Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on motivational interviewing and behavior change.

Motivational Interviewing

A counseling approach that helps individuals overcome ambivalence about change, particularly concerning addictions.

Ambivalence

A state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone, particularly in the context of wanting to change but feeling uncertain.

Spontaneous remission

The occurrence of a natural recovery from addiction or difficulty without professional intervention.

Self-efficacy

A belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task, viewed as critical in the change process.

Carl Rogers

A psychologist who identified critical counselor skills, emphasizing accurate empathy, nonpossessive warmth, and genuineness in client interactions.

Accurate Empathy

Skillful and reflective listening that clarifies and amplifies the person's own experiences and meanings.

Nonpossessive Warmth

A supportive and concerned approach from the counselor that avoids feelings of superiority.

Genuineness

The ability of the clinician to demonstrate real concern for the person and their expressed problems.

Change-Talk

The dialogues and expressions that indicate a person's inclination towards change, which predict the likelihood of actual change.

Motivation Components

Three critical aspects of motivation: readiness, willingness, and ability, which determine a person's capacity for change.

Readiness

A person’s awareness and preparedness to change, which is crucial for motivating behavioral change.

Defense mechanisms

Psychological strategies people use to cope with reality and maintain self-image, such as denial, rationalization, and projection.

Intrinsic motivation

Internal drive to change that arises in a supportive and accepting environment, rather than from external pressures or discomfort.

Approach-avoidance conflict

A psychological conflict arising when a person is attracted to and repelled by the same goal or behavior.

Paradoxical response

When a person reacts oppositely to an attempt to coerce them into change, often making the undesired behavior more appealing.

Discrepancy

The gap between one’s current behavior and their desired goals, which roots the perceived importance of change.