Attitude similarity and therapist credibility as predictors of attitude change and improvement in psychotherapy

Assessed the effects of therapist credibility and patient-therapist similarity (measured by the Situational Appraisal Inventory) on interpersonal persuasion and the relationship between patient attitude change and psychotherapy outcome. Data from 97 psychiatric patients and their 6 therapists suggest that initial patient-therapist similarity is inversely related to the therapist's persuasive influence, regardless of his perceived credibility.