The British Journal of Psychiatry 133: 156-161 (1978)
© 1978 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
The influence of videotape feedback on the self-assessments of psychiatric patients
RD Griffiths and P Gillingham
The effects of videotape feedback on patients' self-perception were
assessed in a study which was a partial replication of an investigation
reported by Griffiths and Hinkson (1973). Subjects were randomly allocated
to one of three groups. After a semi-structured interview, they were either
(1) shown a videotape of the interview, or (2) shown a videotape of another
person being interviewed, or (3) engaged in other activities not involving
videotape. Patients' self-ratings indicated that videotape feedback has
immediate effects on self-assessments of social ease and physical
attractiveness. Feedback produced changes in ratings of social ease, but
individuals differed in the direction of the change (i.e. whether social
ease was "better" or "worse"). The direction of the change was predicted by
a questionnaire measure of response style. Feedback also tended to make
patients rate themselves as less attractive in the eyes of other people.
All changes were, however, temporary and had disappeared at a two-week
follow-up. The results are generally consistent with those reported by
Griffiths and Hinkson in that they indicate temporary and specific changes
in response to videotape feedback. The implications of the results are
discussed.