Discipline stereotyping and evaluative attitudes among community mental health center staff.

Abstract

The Adjective Check List was administered to psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, and clinical psychologists on the staff of a university-operated community mental health center, to measure attitudes toward five mental health disciplines. Adjective stereotypes and evaluative attitudes were highly positive, although social workers tended to be more negative toward psychiatrists than toward the other disciplines. Cognitive and dynamic factors are examined in an attempt to understand discipline differences in stereotyping and evaluative attitudes.