EXAM 3 Counseling Psychology Flashcards
Explain the concept of multimethod assessment approach and explain the advantages of this approach when conducing a psychological evaluation.
- one test cannot asssess someone well by itself
- it is best to use multiple methods of testing to reach convergent conclusions (high validity in psychological evaluation)
How does cultural competence play a role in personality assessment?
- different cultures have their own definitions of normal or abnormal
- need to be aware of cultural biases
*it is important to not overlypathologize!
Differentiate between objective and projective assessments of personality
o Objective tests (what are they? Pros? Cons?)
o Projective tests (what are they? Pros? Cons?)
OBJECTIVE: self -reports
- standardized set of questions
- examinee responds with a fixed set of options
- Pros: economical, scoring is straightforward
- cons: too high face validity, lose important detail due to limited responses
PROJECTIVE: ambiguous stimuli
- makes judgements about motives
- examinees impose their own structure on test
- freedom of responses
-pros: low face validity, open to interpretations
- cons: hard to assess the same across time and people
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the MMPI
* Explain the empirical criterion keying method
* Therapeutic Assessment
MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Invetory
- true/false test designed to ID psychiatric diagnosis of individuals
- based on atheoretical keying method (where it was determined which items differed between a confirmed diagnosis and no diagnosis group– used the different items as the test)
*plots scoring on a graph to look for
- conversion V: hysteria and hypercondiasis, maybe depression
- neurotic triad: elevated depression and scales 1-3. likely secondary gain
- the disability profile: elevations in 4+ scales indicates poor coping and emotional distress
Describe the MMPI-A and the MMPI 2RF
MMPI-A: used with adolescents 14-18. has similar validity scales to original MMPI
MMPI 2RF: features a validity scale for the T/F questions to ID “faking good”, “faking bad” and random responding on the test.
- most recent MMPI
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the MCMI (discussed in the book, NOT in class)
- Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV is an assessment of personality disorders and clinical syndromes in adults
- 175 true/false question structure to evaluate personality patterns
- Diagnose personality disorders, clinical syndromes, and severe pathology
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the NEO Personality inventory (not sure if we will discuss in class - it is discussed in the book)
- Measure personality traits based on the Big Five factors (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism)
- Consists of around 240 questions, assessing the five major personality dimensions
- Understand and describe an individual’s personality traits and tendencies
- Commonly used in research, counseling, and organizational settings for personality assessment and compatibility evaluation
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the CPI (not discussed in class, discussed in book)
(California Psychological Inventory)
Structure:434 multiple-choice questions
20 scales in 4 clusters
Purpose:
Assess personality traits and behaviors
Used in counseling, career guidance, and research
Characteristics:
Measures interpersonal style, self-management, motivation, and personal style
Reveals traits like dominance, sociability, empathy, and achievement
Guides therapy, career counseling, and team-building
Describe the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and explain how it is not a true personality test.
- common measure for depression screening that shows depression is a temporary state, not a personality trait
- 21 items and 5-10 minute test for a 2-week period
- paper and pencil; self-report
- lacks validity scales due to being short
- has high face validity
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the Myers-Briggs (MBTI)
- Classify personality types based on four dichotomies (Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, Judging/Perceiving)
- 93-question assessment categorizing individuals into 16 distinct personality types
- Identify preferences in how people perceive the world, make decisions, and interact with others
- Widely used in career counseling, team building, and self-awareness development in various settings
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the Rorschach (characteristics, administration, Exner method, reliability and validity)
- Assess personality and detect underlying thought disorders using inkblot interpretations.
Exner Method:
- standardized scoring system developed by John Exner
- seeks indicators of personality characteristics.
- uses 54 indices that consider location, content, determinants, and popularity of the answer that client has to gather meaning
- Reliability and Validity: Mixed opinions exist on reliability and validity due to subjective interpretation and varying scoring methods.
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the TAT
- Thematic Apperception Test: 31 cards with pictures with people where the test taker has to make up a story about the cards
- ID of themes among stories leads to diagnosis
- pros: open to interpretation
- cons: not empirically backed, low reliability, subjective responses
Describe the structure, purpose and characteristics of the Sentence Completion Tests (not sure if we will discuss in class; discussed in the book)
- Elicit responses to incomplete sentences to reveal underlying thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.
