Intensive Interaction Decision Making : Some draft research findings

Over the last few years we (i.e. me and my research assistants Megan Glyde & Gemma Denby) have been looking into the decision making processes of Intensive Interaction practitioners. Below I set out some draft general findings of that research. I would certainly be interested in any views you have about this complex, dynamic and multi-faceted issue:

The broad categories that emerged during our qualitative study into the decision making processes of practitioners (13 qualified Intensive Interaction Coordinators no less!) when applying the general principles of Intensive Interaction, included there being times when:

1. The decision making process could generally be described as ‘conscious’ and/or consciously ‘reflective’ in nature:

Such ‘conscious’ and/or ‘reflective’ considerations being given by an Intensive Interaction practitioner to a number of what they perceived to be significant practice related issues, these potentially differing in their form or focus depending on whether such ‘reflective’ considerations take place:

• Before, or in preparation to social engage with a learner/service user
• When initiating a period of Intensive Interaction with a learner/service user
• During the period of Intensive Interaction with a learner/service user
• Approaching or at the point of disengagement from a period of Intensive Interaction with a learner/service user
• After disengaging from a period of Intensive Interaction with a learner/service user; with the form of these reflections being dependant on whether any post-engagement reflections were conducted individually, or if they were in some way structured (e.g. within a video reflection protocol) and supported by colleagues/peers.

2. The decision making process could generally be described as ‘intuitive’ or ‘unconscious’ in nature: 

Such ‘intuitive’ or ‘unconscious’ decision making being evident when the Intensive Interaction practitioner stated that they are affectively ‘attuned’, or ‘tuned-in’ to, or interactively ‘going with the flow’ with a learner/service user during a sustained period of Intensive Interaction. 

With some learners/service users such a state of optimal emotional and interactive attunement was reported to be built relatively easily and relatively quickly, whilst with others such an attuned state could take longer to attain, and be less securely developed.

3. The decision making process could be described as dynamically moving between ‘intuitive’ and ‘conscious’ decision making:

Any such movement between different levels or states of conscious or intuitive decision making was seen to be triggered as and when certain issues arose that were registered ‘in the moment’ as significant by the Intensive Interaction practitioner. The reasons given by practitioners for such movements between different cognitive states being associated with perceived variations in a learner/service user’s levels of engagement, or with perceived changes (current, imminent or desired) in the learner/service user’s levels of arousal or behaviour, or if 'moving on' in some way (currently or desired) from the shared and mutually negotiated interactive repertoire. 

From an attuned and intuitive state of engagement, practitioners reported at times becoming more conscious or consciously reflective in their thinking as a period of Intensive Interaction, for some reason, moved out of a state of predictable and optimal flow. 

Movement from conscious decision making to a state of more intuitive practicing of Intensive Interaction seemingly taking place when a process of emotional and behavioural attunement successfully developed between the practitioner and a learner/service user across a period of Intensive Interaction.

p.s. as I write up more of the findings I will share these with you in 2019 - Happy New Year!