City Research Online

Abstract

The inner critic (IC) is considered a transdiagnostic phenomenon that underpins a wide range of mental health diagnoses. There is a higher prevalence of IC in women than in men, persisting between 12 and 31 years old and decreasing linearly with age. Although young women are especially vulnerable to having an IC, limited phenomenological research has been conducted to understand their experiences. This study aims to explore the experiences of young women (18-30 years of age) who have a strong IC. It also aims to provide new meanings and a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and how young women make sense of it. The methodology used in this study was interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), employing semi-structured interviews and a visualisation task. Eight women between the ages of 18 and 30 who identified as having a strong IC were recruited. Five main themes (GETs) and eighteen subthemes emerged from the analysis: ‘The manifestation of the IC phenomenon’, which refers to the different manifestations of the IC; ‘How is the IC experienced?’ including emotions and embodied experience; ‘The dual role of the IC’ reflecting the IC's both positive and negative aspects; and ‘Responses to the IC’ in which participants describe how they respond to or manage their IC; and ‘Making sense of the IC’ refers to how participants understand the IC, whether through formative experiences, socio-cultural influences, or as a shared unspoken experience. Research findings were discussed in relation to existing research. The implications of the IC for clinical practice are discussed, with suggestions for ways of exploring, formulating, and working with the IC in clinical practice, as well as suggestions for future research.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Psychology School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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