Abstract
The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic techniques, individual and group conditions, and themes as facilitators of self-disclosure were assessed. 50 subjects aged 12 to 16 yr. were assigned to one of the five techniques: control or no technique, Modeling 1, Modeling 2, reflecting, or probing. Within their techniques the adolescents were interviewed either individually or in a group and discussed either a medium-intimate or low-intimate theme during 5 30-min. tape-recorded sessions. Self-statements were measured according to Haymes' and Neidhart's instruments. Modeling 2 facilitated the most self-disclosure for subjects interviewed individually. This indicates that subjects who read a large number of self-disclosing statements produced much disclosure. Group conditions stimulated disclosure due to social modeling effects, and low-intimate themes influenced the quality not the quantity of expression. The response categories on the two instruments were positively correlated and valid measures of self-disclosure. The findings question whether the transparency stimulated by the modeling techniques and group social models reflected imitation or reciprocity and to what extent modeled disclosure can be considered as one's own.
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