| The purpose of this study was to critically examine the social influence model of counseling and determine to what extent it was applicable to minority populations. It was proposed that Strong's (1968) model needed to address clients' cultural variables in order to better explain the social influence process with minorities. This study examined the social influence model in relation to Asian Americans, to determine whether there would be differences in how the establishment of social influence may differ between Asian American and Caucasian American groups.;It was hypothesized that the cultural variables examined in this study (acculturation, cultural mistrust, self-construal) would affect participants' perceptions of counselors and the counseling process. In general, the cultural variables were hypothesized to affect the perceived social influence attributed to the counselor, the perceived credibility of the counselor, and the willingness to self-disclose of the participants. Between-groups differences were hypothesized to exist on all of these variables between Caucasian American and Asian American participants. In addition, within-group differences were hypothesized to exist in the Asian American group by acculturation and cultural mistrust level.;Support was provided to demonstrate that cultural background had a significant effect on how participants viewed counselors and the counseling process. In general, Asian Americans rated a counselor as having less social influence and credibility, and were less willing to self-disclose than Caucasian Americans. However, minimal support was garnered for the hypothesis that acculturation and cultural mistrust level would be able to differentiate responses within the Asian American group.;The most significant predictor of the dependent variables in this study was independent self-construal. Cultural mistrust was able to predict some components of social influence in the Asian American group, but acculturation was not a significant predictor for any of the dependent variables in the study. Results of the study are discussed in terms of the information provided about cultural differences in the establishment of social influence in counseling situations. Finally, implications for counseling and directions for future research are proposed, as well as limitations of the study that must be addressed by future research. |
