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According to the Dialogical Self Theory, the Self can move along the imaginal landscape of the mind and adopt different I-positions, endowing each position with a voice and enabling dialogical relationships (e.g., agreement, disagreement) among each other. Internal dialogues may have an important role regarding identity construction, self-regulation, and support, among others. However, if internal dialogues are not efficient or meaningful voices are suppressed, they may cause psychological problems. The current study aims to adapt and validate the Portuguese version of the Internal Dialogical Activity Scale - Revised (IDAS-R) and explore its correlations with personality dimensions and psychological indicators. The 397 participants, aged 15-73 years old, completed the IDAS-R and questionnaires to assess Well-Being, Satisfaction with Life, and the Big-Five Personality dimensions. Confirmatory factor analyses identified a factorial structure different than the one originally proposed. The CFA provided a best-fit model with four subscales – Identity Dialogues, Spontaneous Dialogues, Social and Supportive Dialogues, and Distressing Dialogues. All internal dialogues, except Identity Dialogues, correlated negatively with Well-Being and Satisfaction with Life and correlated positively with Neuroticism. We discuss these results, the possibility of assessing such dynamic processes by quantitative methods and point to new directions in the research of internal dialogicality.

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found below: psycharchives, http://dx.doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4562., Reasoning may help solving problems and understanding personal experiences. Ruminative reasoning, however, is inconclusive, repetitive, and usually regards negative thoughts. We asked how reasoning as manifested in oral autobiographical narratives might differ when it is ruminative versus when it is adaptive by comparing two constructs from the fields of psychotherapy research and narrative research that are potentially beneficial: innovative moments (IMs) and autobiographical reasoning (AR). IMs captures statements in that elaborate on changes regarding an earlier personal previous problem of the narrator, and AR capture the connecting of past events with other parts of the narrator's life or enduring aspects of the narrator. A total of N = 94 university students had been selected from 492 students to differ maximally on trait rumination and trait adaptive reflection, and were grouped as ruminators (N = 38), reflectors (N = 37), and a group with little ruminative and reflective tendencies ("unconcerned," N = 19). Participants narrated three negative personal experiences (disappointing oneself, harming someone, and being rejected) and two self-related experiences of more mixed valence (turning point and lesson learnt). Reflectors used more IMs and more negative than positive autobiographical arguments (AAs), but not more overall AAs than ruminators. Group differences were not moderated by the valence of memories, and groups did not differ in the positive effect of narrating on mood. Trait depression/anxiety was predicted negatively by IMs and positively by AAs. Thus, IMs are typical for reflectors but not ruminators, whereas the construct of AR appears to capture reasoning processes irrespective of their ruminative versus adaptive uses., (undefined)

Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a promising intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among the population. However, due to the lack of studies in the area, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of the therapeutic process of online CBT for alcohol addicts in a Brazilian sample. Thirty-six recordings of six male participants diagnosed with alcohol dependence, who sought treatment to cease or reduce the substance’s consumption, were analysed using the Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS). The IMCS is a method that analyses changes occurred during the therapeutic process. The results suggested: (1) an increase in the number of Innovative Moments (IMs) from the beginning to the end of the sessions in all analysed cases, and (2) a correlation between a decrease in the doses of alcohol consumption at the end of the sessions and the increase of IMs. The present study successfully applies for the first time the IMCS in alcohol dependence and proved to be an adequate method to evaluate the online therapy process for this sample. However, it is necessary to conduct further research to confirm the IMCS’s effectiveness for alcohol dependence., A Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental Online (TCC) é uma intervenção que se mostra promissora para reduzir o consumo de álcool na população. Porém, devido à escassez de estudos na área, o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do processo terapêutico da TCC online para uma amostra de alcoolistas residentes em um município brasileiro. Como método foram analisadas o total de trinta e seis gravações de sessões de psicoterapia online, aplicadas em seis participantes, do sexo masculino, com diagnóstico prévio de dependência de álcool. Estes participantes procuraram o tratamento para cessar ou reduzir o consumo da substância. As gravações foram analisadas segundo o método Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS). O IMCS é um método que analisa as mudanças ocorridas durante o processo terapêutico. Os resultados mostraram que: (1) houve um aumento no número de Momentos Inovadores (MIs) do início ao fim das sessões em todos os casos analisados, e (2) houve uma correlação entre a diminuição das doses de consumo de álcool ao final das sessões e aumento dos MIs. O presente estudo aplicou pela primeira vez com sucesso o IMCS para a dependência de álcool online e provou ser um método adequado para avaliar o processo de terapia para esta amostra. No entanto, é necessária a realização de pesquisas adicionais para confirmar a eficácia do IMCS para a dependência de álcool., (undefined)

Our goal was to conduct international comparisons of emotion regulation using the 9-item Emotionally Reactive (ER) syndrome of the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 11/2-5. We analyzed parent ratings for 17,964 preschoolers from 21 societies, which were grouped into 8 GLOBE study culture clusters (e.g., Nordic, Confucian Asian). Omnicultural broad base rates for ER items ranged from 8.0% to 38.8%. Rank ordering for mean item ratings varied widely across societies (omnicultural Q = .50) but less so across culture clusters (M Q = .66). Societal similarity in mean item rank ordering varied by culture cluster, with large within-cluster similarity for Anglo (Q = .96), Latin Europe (Q = .74), Germanic (Q = .77), and Latin American (Q = .76) clusters, but smaller within-cluster similarity for Nordic, Eastern Europe, and Confucian Asian clusters (Qs = .52, .23, and .44, respectively). Confirmatory factor analyses of the ER syndrome supported configural invariance for all 21 societies. All 9 items showed full to approximate metric invariance, but only 3 items showed approximate scalar invariance. The ER syndrome correlated . 65 with the Anxious/Depressed (A/D) syndrome and .63 with the Aggressive Behavior syndrome. ER items varied in base rates and factor loadings, and societies varied in rank ordering of items as low, medium, or high in mean ratings. Item rank order similarity among societies in the same culture cluster varied widely across culture clusters, suggesting the importance of cultural factors in the assessment of emotion regulation in preschoolers.

