A STUDY OF SELF-IDEAL DISCREPANCY SCORES

IN SENSITIZERS AND REPRESSORS

APPROVEDj

,A < Ijsj or Professor /

&. Mi nor Professor

tV-V.

Dean of the SchooI of Education

Dean of the Graduate School

A STUDY OF SELF-IDEAL DISCREPANCY SCORES

IN SENSITIZERS AND REPRESSORS

THESIS

P r e s e n t e d t o t h e G r a d u a t e C o u n c i l of t h e

N o r t h T e x a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y i n P a r t i a l

F u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e R e q u i r e m e n t s

For the Degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

By

D o n a l d Lynn B o o t h e , B, S,

D e n t o n , T e x a s

J a n u a r y , 1966

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF TABLES iv

LIST Of ILLUSTRATIONS v

Chapter

I. INTRODUCTION . l Theoretical Background Related Studies Statement of Problem Hypotheses

II. METHODOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENTS . . . 15

Subjects Materi als Method Statistic®! Treatment

III. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS 21

IV. DISCUSSION OF DATA 26

V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. . . . 31

Summary of the Study Conclusions Recommendations

BIBLIOGRAPHY 40

iii

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

I. Level of Significance Between the lean Discrepency Scores on the IAV of the Sensitizer and R e p r e s s o r Groups 21

II. Level of Significance Between the Mean Ideal Scores on the IAV of the Sensitizer and Repressor Groups. . 22

III. Level of S i g n i f i c a n c e Between the Mean Scores on the Neurotic Triad of the Sensitizer and R e p r e s s o r Groups 23

IV, Level of Significance Between the Mean Scores on the Hs, D, and Hy Scales of the Sensitizer and R e p r e s s o r Groups 24

iv

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure Page

I. Mean scores of the sensitizer and repressor groups on the Hg, D, and Hy scales 25

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Of t h e many f a c t o r s r e l a t e d t o t h e b e h a v i o r of human

b e i n g s , p e r c e p t i o n of t h e s e l f and i n t e r a c t i o n wi th t h e

env i ronmen t are two of t h e more import ant p r o c e s s e s which

d e t e r m i n e i n d i v i d u a l p a t t e r n s of b e h a v i o r . T h i s has led t o

t h e concept t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s o v e r t b e h a v i o r a l r e s p o n s e s

a r e g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d to be a f u n c t i o n of h i s p e r c e p t i o n

of p s y c h o s o c i a l e x p e r i e n c e s .

I n t e r e s t i n s e l f p e r c e p t i o n t h e o r i e s d e v e l o p i n g i n

r e c e n t y e a r s has evo lved from the t r a n s i t i o n of t h e f u n c -

t i o n a l i s t s and behavior !stic s c h o o l s of p s y c h o l o g y t o t h e

more s o e i a l i n t e r a c t i o n a l t h e o r i e s of b e h a v i o r . S i n c e p e r -

c e p t i o n i s o f t e n a v e r y important p a r t of t h e v a r i o u s b e l i e f s

and i d e a s about t h e b a s i s of human b e h a v i o r * i t seems t h a t a

s t u d y c o n c e r n i n g s e l f p e r c e p t i o n could be ve ry u s e f u l i n

add ing t o t h e r e s e a r c h k n o w l e d g e b e i n g a c q u i r e d i n t h i s a r e a .

Another a r e a of r e s e a r c h which ha s r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e

a t t e n t i o n i s d e f e n s i v e n e s s » which i s d e f i n e d as b e h a v i o r

u t i l i z e d by t h e i n d i v i d u a l as a p r o t e c t o r of t h e e g o ' s i n t e g -

r i t y . T h i s d e f e n s i v e n e s s , i t s e f f e c t a n d / o r r e l a t i o n s h i p

w i th o t h e r p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s have been s u b j e c t s of many

1

investigations} however, many of these studies have been

inconclusive and contradictory. With consideration of the

afore mentioned statements, a study concerning self-perception

and clefensiveness could be helpful in clarifying some of the

results of previous studies in this area.

Theoretical Background

During the first forty years of the twentieth century,

self concept theory did not receive much attention from the

behaviori stic and functionalistic psychologies which were

dowintting the American psychological scene. As Hilgard

(7f p. 375) points out, the i ntrospectioni sts were unable to

handle the self, and of course such a wiaentallstic" construct

as the self concept was anathema to behaviorists. Meanwhile,

the Freudians and neo-Freudians were developing psychodynamic

postulates implying a self referent in order to make them

plausible and understandable. The theories did not immedi-

ately bring constructs of the self to the forefront in

American psychology. However, in Freud's later writings,

he assigned more importance to ego development and func-

tioning. The neo-Freudians were probably the first to stress

the importance of the self picture and the ego-ideal, and

Aiaerican psychologists began to acquire interest along

psychoanalytical lines, particularly of the neo-Freudian

type. The acceptance of these psychoanalytical theories,

even in part, was strictly against the general experimental

p s y c h o l o g y which was so predominant a t t h a t t i n e . The r e a s o n s

f o r t h i s r e j e c t i o n by some p s y c h o l o g i s t s were t h a t i t l a c k e d

i n r i g o r , i n s u s c e p t i b i l i t y of e m p i r i c a l t e s t , and 1n compa t -

i b i l i t y wi th t h e t h e o r e t i c a l models then i n f a v o r . However,

i n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e r e has been a f u s i o n among t h e g e n e r a l

t h e o r i e s of m o t i v a t i o n and c o g n i t i o n and t h e p s y c h o a n a l y t i c

or psychodynatnic t h e o r i e s o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e c l i n i c . T h e r e -

f o r e , m Wylie p o i n t s ou t ( 1 8 , p . 2 ) , a l l t h e t h e o r i e s of

p e r s o n a l i t y which have been p r o m u l g a t e d i n t h e l a s t two

d e c a d e s a t t r i b u t e much i m p o r t a n c e to t h e phenomenal s e l f ,

i . e . , t h e d i r e c t a w a r e n e s s of t h e s e l f , w i th c o g n i t i v e and

m o t i v a t i o n a l a t t r i b u t e s .

