Which of the following are the core principles of Motivational Interviewing?

• A. Express empathy, develop discrepancy, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy
• B. Use rewards and punishments to shape behavior
• C. Ask questions, provide information, and give directives
• D. Reflect feelings, summarize, and set goals

Answer: (A)

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centered approach that aims to resolve ambivalence by guiding the client toward change rather than directing them. The four actions—expressing empathy through reflective listening, helping clients see the discrepancy between their values and their current behavior, rolling with resistance instead of opposing it, and supporting their belief in their ability to change—capture how MI operates. This combination reduces defensiveness, invites the client’s own reasons for change, and strengthens motivation from within.

Rewards and punishments belong to behavior modification rather than MI. Simply asking questions, providing information, and issuing directives moves away from the collaborative, evoking style MI promotes. Reflecting feelings and summarizing are common communication skills, but setting goals is not what MI centers on; MI focuses on guiding autonomy and eliciting change talk rather than imposing goals.