Psychology

One can find a rich set of empirically evaluated techniques across different schools in couple therapy over its evolution of five decades. Though there are multiple systematic reviews and analyses of couple intervention studies, none focus on reviewing the universal dimensions of change across therapeutic techniques. Understanding the common areas of change would enable integrated learning across therapy modalities for novice therapists. Therefore, the aim is to identify the techniques employed in couple intervention research and categorize their change dimensions. We examined 40 articles on couple interventions published across 16 journals and identified 111 techniques. The five therapeutic change dimensions, namely behavior, cognition, emotion, attachment, and holistic, were categorized based on the common factor integration of techniques. The identified techniques were further classified under the five dimensions using the voting procedure to validate the universality of change dimensions.

One can find a rich set of empirically evaluated techniques across different schools in couple therapy over its evolution of five decades. Though there are multiple systematic reviews and analyses of couple intervention studies, none focus on reviewing the universal dimensions of change across therapeutic techniques. Understanding the common areas of change would enable integrated learning across therapy modalities for novice therapists. Therefore, the aim is to identify the techniques employed in couple intervention research and categorize their change dimensions. We examined 40 articles on couple interventions published across 16 journals and identified 111 techniques. The five therapeutic change dimensions, namely behavior, cognition, emotion, attachment, and holistic, were categorized based on the common factor integration of techniques. The identified techniques were further classified under the five dimensions using the voting procedure to validate the universality of change dimensions.

Gottman Couple Therapy (GCT) is based on 40 + years of empirical findings and advocates process research, enabling an understanding of how an intervention works. Dreams-within-Conflict (DWC) is a GCT technique that softens the stand on unresolvable issues by facilitating positive emotion regulation strategies such as expressing vulnerabilities, understanding, and soothing in place of destructive strategies such as criticism and defensiveness. The aim of the study is to understand the emotion regulation process during a one-session DWC intervention using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design examining N = 30 individuals (15 couples) during the DWC intervention. The changes in emotion regulation strategies (Extrinsic/Intrinsic affect Worsening/Improving strategies-EW, IW, EI, II) in partners were examined in the presence of individual characteristics of emotion regulation traits (cognitive-reappraisal and suppression) and beliefs using self-assessment questionnaires, feedback reports, thematic coding of video recordings, and a semi-structured interview. Paired-samples t-test results showed that DWC fosters emotion regulation strategies by significantly decreasing partners' EW and increasing EI and II strategies. Though IW strategies declined during-DWC, the changes were not significant. Hierarchical linear modeling findings showed that before-DWC emotion regulation strategies, gender, and individual emotion regulation traits of cognitive-reappraisal and suppression predicted EI, and before-DWC strategies predicted II, but none of the variables predicted EW and IW during-DWC. To further understand the interventional implications, the emotional regulation strategies and preferences for expression (over suppression) shared by the Indian couples were examined using thematic analysis. The results show that avoidance, conflict behaviors, and prioritizing parents' emotions over partners' (in men) were the most often employed regulatory strategies. Simultaneously, Indian couples unanimously agreed that expression of emotions was a crucial factor for marital satisfaction.

Gottman Couple Therapy (GCT) is based on 40 + years of empirical findings and advocates process research, enabling an understanding of how an intervention works. Dreams-within-Conflict (DWC) is a GCT technique that softens the stand on unresolvable issues by facilitating positive emotion regulation strategies such as expressing vulnerabilities, understanding, and soothing in place of destructive strategies such as criticism and defensiveness. The aim of the study is to understand the emotion regulation process during a one-session DWC intervention using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design examining N = 30 individuals (15 couples) during the DWC intervention. The changes in emotion regulation strategies (Extrinsic/Intrinsic affect Worsening/Improving strategies-EW, IW, EI, II) in partners were examined in the presence of individual characteristics of emotion regulation traits (cognitive-reappraisal and suppression) and beliefs using self-assessment questionnaires, feedback reports, thematic coding of video recordings, and a semi-structured interview. Paired-samples t-test results showed that DWC fosters emotion regulation strategies by significantly decreasing partners' EW and increasing EI and II strategies. Though IW strategies declined during-DWC, the changes were not significant. Hierarchical linear modeling findings showed that before-DWC emotion regulation strategies, gender, and individual emotion regulation traits of cognitive-reappraisal and suppression predicted EI, and before-DWC strategies predicted II, but none of the variables predicted EW and IW during-DWC. To further understand the interventional implications, the emotional regulation strategies and preferences for expression (over suppression) shared by the Indian couples were examined using thematic analysis. The results show that avoidance, conflict behaviors, and prioritizing parents' emotions over partners' (in men) were the most often employed regulatory strategies. Simultaneously, Indian couples unanimously agreed that expression of emotions was a crucial factor for marital satisfaction.

Just as there are many cultures within the world, so also are there many practices, beliefs, myths, values, and traditions wi
thin
each culture. These unique ways of being can often present challenging frames of reference that may prevent a whole
perspectiv
e from being attained. This essay examines the contextual formation of culture and the fundamentals intricate to the
search for universal values. An illumination is also provided upon some of the major and extreme forms of cultural practices
that may pose
difficulty in achieving such a goal.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare professionals worldwide, by bringing changes in both their personal and professional lives. Motivation has become a driving factor along with cognitive flexibility during such demanding situations. Little importance has been given to the personality dimension while assessing these aspects, especially in the Indian context. The principal aim of this paper is to understand the relationship between personality, cognitive flexibility, and motivation among medical professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A correlational research design was used to conduct the research, and a snowball sampling technique was used to collect the data from a sample size of 204 medical professionals, consisting of 101 nurses and 103 doctors, working as frontline workers. The variables were assessed using the Neo Five-Factor Inventory, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Questionnaire. ...

The study examines self-awareness based on decision-making styles for destitute adolescent girls. The sample consisted of 16 destitute girls aged 11-19 years from a destitute home in Kerala. Self-awareness is an essential skill that enables the individual to understand ones strengths and weakness, likes and dislikes which will equip them to deal with life stressors, develop effective communication and interpersonal relations, and to deal constructively with decisions about their lives. Decision-making style is a learned, habitual pattern that an individual exhibits in a decision situation. The Self-Awareness scale (Crisp Coaching & Consultancy, 2003) was applied to measure how well they know themselves, their values, priorities, interests, fears, beliefs and hopes. The General Decision-Making Scale (Scott & Bruce, 1994) measured 5-dimension of decision-making styles namely- rational, intuitive, spontaneous, dependent and avoidant. The t-test of significance was used. Results indicate a significant difference between the self-awareness and  avoidant and intuitive decision-making styles, and also between spontaneous and intuitive decision-making style.