Helping‐Relationship Response Tendencies and Occupational Affiliation

Abstract

An adaptation of Porter's Counseling Procedures Pre‐test was administered to members of various occupational groups to explore the question, Do counselors as a group exhibit the same helping‐relationship response tendencies as members of other occupational groups? Data were gathered on 370 persons in several occupations—guidance institute enrollees, counseling practicum enrollees, on‐the‐job school counselors in two states, ministers, nursing instructors, firemen, housewives, secretaries, undergraduate students, and lawyers. Many differences were found. Counselors were characterized by a preference for understanding responses and a tendency to reject the evaluative response mode; members of other groups showed the reverse preference.