ISSN : 1229-0688
The purpose of this study was to review behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and systems models of couples therapy. The focus of this article is on (a) traditional and integrative approaches to couples therapy, (b) couples assessment, (c) role of the therapist and therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies, and(d) current trends in recent studies in Korea. According to this review of the literature, there is very little research exploring the efficacy of couples therapy in Korea. Thus, much more treatment outcome research is needed to clarify the utility of couples therapy. Finally, we discuss the need to develop couples treatment programs to assist married couples in the Korean context.
We conducted this study to explore the effects of experienced counselors' in-session self-awareness on the counseling process. We videotaped 14 counselor-client pairs conducting their first counseling session. Immediately following the session, the counselor and the client watched the tape together and each independently evaluated the helpfulness of counselor in-session self-awareness. In addition, two raters judged the involvement level of the counselors’ verbal responses. There were three major findings. First, counselors with higher self-awareness rated that self-awareness as more helpful. Second, when the level of counselor self-awareness was relatively lower or higher, counselor involvement was judged as high. Third, when level of counselor self-awareness was relatively low or high, client perceived helpfulness was higher. These findings indicate that the effects of counselors' self-awareness may be maximized in the two different conditions. In the first condition, counselors show automatic involved responses with low self-awareness. In the second condition, counselors intentionally use their self-awareness to benefit the counseling process.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of covert narcissism on excessive internet use. It also explored the role of internet reinforcement experience as a mediator of the relationship between covert narcissism and excessive internet use. A total of 234 Korean high school students and 80 Internet Blog users completed Covert Narcissism, Internet Addiction, and Internet Reinforcement Experience scales. The results indicated that covert narcissism had a positive effect on internet reinforcement experience and excessive internet use. The results also showed that internet reinforcement experience mediates the effect of covert narcissism on excessive internet use.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adult attachment style and self-acceptance and affection and negative feelings for friends. A total of 468 college students completed the 4-category Relationship Questionnaire, Self-Acceptance Scale from the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Respondent's Affection and Negative Feeling scales. The results were as follows: Participants with a secure attachment style scored higher in self-acceptance than those with preoccupied and fearful attachment styles. Participants with a secure attachment style scored higher in affection for friends than those with dismissing, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Participants with a secure attachment style also obtained lower scores in negative feelings for friends than those with preoccupied and fearful attachment styles. The implications of these results for attachment theory and psychotherapy are discussed.
This study examined the effects of forgiveness on marital satisfaction. This study also divided the effect of forgiveness on marital satisfaction into actor and partner effects. We applied the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, 1996) to analyze data from 215 married couples. First, the main effects (actor-partner) of forgiveness were estimated. We then used structural equation modeling to compare the relative sizes of the paths from forgiveness to husband and wife outcome scores. Results suggest that forgiveness was a significant positive predictor of marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives. In addition, wives’ forgiveness predicted husbands’ satisfaction. This study also divided the effect of forgiveness on marital satisfaction into actor and partner effect. Actor effects contributed more to self-reported marital satisfaction than partner effects. The study provides us with interpersonal process aspect as well as intrapersonal process aspect of forgiveness and marital satisfaction. In conclusion, the importance and limitations of the study are discussed.
This research aims to maximize the well-being of elderly people by helping them cope with the stress of being old and overcome the fear of death. To realize this purpose, I applied reality therapy to groups of elderly persons and analyzed its outcomes. The participants included a group of 20 elderly persons they were older than 60 and attending a social welfare center in Seoul. Ten participants were assigned to the experimental group and ten were assigned to the no-treatment control group. The reality therapy group counseling program consisted of twice-a-week, two-hour sessions. We measured death anxiety, meaning of life, and well-being before and after the group counseling treatment. The results of the research were as follows: Compared to the no-treatment control group, fear of death decreased significantly for the treatment group. In addition, well-being and understanding of the meaning of life improved significantly for the treatment group. With the help of the reality therapy group counseling program, elderly persons get the chance to think deeply but more positively about death and grow hopeful about managing the rest of their lives according to their wishes and preferences in a peaceful way. These findings have important implications for counselors working with geriatric populations.
