Responses to Dissatisfaction in Psychotheraphy: The Influence of Prior Satisfaction, Perceptions of Problem Severity and Attachment Style

This study examined the influence of prior satisfaction, perceptions of problem severity, and attachment style in determining Rusbult's Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect responses to dissatisfying events depicted in a psychotherapy simulation. Constructive responses to therapy dissatisfaction (i.e., Voice and Loyalty) were positively related to prior satisfaction with the therapist and negatively related to perceptions of problem severity. Destructive responses (i.e., Exit and Neglect) were negatively related to prior satisfaction and positively related to problem severity. Attachment style was associated with individual differences in approaches to resolving conflict, but it was not consistently related to Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect responses to dissatisfying therapy events. There was evidence indicating that style of conflict resolution might mediate the relationship between attachment style and Rusbult's Responses to Dissatisfaction.