PSYC-508 Counseling and Personality Theories

Question 1

Automatic thoughts

Answer 1

A type of cognitive distortion. spontaneous, immediate thoughts that appear plausible; usually refer to situations or events which are increasing levels of abstraction e.g. dichotomous reasoning, personalization, emotional reasoning; ANTs - addressed in cognitive restructuring (logic); can be maladaptive and persistent - need to come up with alternative thoughts; help cause/maintain depression/anxiety

Question 2

Authentic existence

Answer 2

humanistic concept used in existential theory; “Existence precedes essence”à your existence (choices, life and how you live it) determines who you are; as long as a person chooses “authentically,” there are no moral standards by which his conduct can be criticized; awareness/sense of own identity; they choose experiences that align with their ideal self; live in present - make decisions they are responsible for; congruent with thoughts and behaviors

In the field of psychology, authenticity identifies a person living life in accordance with their true Self, personal values, rather than according to the external demands of society, such as social conventions, kinship, and duty.

Ex: gay therapist choosing to be an advocate in his community for gay rights and counseling those struggling to identify as gay in the community

Question 3

Behavioral Activation

Answer 3

As a treatment for depression and other mood disorders, behavioral activation is based on the theory that, as individuals become depressed, they tend to engage in increasing avoidance and isolation, which serves to maintain or worsen their symptoms.
The goal of treatment, therefore, is to work with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation and increase their engagement in activities that have been shown to improve mood. Many times, this includes activities that they enjoyed before becoming depressed, activities related to their values or even everyday items that get pushed aside.

Question 4

Big Five Personality Model/Traits

Answer 4

OCEAN

Traits are considered enduring dispositions to respond in a particular manner, and exert very generalized effects on behavior.
Traits define differences between individuals, and are thought to explain situational consistency and stability over time.
There are five traits that consistently stand out, conceptualized into the Big 5 personality model by Goldman and extended by McCrae and Costa.
These include Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.
These are generally measured with the NEO -PR personality test.
These traits are used to describe self and others and are stable from mid to late childhood. These traits are evident in diverse cultures yet many cultures do not value personal traits as important as family, etc. Genders are similar, but differ in more progressive cultures. Traits change throughout life in response to like events, such as the death of a family member.

Question 5

Client-centered/person centered theory/therapy

Answer 5

Developed by Rogers, this is a more optimistic view of therapy focused on creating a therapeutic environment which fosters client growth. Problem resolution and symptom reduction are thought to be resolved from the client growth. Tends to avoid diagnosis, and focuses on the incongruence between the real self and the ideal self. In PC therapy, there are 6 conditions necessary for change; two persons are in physical contact, Client is incongruent, Therapist is congruent, Therapist provides WEG and empathically enters the client’s IFR, Therapist empathically understands client’s IFR and communicates this to client, Client’s perception of WEG and the empathic understanding of the therapist allows for growth and therapeutic change to occur.

Allow actualizing tendency to emerge from interferences and hindrances. Less focused on problems, goals or specific behavior change

Question 6

Cognitive therapy

Answer 6

type of therapy developed by Beck
Focus on cognitions as the origin of maladaptive behavior, thoughts and emotions, Therapies target cognitive changes as necessary to develop more adaptive emotional and behavioral responses
• Assumption - pathology results from cognitive distortions, Cognitions are related to behavior, Cognitive activity is potentially observable, it can be monitored, counted, altered, Client is considered expert and collaborator
• Two main components are BA and cognitive restructuring
• Levels of cognitive distortions (triggered by event)
- (1st level) Automatic thoughts: spontaneous thoughts that appear plausible e.g. dichotomous reasoning, personalization, emotional reasoning “I feel this way… it must be so”
- (2nd level) Assumptions: abstract, generalized rules e.g. “I must be perfect in all endeavors”, “ Everyone should like me”, “ I must be on guard at all times”
- (3rd level) Schemas: cognitive structures (patterns of thinking) that organize and process info e.g. negative cognitive triad (self, world, future), cognitions differ in anxiety, depression, OCD
• use treatment to help people recognize their patterns of thought
• Goal: aid pt in dealing w/ problems in living
• Focus: more on present vs. less on past, pathology and assets, objective data vs. projective tests, interventions and their evaluation
• General Process: behavioral analysis of problem, select target behaviors w/ measurement, apply interventions, determine their effectiveness

