THEORY AND TECHNIQUE OF CULTURALIST THERAPY IN MENTAL HEALTH

The theory of Culturalist Therapy begins with a consideration of the origins of the human being — with a study of evolution and cultural anthropology. Anthropologist Hallowell noted that what anthropologists call “culture” is not instinctual but learned. It includes the transmission of learned behavior through the symbolic means of language. A system of social interaction was necessary for human evolution. This development could not have taken place without the evolution of the human brain; with advancing cortical development came the ability to use words as symbols for percepts and concepts that are passed on from generation to generation. This ever accelerating ability to transmit knowledge produced a psychosocial evolution that was thousands of times faster than anything that could have occurred through ordinary biological evolution.

This would indicate that social existence is not only created by man but also continually creates and develops man.This concept is the key to Culturalist Therapy. What is required in therapy is to change the social existence of patients so that they will experience more productive and creative lives. Through new life experiences made possible by therapy, they can be, as it were, “newly created.” The friend,the spouse, the family, the community and the society form a continuum that must be considered for possible change. Thus, the culturalist therapist, although working with individuals, will emphasize family therapy, group therapy, and community mental health programs. The degree to which therapy can help an individual is limited by the extent to which he can be helped to find a healthy social field for adequate functioning. The health of the social field, in turn, depends on the extent to which healthy individuals are acting to bring about needed changes. The relationship between social environment and the individual is truly reciprocal.