This study tested international similarities and differences in scores on a scale comprising 12 items identified by international mental health experts as being very consistent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) category of autism spectrum disorder. Participants were 19,850 preschoolers in 24 societies rated by parents on the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 11/2-5; 10,521 preschoolers from 15 societies rated by caregivers/teachers on the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form, and 7380 children from 13 societies rated by both types of informant. Rank ordering of the items with respect to base rates and mean ratings was more similar across societies for parent ratings than caregiver/teacher ratings, especially with respect to the items tapping restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Items 80. Strange behavior; 63. Repeatedly rocks head or body; 67. Seems unresponsive to affection; and 98. Withdrawn, doesn't get involved with others had low base rates in these population samples across societies and types of informants, suggesting that they may be particularly discriminating for identifying autism spectrum disorder in young children. Cross-informant agreement was stronger for the items tapping social communication and interaction problems than restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. The findings support the feasibility of international use of the scale for autism spectrum disorder screening in population samples., University of Vermont(undefined)

This article applies a dialogical analysis to the change processes involved in moving from engagement with to disengagement from an armed militant group, as well as from radicalization to deradicalization. The findings underline the interplay between different push and pull factors at individual, organizational, and societal levels that played a role in the already mentioned processes in three periods of time—engagement with, life within, and disengagement from an armed organization. The dialogical framework conceptualizes the development trajectory as relationships between a variety of positions of the self (I-positions), which generate different personal meanings involved in processes of disengagement and deradicalization.

A Terapia Narrativa da Reautoria (TN) surgiu no fim dos aos 80 do século XX, tendo sido inicialmente formulada por Michael White e David Epston (...). A TN resulta da integração de diferentes áreas de conhecimento, constituindo-se como um olhar inovador sobre a psicopatologia e a psicoterapia (...).

O presente relatório apresenta o estudo e as recomendações para o desenvolvimento de uma estratégia institucional na Universidade do Minho para a gestão de dados de investigação. O relatório foi preparado pelo grupo de trabalho nomeado pelo Senhor Reitor da UMinho a 12 de abril de 2017 no despacho nº RT-27/2017. O Grupo iniciou os seus trabalhos no mês de maio com o mandato de “produzir um estudo e recomendações que sustentem a formulação de uma estratégia institucional relativa aos dados de investigação, incluindo a identificação de políticas, infraestruturas e serviços para a gestão dos dados de investigação na UMinho”. A metodologia adotada passou pela realização de duas reuniões presenciais, correspondendo às duas fases do trabalho – inicialmente diagnóstico e posteriormente desenho de soluções e formulação de recomendações –, e pela redação deste documento, de forma assíncrona e não presencial. O relatório reflete a metodologia adotada e encontra-se estruturado em duas partes: 1ª) estudo e análise e 2ª) recomendações. Para a primeira parte, o grupo de trabalho tomou como base o estudo realizado em 2014 pelos Serviços de Documentação da UMinho (SDUM) que fornece informação relevante sobre os dados gerados no âmbito da investigação realizada na UMinho e sobre as práticas de gestão desses dados. Esta parte do estudo foi complementada com a análise dos primeiros resultados do programa de diagnóstico iniciado pelos SDUM e aplicado a seis comunidades piloto no primeiro semestre de 2017 com o intuito de caracterizar os processos de gestão dos dados e avaliar papéis e responsabilidade associados. Neste relatório analisam-se ainda as políticas para dados dos financiadores de ciência e inovação, com particular enfoque para os requisitos dos dados de investigação abertos no Horizonte 2020 e princípios FAIR para a gestão de dados. Reflete-se ainda sobre a Política Nacional de Ciência Aberta e o desenvolvimento de estratégias institucionais nas universidades. A secção prospetiva do presente relatório apresenta recomendações estruturadas em cinco tópicos: 1) Política, 2) Infraestrutura e sistemas para dados, 3) Serviços e ferramentas de apoio à gestão dos dados, 4) Capacitação e 5) Questões legais, de proteção de dados e de propriedade intelectual. O relatório desenvolve os componentes e detalhes das seguintes recomendações: 1. Definição de uma política institucional da Universidade do Minho relativa à gestão e partilha dos dados de investigação. 2. Disponibilização de uma infraestrutura de sistemas e serviços integrados a disponibilizar à comunidade da UMinho para a gestão de dados ao longo do ciclo de vida da investigação. 3. Criação de ferramentas de apoio à gestão de dados que assegurem a interligação e utilização dos componentes da infraestrutura institucional de dados. 4. Desenvolvimento de ações e programas integrados que promovam e valorizem as competências dos investigadores em matéria de gestão e partilha de dados de investigação. 5. Disponibilização e reforço de serviços de apoio e consultoria no domínio da proteção de dados, licenciamento e reutilização de dados e propriedade intelectual.

ObjectiveInnovative moments (IMs) are new and more adjusted ways of thinking, acting, feeling and relating that emerge during psychotherapy. Previous research on IMs has provided sustainable evidence that IMs differentiate recovered from unchanged psychotherapy cases. However, studies with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are so far absent. The present study tests whether IMs can be reliably identified in CBT and examines if IMs and symptoms' improvement are associated.MethodsThe following variables were assessed in each session from a sample of six cases of CBT for depression (a total of 111 sessions): (a) symptomatology outcomes (Outcome QuestionnaireOQ-10) and (b) IMs. Two hierarchical linear models were used: one to test whether IMs predicted a symptom decrease in the next session and a second one to test whether symptoms in one session predicted the emergence of IMs in the next session.ResultsInnovative moments were better predictors of symptom decrease than the reverse. A higher proportion of a specific type of IMsreflection 2in one session predicted a decrease in symptoms in the next session. Thus, when clients further elaborated this type of IM (in which clients describe positive contrasts or elaborate on changes processes), a reduction in symptoms was observed in the next session.DiscussionA higher expression and elaboration of reflection 2 IMs appear to have a facilitative function in the reduction of depressive symptoms in this sample of CBT. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Este artigo apresenta um sistema de codificação que analisa a evolução das narrativas dos pacientes em psicoterapia. A associação entre a melhoria de sintomas e a manutenção dos ganhos terapêuticos e a mudança nas narrativas de vida tem sido demonstrada por vários autores. O Sistema de Codificação dos Momentos de Inovação (SCMI) foi desenvolvido para identificar exceções às narrativas problemáticas que dominam os pacientes, associadas às perturbações psicológicas. Estas exceções são denominadas Momentos de Inovação (MIs) e constituem as diversas posições e experiências que o cliente assume para alcançar uma mudança terapêutica. Os resultados da investigação com o SCMI têm mostrado de forma consistente que os casos de sucesso terapêutico apresentam um perfil distinto dos casos de insucesso. Este perfil é caraterizado por uma maior diversidade de MIs no final da terapia e o desenvolvimento de uma narrativa alternativa à problemática. O insucesso terapêutico é, neste modelo de mudança narrativa, associado às dificuldades do cliente em ultrapassar a ambivalência perante a mudança. Este artigo resume a investigação realizada com o SCMI, discute as implicações terapêuticas dos resultados e apresenta os projetos futuros de investigação.

