How unpopular are we? Reassessing psychologists' public image with different measures of favourability

Abstract

Psychologists in Australia have tended to survey theirpublic image with specific questions, such as how useful psychologists are, or how willing people are to consult them. While responses to these questions have generally implied an unfavourable public impression of psychologists, research in the United States has shown that psychologists are perceived less favourably on direct measures of favourability (e.g., specific questions), than on indirect indicators (e.g., overall favourability ratings). To reassess the public perception of psychologists in Australia, a representative sample of 178 adults from South Australian metropolitan and rural areas was surveyed, with respondents required to appraise psychologists on both indirect and direct measures of favourability. As hypothesised, the public impression of psychologists was more favourable on the indirect measure. Regression analyses were also performed to identify the personal and attitudinal variables associated with responses on the measures of favourability. Findings are presented and discussed, together with implications for the future promotion of Australian psychology.

Das Image von Psychologen, Psychotherapeuten und Psychiatern in der Öffentlichkeit

“…In den Medien sind "Psychos" meist in mittlerem Alter (Gharaibeh 2005), genauer, sie sind oft identisch mit dem (älteren) Sigmund Freud: Fast in der Hälfte der Fälle in denen "Psychos" auf Zeitschriftentitelbildern abgebildet waren, wurde sein Konterfei eingesetzt (Sydow et al 1998a) -bis heute ist das so. Sowohl Laien als auch Medizin-und Psychologiestudierende stellen sich das Aussehen von Psychotherapeuten und Psychologen häufig auch Sigmund-Freud-artig vor; sie beschreiben oft einen Mann im mittleren Alter, mit Bart und Brille, weniger werdenden grauen oder weißen Haaren und seriöser Kleidung (Barrow 2000;Dudley 1994;Gabbard u. Gabbard 1989;Gharaibeh 2005;Hartwig 2002Hartwig /2003Sydow et al 1998a;Sydow et al 1998b;Szykiersky u. Raviv 1995;Wahl u. Rietz 1999).…”

“…Früher galt in US-amerikanischen Comics auch ein europäisches Diplom an der Wand als obligatorisch (Hartwig 2002(Hartwig /2003Sydow et al 1998b;Wahl u. Rietz 1999). Studierende halten meist ein einzeltherapeutisches (im Sitzen) oder ein psychoanalytisches Setting (Couch) für typisch.…”

Profiling a Profession: A Victorian Survey Assessing Lay Attitudes Toward and Knowledge of Counselling Psychologists

“…Psychology's public image is considered a two‐dimensional process comprising popularity (i.e., how favourably members of the public regard psychology and psychologists) and understanding (i.e., how informed members of the public are about psychology and psychologists) (Benjamin, 1986). A poor public image may not only affect the well‐being of psychology and psychologists, but also impact on the profession's capacity to serve and assist the wider community (Grant et al., 2008; Hartwig & Delin, 2003).…”

“…Unlike studies conducted in the USA that have revealed a positive public impression of psychologists (Benjamin, 1986; McGuire & Borowy, 1979; Murstein & Fontaine, 1993; Nunnally & Kittross, 1958; Webb, 1989; Webb & Speer, 1986), Australian research has yielded a more conservative profile (Hopson & Cunningham, 1995; Sharpley, 1986; Small & Gault, 1975; Wilkinson et al., 1978). While the specific methodological approach employed may account for such differences (Hartwig & Delin, 2003), Australian public opinion research has been limited by several factors. First, in no Australian studies were counselling psychologists included in the experimental sample.…”

“…Second, Victoria is under‐represented in Australian public opinion research of psychologists. At present, psychology's public image has been derived from Queensland (Agnew, 2003; Dempsey, 2007; Sharpley et al., 2004; Wilkinson et al., 1978), New South Wales (Hopson & Cunningham, 1995), and South Australia (Hartwig & Delin, 2003). The lack of public opinion data derived from Victoria is disappointing, particularly when Victorian members of both the counselling and clinical colleges of the APS comprise the second largest membership base across all states and territories in Australia, and where three of the five university programmes in the specialty of counselling psychology exist.…”