- providing sentence stems or partial sentences, prompting individuals to complete them with their own words or thoughts.
- Insightful Responses, Adaptability, Subjectivity
Be able to provide a brief summary of the Rorschach article and respond to the following questions:
o What tests were highlighted in the article?
o What is the primary assertion of the article you read?
o What general evidence do the authors have to back up their assertion?
o What advice would you give a clinician who wants to use the Rorschach?
Article:
- discussed a few problematic personality tests, like TAT, Rorschach, and draw-a-person test.
- asserted that the tests could be used but in a limited manner and should not be the only test given
- these tests lack research, normed data, standardization, and often overpathologize
Explain behavioral assessment methods used by clinical psychologists: Naturalistic observation vs Behavioral observation
Naturalistic Observation:
- Involves watching individuals in their typical environments to understand their behaviors, interactions, and responses.
- Provides a realistic view of behaviors in authentic settings.
- lack scontrol over variables or specific conditions, potentially limiting interpretations.
Behavioral Observation:
- Systematic observation and recording of specific behaviors that focuses on targeted behaviors, often employing predefined criteria
- detailed and specific analysis of particular behaviors.
- structured data useful for tracking progress
- may not fully represent behaviors in real-life settings
Explain behavioral assessment methods used by clinical psychologists: Use of technology in behavioral assessment
Self-monitoring
EMA
- EMA: ecological momentary assessment: repeated samping of a person’s current behaviors or experiences in a real time in natural environments. easy!
- self-monitoring: may be subject to lying or forgetting but still is a helpful tool in tracking behavior patters
Explain the assumptions that underlie humanism/PCT (person-centered therapy)
human behavior are driven by conscious awareness and the here-and-now experience
- assumes that people want to reach self-actualization, are naturally good, nd that therapeutic relationship is good
*planted seed growing towards the light as a tree analogy, where tree may have grown off center by therapy will help realign it with its journey to self-actualization
What ideas does the person-centered perspective (PCT/humanism) have that are counter to directive and psychoanalytic perspectives?
PCT emphasizes a non-directive stance– it prioritizes the individual’s self-exploration and self-discovery.
- values unconditional positive regard
- focus on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.
- has the client play a role in self-discovery
psychoanalytic perspective: analyst-led, motivated y unconscious motives and humanistic necessities (hunger, sex)
Explain the concepts of positive regard, conditions of worth, and self-actualization.
positive regard: the idea that we all need positivity, acceptance and value
condition of worth: people need to feel prized (deep appreciation from someone else that therapeutic relationship provides)
self-actualization: the attainment of he best, ideal self. reaching full potential
What is the primary goal in PCT. According to PCT, what leads to change in a client?
to foster self-actualization
- therapist’s role is to create a climate where client can resume natural growth towards self-actualization
What does it mean when a client is experiencing incongruence?
mismatching of real and idea self in the journey towards self-actualization
Name and explain the characteristics make up the growth-promoting climate. Explain PCT’s view of these characteristics as attitudes rather than behaviors.
- empathy: in the client’s shoes
- unconditional positive regard (UPR): pricing the client no matter what
- genuineness: authenticity, not playing a role
*these characteristics of PCT are attitudes since they are qualities of the therapy that the therapist creates, not behaviors that the therapist does.
Using examples, explain how Carl Rogers exemplified the growth-promoting climate in his session with Gloria.
- Rogers would not tell Gloria what to do about her situation (genuineness)
- Rodgers did not judge her for her sexual drives (unconditional positive regard)
- Rodgers took time to think about what she was saying to be able to reflect it well, back to her (empathy)
What role does reflective listening have in PCT?
- reflective listening not parroting and avoiding questions
- large role in PCT, since the therapist should not assume the client’s reality, they need to have their interpretation confirmed or denied
What is the goal of reflective listening?
goal: give a sense of empathy towards the client
- while the therapist acquires an understanding without questions
- by restating aspects of what the client said so the client can help themselves towards their personal self-actualization
Describe the “listening process” with respect to reflective listening. Explain why reflective listening can be useful in the therapeutic process.
listening process: client thinks something and says what they’re thinking. listener hears client and tries to interpret what the client is thinking
- stating the hypothesis of what the client may be thinking will lead to comprehension of the problem by denial or support from client