The Richness of Kokoro and its Paradox: Change in Kokoro and their Ripple Effects in Psychotherapy

Research Topic
The Richness of Kokoro and its Paradox: Change in Kokoro and their Ripple Effects in Psychotherapy

Lead Researcher
Toshio Kawai, Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University

Collaborating Researchers
Yasuhiro Tanaka, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University

Kotaro Umemura, Junior Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University

Center Co-Researchers
Chihiro Hatanaka, Senior Lecturer, Uehiro Kokoro Studies, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University

Hisae Konakawa, Program-Specific Research Fellow, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University

The concept of “the richness of kokoro” includes the positive change grasped by the image of upward right growth as well as what one can gain after recovery from a negative condition. At one time, negative changes come about as if compensating for seemingly positive changes, and at another time, a growth of plus α arises in addition to the settlement of the initial problem, when recovery or change from a negative state occurs. Thus, “the richness of kokoro” is considered to be paradoxical.

In general, psychotherapy aims for growth or development through the resolution of psychological problems of the clients. The process in which a client of psychotherapy recovers or changes from the negative state is not always generated only by the image of upward right growth. It has been realized in clinical practices that negative things arising in the process of psychotherapy sometimes bring a growth of kokoro.

In this research, “the richness of kokoro” is regarded as a change or recovery from the negative state, and psychotherapy cases are quantitatively analyzed from a meta point of view. These efforts will lead to the visualization of actual changes in kokoro.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, resilience peculiar to Japanese people was internationally noticed. This study aims to find the recovery function of kokoro peculiar to Japanese culture connected with nature and community. It is inferred that there are cultural differences in the relationship between individuals and groups or in the strength of independence required of an individual by its society. Thus, it is necessary to consider the influence of region, time, and culture when considering the richness of kokoro. The Japanese “view of kokoro” will be clarified from the various cultural and historical perspectives by conducting research on Buddhist thought, literature, and literary works.

There are few previous studies on the effects and factors of psychotherapy due to the problem of privacy. In this project, the evaluation perspective that arose from the pilot studies will be improved, and based on the completed psychotherapy cases, the statistical analysis is advanced. Based on this methodology, the purpose of this study is to objectively present the events that contribute to the recovery process of kokoro beyond the simple disappearance of a certain symptom, and the growth potential as well as factors that prevent change without compromising the client’s confidentiality.

At the same time, this project will investigate how ripple effects of the intra-personal changes, or “coherence of richness,” reach out to one’s reality and to other people. From these results, we hope to present a typified model of the possibility of kokoro’s recovery and growth in the contemporary society where not everyone is free from stress.

2019/05/22