With t h e i n c r e a s e of i n t e r e s t i n s e l f p e r c e p t i o n t h e o r y ,

many s c a l e s have been d e v e l o p e d which p u r p o r t to measure and

e x p l o r e t h i s phenomenon. As c r i t i q u e s and e v a l u a t i o n s of

t h e s e i n s t r u m e n t s i n c r e a s e d , i t was d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e most

u s e f u l c o n s t r u c t s e v o l v i n g f rom t h e s e s c a l e s were the m e a s u r e -

ments of t h e s e l f concept and t h e i d e a l - s e l f c o n c e p t . Rogers

( 1 2 , p . 136) d e f i n e s t h e s e l f c o n c e p t as "an o r g a n i z e d c o n -

f i g u r a t i o n of p e r c e p t i o n s of t h e s e l f which are a d m i s s i b l e

t o a w a r e n e s s , " and t h i s i s t h e d e f i n i t i o n t h a t w i l l be

u t i l i z e d i n t h i s r e s e a r c h . The i n d i v i d u a l p e r c e i v e s h i s

a b i l i t i e s and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as o p e r a t i n g through h i s

e x p e r i e n c e s and t h e manner i n which t h e c o n c e p t s of t h e s e l f

r e l a t e to o t h e r s and t o t h e environment form the b a s i s f o r

t h e s e l f c o n c e p t . The concept of i d e a l - s e l f i s d e f i n e d by

Sfylie ( 2 , p . 41) as "a p e r s o n ' s concept of the kind of i n d i -

v i d u a l he or she would l i k e to b e , "

In t h e p a s t few y e a r s i t has been thought t h a t t h e d i s -

crepancy s c o r e o b t a i n e d from s e l f and i d e a l - s e l f r a t i n g s i s

i n d i c a t i v e of t h e amount of ad jus tmen t or ma lad jus tmen t which

e x i s t s w i t h i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l . Rogers s t a t e d i

As long as t h e self-Gestalt i s f i r m l y o r g a n i z e d , and no c o n t r a d i c t o r y m a t e r i a l i s even dimly p e r c e i v e d , then p o s i t i v e s e l f - f e e l i n g s may e x i s t , t h e s e l f aay be seen as worthy and a c c e p t a b l e , and consc ious t e n s i o n i s m i n i n a l , Behavior i s c o n s i s t e n t wi th the o r g a n -ized hypo theses and concep t s of t h e s e l f - s t r u c t u r e . Although the individual whose s e l f concept i s ineon-gruent with r e a l i t y may be v u l n e r a b l e , t h e extent to which he dimly p e r c e i v e s t h e s e i ncongruences and d i s c r e p a n c i e s i s a measure of h i s i n t e r n a l t e n s i o n and d e t e r m i n e s the amount of d e f e n s i v e behav io r <12, pp. 191-192).

In l i e u of Rogers* s t a t e m e n t i t appears t h a t t h e m a i n t e -

nance of congruency between the s e l f and i d e a l - s e l f concep t s

i s of primary i n p o r t a n c e for the organism to f u n c t i o n at

maximum e f f i c i e n c y . The examina t ion of Sogers* s t a t e m e n t

w i l l be exp lo red e x p e r i m e n t a l l y in t h i s s t u d y .

B e f o r e c o n t i n u i n g wi th this approach , t he s u b j e c t of

d e f e n s i v e n e s s should be b r i e f l y d i s c u s s e d , Haigh e x p r e s s e d i

0 e f e n s i v e n e s s i s seen as one form of behav io r which aay f o l l o w upon the p e r c e p t i o n of t h r e a t . The i n d i v i d u a l i s t h r e a t e n e d when he p e r c e i v e s an e x p e r i e n c e to be i n c o n s i s t e n t with a va lue or con-cept of s e l f or h i s concept of env i ronment . The i n d i v i d u a l «ay r e a c t d e f e n s i v e l y in some manner d i s t o r t i n g h i s p e r c e p t i o n s so as to r educe awareness of t h e p e r c e i v e d incongruence ( 6 , p . 101) .

Th i s s tudy w i l l d e s c r i b e d e f e n s i v e n e s s as being on a

cont inuum, the ex t remes of w h i c h w i l l be l a b e l e d s e n s i t i z e r s

and r e p r e s s o r s . In g e n e r a l t he content of H a i f a ' s s t a t e m e n t

d e s c r i b e s d e f e n s i v e behav ior at t h e r e p r e s s o r end of t h e

cont inuum. The r e p r e s s o r s w i l l be d e f i n e d as by Attrocchi

&k JlL» p . 67) as " t h o s e who tend to use a v o i d a n c e , d e n i a l ,

and r e p r e s s i o n of p o t e n t i a l t h r e a t and c o n f l i c t as a p r imary

mode of a d a p t a t i o n A t the o t h e r end of the continuum i s

found t h e s e n s i t i z e r s . The s e n s i t i z e r s w i l l be d e f i n e d as

by A t t r o c c h i £ 1 jU> P« 6 7 5 ®s " t h o s e who a re a l e r t e d to

and pe rhaps overinterpret p o t e n t i a l t h r e a t and c o n f l i c t and

who use i n t e l l e c t u a l and o b s e s s i v e d e f e n s e s as a p r imary

mode of a d a p t a t i o n , "

D e f e n s i v e behav io r i s m a n i f e s t e d i n va ry ing d e g r e e s a t

d i f f e r e n t t imes and in d i f f e r e n t ways, f o r t he d e f e n s e

mechanisms u t i l i z e d by t h e i n d i v i d u a l depend upon the e x i s t i n g

concept t h e i n d i v i d u a l ho lds of h i m s e l f . Also , of p r imary

impor tance i s t h e s u e c e s s f u l n e s s of s p e c i f i c mechanisms

u t i l i z e d i n a l l e v i a t i n g the t e n s i o n s ! t h e s e t e n s i o n s be ing

produced by s i t u a t i o n s which a r e i n c o s g r u e n t with t h e s e l f

c o n c e p t . The purpose of t h e s e mechanisms of d e f e n s e i s to

m a i n t a i n a s t a t e of e q u i l i b r i u m in the t h r e a t e n e d i n d i v i d u a l ' s

i n t e g r i t y , and t h i s p r o c e s s o f t e n r e s u l t s in a d i s t o r t i o n of

reality. Sogers (12) and Snygg and Combs (15) imply in t h e i r

w r i t i n g s t h a t t h e more an i n d i v i d u a l u t i l i z e s d e n i a l as a

means f o r e scap ing from t h r e a t e n i n g e x p e r i e n c e s and f o r

b lock ing t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s from awareness , i . e . , d e f e n s i v e -

n e s s , the g r e a t e r w i l l be the degree of t h r e a t he e x p e r i e n c e s .

