A Study of Social Stratification Using an Area Sample of Raters

Abstract

seem important. For instance, the psychiatrist's values concerning who should be treated appear to influence the acceptance of patients. Also, lower class persons do not seem to share with psychiatrists the conception of therapy as a process by which the patient gains insight into his problems. Frequently, such patients conceive of the therapist's role in magical terms. Psychotherapy involves intimate communicative interaction between the patient and therapist. Therefore it may be facilitated if a certain similarity in culturally determined symbols and learned drives exist in both patient and therapist. Differences in value systems and patterns of communication, on the other hand, may hamper the establishment of the therapeutic relationship. At present, it appears possible that lower-class patients need to acquire new symbols and values to participate in expressive psychotherapy. Since this is a difficult process, many of them may be considered unpromising candidates for successful treatment. According to the clinic's staff they often lack motivation for or are not psychologically minded. Perhaps psychiatrists need to acquire new symbols and values in dealing with lower class patients; or perhaps new approaches are necessary to bring psychotherapy to such persons.