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What's Wrong with Subjectivity Anyway?

What's Wrong with Subjectivity Anyway? In this paper I look at the current trend toward positivism in the practice of psychotherapy. I use the term psychotherapy throughout, to remind family therapist readers that the problem is not ours alone. I offer a brief, critical literature review. I suggest that the trend towards positivism offers little of therapeutic value and compromises the ethical practice of psychotherapy. The origins of the trend lie in economic rationalism (demonstrated by the sorry state of the profession in the USA), philosophical error (the belief in certain knowledge) and a misplaced faith in method (simple algorithms exist that can transcend even the most complex circumstances). I dispute the validity of these influences and draw upon David Smail's suggestion that the pursuit of objectivity is an attempt to avoid the awkward necessity of making moral judgements. In the last section of the paper I briefly examine a philosophical framework that could serve as a guide to the subjective practice of psychotherapy and I offer a simple subjective metaphor drawn from a work of literary criticism. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy Wiley

What's Wrong with Subjectivity Anyway?

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References (5)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
2004 Australian Association of Family Therapy
ISSN
0814-723X
eISSN
1467-8438
DOI
10.1002/j.1467-8438.2004.tb00575.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In this paper I look at the current trend toward positivism in the practice of psychotherapy. I use the term psychotherapy throughout, to remind family therapist readers that the problem is not ours alone. I offer a brief, critical literature review. I suggest that the trend towards positivism offers little of therapeutic value and compromises the ethical practice of psychotherapy. The origins of the trend lie in economic rationalism (demonstrated by the sorry state of the profession in the USA), philosophical error (the belief in certain knowledge) and a misplaced faith in method (simple algorithms exist that can transcend even the most complex circumstances). I dispute the validity of these influences and draw upon David Smail's suggestion that the pursuit of objectivity is an attempt to avoid the awkward necessity of making moral judgements. In the last section of the paper I briefly examine a philosophical framework that could serve as a guide to the subjective practice of psychotherapy and I offer a simple subjective metaphor drawn from a work of literary criticism.

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy – Wiley

Published: Mar 1, 2004

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