Gender differences in practice patterns and income among psychologists in professional practice.

Income, an important facet of professional psychological practice, differs by gender. The potential sources of income differences among California clinical psychologists were investigated. Full-time female psychologists earned significantly less income on average than full-time male psychologists, despite similar patient demographics, caseloads, practice profiles, and payment sources. In separate regression models, professional experience increased income more for men than for women, whereas greater psychologist supply decreased income for both groups. According to the regression model, if female psychologists were paid like male psychologists, they would receive, on average, $16,440 more per year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the etiology and effective management of professional distress and impairment among psychologists.

Both the psychologist and the consumer suffer when the professional's distress or impairment is inadequately managed. Although psychologists have significant rates of distress and impairment, numerous personal and occupational factors may decrease the likelihood that they will seek assistance when in trouble. Policies regarding the distressed or impaired psychologist, as enacted, are neither consistent nor comprehensive, and they may exacerbate risk to consumers and psychologists alike. Current oversight approaches to the impaired professional tend to emphasize code enforcement more than prevention and education. Recommendations to improve our effectiveness for both the consumer and the psychologist are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Work-family spillover and life satisfaction among professional psychologists.

How do the professional lives of psychologists influence their personal and family lives? Data from 485 psychologists who responded to a survey on professional and family life were analyzed to examine work-to-family spillover, life satisfaction, and family support. Respondents reported a significantly higher incidence of positive spillover, termed family enhancers, than negative spillover, termed family stressors. The low incidence of family stressors suggested that stresses associated with the professional work of psychology do not routinely spill over into professionals' family lives. Both positive and negative spillover, however, played significant roles in mediating the relationship between work and family domains. On the positive side, a sense of personal accomplishment at work was associated with increased family enhancers, which appeared to lead to greater family support and life satisfaction. On the negative side, emotional exhaustion at work was associated with more family stressors, which appeared to lead to less family support and life satisfaction. The implications of these findings for training and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Well-functioning in professional psychologists.

Experienced professional psychologists identified factors that contributed to their ability to function well in Study 1, through interviews with 6 well-functioning psychologists, and in Study 2, through questionnaire responses from 339 randomly selected licensed psychologists. Collectively they highlighted self-awareness and monitoring; support from peers, spouses, friends, mentors, therapists, and supervisors; values; and a balanced life, including vacations and other stress-reducers. Discussion focuses on stress-management enhancers to maintain well-functioning, especially at times of deep and pervasive change, like the present and the foreseeable future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The practice of psychological assessment among school psychologists.

A national survey of 274 school psychologists is utilized to evaluate both the current status of psychological assessment in the schools and the most frequently used instruments in 8 different assessment areas—intelligence, achievement (general and specific), perceptual functioning, personality, behavior rating, preschool evaluation, and vocational interest. Implications for training and practice are discussed. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender and work setting differences in career-sustaining behaviors and burnout among professional psychologists.

What factors relate to levels of burnout experienced by male and female psychologists? Five hundred ninety-five psychologists responded to a survey about professional activities, work demands and resources, career-sustaining behaviors, and burnout. Respondents in solo or group independent practice reported a greater sense of personal accomplishment, more sources of satisfaction, fewer sources of stress, and more control at work than respondents in agency settings. In addition, women in independent practice reported less emotional exhaustion than women in agency settings. In general, women tended to give higher ratings to the importance of career-sustaining behaviors; however, 6 strategies emerged as highly important for all respondents: maintain sense of humor, maintain self-awareness/self-monitoring, maintain balance between personal and professional lives, maintain professional identity/values, engage in hobbies, and spend time with spouse, partner, or family. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contemporary practice of psychological assessment by clinical psychologists.

The authors extended and, in some respects, updated a clinical assessment study that first appeared in American Psychologist some 18 yrs ago. Using survey responses provided by 412 assessment-active clinical psychologists, it was found that (1) an identifiable, highly select core of assessment procedures is most often used by most clinical psychologists across most work settings; (2) psychological assessment as it is practiced now appears in many respects to be very similar to psychological assessment as it was practiced by psychologists 30 or more years ago; and (3) although much ado has been made about the decline of and academics' negative opinions about projective techniques, from the standpoint of practice, all that truly appears to be much ado about nothing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparation and regulation of professional psychologists.

Although the present author largely agrees with the suggestions for the preparation of professional psychologists presented by R. E. Fox et al (see record 1986-12821-001), he expresses (1) opposition to the professionalization of the undergraduate curriculum, (2) the need to broaden training to include the social and biological sciences, and (3) the potential value of including programs for the delivery of health and social services within schools of professional psychology. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A plea to professional psychologists.

Monroe H. Freeman is Chairman of the National Capital Area Civil Liberties Union, consultant to the Educational Testing Service, and a member of the Test Development and Research Committee of the Law School Admission Test. His plea to psychologists ist that each psychologist bring to bear their professional training and their special insights to evaluate, or reevaluate, the proper role and the unique responsibilities of the psychologist with respect to people who are not voluntarily seeking psychological counseling, but who are compelled to be tested as a condition to employment. He discusses three elements of the problem: the sociopolitical aspects, the impact on individuals, and the question of professional responsibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethics and the professional practice of psychologists: The role of virtues and principles.

