EFFECTS OF SOLUTION FOCUSED THERAPY'S "FORMULA FIRST SESSION TASK" ON COMPLIANCE AND OUTCOME IN FAMILY THERAPY

This study investigated the immediate impact of a "solution focused" family therapy intervention on both the family and the therapist. Specifically, the study examined the differential effects of the formula first session task (FFST) recommended by de Shazer (1982, 1985), as well as the FFST plus solution focused therapy, as compared to a standard problem focused structural-strategic intervention. After one week, the groups receiving the FFST were significantly higher on measures of family compliance, clarity of treatment goals, and improvement in the presenting problem. However, there were no significant differences among groups on family optimism or on outcome after 10 sessions. The implications of these results are discussed.     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: trepper, T. S., & Barrett, M. J. Systemic treatment of incest: A therapuetic handbook
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: de shazer, S. Clues: Investigating solutions in brief therapy.
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: O'Hanlon, W., & Weiner-Davis, M. In search of solutions: A new direction in psychotherapy.
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: Whittaker, J. K., Kinney, J., Tracy, E. M.,& Booth, C. (Eds). Reaching high-risk families: Intensive family preservation in human services.
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: Yuan, Y-Y. T., & Rivest, M. (Eds.). Preserving families: Evaluation resources for practitioners and policymakers.
PROFESSIONAL BOOKS: Maglin, N. B., & Schniedewind, N. (Eds.). Women and step-families: Voices of anger and love.
SELF HELP BOOKS: Lew, Mike. Victims no longer.
SELF HELP BOOKS: Davis, L. The courage to heal workbook.
SELF HELP BOOKS: Weinhold Barry K., & Weinhold, Janae B. Breaking free of the co-dependency trap.
GENERAL INTEREST BOOKS: Rubinstein, H. The oxford book of marriage
Videotapes: Family Systems Therapy with an individual: Condusting the frst two sessions
Videotapes: School's Out.     

Endorsing Comments

Public Organization Review -     

An exploration of the offset hypothesis using disaggregate data: The case of airbags and antilock brakes

The offset hypothesis predicts consumers adapt to innovations that improve safety by becoming less vigilant about safety. Previous tests have used aggregate data that may confound the effect of a safety policy with those consumers who are most affected by it. We test the hypothesis using disaggregate data to analyze the effects of airbags and antilock brakes on automobile safety. We find that safety-conscious drivers are more likely than other drivers to acquire airbags and antilock brakes but these safety devices do not have a significant effect on collisions or injuries, suggesting drivers trade off enhanced safety for speedier trips. JEL Classification L5 · R4     

Illustrating the interface of family and peer relations through the study of child maltreatment

The developmental study of social adaptation in maltreated children provided the context for examining the linkages between family and peer relations. Participants included 115 school-age children; 59 were maltreated. Teachers and peers in the classrooms of the targeted children provided assessments of the social functioning of individual children. Mothers completed an assessment of their parenting practices. The results demonstrated that teachers perceived maltreated children, particularly physically abused children, as lower in social competence and social acceptance and higher in externalizing behavior problems. Peers were more likely to actively withdraw from or reject maltreated children. Patterns of peer-perceived aggression and withdrawal were examined, and maltreated children who were both aggressive and withdrawn were particularly deficient in social effectiveness. Maltreatment and parenting practices were related to differences in social effectiveness. Continuities in relationship disturbance from families to peers were discussed.     

Volunteering to Assist the Homeless: Public Service and Individual Differences

Abstract

The present investigation examined the effects of three public service announcements (PSAs) on undergraduates’ willingness to volunteer to assist the homeless at a local emergency shelter. A PSA designed to arouse empathy in listeners generally yielded a higher rate of volunteering to assist the homeless than either a self-oriented PSA or an unemotional, other-oriented PSA. The PSA designed to arouse empathy was found to be especially effective in promoting volunteering in individuals who scored relatively high on trait affective empathy and who, in turn, reported a relatively strong empathic response to this message.