Changes in self-concepts during group psychotherapy as a function of alternate sessions and vicarious therapy pretraining in institutionalized mental patients and juvenile delinquents.

Abstract

The present study attempted to evaluate the effects of alternate sessions and vicarious therapy pretraining (VTP) in connection with time-limited group psychotherapy in 4 groups each of institutionalized juvenile delinquents and hospitalized mental patients. Ss were administered self-and ideal-self-concept Q sorts pre-and posttherapy. The findings were as follows: (a) the use of alternate sessions did not facilitate improvement in self-and ideal-self-concepts, but effected negative changes in self-concept as contrasted with a standard expert ideal sort; (b) the use of VTP appears to have had a positive effect on change in ideal-self-concept in the direction of what experts regard as ideal; and (c) there were no differential effects of VTP and alternate sessions in the 2 populations under study. It was also found that mean changes in self-concept measures from pre-to posttherapy were in a positive direction for the mental patients and in a negative direction for the juvenile delinquents.

Strategies for Preparing Clients for Treatment

“…Of the five studies reviewed in Table 1 that examined effects of vicarious therapy pretraining, only one (France & Dugo, 1985) reported findings on attendance and dropout rates; clients receiving preparation had higher attendance rates relative to clients in the control condition, but similar dropout rates. Several other studies found that pretrained clients had improved treatment process and/or outcome (e.g., Truax et al, 1968;Truax, Wargo, Carkhuff, Kodman, & Moles, 1966), although several other studies did not (e.g., France & Dugo, 1985;Truax & Wargo, 1969). In total, this relatively small body of literature suggests that this technique has at least the potential for positively affecting treatment attendance, process, and outcome.…”

A Review of Research On Leaderless Groups

“…Truax and his associates have carried out a number of studies using the alternate session technique (Truax and Wargo, 1969;Truax et al, 1966;Truax et al, 1970). In only one of their published studies did these researchers find even slightly positive results, and this was a study involving mainly a mildly disturbed, outpatient group of college students (Truax and Wargo, 1969).…”

“…Other supportive forces were the treatment of the subjects by professional personnel and other staff and a positive atmosphere in the institution. In studies successful, the institution was a juvenile detention home (Truax et al, 1966(Truax et al, , 1970, and other institutions in which the subjects might not have had an especially supportive environment outside the leaderless group (Seligman and Sterne, 1969). …”

A comparison of four warm-up techniques for initiating encounter groups.

“…Modeled self-disclosure was found to foster the desired verbal behavior either by itself (Jourard & Friedman, 1970;Rappaport, Gross, & Leppcr, 1973;Stone & Gottlieb, 1975;Stone & Stebbins, 1975) or in combination with specific instructions defining self-disclosure (Stone & Gottlieb, 1975;Whalen, 1969). Truax, Wargo, Carkhuff, Kodman, and Moles (1966) found that the use of an audiotapc taken from interviews as a method of vicarious, therapy pretraining was associated with positive changes in self-concept. Overall, modeled self-disclosure Requests for reprints should be sent to Lewis J. Ellenhorn, Pitzer College, Claremont, California 91711.…”