Assertiveness Training Using Rehearsal and Modeling with Male Alcoholics

Abstract

Two different forms of an assertiveness training program were designed for use in an inpatient ward at a VA hospital. Alcoholic subjects were pretested on self-report, behavioral and unobtrusive measures of assertiveness, and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: rehearsal group, modeling group, or discussion control group. Six 1-h group assertiveness training sessions were held over a 2-week period. On completion of the assertiveness training, trained subjects scored significantly higher on the measures of assertiveness than did controls; they also received more regular (vs irregular) discharges from the hospital. These alcoholic patients responded best to a treatment based on rehearsal. At a 2-month follow-up interview from date of discharge from the hospital, assertiveness trained subjects reported less drinking and more abstinent days than controls, though the differences were not statistically significant. Collateral report of subject behaviors generally agreed highly with subject report though collaterals gave slightly less favorable reports. Results were discussed in terms of the problems in conducting follow-up research and in terms of application to alcoholism treatment.