AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLIENT SKIN TONE AND CLINICAL JUDGMENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN-AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGISTS

After reviewing a photograph and case materials depicting an African A merican female client, African American and European American psycholo gists were randomly assigned to one of three skin-tone versions of a p hotograph (light medium, or dark) and completed a questionnaire. No re lationships were found between client skin tone or psychologist sex an d either primary diagnosis or treatment recommendation. However Africa n American psychologists rated the client more physically attractive a nd likely to benefit from therapy, and they expressed more positive fe elings about the client and about working with the client, than did Eu ropean American psychologists, who mere strongly endorsed severe menta l disorder diagnoses for the client.