Effects of highly structured versus nondirective group counseling approaches on personality and behavioral measures of adjustment in incarcerated felons

Compared the relative effectiveness of 2 methods of group counseling with incarcerated felons. 80 Ss were randomly assigned to either a new, highly structured method that used specific counseling exercises, a more traditional nondirective group method relatively low in structure, or a waiting-list control group. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated through the California Psychological Inventory and the Bipolar Psychological Inventory, MMPI, and behavioral measures of prison adjustment for 1 yr following treatment. Relative to the nondirective treatment condition, the highly structured approach produced significantly greater empathy, improved interpersonal functioning, and a reduction in frequency of serious rule violations. Contrary to expectations, there were no treatment-produced differences in self-esteem, self-disclosure, or frequency of total rule violations. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).