Mentor
Gettys, Cynthia; Williams, Ruth; Wilder, Tron; Laughlin, Faith
Abstract
With an ever-diversifying population, open-mindedness regarding an individual’s values and beliefs is important, especially for counselors. This study hypothesized that creativity could be a means to increase one’s open-mindedness. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, this study examined the impact of a creative task on participants’ open-mindedness. Additionally, a correlation was sought between open-mindedness and the Big Five personality trait of Openness to Experience as well as a comparison between participants studying for careers in the helping professions (counselors, psychologists, and social workers) and all other participants. Two hundred and forty-four students at a small, private university participated. Results found no significant difference in open-mindedness scores between those completing a creative task and a control group. Evidence from the study also suggests that open-mindedness and Openness to Experience are distinct traits. Finally, those studying for the helping professions scored significantly higher in open-mindedness, but not in Openness to Experience, compared with all other participants. Questions and possible implications for both counseling programs and the counseling profession are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Gallimore, Alex
(2020)
"Can Open-Mindedness be Primed? An Investigation into Creativity, Openness to Experience, and Open-Mindedness Among College Students with Implications for Counselors,"
Journal of Interdisciplinary Graduate Research: Vol. 5, Article 3.
Available at:
https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/jigr/vol5/iss1/3