Research on the identification of poor outcome predictors is crucial for the prevention of therapeutic failure. Previous research suggests that clients’ persistent ambivalence is one possible path to unsuccessful psychotherapy. The present study analyses ambivalence—here operationalized as return-tothe-problem markers (RPMs)—in five recovered and five unchanged cases of narrative psychotherapy for major depression. The results suggest that both recovered and unchanged cases presented a similar proportion of RPMs at baseline and a decreasing pattern of these ambivalence markers throughout therapy. However, the decreasing was more accentuated in recovered than in unchanged cases, and at the end of the treatment, the proportion of RPMs of the unchanged cases was significantly higher. The results are discussed in light of previous research on ambivalence in psychotherapy, focusing on the meaning of ambivalence and its clinical implications.

28 Oct. 2013 [Epub ahead of print], Results froman earlier clinical trial comparing narrative therapywith cognitive–behavioural therapy (Lopes et al., 2013) suggested that narrative therapy is efficacious for depression. However, there were significant differences in symptom reduction on the Beck Depression Inventory-II, favouring cognitive–behavioural therapy, if dropouts were included in the analysis, suggesting that time to recovery or improvement would differ in both treatments. Contrarily, results showed that treatment assignment was not a predictor for differential effect. Using a survival analytic approach, it was found that four sessions were necessary for 50% improvement and 16 sessions for 50% recovery. Additionally, depressive symptoms changes occurred significantly faster than interpersonal changes, again regardless of treatment assignment. These results support previous findings of the dose–response literature and of the phase model of change, with the advantage of being specific to psychotherapywith depressive clients. Practitioner Message For 50% of clients with major depressive disorder, it takes four sessions to improve and 16 sessions to recover, regardless of whether they were treated with narrative therapy or cognitive-behavioural therapy. For those clients who recover, they do so by session 11.Clients change depressive symptoms more consistently and much faster than they change interpersonal problems. For clients who will not recover during brief interventions and especially for clients who present strong interpersonal problems at onset, long-term treatment plans should be considered.More emphasis should be laid on symptomatic relief in the early stages of treatment and on interpersonal issues at later stages., This article was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), by the grant PTDC/PSI-PCL/121525/2010 (Ambivalence and unsuccessful psychotherapy, 2011-2014) and by the PhD grant [SFRH/BD/47343/2008]. The authors would like to kindly thank Michael J. Lambert for the valuable input on the data analysis and encouragement. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 43rd International Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR) held in Virginia Beach, VA, USA, in June 2012.

Background. The quality and strength of the therapeutic collaboration, the core of the alliance, is reliably associated with positive therapy outcomes. The urgent challenge for clinicians and researchers is constructing a conceptual framework to integrate the dialectical work that fosters collaboration, with a model of how clients make progress in therapy. Aim. We propose a conceptual account of how collaboration in therapy becomes therapeutic. In addition, we report on the construction of a coding system – the therapeutic collaboration coding system (TCCS) – designed to analyse and track on a moment-by-moment basis the interaction between therapist and client. Preliminary evidence is presented regarding the coding system’s psychometric properties. The TCCS evaluates each speaking turn and assesses whether and how therapists are working within the client’s therapeutic zone of proximal development, defined as the space between the client’s actual therapeutic developmental level and their potential developmental level that can be reached in collaboration with the therapist. Method. We applied the TCCS to five cases: a good and a poor outcome case of narrative therapy, a good and a poor outcome case of cognitive-behavioural therapy, and a dropout case of narrative therapy. Conclusion. The TCCS offers markers that may help researchers better understand the therapeutic collaboration on a moment-to-moment basis and may help therapists better regulate the relationship., This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT); the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/46189/2008.

Innovative moments (IMs) are exceptions toward the problematic self-narrative that brought the client to therapy, which emerge in the therapeutic conversation. Dialogically, an IM might be conceived as an expression of an alternative I-position which challenges the dominance of problematic voices, thus having the potential to transform the self-narrative as they are expanded and elaborated. Reconceptualization is a particular type of IM which usually emerges in the middle of the process of a successful treatment, increasing steadily until the end. Moreover, reconceptualization seems to be a distinctive feature of a successful psychotherapy process, as it is almost absent in poor outcome cases. This IM has two main features: the presence of a contrast between a previous self-narrative and a new emergent one, and the access to the process which allowed for the transformation from the former to the last. This innovative moment clearly involves a special I-position which Hermans has characterized as a metaposition. We discuss four functions of this type of IM in the change process: (1) providing a narrative structure for change; (2) bridging the past and present self-narratives; (3) facilitating the progressive identification with the new self-narrative; and (4) allowing surpassing the ambivalence often involved in the change process.

