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

Dispositional empathy, job satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness at a variety of professional activities were assessed in a sample of 290 psychologists. The participants were randomly chosen from four divisions of the American Psychological Association. Analyses indicated that psychologists from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2000-04, Vol.37 (1), p.45-56
Main Authors: Hall, Jennifer A., Davis, Mark H., Connelly, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Empathy
Female
Group Differences
Human
Male
Psychologist Attitudes
Psychologists
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Summary:Dispositional empathy, job satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness at a variety of professional activities were assessed in a sample of 290 psychologists. The participants were randomly chosen from four divisions of the American Psychological Association. Analyses indicated that psychologists from divisions chosen to represent a "Practitioner" orientation (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), compared to psychologists from divisions chosen to represent a "scientist" orientation (Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics), scored lower on personal distress. For females only, practitioner status was also associated with higher scores on empathic concern and perspective taking. Also, regardless of sex, among participants who reported regularly engaging in therapy, higher scores on empathic concern and perspective-taking, and lower scores on personal distress, were associated with greater satisfaction with therapeutic work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
ISSN:0033-3204
1939-1536
DOI:10.1037/h0087758