Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
1995
Thesis Director
William G. Kirk
Abstract
The present study examined the influence of therapist gender and subject sex role orientation on theperceived effectiveness of therapist self-disclosure. Subjects were 207 female college students who read written vignettes of a mock therapist discussing interpersonal issues in an initial therapy session. Therapist gender and disclosure level (negative versus no disclosure) were manipulated; ratings of perceived attractiveness, expertness, and trustworthiness were measured by the Counselor Rating Form (Barak & Lacrosse, 1975), and subject sex role orientation was measured by the Bern Sex Role Inventory (Bern, 1974). Results indicate that male therapists who negatively self-disclose are perceived as more trustworthy than male therapists who do not disclose, and therapists who negatively disclose are perceived as more attractive than those who do not self-disclose. Although subject sex role orientation did not predict ratings of therapist effectiveness, it was found that the relationship between a subject's femininity score and perceived therapist expertness may be quadratic. Implications of the present study and directions for future research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Fennell, Dena, "The Influence of Gender and Sex Role Orientation on the Perceived Effectiveness of Therapist Self-Disclosure" (1995). Masters Theses. 2016.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2016
