| Abstract: | Describes a method for understanding the socialization process in psychotherapy based on a view of language as social policy. The discourse activity analysis system (DAAS) is presented as a framework for categorizing conversational turns. The DAAS is atheoretical in that it makes no reference to psychological states or therapeutic interventions. It is comprised of 10 mutually exclusive categories—topic shift initiation, topic-relevant act, initiatory turn, terminating turn, other metacommunication, topic-relevant response, off-topic act, off-topic response, repair initiation, and passing turn—that represent the active and passive functions of speakers' talk to introduce and sustain topics and manage the flow of dialog. An excerpt from an interview with a 26-yr-old female is presented that illustrates various discourse tactics that were used to correct the client's misconceptions about the therapy process and to enhance appropriate participation. Other uses of the DAAS are also discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
