THERAPEUTIC CONDITIONS AND DISCLOSURE BEYOND THERAPEUTIC ENCOUNTER

Research has suggested that psychotherapists high in genuineness, empathy, and warmth elicit greater self-exploration from their clients. In order to test the generality of this finding outside of therapy, 36 undergraduates, 39 police applicants, and 20 day hospital patients rated the levels of therapeutic conditions they perceived themselves receiving from each of their parents and their 2 closest friends. They also completed a scale measuring their own degree of disclosure of affect with each of these persons. The data analysis suggested that Ss disclosed themselves more deeply to those persons offering the highest levels of conditions. The results imply that similar interpersonal variables are effective in leading to a more open, full relationship in and out of psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.