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Therapists' characteristics and gender stereotypes by age, race, and sex of target
Abstract
The investigation examined the relationship between various clinician variables and clinicians' gender stereotypes for men and women varying in age and race. Randomly selected white psychotherapists listed in the National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology used the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) to rate a "mature, healthy, socially competent individual" in one of 12 target groups (a black or race unspecified man or woman in their late 20s, late 40s, or late 60s). Three scale scores (Nurturant, Agentic, and Self-Governing) were utilized that were based on a factor analysis of the 40 feminine and masculine BSRI subscale items. A Personal Data Survey attached to the BSRI provided information on therapist characteristics. The information utilized included theoretical orientation, amount of contact with various categories of clients, and the year of the highest degree received. It was found that on the masculine-associated scale, Agentic, there was a significant association between theoretical orientation and gender stereotypes. Clinicians identified as dynamic and eclectic viewed targets as most agentic while clinicians identified as behavioral-rational rated targets as least agentic. There were no significant interaction effects nor were there significant main effects or interactions on the Nurturant or Self-Governing scales. It was also found that on the scale Agentic, there was a significant interaction between respondents' percentage of black clients and the sex of target rated. The greater the percentage of black clients, the more likely was the therapist to rate black male targets as more agentic. For black female targets, the greater the percentage of black clients, the more likely was the therapist to rate these targets as less agentic. Finally, it was found that on the scale Agentic, the degree of similarity between respondents and target (on sex, age, and race) was significantly related to gender stereotypes. The greater the similarity between respondent and target, the more likely were respondents to view targets as more agentic. The findings suggest that masculine-associated characteristics pull for more stereotyped responses over feminine-associated characteristics and this varies by the clinician variables studied.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology|Social psychology
Recommended Citation
Burnett, Judith Ann, "Therapists' characteristics and gender stereotypes by age, race, and sex of target" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9207370.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9207370