Not So Fast: A Response to Raskin. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Efran, Jay S.; Cohen, Jonah N.
• Other Names: Kamens Sarah R. guest-editor.; Robbins Brent Dean guest-editor.; Flanagan Elizabeth H. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of humanistic psychology. Volume 59:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 385
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: diagnostic system -- map vs. territory -- DSM-5 -- personal construct theory -- biopsychosocial explanations -- psychotherapy client input; Humanistic psychology -- Periodicals; 150.192
• DOI: 10.1177/0022167818777600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1678

Abstract

In our response to Raskin, we caution that combining incompatible vocabularies usually results in a linguistic muddle from which it becomes increasingly difficult to escape. Although omnibus terms such as "psychosocial" and "biopsychosocial" sound reasonable, they function merely as slogans, without any clear meaning or explanatory power. We recommend tailoring a linguistically consistent system to meet our needs as psychologists. We also warn against the tendency for some to blur the distinction between client input and professional perspectives.