Empathy and Psychology's Feminization: Are Women Socialized to be Counselors?

Authors

Patrick C. Lyons, University of Northern IowaFollow
Helen C. Harton, University of Northern IowaFollow

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

Applying social role theory (Eagley & Crowley, 1986), this study investigated the influence of gender on college students' level of self-reported empathy and career preferences. Participants completed a self-report empathy scale and a career intention survey, and, supportive of our hypotheses, female psychology majors planning to enter a counseling profession reported the highest levels of empathy. These findings may be a possible factor in psychology's increasing gender disparity.

Publication Date

1998

Journal Title

Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference

Volume

2

Issue

1

First Page

211

Last Page

214

Copyright

©1998 by the University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Publisher

University of Northern Iowa

City

Cedar Falls, IA

Recommended Citation

Lyons, Patrick C. and Harton, Helen C. (1998) "Empathy and Psychology's Feminization: Are Women Socialized to be Counselors?," Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 29.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/csbsproceedings/vol2/iss1/29