Psychotherapy A 7 Flashcards
Patient motivation to seek psychotherapeutic assistance (4)
1) problem is so disruptive (cognitive dissonance); 2) belief that change is now possible; 3) belief that this therapist/therapy can facilitate the desired change; 4) provision of social rewards to stay in therapy until rewards come from behaviour change
Define cognitive dissonance
a state of internal tension/motivation to resolve incongruence between cognitions/attitudes and actual behaviour
In everyday life …
In everyday life, a person’s cognitions are congruent/consistent [with their behaviour]
Example
person is happy with their daily consumption/amount of alcohol
Why no motivation to change
No conflict between self-perception and behaviour and thus no motivation to change
When is person motivated to seek help
crisis in a person’s life (person dissatisfied with life); cognitive dissonance occurs and is psychologically unconformable; person motivated to seek help
Examples (3)
Government or other information about alcohol health risks [cognitions]; Actual health problems associated with alcohol consumption)[behaviours]; Actual social problems associated with alcohol consumption) [behaviours]
Person seeks help
Therapist introduces cognitive or behavioural strategies attempting to resolve cognitive dissonance; incongruence drives the client to modify cognitions or behaviour in order to minimise dissonance
What does therapy serve as
therapy serves as an agent of change
Cognitions/behaviours changed by
talking therapy = change cognition; behavioural therapy = change behaviour
Persuasion in psychotherapy (5)
persuasion (non-specific factors); in source (therapist), message (therapy), mode (face to face), audience (client) and context
Persuasion in source (therapist)
expert/credible; trustworthy; attractive
Persuasion in message (therapy)
type of psychotherapy (active ingredient); culturally credible and scientific (Western); creates expectancy/hope
Persuasion in mode (face to face)
therapist-client similarity (attitudes, beliefs, values); perceived attractiveness (therapist-client like each other)
Persuasion in audience (client)
acceptance/trust; increase self-disclosure; attitude change towards problem; attempt behaviour change