We evaluate the potential relevance of virtue ethics to the training and practice of professional psychologists, and we contrast them with principle ethics. Typically, principles are used to facilitate the selection of socially and historically acceptable answers to the question "What shall I do ?" when confronted by ethical dilemmas. Virtue ethics, however, generally focus on the question "Who shall I be?" Strengths and weaknesses of each approach are presented. The impact of each is discussed with respect to informed consent and the therapeutic construct "genuineness." We conclude that virtue ethics are an essential component of responsible ethical training and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conference on the professional preparation of clinical psychologists: A summary.

Presents a summary of the conference on the professional preparation of clinical psychologists. Without countenancing the lowering of standards as such, the conferees have sought for a responsible position in the face of the dilemma presented by the foregoing combination of circumstances. Brought together for the purpose were not only clinical psychologists and their colleagues in applied areas, but experimental and social psychologists as well, together with representatives of such other disciplines as psychiatry and social work, a group including both suppliers of clinical psychologists and consumers. Topics discussed at the conference include: professional preparation; clinical training; research training; curricula; alternative models of doctoral training; and so forth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of nonclinical psychologists toward clinical psychology and clinical psychologists.

Surveyed psychologists outside the clinical realm to ascertain their views on the efficacy of psychotherapy, as well as their views on clinical psychologists. Surveys were mailed to 300 nonclinical psychologists randomly chosen from the American Psychological Association Directory. Results of 109 usable surveys suggest that although the majority had a positive view of clinical psychology, a substantial minority either were uncertain or disagreed that therapy was effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family-oriented emphasis for school psychologists: A needed orientation for training and professional practice.

The traditional role of the school psychologist is viewed as a limited, constraining model that is disappearing. This role is dependent on psychometric and other quantitative data and may limit the psychologist's involvement with family and other factors. Alternatives for effective practice of school psychology are needed. One alternative, a family-oriented emphasis, is suggested as the most comprehensive approach. Under this approach, the school psychologist functions as a generalist with a diversity of psychological skills, but still focuses on students with learning problems as the traditional responsibility that separates school psychology from other specialties. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparisons between psychologists and other professional groups.

It is estimated that as of 1953, there were 22,000 persons working as psychologists in the United States; 95,000 living persons have obtained bachelor's degrees with majors in psychology; 5,000 living persons have the Ph.D. degrees in psychology. About 12% of the students who have received a bachelor's degree in psychology have become professional psychologists; this accounts for approximately half of all the people in the country who are working as psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conference on the professional preparation of clinical psychologists: A progress report.

Preconference planning has been carried out by a Division 12 Conference Committee and its associates; the Committee is issuing a preconference report for wide distribution and discussion. The report "includes a statement on the nature of the profession, a historical survey and review of previous conferences on graduate education in psychology, and a section on manpower." The report includes 22 invited position papers reflecting different points of view in the general area of training as well as on specific issues. Titles of the papers are listed. The Executive Committee of Division 12 has made a final selection of 60 participants; observers will be limited to official representatives from organizations such as NIMH, the VA, the E&T Board, etc. "Much of the work of the Conference will be carried out in small discussion group meetings interspersed with plenary sessions. It will begin in the afternoon on August 26 or 27 and run for 5? consecutive days." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conference on the professional preparation of clinical psychologists: Progress report II.

The conference will begin an August 27 and end September 1 in Chicago prior to the APA meetings. "It is expected that a total of approximately 80 participants and Os will attend. The major work of the conference will be carried out in 8 groups of about 10 persons each." The 80 participants and 8 recorders are listed; also listed are the "Psychology Groups" invited to send Os. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of professional psychologists in promoting equality.

Discusses sex inequalities/biases inherent in many theories of personality, especially the psychoanalytically based ones, and their influences on psychological assessment procedures and interpretations. Studies pointing out some of the inequities in service delivery are examined. It is stressed that psychologists must (a) focus on the concept of androgyny and its implications for therapy, (b) examine their own concepts/prejudices regarding sex roles, and (c) understand the forces that a population/group exerts on an individual. (54 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The professional pair: Husband and wife psychologists.

Analyzed responses to a questionnaire by 200 (of 605) couples who were both members of APA to determine the characteristics of these professional pairs. Questions covered demographic and biographic characteristics, employment histories, measures of productiviy, personal and professional satisfactions and problems, division of domestic responsibilities, and perceptions of relative value of careers. Responses were compared to those from 75 male and 62 female APA members who were not married to other psychologists. Results indicate that pairs were more productive than their same sex controls, but that both institutionally and familially imposed constraints caused the wife to subordinate her career to that of her husband, as indicated in division of responsibility for domestic activities, perceived relative values of careers, and satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Burnout among licensed psychologists.

We examined the extent of burnout and its correlates in a national sample of 562 licensed, doctoral-level, practicing psychologists employed primarily within human service settings. Their responses to the Maslach Burnout Inventory indicated that more than a third of the sample reported experiencing high levels of both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. The modal burned-out clinician in this sample was young, had a low income, engaged in little individual psychotherapy, experienced feelings of lack of control in the therapeutic setting, and felt overcommitted to clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)