Preference, expectancy and degree of therapist directiveness : a pschotherapy by telephone analogue

Bibliography: pages [88]-101.Congruency effects regarding subject preference for directiveness, expectation of directiveness, and degree of therapist directiveness were examined in a crisis-line analogue using 80 university students. Students with strong preferences for either directive or nondirective style were screened and then randomly assigned to one of eight conditions in which preference, expectancy, and therapist behavior were covaried. Subjects then discussed a personal concern of their choice with the therapist in a brief telephone interview. Dependent variables included two anticipated satisfaction measures, three subject disclosure measures, and two post-interview satisfaction measures. Preference/expectancy congruency effects were found for females on three of the four satisfaction measures and with males on two of the three disclosure measures. The results suggest partial support for the hypothesis that discrepancies between preference, expectancy, and therapist style are detrimental to the therapeutic process.M.A. (Master of Arts