Variety, Variety, Variety
I'm a clinical psychologist, but I still have one foot in the world of software development. I remember those days of grad school interviews when I kinda got the impression that both interests existing in the same person was... a little weird. Or, as I can appreciate now, that might have been projection. But for whatever reason, I have tried to live in both worlds.
Part of my fascination with technology is because you can always expect something new to happen. And I really love new things. Don't get me wrong. The older I get, the more I appreciate old, comfortable, and familiar. But technology and design are a reliable gold mines for the new. If there's one thing you can predict, it's that something new will come along.
It reminds me of one of my favorite Bugs Bunny episodes where a spoiled monarch complains to his chef, capably played by Yosemite Sam:
It's always the same thing! Variety, variety, variety!
- The King, in Shiskabugs
I love that one!
Where was I? Oh! Technology and Therapy. Right!
The recent "new" I'm thinking of in technology probably qualifies as a paradigm shift in the field of UX design. Back in my days of coding, I was focused on making the app look cool while also getting it to do what I wanted it to do. But I've been so happy to see that focus give way to a more profound and holistic perspective – something referred to as person-centered design. This trend in UX design looks remarkably like the core principles of person-centered therapy, and I want to briefly mention the connection I see between these two domains.
Person-Centered Therapy: Foundations of Empathy
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Person-centered therapy, pioneered by Carl Rogers, was built on the importance of creating a non-judgmental and empathetic environment, in this case, so that therapy could happen. Person-centered therapy, inspired by Rogers' principles, seeks to empower individuals by fostering self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-direction. This approach places the individual at the heart of the process, acknowledging their unique experiences, feelings, and perspectives.
The Convergence: Empathy and Understanding
One of the most striking connections between person-centered design and therapy lies in the concept of empathy. In therapy, empathy is the cornerstone of building trust and facilitating growth. In UX design, empathy for the end user's experience is equally critical. A person-centered UX designer works to understand users' emotions, frustrations, and needs to create interfaces that resonate with them on a personal level.
Understanding User Emotions
Person-centered therapy is deeply rooted in understanding and validating emotions. Similarly, Person-centered UX design places a strong emphasis on recognizing and accommodating users' emotional states. By starting with the claim that users experience a wide range of emotions while interacting with a product or interface, designers can create experiences that are not only functional but also emotionally satisfying.
At the very least, this hopefully means that in the design phase, the developer is looking not just at a screen but at a user's face, like an actual individual person using the software or talking about needing the software, preferably sitting in front of the developer, in person.
Enhancing User Autonomy
Both person-centered therapy and UX design prioritize autonomy. In therapy, clients are encouraged to make choices that align with their values and goals. In UX design, providing users with choices and customization options empowers them to tailor their experiences to their preferences. This shared emphasis on autonomy promotes a sense of ownership and control that can enhance the overall user experience.
Feedback and Growth
Person-centered therapy relies on feedback as a tool for growth and self-improvement. In UX design, feedback mechanisms, such as user testing and iterative design, serve a similar purpose. By actively seeking and incorporating user feedback, designers can refine and enhance their products to better align with users' evolving needs and expectations.
Allow Me to Summarize
This shift toward a person-centered design in UX research, rooted in empathy, understanding, and a focus on individual needs, mirrors the core principles of person-centered therapy. By bridging the gap between these disciplines, we have the opportunity to create technology and interfaces that not only meet functional requirements but also enhance the emotional and psychological well-being of users. Experts in human emotion and interaction, are thankfully embracing this convergence and I believe is is driving positive change in both the digital and therapeutic realms, ultimately improving the human experience. It also means that my continual move between the world of Tech and therapy is understandable instead of just plain weird.
On some level I have an urge to say to those people I used to sit next to, typing away at lines of code, "Hey, nice to be back on the same team again!"