This study introduces the diagnostic tool of Analysis of Leadership Potential (ALP) through case analysis and an application to group counseling. The Social Relations Model (SRM; Kenny & La Voie, 1984), which provided the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of ALP, is first described. Next, ALP evaluation types and output are introduced. A case study also is presented. Before a 13-hour workshop, the ALP was administered to thirteen persons employed by a university student guidance center. The ALP was administered again after workshop the pre- and post-workshop ALP were compared. Following the workshop, discrepancies among self-perception, other-perception, meta-perception and ideal-perception were smaller and characteristics of others were judged more accurately. These results are discussed in relation to the powerful potential of ALP for group counseling.
We conducted this study to develop and validate the new Clinging Scale. This scale was based on the previously developed Jipchak Scale (Eun Hee Kim, 2002). Study 1 resulted in developing the final Revised Clinging Scale of 36 items, which were derived from 6 different factors (past fixation, lack of nowness, future fixation, fixed opinion, situational inflexibility, and desire obsession). Study 2 was conducted to validate (construct and criterion-related validity) the Revised Clinging Scale. The validity of the Revised Clinging Scale was supported by findings from various groups classified by their psychological or mental health and ability to adapt.
The purpose of this paper was to analyze the symbolic representations embedded in the Mt. Paektu fairy tale as they relate to unconscious archetypal experiences and to emphasize the importance of therapist understanding of her/his internal psychic reality. This fairy tale tells a story about the two poor orphan boys. The older brother, Jangwoo, has a younger brother, Bawoo, who is gravely ill. Their deceased mother tells Jangwoo in a dream that the remedy for Bawoo's illness can be found in the Palace of the Dragon King in the Crater Lake of Mt. Paektu. Jangwoo heads for Mt. Paektu overcoming several obstacles along the way. After saving a red carp found near death in a snow-covered frozen pond, Jangwoo finds the stairs to the Lake Crater. Jangwoo meets the Dragon King with the help of the red carp, who turns out to be the Dragon Princess in disguise. Jangwoo comes back home with three yellow mushrooms and the Dragon King's mustache, which save Bawoo's life. Jangwoo's journey to the Palace of the Dragon King represents the developmental process of becoming a whole person. With the help of red carp as his Anima, pent up psychic energy is restored and a transformation is possible, which facilitates the individuation process. This interpretation is used to emphasize the importance of the therapist individuation process, which is possible through therapist self-analysis. This article emphasizes that therapist self-analysis provides an opportunity to directly encounter one’s internal psychic reality.
The purpose of this paper was to analyze the symbolic representations embedded in the Mt. Paektu fairy tale as they relate to unconscious archetypal experiences and to emphasize the importance of therapist understanding of her/his internal psychic reality. This fairy tale tells a story about the two poor orphan boys. The older brother, Jangwoo, has a younger brother, Bawoo, who 15 gravely ill. Their deceased mother tells Jangwoo in a dream that the remedy for Bawoo's illness can be found in the Palace of the Dragon King in the Crater Lake of Mt. Paektu. Jangwoo heads for Mt. Paektu overcoming several obstacles along the way. After saving a red carp found near death in a snow-covered frozen pond, Jangwoo finds the stairs to the Lake Crater. Jangwoo meets the Dragon King with the help of the red carp, who turns out to be the Dragon Princess in disguise. Jangwoo comes back home with three yellow mushrooms and the Dragon King's mustache, which save Bawoo's life. Jangwoo's journey to the Palace of the Dragon King represents the developmental process of becoming a whole person. With the help of red Carp as his Anima, pent up psychic energy is restored and a transformation is possible, which facilitates the individuation process. This interpretation is used to emphasize the importance of the therapist individuation process, which is possible through therapist self-analysis. This article emphasizes that therapist self-analysis provides an opportunity to directly encounter one's internal psychic reality.
This study examined the effect of psychological hardiness on mental health in the military basic training period using coping strategies and achievement goals as mediating variables. We administered measures of psychological hardiness, mental health, ways of coping, and achievement goals to 300 military recruits at the end of a demanding, 5-week basic training period. The results revealed that psychological hardiness, ways of coping and achievement goals were significantly correlated with mental health, as measured by psychological well-being and distress. The results of this study are important in revealing the effects of psychological health, coping, and achievement goals on the mental health of military recruits. In addition, this study is an important contribution because of its empirical focus on adjustment to military service. Implications for the future studies are suggested.
