Dream patterns in Anglo and Chicano young adults

This study is the conclusion of an exploratory cross-cultural investigation of dream content and organization. Following our report in "Ego Modalities in the Manifest Dreams of Male and Female Chicanos," (Brenneis and Roll, 1975), this paper examines differences in the organization and content of dreams: (1) between Anglo men and women; (2) between Anglo and Chicano men and Anglo and Chicano women; and (3) between Anglos and Chicanos.     

Sex and ethnic differences in the use of power.

Hypothesized that women and Chicanos would make less internal and more external attributions for their own successful performance than would Anglo males. 40 Chicano male, 40 Chicano female, 40 Anglo male, and 40 Anglo female undergraduates participated as managers in an industrial simulation study. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental conditions: designated powers vs unspecified powers, and supervision of male or female workers. Following the managerial task, Ss completed a questionnaire assessing their own performance and that of their workers. All Anglos devalued their workers as a function of controlling power and attributed workers' performance to external factors. All Ss tended to use their power to persuade workers. Males attempted to influence workers to a greater degree than did females. The predicted sex differences in terms of attribution were evident only among Anglos. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Locus of control in Mexicans and Chicanos: The case of the missing fatalist.

Studied the extent to which a stereotype of Mexican or Chicano students as fatalistic is supported by their locus of control scores. Data came from Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale scores of male college students in 4 nations: US (86), Mexico (57), Ireland (47), and West Germany (54). Data show the Mexican Ss to be significantly more internally oriented than Ss from each of the other nations. Locus of control scores (determined with a scale developed by H. Levenson, 1974) for 151 Anglo and 95 Chicano senior high school students were also compared. Scores for Chicanos were nearly identical to those obtained from Anglo students. Only Chicano male high school students not planning to enter college showed any tendency toward a more external locus of control. It is concluded that to the extent a perceived external locus of control would be indicative of a fatalistic outlook, such perception is lacking in most data in Mexican and Chicano respondents. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correction to Larsson, Kaldo, and Broberg (2009).

Reports an error in "Similarities and differences between practitioners of psychotherapy in Sweden: A comparison of attitudes between psychodynamic, cognitive, cognitive–behavioral, and integrative therapists" by Billy P. M. Larsson, Viktor Kaldo and Anders G. Broberg (Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 2009[Mar], Vol 19[1], 34-66). The results of the post hoc tests were printed illegibly. In order to make it possible for the reader to understand which of the effect sizes belong to which of the comparisons, the tables are clarified in this erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2009-03150-003.) This study focuses on similarities and differences between Swedish psychotherapists of four orientations: psychodynamic, cognitive, cognitive–behavioral, and integrative therapy. The aim is to describe similarities and differences regarding (a) background factors, (b) focus in psychotherapy, (c) attitudes toward psychotherapy as art/craftsmanship, (d) scientific outlook, (e) what characterizes a good psychotherapist, and (f) how psychotherapy ought to be pursued. The therapists had very similar attitudes about the therapeutic relationship and rather similar attitudes about which effects psychotherapy ought to obtain. The greatest differences were related to psychotherapeutic techniques and science. The results are discussed with emphasis on the distance or proximity between the orientations. The conclusion is that there are differences between psychodynamic psychotherapy compared with cognitive and cognitive–behavioral therapies, which imply difficulties in integrating these orientations. However, the differences between the cognitive and cognitive–behavioral therapists are not of such a magnitude that they necessarily present an obstacle to integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The therapist-as-fixed-effect fallacy in psychotherapy research.

Studies of psychotherapy involve sampling 2 sets of Ss from 2 populations: patients and therapists. Conclusions about psychotherapy should thus be based on statistical evidence that results are reliable across both patients and therapists. In most published research concerning psychotherapy, no statistical evidence is provided that findings can be generalized beyond the particular sample of therapists studied. In spite of this, researchers tend to draw conclusions concerning psychotherapy and therapists in general. ANOVA designs that allow generalization of results across both therapists and patients are described. The serious problems with inappropriate analyses of variance—treating therapists as a fixed effect or ignoring the therapist factor altogether—are discussed. A review of recently published studies of psychotherapy reveals that most researchers have done one or the other of these inappropriate analyses. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Similarities and differences between practitioners of psychotherapy in Sweden: A comparison of attitudes between psychodynamic, cognitive, cognitive–behavioral, and integrative therapists.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 19(3) of Journal of Psychotherapy Integration (see record 2009-16521-006). The results of the post hoc tests were printed illegibly. In order to make it possible for the reader to understand which of the effect sizes belong to which of the comparisons, the tables are clarified in this erratum.] This study focuses on similarities and differences between Swedish psychotherapists of four orientations: psychodynamic, cognitive, cognitive–behavioral, and integrative therapy. The aim is to describe similarities and differences regarding (a) background factors, (b) focus in psychotherapy, (c) attitudes toward psychotherapy as art/craftsmanship, (d) scientific outlook, (e) what characterizes a good psychotherapist, and (f) how psychotherapy ought to be pursued. The therapists had very similar attitudes about the therapeutic relationship and rather similar attitudes about which effects psychotherapy ought to obtain. The greatest differences were related to psychotherapeutic techniques and science. The results are discussed with emphasis on the distance or proximity between the orientations. The conclusion is that there are differences between psychodynamic psychotherapy compared with cognitive and cognitive–behavioral therapies, which imply difficulties in integrating these orientations. However, the differences between the cognitive and cognitive–behavioral therapists are not of such a magnitude that they necessarily present an obstacle to integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diversity within African American, female therapists: Variability in clients' expectations and assumptions about the therapist.

