Toward an experimental analysis of verbal shaping in psychotherapy

Abstract

Objective. Some authors have suggested that verbal shaping is an active component in cognitive restructuring. The goal of the current study was to provide experimental evidence in support of the shaping hypothesis.

Method. Three consecutively admitted adults with symptoms of anxiety and depression participated in the study. Participants underwent baseline, treatment comparison, crossover, and follow-up phases as part of an experimental single-case study. We selected two target irrational beliefs and praised either the client’s approximations to a terminal (more adaptive) class of verbalizations (differential reinforcement of approximations) or just the terminal class of verbalizations (terminal reinforcement).

Results. Irrational beliefs exposed to differential reinforcement of approximations was a more effective approach to reducing irrational beliefs.

Conclusion. The study provides experimental evidence in support of the verbal shaping hypothesis. Our findings suggest that it may be possible to enhance clinical outcomes by actively engaging in verbal shaping during client-therapist verbal interaction.

Keywords:

• verbal shaping
• processes of change
• Socratic dialogue
• irrational belief

Acknowledgement

Authors thank Manuel García Tabuyo, Elena Aranda Rubio, Dr. Stephen N. Haynes, the UAM Centro de Psicología Aplicada, and the ACOVEO research group for their support. ABA España supported the corresponding author through a research contract granted to The University of Auckland (project no. CON02739).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2021.1955418.

Additional information

Funding

ABA España supported the corresponding author through a research contract granted to The University of Auckland (project no. CON02739).