Motivational patterns among three groups of psychologists.

Abstract

This study investigated distinguishing personal characteristics that might differentiate special subgroups within the profession of psychology. The approach was to look at motivational dimensions as measured by a self-report questionnaire, the Orientation and Motivation Inventory {OMI).Three groups of psychologists-clinical practitioner, academic clinical, and academic nonclinical-were contrasted on 72 OMI dimensions via a discriminant function analysis. Significant motivational differences were found between practitioners and the two academic groups combined. The academic psychologists are more theoretical and achievement oriented, whereas the practitioners are more altruistic, personoriented, and materialistic.

Differences among clinical psychologists: Scientists, practitioners, and scientist-practitioners.

“…The differences in self-concept among these clinicians of varying career orientations, though not always large ones, are revealing nonetheless, and all of the differences in self-concept are consistent with what one would expect from related personality work (Frank, 1984; Rushton et al, 1987; Youniss et al, 1985). Three factors—agreeableness, cognitive strengths, and conscientiousness—accounted for the differences among these clinicians.…”

“…Although many of these differences between clinicians and scientists make sense, the data are sparse and infrequently replicated. In a direct comparison between clinical psychologists of different career orientations, Youniss, Lorr, and Stefic (1985) found that clinical practitioners were more altruistic, person oriented, and materialistic, whereas academic clinicians were more theoretical and achievement oriented.…”

Personality style, psychological adaptation and expectations of trainee clinical psychologists

“…Youniss, Lorr and Stefic (1985) found no significant correlation between personality characteristics and performance indices, although this appears to be the only study investigating these relationships. Other voices have recently suggested that past experience of significant distress, including psychosis, may be an aid to clinicians in understanding and dealing with their clients (May, 2000;Perkins & Repper, 1998).…”

“…performance) as both a trainee and a qualified clinician using longitudinal designs, seem particularly important. Although Youniss et al (1985) found no significant correlation between personality characteristics and performance indices, this appears to be the only study investigating these relationships. The study currently being conducted by Hatton and colleagues in Lancashire is an attempt to carry out the kind of longitudinal study referred to here, and should help to throw light on the complex relationships between person variables, course-related factors and performance.…”

Dispositional empathy in scientists and practitioner psychologists: Group differences and relationship to self-reported professional effectiveness.

“…In samples of clinical psychologists, practitioners, compared to their more scientifically-oriented counterparts, have been found to be more extroverted and less independent (Tinsley et al, 1993), and to describe themselves as more warm and nurturant and less achievement-oriented (Conway, 1988). Youniss, Lorr, and Stefic (1985) found that academic psychologists (both clinical and nonclinical), compared to clinical practitioners, were more theoretical and achievement oriented, and less altruistic, person-oriented, and materialistic. In another study (Zachar & Leong, 1992), it was found that psychology graduate students with a scientific orientation, compared to those with a practitioner orientation, were more interested in factual than theoretical material, and had more investigative and less social personalities as measured by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (Holland, 1985).…”