6

T h i s s i t u a t i o n w i l l i n t u r n l ead to a g r e a t e r amount of

i n t e r n a l t e n s i o n . Because d e f e n s i v e n e s s i s s o a e t i m e s d i s -

r u p t i n g t o adequa t e adj ustraents to r e a l i t y and b e c a u s e i t

i s so p r e v a l e n t i n human b e h a v i o r , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o g a i n

some u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r s u n d e r l y i n g

t h i s b e h a v i o r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . I t should be of va lue to

i n v e s t i g a t e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s

on a s e l f r a t i n g i n s t r u m e n t , and a d e f e n s i v e n e s s s c a l e which

c l a s s i f i e s s u b j e c t s as s e n s i t i z e r s and r e p r e s s o r s .

R e l a t e d S t u d i e s

There has b e e n , w i t h i n r e c e n t y e a r s , an enormous amount

of r e s e a r c h done c o n c e r n i n g s e l f concep t or d e f e n s i v e n e s s .

The f o l l o w i n g s t u d i e s p r e s e n t t he r e s u l t s of soae of t h e s e

i n v e s t i g a t i o n s .

Block and Thomas (2) found an a s s o c i a t i o n between S e l f -

I d e a l d i s c r e p a n c i e s and m a l a d j u s t m e n t on t h e MMPI s c a l e s .

S i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s were found i n t h e Hs, D, Pd , P s , and

Sc s c a l e s . P o s i t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p s were found between s e l f -

i d e a l congruence and t h e i r Ego-Con t ro l s c a l e and L i t t l e and

U s h e r ' s Admission S c a l e s . Both of t h e s e were

der ived f rom t h e MMPI. Their f i n d i n g s led them to sugges t

t h a t su b j e e t s r ep or t i ng high _ se . lX-i de a1 con gr uence . raigh t b e

a a l i d j u s t e d c i e n i e r s .

M i l l e r and Worchel (10 ) r e l a t e d S e l f - I d e a l d i s c r e p a n c i e s

i n the S e l f - A c t i v i t v I n v e n t o r y to change in accuracy of

performance on the HcKianev Reporting fest under continued

8®lf-esteta~threat@»ing stress, Each subject performed first

at his own rate for eight minutes on the McKinney test. Then

he worked for sixteen rainutes, during which time he was

interrupted every thirty seconds to be told he was falling

to meet a standard. This stress period was divided into

eight alnute sections of supposedly mounting stress. Finally,

subjects worked for eight minutes without stress. Subjects

were divided into three groups? high, Medium, and low, on

the basis of their discrepancy scores. In the second of the

two successive stress periods subjects with medium discrep-

ancies showed significantly less performance decrement (as

compared to the pre-stress period) than did subjects with

high or low discrepancies, Also, in the post stress period,

the subjects with medium discrepancies cam© closer to their

pre-stress performance level than did either of the other

two groups.

Hi 11 son and Worchel (8) studied groups of normal,

neurotic, and schizophrenic subj ects on the Self-Activltv

Inventory. These subjects were fairly well equated on sex,

age, and educational level, and they were also comparable, to

an unspecified degree, with respect to socio-economic class.

These authors found that neurotics gave significantly poorer

self ratings than did the o t h e r t w o groups. They also found

that schizophrenics set their; self.ideal level significantly

lower than did the neurotic or normal groups. When the

8

e f f e c t s of t h e s e l f r a t i n g s were p a r t i a l e d o u t , t h e s e l f -

i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y f o r the n e u r o t i c s was s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r

than f o r t h e normals and s c h i z o p h r e n i c s .

Another s t u d y by S a r b i n and Rosenberg (14) found a

s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n r a t i n g s of s e l f a c c e p t a n c e between

normal v o l u n t e e r s t u d e n t s u b j e c t s and s t u d e n t s who had been

d i a g n o s e d n e u r o t i c and reeosasended f o r t h e r a p y . The measure

of s e l f a c c e p t a n c e was o b t a i n e d from t h e Se l f C r l t l c a l i t v

Index which was d e r i v e d from S o u g h ' s Ad lus t ive Cheek Li it.

The n e u r o t i c s u b j e c t s were found to be l e s s s e l f a c c e p t i n g

and a o r e s e l f c r i t i c a l .

Rogers and l a l s h ( 1 1 ) , u s i n g a t a e h i s t o $ c o p e to wake

p a i r e d c o m p a r i s o n s , found t h a t a high d e f e n s i v e group of

c o l l e g e f e m a l e s ( c r i t e r i o n f or d e f e n s i v e n e s s was a high K

s c o r e on t h e MMPI) u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y rated t h e m s e l v e s s i g n i f i -

c a n t l y lower i n a t t r a c t i v e n e s s than d id a c o n t r o l group of

m o d e r a t e l y d e f e n s i v e c o l l e g e f e n a l e s . T h i s f i n d i n g s u p p o r t e d

t h e i r h y p o t h e s i s t h a t d e f e n s i v e n e s s would " u n w i t t i n g l y "

i n f l u e n c e s e l f - e v a l u a t i o n . The i n t e r p r e t a t i o n was advanced

t h a t t h e d e f e n s i v e g r o u p ' s s e l f - d e v a l u a t i o n may have been

based upon a f e e l i n g of d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . T h i s d i s s a t i s f a c -

t i o n was den ied consc ious e x p r e s s i o n In t h e i n t e r e s t of

Maintaining s e l f - e s t e e m .

