Interaction Regulations Used by Schizophrenic and Psychosomatic Patients: Studies on Facial Behavior in Dyadic Interactions

Abstract

This paper is part of an extensive research project that is trying to examine transference and countertransference processes objectively. We have used a methodology that describes and analyzes interactive behavior patterns observed between different groups of patients with psychic disturbances and their interaction partners, who are uninformed about their problems. Thus far, we have completed several studies centered around the question of whether it is possible to identify specific interaction strategies in groups of patients of different nosological categories. Related to this question was the investigation of the specificity of the response patterns of their interaction partners. The patients consisted of stutterers (stuttering openly or not, Krause 1982a), schizophrenics (Krause et al. 1989), and psychosomatic patients (Sänger-Alt et al. 1989). This line of inquiry has rather severe consequences for the research strategies, which have been described elsewhere (Krause et al. 1989). In this paper, we will present for the first time a synopsis of patterns of facial behavior observed in different groups of patients and their healthy partners, and in healthy subjects interacting with each other.