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Abstract

This experiment requested 15 graduate students in counseling and 15 in clinical psychology to evaluate the mental health of strangers using statements of attitude and behavior purported to refer to fictitious strangers. Holding behavioral statements constant, strangers displaying attitudes dissimilar to the students' were rated as significantly more disturbed than attitudinally similar strangers. Holding similarity constant, strangers described as demonstrating severely disturbed behavior were perceived to be more disturbed. Students reported more confidence in the accuracy of their evaluations of similar strangers. No relationship was found between the ratings given to strangers and the student's major, the degree pursued, or the amount of course-work completed.

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Effects of Similarity of Raters' and Patients' Attitudes on Evaluations of Patients' Mental Health

Abstract

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