Lepi ne and Chodorkoff ( 9 ) , i n a s t u d y of t h e i n t e r -

r e l a t i o n s h i p between goa l s e t t i n g b e h a v i o r , e x p r e s s e d

f e e l i n g s of adequacy* and t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e between t h e

p e r c e i v e d and i d e a l s e l f , f o u n d t h a t the more an individual

tended to exp re s s f e e l i n g s of adequacy, (a) the g r e a t e r was

t h e co r r e spondence between h i s p e r c e i v e d and i d e a l s e l f and

(b) t he l e s s dependent h i s goa l s e t t i n g behav io r would be

on the evaluation of h i s p a s t p e r f o r m a n c e , when env i ronmen ta l

e v a l u a t i o n i n d i c a t e d s e q u e n t i a l change in adequacy of

pe r fo rmance•

Wylie (17) utilized 387 b a s i c airmen as s u b j e c t s i n a

s tudy of d e l e n s l v e n e s s and s e l f concept d i s c r e p a n c i e s . The

measures of d t f e n s i v e n e s s were mod i f i ed from sou rces not

ment ioned . The n o t i o n was suppor ted t h a t d e f e n s i v e n e s s w i l l

be a f u n c t i o n of d i s c r e p a n c i e s w i t h i n t h e s e l f concept and/

or d i s c r e p a n c i e s between the s e l f concept and t h e i d e a l - s e l f

c o n c e p t .

Engel (4) measured a d j u s t m e n t by the Pd and D s c a l e s of

the BMP I . by peer r a t i n g s , and by t e a c h e r r a t i n g s . I t was

found t h a t a d o l e s c e n t s whose Q~$orts were p e r s i s t e n t l y

u n f a v o r a b l e to s e l f , over a two year p e r i o d , had gignificantly

higher Pd and 0 scores than s u b j e c t s who p e r s i s t e d in a

p o s i t i v e s e l f c o n c e p t . S h i f t s from p o s i t i v e to n e g a t i v e

s e l f concept over the two year p e r i o d were s i g n i f i c a n t l y

a s s o c i a t e d wi th h i g h e r s c o r e s on Pd and D, wh i l e s h i f t s from

n e g a t i v e to p o s i t i v e s e l f concep t s were a s s o c i a t e d wi th

s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ighe r K scores.

In a s tudy u t i l i z i n g normal , pa rano id s c h i z o p h r e n i c ,

and n e u r o t i c g r o u p s , Friedman (5) found r e s u l t s i n d i c a t i n g

10

t h a t normals have p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e s toward s e l f on a r e a l -

i s t i c b a s i s . The paranoic! s c h i s o p h r e n i c group a l so r e v e a l e d

p o s i t i v e s e l f a t t i t u d e s , but t h e s e were r e f l e c t i v e of s e l f

enhancing d e f e n s e s sad were based on u n r e a l i s t i c s e l f

a p p r a i s a l . The n e u r o t i c group ma in t a ined n e g a t i v e s e l f

a t t i t u d e s based upon u n r e a l i s t i c p e r c e p t i o n of d i s turbance

w i t h i n t h e s e l f .

Turner and Vgnder l ippe ( 1 6 ) , u s ing a Q - s o r t and t h e

GuiIford-ZimBerm*n Temperance on ® @*e«P of 175 uppe r -

c l a s s s t u d e n t s , found t h a t t h o s e high i n s e l f - i d e a l congruence

tended to have high s c o r e s i n g e n e r a l a c t i v i t y , ascendance

( s t r o n g s e l f - d e f e n s e and l e a d e r s h i p ) , s o c i a b i l i t y , emotional

s t a b i l i t y (opt imism and freedom f ro® n e u r o t i c a n x i e t y , and

t h o u g h t f u l n e s s . In each I n s t a n c e t h e s c o r e s f o r t h o s e high

in s e l f - i d e a l congruence were i n d i c a t i v e of b e t t e r a d j u s t -

meat than were t h o s e low in s e l f - i d e a l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e .

D i t t e s (3) found t h a t personal d e v a l u a t i o n s would lead

to d e f e n s i v e b e h a v i o r , i . e . , behav io r which could r e s t o r e

s e l f es teem. He assumed t h a t obta in ing c l o s u r e on an

ambiguous t a s k r a i s e s s e l f es teem. His h y p o t h e s i s t h a t

t h o s e r e c e i v i n g poor e v a l u a t i o n s would a t t empt to o b t a i n

c l o s u r e q u i c k l y and i m p u l s i v e l y on t h r e e ambiguous t a s k s was

s u p p o r t e d .

fiosen (13) o b t a i n e d s t a t e m e n t s from c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s

conce rn ing s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c i e s on the HHP. I. i t e a s them-

s e l v e s . He found a c o r r e l a t i o n of .87 between K and t h e

11

number of i t ems showing a d i s c r e p a n c y between s u b j e c t s a c t u a l

and i d e a l s e l f . His i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h i s i s t h a t high s e l f -

i d e a l congruence r e s u l t s from the d e f e n s e of d e n i a l r a t h e r

than from good a d j u s t m e n t . He a l so found that s e l f - i d e a l

d i s c r e p a n c i e s c o r r e l a t e d wi th MMPI p r o f i l e e l e v a t i o n s on the

Sc , S i , D, and Ps s c a l e s .

S ta tement of Problem

This s tudy was concerned wi th t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of s e l f -

i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s and tiefensiveness i n a c o l l e g e popu-

l a t i o n , To Measure s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y the B i l l ' s Index

of Adjus tments and Values was used , D e f e n s i v e n e s s was mea-

sured by a seal© d e r i v e d from the MMJFI by AtTtrocchi ££, a l .

( 1 , p . 6 8 ) , The s c a l e c o n s i s t s of a continuum r a n g i n g from

s e n s i t i z e r s to r e p r e s s o r s as p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d .

Hypotheses

The f o l l o w i n g hypo theses were i n v e s t i g a t e d „

1. The raean s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e f o r t h e r e p r e s -

sor group w i l l be found to be s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower than t h e

mean s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e f o r t he s e n s i t i z e r g roup ,

2 . The wean i d e a l s co re for t h e r e p r e s s o r group w i l l be

found to be s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower than t h e mean i d e a l s c o r e f o r

the s e n s i t i z e r g roup .