-Bandura’s Enviorment ↔Person↔Behavior as a model (change in P changes B and E)
TYPES: Meichenbaum’s Stress Inoculation Therapy , Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

Question 7

Common Factors in Psychotherapy

Answer 7

a theory the proposes that different approaches and evidence based practices in psychotherapy and counseling share mutual features that account for much of the effectiveness of a psychological treatment. In contrast to the view that the effectiveness of psychotherapy/counseling is best explained by specific or unique factors (notably, particular methods or procedures) that are suited to treatment of particular problems. These factors that are important in determining the outcome of psychotherapy are client variables, the therapeutic alliance, outcome expectancies, (hopes and expectations), and specific therapeutic techniques. Examined by Wampold, supports humanistic approach.

Ex: different therapeutic approaches can produce similar results (ex: CBT vs. exposure therapy for PTSD)

Question 8

Conditional vs. Unconditional positive regard

Answer 8

A term developed by Carl Rogers and used in Rogerian therapy, positive regard is the perceptions of love and respect from others. The need for this positive regard develops as the self emerges. Positive regard can be conditional or unconditional. In unconditional positive regard, the positive regard is when others accept and love the person for who they are, regardless of mistakes or if something is wrong. The positive regard is never taken away from the person if it is unconditional, and tend to allow people to self actualize. In conditional positive regard, love and acceptance are only given when the person is or behaves a certain way and meet certain conditions in order to obtain positive regard. If conditions are not met, then no positive regard is given.

Question 9

Conditions of worth

Answer 9

A term from Rogerian therapy, this refers to conditions a client believes they must meet in order for other people to accept them as worthy of their love and positive regard. This can be neutral or negative influence on the client, as these conditions tend to be incorporated into their idea of self worth at a young age.

An example would be if a teenaged client entered therapy for anxiety over getting straight A’s because that’s the only way her parents will pay positive attention towards her, she considers being a straight A student as a condition of worth.

Question 10

Countertransference

Answer 10

The transferred-emotional-reaction of the counselor to the client. The counselor misunderstands the therapeutic process in terms of the counselor’s own past (or extra-therapeutic present). Many counselors use countertransferential experiences to conceptualize their client’s interpersonal status, but counselors must abstain from acting out their countertransference.

Counseling Application Example: Through supervision the counselor realized that her abruptness with Beverly, a client that she was treating for depression, related to her transferring qualities of her depressed sister onto Beverly. The counselor’s past frustration with her sister’s dependency led to her abruptness with her sister in order to curb dependent behaviors. Her reactions to Beverly as if she were her sister involved the process of countertransference.

Question 11

Cultural self-awareness

Answer 11

an individual’s metacognitive understanding of culture’s influence on the self. It encompasses an understanding of the link between one’s self and cultural experience. Develops through attention to one’s cultural experiences and sensitivity toward the cultural elements in one’s experiences; personal self-awareness develops through attention to one’s internal dispositions and personal experiences and sensitivity toward the impact of these personal experiences.

Question 12

Defense mechanisms

Answer 12

A term used in psychodynamic theory. [Initially developed by Freud and then expanded by Anna Freud]. These are the ego’s attempts to discharge sex/aggressive energy in socially acceptable ways. These can also be used as coping techniques, usually unconscious [help protect against psychological harm/stress]. Includes three primal defenses; denial, repression, regression; and also includes undoing, projection, reaction formation, rationalization, sublimation, and displacement. [some are stronger than others.] Defense mechanisms tend to be more indicative of greater psychopathology.

Question 13

Externalizing conversations

Answer 13

externalizing is a narrative therapy practice that establishes a context where people experience themselves as separate from the problems in their lives.

A way of speaking in which space is introduced between the person and the problem issue. The problem may be spoken of as if it were a distinct entity or even a personality in its own right rather than part of the person.

“The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem”.

Question 14

Existential theory/therapy

Answer 14

Existential psychotherapy is a style of therapy that places emphasis on the human condition as a whole. embraces personal freedom and choice. It purports that humans choose their own existence and meaning.
Existential psychotherapy uses a positive approach that applauds human capacities and aspirations while simultaneously acknowledging human limitations.

