CHAPTER 4Decoding Subconscious Expressions
Noting emphases and omissions in expected patterns is an important way to develop clues about covert dynamics. Another way to recognize hidden dynamics—especially unconscious or out-of-awareness dynamics—is to pay attention to symbolic expressions such as word images (Marshak and Katz, 1992). Someone says to you, “We’re dead in the water and going down. Soon it will be everyone for himself.” You may hear this as a colorful statement that things are getting difficult, but you can also hear it as a symbolic expression that the ship is sinking!
If this person is looking at things through a sinking ship image in their prism, they may display the emotions and actions of someone on a sinking ship. The ...
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