ERIC Number: ED281138
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-Apr
Pages: 23
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Matching Sensory Predicates, and Rapport.
Schmedlen, George W.; And Others
A key task for the therapist in psychotherapy is to build trust and rapport with the client. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioners believe that matching the sensory modality (representational system) of a client's predicates (verbs, adverbs, and adjectives) improves rapport. In this study, 16 volunteer subjects participated in two sessions of analogue therapy. Clients were given two 30-minute sessions in which one of the four therapists systematically matched client predicates in one session and mismatched them during the other. At the end of each session, clients filled out Stiles' Session Evaluation Questionnaire and the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory Empathic Understanding Scale and Level of Regard Scale. Comparison of the means of the total match and mismatch samples through use of the correlated samples t-test revealed significant differences (t=2.28, df=14, p<.05) between groups on the Empathic Understanding Scale of the Barrett-Lennard, but not on the remaining measures. The findings fail to support the hypotheses in terms of increased perception of the therapist's Level of Regard or improved showing on the Depth/Value, Smoothness/Ease or Positive Feeling indices at the .05 level. The findings are interpreted as supporting the idea that systematic matching (versus mismatching) of a client's sensory predicates improves the client's perception of the empathic component of rapport in the therapist. A five-page reference list is appended. (Author/NB)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A