ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to explore and consider how personality assessment process and outcome are influenced by the unique characteristics of examinee and examiner, their interpersonal interaction, and the larger context in which that interaction occurs. Personality assessment is a combination of an examinee, an examiner, and assessment tools. Of these three primary components, the varied pairings that can be constructed (i.e. examinee–assessment; examiner–assessment; and examinee–examiner) are distinct, yet interdependent, relationships (Husain, 2009). Furthermore, all of these combinations exist within a context or setting that offers a unique flavor to the assessment. In this chapter, I will focus on the examinee–examiner pairing and some of the central aspects that influence the nature and quality of the interaction between the two. The assessment context should not solely focus on client characteristics and the referral question, but should also take into account the influential features clinicians bring to the encounter, such as physical characteristics and interpersonal style (Masling, 1992). Unpacking the interpersonal context of assessment is useful because how client and clinician experience each other impacts the assessment process and ultimate results (Groth-Marnat, 2009).