3 . The Mean s c o r e s on the neurot ic t r i a d (Hs, D, and

Hy s c a l e s ) f o r t h e r e p r e s s o r group w i l l be found to be

12

s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower then the mean scores on the neurotic triad

for the s e n s i t i z e r group.

4, There will be a significant negative correlation

between self-ideal discrepancy scores and age.

CHAPTER BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Attrocchi, John, 0, A, Parsons, and Hilda Dickoff, "Changes in Self-Ideal Discrepancies in Repressors and Sensitizers * j.Qjpil ai A M S ^ J U l Psychology. LXI (1960), 67-72.

2. Block, J. and a. Thomas, "Is Satisfaction With Self a Measure of Adjustment,* fil .ftMffXffllJl M l ift&LUL Psychology. LI (1955), 254-259,

3. Dittes, J. E., "Effects of Changes in Self Esteem Open Impulsiveness and Deliberation in Making Judgments," journal &i A M Psychology. LXIII (1959), 348-356.

4. Engel, Mary, "The Stability of the Self Concept in Adolescents,'* JflKMl M . IteXM;*, i M Sft&JjJL " LXIII (1959), 211-215,

5. Friedman, Ira, "Phenomenal, Ideal, and Projected Concepts ?! A* JlM Social Psychology. LI (1955), 611-615.

6. Haigh, Gerand, "Defensive Behavior in Client-Centered Therapy," Journal of Consulting Psvcholoov. IL (1949) , 181-189.

7. Hilgard, E. B., "Human Motives and the Concept of the Self," American Psychologist. IV (1949), 374-362.

8. Hillson, J. J. and P, Worchel, *5elf-Concept and Defensive Behavior in the Maladjusted," Journal of Consulting Psvcholoov. XXI (1957) , 83-68.

9. Lepine, L. T. and B. Chodorkoff, "Goal Setting B.havior, Expressed Feelings of Adequacy, and the Correspondence between the Perceived and Ideal Self," Journal of Clinical Psychology. XI (1955), 135-137.

10. Miller, K. S. and P. Worchel, "The Effects of Need Achievement and Self-Ideal Discrepancy on Performance Under Stress," Journal of Personality. XXV (1956), 176-190.

13

14

11. Sogers, A. H. and T. M. Walsh, MDefensiveness and Unwitting Self Evaluation,* Journal of Clinical Psychology. XV (1959), 302-304.

12. Rogers, C. R., Client-Centered Therapy. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1951.

13. Kosen, E., "Self-Appraisal and Perceived Desirability of MMPI Personality Traits," Journal of Counseling PiXSMlajaZf II* (1956), 44-51,

14. Sarbin, T. fi. and 0. G. Rosenberg, "Contribution to Role-Tekings IV, A Method for Obtaining a Qualitative Estimate of the Self," ^ogr^i Ml S&ALmL Psychology. XLII (1955), 71-81.

15. Snygg, 0. and A. W. Combs, Individual Behavior: A New iXMM. SJL Reference Jjgx, Psychology. New York, Harper, 1949.

16. Turner, B. H. and 8. H. Vanderlippe, "Self-Ideal Congruence a® an Index of Adjustment," Journal of .AfcEftMUl mA Social Psycholoov. LVII (1956), 202-206.

17. Wylie, 8. C., "Some Relationships Between Defensiveness and Self-Concept Discrepancies," Journal of Personality. XXV (1957), 600-616.

IS. Wylie, R. C., The. Self. Concept. Lincoln, Unive rsity of Nebraska Press, 1961.

CHAPTER I I

METHODOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENTS

Subjects

Eigh ty -one s u b j e c t s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h i s s t u d y , Al l

s u b j e c t s were c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s a t North Texas Stat© U n i v e r s i t y .

The sample c o n s i s t e d of both males and f emales with sn age

rang® of £ro» e i g h t e e n to s i x t y - o n e y e a r s , with a taean age

of t w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s , The s u b j e c t s were s t u d e n t s i n t h r e e

psychology c l a s s e s . The sophomore, j u n i o r , s e n i o r , and

g r a d u a t e c l a s s e s were r e p r e s e n t e d . The sample was composed

of t h i r t e e n sophomores, f o u r t e e n j u n i o r s , twenty- two s e n i o r s ,

and thirty-two g r a d u a t e s .

Mater i a l s

The s u b j e c t s were a d m i n i s t e r e d two t e s t s . These t e s t s

were t h e B i l l ' s I M S I Stl Mi.RTOM.lS J M Values and t h e

l l l W M M l l l . y P A P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n t o r y .

The B i l l ' s I M f i i SdL M i u s t n t e n t s ^ Values i s a s e l f -

r e p o r t i n s t r u m e n t with two measures , a s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y

sco re and a s e l f - a c c e p t a n c e s c o r e . This i n s t r u m e n t was

des igned to measure v a r i a b l e s of impor tance to the v a r i o u s

s e l f concept t h e o r i e s . The b a s i c pre ia ise of t h e s e t h e o r i e s

i s that behav io r i s c o n s i s t e n t with the i n d i v i d u a l ' s p e r c e p t i o n

15

16

of h i m s e l f . The IAV was designed to serve as a research t o o l ,

and to a s se s s changes in adjustment which occur during psycho-

therapy. In t h i s study the IAV was used in i t s r o l e as a

research instrument,

The IA¥ c o n s i s t s of a l i s t of f o r t y - n i n e d e s c r i p t i v e

a d j e c t i v e s , The subject r a t e s h i m s e l f , on a s c a l e from one

to f i v e , as to how each word appl i e s to him. He a lso r a t e s

himself in the sane manner as to how he would l i k e for the

word to apply to hi®. From these r a t i n g s one obta ins two

numerical scores deal ing with the person * s percept ion of

h i a s e l f . One score r e v e a l s how the ind iv idua l p r e s e n t l y sees

himself in r e l a t i o n to these words. The other score r e v e a l s

how he would l i k e to see himself in r e l a t i o n to these words.

The numerical d i f f e r e n c e between these two r a t i n g s , d i s -

regarding a lgebraic s i g n s , i s an index of the i n d i v i d u a l ' s

s e l f - i d e a l d iscrepancy.

