A statement refers to a verbal or written expression that conveys information, opinion or belief. In psychology, statements can be used to elicit information from a person, as well as convey information about that person to others.
Examples of statements in psychology include:
- A therapist asking a patient to describe their symptoms or feelings
- A patient telling a therapist about a traumatic event they experienced
- A researcher asking participants in a study to rate their level of agreement with a particular statement on a Likert scale
- A parent telling a child psychologist about their child's behavior at home
- A clinician making a diagnosis based on the patient's statement and observed symptoms
- Behavioral statement: A statement that describes an individual's observable behavior. For example, "The child throws tantrums when they don't get what they want."
- Cognitive statement: A statement that describes an individual's thoughts or beliefs. For example, "The patient believes that everyone is out to get them."
- Emotional statement: A statement that describes an individual's feelings or emotions. For example, "The patient reports feeling anxious and overwhelmed."
- Diagnostic statement: A statement that describes an individual's diagnosis or condition. For example, "The patient has been diagnosed with depression."
- Therapeutic statement: A statement that is made during a therapy session that aims to help the individual understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors better. For example, "It sounds like you're feeling really upset about what happened at work today."
Statements are important in psychology as they provide insight into the person's thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and experiences. They can be used to assess the person's mental health status, diagnose any disorders and also to plan treatment or interventions.
Statements can also be used to help identify and understand different aspects of an individual's mental and emotional state, and can be used in the assessment and treatment process.