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A comparison of three behavioral methods for the treatment of shyness

Author

Patricia Hunter, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1977

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Roger C. Katz

First Committee Member

Martin T. Gipson

Second Committee Member

Mary Lynn Young

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare both existing and new behavioral treatments for a prevalent problem, shyness. The relative contributions of mastery imagery, coping imagery, and self-instructions in a systematic desensitization procedure were evaluated in an SPF 3.3 design. Sixteen severely shy college students were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 5, 6, and 5, respectively, and were treated by either desensitization using mastery imagery, desensitization using coping imagery, or desensitization using both coping imagery and self instructions. Results indicate that although each of the three treatment procedures helped to reduce shyness anxiety, the treatment employing self-instructional training was the most effective. Suggestions for improving this study and the practical implications of this study's findings are discussed.

Pages

54

Recommended Citation

Hunter, Patricia. (1977). A comparison of three behavioral methods for the treatment of shyness. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1950