No abstract

The present study attempted to replicate and extend Heilman and Stopeck's (1985a) Lack of Fit Model. Using the Lack of Fit Model's proposal that attractiveness enhances perceived gender characteristics, we examined the effects of attractiveness and performance evaluations of persons in jobs rated as masculine, feminine, and neutral. Results were not consistent with the Model and did not replicate the results of the earlier study. Instead, attractiveness emerged as an asset regardless of job type or gender of employee. Attractive men and women were given higher overall ratings in all three jobs. In addition, attractive ratings were related to masculinity–femininity ratings. These findings are discussed in light of demographic and attitudinal changes in the workplace.

The effectiveness of group psychotherapy has been empirically studied and supported over several decades; however, there remains much to understand regarding the specific factors contributing to effective group psychotherapy. The current study uses Kashy and Kenny's (2000) actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine the relationship between an individual group member's outcome and the outcomes of the other group members. This is the first study to examine the effects of the outcomes of other therapy group members on those of individual members. Specifically, we examined the relationship between an individual group member's presymptom score, the aggregated presymptom scores of the other group members, and the aggregated pre- to postsymptom change of the other group members on an individual group member's pre- to postsymptom change. We analyzed the change in pre-post posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of 105 women in 16 trauma-informed groups in a women's correctional facility. As hypothesized, an individual's presymptom measure (actor effect) and the aggregated presymptom measures of the other group members (partner effect) were positively related to the individual's change in PTSD symptoms. Contrary to our hypothesis, the aggregated pre-post change in PTSD symptom measures of the other group members (partner effect) was negatively associated with the pre-post change in PTSD symptom measures of an individual group member. Social comparison theory is discussed as an explanation for why a group member would report lowered amounts of change when in a group with others who are reporting a higher amount of change. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

The present study sought to apply the concept of person-group (P-G) fit from the domain of organizational psychology to the domain of group psychotherapy. A time-series design was used to examine the relationship between an individual group member's fit with her group, operationalized as congruence and convergence, on perceptions of group climate and her session attendance and change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Fifty-one of 73 incarcerated women, participating in six manualized (trauma recovery and empowerment model [TREM]) therapy groups provided data for analyses. Group members completed measures of group climate at each session and pre-and posttest ratings on the PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report (PSS-SR). Fit with the group was operationalized as the absolute difference between a group member's score on engagement, avoidance, and conflict, and the average scores on these dimensions for the other group members. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine session-level (N = 1,606) fit across time. Results indicated that fit with the group for avoidance decreased (diverged), and conflict increased (converged) across sessions. Increasing fit with the group on perceptions of group conflict was associated with attending more group sessions (commitment), and increasing fit with the group on perceptions of group avoidance was associated with PTSD symptom change (goal accomplishment). Study results highlight that group processes (like fit) should be studied over time and in relation to relevant clinical outcomes.