Mexican Americans' Initial Preferences for Counselors: The Role of Ethnic Factors

In 3 studies, Mexican-American college students reported a clear preference for ethnically similar counselors. These findings are robust because they pertain to both men and women, they pertain to persons who have and have not sought counseling, they are not significantly influenced by the experimenter's ethnicity, and they apply to students who have considered professional help for a wide range of personal problems. Furthermore, the 3rd study demonstrated that these preference ratings are unlikely to be a function of the participants' knowing the intent of the studies. Contrary to the mixed findings of past research, the present research suggests that ethnicity plays an important role in the counseling of Mexican Americans. It is argued that the methodologies used to assess preference (as either a judgment or a choice) may be an important factor in the study of Mexican Americans' preferences for their counselor's ethnic background.