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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE OCCURRENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE AND THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive, convergent, and divergent validity of the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS). A sample of 99 male and female clients from a community mental health agency participated in this study. The predictive validity of the TRS was not supported by the findings. High reactant subjects as indicated on the TRS did not differ significantly from low reactant subjects on the outcome criteria. High reactant subjects differed significantly from low reactant subjects on the number of no-shows, and length of treatment. Surprisingly, subjects who were identified as high reactant demonstrated a longer length of treatment than low reactant subjects. The Therapist Rating of Reactance Scale (TRR) was significantly correlated with the outcome criteria. Subjects identified as high reactant on the TRR reported less improvement from therapy than low reactant subjects. Convergent validity for the TRS was established. The TRS was significantly correlated with the K Scale and the Locus of Control Scale. The findings also partially supported the divergent validity of the TRS when compared to the Counselor Rating Form-Short Version. Support for the theory of psychological reactance was suggested and several limitations of the study were noted and discussed. Implications for further research were offered and the author argued for increased counselor training on the issue of oppositional clients.
Subject Area
Educational psychology
Recommended Citation
MORGAN, ROBERT D, "INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE OCCURRENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE AND THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME" (1986). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8620816.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8620816