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Simplifying Psychology: The Nearest Changeable Cause

joe1776

Well-Known Member
Why aren't psycho-therapists as smart as car mechanics?

When Max's car wouldn't start, his mechanic diagnosed the problem as a malfunctioning starting motor. The part was replaced and the problem solved. The mechanic didn't try to find out who was to blame for the malfunctioning starter motor. He didn't try to pin the blame on the manufacturing or the engineering departments of the car's manufacturer. He simply diagnosed the problem and fixed it.

The car mechanic looks for the nearest changeable cause to fix problems. The psychotherapist, on the other hand goes further back in the cause-and-effect chain. According to the Mayo clinic, the likely possible causes of narcissism are:

-- Environment: mismatches in parent-child relationships with either excessive adoration or excessive criticism that is poorly attuned to the child's experience

-- Genetics: inherited characteristics

Since Max can't go back and change either his environment or his genes, it's likely that Max, the narcissist, who is prone to blame others for his flaws will become more certain than ever that his mother is to blame for his behavioral problems. Moms, who pass along half the genes and most of the care-giving make easy targets for blame.

The Mayo Clinic also speculates that neuro-biology: the connection between the brain and behavior and thinking. is involved. This general statement is obvious and not at all enlightening as a cause of narcissism.

When Max went for therapy because of his narcissism, his therapist who is trained to develop a friendly relationship with his client isn't likely to tell max that he has to stop blaming others for his problem and must learn to play the hand he was dealt at birth skillfully.

The Nature vs. Nurture debate among psychologists is trivia, useless information. How max came to have attitudes about his life that make him unhappy is useless information. The question to ask is simply "How can we change Max's attitudes to get his brain to produce contentment?"

The success rate for psychotherapists is roughly the same regardless of the methods used. There is also some evidence that a key factor in success is the relationship between client and therapists. Both of these facts support the likelihood that the placebo effect was the dominant factor in play when the therapy was successful and not the therapist's methods.

This article elaborates on the problems facing psycho-therapy.

Denial and the De-Souling of Psychotherapy: A Reply to "Is Psychotherapy Dying?"
 
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