Below is a collection of publications related to control theory, research, and practice of Control Therapy and which further our understanding regarding the positive and healthy uses of human control and self-control for individuals, families, societies and planetary health and well-being.
For additional articles and writings by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., (e.g. meditation, psychological health, creative writing—poetry, short stories, novella, novel), please visit his site at DeaneHShapiroJr.org
Control Therapy. Encyclopedia of Psychology (PDF file) Control Therapy. Encyclopedia of Psychology. Shapiro, DH, Astin, JA, Shapiro, SL, Soucar, E Santerre, C. (2010) Control Therapy. in The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology 4th Edition., Vol 1 I. Weiner & W. E. Craighead (Eds.) pp.404-406.
Self-Control 2010 (PDF file) Self-Control: Encyclopedia of Psychology Shapiro,DH, Shapiro,SL, Astin, JA, & Shapiro,JF (2010) Self-Control. in The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. Fourth Edition, Vol 4, I. Weiner & W. E. Craighead (Eds.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. 1528-1530
Self-Control: Encyclopedia of Psychology 2004 (PDF file) Self-control Shapiro, DH, Astin, JA, Shapiro, SL in in Craighead, W.E.&] Nemeroff, CB (Eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Neuroscience (2004), Wiley : New York, pp. 857, 858; (with supplemental references)
Self-Control: Encyclopedia of Psychology 1987 (PDF file) Shapiro, D. H. Self-control and Self-Control Strategies. In Corsini, R. (ed) Encyclopedia of Psychology. New York: Wiley, Vol. 3, 285-288, 1984; *Abridged version (1986) 1013-1015; 2nd Edition, 1994.
This is additional footnotes not included in the American Psychologist article that may be of interest: Topics include refinement in what is meant by formal meditation; detached observation; behavioral self-observation reactivity; integrating meditation and behavioral approaches. Supplemental Material (PDF)
The psychology of responsibility: Some second thoughts on holistic medicine. (PDF file) Shapiro, J. and Shapiro, D. H. The psychology of responsibility: Some second thoughts on holistic medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 1979, 301: 211-212. The psychology of responsibility: A reply to Kaye, Shealy and Smith. New England Journal of Medicine, 1979, 30l: 1294-1295.
A control model of psychological health (PDF file) Shapiro, J. and Shapiro, D. H. A control model of psychological health: Relation to traditional and liberated sex-role stereotypes: Investigation and extension of a construct. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 1985, 12, 3-4, pp. 433-447.
Self-control concerns for men and women (PDF file) Shapiro, D. H. and Shapiro, J. Self-control concerns for men and women: Refinement and extension of a contsruct. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1983, 39 (6) 878-892.
A factor analytic study of perceived characteristics of person (PDF file) Shapiro, D. H. A factor analytic study of perceived characteristics of person, man, and woman with high and low psychological health: Relation to a model of control. Psychologia: An International Journal of psychological sciences, 1983, 26 (3) 142-158.
Coping With Loss of Control in the Practice of Medicine (PDF file) Johanna Shapiro, PhD, John Astin, PhD, Shauna L. Shapiro, PhD, Daniel Robitshek, MD, Deane H. Shapiro, PhD Shapiro J, Astin J, Shapiro SL, Robitshek D, Shapiro DH. (2011). Although the quest for active control and mastery can be seen as a central thread that ties together important aspects of human experience, we are frequently confronted with the reality that much of what is encountered in life lies outside our active instrumental control. Control must involve finding healthy and life-affirming ways to exercise personal mastery, and identifying constructive ways to respond to the lack of control that pervades the human condition.
A Sense of Control, Health, and Illness (PDF file) Shapiro, DH. Maintaining a Sense of Control in Addressing Perennial Issues of a Personal, Interpersonal, and Cosmic Nature: Reflections on Bali. International Journal of Psychosomatics,37,1990,1-4,40-49.
