Perspective-Taking Tools: Symbols & Quotes
Description/benefits
Symbols and quotes are tools that can be used as thinking props for personal problem exploration and resolution. Symbols, or visual metaphors, depict basic pictures such as a candle, lightning, a child, or a flower. Symbols can be used to provide focus and to add interest to personal problem exploration. Quotes are popular phrases or proverbs, such as “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”. Quotes can be used to motivate, to bring about a change in mood, or to change the thinking that surrounds a personal issue. Both symbols and quotes have been used to add enjoyment or interest to the process of confronting and exploring personal problems or stressors.
Research Principles
Writing about or mapping personal problems can be helpful in terms of psychological and physical well-being (Chmielewski, 1998; Czuchry & Dansereau,1999; Dansereau, Joe, & Simpson, 1995; Francis & Pennebaker, 1991; Pennebaker 1997). However, individuals may find these tasks unenjoyable, difficult, or uninteresting, since confronting a personal problem or stressor is rarely enjoyable in any format. If writing and mapping are perceived negatively, it is likely that these valuable techniques will be underused. In addition, both writing and mapping techniques can be limited by "closed system" thinking. That is, when individuals use the techniques on their own, there may be no sources of external ideas as would be available in a counseling situation. Thus, individuals may have difficulties knowing where to start or how to shift perspectives in order to generate additional ideas.
Symbols and quotes have been added to therapeutic writing and mapping in order to address the above limitations (see also Thought Team; Logan, Dansereau, Williams, Schepis, 1998; Wiitala & Dansereau, 2002). Adding picture symbols has been shown to enhance therapeutic writing by making it more enjoyable and helping individuals to generate more solutions to their problems (Logan, Dansereau, Williams, Schepis, 1998). Research indicates that individuals who used quotes in conjunction with therapeutic writing and mapping reported heightened feelings of interest (level of general arousal) after using the techniques than those who did not use quotes (Wiitala & Dansereau, 2002). In addition, those who expressed little confidence in their problem solving abilities and wrote with quotes were more positive in their perceptions of current "life satisfaction" than their counterparts who wrote without quotes. Using quotes can both enhance positive feelings around self-exploration tasks and promote more positive self-evaluation.Implementation/uses
Symbols and quotes can be used for a broad array of purposes. Counselors can use them in formal settings in order to aid in the exploration of issues with their clients. Quotes have also been used in the substance abuse population in a series of activities to enhance counseling, such as the weekly planner. In addition, quotes are used in the "Under Construction" activities and in the "Downward Spiral." Individuals can also use symbols and quotes informally for self-counseling purposes as an addition to journal writing or mapping.
Limitations
A major limitation of using symbols and quotes for specific problem exploration is that it may be difficult to find appropriate symbols and quotes to relate to a particular population. However, some groups may have slogans and quotes already in place, such as those used in Alcoholics Anonymous. Another option is to visit a website of quotes (see below) or a published book of quotes. Many of these sources organize quotes according to subject, making it relatively easy to find quotes to apply to specific problems.
Individuals with poor reading skills may have a difficult time understanding the quotes; symbols may work better for this group. In addition, the application of symbols and quotes to personal problem-solving techniques (mapping, therapeutic writing) may be overwhelming to some people. For this reason, it is important to provide training and practice using the techniques.
Links
See the discussion on free maps and guide maps for more information on mapping techniques.
See the discussion on Thought Team for another way to enhance therapeutic writing techniques.
See the discussion on Under Construction for another use of quotes.
See the discussion on The Downward Spiral, which uses quotes to illustrate consequences.
Visit http://www.gunnar.cc/quotes.html
and http://www.famous-quotations.com/
to search for quotes by topic, author, keyword, etc.
References
Baddeley, A. (1986). Human memory: Theory and practice. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Chmieleski, T. L. (1998). Node-link mapping as an alternative to therapeutic writing. Dissertation Texas Christian University.
Dansereau, D. F., Joe, G. W., & Simpson, D. D. (1995). Attentional difficulties and the effectiveness of a visual representation strategy for counseling drug-addicted clients. The International Journal of the Addictions, 30(4), 371-386.
Dees, S. M., & Dansereau, D. F. (1993). Using schematic organizers to help college students organize personal concepts and behavior related to alcohol and cocaine use. Addictive Behaviors, 18, 645-657.
Francis, M. E., & Pennebaker, J. W. (1991). Putting stress into words: The impact of writing on physiological, absentee, and self-reported emotional well-being measures. American Journal of Health Promotion, 6, 280-287.
Logan, S. M., Dansereau, D. F., Williams, C. C., & Schepis, T. J. (1998). Using visual metaphors to enhance therapeutic writing. Texas Christian University.
Peel, J. L. & Dansereau, D. F. (1998). Management and prevention of personal problems in older adolescents via schematic maps and peer feedback. Adolescence, 33, 355-374.
Pennebaker, J. W. (1989). Confession, inhibition and disease. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 22, pp. 211-244). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. Psychological Science, 8, 162-165.
Wiitala, W. L., & Dansereau, D. F. (2002). Quotes as thinking props in personal problem solving. Thesis Texas Christian University.