Procedures used in empathy-helping studies suggest results may be due to demand characteristics. Two studies were run to investigate especially the mood induction process. One reproduced the Aderman-Berkowitz main mood effects. Another showed that after seeing a help-non-help incident, mood effects were demonstrated only when Ss knew the research…

Results revealed that empathic understanding and respect are significantly related to two similar personality variables: tolerance of ambiguity and need for order. Ratings from Carkhuff's Index of Communication were significantly related to empathic understanding. Suggestions are made for further research and the improvement of existing selection…

University students (N=48) were individually tested for suggestibility in one of three conditions. Results indicated subjects of higher rated experimenters would demonstrate more suggestibility than subjects of lower rated experimenters. Results did not indicate that subject interaction with lower rated experimenters would elicit less…

Examines the effect of different amounts of client-therapist interaction data on empathy ratings. Audiotaped therapist-client interactions including client statement, therapist response, and subsequent client response were rated for therapist empathy by high-functioning, experienced raters. Raters made different judgments about levels of therapist…

The training therapy principle was examined by pre- and postcomparisons of volunteers and nonvolunteers in a peer-administered training program in helping skills. After training, the volunteers reported significant decreases in five largely interpersonal, problem areas and significantly higher levels of empathy. Nonvolunteers showed almost no…

This paper explores the role of empathic arousal in mediating helping behavior. Undergraduates listened to a recording of a radio newscast that described the situation of a young woman whose parents had been killed in an automobile accident. Subjects were instructed either to imagine how the woman felt about her situation (imagine condition), or…

Two counseling-analogue studies compared empathic-listening and active advice-giving styles of telephone counseling with college undergraduate participants. Results consistently indicated significant participant preference for active advice giving on overall call evaluation and on the two major factors (Helpfulness of Call and Helper Likability)…

This study sought to assess preferences for counseling response styles. Although both clients and nonclients most frequently select adjectives describing "nurturant" counselors, they have no differential preferences for response styles when these are demonstrated in scripted interactions. Neither group preferred empathic responses to other…

College students receiving individual counseling services (36 male and 64 female) served as subjects. Each subject received two questionnaires containing three forms of the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire and a revised form of the Relationship Questionnaire. Results did not provide total support for any one theory of self-disclosure in…

The perceptions of empathy among 12 clients, 12 counselors, 12 observers, and two judges on the empathy subscale of the Truax Relationship Inventory and on Carkhuff's empathy rating scale were studied. Results indicate strong agreement among all participants of the counseling process on their perceptions of empathy. (Author)

An ongoing debate has centered on which school of therapy makes most effective use of the therapeutic relationship. This study divided clinical practitioners into three major theoretical orientations--psychodynamic, behavioristic, and humanistic--based on their own stated preferences. Results showed no significant differences between therapists.…

A trait measure of empathy, a skill measure of empathy and an attitude scale on psychological effectiveness were administered to both counselor trainees and "natural helpers", i.e. persons in helping relationships who have not been formally trained as mental health professionals or paraprofessionals. The results indicated that the…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether cognitive exposure in the form of didactic instruction and affective exposure through videotapes and roleplays, all illustrating basic concepts of Spanish culture, would improve counselor trainees' effectiveness in counseling Spanish-speaking/surnamed persons. (Author)

Data suggest that family members, especially mothers, are primary sources of help for elementary school children who want to discuss problems. This is more true with younger children than with older ones. Moreover, children consider warmth, trust and understanding as the main characteristics of helping persons. (Author/SE)

Twenty first-year medical students were randomly assigned to one of four short-term empathy training groups (discussion, modeling, experiential-simulation and control). Empathy skills were assessed immediately after and four weeks after training sessions. Although results were not statistically significant, the trends were in the predicted…