Abstract

Every individual experiences a complex array of events, situations, and circumstances within their lifetime that influence their psychological development and sense of personhood. Previous relationships and attachments, social roles and expectations, formative experiences and contexts, education, gender, culture, and countless other factors influence how we perceive ourselves, the world, and those around us. The nexus between our personal characteristics and experiences is where our individuality and relationality lie, and – from a psychological perspective – our preferences, biases, behaviours, peccadillos, hopes, and fears are forged within this complex milieu.

Within this this chapter, we introduce psychological formulation, and its role in aiding psychological practitioners to manage and understand this complexity. We also provide an overview of the structure of the current volume, and offer a number of criteria for critically evaluating the psychological formulations presented therein.