Processes of transition to motherhood have been devoted a great deal of attention, resulting in a consistent range of research and literature. Globally, and considering the different directions and motivations of theses studies, the consequential body of research basically points out the complex and diverse character of this personal experience, whether focused in a more quantitative approach intended to isolate the variables influencing the psychosocial adjustment to this transition (Glade, Bean & Vira, 2005), or oriented towards a qualitative exploration of the individual experience of these women (see Nelson, 2003, for a review). Nevertheless the knowledge that the transition to motherhood constitutes a highly challenging task that presents several emotional, affective and social nuances, the cultural view of this life event seems to continue emphasizing the element of self-fulfilment of the feminine nature that motherhood experiences also carries. Several authors have highlighted the fact that motherhood, more than a mere biological event, constitutes a social phenomenon, loaded with inherited cultural and ideological images and lay theories that influence the experiences of any new mother (Johnston & Swanson, 2006; Letherby, 1994; Sévon, 2005; Woollett, 1991). At the realm of social discourses, seemingly a traditional idealized view of motherhood as a source of significant personal fulfilment and enjoyment of intense positive emotions prevails (Leal, 2005; Solé & Parella, 2004). This narrow vision of motherhood also carries a set of believes and stereotypes around what is socially and culturally accepted, in contemporaneous western societies, as an adequate practice of “mothering”, which are largely sustained by the myth of motherhood as a universal need and “natural” choice of women and by the expectation of a full-time mothering (Johnston & Swanson, 2006; Fursman, 2002; Solé & Parella, 2004; Oakley, 1984). In other words, it is expected that all women long for motherhood and that they become almost exclusively devoted to their children, being present to love, educate, stimulate and care for them (Fursman, 2002). Thus, the word “motherhood”, understood as a discursive construct with deep socio-cultural roots, also involves a set of behavioural and attitudinal prescriptions necessary to what is understood as a “good” mother and which, by opposition, exclude other behaviours and attitudes that become connected with a “bad” mother (Solé & Parella, 2004). Thus, these social and cultural d1iscourses around the notion of an intensive motherhood, that is presented as the major priority in women’s lives, is extensively based in the invention of the “good” motherhood, which has strong implications in the way women live this event and reassess their life projects, limiting the possibilities of their identities and discursive practices (Breheny & Stephens, 2007).

Este trabalho apresenta o processo de desenvolvimento e os estudos iniciais de validação do Questionário de Valores Pessoais Readaptado (QVPR), um instrumento de avaliação da importância dos valores, enquanto princípios guia da vida, desenvolvido através do Questionário de Valores Pessoais (Schwartz, 1992; tradução e adaptação: Menezes & Campos, 1991). Participaram no estudo 630 indivíduos (15-73 anos), respondendo ao QVPR e a um questionário de dados socio-demográficos. Da análise factorial exploratória, realizada com 67 itens, resultou uma estrutura de oito factores – Relacional, Tradicionalismo, Aventura, Poder Social, Equilíbrio Pessoal, Realização Pessoal, Preocupação Social, Espiritualidade –, com níveis bastante adequados de consistência interna, e 63 itens. A análise das diferenças entre sexos, nas dimensões dos valores, evidencia que, para as mulheres, os valores inerentes às dimensões Relacional, Espiritualidade e Equilíbrio Pessoal são mais centrais enquanto princípios guia da sua vida, o que corrobora, parcialmente, resultados de outros estudos. No estudo transversal, as diferenças intergrupos observadas, nas dimensões Tradicionalismo, Aventura, Espiritualidade e Realização Pessoal, sugerem a concordância da importância da maioria das dimensões, ao longo do ciclo de vida, e a divergência nas significações, de acordo com as diferentes tarefas desenvolvimentais inerentes a cada grupo etário. O QVPR pode constituir-se como um instrumento de avaliação das motivações para o comportamento individual e para o sentido da vida, permitindo caracterizar e diferenciar pessoas e grupos., This paper presents the development process and validation initial studies of the Personal Values Questionnaire Readaptated (QVPR), an instrument for as - sessing the importance of values as guiding principles in life, developed through Personal Values Questionnaire (Schwartz, 1992; translational and adaptation: Menezes & Campos, 1991). The study involved 630 subjects (15-73 years), answered the QVPR and a questionnaire about socio-demographic information. Exploratory factor analysis, conducted with 67 items, resulted in a structure of eight factors – Relational, Traditionalism, Adventure, Social Power, Personal Balance, Personal Achievement, Social Concern, Spirituality –with very adequate levels of internal consistency, and 63 items. The analysis of sex differences in the values dimensions demonstrates that, for women, the values inherent in the dimensions Relation, Spirituality and and Personal Balance are more central while guiding principles of their lives, which supports, in part, results from other studies. In cross-sectional study, the differences observed between groups suggests agreement of most dimensions, throughout the life cycle, and the deviation significance of the dimensions, according to the different developmental tasks inherent in each age group. The QVPR can establish itself as an instrument of evaluation of the motivations for individual behavior and the meaning of life, allowing to characterize and differentiate people and groups., Este trabalho foi apoiado pela Bolsa de Doutoramento (SFRH/BD/62182/2009) da primeira autora, financiada pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This study aims to further the understanding of how innovative moments (IMs), which are exceptions to a client’s problematic self-narrative in the therapy dialogue, progress to the construction of a new self-narrative, leading to successful psychotherapy. The authors’ research strategy involved tracking IMs, and the themes expressed therein (or protonarratives), and analysing the dynamic relation between IMs and protonarratives within and across sessions using state space grids in a good-outcome case of constructivist psychotherapy. The concept of protonarrative helped explain how IMs transform a problematic self-narrative into a new, more flexible, self-narrative. The increased flexibility of the new self-narrative was manifested as an increase in the diversity of IM types and of protonarratives. Results suggest that new self-narratives may develop through the elaboration of protonarratives present in IMs, yielding an organizing framework that is more flexible than the problematic self-narrative.

