Stigmatizing Our Own: Self-Relevant Research (Me-Search) Is Common but Frowned Upon in Clinical Psychological Science

Abstract

How often do clinical psychologists have a lived experience with, or close connection, to their research? Does the field of psychology accept this “me-search”? We undertook the first investigation of self-relevant research (aka “me-search”) and attitudes toward self-relevant researchers in a representative North American sample (N = 1,776) of faculty, graduate students, and other individuals affiliated with doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. More than 50% of participants had conducted self-relevant research, and those from minoritized backgrounds were more likely to conduct self-relevant research. When judging experimentally manipulated vignettes, participants who had not engaged in self-relevant research made more stigmatizing judgments of self-relevant research and self-relevant research disclosure than did those who engaged in self-relevant research. Psychologists and trainees had more negative attitudes toward self-relevant research on mental health topics (suicide, depression, schizophrenia) than physical health topics (cancer). We discuss how prejudice toward self-relevant research and mental illness negatively impacts ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts from within clinical psychological science.