Abstract
The hypothesis guiding this presentation is that nonevaluative self-directed attention, especially toward bodily kinesthetic events, may serve as a source of imagery that is perceived to representation-ally fit, intensify, and sometimes change those bodily feelings. The phenomenology of this process, called focusing, has been articulated by Gendlin (1978), who has emphasized its apparent role in psychotherapy (Gendlin, 1977; Gendlin, Beebe, Cassens, Klein, & Oberlander, 1968). Regardless of context, however, focusing is a process of imagery-guided or enhanced (Gendlin & Olson, 1970) change in self-feeling, of the conditions for which we have little concrete understanding. The role of self-directed attention in this process is the object of the present study.
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References Notes
Gendlin, E. T. Imagery is more powerful with focusing: Theory and practice. Paper presented at the American Association for the Study of Mental Imagery Conference, Los Angeles, 1979.
Scheier, M. The effects of public and private self-consciousness on attitude behavior consistency. Unpublished manuscript, Carnagie-Mellon University, 1978.
Wolfe, L., and Vanden Bos, G. Experiential focusing: New research tools. Unpublished manuscript, University of Chicago, 1970.
Platt, A. An experimental evaluation of three methods of focusing training. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago, 1971.
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Kuiken, D. (1981). Self-Consciousness as a Component and Correlate of Focusing Ability. In: Klinger, E. (eds) Concepts, Results, and Applications. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3974-8_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3974-8_17
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