The courage to change and the serenity to accept (PDF file) Astin, J, Shapiro, SL, Schwartz, CE & Shapiro, DH (2001) The courage to change and the serenity to accept: Further comments on fighting spirit and breast cancer. (responses by Steven Greer and Margaret Watson). Advances 17,2, pp. 83-156
The Construct of Control in Mind-Body Medicine (PDF) Astin, JA, Shapiro, SL, Lee, RA, Shapiro, DH (1999) The construct of control in mind-body medicine: Implications for health care. Alternative Therapies In Health and Medicine 5,2, 42-47
Response to Cloud, Time Magazine, Feb 13, 2006 Shapiro, Deane and Astin, John
The "thoughtful," well-written article by John Cloud (Time, February 13, 2006), describes how Beck's Cognitive Therapy--change thoughts--and Hayes' ACT--accept thoughts-- seek to answer this question. As Cloud intimates, the issue may be less an "either/or" than at first appears. Specifically, research on Control Therapy—helping people gain a positive sense of control in their lives-- has demonstrated over the past twenty-five years with several thousand individuals that an optimum sense of control comes from finding what combination of positive assertive change and positive yielding acceptance is best for a specific person in a given situation.
In addition to bridging "change and acceptance," Control Therapy research also has shown that more refinement of these concepts is needed. An assertive, change mode of control can be positive (striving for excellence, self-improvement) or negative (overcontrol, perfectionism). Similarly, a yielding, accepting mode of control can be positive (at peace with self, gratefulness for what you have) or negative (passivity, helplessness).
Since clinical (and cross-cultural) research indicates that different people (and cultures) have different "Control Profiles," Control Therapy involves helping individuals learn about their unique control profile: their control story and dynamics, including desire for control, fear of loss of control, and agency of control (do they get a sense of control from self and/or others; including Others (higher power). Control Therapy then teaches how to reduce the two negative modes of control and to find the best blend and balance between positive assertive change and positive yielding acceptance for reducing distress, and enhancing health and healing.
We share this in the spirit in which Cloud's article was written: as an effort to help bring increased happiness to those who suffer, and greater wisdom to those who seek it.
Measuring the Psychological Construct of Control (PDF file) Shapiro, DH, Potkin, S; Jin, Y; Brown, B; Carreon, D.(1993) Measuring the psychological construct of control: Discriminant, Divergent, and Incremental Validity of the Shapiro Control Inventory and Rotter's and Wallston's Locus of Control Scales. International Journal of Psychosomatics, 40 (1-4), 35-46.
Aging and Sense of Control (PDF file) Shapiro, DH, Sandman, C, Grossman, M., & Grossman, B. (1995) Aging and Sense of Control: Initial Findings. Psychological Report, 77, 616-618.
Reliability of four quadrant model of self-control (PDF file) Shapiro, D. H. Reliability of four quadrant model of self-control: Ratings by experts in Type A Behavior/Health Psychology; East-West Psychology, and sex role psychology. Psychologia: An International Journal of psychological sciences, the Orient, 1982, 25, (3), 149-154.
Intimate Relationships: Qualitative Data About Rewards and Advantages of Intimacy – View the Intimacy section of the SSCI manual (Shapiro Self-Control Inventory) Intimate Relationships: Qualitative Data About rewards and advantages of intimacy; the problems and disadvantages of intimacy; personal stumbling blocks that keep individuals from developing intimacy; personal qualities you have that facilitate intimacy; qualities you look for in an intimate relationship; intimacy in relationship to a person’s control profile (see controlresearch.net) e.g., their modes of control (assertive/accepting); their need/desire for control; their freedom reflex, their ability to surrender, trust, forgive. (This qualitative data comes from respondents attending a Mental Health Conference on the Psychology Of Health Care: Taking charge of your own life: how to do it, how to teach it in Seattle and Chicago.
A case study addressing issues of how to deal with an uncooperative client, addressing self-sabotage; the use of imagery in decision making; self monitoring and self reinforcement; family contracting; school consultation; relationship variables.
