Date of Completion

3-26-2018

Embargo Period

3-26-2018

Keywords

Counselor Trainees, Clinical Judgement, Gender Bias, Gender Role Ideology, Gender Role Conflict, Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology, Client Vignette

Major Advisor

James O'Neil

Associate Advisor

Melissa Bray

Associate Advisor

Betsy Mccoach

Associate Advisor

Orv Karan

Associate Advisor

Anne Patti and Richard Halstead

Field of Study

Educational Psychology

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Open Access

Open Access

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess how counselor trainees’ gender role conflict, stage of the gender role journey, and emotional stereotype endorsement relates to clinical judgment toward male clients. Participants included counselor trainees enrolled in master’s and doctoral level counselor education programs (n=117) recruited via CESNET list serve and email requests. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a male or female client vignette, identical with the exception for the name and gender pronouns. All participants completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Gender Role Journey Measure, and Beliefs About Men’s Emotions scale before reading the male or female vignette. Participants then completed the Client Symptoms Severity Scale, Counselor Rating Scale, and Theoretical Domain and Intervention Choice scales. Results indicated that counselor trainees rated male vignette conditions as more severe and less likeable. Gender Role Journey Measure phase of Acceptance of Traditional Gender Roles and client vignette emerged as predictors of gender reinforcing counseling interventions, more strongly with male clients. The results provided evidence of counselor trainee gender bias. The limitations of the study and implications are discussed including recommendations for counselor educational and training.

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