Interpersonal Decentering and Psychopathology in a University Clinic Sample Page: 1
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INTRODUCTION
The concept of decentering was first proposed by Piaget (1950) as an essential ability
related to cognitive development, primarily in the impersonal domain. Feffer (1959) expanded
Piaget's concept of decentering by applying it to the interpersonal realm and later to
symptomatology. Feffer (1966) eventually developed a scoring system for the Thematic
Apperception Test (TAT) as a means for measuring the construct of interpersonal decentering.
Interpersonal decentering involves being aware of and anticipating another's thoughts,
feelings, or actions, and then modifying one's own behavior to enhance social interactions
(Jenkins, Dobbs, & Leeper, 2007). Distinguishing between complementary social roles (e.g.
leader-follower) and coordinating the viewpoints associated with these roles leads to an accurate
and adaptive understanding of interpersonal interactions. Individuals who only consider
interpersonal interactions from a single viewpoint have difficulty modulating their social
behavior appropriately (Feffer, 1967). Symptomatology manifests to the degree that viewpoints
associated with complementary social roles are uncoordinated or are considered in isolation from
each other.
A major goal of this study was to contribute to the modest body of literature on Melvin
Feffer's Interpersonal Decentering Scoring System for the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT;
Feffer, Leeper, Dobbs, Jenkins, & Perez, 2008). Given that this is an understudied area, research
should begin with some exploratory studies in the area to try out some theoretical principles and
possibly do some theory building.
The present study was designed to clarify the nature of the construct of interpersonal
decentering by examining the relationship between interpersonal decentering, as measured by the
Interpersonal Decentering Scoring System for the TAT (Feffer et al., 2008), and symptoms of
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Burkman, Summer D. Interpersonal Decentering and Psychopathology in a University Clinic Sample, thesis, May 2008; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6130/m1/6/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .