Locus of control and clients' expectations of psychotherapeutic outcome

Abstract

The two studies reported in this paper investigated the hypothesis that an important determinant of clients' therapeutic expectations is to be found in the match between therapists' and clients' locus of control. The first study was an analogue study employing role plays, conducted with a sample of 67 clients. The second study investigated 78 clients in real clinical settings. Both studies investigated the effect of matched vs. mismatched cognitive styles on clients' expectations. Results from both studies support the hypothesis that the more similar the control orientations of therapist and client, the more favourable the clients' expectations. Limitations of the studies and the possible implications of the research findings are discussed.

Clients' preferences for styles of therapy

“…4. External locus of control (Foon, 1986). The therapist focused on external causes of the client's problems, such as socio-economic problems, and attempted to offer support by showing how her problems reflected causes beyond her control.…”

Locus of control as a predictor of outcome of psychotherapy

“…In a series of studies, Foon (1985Foon ( , 1986) assessed the match between clients' and therapists' locus of control orientations on clinical expectations. In two studies (Foon, 1985), therapists were asked to estimate their likely success with clients (either internal or external) presented in the form of written vignettes or videotaped role plays.…”

“…Results indicated that there was a significant interaction between client's and therapist's locus of control in relation to therapist's expectations of therapeutic success. In two further studies (Foon, 1986), clients were asked to estimate their likely success with therapists (internal or external) in analogue (videotaped role plays) or real-life clinical settings. Results from these studies supported the hypothesis that the more similar the control orientations of therapist and client, the more favourable the client's expectations.…”

Why Do Eating Disorder Patients Drop Out?

“…Skill and experience of the therapist may also be important for continuation in therapy [ 18,27,28], as well as whether the therapist feels he likes the patient [29], A few studies have focused on the interaction of thera pist and patient factors. Similarity of demographic char acteristics between clients and therapists have been found to have a positive effect on therapeutic expectations and outcome [30][31][32], although other studies suggest this may not be the case [33][34][35], Similarity of cognitive character istics between therapists and clients has been associated with favourable outcome [36][37][38], while still other re search has failed to confirm this [39][40][41], More recently, similar locus of control orientations between therapist and client has been associated with more favourable client expectations [42], Knowledge of the role of the patient-therapist relation ship in dropout also remains elusive. This may seem odd given that psychotherapeutic process and outcome can be viewed as largely mediated by the patient-therapist rela tionship [43], Mutuality of goals and agreement regarding tasks and responsibilities are important elements of this relationship [44], Yet patients and therapists may dis agree about the most effective ways of realising such goals [45,46] and researchers may need to become more aware of the ways in which events occurring in therapy are per ceived differently by therapists and patients.…”