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To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00631.x Byline: Terence J. G. Tracey (1), Jessica E. Rohlfing (1) Abstract: ABSTRACT The idiothetic structure of interpersonal trait perceptions was examined as it moderated the interpersonal rigidity-psychological well-being relation. The focus was on the extent to which individuals' perceptions of the similarity of interpersonal behavior fits (i.e., adhered to) the normative interpersonal circle. In two samples of college students, individual differences in adherence to the interpersonal circle moderated the relation of interpersonal rigidity with various indices of psychological well-being. We found that those individuals whose perceptions of interpersonal traits were better represented by the interpersonal circle had negative relations between interpersonal rigidity and satisfaction with life, self-confidence, self-liking, and complementarity and positive relations with interpersonal problems. The results suggest that adherence to the interpersonal circle may be a new means of viewing traitedness and that cognitive interpretation of traits may have an important moderating function. Author Affiliation: (1)Arizona State University Article note: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Terence J. G. Tracey, Arizona State University, 301 Payne Hall, MC-0611, Tempe AZ 85287-0611. E-mail: Terence.Tracey@asu.edu.

Countertransference is a concept that is widely acknowledged, but there exists little definitional consensus, making research in the area difficult. The authors adopted a prototype theory (E. H. Rosch, 1973a, 1973b; see C. B. Mervis & E. Rosch, 1981, for a review) to examine this construct because it conceptually fits well with constructs that elude explicit definition. In Study 1, 45 experienced psychologists highly agreed with the prototypicality of 104 different examples of countertransference providing support for the presence of a prototype. In Study 2, the usage of this prototype in a sample of 35 trainees was related to ability to perceive countertransference in a case example drawn from the literature and positively correlated with self-reports of their experiences of countertransference but not with their self-reported ability to manage countertransference once it was manifest. Implications for training and research are discussed. Keywords: prototype methodology, countertransference, cognitive assessment, counselor development DOI: 10.1037/a0018111

The present study examined the relation between individual cognitive structure and several key career decision variables. Specifically, in a sample of college students enrolled in a career development class, the usage of the RIASEC (Realistic. Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) circumplex (adherence) was examined as it varied across individuals and with career certainty, career decision-making self-efficacy, and interest-occupation congruence. Individual adherence to the RIASEC circumplex as a cognitive structure was related to better career decision outcomes. Changes in adherence as a function of taking a career class were found to be associated with changes in career certainty, career decision-making self-efficacy, and interest-occupation congruence. The results support the importance of thinking about careers in a manner similar to the RIASEC circumplex and the potential value of direct instruction of this model. Keywords: RIASEC circumplex, interest structure, career decision making, idiothetic assessment

Machismo is an important concept describing men's behavior in Mexican culture, yet it is not well-defined. Most conceptions of machismo focus on a restricted, negative view of hypermasculinity. The authors posit that a fuller conception consists of 2 parts: traditional machismo and caballerismo, which is a focus on emotional connectedness. The authors developed a scale to measure these dimensions and found support for these 2 independent factors in 2 separate studies of Mexican American men. Traditional Machismo was related to aggression and antisocial behavior, greater levels of alexithymia, and more wishful thinking as a coping mechanism. Caballerismo was positively associated with affiliation, ethnic identity, and problem-solving coping. Traditional Machismo was also associated with less education, whereas there were no differences across education level on Caballerismo scores. These results support the more complete, two-dimensional representation of machismo. Keywords: machismo, male gender roles, Mexican American

The authors examined circumplex models of interest structure across time (Grades 8, 10, and 12), gender, and analytic method in a secondary analysis of vocational interest type (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) data generated from the American College Testing database (national sample of 69,987 students). Random samples of 1,000 participants were drawn representing males and females over the 3 time periods. The authors used structural equation modeling (SEM), the randomization test of hypothesized order relations, constrained multidimensional scaling, and circular unidimensional scaling. Results indicated differences in conclusions according to the method used. SEM analyses were not supportive of the circumplex structure, whereas the other methods were. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Keywords: vocational interests, Holland's RIASEC, circumplex structure, UNIACT, analytic methods

Japanese college students (N = 2,492) completed the translated Personal Globe Inventory (PGI: T. J. G. Tracey, 2002b) Occupational Title scales, and the structural validity of vocational interests was examined. [...]

