Intuition in a Nonlinear World

Abstract

This chapter argues that intuition is an emergent, nonverbal form of awareness that arises immediately, effortlessly, and automatically from bottom-up (nonconscious to conscious) processing within the implicit realm of perception, memory, and learning. Intuition likely evolved from social instincts within the mammalian brain that enable us to cope with a chaotic world filled with incomplete information and unpredictable situations. Conscious deliberation, which involves slower processing within the explicit realm, operates by focusing in on detail, stripping away context, and reducing wholes into component parts. By contrast, intuition is holistic and integrative, considering the big picture and full context. Intuition also facilitates fractal-like pattern detection by which the whole of things is perceived within the parts of experience. Within the field of clinical psychology, intuition is a central ingredient for deep, emergent, and unpredictable transformation. Clinical intuition is especially effective under conditions of uncertainty, urgency, and emergency. More generally, intuition promotes creativity, nuance, and fluidity in dealing with the unique dynamics of this person, with this developmental history, in this moment, with this therapist.

Clinical intuition in psychotherapy: an approach based on Grounded Theory (La intuición clínica en psicoterapia: una aproximación desde la Teoría Fundamentada)

“…This research study suggests that because expert therapists have theory (deliberative clinical system) and experience (intuitive clinical system), whereas novice therapists only have theory (Marks-Tarlow, 2015b, inexperienced therapists may miss information, make mistakes that could be prevented by access to non-linear recursion of intuition or fail to realize incongruities that are relevant to therapy success. Intuition is, despite its non-scientific connotations, a part of the continuous quality verification system of the therapy process.…”

“…Lastly, intuition seems to influence therapeutic success, fostering reflection, introspection and a better bond. Previous works have indicated that the therapy bond -the importance of knowing how to relate to a patient -is one of the most common factors of therapeutic success (Frank, 2004;Kleinke, 2002;Rosenzweig, 1936;Saldaña, 1987;Uribe Restrepo, 2008) and that such a bond is manifested through the therapy relationship itself (Bove & Rizzi, 2009;Lomas, 1993;Marks-Tarlow, 2015b;Shreve, 2016). According to the participants, intuition strengthens the bond with patients because it fosters trust and a feeling of understanding, and helps the therapist adapt to the patient's 'rhythm', as suggested by the Emotion Regulation Theory (Marks-Tarlow, 2012, 2015bSchore, 2014).…”

“…Por último, la intuición influiría en el éxito terapéutico propiciando reflexión, introspección y un mejor vínculo. Trabajos previos han señalado el vínculo terapéutico como uno de los factores comunes del éxito terapéutico (Frank, 2004;Kleinke, 2002;Rosenzweig, 1936;Saldaña, 1987;Uribe Restrepo, 2008) y la importancia de conocer la manera de relacionarse del paciente, que se manifiesta a través de la propia relación terapéutica (Bove & Rizzi, 2009;Lomas, 1993;Marks-Tarlow, 2015b;Shreve, 2016). Según los participantes, la intuición mejora el vínculo porque fomenta la confianza y el sentimiento de comprensión, así como la adaptación del terapeuta a los 'ritmos' del paciente; tal como sugiere la aplicación de la Teoría de Regulación del Afecto a la relación terapéutica (Marks-Tarlow, 2012, 2015bSchore, 2014).…”

“…This approach emphasizes non-linear processing and direct relational knowledge and postulates its association with the emotion regulation system (Schore, 2000(Schore, , 2014Schore & Schore, 2014), supposedly guided by the right hemisphere and/or by the 'emotional brain' ruled by the amygdala (Marks-Tarlow, 2015b. They thus integrate two systems for acquiring clinical evidence: (a) the deliberative clinical system, which takes its knowledge from research, theory and teachinglearning methods, and is based on memory and the organization of information; and (b) the intuitive clinical system, which takes its knowledge from direct relational experience, and is based on the ability to collect information and respond to the subtle and complex interpersonal patterns of the therapeutic relationship (Marks-Tarlow, 2015b. Given all the above, the purpose of this research study was to analyse the use of intuition in psychotherapy by Spanish professionals who based their practice on different therapeutic schools, using their own definition of intuition, that is, without the research team providing them with a prior definition.…”

“…More recently, theories of clinical intuition have integrated contributions from the neurosciences (although without empirical evidence) and characterized it as an embodied, implicit and automatic (under the radar of consciousness) process that works from the bottom up (Lopera Echavarría, 2009; Marks-Tarlow, 2014, 2015a, 2015b; Peña, 2019; Tantia, 2013, 2014). This approach emphasizes non-linear processing and direct relational knowledge and postulates its association with the emotion regulation system (Schore, 2000, 2014; Schore & Schore, 2014), supposedly guided by the right hemisphere and/or by the ‘emotional brain’ ruled by the amygdala (Marks-Tarlow, 2015b, 2018).…”