Lay Theories of Psychotherapy III: Comparing the Ratings of Lay Persons and Clinical Psychologists

Abstract

This study set out to compare the beliefs of lay, nonspecialist adults and trained practicing clinical psychologists on the topic of psychotherapy. Approximately 200 lay people (working adults and students) and over 50 practicing psychologists completed a four-part questionnaire that examined attitudes to psychotherapy, beliefs concerning what patients report during psychotherapy, the efficacy of quite different types of psychological treatment, and finally the prognosis for a wide range of psychological problems. The ratings of the two groups, lay vs. professional, were compared on an item-by-item basis, as well as by interpretable factors that were found in previous studies (Furnham & Wardley, 1990, 1991). The results showed a predicted pattern of similarities and differences with most differences occurring on the questionnaires concerned with beliefs about what happens in psychotherapy and the efficacy of therapy, and least differences in the part concerned with the anticipated attitudes of psychotherapy clients. Overall, psychotherapists seemed less optimistic and more skeptical concerning the efficacy of therapies and the prognosis of personal problems. These results arc discussed in terms of available literature on lay expectations of psychotherapy.