If a couple recorded their daily interactions for a week (in their kitchen & living room), this footage would help a counsellor understand the problems of the relationship, and could help the couple see their relationship from a fresh perspective. The technique could be applied to range of therapeutic situations. Has there been research on this kind of approach?
Edit (after 2 answers received): the question asks whether research on this has ever occurred. The criticisms offered in the 2 answers so far are reasonable. Would their predictions be borne out in an experimental trial? That is one of the empirical questions I'm interested in.
Problem is that by recording their behaviour the recording itself will impact on their interaction. They just might "play to the audience".
I agree with John Boswell, that this would have to be so long term that the participants would have to "forget" about the camera and start really living. I think that is what all these reality shows on television are aiming at, that are in popular culture right now in the U.S.
There has been a long tradition of using home videos in therapies of early infant-caregiver relationship disturbances. After a few minutes, parents and children usually forget about the camera and show how they interact, eat and play in everyday life. Therapists discuss the video recordings with the parents in order to reinforce the positive moments of the interaction. Fore more, see McDonough (1993) in Zeanah (ed) Handbook of Infant Mental Care.
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