Date of Award

12-1989

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. John Geisler

Second Advisor

Dr. Ed Trembley

Third Advisor

Dr. Mal Robertson

Abstract

This research project sought to examine the relationship between a therapist's personality and theoretical orientation. It was hypothesized that therapists with similar personalities would possess similar theoretical orientations.

Forty male and 22 female therapists from a variety of clinical settings participated in the study by volunteering to answer a one-page questionnaire and take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Form G. In addition to demographic data, the questionnaire asked the therapist to select one of six theoretical orientations which they felt best described them. Each orientation was briefly described and defined. The six orientations were: (1) psychodynamic, (2) behavioral, (3) cognitive, (4) person-centered, (5) existential, and (6) developmental.

A Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance was conducted to determine if a significant relationship existed between the variables personality and theoretical orientation. The H value of the analysis was not significant at the.05 level. Kruskal-Wallis analyses were also conducted on the Extraversion-Introversion (E-I), Sensing-Intuition (S-N), Thinking-Feeling (T-F), and Judging-Perceiving (J-P) dichotomous variables, and on the Extraversion (E), Introversion (I), Sensing (S), Intuition (N), Thinking (T), Feeling (F), Judging (J), Perceiving (P) variables separately. No significant differences were found. It was determined that the T-F and J-P dichotomies were most closely related to theoretical orientation, a finding that confirmed other studies.

The data from this study were compared with data collected by Myers & McCaulley (1985). In several areas, the two sets of data were found to be similar.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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Counseling Commons

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