Reality creation versus reality confirmation: A process study in marital therapy

Abstract

Abstract This study examined differences between two specific marital therapist intervention strategies, reflection (reality confirmation) and reframing (reality creation), on husbands' and wives' immediate patterns of relating. Moreover, this study examined marital therapists' choice of either reflection or reframing immediately following different spousal interaction patterns. Two videotapes of 13 marital therapy cases were rated using the Brown-Standridge Marital Therapy Interaction Scale. In all, a total of 628 pre- and postintervention sequences were coded. Reflection was implemented more often following defensive spousal behaviors, while reframing occurred more when spouses appeared openminded. Husbands were rated more responsive to reframing; wife ratings favored reflection.