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Lesson 24 Deeper Cathartic Probe and Exercise

In the last lesson, both guide and subject made a first contact with the work of catharsis. The exercises in Lesson 23 were aimed at revealing any tension associated with particular themes. Their other objective was to achieve an elementary catharsis by asking the subject to speak freely about whatever things or reveries he wished to. We will now advance to more precise techniques which always follow the pattern of first detecting any problems (probe), and then discharging whatever tensions are found. It is important to understand that we are not interested in releasing the charges related to situational or momentary tensions; rather, we are interested in releasing the charges related to permanent tensions. Although they may have a wide variety of specific sources permanent tensions are usually connected to three central themes: money, sex, and self-image. We will now present a complete cathartic probe system which does not require any special preparation. This system is based on a list of stimulus-words. The guide begins to say stimulus-words, and the subject replies with another word as quickly as possible by simple association of ideas without any rationalizing. Rationalizing occurs when the response words define, describe, or repeat the stimulus-word. For example, if the guide says “chair” and subject answers “seat,” this is a rationalization which is of no use for the purpose of the probe. The stimulus-words the guide uses are, to begin with, neutral words. That is, they are words that refer to everyday things such as tables, chairs, doors, a window, a bed, kitchen, car, city, factory, toy, etc. After a while the guide begins to intersperse these neutral words with other words related to the three central themes of money, sex and self-image. For example, the list of stimulus-words might now read: table, money, door, love, father, mother, car, ridiculous, factory, death, child, etc. We call words related to the three central themes, or which are a threat to the life or integrity of the subject (e.g. death, illness, accident, etc.), “significant words” whether they are stimulus or response words.

Recommendations The guide should use words that are normal and in good taste. The guide should also take notes on the “significant answers” by the subject, that is, words that are either related to the central themes, or that the subject says with some emotional charge. For example, if someone answers the stimulus word “chair” with the word “lover,” an interjection such as “Ay!,” or a strange construction such as “I can’t,” these would all be significant answers. It is especially important for the guide to pay attention to the following indicators of tension in the subject: 1. An increase in muscular tension upon hearing the stimulus-word or in giving the answer. 2. Any change in the tone of voice. 3. Any change in breathing (sighs, etc.) 4. Any movements or change in body posture. 5. An excessively slow answer. 6. The forgetting of words with which to answer the stimulus-word. 7. Emotionally charged answers.

Case 5 nearly always means the subject exchanged the first word he came up with for another word. Case 6 denotes a blockage of images. Case 7 is of a cathartic nature.

In the following exercises the guide will say neutral words and will also intersperse words, either previously used stimulus-words or previous answers by the subject, which proved to be significant words. Next, the guide begins to say two words together, and the subject also answers with two words. The guide then begins to say complete phrases organized around significant words, and asks the subject to answer with phrases. The probe has reached an interesting level when the guide begins to talk less, and the subject begins to talk increasingly more, opening up so that a simple cathartic probe turns into an emotionally charged narration. This indicates that cathartic possibilities are opening, and can even produce flashy outbursts such as laughter, crying, explosions of anger, etc.

Exercise 1 The guide says a list of stimulus-words, one by one, and the subject answers each stimulus-word with the first word that comes to mind.

Exercise 2 The guide begins to intersperse the neutral stimulus-words with significant words which are related to the three central themes (money, sex, self-image), and significant words which the subject has already used as replies in the previous exercise.

Exercise 3 The guide now begins to say two words at a time, and the subject answers with two words.

Exercise 4 The guide says complete phrases structured around significant words, and asks the subject to reply with phrases.

Exercise 5 The guide says significant phrases and asks the subject to express himself or herself freely and at length, without any inhibition or rationalization whatever.

Once they complete these exercises, the guide helps the subject interpret the significant phenomena and make a coherent summary of his or her basic problems. If the subject experiences a feeling of relief of tensions at the end of these exercises, then a catharsis has taken place. Of course, catharsis may reach different depths, and for this reason we suggest repeating this work several times. As usual, the participants exchange roles at the end of this series of exercises. It is possible to adapt these techniques so they are usable in everyday life. This is especially useful for you to help people who show strong internal tensions and communication problems in general. We present an everyday cathartic probe that can be done with a person who has no previous knowledge of these works.

Exercise: Cathartic Feedback Probe The guide begins by asking the subject to answer each word the guide says with a different word, and if the guide says several words, the subject should also answer with several words. Finally, when the guide says complete phrases, the subject should answer with complete phrases. The guide also asks the subject to answer freely and immediately, without any inhibition or rationalization. The guide begins the practice by saying a word at random, and the subject answers. The guide then takes the same word the subject used as an answer and repeats it back to the subject again. The subject answers with a different word, and the guide then repeats the same word the subject used for an answer as a new stimulus word. In this way, the subject himself or herself develops a sort of cathartic plot until the subject reaches a point where he or she alone is speaking.