prodolzhenie) [Symbolic function of consciousness as base for development of subjec­tivity]. Filosofiya i sotsial'nye nauki [Philosophy and social sci­ences], 2008, no.1, pp. 76—80.
  33.  Rodzhers K. Konsul'tirovanie i psikhoterapiya: Novei­shie podkhody v oblasti prakticheskoi raboty [Counselling and Psychotherapy: New Approach in the Field of Practical Work]. Moscow: Psikhoterapiya, 2008. 512 p.
  34.  Salmina N.G. Znak i simvol v obuchenii [Sign and Symbol in Learning]. Moscow: Publ.MGU, 1988. 288 p.
  35. Styuart V. Rabota s obrazami i simvolami v psikho­logicheskom konsul'tirovanii [Using imagery and symbolism in psychological counselling]. Moscow: Nezavisimaya firma "Klass", 2005. 384 p.
  36.  Florenskii P. Imena: Sochineniya [Names: Collected Works]. Moscow: Eksmo, 2006. 896 p.
  37.  Freid Z. Lektsii po vvedeniyu v psikhoanaliz [Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis]. Moscow: OOO "Firma STD", 2006. 608 p.
  38.  Freid Z. Tolkovanie snovidenii [The Interpretation of Dreams]. Moscow: AST; Minsk: Kharvest, 2005. 480 p.
  39.  Kholmogorova A.B. Integrativnaya psikhoterapiya rasstroistv affektivnogo spectra [Integrative psychotherapy of mood disorders]. Moscow: Medpraktika, 2011. 480 p.
  40.  Kholmogorova A.B., Zaretskii V.K. Mozhet li byt' polezna rossiiskaya psikhologiya v reshenii aktual'nykh prob­lem sovremennoi psikhoterapii: razmyshleniya posle Dvadtza­togo kongressa internatsional'noi federatsii psikhoterapii (IFP) [Elektronnyi resurs] [Can Russian psychology be help­ful in solving actual problems of modern psychotherapy: reflection after the Twentieth Congress of International Federation of Psychotherapy]. Meditsinskaya psikhologiya v Rossii [Medical psychology in Russia], 2010. Vol. 4, no. 5. Available at: http://www.medpsy.ru/ mprj/archiv_glob­al/2010_4_5/nomer/nomer09.php (Accessed 20.08.2014). (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  41.  Tsvetkov A.V. Rol' simvola v razvitii proizvol'noi reg­ulyatsii povedeniya lichnosti v shkol'nom vozraste. Diss. kand. psikhol. nauk [The role of symbol in development of voluntary regulation of individual behavior at school age. Ph. D. (Psy­chology) diss.]. Moscow, 2006. 157 p.
  42. Shalina O.S. Simvolicheskoe oposredstvovanie perezhivanii lichnosti v kriticheskikh situatsiyakh. Avtoref. diss. kand. psikhol. nauk [Symbolic mediation of individual affective experience in critical situations. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis.]. Moscow, 2010. 27 p.
  43.  Yung K. Simvolicheskaya zhizn' [The Symbolic life]. Moscow: "Kogito-Tsentr", 2003. 326 p.
  44.  Veraksa A.N. Symbol as cognitive tool of mental activ­ity. Psychology in Russia: State of Art, 2013. no.6, pp.57—65.
  45.  Holzman L., Newman F. Activity and Perfomance (and their discourses) in social therapeutic methods [Elektronnyi resurs]. In Discursive perspective in therapeutic practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Available at: http:// loisholzman.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Activity­and-Performance.pdf (Accessed: 20.08.2014).
  46.  Quintino-Aires J. The way to inner freedom: sign as a psychological tool in psychotherapy. Materialy Dvenadtza­togo Mezhdunarodnykh chtenii pamyati L.S. Vygotskogo "Znak kak psikhologicheskoe sredstvo: sub"ektivnaya real'nost' kul'tury". (g. Moscow, 14—17 noyabrya 2011 g.) [Proceedings of the Twelfth International Readings, dedicat­ed to the memory of L.S. Vygotsky "Sign as psychological means: subjective reality of culture"]. Moscow: Publ. Izdatel'skii tsentr RGGU, 2011. pp. 65—66.

Information About the Authors

V. Tsybulya, Moscow, Russian Federation, e-mail: cibulya@gmail.com

Metrics

 Web Views

Whole time: 2813
Previous month: 23
Current month: 7

 PDF Downloads

Whole time: 1043
Previous month: 2
Current month: 0

 Total

Whole time: 3856
Previous month: 25
Current month: 7