The use of modeling and role playing to increase social interaction among asocial psychiatric patients.

Eighty-seven psychiatric inpatients, all of whom consistently displayed minimal social interaction behavior, were examined in a 2 X 2 X 2 covariance design involving three treatment variables. The major variable of concern was presence versus absence of structured learning therapy (modeling plus role playing plus social reinforcement) aimed at increasing social interaction behavior. Presence versus absence of psychotherapy and patient status (acute-chronic) were the other study variables. Several significant main and interaction effects emerged on social interaction criteria for structured learning therapy. Interaction effects for structured learning therapy and psychotherapy suggested primarily a mutual inhibition of treatment effectiveness. The implications of these findings for further studies of structured learning therapy and specific skill enhancement are examined. Withdrawal, apathy, and minimal social interaction have long been recognized as major descriptive features of both schizophrenia and other functional psychotic disorders. During the past decade, two major approaches to schizophrenic withdrawal behavior, social interaction, and resocialization have emerged. The first has been most frequently described as the milieu therapy approach (Artiss, 1962; Gumming & Gumming, 1962; Kraft, 1966). Here, attitudes and behaviors necessary for satisfactory posthospital adjustment are reflected in the structure and operation of within-hospit al activities. The patients are given considerable responsibility, an array of group activities is implemented, group pressures toward social interaction and related goals are exerted, and staff-patient status lines are blurred or diminished. The