Dispositional empathy in scientist and practitioner psychologists: Group differences and relationship to self-reported professional effectiveness

Dispositional empathy, job satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness at a v ariety of professional activities were assessed in a sample of 290 psycholo gists. The participants were randomly chosen from four divisions of the Ame rican Psychological Association. Analyses indicated that psychologists from divisions chosen to represent a "practitioner" orientation (Clinical Psych ology and Psychotherapy), compared to psychologists from divisions chosen t o represent a "scientist" orientation (Evaluation, Measurement, and Statist ics), scored lower on personal distress. For females only, practitioner sta tus was also associated with higher scores on empathic concern and perspect ive taking. Also, regardless of sex, among participants who reported regula rly engaging in therapy, higher scores on empathic concern and perspective- taking, and lower scores on personal distress, were associated with greater satisfaction with therapeutic work.