This commentary focuses on Ligorio's ( 2010) and O'Sullivan-Lago and de Abreu's ( 2010) work as an opportunity to elaborate upon discontinuity emergence and continuity restoration within the Dialogical Self. We depart from the pair rupture-transition as a unit of analysis for understanding the flow of change within the Dialogical Self and the centrality of ambivalence as a development catalyser to focus on the way change and maintenance of problematic self-narratives in psychotherapy are pictured by the innovative moments model. We have argued that innovative moments ( or i-moments) can be understood as episodes of rupture or discontinuity, since they challenge a person's usual way of understanding and experiencing (i.e., the problematic narrative), generating ambivalence or uncertainty. We have suggested that avoiding this ambivalence, by means of semiotic attenuation of i-moments, can foster the maintenance of the problematic self narrative. In fact, when ambivalence is not overcome, i-moments and the problematic narrative may establish a cyclical relation throughout the therapeutic process, blocking the self's development., This article was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), by the Grant PTDC/PSI/72846/2006 (Narrative Processes in Psychotherapy, 2007–2010) and by the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/46189/2008. We are very grateful to Carla Cunha for her comments on the first draft of this paper., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This commentary focuses on Konig's ( 2009) work as an opportunity to elaborate on selfhood as a dynamic and dialogical phenomenon. We depart from Bakhtinian dialogism and dialogical self theory to focus on the dynamics of selfhood processes and draw a more explicit theoretical link between the dialogical self and phenomenological experience. The interconnected dimensions of discontinuity and continuity in a multiple, multipositioned self are also elaborated. We defend that the construction of similitude in the self is permitted by self-regulation and self-organization processes that create recurring patterns in a moving self. Finally, the role that the introduction of difference and alterity can play in the promotion of change and development is also discussed., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Neste artigo realiza-se uma revisão dos estudos sobre análise de razões, desenvolvidos nas duas últimas décadas por Wilson et al. (cf., Wilson & Schooler, 199 I). Este programa de investigação tem demonstrado de forma sistemática que a análise de razões acerca do nosso comportamento produz efeitos disfuncionais, reduzindo a congruência atitude (medida de auto-relato)- comportamento ou conduzindo a uma menor satisfação pós-escolha em bens de consumo. São analisadas as propostas interpretativas desta disfuncionalidade, a possibilidade de interpretar estes resultados como uma função da desejabilidade social e o papel que as razões explicativas poderão ter na vida quotidiana. Finalmente, é proposta uma re-interpretação dos resultados destes estudos a partir da distinção entre pensamento narrativo e pensamento paradigmático (Bruner, 1986). In this article we review the studies concerned with reason analysis, developed in the last two decades by Wilson et ai (cf., Wilson & Schooler, 1991). This research systematically demonstrates that behavioral reason analysis produces dysfunctional effects by reducing the congruency between attitudes (verbal report measure) and behaviors. The disfunctionality oF reason analysis also produces iess satisfaction afte;: choosing products for consumption. We analyse tht: interpretations of this dysfunctionality. Foremost, tht: possible interpretations of these results could be a product of social desirability and the function that explanatory reasons may have in daily life. Finally, we propose a re-interpretation of the results of these studies based on the distinction between paradigmatic thinking and narrative thinking (Bruner, 1986). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Neste artigo analisamos a metáfora dominante do self na psicologia - o self como um contentor ou como uma mónada. Depois de caracterizar o self monadal procuramos clarificar as funções político-ideológicas deste conceito, que adquiriu um estatuto central com o advento da modernidade. São depois caracterizadas as propriedades centrais de uma concepção alternativa de self para, finalmente, nos determos nas principais implicações desta para a práctica clínica. ABSTRACT: In this paper we reflect on the dominant metaphor of the self in psychology - the self as a monadic entity. After characterizing the monadic self, we will try to clarify the political-ideological functions of this concept which has acquired a central status with modernity. We emphasize the properties of an alternative idea of self and the implications of this to the clinical practice. RESUME: Dans cet article nous analysons Ia metaphora qui a dominée Ia question du self (soi-Même) dans Ia psychologie - le self comme un contentif ou comme une monade. Aprés Ia caracterization du self monadel nous ensayons Ia clarification des fonctions politiqueidéologiques de ce concept qui a acquis un status central avec le surgissement de Ia modernité. Ensuite on caracterize les propriétés plus importantes d'une conception alternatif de self pour qu'on s'árreté, finalement, dans ses principales implications pour une pratique clinique.

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Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia, Tem-se mostrado clara na literatura uma associação entre a personalidade e as dependências de substâncias e comportamentais. Contudo, são escassos os estudos que incluem os dois tipos de comportamentos aditivos e procurem compreender que diferenças e similaridades poderão existir nos perfis de personalidade que os caracterizam. No presente estudo, foram avaliados, através de questionários de autorrelato, os consumos de substâncias, uso de Internet e perfis de personalidade de acordo com o modelo dos Big-5, de 438 estudantes universitários. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que, apesar da existência de similaridades, cada comportamento aditivo parece estar associado a um perfil de personalidade específico. Verificou-se que quanto maiores os níveis de Neuroticismo e menores os níveis de Conscienciosidade e Amabilidade, maior o consumo de substâncias e o uso de Internet (ou vice-versa). Já quanto maiores os níveis de Extroversão, maior o consumo de substâncias (ou vice-versa), mas menor o uso de Internet (ou vice-versa). A Abertura à Experiência mostrou-se apenas associada ao consumo de substâncias e de forma positiva. O traço Conscienciosidade, para além de se ter mostrado um importante preditor de ambos os comportamentos aditivos, apresentou-se em maiores níveis em indivíduos que não apresentavam nenhum dos comportamentos (i.e., em níveis problemáticos)., An association between personality, substance and behavioural addicitions has been shown to be clear in the literature. Although this findings, studies that include both types of addictive behaviours, and the aim to understand the differences and similarities that may exist in the personality profiles that characterize them, are still sparse. In the present study, the substance consumption, Internet use and personality profiles of 438 university students were evaluated using self-report questionnaires. The results obtained showed that, although the similarities, each addictive behaviour seemed to be associated with a specific personality profile. It was found that the higher the levels of Neuroticism and the lower the levels of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, the greater the consumption of substances and the use of Internet (or vice versa). Also, the higher the levels of Extraversion, the greater the consumption of substances (or vice versa), but the lower the use of Internet (or vice versa). Openness to Experience, was only associated with substance consumption and in a positive way. The Conscientiousness trait, in addition to being an important predictor of both addictive behaviors, was present at higher levels in individuals who did not present any of the behaviors (i.e., at problematic levels).

