The effect of social class and cognitive orientation on clinical expectations

Therapists have been found to have more favourable expectations of clients from similar social class backgrounds than of clients from dissimilar social class origins. This relationship is unlikely to be simple. Cognitive variables most probably function as mediators between social class and expectations about therapeutic benefit. In particular, it was hypothesized that the variable, locus of control, would mediate therapists' clinical expectations. Two studies, involving clinical psychologists, tested this prediction. Therapists were asked to estimate their likely success with clients presented in the form of vignettes and role plays. The vignettes and role plays depicted the social class and locus of control of clients. Results indicate that there was a significant interaction between client's and therapist's locus of control in relation to therapists' judgements of therapeutic success.