The r e p r e s s o r - s e n s i t i z e r dimension was a c o l l e c t i o n of

s c a l e s derived frora items and s c a l e s of the Minnesota

Mult iphasic P e r s o n a l i t y Inventory. Attrocchi (1) incorporated

these s c a l e s as a measure of s e n s i t i z e r s and r e p r e s s o r s ,

Attrocchi e i a l . (1) found that by u t i l i z i n g a few

o r i g i n a l MMfrI s c a l e s along with supplementary s c a l e s a more

d e t a i l e d measure of the r e p r e s s o r - s e n s i t i z e r dimension could

be obta ined. For r e p r e s s o r s , L i t t l e and F i s h e r ' s Denial (Dn)

s c a l e (2) was used ins tead of the whole Hy s c a l e . I t was

found that persons scor ing high on the Dn s c a l e were genera l ly

17

described as uni nsightful, "anti-intraceptive," and morally

virtuous. It was also found that muted or pseudo-normal

profiles accompanied a high score on the Un scale. In order

to improve discriminatory power, the Lie (L.) scale, which

reveals an individual's attempt to present a good picture of

himself, and the defensiveness (K) scale, which is a measure

of the individual's test taking attitude, were used. Welsh

(3, pp. 20 and 27) implied that high scores on the L and K

scales were indicative of suppressing action toward specific

items which represented threats. The intercorrelations of

L, K, and On range from .32 to ,78 (4), indicating that each

is measuring essentially the same thing.

For sensitizers, the Psychasthenia (Pt) scale was used.

The person scoring high on the Pt scale is characterized by

excessive doubt, by compulsions, obsessions, and unreasonable

fears. This person usually reacts to threats in an anxious

manner often overinterpreting the threat (3, p. 81). Since

there exists a negative correlation between Pt and K, the K

additive was not used. To lessen the possibility of measure-

ment error the Depression (D) and Welsh's Anxiety (A) (3,

pp. 264-281) scales were used. A high D score is indicative

of an individual characterized by poor morale, lack of hope

in future, and dissatlsfaction with present status (3, p. 73).

Welsh (3, p. 276) used the A scale to identify "students who

lacked self confidence, especially confidence in their own

18

judgments , who had d i f f i c u l t i e s in making d e c i s i o n s , and who

were e a s i l y th rea tened by ambiguous s i t u a t i o n s . "

For ob ta in ing a numerical score fo r the s e n s i t i z e r -

r e p r e s s o r dimension, the T scores fo r 0 , f t * (wi thout K),

and A were sub t r ac t ed from the T scores of the L, K, and

Dn s c a l e s , t h e r e p r e s s o r s were def ined as the t h i r t y s u b j e c t s

ob t a in ing the h ighes t p o s i t i v e s c o r e s ; the s e n s i t i z e r s were

def ined as the t h i r t y s u b j e c t s o b t a i n i n g the h ighes t nega t ive

s c o r e s .

Method

All t e s t s were adminis tered dur ing r e g u l a r classroom

per iods on two success ive days . The MMPI was adminis tered on

the f i r s t meeting and the IAV on the second. Sub j ec t s were

given no in fo rmat ion except to fo l low the s tandard d i r e c t i o n s

of the t e s t s .

S t a t i s t i c a l Treatment

Due to the t e s t s u t i l i z e d in t h i s study each s u b j e c t s '

performance y ie lded s ix s c o r e s . These scores were c l a s s i f i e d

as a s e l f - i d e a l d i screpancy sco re , en i d e a l s c o r e , a r e p r e s -

s o r - s e n s i t i z e r s co re , and scores on the Hs, D, and Hy s ca l e s

of the MMFI. The l a t t e r t h r ee are termed as the n e u r o t i c

t r i ad.

The s u b j e c t s were divided in to s e n s i t i z e r and r e p r e s s o r

groups. For each s u b j e c t in these groups the fo l lowing indices

19

were o b t a i B e d i (a ) I.AV d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e , (b) i d e a l s e o r e ,

( c ) neurotic t r i a d s c o r e s , and (d) age . The mean IAV

d i s c r e p a n c y s e o r e was o b t a i n e d f o r each of th© two groups

l a b e l e d s e n s i t i z e r s and r e p r e s s o r s . A mean i d e a l s co re was

o b t a i n e d f o r each group, l e a n s c o r e s of t h e n e u r o t i c t r i a d

s c a l e s were a l s o o b t a i n e d f o r each g roup . Ages of a l l

s u b j e c t s were c o r r e l a t e d with t h e i r d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s .

Hypotheses one and two were t e s t e d by app ly ing Fisher's

k> Hypo thes i s t h r e e was t e s t e d by H o t e l l i n g ' s T 2 . Hypothes i s

f o u r was t e s t e d by Pearson*s Product-Moment c o r r e l a t i o n and

t e s t e d f o r s i g n i f i c a n c e by app ly ing a i t e s t . For a l l

hypo theses t h e .OS l e v e l of s i g n i f i c a n c e was used as t h e

l e v e l to be o b t a i n e d b e f o r e r e j e c t i n g t h e n u l l h y p o t h e s i s .

CHAPTER BIBLIOGBAPHY

1. Attrocchi, J,, 0, A. P arsons, end Hilda Dickoff, "Changes in Self-Ideal Discrepancies in Repressors and Sensitizers/ Journal of ^bnoroal and Social Psychology. LXI (i960), 67-72.

2. Little, K. B. and J. Fisher, "Two New Scales of the MMPI.» Journal of Consulting Psychology, XXI (1958) , 305-306.

3. Welsh, G. 8. and ». G. Dahlstrom, Basic Readings on the MMPI in Psychology and Medicine. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1956.

20

CHAPTER I I I

ANAL I S I S OF RESULTS

The d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e r e p r e s s o r - s e n s i t i z e r s c o r e s

r anged f rom +105 to - 9 7 , The r a n g e f o r the t h i r t y s u b j e c t s

i n t h e r e p r e s s o r group was from +21 t o +105 w i t h a mean of

+67. The r a n g e f o r t h e t h i r t y s u b j e c t s i n t h e s e n s i t i z e r

group was f rom - 2 6 t o - 9 7 with a mean of - 5 6 . Using t h e s e

s c o r e s as c r i t e r i a f o r d e f i n i n g t h e r e p r e s s o r and s e n s i t i z e r

g r o u p s , f o u r h y p o t h e s e s were p r e s e n t e d .