The relation between cultural mistrust and psychological health was examined using a sample of 125 African American students. Results did not support the notion that mistrust of Whites is psychologically [...]

This article provides an overview of the research approach called concept mapping at conceptual, methodological, and practical levels. The relevance of the approach to counseling psychology research is discussed, and the approach is located conceptually in the realm of qualitative methods available to counseling psychology researchers. To illustrate ideographic concept mapping, the authors collect, present, and discuss data from 2 psychologists regarding their conception of the scientist-practitioner construct.

Much of multicultural research has been based on normative methodological approaches. In this article, the authors discuss how idiographic approaches can be used to further explore issues that are relevant [...]

The relations among different measures of interpersonal behavior and complementarity across level were examined in one session of a sample of therapy dyads (N = 26) and in an interaction between college students (N = 108). Four levels of complementarity, trait, aggregate situation, behavioral interchanges, and behavioral interchanges with base rates removed were examined as they covaried among themselves and with interaction evaluations. The four levels of complementarity were found to befit by a simplex structure, and this structure was related to interaction evaluation in both samples. The complementarity-evaluation relation was mediated by base-rate-corrected complementarity. Implications relative to the operationalization of complementarity are discussed. Keywords: complementarity; simplex; interpersonal circle; interpersonal interaction

Multicultural research has traditionally involved normative methodology and definitions of individual differences. To further our understanding of multicultural concerns, the authors urge researchers to broaden the repertoire of methods used in these inquiries. First, the authors highlight the differences among normative, idiographic, and idiothetic approaches. Then, the authors introduce the use of paired comparison methods and multidimensional scaling techniques for use within these approaches. Last, examples of research using idiographic and idiothetic approaches with multicultural counseling competence as the focus are provided.

To examine the presence of interaction roles and strategies used in therapy, the verbal responses of therapists and clients in 26 actual psychotherapy cases were coded using the Interpersonal Communication Rating Scale (ICRS; S. R. Strong, H. Hills, C. Kilmartin, et al., 1988). The conditional response probabilities of these ICRS codes were examined from a roles and strategies perspective according to procedures suggested by S. Duncan (1983). The results supported the presence for roles for both the client and the therapist, and these roles were found to involve complementary interactions. No support was found for the presence of strategies in the interactive behavior of either participant. Finally, there was no relation between the presence of roles and session evaluation. The results are discussed with respect to the definition of rules in counseling and the concept of complementarity.

This study examined individuals' deviation from J. L. Holland's (1985, 1997) normative circular RIASEC model of organizing interests and determined if deviation is related to career indecision, career certainty, and perceptions of competence. Information was gathered from 162 college students enrolled in a career development course. Results revealed that deviation from the normative structure was associated with less career certainty and more career indecision. The contention that deviation was related to lower general self-efficacy was not supported. The range of interest structures used and the degree of deviation from the normative Holland RIASEC circle was also assessed. Recommendations for counselors are discussed.

The relative influence of interest and self-efficacy beliefs on each other over 1 year was examined in 2 longitudinal samples of students, 1 of elementary school students (Grade 5, N = 126) and 1 of middle school students (Grade 7, N = 221). Interest and competence ratings on the Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional scales (J. L. Holland, 1997) were assessed using the Inventory of Children's Activities--Revised (T. J. G. Tracey & C. C. Ward, 1998). Responses were examined using structural equation modeling, and the results demonstrated that there were changes both in the structure and level of interest and competence ratings over time. The circumplex structure was found to become more prominent over time, especially by 8th grade, and overall mean levels of interest and competence ratings decreased over time. Interest and competence ratings were found to predict each other equally over time. Finally, there were significant grade, gender, time, Time x Grade, and Time x Gender effects on the scale score means. Results are discussed with respect to implications for interest development and assessment.