Therapeutic orientation bias & personal values: A study on Swedish psychologists

Abstract: Psychodynamic therapy (PDT) and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the main Therapeutic Orientations (TO) in Sweden and this study aims to explore the relationship between psychologists personal value preferences and their inclination toward PDT/CBT. Furthermore, the study explored if there is a tendency to explicitly appreciate one TO and depreciate the other (explicit bias) and additionally, if that tendency is associated with personal value preferences. Participants consisted of a voluntary response sample of clinical psychologists in Sweden (N = 151). The subjects answered an online survey advertised in the largest Swedish group for psychologists only on a social network. The survey was comprised from three already existing questionnaires (Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ57), Therapeutic orientation questionnaire (TOQ-R) and Therapeutic orientation- and experiences questionnaire (TOES). Results showed that inclination toward CBT was significantly associated with the personal value preferences security and power and that there was a clear tendency of explicit bias. The sample was skewed toward appreciating CBT and depreciating PDT and the personal value preference benevolence was higher for the unbiased group than it was for the biased group. This study shows accordance with previous research with the exception of there being less extensive differences regarding personal value preferences and inclination towards TO.