Differentiation in self- and object-perception as a goal in psychodynamic short-term therapy: A cluster-analytical evaluation

In this paper, the question is examined as to how object relationship patte rns can be adequately recorded and evaluated in the therapy process. Based on the consideration that the differentiation of object perception and its relationship patterns is a goal of psychodynamic therapy, a method for meas uring repetitive interaction patterns is presented as an indicator of chang e. An approach based on cluster analysis offers the opportunity to record a nd evaluate the entire structure of a therapy without taking individual qua litative features out of their context to one another and to the specific o bject. The therapy records of a S-month inpatient psychotherapy were evalua ted with a content analysis, using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavi or (SASB). The results of the cluster-analytical evaluation of this content analysis provide convincing evidence that the structure of the described o bject relationships can be recorded, and their transformation processes can be demonstrated with this process in the course of the therapy.