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The relationship between personality and counselling orientation
Author
Ho, Laurence Swee Min
Supervisor
Cheng, Yuan Shan
Abstract
This research study attempts to find out if there is a relationship between personality and the selection of counselling orientations for the Singaporean social workers and counsellors. It also examines whether the selection of counselling orientations of the same group are influenced by their demographic variables such as, age, gender, highest academic qualification received, job designation, number of years of working experience, race type of degree/diploma and country of degree/diploma.
This study utilised two instruments. The first is Myers-Briggs Type indicator(MBTI), which was employed to measure the subjects' personality. The second is a self-developed questionnaire, which was used to solicit the subjects' demographic information and their selection of counselling orientations.
With regard to the relationship between personality and counselling orientation, this study found that those subjects who prefer Judgement (J) on the MBTIJ-P index tend to use the Transactional Analysis Orientation more frequently as compared to those who prefer Perception (P).
With regard to demographic variables, this study has found two variables (race and country of formalised training) that are significantly related to counselling orientations. For race, the results revealed that the majority of the local Chinese social workers and counsellors tend to select the Family Systems and Reality orientation instead. In addition, the results showed that the local Asians social workers and counsellors tend to use both Reality and Client-Centered orientations more frequently as compared to their Eurasian counterparts. As for the country of formalised training, the results revealed that those subjects who received their formalised training in Asian countries tend to select the Family Systems and Reality orientations to represent their current therapeutic practice. In addition, the results showed that these subjects tend to use the Reality orientation more frequently as compared to those who received their formalised training in Western countries.
As a result of this study, there are several implications. Firstly, it is suggested that more formalised training programmes be organised to equip the local social workers and counsellors with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct family therapy competently. Secondly, it is suggested that the local social workers and counsellors should develop their skills in those counselling orientations that fit their personalities. This is because they might feel less stressful and more comfortable in applying these orientations in their therapeutic practice. Thirdly, with the growing popularity of the eclecticism movement, it is suggested that the local social workers and counsellors be armed with a repertoire of skills so that they can apply the appropriate counselling approach in accordance o the needs and circumstances of the client or setting.
This study utilised two instruments. The first is Myers-Briggs Type indicator(MBTI), which was employed to measure the subjects' personality. The second is a self-developed questionnaire, which was used to solicit the subjects' demographic information and their selection of counselling orientations.
With regard to the relationship between personality and counselling orientation, this study found that those subjects who prefer Judgement (J) on the MBTIJ-P index tend to use the Transactional Analysis Orientation more frequently as compared to those who prefer Perception (P).
With regard to demographic variables, this study has found two variables (race and country of formalised training) that are significantly related to counselling orientations. For race, the results revealed that the majority of the local Chinese social workers and counsellors tend to select the Family Systems and Reality orientation instead. In addition, the results showed that the local Asians social workers and counsellors tend to use both Reality and Client-Centered orientations more frequently as compared to their Eurasian counterparts. As for the country of formalised training, the results revealed that those subjects who received their formalised training in Asian countries tend to select the Family Systems and Reality orientations to represent their current therapeutic practice. In addition, the results showed that these subjects tend to use the Reality orientation more frequently as compared to those who received their formalised training in Western countries.
As a result of this study, there are several implications. Firstly, it is suggested that more formalised training programmes be organised to equip the local social workers and counsellors with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct family therapy competently. Secondly, it is suggested that the local social workers and counsellors should develop their skills in those counselling orientations that fit their personalities. This is because they might feel less stressful and more comfortable in applying these orientations in their therapeutic practice. Thirdly, with the growing popularity of the eclecticism movement, it is suggested that the local social workers and counsellors be armed with a repertoire of skills so that they can apply the appropriate counselling approach in accordance o the needs and circumstances of the client or setting.
Date Issued
2000
Call Number
BF637.C6 Ho
Date Submitted
2000