Cited by 394Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsPersonality Traits and PsychologyPsychological Treatments and Assessments

An investigation of self-assessment bias in mental health providers

Walfish, Steven, McAlister, Brian, O'Donnell, Paul, Lambert, Michael J.·2012·Psychological Reports

Abstract

Previous research has consistently found self-assessment bias (an overly positive assessment of personal performance) to be present in a wide variety of work situations. The present investigation extended this area of research with a multi-disciplinary sample of mental health professionals. Respondents were asked to: (a) compare their own overall clinical skills and performance to others in their profession, and (b) indicate the percentage of their clients who improved, remained the same, or deteriorated as a result of treatment with them. Results indicated that 25% of mental health professionals viewed their skill to be at the 90th percentile when compared to their peers, and none viewed themselves as below average. Further, when compared to the published literature, clinicians tended to overestimate their rates of client improvement and underestimate their rates of client deterioration. The implications of this self-assessment bias for improvement of psychotherapy outcomes are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.2466/02.07.17.pr0.110.2.639-644

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Authors
Walfish, S., McAlister, B., O'Donnell, P., & Lambert, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Brigham Young University (US)
  • Kennesaw State University (US)
  • Kennesaw State University
Venue
Psychological Reports
Published
2012-04
Volume
110
Issue
2
Pages
639-644
ISSN
  • 0033-2941 (ISSN-L)
  • 1558-691X
OpenAlex
W2067920169
Cited by
394
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 6
FWCI
18.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Reports (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Keywords
self-assessment bias, mental health professionals, overconfidence, clinical skills, peer comparison, client outcomes, treatment outcome expectations, psychotherapy outcome, self-perception
MeSH terms
Culture, Data Collection, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Private Practice, Professional Competence, Psychotherapy, Self-Assessment, United States, Bias, Treatment Outcome

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