Constructions of contrast in spoken testimonials on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Spoken testimonials on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) constitute the data for this study, which considers contrastive construal as evoked by conditional constructions (if, unless, what if) and antonymous uses of lexical items (bad–good, guilt–innocence). Unlike conditional language use for the expression of hypothetical scenarios, doubt, and catastrophizing, antonyms have not been a focus of OCD research. In the data, antonymous lexical items establish experiential dichotomies (e.g.,good–bad,guilt–innocence,cause–prevent) that reinforce and specify the nature of evoked contrast. Meaning making in the data, it is proposed, evokes contrastive construal according to bundles of integrated quality dimensions such asmodality,morality, andemotionthat make up incompatible conceptions of reality. Tied to contrast in the data is also the notion of balance, and contrast is considered alongside force-dynamicactionsthat are experienced as effecting balance. While the overriding concerns for the study are linguistic–conceptual, the study’s findings can have implications for research on OCD and a cognitive semantic perspective can potentially complement both content- and process-oriented psychological approaches to this disorder.

Linguistic and Psychological Features of Autogenous and Reactive Obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“…Contrast was also found to be used in language about OCD, as symptoms are often ego-dystonic and stem from anxiety, not rational thought. This can be seen through the use of contrasting subjective reality with what is a forced counterfactual reality, such as "I don't want to be a bad person but my brain is telling me I'm a monster" and by establishing balance by counteracting a distressing thought through the use of compulsive thoughts and behaviors (Hartman, 2018). This is consistent with the neutralizing effects of rituals done to establish balance and lower anxiety in people with OCD.…”

“…This manifests as the worry that if an individual has a thought but does not complete a compulsion, something bad will happen (Abramowitz & Jacoby, 2014). A linguistic analysis of spoken testimonials in individuals with OCD found the use of "if" occurred 156 times across 12 different testimonials (Hartman, 2018). Contrast was also found to be used in language about OCD, as symptoms are often ego-dystonic and stem from anxiety, not rational thought.…”

The linguistic construction of the self in narratives of obsessive-compulsive disorder

“…might, possibly), play an active role in constructing doubt and reasoning in OCD. While there is now some work exploring the semantic features of language as used by people with OCD (Hartman, 2018, Knapton, 2016a, there is little discussion of whether linguistic features may serve different functions when recounting OCD episodes containing different kinds of obsessions and compulsions. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to capture the functions of these linguistic features through quantitative methods alone.…”