African American client skin tone and clinical judgments of African American and European American psychologists

After reviewing a photograph and case materials depicting an African American female client, African American and European American psychologists were randomly assigned to one of three skin-tone versions of a photograph (light, medium, or dark) and completed a questionnaire. No relationships were found between client skin tone or psychologist sex and either primary diagnosis or treatment recommendation. However, African American psychologists rated the client more physically attractive and likely to benefit from therapy, and they expressed more positive feelings about the client and about working with the client, than did European American psychologists, who more strongly endorsed severe mental disorder diagnoses for the client.