Frederick Perls' Gestalt Therapy : implications for interpersonal communications

The purpose of this study is to discover if the principles of Gestalt Therapy as described by Frederick Perls can be used to enhance the existing instructional material in interpersonal communication. Of particular interest is the concept of "self" as it is approached by both Perls and Interpersonal authors. This is done by examining the therapeutic techniques developed by Perls for self growth and then examining the coverage of self concepts in interpersonal texts. In this way information may be obtained as to the relevance of correlating the Perls and interpersonal material on self.

A brief introduction to interpersonal communication and Gestalt Therapy is offered. Both concepts are then more fully explored. The concepts of Gestalt Therapy explored include introjection, projection, retroflection, and topdog/underdog. Sixteen representative interpersonal texts are then examined paying particular attention to the categories of self and interpersonal communication, self awareness, self concept, self acceptance, self assertion, self actualization, and self disclosure. Distinct problems are encountered in examining the interpersonal texts as the authors of these texts were often ambiguous in using the terms listed above.

All of the interpersonal texts mentioned self processes as well as asserted the idea of self growth as being important to developing good interpersonal communication. The authors of these texts were not, however, exhaustive in explaining why the student was not achieving a good self concept, reaching self acceptance, etc. In addition, much of the material used in the interpersonal texts dealing with the self was repetitive. The material on self offered by Perls was found to offer fresh, more extensive information. Similarly, it was determined that this information can be correlated to enhance the alreading existing information on self in interpersonal texts.