Theoretical orientations of New Zealand psychologists: An international comparison

Registered practicing psychologists in New Zealand (n = 221) were surveyed concerning their predominant theoretical orientation. Results were compared with findings obtained among Australian psychologists by Byrne and Reinhar t (1990), British psychologists by Garrett and Davis (1995), and North Amer ican psychologists by Norcross, Karg, and Prochaska (1997a). The results sh owed that while New Zealand psychologists use cognitive approaches more oft en than both British and North American psychologists, they use behavioral and psychodynamic approaches less often. Overall, it was found that the ecl ectic approach is the most popular theoretical orientation obtained in surv eys of Australian, New Zealand, and North American psychologists, in that n o group subscribed exclusively to a single theoretical orientation.