Mirroring (psychology)
The term mirrors is used in psychology in at least four areas each with its own meaning:
- In the psychoanalytically oriented group analysis and Supervision
- In the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers
- In the theory of narcissism by Heinz Kohut
- In the psychological and spiritual transformation theory
Reflections in the understanding of psychoanalysis and derived from it Supervision
In psychoanalytic language, the phenomenon is considered among mirrors that repeat old relationship constellations with the associated conflicts and feelings in the therapeutic situation. In this sense the term is another name for the concept of transference and countertransference, one of the most important tools of psychoanalysis.
Emid Balint has this approach to group supervision made fruitful, since it ( in the Supervison of physicians ) noted that the relationship patterns of patients was talked about in the Supervision, replaying in the supervision group along with the concomitant feelings of self and in this way of knowledge and processing are available.
Mirrors in the client-centered psychotherapy of Carl Rogers
In the client-centered psychotherapy mirrors is the attempt of a person to respond to behaviors of their interlocutor so as to occupy his perspective and what is understood to him, " reflects back ". That is, in your own words the person gives back what they understood by their counterparts in content and feelings.
The method requires a high level of empathic abilities and sensitive handling. When its founder Carl Rogers, this empathy is a cornerstone of an overall approach to the more than pillars of the overall concept of unconditional respect for the other and the congruence or authenticity belong.
A common misconception that has discredited this method is able to generate by mere mechanical reproduction of what was said a "mirror image ".
Conversely, since the principles of this approach are easy to understand, he has been accepted widely in concepts of interviewing, as well as in the Christian counseling and pastoral theology and in the mediation, which " mirrors " helps to release blockages, because it helps the parties to perceive their own position from a distance.
Reflections in the understanding of narcissism by Heinz Kohut
For Heinz Kohut, the concept of mirroring refers to the compassionate expression of the mother on the child's utterances, ie on the picking up and the imitation of gestures and facial expressions of the child, where appropriate, its verbalization and a positive emotional response that makes it clear that the child is wanted in his being there and his actions (see also: baby talk ). Made famous is the so set in conjunction expression "the shine in the eye of the mother."
Especially for infants and young children is a sufficient reflection by the caregiver is crucial. Since a child can test his new individual reality after birth and physical umbilical cord only to crawl and increasingly experienced ( with an average of 21 months, it sees itself then consciously as "I" ), it experiences itself as a baby or as part of its environment, ie as unit with its caregiver ( symbiosis ). Only the empathy this caregiver, compassion with its rapidly changing psychosomatic reality, is a baby on the recognition and appreciation that constitute the vital self-esteem certainly in the " self" and not just in the "I " and its character.
Without this reflection, a baby learns quickly emotionally alone and in real terms the most endangered. If his frightened, anxious or indignant shouting does not lead to the vital for him confirming his emotional reality, he is real compelled to adapt to the psychological conditions of his environment. Since each kind of life is dependent on interaction, psychosomatic nature as man can not renounce without damage on long-term substantive exchange (oxygen and food) and emotional interaction with their environment. Terrible mirrored infants are therefore instinctively - for the sake of survival - quickly learn to act so that they get positive or negative acknowledgment of themselves, or themselves become mirrors for their environment. Such deformations rather narcissistic characters in the first case or depressive characters in subordination and adaptation provide conditions for later neuroses - they are referred to as narcissistic early damage. In fact, they have comprehensive consequences, because they can be not only mentally, but also somatic and prove in a restricted self-confidence. The muscular tension and related coinage of body image, for example, the founder of bioenergetic body therapy Alexander Lowen has specifically described. Naturally can be of course the dignity of individuals with poorly seasoned making his own assessment not.
Want parents encourage their children holistically, ie physically, emotionally and mentally healthy, then they will be the time for adequate reflection especially in the period of "I " development - that is, in the first 2 years - take. Still, the characters are very many, if not most people's lasting and often life- long deformed by insufficiently experienced empathy in infancy. For if the self-esteem of people only once based on a chosen ( by the embossing) Image when people have once internalized that they have to earn to recognition by their provocative or adapted, under regulative behavior, then they are very difficult to heal from this unconscious conviction that they have but when once experienced life sustaining. So it takes in most years and therapies do not always succeed, to help patients / clients to solve their repressed, restrained in body tension and emotions to feel confident. The can - cognitive reflection on their emotional reality by their therapists, and should help them to do so. This assessment of the "true self " is the vital self-esteem in the human being there and not level ( exclusively and neurotic ) in certain behaviors, special skills, establish the basis of appearance, position, power or money. Learn the adult "I " of the patient through the on -recognizing mirrors the respectful interaction with itself, then is the "I" also increasingly self-aware. This tuition would be much less necessary if parents knew more about the importance of reflection and considered in their care.
Mirrors in Communication - symmetric and antisymmetric
This familiar distinction in geometry (see Hargittai and Istvan Magdolna ) also proves to be valuable in psychology. In a symmetric reflection form and content are mirrored identical: a white swan reflected in the white water. In an antisymmetric mirroring the shape is identical mirrored, while their content is turned into the opposite. A white swan appeared black in the reflection, which is why it is also called a reflection of opposites.
Carl Rogers method is based on symmetric reflections and mirroring of gestures and facial expressions according to Heinz Kohut. Frank Farrelly, a direct student of Carl Rogers, has developed from its approach, Provocative Therapy, whose instruments consists of many anti-symmetric reflections.
Example: Large passivity may have the consequence that a person missed many opportunities and complained about loss of quality in his life. A typical response of Farrelly raises at this point forth opposite consequences: he likes to speak approvingly of profits that others have to cost this person.
It provokes a man only effectively to increased activity when well-disposed, met him with empathy, heart and humor. Skillful application antisymmetric mirroring extends the possibilities of communication considerably, but is still poorly understood and nowhere subject of training.
Swell
- Istvàn and Magdolna Hargittai: Symmetry. Reinbek: Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag 1998, ISBN 3-499-60358-6
- Michael Klessmann: Pastoral Psychology. Neukirchener Verlag, Neukirchen, 2004, ISBN 3-7887-20506
- Peter Kutter: reflections and transmissions in supervision. In: Harald Pühl (eds. ): Handbook of Supervision 2 pp. 41-54, 2nd revised edition, Edition Marhold in scientific publishing Volker Spiess, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-89166-987-9
- Wait Frank Weiler: magic - mirror mirror - magic. Mirrors in the communication: symmetric and antisymmetric. Paderborn: Junfermann Verlag 2006, ISBN 3-87387-638-8