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Views from within: Psychologists' attitudes towards other psychologists

Smith, Jamie Lynn
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123181232

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
While the field of psychology has directed a great deal of attention towards educating the public about what psychologists do and what the field has to offer, little attention has been focused inward on the internal fragmentation of the field and how psychologists actually view other psychologists. The current study was based on the general assumptions that psychologists identify by subfield, that they hold less positive attitudes towards other subfields compared to their own, and that these attitudes impact behavior. While these had not been looked at directly in previous research, empirical and theoretical support for these assertions existed in various lines of literature. More specifically, it was expected that psychologists would feel more positively about their own subfield than other subfields and that those displaying stronger self-stereotyping, subfield identification, affective commitment and subfield self-esteem would have less favorable attitudes towards members of other subfields than participants with lower levels. Further, it was expected that the greater the perceived threat from another subfield the less favorable one’s attitudes toward that other subfield would be, that graduate students’ perception of faculty attitudes would predict graduate student attitudes, that time within the field of psychology would predict favorable attitudes towards one’s own subfield and that attitudes toward another subfield would influence behavior regarding that particular subfield. Psychology faculty members and graduate students across the United States were invited to participate by completing an online survey created for the purposes of the present study. Results indicated basic support for the three assumptions, with participants identifying by subfield as well as viewing other psychologists as belonging to subfields. They also felt more positively about their own subfield than others, with their attitudes predicting their behaviors toward other subfields. However, support for the specific hypotheses was mixed and incongruent with some of the literature predictions. Both congruent and incongruent findings are discussed, as well as possible explanations for the findings and a re-conceptualization of the how attitudes are formed towards other subfields. Future research directions are offered as implications of differential attitudes for the field of psychology are discussed.
Don Dell (Advisor)
120 p.
psychology; attitudes; ingroup bias; counseling psychology; clinical psychology; social psychology; cognitive psychology; experimental psychology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, J. L. (2005). Views from within: Psychologists' attitudes towards other psychologists [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123181232

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Jamie. Views from within: Psychologists' attitudes towards other psychologists. 2005. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123181232.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Jamie. "Views from within: Psychologists' attitudes towards other psychologists." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123181232

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1123181232
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© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.