The application of cognitive dissonance as a psychotherapeutic technique

M.A. (Psychology)This investigation is aimed at enhancing the degree of behavioural compliance in individual clients through the utilization of cognitive dissonance as an adjunct to a behavioural prescription. The literature on behaviour therapy holds that behavioural prescription is accepted in its own right as an effective procedure for inducing behavioural compliance. At the same time it is evident that in certain situations behavioural prescription alone is not effective in inducing behavioural compliance. The reason for this is given as the tendency for certain individuals to respond to a behavioural prescription with defiance, or to use reactance. Such a tendency is known as the reactance-potential of the individual. Several variables have been linked in the literature to reactance-potential, for example, locus of control. This variable has the potential to be used to predict reactance-potential, and thus the likelihood of an individual responding to a behavioural prescription with reactance. Reactance is seen as a process that can be utilized in the therapeutic relationship in the service of change. Cognitive dissonance theory allows for the utilization of reactance in the psychotherapeutic context so that the response to cognitive dissonance induction is behavioural compliance. The experimental hypothesis was based on the theory that cognitive dissonance induction would direct the individual "s reactance towards the reduction of the state of cognitive dissonance that was induced. The goal of the therapeutic intervention was an increased degree of behavioural compliance in the experimental group that received cognitive dissonance induction. Therapeutic instructions were applied to two groups. The control group..