Background Although accurate self‐assessment is essential for professional development, little is known about psychology trainees' abilities to self‐assess. The present study enhances our understanding of the influence of clinical psychology training on self‐assessment and competence development, by systematically examining self‐assessment capacity among postgraduate trainees vis‐a‐vis supervisors' assessments of trainee competence across multiple domains of competency. Methods Self‐ and supervisor‐assessment ratings were measured by the Clinical Psychology Practicum Competencies Rating Scale, which assessed trainees across global and specific psychology practitioner competencies. Assessments were in relation to trainees' end‐of‐placement evaluation, and included 35 trainee‐supervisor dyads. Results Results indicated that trainees are reasonably accurate in their self‐evaluations, although they tended to underrate their performance. Assessments by both trainees and supervisors suggest that functional competencies develop more slowly than foundational competencies. Clinical experience and reflective practice were unrelated to self‐assessment accuracy, although the use of observational techniques in supervision increased trainee and supervisor agreement concerning assessments. Conclusions Results support the developmental model of competence attainment, offer preliminary support for the reliability of trainee self‐assessments, and demonstrate the importance of observation‐based supervision for fostering accurate self‐assessment.

The Cognitive Science of Religion commonly advances the view that religious beliefs emerge naturally via specific cognitive biases without cultural influence. From this perspective comes the claim that self-proclaimed atheists harbour traces of supernatural thinking. By exploring the potential influence of the cultural learning mechanism Credibility Enhancing Displays (creds), which affirms beliefs, current disparities between studies involved in priming the implicit theism of atheists, might be reconciled. Eighty-eight university students were randomly assigned to either a religious or control prime condition. A dictator game was completed to obtain an indication of pro-social behaviour (psb). Lifetime theists reported significantly higher religious creds exposure levels than lifetime atheists, though not convert atheists. Conversely, lifetime atheists reported significantly lower creds exposure scores than convert atheists. Convert atheists in the prime condition were significantly more pro-social than lifetime atheists. Additionally, higher scores on the creds exposure measure equated to higher psb in the religious condition than the control condition. The results are consistent with the view that supernatural belief formation is an interactive process between both context and content biases, and that in order to accurately test for implicit theism, past personal differences in exposure to religious creds should be considered.

Objective This study aims to evaluate a group-based intervention for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use offered to incarcerated youth hospitalised with mental illness. Methods A six-session group-based intervention for AOD use was offered to young offenders with mental illness, hospitalised in the Adolescent Unit of the Forensic Hospital, Sydney, between June 2015 and May 2017. Pre- and post-intervention measures were collected using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Treatment Entry Questionnaire, Drug-Related Locus of Control (DRLOC) and Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire, short version. Results Pre- and post-intervention measures were compared utilising paired t-tests. Following the intervention, there was a significant reduction in the severity of psychiatric symptoms rated using the BPRS and a significant difference in DRLOC measures, reflecting increased internal locus of control. Conclusions Improved internal drivers for reducing AOD use and improvement in symptoms of mental illness suggest similar interventions may be beneficial and may not impact recovery even during episodes of acute illness.