Prediction of self-actualization in male participants in a group conducted by female leaders

Abstract

Some evidence indicates that males prefer male over female counselors when asked to state a preference(e.g., (2, 14)). The reasons for this preference vary, but male counselors usually are attributed with greater trust, respect, and admiration (2). The literature on the authoritarian personality suggests that highly authoritarian persons tend to hold more traditional stereotypes with regard to male-female sex role behavior than persons who score lower in authoritarianism(e.g., ( I ) ) . Thus, it follows logically that males who score high in authoritarianism and reflect traditional attitudes toward women might not accept the authority and competence of female counselors and therefore might resist their treatment inputs. This hypothesized reaction should have a negative or no effect on outcome for these persons. By contrast, males who report lower authoritarian scores and greater agreement with profeminist attitudes before treatment should show a more positive treatment outcome when exposed t o female counselors.This study attempted to predict which male Ss would reflect higher selfactualization scores when exposed to a 16-hour marathon group conducted by female leaders. In this regard, prior studies have found positive changes in selfactualization as a function of a 16-hour marathon group experience (e.g., (', s)).Furthermore, the "isolated" nature of marathon treatment permits the E to place greater confidence in the assumption that the impact of treatment is not confounded with "therapeutic" inputs from informal contacts with persons outside the group. The three predictor scales measured authoritarianism, attitudes toward women, and need for social approval. An attempt also was made to determine whether males who score low in authoritarianism, reflect greater agreement with profeminist attitudes, and report a high need for social approval would rate the leader and the group experience more positively. METHODSubjects. The Ss were 25 male volunteers who were enrolled in an undergraduate psychology class. Ss were selected randomly from a male and female student population that had volunteered to participate in a 16-hour marathon group. The group was described as having the purpose of greater self-understanding and self-awareness. Before they volunteered, Ss were told that the composition of their group would be either all male, all female or mixed. The mean age of the entire sample was 21.3, with a range from 18 to 32 years.The two marathon groups were conducted by the same leader team, which consisted of a female who holds the doctorate in clinical psychology and a female predoctoral candidate in clinical psychology. The former leader took primary responsibility for directing the treatment format, while the second leader functioned as an adjunct facilitator. The two leaders had conducted a number of marathon groups together prior to this experiment. The leaders decided upon the sequence of group exercises prior to the beginning of the marathons and thereby controlled the treatment format in both groups.The treatm...

Clinical Relevance of the Marlowe-Crowne Scale: A Review and Recommendations

“…In each case, however, the authors acknowledge possible confounds, such ax group leader awareness of the hypothesis under study. ( Robinson (1976) found no MCS change after a 16-hour marathon self-actualization group, while Zuroff and Schwartz (1978) found the MCS to be unrelated to residual gain scores (lower anxiety) following five weeks of Transcendental Meditation sessions.…”

The Influence of Demographic Information, Ethnic Identity, and Pro-Feminist Attitudes on Cognitive Empathy

“…Much continued thought must be given in the interpretation of this finding so as not to encourage readers who conclude that gender is not worthy of note within the context of facilitating the development of empathic thinking. Steward, Gimenez, and Jackson (1995) concluded that ethnicity and gender should be unique and critical components of training; however, readers must once again take note of the attitudes that are measured by the Attitudes toward Women Scale and significant correlates of such attitudes: politically liberal (Ghaffaradli-Doty & Carlson, 1979) greater self-reported hostility (Gackenbach & Auerback 1975); less social conformity (Johnson & MacDonnell, 1974); inner-directedness (Hunt, 1976); goaloriented toward non-traditional vocational and educational roles (Redfering, 1979); high selfactualization (Hjell & Butterfield, 1974;Follingstad, Kilmann, & Robinson, 1976); assertiveness and more masculine orientation (Volgy, 1976); outspokenness, ambition, independence, competitiveness, aggressiveness, dominance, self-reliance, persistence, versatility, and willingness to challenge the laws of society (Joesting, 1976). Such descriptors are bound to be heavily culturebased.…”

Correlates of Effectiveness in Group Counseling

“…High-authoritarian men were negatively influenced when the group leader was a woman. However, this was not the case with low-authoritarian male group members (Fallingstad et al, 1976). Changes in members' affective sensitivity were related to a combination of the trainer's affective sensitivity, the participant's motivation to change, and the quality of the trainer-member interaction (Daniel, 1970).…”