The Effects of Status Configuration and Counseling Style on Korean Perspectives of Counseling

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effects of two independent variables on Koreans' perceptions of counseling performance. The first independent variable, counseling style, consisted of having subjects rate the performance of either a directive or a nondirective counselor. The second independent variable was status configuration, which also consisted of two levels: congruent status (an older counselor interacting with a younger client) and incongruent status (a younger counselor interacting with an older client). Subjects were asked to rate the counselors' performance on two measures of counseling performance, which served as the dependent variables for the study. The resulting 2 x 2 completely randomized multivariate analysis revealed a significant effect only for counseling style. This finding is generally consistent with other related studies and suggests that some traditional approaches to counseling and psychotherapy may need to be modified when working with Korean clients. The nonsignificant finding for status configuration is not conclusive. The use of written rather than live stimulus situations and/or prior exposure to American culture may account, at least in part, for this result. Further research on the status configuration effect is therefore recommended.