Person oder Mitgliedschaft - Zur Konzeptualisierung des Gegenüber in der systemischen Therapie

Abstract

The situation of theory formation in the field of systemic therapy is not only hard to comprehend but in parts rather contradictory. Therefore an article like this will grasp at most a small piece of the underlying complexity and diversity of theoretical options. Considerations on the relevance of sociological concepts like "membership" or "person" for a systemic clinical theory can be at best preliminary. The aim is to place some emphasis on the conceptualization of therapeutic communication and the benefit of systems theory for such a course of action. What do we mean by communication? What happens in psychotherapeutic practice? Who is communicating? Who or what is to be treated? These and other questions may lead to some thoughts on the clinical relevance of a communication theory which is inspired by systems theory. With the exclusion of the "human being" from social systems by Luhmann the question arises how the personal dimension of psychotherapy could be accounted for theoretically. Kurt Ludewig's suggestions to use "membership" as a concept which can bridge systems theory and human agency are evaluated and contrasted with some reflections to which extent the concept of "person" could be important for a clinical systems theory.