Self and other ratings of Canadian and Korean groups of mental health professionals and their clients

Abstract

Taylor and Brown's concept of positive illusions (1988) was examined in two studies. It was predicted that more mentally healthy professional helpers (n = 103) than less mentally healthy clients (n = 89) (a) view themselves in more self-aggrandizing, positive terms and (b) hold a more optimistic view of their future. Two groups of participants from two culturally different settings, i.e., Canada and Korea, completed questionnaires assessing self-description of personality and view of their own futures. Analysis supported predictions for both Canadian and Korean samples. Implications of the study are discussed.