Perceptions of counsellor genuineness, empathy, and regard: impact of counsellor nonverbal behavior and subject self-esteem
Date
1986
Authors
Duma, Joanne
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Abstract
A review of the research literature illustrates the influential roles of both nonverbal behavior and self-esteem in the process of interpersonal perception. Studies investigating the salient factors in creating facilitative conditions in counsel ling have found counsellor nonverbal behavior to influence client perceptions of the counsellor. Additionally, research studies on self-esteem have found one's self-esteem level to have a considerable impact on his or her perceptions of another in an interpersonal interaction. The current study investigate the influential role of counsellor nonverbal behavior (eye contact, trunk lean, body orientation, facial expressiveness, head nodding) on client perceptions of counsellor genuineness, empathy, and regard. Counsellor nonverbal behavior was examined both alone and in interaction with subject self-esteem.
Subjects viewed two eight -minute videotaped counselling interviews in which the verbal script remained constant while the counsellor nonverbal behavior differed in level of responsiveness (responsive vs. unresponsive). Subjects evaluated counsellor genuineness, empathy, and regard on the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (1962). The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Fitts, 1964) was administered to determine the subjects' self-esteem level.
It was predicted that the videotaped counsellor emitting responsive and unresponsive nonverbal behavior would receive high and low ratings of genuineness, empathy, and regard, respectively. Additionally, it was expected that, in both of the nonverbal behavior conditions, the counsellor would receive significantly high or lower ratings in the predicted directions from the low self-esteem subjects.
A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that responsive counsellor nonverbal behavior was associated with higher ratings of counsellor genuineness, empathy, and regard. Self-esteem level, however, failed to interact with counsellor nonverbal behavior to differentially affect counsellor evaluation. The results were discussed and the limitations of the current study, implications of the findings, and suggestions for future research were presented.