The growth of marital therapy is reviewed with special emphasis devoted to recent trends toward (1) the increased use of direct teaching models for the treatment of marital dysfunction, and (2) the increased emphasis on empirical validation of theoretical approaches. Two didactic models (communication skills training and contingency contracting) are considered in detail in regard to both their theoretical bases and their empirical support. In addition, treatment packages incorporating these two models are reviewed and evaluated with special attention given to the theoretical assumptions underlying these approaches. Finally, a research question is raised involving the possible interactional and ordering effects found in these treatment packages.
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