THE INFLUENCE OF BELIEF SYSTEMS ON SUBJECTS' PERCEPTIONS OF EMPATHY, WARMTH, AND GENUINENESS

This study investigated the relationship between subjects' belief systems, gender, and perceptions of a Rogerian counseling session. Belief systems were assessed using Harvey and Gore's Belief System Test (1985) after which participants watched, by means of a sound video recording, a 30-minute counseling intervention by Dr. Carl R. Rogers. Subjects rated the counselor using the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory, Client Satisfaction Scale, and five additional questions composed by the authors. The results indicated that subjects' beliefs influence their perceptions of therapeutic variables. Implications for counseling process and recommendations for further research are discussed.