Examined effects of counselor nonverbal behaviors on client evaluations. Conclusions of two studies confirm high levels of eye contact, direct body orientation, and leaning forward result in more favorable ratings of counselors. The third study indicates counselors can be favorably evaluated when using undesirable and distancing nonverbal…

This study investigated comparative perceptions of counselor behavior. There was greater agreement between clients and observers than between clients and counselors and counselors and observers on four dimensions. The data suggested the existence of a common factor of perceived counselor behavior. (Author)

The Fischer-Turner Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help inventory was evaluated. Subjects reporting prior professional assistance for psychological problems espoused more favorable attitudes than individuals without such professional contact. Help-seeking attitudes were found to represent a significant positive influence on the…

Results indicated that both objective evidence and nonverbal behaviors significantly affected perceived expertness. There was no difference in the credibility ratings of the counselor between male and female subjects. Objective evidence and sex interacted significantly, as did objective evidence and nonverbal behavior. (Author)

In two studies the Counselor Rating Form was shown to be sensitive to perceived differences among and within counselors of moderate and minimal levels of training/experience. A significant positive relationship was noted between perceived counselor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness and willingness to refer oneself to the observed…

Tested assumptions about behavioral cues that clients use to infer what helpers intend. Questions and acknowledgments were best predictors of client perceptions. Guiding was perceived more often than advisement actually occurred. Intention of communicating understanding of message shifted from reflection in the analogue to acknowledgment in the…

Evaluated effects of subject-perceived need and interviewer role on a subject's opinions and behaviors. Results indicate that roles were perceived as intended and resulted in intended opinion changes. Perceived interviewer expertness did influence subjects to engage in certain self-help activities, but the scope of those behaviors was limited.…

Graduate counseling students and undergraduate students evaluated content-filtered stimulus tapes of counseling sessions with male and female counselors. Counselors with low amounts of talking were evaluated most favorably on a liking dimension, and counselors with high amounts of talking were evaluated most strongly on a domineering dimension.…

Investigated effects of interviewer use of positive or negative self-disclosure and interviewer-subject sex pairing on subjects' perceptions of the interviewer and of their own behavior. Results indicated interviewers disclosing negative information about themselves were perceived as significantly more empathic, warm, and credible than…

Subjects associated degrees of stress with experiences of social isolation and powerlessness. High internals reported higher stress than moderate or low internals. High internal clients reported lower self-esteem, higher stress, and less control over recent events than nonclients. (Author/BEF)

Undergraduates (N = 41) viewed a videotape of role-played problems and responded as though in face-to-face contact with the speakers. Half took the role of counselor and half the role of friend. Analysis of covariance indicated students serving as friends made fewer reflections and gave more advice than those serving as counselors. (Author)