[The influence of role induction on the success of systematic desensitization of socially anxious students (author's transl)].

The so-called nonspecific factors involved in therapy have received little attention up to the present - namely, that of role induction (preparing the clients for treatment by informing them about the rationale of treatment, the treatment process, and their part in therapy). For this reason, we constructed an induction text for systematic desensitization according to the principles of instructional psychology (Ausubel), and proceeded to test it for understandability and therapeutic effectiveness. With control group design which assured the realization of the independent variable of role induction, the effective results of desensitization with role induction were compared both with those of simple desensitization and those of a waiting control group. The resultant differences in the group with role induction indicate the additional advantages of this technique for therapy. Essentially, role induction seems to manifest itself in terms of a contribution to more active, independent role formation on the part of the client.