Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether rules acquired through creative hopelessness serve as motivative augmentals for the reduction of experiential avoidance and for the activation of valued behaviors. Undergraduate students (N=48) with a high social-avoidance tendency were randomly assigned to an experimental group, a control group, or a placebo group. The experiment lasted for 2 days; between those 2 days, there was a 2-week home work period. On the first day, the experimental group and control group received psychological education on creative hopelessness. The placebo group received psychological education consisting of general clinical psychology information about social anxiety. Further, only the experimental group was asked to present the newly acquired rules during the home work period. Results showed that only the experimental group improved in terms of social avoidance tendency (Lebowitz Social Anxiety Scale [LSAS]-avoidance) (Cohen's d=0.97). Further, compared to the other groups, the experimental group displayed a greater number of and engaged more frequently in valued behaviors (M=2.06; M=10.00, respectively). These results might support the claim that rules newly acquired through creative hopelessness may serve as motivative augmentals.