Anxiety is seen by existential therapists as being a condition of living, naturally arising from a person’s striving to survive. This is known as ‘existential anxiety’ and is a normal outcome of facing the four ultimate concerns in life:
death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness.

Question 15

Factor analysis

Answer 15

a type of statistical procedure that is conducted to identify clusters or groups of related items (called factors) on a test.
factors are given trait labels according to which tests correlate highly with them; used by trait theorists for constructing personality tests such as the Big Five
-
ex/ a factor analysis was done in the discovery of the Big 5, looking at the correlations between 1700 different descriptive words

Question 16

Fixation

Answer 16

A term in psychoanalysis and developed by Freud, this is the damning up of libidinal energy during the progression of the psychosexual stages. Can be done by overindulging or under indulging during the stage. This helps to determines personality type, and is considered to be the root of psychopathology.

Question 17

Genogram

Answer 17

Developed by Bowen. A schematic diagram of the family system, using squares to represent males, circles to indicate females, horizontal lines for marriages, and vertical lines for children. A method to chart family history. Schematic diagrams listing family members and their relationships to one another, including age, marriage/death dates, and geographic locations. Also includes relationships conflicts, cutoffs, and triangles. Used to trace recurring behavior patterns within the family; usually includes 3 generations

Question 18

Insight/Catharsis

Answer 18

A term from psychodynamic theory and developed by Freud and Breuer. A main goal of psychoanalytic theory is to gain insight, which is to understand intrapsychic conflicts and interpersonal relationships, understand historical roots of current problems, then integrate them into current life and increase ego strength. During their type of therapy the therapist and client work through feelings of resistance and transference by repeating elaborating and interpreting. Successfully achieving insight should enable the client to release or free their emotions, the experience of catharsis, providing relief from repressed emotions. The examination and discussion of feelings in psychoanalytic theory provide catharsis and intellectual /emotional insight which is essential for change within psychoanalytic theory.

Question 19

Multicultural counseling

Answer 19

this is a type of counseling in which the therapist defines goals and uses treatments that are consistent with an individual’s cultural values. Professional must take into account the complexity of the relationship with the client and understand this within the client’s context. the therapist must recognize that their values may not be the same as that of their culturally diverse client, but that does not give them the right to pressure their client to accept their values. The therapist must also recognize some behaviors considered deviant in Western society are not considered deviant in the culture of their clients.

Question 20

Neo-Freudian

Answer 20

The neo-Freudian theories are theories based on Freudian principles that emphasize the role of the unconscious and early experience in shaping personality but place less evidence on sexuality as the primary motivating force in personality and are more optimistic concerning the prospects for personality growth and change in personality in adults.

Erik Erikson believed that Freud was incorrect to think that personality was shaped almost entirely by childhood events. Other issues that motivated neo-Freudian thinkers included:

Freud’s emphasis on sexual urges as a primary motivator
Freud’s lack of emphasis on social and cultural influences on behavior and personality
Freud’s negative view of human nature

Question 21

Narrative Therapy

Answer 21

a client-focused, strengths-based practice that works from the fundamental position that the client is not the problem: ‘the problem is the problem’;
developed by White; based on the idea that people create a personal narrative or dominant story to understand and give meaning to their lives and to themselves; these stories are often negative or ‘problem saturated’;
narrative therapy engages in a process of deconstructing the person’s dominant narrative to understand how that narrative influences their thoughts, feelings, behaviors and communication; it then explores whether this narrative is the story the person wants for their life (re-author their story) and works to develop and actualize new, preferred stories for their life; techniques: externalization, deconstruction; can be used with family narrative or individual clients

Question 22

Person-Behavior-Environment reciprocal interaction

Answer 22

interaction based on theory set forth by Bandura that a person’s behavior both influences and is influenced by personal factors and the social environment. if one area changes in this triad so will the other two because of this influence. this theory is the foundation of social learning theory and provides the overriding framework for personality development within the theory. as a person develops in their social world, all three aspects of the person, their behaviors, and their environment are influencing each other, therefore as a person changes their cognition, so does their environment and behavior, in turn, affecting the person’s expectations and beliefs. illustrates reciprocal determinism outlined by Bandura.

