Effects of Paraphrasing, Modeling, and Cues in Facilitating Self-Referent Affective Statements by Chronic Schizophrenics
This study investigates the effects of paraphrasing, modeling with controlled disclosure of congruent feelings by an interviewer and cues on the verbalized expression of self-referent affect of chronic schizophrenic inpatients. The 17 male and 43 female subjects were randomly assigned in a 3 × 2 design comprising Paraphrasing, Modeling and Control groups, each with Cue and Non-cue subgroups. An independent interviewer presented a standardized introduction, specific instructions for expressing self-referent affect and a brief warm-up period. A 30-min. quasiclinical interview of three successive 10-min. periods followed: Base I, Experimental, and Base II. During the Experimental period, paraphrasing, modeling, or control treatments were introduced with either cue or non-cue conditions. As predicted, modeling, both with and without cues, significantly increased self-referent affect expression over control group levels. Contrary to prediction, paraphrasing was ineffective and significantly inferior to modeling. Cues significantly enhanced the effects of paraphrasing and modeling, as predicted, and increased Base I period self-referent affect level. Maintaining the cue condition prevented extinction of self-referent affect following termination of experimental conditions. Effect of sex was nonsignificant. Relative superiority of modeling over paraphrasing in clinical interventions with chronic schizophrenics was discussed.