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia, As Perturbações de Ansiedade são das psicopatologias mais prevalentes, tendo impacto nos diversos contextos diários da pessoa. Sabe-se que apesar da eficácia das abordagens terapêuticas, uma quantidade substancial de clientes com esta patologia não apresenta um nível de resposta significativo ao tratamento, o que pode relacionar-se com a ambivalência em relação à mudança. Estudos anteriores focados na resolução da ambivalência sugeriram que analisar os temas específicos da ambivalência pode ser útil na compreensão da sua resolução. No entanto, não existem estudos que analisem a resolução da ambivalência nas perturbações de ansiedade. Assim, os objetivos do presente estudo exploratório centram-se na caracterização da evolução da ambivalência e dos seus processos de resolução, na análise da evolução destes processos nas diferentes temáticas da ambivalência num caso clínico. Para analisar a resolução da ambivalência, foram codificadas um total de 20 sessões de um caso de insucesso tratado com o Unified Protocol, sendo realizada uma análise de conteúdo a partir destes momentos identificados. Os resultados sugerem diferentes tendências de resolução nos diferentes temas de ambivalência, ilustrando que o processo de resolução poderá ter diferentes ritmos e configurações para cada tema, o que poderá auxiliar a compreensão do insucesso terapêutico., Anxiety Disorders are one of the most prevalent psychopathologies, impacting the different daily contexts of the person. It is known that despite the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches, a substantial number of clients with this pathology do not show a significant level of response to treatment, which may be related to ambivalence towards change. Previous studies focused on ambivalence resolution have suggested that analyzing the specific themes of ambivalence can clarify its resolution. However, there are no studies that analyze the resolution of ambivalence in anxiety disorders. Thus, the objectives of this exploratory study are centered on the characterization of the evolution of ambivalence and its resolution processes, in the analysis of the evolution of these processes in the different themes of ambivalence in a clinical case. To analyze the ambivalence resolution, a total of 20 sessions of a case of failure treated with the Unified Protocol were coded, and a content analysis was performed from these identified moments. The results suggest different resolution trends in the different themes of ambivalence, illustrating that the resolution process may have different rhythms and configurations for each theme, which may help the understanding of therapeutic failure.

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia, A ambivalência tem sido amplamente estudada quer em contextos naturalistas quer no âmbito da psicoterapia. Um dos principais focos da mesma são os processos de resolução. Hipotetizamos um paralelismo conceptual entre os processos de resolução da ambivalência nestes dois contextos, formulando os seguintes objetivos: 1) identificar e perceber se a dominância e a negociação, processos de resolução de ambivalência encontrados na psicoterapia, ocorrem num contexto naturalista e 2) analisar o seu impacto diferencial na resolução da ambivalência. A nossa amostra (N=219) é composta por alunos da Escola de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho. Com o intuito de provocar ambivalência nos participantes, estes leram um texto sobre alimentos geneticamente modificados (AGM), com prós e contras sobre estes. A ambivalência foi medida através de meias-escalas semânticas diferenciais desenvolvidas por Kaplan (1972) e as atitudes através de escalas semânticas diferenciais desenvolvidas Crites et al., (1994). Os participantes escreveram um texto de opinião sobre os AGM, posteriormente codificado segundo o Sistema de Codificação de Resolução da Ambivalência, para se identificar dominância e negociação. Os resultados mostram que a dominância e a negociação, juntamente com um terceiro processo de resolução (sem posicionamento), foram identificados e que estes não apresentaram impacto na resolução da ambivalência., Ambivalence has been widely studied in natural contexts as well as in psychotherapy context. One of the main focuses of it are resolution processes. We hypothesize a conceptual parallelism between resolutions processes of ambivalence in both contexts, formulating the following objectives: 1) identify and comprehend if dominance and negotiation resolutions processes found in psychotherapy, occur in a natural context and 2) analyze its differential impact in ambivalence resolution. Our sample (N=219) is composed by psychology students at University of Minho. In order to induce ambivalence in participants, a text about genetically modified food (GMF) with pros and cons was read. Ambivalence was measured using Kaplan’s (1972) semantic differential half-scales, and attitudes were measured applying Crites’s et al. (1994) semantic differential scales. Participants wrote an opinion text about GMF, codified afterwards utilizing the Ambivalence Resolution Coding System, to find dominance and negotiation. Results show that dominance and negotiation, along with a third resolution process (no positioning), were identified and did not show any impact on ambivalence resolution.

Dissertação de mestrado em Psicologia Aplicada, Os Momentos de Inovação (MIs) são exceções ao padrão de significado maladaptativo que clientes comummente apresentam no início da terapia e representam o aparecimento de uma nova forma de pensar, sentir ou agir. Os resultados de diversos estudos apontam para uma relação entre a produção de MIs e a redução da sintomatologia. O presente estudo pretende explorar o potencial do protocolo Feedback Initiated Narrative Development (FIND): uma intervenção de baixa intensidade criada com o objetivo de suscitar MIs. Para este fim, o estudo conta com 21 casos de um ensaio clínico aleatorizado em duas condições: terapia+FIND (grupo experimental) e terapia (grupo de controlo). Foram codificadas entrevistas de mudança de Elliot, levantados os MIs das mesmas e analisadas as diferenças entre os grupos. Os resultados não indicaram diferenças significativas entre grupos em termos de MIs, contudo, até à sexta sessão a sintomatologia do grupo experimental decresceu de forma mais acentuada. Isto pode dever-se ao facto de que os procedimentos do FIND se concentram no início da terapia, o protocolo pode não estar a ser reforçado o suficiente (intensidade demasiado baixa), não produzir efeito ou o efeito não estar a ser detetado. Estudos futuros de follow-up ao estudo presente são necessários., Innovative Moments (IMs) are exceptions to the maladaptive framework of meaning that clients commonly show at the beginning of therapy and these IMs represent new ways of thinking, feeling or acting. The results of various studies point to a link between IM production and the reduction of symptoms. The current study aims to explore the potencial of the Feedback Initiatied Narrative Development protocol: a low intensity intervention created with the goal of eliciting the production of IMs. To achieve this, the current study has a sample of 21 cases from a randomized clinical trial in two conditions: therapy+FIND (experimental group) and therapy (control group). Elliott’s change interviews were coded so that the IMs were extracted and group differences were analysed. Results show no significant differences between groups related to IMs, however, symptoms in the experimental group decreased in a more significant way compared to the control group. This might be due to the FIND procedures being focused on the beginning of therapy, the protocol could have been insufficiently engaged with in therapy (intensity could be too low), not produce an effect or have an undetected effect. Future studies are necessary to follow up on these results.