Despite the presence of some literature that has addressed the characteristics of the African American female therapist, most psychotherapy training proceeds with the assumption that therapists are members of dominant groups, and most of the psychological and psychotherapy literature has been written by therapists and psychologists who come from dominant cultural perspectives. Not as much has been written about psychological paradigms or the process of psychotherapy from the perspective of the therapist who is not a dominant group member. This article explores both the common and divergent experiences that we, the authors, share as African American female therapists and the different reactions we frequently elicit in clients. We also explore how individual differences in our physical appearances, personal backgrounds, and different characteristics of our respective practices elicit distinct responses from clients that we believe are based on differences between us, despite the fact that we are both African American women. We believe that many of the stereotypes that affect perceptions of African American female clients also exist for African American female therapists. We will address how the intersection of gender, race, and sexual orientation of the client highlights the complexity of culturally competent practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental health values of professional therapists: A national interdisciplinary survey.

We conducted a national survey of clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, and psychiatrists to assess values pertinent to mental health and psychotherapy. The survey revealed considerable agreement among mental health professionals about this specific values domain. There was a strong relationship between their views of a value's importance for a positive, mentally healthy life-style and its usefulness in guiding psychotherapy. Differences in the characteristics of therapists were correlated with differences in their values. We also found factors related to value differences between professional groups. Implications for therapeutic philosophy and practice are considered, and the need for explicitness concerning values is emphasized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparing professional and lay expectations of psychotherapy.

Compared 25 mental health professionals whose primary duties involved psychotherapy with 52 laypersons aged 18–51 yrs to determine similarities and differences in their expectations of psychotherapy. Ss were administered the Therapy Expectations Scale. Differences between the 2 groups were found in degree of expected change, importance of self in problem-solving, financial emphasis, and expected duration of psychotherapy. Similarities were found in socioenvironmental areas and in emphasis on the early years of life. Laypersons tended to appreciate the active role of the client in psychotherapy and viewed therapists as experts in problem-solving. It is suggested that greater efforts be made to educate the general public as well as individual clients about the realities of psychotherapy. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapeutic relationships and iatrogenic outcomes: The blame-and-change maneuver in psychotherapy.

Examined all the articles published in Psychotherapy for 1990 to assess what kinds of inferences therapists make about the significant others in their clients' lives. Data indicate that when reporting therapists make inferences about these significant others, they predominantly couch them in critical terms. These results also suggest that blame-and-change maneuvers are alive and well in psychotherapy. When therapists disregard the strengths and resources of their clients' significant others, they may resort to the therapeutic relationship as their primary vehicle for treatment. It is concluded that the time has come for psychotherapy to extend empathy, congruence, and warmth to the significant others in their clients' lives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Between conviction and uncertainty: Philosophical guidelines for practicing psychotherapists.

Reviews the book, Between conviction and uncertainty: Philosophical guidelines for practicing psychotherapists by Jerry N. Downing (see record 2000-08722-000). In this book, the author aims to provide a meta-analysis of the array of theories available to the practicing psychotherapist: that is, to provide a "theory about theories" in the hope of giving the psychotherapist a guide for better understanding what it is that goes on in therapy. Downing begins by working through several basic questions. First, he considers what therapists actually know about therapy. Downing concludes that theories of psychotherapy are likely to continue to evade scientific proof, mainly because they do not easily lend themselves to disproof. This bleak view of what we actually know about what we do in psychotherapy leads Downing to reflect on what it is that we could possibly discover or know about therapy, and here his inquiry turns epistemological. Downing suggests that therapists are guided by a kind of epistemology in action. That is, therapists may best be described as loosely following an organizing scheme throughout a therapy. Downing refers to these six schemes as lived modes of knowing. Downing then discusses each of the six, providing illustrations of what they might mean in practice. Downing presents a plausible account of what may occur in therapy and of how many therapists may work. However, his argument seems to be unnecessarily drawn out. Unfortunately, rather than lend support and inform, the breadth of topics and issues obscures his project. And, beneath it all, we are left wondering what we actually know about psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WISC-R factor structures among Anglos, Blacks, Chicanos, and Native-American Papagos.

