Gestalt therapy: Some aspects of self-support, independence and responsibility.

Administered tests devised to measure self-concept, expressed value system, and fantasy production (e.g., Leary Interpersonal Check List and TAT) to 7 college students before and after Gestalt awareness training and to 7 Ss who received no treatment. Experimental Ss showed increased positive self-concepts, but their personal values remained unaffected, and their fantasy productions reflected significantly less independence, self-support, and responsibility. Results are interpreted in 2 ways: (1) Training may affect individuals beneficially on only a superficial and mutable level of personality—self concept—while personal values remain unaltered; fantasy production may even contraindicate training. (2) Training may have the desired effect on all levels, but insufficient time prevented Ss from moving beyond the "impasse," the crucial time when resistance sets in and people "prevent" themselves from using their resources. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)