Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects

This experiment used a dismantling approach to examine change mechanisms in motivational interviewing (MI). Seventy-two undergraduate participants who scored in the top 35th percentile on trait anger were randomly assigned to: full MI (FMI), spirit-only MI (SOMI), or psychoeducation. They met indiv...

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Main Authors: Thomas DiBlasi, Raymond Chip Tafrate, Howard Kassinove
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Rijeka 2022-12-01
Series:Psychological Topics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/806
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author Thomas DiBlasi
Raymond Chip Tafrate
Howard Kassinove
author_facet Thomas DiBlasi
Raymond Chip Tafrate
Howard Kassinove
author_sort Thomas DiBlasi
collection DOAJ
description This experiment used a dismantling approach to examine change mechanisms in motivational interviewing (MI). Seventy-two undergraduate participants who scored in the top 35th percentile on trait anger were randomly assigned to: full MI (FMI), spirit-only MI (SOMI), or psychoeducation. They met individually with an experimenter for one 30- to 45-minute session to discuss their anger. In the FMI condition, the relational and technical elements of MI were both used to elicit change talk. In the SOMI condition, the supportive and relational elements of MI were emphasized. In the psychoeducation condition, the focus was placed on teaching the components of anger episodes. Participants were then asked to launch a daily, online, deep breathing exercise during the following week. Results showed that participants in both MI conditions emitted more change talk than those in the psychoeducation condition. Independent session ratings showed that despite the attempted elimination of technical elements in the SOMI condition, the FMI and SOMI conditions did not differ on the experimenter’s acceptance, empathy, direction, autonomy support, and collaboration. Also, results did not support the main effect on program launches. These results indicate it is challenging to separate relational from technical elements in MI and, thus, to identify core mechanisms of change.
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spelling doaj.art-72c0cd58fdd644cc82b91c1324bc58c42022-12-30T10:46:46ZengUniversity of RijekaPsychological Topics1332-07421849-03952022-12-01313Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element EffectsThomas DiBlasi0Raymond Chip Tafrate1Howard Kassinove2St. Joseph’s University, Patchogue, NY, USACentral Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USAHofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA This experiment used a dismantling approach to examine change mechanisms in motivational interviewing (MI). Seventy-two undergraduate participants who scored in the top 35th percentile on trait anger were randomly assigned to: full MI (FMI), spirit-only MI (SOMI), or psychoeducation. They met individually with an experimenter for one 30- to 45-minute session to discuss their anger. In the FMI condition, the relational and technical elements of MI were both used to elicit change talk. In the SOMI condition, the supportive and relational elements of MI were emphasized. In the psychoeducation condition, the focus was placed on teaching the components of anger episodes. Participants were then asked to launch a daily, online, deep breathing exercise during the following week. Results showed that participants in both MI conditions emitted more change talk than those in the psychoeducation condition. Independent session ratings showed that despite the attempted elimination of technical elements in the SOMI condition, the FMI and SOMI conditions did not differ on the experimenter’s acceptance, empathy, direction, autonomy support, and collaboration. Also, results did not support the main effect on program launches. These results indicate it is challenging to separate relational from technical elements in MI and, thus, to identify core mechanisms of change. https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/806motivational interviewingmechanisms of changecommon factorsanger
spellingShingle Thomas DiBlasi
Raymond Chip Tafrate
Howard Kassinove
Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
Psychological Topics
motivational interviewing
mechanisms of change
common factors
anger
title Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
title_full Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
title_fullStr Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
title_full_unstemmed Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
title_short Core Mechanisms of Change in Motivational Interviewing: An Attempt to Separate Relational from Technical Element Effects
title_sort core mechanisms of change in motivational interviewing an attempt to separate relational from technical element effects
topic motivational interviewing
mechanisms of change
common factors
anger
url https://pt.ffri.hr/pt/article/view/806
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