From the imaginary to

the imagined real.

A creative exploration into how Basic Critical Realism

might help in the therapeutic encounter.

Background reading that helps support the possibility of

BCR in the therapeutic setting – With specific reference to

authors working with BCR and Self

The exploration of one moment of a therapeutic encounter

Using BCR in the therapeutic encounter

Overview

Both transcendental realism and idealism see the

move (…) as involving creative model building, in

which plausible generative mechanisms are

imagined to produce the phenomena in question.

But whereas for transcendental idealism the

imagined mechanism is imaginary, for realism it

may be real, and come to be established as such.

What is imagined may be real; but what is

imaginary cannot. (Bhaskar 2008 p145)

Bhaskar R. (2008). A Realist Theory of Science: Routladge

Holy

Trinity

Ontological Realism

Epistemic Relativism Judgmental Rationality

The challenge within the therapeutic setting

is to explore the clients

paradigm/ideology/schema that leads to

both a TINA formation and an imaginary

(but not real) model of events and state of

affairs, leading to imaginary generative

mechanisms.

“This is because mental health

problems are real and have real

causes, even if their ontology is

complex, value laden in name and

situated in time and place.”

Pilgrim D. (2015) Chapter 7, Section 1 para. 9

Pilgrim, D. (2015). Understanding Mental Health: A critical realist exploration: Taylor Francis (Kindle Version)

Retrieved from http://www.amazon.co.uk

In original critical realism Bhaskar applies the

causal criterion for ascribing reality to something,

meaning that anything effecting material change in

the world can be judged real. The empiricist notion

that only that which can be directly experience is

real precluded an identification of power

structures, since these cannot themselves be

seen, heard, felt.

(Gunnarsson 2003 p148)

Gunnarsson L. (2013). The Contradictions of Love: Routladge

Experience

Model Building

Generative

Mechanism

Imagined/imaginar

yReal

Adaption of diagram 3.1 the logic of scientific discovery Bhaskar 2008 p145

The logic of scientific discovery diagram adapted to the

therapeutic encounter.

Bhaskar R. (2008). A Realist Theory of Science: Verso

Client (A) and (B) have been in a relationship for a number of years

A feels that B has begun to distance themselves from the relationship.

B is planning a business trip

A is conflicted as A feels that the business trip is a chance for B to pull further

away from the relationship.

When A asks if it would be possible to join B on the business trip, B responds

in the negative.

A begins to create imaginary speculation as to why B wants to go on the trip

and begins to find ways to keep B from attending the business trip.

The speculation that A creates lead to feeling of abandonment and depression.

One moment in a therapeutic encounter

Business Trip

Model Building

Conflict as

intrapersonal

power structure

B no longer wants to be in

relationship with A

Real

(Conflict) intransitive v.

To be in opposition; to

be contradictory

Explore conflict as a

possible emotional

generative mechanismA is experiencingconflict

Explanatory Critique

[...] the first step towards moderating a troublesome emotion is to

recognize that it is a judgment that necessarily relies on a cognitive

element in order to describe its object, which has a tendency to be

flawed because of its inherently perspectival nature. If we come to

recognize this, we can define what such a judgment in principle entails

and then begin to reflect on and discern what other causes are involved.

This allows us to break the emotion down into component parts, which

not only enables us to moderate its intensity by geometrically

redistributing that energy amongst those component parts, but also

allows us to potentially connect and understand them as causes by

placing them within an adequately conceived causal system. (Evenden M J

2012 p180)

Evenden M J . (2012). Critical Realism in the personal Domain: Spinoza and Explanatory Critique of the

Emotions. Journal of Critical Realism. 11 (2).

Almost all the phenomena of the world occur in open systems. […] A

characteristic pattern for the analysis of explanation of such phenomena was

developed in basic critical realism. This involves ‘the RRREIC schema’, where

the first R or R1 stands for the resolution of the complex event or

phenomenon into its components; the second R or R2 for the redescription of

these components in an (ideally, optimally) explanatory significant way; the

third R or R3 for the retrodiction of these component causes to antecedently

existing events or states of affairs; E for the elimination of alternative

competing explanatory antecedents; I for the identification of the causally

efficacious or generative antecedents; and C for the iterative correction of

earlier findings in the light of an (albeit temporarily) completed explanation or

analysis. (Bhaskar et al p 3 2010)

Bhaskar R, Frank C, Høyer G K, Næss P, and Parker J. (2010). Interdisciplinarity and Climate Change: Routledge

the RRREIC schema

I) identifying problems – unmet needs, suffering, false beliefs;

(II) identifying the source or cause of those unmet needs, false beliefs,

etc., such as a particular form of domination;

(III) passing to a negative judgment of those sources of illusion and

oppression;

(IV) favouring (ceteris paribus) actions which remove those sources.

(Sayer A 2000 p159)

Sayer A. (2000). Realism and Social Science: SAGE

Model of Explanatory Critique Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation Chapter 2 section 5 and 6

We cannot ultimately contravene the

basic order of things, if we want to have

our intentions fulfilled, because any

practice is dependent on the forces of

natural necessity which impose their

own, invincible conditions. (Gunnarsson L 2013

p139)

Gunnarsson L. (2013). The Contradictions of Love: Routladge