Androgyny, Stereotypy and the perception of female therapists

Assessed the effects of female therapists' experience (expert or nonexpert) and disclosure level (high or low) and Ss' sex role orientation (stereotyped or androgynous) on perceived expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Forty-six sex role stereotyped and 46 androgynous Ss rated therapists after they had read three brief transcripts of therapist-client interactions. Results indicated that experts were seen as more expert and more trustworthy, and high disclosing therapists were seen as more attractive. Moreover, a three-way interaction indicated that trustworthiness ratings of expert females were similar for stereotyped and androgynous Ss. However, nonexperts were rated differently by stereotyped Ss as a function f therapist disclosure level, whereas, androgynous Ss' ratings of nonexperts did not differ from their ratings of experts. The differential ratings as a function of sex role orientation were discussed, and future research directions were suggested.