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Institutional males' perception of three counseling techniques
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 1, 1976
Summary
This study examined how incarcerated youth responded to different counseling interpretations. Both internal and external control subjects preferred advice-giving, reacting negatively to Adlerian and analytical interpretations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Understanding client responses to therapeutic interventions is crucial in counseling.
- Locus of control (internal vs. external) may influence how individuals perceive and react to different communication styles.
- Adolescent offenders present unique challenges and require tailored therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential emotional responses (approach, attack, withdrawal) of incarcerated youth to various counseling interpretation styles.
- To compare the effects of advice-giving, Adlerian interpretation, and analytically derived interpretation on client feelings.
- To examine whether locus of control moderates these responses.
Main Methods:
- Subjects viewed role-played counseling segments featuring an adolescent client and counselor.
- Counselors employed three distinct response types: advice-giving, Adlerian interpretation, and analytically derived interpretation.
- Participants (N=40 incarcerated youth, 20 internal, 20 external locus of control) rated their feelings (approach, attack, withdrawal) elicited by each counselor response.
Main Results:
- Both internally and externally controlled subjects reported approach feelings in response to advice-giving.
- Adlerian interpretation and analytically derived interpretation elicited predominantly attack and withdrawal feelings from both groups.
- No significant difference was found between internal and external control groups in their overall response patterns.
Conclusions:
- Advice-giving is perceived more positively (approach feelings) by incarcerated youth compared to interpretive approaches.
- Interpretive counseling strategies, specifically Adlerian and analytical, may be perceived as confrontational (attack/withdrawal feelings) by this population.
- Counselors should consider the potential impact of interpretation types on incarcerated adolescents, particularly those with external locus of control, and may benefit from prioritizing advice-giving or other client-centered approaches.