Transitions among interpersonal motivations

Transitions are defined as the activation of multiple Interpersonal Motivational Systems (IMS) in the context of a single statement made either by patient or psychotherapist. In this paper the concept of “harmonious and disharmonious transitions” is discussed. The transitions were analyzed through four transcripts of psychotherapy sessions of four different patients, each of such a clinical complexity so as to allow for the identification of several Transitions. Authors will discuss the vicarious function absolved by disharmonious transitions on reaching interpersonal goals in the presence of a damaged motivational system. Finally, a dimensional harmonious-disharmonious continuum was suggested, allowing for the diversification of multiple forms of harmonious transitions, with a different meaning and relevance for psychopathology and attachment disorders.