Expressions of vitality affects and basic affects during art therapy and their meaning for inner change

• The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of vitality affects and basic affects and to shed light on their importance in terms of patients' inner change through art therapy. In an earlier study, where 17 women were interviewed about inner change through art therapy, a secondary deductive content analysis of images and statements was performed exploring the presence of vitality affects and basic affects. Nine of the 17 interviews contained clear descriptions of vitality affects and basic affects in the intersubjective communication between the patient and the therapist, these affects were also mirrored in the patients’ painted images.Three cases are used to illustrate the result and how affects were related to inner change. These three cases differ from each other in that they described vitality affects either arising from the art therapist’s empathetic verbal or non-verbal response, from a particular experience in nature, or from the interpreted symbolic language of the image. The common denominator uniting the three cases was the intersubjective communication with the therapist. This study indicates that image making in art therapy gives rise to vitality affects and basic affects that contributes to inner change. It also indicates the importance of having trust in both the method and the art therapist.   

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Art therapy

Vitality affects

Basic affects

Intersubjectivity

Deductive content analysis

Natural Science

Naturvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)