Within and between associations of nonverbal synchrony in relation to Grawe's general mechanisms of change

Jessica Prinz, Kaitlyn Boyle, Fabian Ramseyer, Wolf Kabus, Eran Bar-Kalifa, Wolfgang Lutz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The examination of nonverbal synchrony has become a promising line of psychotherapy research. Although several studies have found between-dyad associations between nonverbal synchrony and multidimensional outcomes, the findings remain heterogeneous, and within-dyad effects remain to be investigated. The present study examines within and between effects of nonverbal synchrony on mastery, resource activation, problem actuation, and motivational clarification (Grawe's general mechanisms of change). Four-hundred and twenty-three videotaped sessions of 175 patients were analysed using motion energy analysis (MEA), providing values to quantify nonverbal synchrony in the patient–therapist dyad. Grawe's general mechanisms of change in psychotherapy were rated using the Inventory of Therapeutic Interventions and Skills (ITIS). On average, patient–therapist nonverbal synchrony was greater than chance. Hierarchical linear modelling revealed that nonverbal synchrony was significantly associated with higher mastery and less resource activation on the within-dyad level. Nonverbal synchrony was not associated with problem actuation or motivational clarification, and in general, no associations were found on the between-dyad level. The results demonstrate the importance of disentangling within and between effects of nonverbal synchrony and provide initial evidence that nonverbal synchrony is tied to the specific therapeutic strategies observed in psychotherapy sessions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-168
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Funding

This study was approved by the ethical board and supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG, Grant no. LU 660/10‐1). Part of the data analyzed in this study were published in Boyle et al. (2019). The protocol of this clinical trial was published in Lutz et al. (2017) and Lutz et al. (2019). The data sets are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

FundersFunder number
Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftLU 660/10‐1

    Keywords

    • CBT
    • Inventory of Therapeutic Interventions and Skills
    • general change mechanisms
    • motion energy analysis
    • nonverbal synchrony

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