Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Fitts Dissertation Final.pdf (1.77 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Mediating Effect of Color-Blind Racial Ideology on the Relationship between Multicultural Counseling Competence and Empathy

Fitts, Brian Russell
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu157805701497931

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education, Cleveland State University, College of Education and Human Services.
Multicultural counseling competence is the extent to which a therapist can effectively work with clients from cultural groups which differ from their own, and is expressed through skills, knowledge, and awareness (Sue, 1998; Sue, Bernier, Durran, Feinberg, Pedersen, Smith, & Vasquez-Nuttall, 1982; Sue, Arredondo, & McDavis, 1992). Color-blind racial ideology is the belief that either emphasizes sameness among all individuals, known as color-evasion color-blind racial attitudes, or emphasizes that all individuals have the same opportunity for success, known as power-evasion color-blind racial attitudes (Carr, 1997; Neville, Lilly, Duran, Lee, & Browne, 2000; Neville, Awad, Brooks, Flores, & Bluemel, 2013). A significant positive relationship has been found between therapist multicultural counseling competence and color-blind racial attitudes (Johnson & Williams, 2015). Additionally, lower levels of multicultural counseling competence are predictive of poorer ratings of empathy, while higher levels of color-blind racial attitudes are predictive of poorer ratings of empathy (e.g., Burkard & Knox, 2004; Fuertes & Brobst, 2002). This study examined if therapist color-blind racial attitudes mediate the relationship between therapist-reported multicultural counseling competence and therapist-rated empathy. Participants were licensed practitioners and masters and doctoral-level trainees under supervision. Participants completed a measure assessing multicultural counseling competence, two measures assessing color-blind racial attitudes, and a measure assessing ratings of empathy. Results found partial mediation of color-evasion color-blindness on the relationship between multicultural awareness and empathy expressed toward an African-American male client. There was no mediated effect when respondents rated their general empathy. Results and future directions are also discussed.
Julia Phillips, Dr. (Committee Chair)
Adam Voight, Dr. (Committee Member)
Graham Stead, Dr. (Committee Member)
Yu-Hsin Liao, Dr. (Committee Member)
Linda Wolf, Dr. (Committee Member)
Counseling Psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fitts, B. R. (2019). The Mediating Effect of Color-Blind Racial Ideology on the Relationship between Multicultural Counseling Competence and Empathy [Doctoral dissertation, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu157805701497931

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fitts, Brian. The Mediating Effect of Color-Blind Racial Ideology on the Relationship between Multicultural Counseling Competence and Empathy . 2019. Cleveland State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu157805701497931.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fitts, Brian. "The Mediating Effect of Color-Blind Racial Ideology on the Relationship between Multicultural Counseling Competence and Empathy ." Doctoral dissertation, Cleveland State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu157805701497931

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu157805701497931
831
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12