Reprinted (in part) in William H. Cormier and L. Sherilyn Cormier, “Interviewing Strategies for Helpers: Fundamental Skills and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions,”2nd edition, Monterey, California: Brooks- Cole, 1985,pages 448-457.
Reprinted, in part, in Therapy for Adults: Anxiety, Personality, and Depressive Disorders, Eds, H L Millman; JT Huber; DR Diggins, Jossey Bass Publishers, l982
Meditation and Psychotherapy: A Case Study (PDF) by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., Ph.D. (2001) Meditation and Psychotherapy: A Case Study. In Wedding, D., & Corsini, RJ (Eds) Case Studies in Psychotherapy 3rd Edition. . Itasca, Illinois: FE Peacock Publishers, pp. 225-242 (Other case studies by Carl Rogers, Albert Ellis, David Barlow, Aaron Beck, Irvin Yalom, Arnold Lazarus, Fritz Perls)
This case study is included here because it includes information on early roots of Control Therapy including comments on a) the orientation of the therapist (Dr Shapiro); b) the therapist’s belief in the efficacy of the strategy; c) combining meditation with other strategies: e.g., behavioral self observation; assertiveness training d) the role of relationship.
Meditation and Behavioral Medicine (PDF) by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., Ph.D., Meditation and behavioral medicine: Application of a self-regulation strategy to the clinical management of stress. In S. Burchfield (ed.) Stress: Psychological and Physiological Interactions. New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1985, pp. 307-328.
Control Content Analysis: Foundational Studies and Scoring
There are six articles below which address the utility and importance of listening to “speech” (verbal samples) and scoring them on dimensions of control. The Control Content Analysis Scales (SCCAS) can be a complement to the SCI Control Profile. Whereas the latter is a paper and pencil test, the SCCAS are a systematic way to code patient speech. The material below provides an overview summary of the different scales (article one); the utilization of the SCCAS with a psychiatric outpatient sample (articles 2-4); the use of the SCCAS with dreams (using Positron Emission Tomography). (5)
Finally, a more in-depth discussion and manual of the SCCAS is provided in the manual (article 6).
This inventory was one of the pilot studies in exploring issues of personal self-control, areas where individuals felt they wanted more “self-control.” It explored respondents’ motivational issues, self-efficacy beliefs, concerns, areas of potential resistance to success, personal responsibility, “Freedom reflex” (willing to learn from others; and possible self-control methods for change. This material is covered in Sections 1-5 below. One section of the SSCI related to Intimacy and self-control as a specific “domain” area. (Section Six). Section 7 and 8 explored the Modes of Control: assertive, yielding, overcontrol.
Finally, the SSCI asked questions which were more narrow to broad about self-control, just for the heuristic interest. The range of questions shows the early efforts to, in a positive frame, to explore the large canvas of control. On the existential end, some questions , related to self-control and how individuals have sought to cope with some of the most challenging issues of life (relational endings, illness, personal tragedies) including facing their own death. On the narrower end, some questions looked at how individuals felt about what might be considered more mundane areas of involuntary (loss of control) issues like sneezing, yawning!
The material here is presented by section, with the respondent’s answers. The reader is invited to peruse these questions and responses for:
Their heuristic value—the range of topics which these health care professionals felt self-control applied to their own lives.
To note the early “sketches” of Control Therapy---self-control concerns, issues of motivation, adherence, resistance, practice
“Seed ideas” for further research: for example, section 5, looking at cognitions right before the practice of a self-control strategy (for intention and goals); as well as adherence/compliance.
DEVELOPING A CONTROL PROFILE: Life Domains and Sense of control
After the data collection from the SSCI (above), we decided to develop a control profile using a likert scale (so no qualitative data). This draft is presented here, again, for heuristic purposes, to show the themes being wrestled with and the different dimensions discussed.
