Development of a Treatment Protocol based on Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) and Examination of its Effects on Cognitive Bias, Intimacy, and Adjustment of Maladjusted Couples

Aim and Background:

Intimacy and marital compatibility between couples maintain and strengthen the family foundation. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a methodology based on cognitive bias correction and to determine the effectiveness of its training on bias, intimacy and adaptation of couples with marital incompatibility.

Methods and Materials:

The research method was quasi-experimental and the design of the pretest, posttest research was with the control group. The statistical population of the study was couples with marital problems who referred to counseling centers in Arak in 1398. The sample consisted of 16 couples (32 people) with marital incompatibility and cognitive bias who were selected by available methods. Data were collected using the Lock-Wallace (1959) Compatibility Questionnaire, Walker-Thompson (1983) Marital Intimacy Questionnaire, and the Point-of-Exploration Assignment Software (2015). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data and examine the relationships between variables.  

The results showed that the treatment method based on the correction of cognitive bias has an acceptable content validity. Also, the results of the educational intervention showed that the training of the method significantly reduces the cognitive bias of the couple and increases the intimacy and adaptation of the couple (P≤0.001).

It seems that training in the treatment method based on cognitive bias correction can be considered as a valid and effective program to reduce cognitive bias and increase intimacy and compatibility of incompatible couples.