Reciprocity counseling: A rapid learning-based procedure for marital counseling

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Abstract

Existing marital counseling procedures have not been experimentally evaluated or generally have not been based on an experimentally derived theory. The present study formulated a model of marital discord based on reinforcement theory, developed a marital counseling procedure based on that theory and experimentally evaluated its effectiveness. The model viewed marital discord as the resultant of non-reciprocated reinforcement. The counseling procedures attempted to establish general marital reciprocity of reinforcement by teaching reciprocity in several specific areas of marital unhappiness. The reciprocity procedure was conducted for about 3–4 weeks with 12 couples, after first conducting a catharsis-type counseling as a control procedure. The results showed that the reciprocity procedure increased reported marital happiness, whereas the control procedure did not. Once reciprocity was achieved in a specific problem area, the benefits generalized somewhat to other yet-to-be counseled areas. The increase in marital happiness occurred for each of the specific areas of marital interaction, for 96 per cent of the clients, and was maintained and increased during the available follow-up period. These results indicate that the procedure is an effective, rapid and enduring method of producing marital happiness.

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    This research was supported by the State of Illinois Department of Mental Health and Grant No. 17981 from the National Institute of Mental Health. Grateful acknowledgement is made to C. Ladd, T. Buck and R. Vanatta of the Southern Illinois University Counseling and Testing Center, G. Renzaglia of the Southern Illinois University Rehabilitation Institute, and G. Hunt and H.B. Rubin of Anna State Hospital.

    Currently at the Institute for Child and Family Development, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412.

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