March Workshop: Investigation of Patient's nonverbal reactions

• Mission Statement by Jessica Broitman, 11/9/96
  • March Workshop on Control Mastery Theory by Jessica Broitman, 12/6/96
    
    

Dear Michael, dear Jessica!

I am very happy to be able to contribute a small piece of research to the growing work of the San Francisco Psychotherapy Resarch Group and to present it at the 10th International March Workshop 1997 in San Francisco!

My contribution will be about "Patient's immediate nonverbal reactions after passed and failed tests. Results of a pilot study with the Facial Action Coding System."

I'll present a study which was conducted at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, by Brigitta Walser and me. We used the Ekman & Friesen (1978) Facial Action Coding System to investigate mimic expression before, during and after test sequences, comparing reactions after a passed and after a failed test. We looked at differences between primary emotions, between positive and negative emotions and we used also some abstract measures like intensity and complexity of mimic behavior.

I don't want to tell you everything in advance but I would like to say that our research strongly supports Joseph Weiss theory: People's nonverbal reactions seem to demonstrate whether a patient perceives a therapeutic intervention as passing or failing a test or as pro-plan or anti-plan oriented. Passed tests and pro-plan interventions help patients to master and overcome their pathogenic beliefs. What is really striking is the fact how clear the nonverbal behavior unconsciously gives strong signals within seconds after the therapeutic intervention.

I would like to show you these nonverbal processes with videotaped sequences from psychotherapy sessions. I am happy to be back in San Francisco soon and I am looking forward to seeing you and to discuss the findings with you and all participants!

Sincerely

Dr. Reto Volkart

Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland

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