Fairy tales, metaphors, moments of insight
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15135/2017.5.1.21-36Abstract
The effectiveness of the therapeutic use of fairy tales is widely assumed but evidence-based knowledge about the underlying mechanisms is still missing. This experimental study investigates if fairy tales and their embedded metaphors operate via direct or delayed moments of insight. Seven patients heard a fairy tale not tailored for a specific mental disorder in 4 sessions and were interviewed after the fairy tale’s presentation. All subjects (N = 7) identified with the fairy tale’s characters and related their real life’s problems to the fairy tales. Since the majority describes a positive effect, the positive effect via insight moments is confirmed. The results support the therapeutic use of fairy tales.
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