The primary objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of the
verbal metaphor in therapeutic communication. Two aspects were consequently
investigated. namely (1) how the subject(s) observed/interpreted the verbal
metaphor and (2) what the non-verbal response was to the verbal metaphor
By means of a study of literature a classification of therapeutic metaphors could
be established, which clearly delineated n,e field of study A number of
functions fulfilled by the metaphor within therapeutic communication were also
named and described. bringing about rapport. facilitating connection by means
of universality, allowing for the expression of emotions. accomplishing
perceptual redefining and reorganisation, leading towards insight and creating
possibilities for change. A Likert scale was used by a panel of evaluators to evaluate five non-verbal
behavioral types, before and after giving the verbal metaphor. Bodily
orientation, posture, hand movements, arm positions and nods were selected
based on the fact that all of these were indicated as reliable non-verbal
behavioral types for research purposes The non-verbal behavior was evaluated
by means of excerpts from video recordings made of each interview.
Quantitative research methods were used to process the data, and as a
consequence broader tendencies with regard to the effect of the verbal
metaphor in therapeutic communication were indicated.
Th:! results of the questionnaire and the Likert scale concurred to a large extent
and from this it transpired that the verbal metaphor can be regarded as a
successful and useful intervention in therapeutic communication.
The observation/interpretation of the subjects with regard to the verbal metaphor
was measured by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of
questions based on the various functions of the metaphor in therapeutic
communication.
Afrikaans: Die primere doel van hierdie ondersoek was om die verbale metafoor se effek in
terapeutiese kommunikasie te bepaal Twee aspekte is gevolglik ondersoek.
naamlik (1) hoe die subjek(te) die verbale metafoor waargeneem/gelnterpreteer
het en (2) wat die nieverbale respons op die verbale metafoor was
Uit 'n literatuurstudie oor die metafoor kon 'n klassifikasie van terapeuliese
metafore daargestel word. wat die studieveld duidelik afgebaken het. 'n Aantal
funksies wat die metafoor binne terapeutiese kommunikasie vervul, is oak
benoem en beskryf bewerkstellig rapport, vergemaklik aansluiting deur
universaliteit, laat uitdrukking van emosies toe, bring perseptuele herdefiniering
en reorganisering mee, lei tot insig en skep geleenthede vir verandering.
Die subjekte se waarneming/interpretasie van die verbale metafoor is deur
middel van 'n vraelys gemeet. Die vraelys het bestaan uit vrae gebaseer op die
onderskeie funksies van die metafoor in terapeutiese kommunikasie. 'n Likertskaal is deur 'n paneel beoordetaars gebruik om vyf nieverbale
gedragstipes, voor en na die gee van die verbale metafoor te beoordeel. Liggaamsorientasie, liggaamnshouding handbowegings armposisie en
kopknikke is geselekteer op grand van die fert dal almal as betroubare
meverbale gedragstipes vir navorsingsdoeleindes uitgewys is. Die beoordelings
van die nieverbale gedrag is aan die hand van snitte van video-oprames wat
van elke onderhoud gemaak is gedoen
Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik om die data te verwerk wat tot
gevolg gehad het dat breere tendense met berekking tot die effek van die
verbale metafoor in terapeutiese kommumkasie uitgewys os
Die resultate ten opsigle van die vraetys en die Likertskaal het grotendeels met
mekaar ooreengestem en hieruit het geblyk dat die verbale metafoor as n
geslaagde en bruikbare intervensie in terapeulrese kommunikasie beskou kan
word.
