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Transforming Dissatisfaction with Services into Self-Determination: A Social Psychological Perspective on Community
Cathaleene Macias1, Elliot Aronson, William Hargreaves
1Community Intervention Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology
|December 29, 2009
Summary
Individuals with mental illness interested in supported employment who chose a non-preferred program achieved longer job retention and higher satisfaction. Cognitive dissonance theory explains this outcome by increased commitment to non-preferred services.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Supported employment is a key intervention for adults with mental illness.
- Cognitive dissonance theory suggests individuals strive for internal consistency.
- Previous research has not experimentally tested cognitive dissonance in supported employment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally test cognitive dissonance theory within supported employment.
- To examine how service preference interacts with work interest and outcomes.
- To understand the psychological mechanisms driving success in supported employment.
Main Methods:
- A field study with 174 adults with mental illness receiving supported employment.
- Random assignment to preferred or non-preferred employment programs.
- Measurement of work aspirations, service evaluations, employment duration, and satisfaction.
Main Results:
- Significant interactions between work interest and service preference.
- Individuals interested in work who used non-preferred programs stayed employed longer (362 days vs. 108 days).
- Participants in non-preferred programs reported higher service satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Findings support cognitive dissonance theory in supported employment.
- Choosing a non-preferred program can enhance commitment and outcomes for motivated individuals.
- Supported employment interventions may benefit from considering client choice and dissonance reduction.
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