Chaos Theory: A New Paradigm for Psychotherapy?

Abstract

Thomas Kuhn's concept of paradigm as central to the functioning of a mature science is linked with Johnson-Abercrombie's recognition that perception itself is shaped by the schemata available to the subject. The rapidly advancing field of non-linear mathematics, in offering conceptual forms to represent complex events, may provide a useful framework in which to place various psychodynamic formulations about the development of the personality, and suggests the possibility of a new approach to research concerning the efficacy of psychotherapy. Dan Stern's latest concept of "moments" as the basic unit in structuring the personality, leading to the complex representational patterns and feed-back loops he terms "RIGS" may be viewed in this context. The paradigm may be extended to include such concepts as Peterfreund's linkage of psychodynamic theorising with aspects of information theory generated by the study of computers, and with Sullivan's concepts of repetitive patterns of behaviour recognisable, and changing, throughout the course of a therapy.