Differential perception of counselor behavior.

This study investigated questions raised by previous research by Barak and LaCrosse regarding perceptions of counselor behavior. Different groups of subjects viewed interviews given by Ellis, Perls, and Rogers and rated them on 36 bipolar items (Counselor Rating Form). Results indicated that the perceived dimensions of expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness were reliable as measured by the Counselor Rating Form and were moderately intercorrelated. Significant between- and within-counselor differences were found. Results were discussed in terms of perceived counselor behavior and questions were raised concerning the source of individuals' perceptions. In a recent study, Barak and LaCrosse (1975) tested Strong's (1968) hypothesis concerning the existence of perceived dimensions of counselor behavior, that is, expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Though the results of this study did not reveal total confirmation for Strong's approach, generally they tend to support the hypothesis. Specifically, these dimensions independently emerged on a factorial structure for two counselors used as stimuli for subjects' perceptions (i.e., Rogers and Perls) but not for the third one (Ellis). In the later case, expertness and trustworthiness loaded on the same factor, which may correspond to a more general dimension of credibility (Goldstein, Heller, Ho viand, Janis, & Kelley, 1953). As proposed by Barak and LaCrosse, some questions remain to be answered, and these were the purposes of this study, that is, to assess the measurement instrument reliability, to test the capacity of the measured perceived dimensions to differentiate both between and within counselors, and to investigate the interrelationships among the dimensions. METHOD Subjects One hundred twenty-seven undergraduate students (mostly freshmen) from introductory psychology classes served as subjects for which they received course credit. The distribution of male and female subjects was approximately equal.