On the validity of culture‐level personality and stereotype scores

In response to comments by Perugini and Richetin and by Ashton, we discuss the reference‐group effect as a potential source of distortion in cross‐cultural comparisons and suggest some research designs to test its nature and importance. We argue that laboratory studies of personality are of limited utility in understanding personality questionnaire responses in real life. We summarise evidence in favour of the validity of aggregate personality traits and suggest that more scepticism is needed with regard to the accuracy of national character stereotypes. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy: Implications for research

Historically, training, research and practice in counselling and psychotherapy have been dominated by unitary theoretical models. Although integrative and eclectic positions have been developed as alternatives, these have not been successful in generating research and have resulted in a further proliferation of competing models. In this paper we introduce a ‘pluralistic’ framework for counselling and psychotherapy and discuss the implications of this framework for research. The basic principle of this pluralistic framework is that psychological difficulties may have multiple causes and that there is unlikely to be one, ‘right’ therapeutic method that will be appropriate in all situations—different people are helped by different processes at different times. This pluralistic framework operates as a meta‐theory within which it is possible to utilise concepts, strategies and specific interventions from a range of therapeutic orientations. The framework is structured around three domains—goals, task and methods—by which therapeutic processes can be conceptualised, critically examined and empirically investigated. These domains, and the relationships between them, are outlined and the collaborative relationship at the heart of the pluralistic framework is discussed. The pluralistic framework provides a means for empirical research directly to inform practice and potential lines of empirical inquiry are outlined, along with findings from a recent study of counselling in schools.     

归因取向理论建构及实证

尝试用一种新的视角—— 取向研究视角, 对以往归因理论进行整合研究, 建构一种与社会情境结合更紧密, 更具概括性的归因取向理论。归因取向理论的假设建构模型包括四种归因取向维度：社会取向, 个人取向, 积极取向和消极取向。根据理论模型编制归因取向量表, 以1301名被试为研究对象, 运用探索性因素分析和验证性因素分析方法对该理论模型进行实证研究。结果证明了该理论建构的存在, 理论建构中各维度的因素负荷和拟合指数良好, 归因取向量表具有良好的信度和建构效度。检验归因取向维度和8个社会心理变量的关系, 证明了四种归因取向维度具有概括性、普遍性、稳定性和评估有效性特征。     

‘Learning from research’: Therapist perspectives on the benefits and challenges of participating in a longitudinal,systematic case‐study

Objectives: In psychotherapy research we have often neglected to examine the impact of research procedures on therapy process and outcome. Such information is extremely important in helping us evaluate the validity of our findings, increase relevance of research for practice, and choose appropriate methods for future projects. The aim of this paper is to share the experience of six person‐centered therapists, who participated in a longitudinal, systematic study, and present their reflections about the impact of research on therapy process, therapeutic engagement and professional development. Methods: The findings have emerged from semi‐structured interviews that took place after the first, sixth (middle) and last therapy session. In total 18 interviews were conducted. These data were part of a much larger research protocol that included a number of outcome and process measures. Results & Conclusions: The analysis of therapist narratives revealed important benefits for those participating in systematic case study research. The use of Brief Structured Recall methods and qualitative interviewing was an important factor in promoting therapist reflexivity and professional development. The importance of a strong research alliance and the active involvement of the client in the research process is discussed.     

The big none: No evidence for a general factor of personality in chimpanzees, orangutans, or rhesus macaques

We examined whether a general factor of personality (GFP) was present in chimpanzees, orangutans, or rhesus macaques. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to model correlations among first-order factors as arising from a GFP. We then conducted principal axis factor analyses (PFA) of the first-order factors to extract a single higher-order factor and then to extract two oblique higher-order factors. The CFA model fit was poor for chimpanzees and orangutans, but not rhesus macaques. The single higher-order factors extracted via PFA did not resemble the GFP in all three species. The oblique higher-order factors extracted via PFA were only weakly correlated in all three species. These results do not support the existence of a GFP in nonhuman primates.     

Matrices in black and white: Implications of cultural multiplicity for research in counselling and psychotherapy

There is a lack of resarch into the relationship between culture and ethnicity, and the processes and outcomes of counselling and psychotherapy. This paper explores current and historical approaches to defining ethnicity and cultural identity, and makes suggestions for how these constructs might be more usefully understood.     

全面深化改革对心理学研究的应然呼唤

全面深化改革的顺利推进,离不开心理学研究的理论支持和实践指导。文章基于《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干问题的决定》(简称《决定》)的内容分析,总结提炼了推进全面深化改革亟需研究的四个心理学主题:①不同社会群体间一体感的建构与促进; ②特殊社会行为主体激励和约束机制的设计; ③重点群体多元需求指标体系的构建及配套数据库的建设; ④关键群体中核心团队建设与管理的时空特征。同时基于全面深化改革中各层级变量逻辑关系的解析,提出相关心理学研究需以不同社会行为主体需求尊重与自觉培育为实践准则,群体断层融合及其与心智共享之间的交互作用机制为理论指导,在方法上要充分重视案例研究、事件系统理论、定性对比分析(QCA)的优势发掘和整合。     

Integrating global and local perspectives in psycholexical studies: A GloCal approach

Similarities and differences in the results of psycholexical research across cultures may be due to real cross-cultural differences or to specific methodological choices. Two typically approaches used are: global, which follows a variation of the original lexical paradigm, and local, which is indigenous in methods and assumptions. We propose a GloCal approach that is more likely to yield a comprehensive picture of personality by combining approaches informed by a thorough understanding of that language and culture. The GloCal approach allows researchers to (a) identify shared and unique components of personality across cultures, (b) ensure that the lexicon used is relevant to the culture and (c) increase the ecological validity of stimulus materials in personality inventories.     

Walking in sacred spaces in the therapeutic bond: therapists' experiences of compassion satisfaction coupled with the potential for vicarious traumatization

The therapeutic bond is at the heart of effective therapy, yet few studies have examined therapists' experience of this bond. Using a qualitative study design, this exploratory study examines the experiences of couple and family therapists in relation to their perceptions of the satisfactions and risks involved in the therapeutic bond. The research was conducted using grounded theory methodology and eight in-depth interviews were conducted with therapists working in five counseling agencies in Sydney, Australia. Therapists described the importance of the 3 component parts of the therapeutic bond: the empathic connection between therapist and client; the role investment of the client; and the mutual affirmation experienced by both therapist and client in the therapeutic process. Walking in sacred spaces with the client was seen as both enriching and challenging for the therapist. The therapeutic bond gave therapists intense satisfaction and posed risks for them, especially when working with traumatic client experiences. However, the findings suggest that the experience of compassion satisfaction and the development of vicarious resilience counter-balanced the intense difficulty of bearing witness to clients' traumatic experiences and the potential for vicarious traumatization. The implications for sustaining couple and family therapists in their work are discussed.     

The Effect of Researchers' Focus on Interpretation of Diversity Data

Abstract

The tendency for intercultural researchers to focus primarily on cultural differences instead of both differences and similarities may reflect the emphasis of current statistical methodology toward cultural distance instead of cultural overlap. The authors proposed the cultural similarity index as a way of assessing the extent of communalities between 2 groups. The authors (a) analyzed research (T. Cox, S. Lobel, & P. L. McLeod, 1991; Y. F. Niemann & J. Dovidio, 1998) that placed a primary emphasis on differences, (b) presented alternative insights gained from a focus on similarities, and (c) explored the implications of a research focus on both cultural differences and similarities.