مجله علوم روانشناختی (Oct 2023)
Comparing the effectiveness of psychological education of imago therapy and treatment based on acceptance and commitment on the dyadic perspective-taking in couples applying for divorce
Abstract
Background: One of the factors that is considered in marriage and family counseling and plays an important role in the divorce of couples is perspective-taking. The perspective-taking is an active cognitive process in which people must overcome their self-centered perspective and imagine the world as it appears to others. The role of imago therapy and therapy based on acceptance and commitment has been confirmed in the dyadic perspective-taking of couples, but there is a gap in research regarding the comparison of the effectiveness of these two treatment methods on the dyadic perspective-taking of couples applying for divorce. Aims: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of psychological education of imago therapy and treatment based on acceptance and commitment on dyadic perspective-taking of couples applying for divorce. Methods: The present research method was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population of the research included all the couples applying for divorce who referred to the family counseling centers of Babol city in 2022, and among these couples, 48 people (24 couples) were selected using available sampling method, and they were assigned to two experimental groups and one control group and completed the couple's perception questionnaire (Long, 1990) in three phases: pre-test, post-test and two-month follow-up. Protocols of imago therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy were implemented for the experimental groups, but the members of the control group did not receive any intervention. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements and SPSS-22 software were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the understanding view of couples (F= 3.770 and P= 0.001). In other words, both imago therapy interventions and treatment based on acceptance and commitment were effective in the understanding view of couples, but no significant difference was observed between the two interventions (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, it can be said that both imagotherapy and therapy based on acceptance and commitment are effective in dyadic perspective-taking, and therefore, the use of these treatment methods by couple therapists can help improve the level of dyadic perspective-taking and stability of couples' relationships.
