The use of modeling and role playing to increase social interaction among asocial psychiatric patients.

Abstract

Eighty-seven psychiatric inpatients, all of whom consistently displayed minimal social interaction behavior, were examined in a 2 X 2 X 2 covariance design involving three treatment variables. The major variable of concern was presence versus absence of structured learning therapy (modeling plus role playing plus social reinforcement) aimed at increasing social interaction behavior. Presence versus absence of psychotherapy and patient status (acute-chronic) were the other study variables. Several significant main and interaction effects emerged on social interaction criteria for structured learning therapy. Interaction effects for structured learning therapy and psychotherapy suggested primarily a "mutual inhibition" of treatment effectiveness. The implications of these findings for further studies of structured learning therapy and specific skill enhancement are examined.

Unobtrusive Measures in Behavioral Assessment

“…While waiting, the confederate precipitated social interaction which was videotaped unobtrusively and later evaluated for such measures as eye contact, duration of responding, smiles, and other measures. Similarly, social interaction among psychiatric patients has been evaluated by requiring patients to remain in a waiting room with another patient (actually an accomplice) who engaged in a prearranged sequence of behaviors to prompt social interaction (Gutride, Goldstein, and Hunter, 1973). Hersen et al (1974) developed assertive behavior among psychiatric patients and used a contrived task to evaluate treatment.…”

“…For example, a confederate and experimental ruse are often utilized in contrived situations. Yet, subjects might easily see through the ruse when they are "surprisingly" interrupted on a task (Friedman, 1971) or seated in a waiting room where an accomplice coincidentally prompts treatment-relevant behavior (Gutride et al, 1973). In some cases, unobtrusive measurement takes place in the same room where the subjects have been assessed under obtrusive conditions which may further raise suspicions (Bellack et al, 1979).…”

Child Maltreatment Intervention: Directions and Issues

“…Such evidence lends support to a treatment model that teaches social skills that will increase the family's social support systems (Gambrill, 1977b;Heimberg, Montgomery, Madsen, & Heimberg, 1977;Rimm &Masters, 1974). While these procedures have not been applied to maltreating parents thus far, they have been successfully employed to increase the social contacts of isolated or shy clients (Gambrill, 1977b;Gutride, Goldstein, & Hunter, 1973;Twentyman &McFall, 1975). Therefore while social skills training does not represent a tested therapy for child abusers, it does offer a possible approach.…”

The buddy system: A method for generalized reduction of inappropriate interpersonal behaviour of retarded‐psychiatric patients

“…Matson & Stephens, 1978). The problems of training appropriate social responses and programming generalization and maintenance of behavioural improvements seem particularly troublesome for the chronic institutionalized population (Magaro, 1%9;Gutride et al, 1973). skills with chronic psychiatric patients.…”

“…Social skill deficits have been generally recognized as characteristic of chronic psychiatric patients (e.g. King et al, 1%0;Zigler & Phillips, 1%1;Kale et al, 1968;Gutride et al, 1973;Bellack et al, 1976). These deficits present major obstacles to the rehabilitation of chronic patients (Kanfer & Saslow, 1%9;Lentz et al, 1971).…”