Differential client attractiveness in a counseling analogue.

Investigated the effects of variations in conceptual complexity level of counselor and client on counselor attraction to the client. 40 counselor trainees (characterized as having either high or low conceptual level—Paragraph Completion Test) in 2 groups rated the attractiveness of clients following each of 2 counseling analog tasks in which the client was depicted as exhibiting high or low conceptual level. Results of a 2?×?2 analysis of variance (Counseling Complexity?×?Analog Complexity) indicated only that the more complex clients were more attractive across both levels of counselor complexity. Results are discussed in terms of 2 models of interpersonal attraction and the implication for socioeconomic status, as it relates to conceptual level, as a factor in counselor–client role constraints. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)