The primary mechanism of change in emotion-focused couples therapy (EFT-C) is described as one partner accessing and expressing vulnerability, with the other partner responding affiliatively, with compassion, acceptance, validation, and support. These interactions are assumed to restructure the negative, rigid interactional cycle that usually brings couples to therapy and helps build a positive emotional bond. The primary aim of this study was to test whether for this process to occur, partners need to accurately perceive their spouse’s experiences of vulnerability during therapy. Specifically, it examined the factors (i.e., tracking accuracy, assumed-similarity bias, and directional bias) shaping partners’ perceptions of their spouse’s vulnerability and whether accurate perceptions predict positive session outcomes during EFT-C. Data from 36 couples who took part in the York Emotional Injury Project were analyzed. Following each session, clients reported their own experience of vulnerability as well as their perceptions of their partners’ vulnerability. Session outcome was defined as the extent to which clients reported resolution. Using a multilevel Truth and Bias model, the results indicated that partners accurately perceived changes in their spouses’ expressions of vulnerability (i.e., significant tracking accuracy). Interestingly, partners’ perceptions were also tied to their own expressions of vulnerability (i.e., significant assumed-similarity bias) and tended to underestimate the level of their partners’ vulnerability expressions (i.e., significant negative mean-level bias). Using a multilevel Response Surface Analysis, we found that accuracy regarding partners’ vulnerability was associated with higher levels of resolution.

中文翻译：

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接受情感聚焦治疗的伴侣对脆弱性认知的准确性和偏差

以情感为中心的夫妻治疗 (EFT-C) 的主要变化机制被描述为一个合作伙伴接触和表达脆弱性，而另一个合作伙伴则以同情、接受、认可和支持的方式回应。假设这些互动会重组消极的、僵化的互动循环，通常会让夫妻接受治疗并帮助建立积极的情感纽带。这项研究的主要目的是测试是否要发生这个过程，合作伙伴是否需要准确地感知其配偶在治疗过程中的脆弱经历。具体来说，它检查了影响伴侣对其配偶脆弱性的看法的因素（即跟踪准确性、假设相似性偏差和方向性偏差），以及准确的看法是否能预测 EFT-C 期间的积极会话结果。对参加约克情绪伤害项目的 36 对夫妇的数据进行了分析。在每次会议之后，客户报告了他们自己的脆弱性经历以及他们对合作伙伴脆弱性的看法。会话结果被定义为客户报告解决方案的程度。使用多级真相和偏见模型，结果表明合作伙伴准确地感知了配偶脆弱性表达的变化（即显着的跟踪准确性）。有趣的是，合作伙伴的看法也与他们自己的脆弱性表达有关（即显着的假设相似性偏差），并且倾向于低估其合作伙伴的脆弱性表达水平（即显着的负面平均水平偏差）。使用多级响应曲面分析，