PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THERAPEUTIC OUTCOME

Abstract

In the present study it was hypothesized that different therapist’s personality variables have their effect on number of their patients being Remainers or Terminators in therapy. The personality variables measured are affiliation, achievement cognitive structure, dominance, endurance, harm avoidance, nurturance, social recognition, understanding, abasement, aggression, autonomy, change, exhibition, impulsivity, play and succorance In order to test these hypothesis the Personality Research Form-E alongwith a questionnaire prepared was given to 33 student psychotherapists comprising of six male therapist’s and 27 female therapists of the Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi. The therapist’s were divided into 2 groups, depending on their high or low scores. Mann whitney U. test was applied in order to get statistical significance of the results It was found that therapist’s who scored high on affiliation, achievement, endurance, harm avoidance, nurturance and understanding they had more patients as remainers as compared to those who scored low on these variables. Those therapist’s who scored high on abasement, aggression, autonomy, change, exhibition, impulsivity and succorance they had more terminators as patients as compared to those therapist’s who were low on these variables. No difference was found whether the therapist’s were high or low on the following variables, dominance, cognitive, structure, social recognition and play