Psychology of Choice in Therapy

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Questions and Answers

What is the ranking for therapeutic success among the different treatment methods?

Control, placebo, psychotherapy

Placebo, control, psychotherapy

Placebo, psychotherapy, control

Psychotherapy, placebo, control (correct)

What factor accounts for the largest variation in therapy outcomes?

Placebo effects

Preexisting client factors (correct)

Therapeutic method

Therapeutic relationship

According to cognitive therapies, how is the therapeutic relationship viewed?

As a necessary precondition for therapy to proceed (correct)

As the least important factor in therapy

As irrelevant to the therapy process

As a source of conflict in therapy

Which of the following is NOT one of the criteria for a positive therapeutic outcome in Rogers' person-centered therapy?

Reflective listening Signup and view all the answers

How do radical behavior therapies view the therapeutic relationship?

As having little influence on therapy outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What is stated about expectation effects in psychotherapy?

They are considered an active ingredient in all therapy systems Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is ranked second in accounting for change in therapy outcomes?

Therapeutic relationship Signup and view all the answers

In the context of psychotherapy, what role does the relationship between client and therapist serve according to psychoanalysis?

A source of content to be examined in therapy Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of consciousness raising therapies?

To make the unconscious conscious Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of feedback in therapy?

A client realizing her anger is perceived by children Signup and view all the answers

What does catharsis refer to in the context of therapeutic processes?

The release of pent-up emotions such as anger and guilt Signup and view all the answers

How can awareness facilitate behavior change according to the content?

By allowing emotions to be recognized and accepted Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'corrective emotional experiences'?

Experiences that validate an individual's feelings Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'dramatic relief'?

Cathartic reactions induced by observing emotional scenes Signup and view all the answers

Which technique is least likely to be part of consciousness raising?

Avoidance of self-reflection Signup and view all the answers

Which clinical technique can be classified under low abstraction in the context of change processes?

Two-chair technique Signup and view all the answers

How does the behavioral perspective view the concept of choice?

As a function of the number of alternative responses available Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hawthorne effect refer to in psychotherapy?

Enhancements in work output from receiving special attention. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about choices from a humanistic perspective?

Awareness of more choices can increase them Signup and view all the answers

In order to determine if a psychotherapy is more effective than mere attention, what is essential in the research design?

Control for the effects of attention or time. Signup and view all the answers

According to Jerome Frank, what primarily drives therapeutic change?

An emotionally charged and confiding relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the anxiety experienced by the college student regarding her abortion decision?

Experiencing anxiety can be a step towards self-liberation Signup and view all the answers

What does social liberation refer to in the context of the text?

The availability of more alternatives resulting from environmental changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the transtheoretical model in psychotherapy?

To simplify the complexity of therapeutic change processes. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes psychotherapy systems with theories of personality from those without?

They are primarily process theories with predetermined concepts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'processes of change' in psychotherapy?

Overt and covert activities that facilitate emotional and behavioral shifts. Signup and view all the answers

What strategy does the 'change the environment' approach suggest?

Structuring the environment to reduce stimulus probability Signup and view all the answers

What role do specific factors play in common factors theory within psychotherapy?

They can significantly enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Signup and view all the answers

What principle is outlined regarding reinforcement in contingency control?

Responses that are not reinforced will likely be forgotten Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for expert psychotherapists to formulate treatment plans at the intermediate level of analysis?

To find commonalities among different psychotherapy systems. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes psychotherapies according to the content provided?

The features that distinguish them highlight unique procedures of psychological healing. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following therapies primarily focuses on individual change?

Psychotherapy in general Signup and view all the answers

What is counter conditioning in the context of behavior change?

Modifying one's response to conditional stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the emphasis of behavioral, integrative, systemic, and solution-focused theories?

They focus on the unique aspects of each individual case. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conflict addresses issues like intimacy, sexuality, and communication?

Interpersonal conflicts Signup and view all the answers

What level of conflicts involves adjustment versus transcendence?

Individuo-social conflicts Signup and view all the answers

What does the integrative model assume about conflicts in personality functioning?

