Hemisphere preference and its relationship to different therapist variables

This research project explored the internal phenomenology of a heterogeneous group of 68 Ph.D. clinical psychologists by assessing cerebral hemisphere dominance. Cerebral hemisphere dominance was operationally defined in terms of individual preferences in styles of thinking as measured by the Style of Learning and Thinking (SOLAT) questionnaire (Torrance, Reynolds, Riegel, & Ball, 1977). Only 24% of the research sample achieved "hemisphere dominance" according to the SOLAT norms. Thus, a new variable called "hemisphere preference" was created which takes into account the overall patterning of the psychologists' responses to the SOLAT. There were no statistically significant differences between psychologist's hemisphere dominance or hemisphere preference on the variables of therapeutic orientation, daydreaming frequencies, activity level in therapy, and thinking style. Significant differences were found in a comparison of psychologists' mean right, left and integrated hemisphere mean scores for the variable of research. Contrary to the research hypothesis, right hemisphere mean scores were significantly higher for those psychologists who engage in research when compared to those psychologists who do not engage in research. While not statistically significant, it was observed that, as hypothesized, a higher percentage of those psychologists with a right hemisphere dominance or preference were analytic/psychodynamic in therapeutic orientation. It was also observed that, contrary to the research hypothesis, those psychologists who engage in empirical research had higher right hemisphere mean scores when compared to those psychologists who engage in theoretical/ conceptual research. Contrary to existing research statistically significant sex differences were found: males had significantly higher left hemisphere mean scores when compared to females, a significantly higher percentage of females than males evidenced a right hemisphere preference, males were significantly more active than females in therapy sessions, significantly more females than males reported thinking in words only, and significantly more males than females reported thinking in words and pictures. It was concluded that the variable of "hemisphere preference" provided useful data on the overall thinking style of the psychologist and that further exploration of the internal phenomenology of psychologists can lead to a better understanding of the therapeutic process.