Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Pathogenic Beliefs: Theory and Clinical Implications

Abstract According to Control-Mastery Theory, an integrative cognitive-dynamic theory of mental functioning, psychopathology, and psychotherapy process, functional psychopathology derives from pathogenic beliefs. Pathogenic beliefs associates a healthy adaptive goal danger, are generally developed during the developmental period adapt traumas unconsciously tested by patients in be disproved. We propose existence that mainly encoded as bodily tensions, sensations, emotions, intensions, images expectations, only secondarily or not at all words. These non-verbal painfully affect patients’ states, emotions behaviours without being able understand reasons their own reactions actions. In order disprove these therapy, it is enough clinician help make them explicit; clinicians have also overall attitude, paraverbal communications, adjust setting, nuances “atmosphere” therapeutic relationship according specific gave rise beliefs, goals thwarted how patient test them. The disconfirmation pre-verbal may facilitated techniques address problems on level. preverbal embodied corrective emotional experience needed.