Question 23

Person-situation debate

Answer 23

The person-situation controversy (also known as the person-situation debate) is a theoretical disagreement in psychology about the influence of personality and situational factors on behavior.

There are some main questions that are asked in this debate.

Is behavior controlled by our personality or by the situational factors around us?

Is personality formed from situational factors that influence us or innate traits that we are born with?

Is a person’s behavior a result of their personality or the situational factors they are presented with?

This debate is particularly strong between personality psychologists (who use a personality trait approach to understanding individual behavior) and situationists who believe that behavior is decided and governed by the situational factors that are present.

Question 24

Potentially Harmful Treatments

Answer 24

Lilienfeld (2007) defined treatments as potentially harmful if they have demonstrated harmful effects in clients or others; the harmful effects are enduring; and the harmful effects have been replicated by independent re- searchers.

Ex.
meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies of Scared Straight programs revealed that they increased the chances of reoffending by 60% to 70%. The mechanisms underlying these negative effects are unknown, although some authors have suggested that Scared Straight programs may contribute to further alienation among a subgroup of already alienated teenagers. The research evidence for other “get tough” interventions with troubled adolescents has been similarly inconclusive or negative. For example, the research support for popular “boot camp” programs for adolescent criminals is mixed. Some studies show significant positive effects, but others show significant negative effects. The factors that account for these varied outcomes are unknown. As a consequence, there is at present no way for practitioners to know whether boot camp interventions will be beneficial or harmful.

Question 25

Pleasure Principle

Answer 25

In Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, the pleasure principle is the driving force of the id that seeks immediate gratification of all needs, wants, and urges. In other words, the pleasure principle strives to fulfill our most basic and primitive urges, including hunger, thirst, anger, and sex.
tendency of people to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Ex. A person with addiction problems is more likely to stop using when the pain of his or her addiction exceeds the pleasure obtained from the substance.

Question 26

Projective Hypothesis-Techniques

Answer 26

proposal that when a person attempts to understand an ambiguous or vague stimulus, his or her interpretations reflects needs, feelings, experiences, prior conditioning, thought processes, and so forth. Therefore, response to ambiguous content reveals personality structure. These can be revealed with tests such as the Rorschach, the TAT or the draw-a-person.

“Signs” are interpreted to predict behavior and are interpreted within psychoanalytic theory. Most indices (signs) from TAT and Rorschach are not reliable and not related to external criteria i.e. behavioral criteria. Psych evaluations based on projective tests yield broad, global personality profiles applicable to many persons. Interpretations are illusory correlations, e.g. “I see mountains/snakes/tubes/projectiles/holes” > sexual content; large eyes/ears= paranoid, etc., large head=intelligence. APA recommends not to include projective tests in training and most grad programs offer none

Question 27

Psychodynamic theory

Answer 27

The psychodynamic theory is a psychological theory Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and his later followers applied to explain the origins of human behavior.

The psychodynamic approach includes all the theories in psychology that see human functioning based upon the interaction of drives and forces within the person, particularly unconscious, and between the different structures of the personality.

Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but the psychodynamic approach as a whole includes all theories that were based on his ideas, e.g., Carl Jung (1912), Melanie Klein (1921), Alfred Adler (1927), Anna Freud (1936), and Erik Erikson (1950).

The words psychodynamic and psychoanalytic are often confused. Remember that Freud’s theories were psychoanalytic, whereas the term ‘psychodynamic’ refers to both his theories and those of his followers

Question 28

Psychoeducation

Answer 28

Psychoeducation refers to the process of providing education and information to those seeking or receiving mental health services, such as people diagnosed with mental health conditions (or life-threatening/terminal illnesses) and their family members.

goal of which is to help people better understand (and become accustomed to living with) mental health conditions, is considered to be an essential aspect of all therapy programs. It is generally known that those who have a thorough understanding of the challenges they are facing as well as knowledge of personal coping ability, internal and external resources, and their own areas of strength are often better able to address difficulties, feel more in control of the condition(s), and have a greater internal capacity to work toward mental and emotional well-being.

