Effects of Two Counselling Techniques on Mental Model in Values Clarification and Success Orientation of School Adolescents

Abstract

The study examined the path of mental model as a function of adolescent's behavioural processes regarding value clarification and success orientation .An attempt was made to see if counselling/psycho-social interventions on irrational beliefs and negative automatic thoughts as variables measuring individual's mental models in operation, could positively boost the emotional and behavioural stability. The sample comprised 180 (90 females and 90 males) SSII students randomly selected from nine secondary schools in three Local Educational Districts (LED) in Lagos state. The schools were divided into three groups representing the three treatment strategies respectively and each group comprises (1) coeducational, (1) male, and (1) female schools .Two research hypotheses were postulated and the data generated were analyzed using step-wise multiple regression statistical model.
The results revealed that:
- There is a significant dependence of the adolescents' perceptions of self efficacy beliefs,
success expectancy and life satisfaction on pattern of automatic thoughts and degree of
irrational beliefs.
- There is also significant improvement in the dependent variables assessments scores
across experimental conditions. Showing the positive effects of the intervention.
Based on the findings, it could be said that; detecting the metal models sustaining behavioral acts will help better in behaviour modification, in reducing risky behaviours or emotional problems associated with adolescents and young adults. Recommendations were made on the basis of the findings.

Keywords: Mental Models, Value Clarification, Success Orientation, Automatic thought

International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 3 (1) 2007 pp. 21-34