The Impact of Conclusion-Checking Technique on Altering Catastrophic Thinking among Those about to Divorce

Abstract

The current research aimed to investigate the impact of the inference checking technique on altering catastrophic thinking among those about to divorce. To achieve the research objective, the researchers constructed the Catastrophic Thinking Scale based on Beck's Cognitive Therapy theory. After verifying the psychometric properties of the scale, it was administered to a research sample consisting of 200 males seeking divorce, distributed across the Personal Status Courts in Basra province. They were selected randomly. Ten individuals who scored highest on the catastrophic thinking scale were selected and divided into two groups randomly: one control and one experimental. Equivalence between the two groups was ensured. Both groups underwent pre-testing, after which the experimental group was exposed to a counseling program based on the inference-checking approach, while the control group did not undergo any activities or programs. After completing the counseling program, the experimental group underwent a post-test. The researchers arrived at the following results: 1- There were statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results for the experimental group. Therefore, the researchers reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis, which states that there are statistically significant differences between the experimental group's performance on the pre-test and post-test.2-There were statistically significant differences between the dimensional measurement results of the experimental and control groups, indicating significant statistical differences between the two groups. When comparing the total ranks of the two groups, the differences favored the experimental group. The total rank sum for the first experimental group was (15.00), smaller than the total rank sum for the control group, which was (40.00). In light of the researchers' findings, they concluded with a set of recommendations and proposals.