Developing and evaluating a meditation and self-help group based on perceptual control theory

A group that combines meditation and self-help techniques was designed based on William T. Powers' perceptual control theory (PCT). Basically, PCT states that people act to correct mismatches between what they perceive and what they want to perceive. An extensive background chapter describes a number of topics relating to the project. First, the history and model of PCT are elucidated. Next, the change process of PCT, called reorganization, is explained to be consistent with evolutionary epistemology. Then, Theravadan Buddhism, which provided the original framework for the meditation techniques of the group, is compared to PCT to allow for an informed utilization of the techniques. Previous meditation programs and research are reviewed as are therapy and self-help techniques derived from PCT. Lastly, a rationale is given for the development of a PCT based meditation and self-help group.; A detailed curriculum chapter documents the content and rationale of each session of the eight-week group. The curriculum was conducted with nine participants in two pilot groups at the Kaiser Outpatient Clinic in Milpitas, California. Five sources of data were collected from participants. Pretests and posttests of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) were given, and participants filled out charts documenting how much time they meditated each week. The author took notes of comments participants made in each session. Participants filled out a post-group questionnaire, and six participants opted to be interviewed after the group.; Quantitative and qualitative results are presented. One-tailed dependent-samples t-tests were conducted to assess differences between pretests and posttests. On the BSI, three of nine primary symptom dimensions were significant at p < .1. These were obsessive-compulsive, depression, and anxiety. One global scale was significant at p < .05. Results on the OQ-45 were more impressive. All three subscales and the global scale were significant at p < .01. Comments and responses from the qualitative sources of data further indicated that participants' levels of distress decreased. In conclusion, there are strong reasons to think that the group was effective. Further studies that include control groups are merited to demonstrate effectiveness with more certainty.