Conflicts can occur at different levels of personality functioning. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements does not align with therapeutic content at the intrapersonal level?

Control of others Signup and view all the answers

What dictates the number of people in the consulting room and the therapeutic focus?

The theory’s level of personality Signup and view all the answers

How do most therapy systems view personality and psychopathology?

They assume a conflict view. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Power of Choice in Psychotherapy

Choice plays a significant role in behavior and is central to many psychotherapy systems, though often overlooked by scientists.
Various therapies assume clients will opt to change through psychological treatment.
Behavioral perspective views choice as influenced by available alternative responses, while humanistic perspective suggests awareness can expand choices.
Accurate information about consequences enhances an individual's ability to make informed choices.

Existential Anxiety

A case of a college student experiencing panic attacks over the decision to have an abortion illustrates existential anxiety about making choices.
Recognizing the anxiety related to personal responsibility can facilitate self-liberation.
Social liberation occurs when changing environments increase available alternatives, although often neglected by psychotherapy theories.

Conditional Stimuli and Counter Conditioning

Counter conditioning involves altering responses to conditioned stimuli; an example includes modifying responses in intimate relationships.
Stimulus control is the act of changing the environment to decrease specific conditional stimuli, such as fixing a car to reduce anxiety about driving.

Contingency Control

Reinforcing a response increases its likelihood; high effectiveness enhances treatment outcomes.
Research indicates psychotherapy is more effective than common factors and placebo treatments, with psychotherapy shown to be twice as effective as placebo.
Expectation is critical and serves as an active ingredient in therapy.

Therapeutic Relationships

The therapeutic relationship is pivotal in psychotherapy success, emphasizing the development of a strong therapeutic alliance among practitioners.
Preexisting client factors, including expectations and severity of disorder, significantly influence therapy outcomes.
Different therapeutic approaches view the therapist-client relationship variably, from an essential process in Rogers' person-centered therapy to a minimal influence in radical behavior therapies.

Hawthorne Effect

Many individuals exhibit behavior improvement simply due to receiving special attention, known as the Hawthorne effect.
To assess true psychotherapeutic effectiveness, research must control for attention effects and the passage of time.

Common and Specific Factors in Therapy

Jerome Frank suggests all psychotherapies stem from fundamental psychological healing methods, with common therapeutic features being crucial, such as confiding relationships and therapeutic rituals.
Specific factors also hold value in diverse therapeutic styles; integrating common and specific factors is essential for advancing psychotherapy.

Processes of Change

The transtheoretical model categorizes change processes into three abstraction levels: global theories, change processes, and clinical techniques.
Change processes consist of activities individuals engage in to modify thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within and outside therapy sessions.

Consciousness Raising

Raising consciousness aims to bring unconscious aspects to awareness, forming the foundation of insight-based psychotherapies.
Therapies focus on increasing information access, enabling individuals to respond better to life circumstances.

Feedback and Education

Feedback provides clients with insights into their actions, while education involves imparting information on external events or norms regarding behaviors and concerns.

Catharsis

Catharsis refers to the release of repressed emotions, enabling clients to accept their feelings as natural rather than suppressing them.
Both corrective emotional experiences and dramatic relief can trigger cathartic responses.

Personality Conflicts in Therapy

Various therapy systems adopt a conflict view of personality, addressing intrapersonal, interpersonal, and individuo-social conflicts.
Intrapersonal conflicts involve personal anxieties; interpersonal conflicts focus on relationships with others, and individuo-social conflicts examine societal interactions.
Beyond conflicts involve deeper existential inquiries like the search for meaning in life.

Levels of Therapeutic Content

Intrapersonal conflicts encompass anxieties and issues related to self-esteem and responsibility.
Interpersonal conflicts address aspects of intimacy, communication, hostility, and control.
Individuo-social tensions concern adjustment versus transcendence, while discussions beyond conflict explore the meaning of life and ideals for personal fulfillment.

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Description

Explore the significant role that choice plays in behavior and psychotherapy. This quiz delves into the relationship between client choices and various therapy systems, highlighting the perspectives of behavioral theories on alternatives available for change. Test your understanding of how choice influences psychological treatment.