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The Relationship: How It Works

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Abstract

As tension continues to exist between those who endorse contextual versus medical explanations for the efficacy of psychotherapy, it remains undetermined how psychotherapy works. One of the primary purposes of this chapter is to provide a rationale on evolved social and relational characteristics for the efficacy of psychotherapy. In conjunction with an evolutionary explanation for why psychotherapy is effective, we provide compelling evidence that there is a neurological and social context for three separate pathways—which we call the tripartite model of the relationship. The first path includes the real relationship between the patient and the therapist. The second path is comprised of expectations that are maintained and generated via cogent rationales and treatments. The third path consists of the benefits of healthy actions and how specific ingredients contribute to these behaviors.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Louisville, KY, USA

    Stephanie L. Budge

  2. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Bruce E. Wampold

  3. Forskningsinstituttet, Modum Bad Psychiatric Center, Vikersund, Norway

    Bruce E. Wampold

Authors
  1. Stephanie L. Budge
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  2. Bruce E. Wampold
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Correspondence to Stephanie L. Budge .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Salento, Lecce, Italy, and Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria

    Omar C.G. Gelo

  2. Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria

    Alfred Pritz

  3. Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria

    Bernd Rieken

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Budge, S.L., Wampold, B.E. (2015). The Relationship: How It Works. In: Gelo, O., Pritz, A., Rieken, B. (eds) Psychotherapy Research. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1382-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1382-0_11

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