Effects of counselor sex, race, and language style on black students in initial interviews.

Hypothesized that greater counselor-subject compatibility in race, sex, and language would result in greater client satisfaction and depth of exploration. Ss were 37 black students in a special program for the disadvantaged at a leading eastern state university and 3 black male, 2 black female, 6 white male, and 3 white female counselors. Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance with counselor sex and race the independent variables and client depth of self-exploration and satisfaction the dependent variables. Covariates were counselor's level of facilitative conditions and comprehension of nonstandard English. Results indicate that Ss preferred black counselors to a significantly greater degree than white counselors and that they explored themselves in greater depth with female counselors (p