Definition excerpted with permission from Ginger, Serge International Glossary of Gestalt Psychotherapy (Seven languages including English. Order from FORGE at 183 rue Lecourbe; 75015 Paris, France) Paperback 1995.
Perls identifies four main psychological 'layers': the surface layer of games (conventional social roles), the implosive layer (which leads to the impasse), the explosive layer of emotions and the deep, authentic layer. Implosion is paralysis resulting from internal tension between two opposing forces.
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