The f i r s t h y p o t h e s i s was as f o l l o w s *

1. The mean s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e f o r t h e r e p r e s s o r g roup w i l l be found to be s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower than t h e mean s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e f o r t h e s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p .

The means , s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n s , and l e v e l of s i g n i f i c a n c e

r e s u l t i n g f rom s c o r e s o b t a i n e d on B i l l ' s I ndex &£ A d j u s t m e n t s

and Va lues by t h e r e p r e s s o r and s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p s may be

o b s e r v e d i n T a b l e I .

TABLE I

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN THE MEAN DISCREPANCY SCORES ON THE JJV OF THE

SENSITIZER AND REPRESSOR GROUPS

Group N M Sd 1 P

R e p r e s s o r 30 28 .90 8 . 1 9 10 .49 .001

S e n s i t i z e r 30 6 2 . 6 0 15 .22

21

22

I t i s i m m e d i a t e l y a p p a r e n t t h a t the d i f f e r e n c e be tween

t h e d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s on t h e IAV of t h e r e p r e s s o r and

s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p s i s h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t . The mean s e o r e f o r

t h e r e p r e s s o r g roup was f o u n d t o be 2 8 . 9 0 $ t h e mean s e o r e

f o r the s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p was e s t a b l i s h e d as 6 2 . 6 0 . When

t e s t e d f o r s i g n i f i c a n c e , a i , r a t i o of 1 0 . 4 9 was o b t a i n e d .

A i r a t i © of t h i s s i z e w i t h 50 d e g r e e s of f r e e d o m was f o u n d

to be s i g n i f i c a n t a t b e t t e r t h a n t h e . 0 0 1 l e v e l ? t h e r e f o r e ,

t h e f i r s t h y p o t h e s i s was c o r r o b o r a t e d ,

The second h y p o t h e s i s w®«s

2 . The mean i d e a l s c o r e f o r t h e r e p r e s s o r g roup w i l l be f o u n d t o be s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower t h a n t h e mean i d e a l s e o r e f o r t h e s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p .

On t h e o b s e r v a t i o n of T a b l e I I i t was n o t e d t h a t t h e

wean i d e a l s c o r e s f o r t h e r e p r e s s o r and s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p s

were 2 1 9 . 9 6 end 2 3 1 . 7 2 r e s p e c t i v e l y . When t r e a t e d s t a t i s -

t i c a l l y @ t, r a t i o of 4 . 2 8 r e s u l t e d , as shown i n T a b l e I I .

TABLE I I

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN THE MEAN IDEAL SCORES ON THE i£V OF THE SENSITIZER

AND REPRESSOR GROUPS

Group N M Sd J. P

fiepressor 30 2 1 9 . 9 6 10 .67 4 . 2 0 . 001

S e n s i t i z e r 30 2 3 1 . 7 2 1 0 . 0 5

T h i s Jt, v a l u e was a l s o found t o be s i g n i f i c a n t a t b e t t e r

than t h e . 0 0 1 l e v e l , which conf i r f f l ed t h e s econd h y p o t h e s i s .

23

H o t e l l i ng * s T^ s t a t i s t i c was used to t e s t t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e

between t h e r e p r e s s o r and s e n s i t i z e r g roups or t h e n e u r o t i c

t r i a d . The t h i r d h y p o t h e s i s s t a t e d s

3 . The mean s c o r e s on t h e n e u r o t i c t r i a d (Hs, D, and Hy s c a l e s ) f o r t h e r e p r e s s o r group w i l l be found to be s i g n i f i c a n t l y lower than t h e mean s c o t e s on t h e n e u r o t i c t r i a d f o r t h e s e n s i t i z e r g r o u p .

The r e s u l t s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e III.

TABLE I I I

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN THE MEAN SCORES ON THE NEUROTIC TRIAD OF THE SENSITIZER

AND REPRESSOR GROUPS

TSQR F df P

87 .6S 26 .21 3 /56 .001

A n a l y s i s of T a b l e III r e v e a l s t h a t a t e s t of s i g n i f i c a n c e

f o r t h e t h r e e s c a l e s between t h e two g roups r e s u l t e d i n a T*

v a l u e of 8 7 . 6 5 . T h i s s e o r e was c o n v e r t e d to an F r a t i o of

2 6 . 2 1 and found to be s i g n i f i c a n t a t b e t t e r t h a n t h e .001

l e v e l . T h e r e f o r e , t h e t h i r d h y p o t h e s i s was c o n f i r m e d .

The f r a t i o shown In T a b l e I I I i n d i c a t e d t h a t a s i g -

n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e e x i s t e d . A more d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of t h e

d a t a r e v e a l e d t h a t a l t hough t h e two g roups s co red s i g n i f i c a n t l y

d i f f e r e n t on t h e n e u r o t i c t r i a d as a s i n g l e i n d e x , when broken

down i n t o t h e c o n t r i b u t i n g v a r i a b l e s , t h e Hy sea l© f a i l e d to

be s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t . The r e s u l t s of compar i sons of t h e

24

repressor and sensitizer groups on each scale ere presented in

Table IV. It is immediately apparent that the differences

between the two groups on the lis and D scales were significant,

TABLE IV

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE BETWEEN THE MEAN SCORES ON THE Hs, D, AND Iiy SCALES OF THE SENSITIZES AND REPRESSOR GROUPS

Scales Repressors Sensitizers

t. P Scales M Sd M Sd

t. P

Hs 10.36 3.42 15.30 4.94 4.42 .001

D 15.86 3.82 24.60 3.TO 8.83 .001

Hy 19.70 4.23 21.03 3.85 .99 .20

Analysis of Table IV revealed that the Hs and 0 scales

obtained jt ratios of 4.42 and 8.83 respectively, both of

which were significant at better than the .001 level. The

Hy scale obtained a ratio of .99 which was not significant

bat was in the hypothesized direction.

