When "Try, Try Again" Turns to "You're Beating a Dead Horse": The Rhetorical Characteristics of Proverbs and Their Potential for Influencing Therapeutic Change

This article, discusses the rhetorical characteristics of proverbs and their potential relationship to change in therapeutic communities. Published research concerning the rhetorical characteristics of proverbs is reviewed in relation to the potential role these factors play in promoting behavioral change. This article indicates that many linguistic facets inherent in proverbs have been shown to be successful in the therapeutic context. Concerns and directions for future research are also offered.