Specifically, we wanted the Control Profile to include:
All “Life domains”: body, mind, self, (Part One); as well as professional, interpersonal, political and economic, natural disasters and religions spiritual issues
Parts One and Two list these domains (and topics under each) on the vertical axis, and the questions related to control on the horizontal axis. The questions relate to need and desire for control (1,3.5); assessment of level of control in this area (2); including feels of vulnerability (4);; your goal (5) and your self-efficacy belief about achieving your goal
Part Three looks at these domains regarding areas where control might be exercised regarding a specific event (multiple domains are provided) and asks; can you control the event; can you control your attention about the event; can you control your thoughts about the event; your feelings about it; your body toward it; can you control the environment with regard to it.
Two other Tables are included here. One table (listed as 9), looks at the Multiple Domains, and asks the person how important each domain is to them; then to reflect on how much time is spent on each in a given week. Then the respondent is asked to rank order the ideal in terms of which levels are most important; and the ideal amount of time which would be spent on each.
The second table (listed as 10) looks at specific areas within each domain, and asks the respondent to reflect on their motivation in that area (and provides some examples of motivations).
These Control Profile drafts are intended to help individuals a) recognize in an overview the range of domains which impact their life; b) assess their Control Profile in those domains; c) see goals and priorities; and d) looking at motivations within each area.
SITUATION SPECIFIC VIGNETTES AND THE FOUR MODES OF CONTROL
This study presents material on how individuals respond to different gradated situational vignettes, ranging from those involving interpersonal communication and intimacy, to dealing with a boss. Specifically, we were looking at the relationships among
Personality variable of assertiveness and yielding (real and ideal)
Gradient of situational vignette variable
And an individual’s expressed attitudinal and behavioral responses (both within nuances of a vignette; and across different vignettes)
The first section is a brief overview of the study, the vignettes, the means of assessing assertive and yielding responses (both positive and negative), (real and ideal) and the applications to the SCI, the SCCAS (Control Content Analysis Scales) , and Control Therapy. Subsequent sections report the data from each of the different vignettes, (and then a summary of six cases across vignettes) and can be clicked on independently. In each section, in addition to providing the above information, we also offer suggestions for future research, and propose -- based on the data and our own assessment-- what would be qualities of wise, psychologically healthy response(s) in each section.1
1This material was collected in l979, and preliminary data analysis done in l980-81. Some of the comments on psychologically response(s) and additional JS comments on coding were added in 2018.
Home Study Course on Control Therapy
There is a voluminous research literature showing the importance of control for mental and physical health. This course reviews the role of control in healthy and disordered cognitive, behavioral and affective functioning and offers a practical guide to integrating control-based techniques into virtually any practice. The course details research literature on the negative mental and physical health effects resulting from a loss of control and outlines research and clinical evidence demonstrating how lack of control can contribute to and or exacerbate mental and physical illness. Specific control profiles of DSM IV populations are offered and ways of assessing a client's control profile are detailed. This course, based on reading from the Control Therapy Book, The Control Therapy Training Manual, and the Last Lecture (all free on this website) shows how health care professionals can facilitate their patients gaining a positive sense of control. Specific ways of assessing a patient's control profile are provided, and ways of matching particular controlrelated coping techniques for a patient are detailed. These control related techniques include a positive assertive mode involving active involvement ("fighting spirit") in their care, and a positive yielding mode of control involving acceptance without resignation and denial. Below are Behavioral Objectives and Multiple Choice Questions for the Home Study Course. Click here.
Clinical Research
For an example of General Clinical Outpatient Research Forms, Client and Therapist, click this link.
Tapes
Clinical Applications Of Meditation And Behavioral Self-Control Strategies and Instructions in Meditation And Behavioral Self-Management.
Instructions for a training package combining Zen meditation and behavioral self management strategies
by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., Ph.D.
Instructions for a training package combining Zen meditation and behavioral self management strategies. Psychologia, 1978, 21: 70-76.
Reprinted (in part) in William H. Cormier and L. Sherilyn Cormier, “Interviewing Strategies for Helpers: Fundamental Skills and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions,” 2nd edition, Monterey, California: Brooks- Cole, 1985, pages 448-457.