Reputation, training, fee, and androgyny: their comparative effects on impressions of therapist credibility

Two hundred and forty-eight college students viewed a vignette from a therapy-analogue session. Before Ss viewed the vignette they all read a summary that described the vignette plus an additional description that stressed different aspects of the therapist. One-fifth of the Ss were told of the therapist's excellent reputation, one-fifth were told of the therapist's excellent training and credentials, one-fifth were told of the therapist's high fee, and one-fifth were told of the therapists' androgenous personality. The remaining one-fifth of the Ss, who served as controls, were told nothing further; they only received the standard description of the vignette. After the vignette, Ss completed measures designed to assess their perception of therapist credibility and attractiveness. The results indicate that the androgenous therapist was rated as most credible and attractive (whereas the high-fee-charging therapist was least credible and attractive.) Explanation for these results and implications are discussed.