Dissertação de mestrado em Psicologia Aplicada, A investigação sugere que as intervenções de escrita têm efeitos positivos na saúde e bem-estar das pessoas. A escrita expressiva, positiva e combinada são possibilidades para a construção dessas intervenções. Há muita investigação sobre os benefícios das intervenções de escrita, mas sobre os processos envolvidos na mudança é ainda escassa. Serão analisadas as tarefas de 40 participantes de uma intervenção de escrita combinada, com recurso aos sistemas de codificação dos Momentos de Inovação (Mis), da Ambivalência (MAs) e do Autodistanciamento (AD) com o objetivo de caraterizar estes processos de mudança, estudar a associação entre os Mis/MAs e o AD e entre os Mis e medidas de autorrelato. Os participantes foram alotados a dois grupos com base na ruminação, um que melhorou e outro que piorou. Os Mis não seguem uma tendência crescimento, os MAs descem e o AD sobe. Os Mis de NI e o AD parecem ser processos teoricamente semelhantes, os Mis de N2 parecem estar associados a menos ambivalência e os Mis N3 e o total dos Mis associam-se a um discurso menos imersivo na experiência. As medidas observacional e de autorrelato da ambivalência associam-se, mas não os MIs e as medidas de ruminação e sofrimento psicológico., Research suggests that writing interventions have positive effects on people's health and well-being. Expressive, positive and combined writing (CW) are possibilities for building these interventions. There is plenty of research on the benefits of writing interventions, however it is scarce regarding the processes of change. The texts of 40 participants in a CW intervention will be analyzed using the coding systems of Moments of Innovation (IMs), Ambivalence (AMs) and Self-distancing (SD) with the aim of characterizing these processes of change, while studying the association between Mls/MAs and SD, as well as between Mls and self-report measures. Participants were allocated into two groups based on rumination: one that improved and one that worsened. The IMs do not follow a growth trend, the AMs go down and the SD goes up. Ni IMs and SD appear to be theoretically similar processes, N2 IMs appear to be associated with less ambivalence and N3 IMs and total IMs are associated with less immersive discourse. The observational and self-report measures of ambivalence are associated, but not the IMs and the measures of rumination and psychological distress.

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia, A personalidade é uma dimensão amplamente estudada na psicologia nomeadamente no que concerne à sua influência no contexto social e consequentemente, nas dificuldades existentes no funcionamento interpessoal. A investigação sugere forte influência de um traço específico na experiência de problemas interpessoais generalizados, o Neuroticismo. Porém afirmam que todos os traços têm um papel importante no que diz respeito às relações interpessoais. Posto isto, o presente estudo utiliza uma amostra de 413 alunos universitários portugueses para perceber quais são as implicações da personalidade na experiência de problemas interpessoais no contexto relacional. Utiliza o Structural Summary Method, um método intermédio, para correlacionar os dados obtidos através dos dois instrumentos chave para este estudo: O BFI-2, para avaliar a personalidade tendo por base o Big-Five Personality Model e o IIP-32, para avaliar os problemas interpessoais tendo por base o Modelo do Circumplexo Interpessoal. Os resultados apontam para a presença de fortes qualidades interpessoais em especial na Extroversão e na Amabilidade, dado o seu excelente enquadramento no circumplexo interpessoal. Para além disso, confirmam os resultados de estudos prévios na medida em que o Neuroticismo parece estar em grande parte relacionado com a alta gravidade na experiência de problemas interpessoais no geral., Personality is a widely studied dimension in psychology, namely regarding its influence on the social context and, consequently, on the existing difficulties in interpersonal functioning. Research suggests a strong influence of a specific trait on the experience of generalized interpersonal problems, Neuroticism. However, they claim that all traits play an important role in interpersonal relationships. So, the present study uses a sample of 413 portuguese university students to understand the implications of personality in the experience of interpersonal problems in the relational context. It uses the Structural Summary Method, an intermediate method, to correlate the data obtained through the two key instruments for this study: The BFI-2, to assess personality based on the Big-Five Personality Model and the IIP-32, to assess interpersonal problems based on the Interpersonal Circumplex Model. The results point to the presence of strong interpersonal qualities, especially in Extraversion and Agreeableness, given their excellent framework in the interpersonal circumplex. Furthermore, they confirm the results of previous studies in that Neuroticism seems to be largely related to the high severity in the experience of interpersonal problems in general.

