Comparision of a modified systematic desensitization procedure with classic systematic desensitization in the treatment of public speaking anxiety

Abstract

ABSTRACT The last two decades have witnessed the expansion of cognitive behavior trend in the field of psychotherapy Such an expansion led to the reconceptualization of the mechanisms through which therapeutic procedures alter behavior functioning and to the development of treatment techniques employing cognitive components. Bandura's `self- efficacy theory`, can be considered as one of the salient example of this cognitive trend. Bandura introduced the concept, `self-efficacy` and defined it as the conviction that one can successfully execute desired outcomes. It is concerned not with, what skills one really has, but with judgements of what one can do with what one has. According to Bandura, it is mainly perceived inefficacy in coping with potentially aversive situation that makes individuals fear some. Perceived self-efficacy is claimed to be a more accurate predictor of the therapeutic outcome than any other agent. Bandura defines four major sources from which a person can derive personal efficacy information. The most influen tial of these four is `performance accomplishments`, because, according t© Bandura, in performance accomplishments the person is able to get first hand information about his/her capabilities. YIIn this theory of self-efficacy, there is no direct assumption related to `imagery processes`. In fact, the effectiveness of the imagery procedures, «specially in systematic desensitization (SD), has been shown by many studies. The main purpose of the present study was to test the effectiveness of a modified imagery SD procedure in en hancing self percept of coping efficacy in treating public speaking anxious university students. This modified SD, named `Guided Mastery in Imagination`, was expected to result in marked improvements in perceived self-efficacy (measured with a 12 item questionnaire) and, hence in other measures (i.e., self assurance as a speaker, state anxiety, self rating of anxiety, raters' ratings of anxiety» and heart rate) as compared to classic SD. Treatments were conducted in group format in imagina tion and lasted seven weeks. Thirty one speech phobics were randomly assigned to two treatment condition (guided mastery and classic SD). In mastery condition the curicial point was the presen tation of ?involvement and sucess in the feared situation' suggestions, in addition to phobic imagery. Classic SD condition was derived from traditional `exposure` model. The important element in this condition VIIwas the exposure to phobic imagery. Number of item presen tation was increased (three times for each presentation of an item) to equalize the amounts of words spoken to each group. Because of drop outs at different phasas of tho study, majority of the analyses were carried out on pre and post treatment assessment scores of 14- subjects (seven from each group) on each measure. The results failed to show differential effectiveness of guided mastery in imagination, in treating public speak ing anxious university students as compared to classic SD. Prom pre to post treatment assessment, the two treatment conditions were not found to differ significantly from one another in any measure employed. However, significant time main effects were observed for all measures, indicating improvements on all measures from pre to post assessment for all subjects. The data available for follow-up was only on self-efficacy. The analyses showed that the subjects (five from each group) maintained their improvements from post to two months follow-up period, but again differential effectiveness of the group was not observed. The results were interpreted and discussed together with methodological shortcamings and suggestions for future research. VIII