Affective Sensitivity and Peer Selection of Counseling Potential

Abstract

A group of 83 undergraduates enrolled in interpersonal skills training groups were administered the Kagan Affective Sensitivity Scale—Form E‐80 (KASS‐E80). At the end of the semester they selected peers whom they believed would best be able to help another person deal with an emotional or interpersonal problem. First, the KASS‐E80 scores for those frequently chosen and those unchosen were compared with a group chosen with moderate frequency within the sample (middle comparison group). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) planned comparisons showed significantly lower scores for the unchosen group but not significantly higher scores for the frequently chosen group when both were compared to the middle comparison group. Second, when the two extreme groups were each compared to the population of KASS‐E80 examinees, one‐sample z tests showed that the frequently chosen group significantly outscored the population of KASS‐E80 examinees, whereas the unchosen group's scores were significantly lower. Implications for prediction and selection of counselor trainees were discussed.

Toward the Measurement of Affective Sensitivity

“…He (Jackson, 1985) found statistically significant relationships between student scores on the scale and peer ratings of their warmth, understanding, and openness (r = .454, p<.0001, n = 44). In another study, he (Jackson, 1986a) reported that the scale significantly discriminated between peers chosen on a single, global dimension as highly likely to be of help to people and those not likely to be of help, thus replicating the findings reported for (Campbell et al, 1971). Using Form EA2, the version that immediately preceded Form D-80, Jackson (1986b) had 30 counseling students interview three actors who were carefully rehearsed to portray clients who were attempting to deny underlying anger.…”

“…There have also been studies in which the authors have examined the effects of training and self-awareness of performance on the scale. Of particular interest are a series of studies conducted by Jackson (1984Jackson ( , 1985Jackson ( , 1986aJackson ( , 1986b and Jackson and Ahrons (1984) at Purdue University. Jackson (1984) reported a test-retest reliability of r = .62 (n = 44) for Form E-80 over a 7-week period.…”

La empatía psicoterapéutica y su evaluación : una revisión

“…Defi nieron la sensibilidad afectiva como la habilidad para detectar y describir los sentimientos del otro. Numerosos estudios han apoyado la hipótesis de que existe una relación positiva entre la sensibilidad afectiva y la eficacia del terapeuta (Jackson, 1985(Jackson, , 1986. terapia, interpretación de conductas no verbales o terapia de parejas.…”