Helping people change

Posted on August 24, 2007
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Have you ever wondered why people continue to behave in a self-destructive manner? Take for example people who smoke, drink or eat excessively. They know that their choices to smoke, drink and overeat will increase their chances of death at a younger age. They also know that they are more likely to suffer from medical conditions such as cancer, liver damage and heart disease compared to someone who avoids such detrimental behaviors. Moreover, substance abuse of any kind often has important social consequences including an alienation of one’s immediate family.

Scientists know that change is difficult for people for many reasons. One such reason has to do with the fact that change is hard. The status quo is familiar and predictable as compared to the uncertainty of change. People also find temporary comfort in their addiction. Smoking, drinking or overeating can bring temporary pleasure and relaxation. Moreover, some of the methods people use to try and convince others to change are often perceived as a violation of an individual’s freedoms resisting change out of principle; such methods include social pressure and threats.

Scientific American Mind reports that a new method developed by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick may be the best for helping people change. The method is known as motivational interviewing.

Using this method, the therapist aims to enhance the client’s intrinsic motivation toward change by exploring and resolving his or her ambivalence. The goal is to help the client (rather than the therapist) become the advocate for change. In other words, a client’s resistance to change is seen by the therapist as ambivalence to be understood and appreciated rather than opposed directly.

What motivational interviewing achieves is in convincing the patient that change is desirable regardless of his reasons for resistance. Once change is accepted as a goal worth pursuing, addicted people are more likely to stay with a program that helps them kick their unhealthy habits. Studies have shown that motivational interviewing is a much better method for helping people change often having a success rate nearly double that of traditional treatments.

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