Psychological distortions of the research process: A summary of psychotherapeutic explorations.

Presents the results of a psychotherapeutic research project concerning psychological blocks to research and creativity. Clients were 10 established researchers and postgraduate students who were offered psychoanalytically based focal-insight therapy. Some of the crucial personal-dynamic problems that hindered the normal development of the knowledge constructing aims of the researcher were anxiety-identity, separation, fear of criticism, competition and envy, research as a means of aggressive outlet, and intellectualization as a mechanism of defense. Illustrative case material is presented. The constructive role of anxiety in research is discussed together with the necessity of viewing research not only as an intellectual but also as an emotional activity. Findings reveal the impact of life situation on research and show a relationship between insight in therapy and the research process. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)