Compared WISC-R factor structures for Anglo, Black, Chicano, and Native-American Papago children from Pima County, Arizona. The samples were randomly selected from school enrollment rosters and stratified by ethnicity, grade level (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th), sex, and urban–rural residence (950 Ss). Application of 2 objective procedures for determining the appropriate number of factors for each group suggested a 3-factor solution for Anglos, a 2- or 3-factor solution for Chicanos depending on procedure used, and 2-factor solutions for Blacks and Native-American Papagos. The 2-factor solutions were highly similar for the 4 groups. The 3-factor solutions were similar for Anglos and Chicanos but were substantially different for the other groups. The groups were highly similar in terms of the proportion of variance accounted for by a general factor, and the Verbal–Performance scale distinction appeared equally appropriate for all groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A qualitative analysis of client perceptions of the effects of helpful therapist self-disclosure in long-term therapy.

Thirteen adult psychotherapy clients currently in long-term therapy were interviewed twice, with semistructured protocols, about their experiences with helpful instances of therapist self-disclosure. Data were analyzed with a qualitative methodology. Results indicated that helpful therapist self-disclosures (a) occurred when these clients were discussing important personal issues, (b) were perceived as being intended by therapists to normalize or reassure the clients, and (c) consisted of a disclosure of personal nonimmediate information about the therapists. The therapist self-disclosures resulted in positive consequences for these clients that included insight or a new perspective from which to make changes, an improved or more equalized therapeutic relationship, normalization, and reassurance. Implications for psychotherapy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirically certified treatments or therapists: The issue of separability.

Forms of psychotherapy treatment are not neatly separable from one another in actual practice. They differ behaviorally in what they emphasize, but nevertheless they overlap and so cannot be unambiguously compared for effectiveness. Furthermore, forms of psychotherapy are not separable in practice from the therapists who apply them, so apparent differences in effectiveness between forms of treatment are always confounded by differences in effectiveness between therapists. Therapists, however, are separable from one another, and it is therapists not treatment forms that actually treat patients. Therefore, what should primarily be given preference in practice is not treatments empirically certified on the basis of their results in randomized clinical trials but psychotherapists empirically certified to practice on the basis of their results in actual practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Graduate training in psychotherapy: Are therapy outcomes enhanced?": Comment on Stein and Lambert (1995).

Comments on the article by D. M. Stein and M. J. Lambert (Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 1995[Apr], Vol 63[2], 182–296). The authors misunderstood the meta-analysis of P. Crits-Cristoph et al (see record 1992-20595-001) as examining the relation of therapist experience to "therapist effects" (i.e., differences between therapists in their average outcomes). The Crits-Cristoph et al results did not show that experienced therapists had better outcomes than less experienced therapists. It is also noted that the data in Table 3 are, in fact, correct. However, these 2 errors do not affect the main findings of Stein and Lambert's article. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in PA, Vol 82:26915.) Several sources of indirect evidence supporting the value of graduate training in psychotherapy are reviewed here. Training protocols that are known to enhance trainees' skills are briefly discussed, as are conclusions of meta-analytic reviews examining relationships between therapist experience and training, and therapy outcome. An updated meta-analysis of therapy outcome studies involving within-study comparisons of psychotherapists of different levels of training and experience is summarized.… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of therapists' training on group therapeutic outcome.

The outcome of group therapy for psychotic patients was used as the dependent variable in assessing the comparative efficacy of trained and untrained therapists. The latter were undergraduate students with no training or experience in psychotherapy. For this reason, their role in psychotherapy was viewed as analogous to that of a placebo in studies assessing drug effects. Changes in psychological test performance of 295 patients before and after 5 mo. of group therapy served as the criterion of therapeutic behavior change. By comparison to an untreated control group the lay therapists achieved slightly better results than psychiatrists and psychiatric social workers doing group therapy with similar patients. Caution is urged in extending the implications of these results beyond group therapy with schizophrenic patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client attachment style and the psychotherapist's interpersonal stance.

Attachment style is proposed as an important client variable that psychotherapists may need to assess in order to tailor their interpersonal stance in psychotherapy. The authors draw on J. Bowlby's (1969, 1973, 1978) attachment theory and describe the therapeutic implications of 3 adult attachment styles: Anxious/Ambivalent, Avoidant, and Secure. Results are summarized from a psychotherapy research program, including the finding that attachment style was related to symptomatology and to therapists' perceptions of the therapeutic alliance. Case illustrations of clients displaying the 3 types of attachment style are presented to illustrate how therapists can productively alter their interpersonal stance to enhance treatment outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patient-therapist interdependence: Cognitive and behavioral.

Each of 7 patients saw each of 4 therapists twice. After each session, therapists rated how they thought the patient and therapists should behave during psychotherapy. In addition, these patient and therapist behaviors were independently rated from tapes of the meetings. A balanced 4 * 7 design was utilized. Behavior rating data indicate that therapists are more influenced by patients than patients are by therapists. Comparisons of questionnaire and behavior rating data indicate that differences among therapists are more evident in how therapists think than in how they or patients behave. Implications for understanding the different roles of the psychotherapist are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)