Question 29

Psychosexual stages

Answer 29

In psychodynamic theory, these stages are considered to be how personality is developed. Developed by Freud, this is a sequence of stages which is controlled by libidinal energy concentrated in erogenous zones. Erogenous zones includes:
1)Oral: gratification or frustration
2)Anal: retention/elimination functions inactive/active and aggressive
3)Phallic: Oedipal and Electra complexes; boys and girls, castration anxiety and penis envy: identification w/ father/mother
4)Latency: period of repression
5)Genital: onset of puberty, catharsis: mature libidinal attachments
It is inborn and universal. Psychopathology is thought to come from a fixation in one of these stages.

Question 30

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy

Answer 30

a cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Ellis that has a main assumption that all human suffering is based on irrationality and the therapist is the expert who infers logical errors and irrationality; in other words the problem is not the thing it is how you think about the thing; these irrational tendencies emanate from “shoulds”, “musterbations”, rigid and inflexible thinking patterns, awfulizing and low frustration tolerance;

this therapy is designed to get the person to think about their thinking, disputing their irrational beliefs once detected by appealing to the lack of evidence for the belief; client presents with distress, together establish links between beliefs, behaviors and emotions, then utilize cognitive, emotive, and behavioral techniques to create growth/relieve distress by instilling critical thinking, cognitive flexibility and tolerance of self and others

Question 31

Reality Principle

Answer 31

The ego postpones gratification until it can find an appropriate outlet

According to Sigmund Freud, who conceived of the psychoanalytic theory of personality, what he termed the reality principle prevented you from doing something that might have landed you in trouble.

forces us to consider the risks, requirements, and possible outcomes as we make decisions by temporarily halting the discharge of the id’s energy until a suitable time and place. In other words, the ego doesn’t try to block an urge, but instead, it works to make certain the desires of the id are met in ways that are safe, realistic, and appropriate.

Ex. rather than snatching that slice of pizza, the ego will force you to wait until you can buy your own slice, a delay achieved through what is known as the secondary process.


Question 32

Resistance

Answer 32

the phenomenon often encountered in clinical practice in which patients either directly or indirectly oppose changing their behavior, or refuse to discuss, remember or even think about presumably clinically relevant experiences. May include pauses, inability to recall, shifts in topic, avoidance behaviors, or disagreements. initially a key concept of Freud’s, referring to patients blocking memories from consciousness interfering with his primary treatment requiring these memories becoming available to the patient’s consciousness through talk therapy. in other treatments such as MI , it can be seen as a natural part of the treatment process, and an opportunity to develop dissonance and create motivation for change.

Question 33

Schema or core belief

Answer 33

developed by Piaget; an organized way of thinking about the world; organized unit, knowledge about the world; cognitive structures (patterns of thinking) that organize and process information. Content differs depending on the disorder.
cognitive information grouped together; cognitions differ in anxiety, depression, OCD; provide a framework for future understanding - accommodation/assimilation; tend to look for info that support schema - can be fixed/rigid

these are cognitive structures or patterns of thinking that organize and process information and allow a person to interpret and make sense of their environment. These are usually compiled from multiple automatic thoughts, which turn into assumptions, which turn into schemas. These can be altered by certain disorders. This method can hinder people fro remembering new information if it does not fit into the existing cognitive framework because people tend to look for information that supports thier existing framework while discarding info that contradicts it.

Ex: routines; stereotypes; expectations; person variables - expectations given certain situations

Question 34

Self-Actualization

Answer 34

Self-actualization is the complete realization of one’s potential, and the full development of one’s abilities and appreciation for life. This concept is at the top of the Maslow hierarchy of needs, so not every human being reaches it.

Kurt Goldstein, Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow are three individuals who have contributed immensely to our understanding of the concept of self-actualization.

The present day understanding of self-actualization, tends to be more aligned with the view of Maslow than with the perspectives of Goldstein or Rogers.
According to Maslow, the internal drive to self-actualize would seldom emerge until more basic needs are met.

Self-actualized people have an acceptance of who they are despite their faults and limitations, and experience to drive to be creative in all aspects of their lives.

While self-actualizers hail from a variety of backgrounds and a diversity of occupations, they share notable characteristics in common, such as the ability to cultivate deep and loving relationships with others.

