Individual Variation in Behavioral Change following Role Playing

Abstract

In a study of the effect of role playing on cigarette smoking 44 adult male Ss pretended to be either the patient or doctor in a conference over a physical check-up The “patient” was informed he had lung cancer and had to decide whether to undergo an operation on five-day follow-ups 9 Ss reported reduced smoking by 8 cigarettes or more per day; 7 Ss (including 3 of the original 9) showed similar reductions after 4 months. All Ss who reduced smoking were internally oriented on the I/E scale. Verbalized intentions were not related to reductions in smoking levels. Situational anxiety predicted verbal intentions but not behavioral change.