Generative rules and the therapeutic community

Abstract

Residential institutions require explicit theories of institutional functioning, which incorporate an account of personal change. The theory of functioning of therapeutic communities must be related to theories of personality. It is suggested that the predominantly trait theories of personality disorder used by psychiatrists do not escape the critique of trait theories of personality in general (Mischel, 1968). Theories based upon generative rules (Argyle, 1976) seem to provide a better basis for a theory of functioning of the therapeutic community.

The treatability requirement in psychopathy: a new ethical dilemma?

“…That is, the psychological state in the treatment situation is held to predict something of the patient's behaviour outside itsomething occurring, perhaps, after discharge. Yet the present state of personality theory suggests that actual behaviour is not chiefly predicted by such internal factors but rather by characteristics of the individual's environmentthat is by situational or "S variables" -or, even more powerfully, by P x S interaction (3). '…”

“…In other words, when we describe someone as "personality disordered" we mean that his behaviour is to an unusual degree influenced by P variables, and that if we succeed in treating him we are moving him along a continuum from predominantly P determination towards predominantly S or P x S determination (3). '…”

The Negotiation of Communicational Rules in a Group‐Analytic Group

“…For example, a pattern may develop that when one member is angry with the therapist, the rest of the group observe passively, but when two or more members begin to attack the therapist, another offers himself as a scapegoat. Millard (1981) suggests that psychotherapy in a therapeutic community setting can usefully be viewed as a re-learning of rules of social interaction. He proposes that the individual be viewed as having learned a particular set of rules according to which he conducts his life.…”