Question 35

Self-Concept

Answer 35

The self-concept is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves. To be aware of oneself is to have a concept of oneself.

Carl Rogers (1959) believes that the self-concept has three different components:

• The view you have of yourself (self-image)
• How much value you place on yourself (self-esteem or self-worth)
• What you wish you were really like (ideal-self)

Question 36

Self-efficacy

Answer 36

Albert Bandura defined self-efficacy as people’s beliefs in their capabilities to exercise control over their own functioning and over events that affect their lives. One’s sense of self-efficacy can provide the foundation for motivation, well-being, and personal accomplishment.

People’s beliefs in their efficacy are developed by four main sources of influence, including

(i) mastery experiences,
(ii) vicarious experiences,
(iii) social persuasion, and
(iv) emotional states.

High self-efficacy has been linked with numerous benefits to daily life, such as resilience to adversity and stress, healthy lifestyle habits, improved employees performance, and educational achievement.

Question 37

Self-monitoring

Answer 37

Self-monitoring is a personality trait that involves the ability to monitor and regulate self-presentations, emotions, and behaviors in response to social environments and situations. It involves being aware of your behavior and the impact it has on your environment. Can also include monitoring behaviors or treatment goals in a journal ect. that allows for self awareness and information in treatment.

People who are high in self-monitoring are more likely to change their behavior in order to adapt or conform to the situation. Those who are low in self-monitoring tend to behave in accordance with their own internal needs and feelings.

Self-monitoring allows humans to measure their behavioral outcomes against a set of standards. Small children typically do not have the ability to self-monitor. It develops over time. Consider Jenny, a toddler, who does not have the capacity to monitor her expressive behaviors. She will let her mom know when she is unhappy with a snack choice. Her tears and screams of dissatisfaction are what she knows to do and monitoring her behavior, or the effect it has on others, is not part of her skill set.

On the other hand, when Jenny’s mother, Darla, is presented with a food choice that she does not like, she may choose to not eat it, ask for something different, or eat it anyways to be respectful of the person who gave it to her. Typically, screaming and crying will not be Darla’s response because she has the ability to monitor her behavioral expression. Jenny’s ability to both understand, then internalize others’ behavioral expectations is a developmental social milestone that will occur in middle childhood.

Question 38

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Answer 38

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) is a future-oriented, goal-directed approach to solving human problems of living. This form of therapy focuses on solutions to problems or issues, and discovering the resources and strengths a person has, rather than focusing on the problem like more traditional talking therapies do.

Includes the miracle question:
This is where the practitioner will ask the client to imagine that they have gone to sleep and when they wake up in the morning, their problems have vanished.

Exceptions to the problem:
Solution-focused therapy has the belief that there are exceptions or moments in a person’s life when the problem or issue is not present, or the problem is there however it does not cause any negative effects

Question 39

Systems Theory

Answer 39

Systems theory is concerned with the web of connections between persons and world, self and others. Systemic therapy tackles problems arising not within the individual as such, but rather within their wider life: their family and friends, work, and in the social (cultural, political, economic) context.

Question 40

Trait

Answer 40

A trait is a personality characteristic that has met three criteria: it must be consistent, stable, and vary from person to person.
Based on this definition, a trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways.

An example of a trait is extraversion–introversion. Extraversion tends to be manifested in outgoing, talkative, energetic behavior, whereas introversion is manifested in more reserved and solitary behavior.

Question 41

Warmth, Empathy, Genuineness (WEG)

Answer 41

Core conditions of the counseling and psychotherapy relationship.

It is important to note that true warmth is not a sentimental emotive expression. It is sincere understanding and caring. We do not want to use warmth to cover for lack of competence in communication skills. Natural warmth inspires trust.

With empathy we understand the other person’s perspective. This does not mean that we necessarily agree with that perspective; we can leave our frame of reference without abandoning it.

Genuineness means that we are authentic and spontaneous. While acknowledging that we may play various roles in life, we do not hide behind those roles. For example, though a person might recognize that he is the manager, child, youngest or senior member of a group, counselor or parent in a relationship, he does not allow these roles to become an obstacle to genuine human interaction.