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RESPONSIVENESS TO PARADOXICAL INTERVENTION: CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS
Abstract
This study examined a limited number of client variables hypothesized to be significantly related to responsiveness to paradoxical intervention. A sample of 108 college students with procrastination problems in regard to study were exposed to a three session paradoxical treatment which included problem prescription. Changes in procrastination were studied in relation to client estimates of severity of the problem, expectation of change, measured and observed resistance level, and locus of control. A univariate multiple regression analysis was used to determine their significance in relation to outcome. Significant relationships in the expected directions were found for two of four severity measures and for expectation of change. A high degree of generalization of the problem and a low expectation to change predicted significantly for improvement in procrastination change scores. A long history of procrastination did not predict responsiveness to treatment and predicted poorer outcome on one outcome measure. While high perceived controllability predicted high scores on the Motivation to Change scale, this finding was not in the expected direction. Resistance measures and locus of control did not predict for responsiveness to the intervention. Subjects as a group did benefit from the treatment; reporting increased study time, decreased procrastination time and improvements on a behavior questionnaire. These findings suggest that paradoxical interventions may be especially effective with subjects who have generalized procrastination problems and low expectations of change. The technique may effect immediate behavior change and promote motivation and commitment to treatment. However, it is likely that subjects without symptom-relevant skills will need additional skill training to maintain improvements. Future studies should seek to identify such subjects and compare them to a more skilled group. Additionally, clinical implications for the use of paradox with resistant clients is not clarified by this study. For future studies, refinement of the construct of resistance is needed, as well as selection of a highly resistant subject population.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
Recommended Citation
LOERS, DEBORAH LYNN, "RESPONSIVENESS TO PARADOXICAL INTERVENTION: CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS" (1985). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8521461.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8521461