The relationship between favorability of one's initial attitudes toward himself and his reactions to evaluative feedback was examined. In accord with consistency theories, evaluations consistent with one's initial expectancies were more accurately retained, given more credence, and assumed to result more from one's own abilities than were those which were inconsistent. Affective reactions were more in line with self-enhancement views: They were more favorable to positive than to negative evaluations, and this was as much, if not more, the case for people with negative expectancies as for those with positive expectancies. Other theoretical implications were discussed as well as ambiguities and limitations in the available evidence.
This article documents the use of systematic desensitization for the treatment of a client whose initial anxieties centered around a family member-her husband. Intensive exploration of feelings surrounding this conflict led to the development of a more generalized hierarchy involving situations in which she had to be assertive, criticize others, or stand up for her own rights. The client showed apparent improvement not only in her relations with her husband, but also in her interaction with others, and she showed a notable decline in feelings of depression, self-doubt, and fatigue. The case suggests that exploration of dynamic factors surrounding specific anxieties may bring about more generalized symptom reduction. It also suggests the effectiveness of self-administered desensitization hierarchies and supports Geer and Katkin's demonstration of the utility of the technique for training therapists.
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