Tese de doutoramento em Psicologia Aplicada, O foco da investigação processo–resultado é identificar os aspetos úteis da terapia que são responsáveis por resultados clínicos positivos. A nossa investigação foca-se nos processos do cliente dentro dos eventos clinicamente significativos de trabalho de cadeiras—diálogo de duas cadeiras, encenação de duas cadeiras, trabalho de cadeira vazia—e os seus efeitos na mudança do cliente em terapia focada nas emoções (TFE). A TFE é um tratamento empiricamente validado para a depressão que integra o trabalho de cadeiras como componente central da sua intervenção para resolver dificuldades específicas de processamento emocional— divisões internas entre partes do self e assuntos inacabados com outros significativos—relacionadas com esquemas emocionais depressivos centrais. Em consonância com a teoria e prática da TFE, investigações anteriores sugerem que resultados terapêuticos relevantes no final do tratamento podem ser alcançados através da inclusão de intervenções com trabalho de cadeiras nos procedimentos de tratamento e através da resolução bem-sucedida de dificuldades de processamento emocional endereçadas pelo trabalho de cadeiras. No entanto, na nossa opinião, devido a questões metodológicas nesses estudos, o contributo efetivo dos processos do cliente na resolução destas tarefas terapêuticas para a melhoria sintomática e para a profundidade de processamento emocional ao longo da terapia permanece empiricamente indeterminado. Nesta tese desenvolvemos um método para rastrear o progresso do cliente no trabalho de cadeiras ao longo da terapia, baseado nos modelos de resolução destas tarefas da TFE, o que permitiu a execução de dois estudos empíricos para investigar os efeitos longitudinais do trabalho de cadeiras nos sintomas clínicos e no processamento emocional. A amostra para os nossos estudos foi composta por 10 clientes com depressão leve a moderada, que receberam tratamento durante 16 sessões de TFE; os processos terapêuticos destes clientes foram analisados na íntegra com a referida medida de resolução do trabalho de cadeiras. No primeiro estudo, a intensidade dos sintomas clínicos foi avaliada com o Beck Depression Inventory–II e o Outcome Questionnaire–10.2, e, no segundo estudo, a profundidade de processamento emocional foi avaliada com a Experiencing Scale. Utilizando modelos multinível e procedimentos de análise de dados longitudinais, os resultados dos nossos estudos empíricos determinaram que o progresso da resolução do trabalho de cadeiras dos clientes predizia significativamente, sessão a sessão, a diminuição dos sintomas clínicos e o aumento da profundidade de processamento emocional. Apesar das suas limitações, a nossa investigação enfatiza a relevância clínica de se endereçarem divisões internas e assuntos inacabados através de trabalho de cadeiras durante o tratamento de estados depressivos., The focus of process–outcome research is on identifying the helpful aspects of therapy that are responsible for positive clinical outcomes. Our research focuses on the client processes within clinically meaningful events of chair work—two-chair dialogue, two-chair enactment, and empty-chair work—and their effects on client change in emotion-focused therapy (EFT). EFT is an empirically-supported treatment for depression that integrates chair work as a central component of its intervention to resolve specific emotional processing difficulties—conflict splits between parts of the self and unfinished business with significant others—related to underlying core depressive emotion schemes. In line with EFT theory and practice, previous research suggests that relevant therapeutic outcomes at treatment termination may be achieved by including chair work interventions in treatment procedures and through the successful resolution of emotional processing difficulties addressed in chair work. In our view however, due to methodological issues within these studies, the actual contribution of the client processes in resolving these therapeutic tasks to symptom improvement and to depth of emotional processing throughout therapy remains empirically undetermined. In this thesis we have developed a method for tracking client progress in chair work throughout therapy, based on EFT’s resolution models for these tasks, which allowed the execution of two empirical studies to investigate the longitudinal effects of chair work on clinical symptoms and on emotional processing. The sample for our studies was composed by 10 clients with mild to moderate depression, who received treatment during 16 sessions of EFT; the entire therapeutic processes of these clients were analyzed with the abovementioned measure of chair work resolution. In the first study, intensity of clinical symptoms was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory–II and Outcome Questionnaire–10.2, and, in the second study, depth of emotional processing was assessed with Experiencing Scale. Following multilevel models and longitudinal data-analytic procedures, the results from our empirical studies determined that clients’ chair work resolution progress significantly predicted session by session decrease in clinical symptoms and increase in depth of emotional processing. Despite its limitations, our research emphasizes the clinical relevance of addressing conflict splits and unfinished business through chair work when treating depressive states., This doctoral thesis was partially conducted at the Psychology Research Center (CIPsi) from the School of Psychology in the University of Minho [UID/PSI/01662] and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES) through National and European funds, primarily via the Ph.D. Studentship granted to Pedro Lourenço [SFRH/BD/102852/2014] under the POCH/FSE and indirectly co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653]

Dissertação de mestrado em Psicologia Aplicada, O luto é um processo que requer um esforço ativo para reafirmar/reconstruir um mundo pessoal de significados que foi desafiado pela perda de uma pessoa significativa. O presente estudo pretendeu analisar e descrever os significados que caracterizam a mudança de indivíduos com perturbação de luto prolongado (PLP). A amostra foi constituída por seis clientes com PLP e com resultado terapêutico contrastante (sucesso vs. insucesso). O tratamento consistiu na terapia construtivista-narrativa em formato online. Foram analisadas cinco sessões de cada cliente. As sessões foram previamente codificadas com o Sistema de Codificação de Momentos de Inovação, que identifica momentos de inovação (MIs). Os MIs são exceções aos significados problemáticos. No presente estudo, os MIs foram analisados com o Manual de Codificação dos Significados no Luto, que identifica temas de luto. Foram identificados 32 temas, que, posteriormente, foram organizados em três macrotemas, de acordo com o grau de atribuição de significado: sem atribuição de significado, centração na conexão e atribuição de significado. Os resultados da análise em macrotemas revelaram que os casos de sucesso e insucesso são semelhantes em termos de conteúdo temático e evolução ao longo da terapia. Os resultados da análise dos temas presentes em cada macrotema revelaram diferenças ligeiras entre os casos. Os temas com conotação negativa surgiram habitualmente com uma proporção ligeiramente superior nos casos de insucesso e os com conotação positiva nos casos de sucesso., Grief is a process that requires an active effort to reaffirm/reconstruct a personal world of meanings that has been challenged by the loss of a significant person. The present study aimed to analyse and describe the meanings that characterize the change of individuals with prolonged grief disorder (PGD). The sample was constituted by six clients with PGD, who presented contrasting therapeutic results (recovered vs unchanged). The treatment consisted in constructivist-narrative therapy, using an online format. Five sessions of each client were analysed. The sessions were previously coded with the Innovative Moments Coding System, which identifies innovation moments (IMs). IMs are exceptions to problematic meanings. In the present study, the IMs were analysed using the Meaning of Loss Codebook, which identifies themes of grief. 32 themes were identified and, subsequently, were organized into three macrothemes, according to its meaning making characteristics: without meaning attribution, focused on connection, and meaning attribution. Results of the analysis in macrothemes showed that the recovered and the unchanged cases are similar in terms of thematic content and evolution over the course of therapy. Results of the analysis of the themes present in each macrotheme revealed slight differences between the cases. Themes with a negative connotation usually appeared with a slightly higher proportion in unchanged cases, while those with a positive connotation came up in recovered cases.