ALCOHOLICS INITIAL EXPECTANCIES OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARD TREATMENT

In one study, 100 poor inner-city alcoholics were asked about their expectancies of the counselor's behavior in an initial interview. The majority expected a medically oriented, supportive, active interviewer who asked them about emotional issues. Eighty percent reported a disconfirmation of at least one expectancy postinterview. In a second study, patient's receptivity to treatment was assessed. That sample was found to accept the need for treatment and to have confidence in the counseling process as well as to be moderately tolerant of the stigma of being alcoholic and interpersonally open. Neither the degree of expectancy disconfirmation or receptivity to treatment predicted patient's subsequent clinic attendance in this patient sample.