Interpretation of Psychotherapy Texts: Philosophical, Theoretical, and Practical Considerations in the Application of Biblical Hermeneutic Methods
Dissertation, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (
1994)
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Abstract
This paper explores common philosophical roots contributing to the development and influence of hermeneutics in psychology and biblical textual interpretation. It is argued that in psychology hermeneutics has influenced philosophy of science and critique of ideology with few efforts made, and these often meeting with rejection or skepticism, to apply it to psychotherapy. Among the reasons for this situation are the philosophical presuppositions inherent in hermeneutics. In addition, some have tried to co-opt hermeneutic perspectives for certain approaches to psychotherapy that have often been reductionistic or simplistic relative to the psychological material. Biblical interpretation, in addition to having common philosophical roots with psychological hermeneutics, has developed rigorous methods which are based on questions and perspectives raised by hermeneutics. These methods provide useful information and helpful perspectives on the interpretation of textual material. Therefore, due to the common philosophical roots and a history of practical application, this project develops a philosophical foundation for the application of biblical hermeneutics to psychotherapy. An applied hermeneutic model and methodology is then developed and applied to psychotherapy texts. Case studies of sessions from behavioral and family systems approaches illustrate application of the model and its methodology. The psychologists who conducted the sessions are engaged in a dialogue with the author to assess the adequacy, helpfulness, and theoretical consistency of the approach and its interpretations