The results presented in Table IV can more readily be

seen in Figure 1.

26 24 22 20 1C 16 24 12 10 B

MJL Hv

repressors— sensi t i zers<

Fig. 1—Mean s©ores of the §®»siti»er and repressor groups on the Hs, D, end Hy sca les

25

The fourth hypothesis was concerned with comparing the

s e l f - i d e a l discrepancy scores of e l l sub jec t s with t h e i r ages

This hypothesis s t a t e d i

4. There wi l l be s i g n i f i c a n t negative c o r r e l a t i o n between s e l f - i d e a l discrepancy scores and age.

The data were t r ea ted with Pearson 's t sad a co r r e l a t i on

c o e f f i c i e n t of - . 34 was obtained. This co r r e l a t i on was

tes ted for s i gn i f i cance by the £ t e s t which r e su l t ed in a

1 of 2.70, A x r a t i o of t h i s s ixe with 54 degrees of

freedom was found to be s i g n i f i c a n t at b e t t e r than the .01

level of s i g n i f i c a n c e . Therefore , the four th hypothesis

was accepted.

CHAPTER IV

DISCUSSION OF DATA

The results of this study help to specify one of the

variables related to self-ideal discrepancies by demonstrating

that repressors and sensitizers differ in self-ideal discrep-

ancy. Also, the results add to the growing number of cor-

relates of the repressor-sensitizer dimension. The data of

this study, in accordance with Attrocchi ,g£ jJ,. (2), suggest

that the sensitizers have more negative# i.e., hostile and

submissive, self-concepts than repressors? therefore, the

sensitizers exhibit greater discrepancies between the self

end ideal-self. It appears the sensitizer's self derived

hypotheses emphasize the negative attributes while the posi-

tive attributes are skipped over lightly, for they are

probably threatening to the individual's mode of adjustment

and his self concept. The sensitizer seems to protect him-

self in that his negative self evaluations illicit sympathy

and support from others rather than criticism. Because of

the behavior he exhibits, whether he is given support or

criticism, his self hypotheses are reinforced. Therefore,

as Gordon (3) stated, he is an individual who may experience

depression, constant anxiety, and is constantly obsessed

26

2?

with h i s weakness and h e l p l e s s n e s s . Because of h i s s t a t e of

t e n s i o n , as Sogers (5) sugges t s , the s e n s i t i z e r way tend to

see exper ience in abso lu t e and uncond i t i ona l t e rms , to confuse

f a c t and e v a l u a t i o n , and to r e l y on ideas more than r e a l i t y

t e s t i n g .

At the oppos i t e end of the continuum we f i n d the

r e p r e s s o r s . The p o s i t i v e e v a l u a t i o n s of t h i s group may be

in tended to convince s e l f and o the r s t h a t l i t t l e or no

h o s t i l i t y i s p r e s e n t . H i l l son and Worchel (4) found tha t

the r e p r e s s o r s emphasized t h e i r own a f f e c t i o n and i n t e r -

persona l e f f e c t i v e n e s s and v igorous ly deny and r e p r e s s any

nega t ive f e e l i n g s . This node of behavior when c a r r i e d to

extremes may r e s u l t in d i s i n t e g r a t e d behavior because the

d i s t o r t i o n of r e a l i t y exper ience becomes i n c r e a s i n g l y

g r e a t e r . Sogers (5) says t h a t i n t e r n a l t ens ion i n c r e a s e s

with each r e p r e s s i o n or den ia l of r e a l i t y , yet the over t

p i c t u r e remains e s s e n t i a l l y the same.

The r e s u l t s of the second hypothes i s add to the

Adler ian theory on the dynamics of the neu ros i s ( I ) . As was

coafirraed in the t h i r d h y p o t h e s i s , the s e n s i t i z e r s a re mere

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y n e u r o t i c than r e p r e s s o r s . The ego

d i s i n t e g r a t i o n of the s e n s i t i z e r s appa ren t ly r e s u l t s in a

se l f depreca t ion which, because of the lack of ba l ance , may

r e a c t in a compensatory way and at tempt to c o n t r o l some of

the a n x i e t y . In t h i s attempt overcompensation o f t e n r e s u l t s .

28

C o n s e q u e n t l y , i t seews t h e r e p r e s s o r s s e t g o a l s u n a t t a i n a b l y

h i g h , end b e c a u s e of f a i l u r e , c o n s t a n t l y r e i n f o r c e t h e i r

f e e l i n g s of i n f e r i o r i t y .

D i s c u s s i o n of t h e f i r s t two h y p o t h e s e s and the d e s c r i p -

t i o n of t h e s e n s i t i z e r and r e p r e s s o r g roups g i v e s u b j e c t i v e

s u p p o r t to t h e o b j e c t i v e f i n d i n g s of t h e t h i r d h y p o t h e s i s .

The d i f f e r e n c e between t h e s e n s i t i z e r and r e p r e s s o r g roups

f a i l e d t o be s i g n i f i c a n t in t h e c a s e of t h e Hy s c a l e . T h i s

may i n d i c a t e t h a t both g roups have a s i m i l a r t endency i n

a l l e v i a t i n g a n x i e t y . However, t h e u t i l i z a t i o n of symptoms

s u g g e s t e d by t h i s s c a l e f o r each group may be q u i t e d i f f e r e n t ,

The s e n s i t i z e r s may use t h e symptoms as a n o t h e r d e v i c e to

o b t a i n sympathy and at t h e same time n e g a t e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s

of be ing c r i t i c i s e d . The r e p r e s s o r s , on the o t h e r h a n d , in

o r d e r to p r e s e n t a t e n s i o n f r e e a p p e a r a n c e , may c h a n n e l i z e

a l l t h e i r a n x i e t y i n t o a p h y s i c a l syrapto®. However, t h e

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n shou ld take i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e p o s s i b i l i t y

of r e a l p h y s i c a l pathology e x i s t i n g among t h e s u b j e c t s of

one or both g r o u p s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t has been shown t h a t

d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s may be used to p r e d i c t , wi th some d e g r e e

of c o n f i d e n c e , whether the i n d i v i d u a l ' s t y p i c a l behavior i s

n e u r o t i c or no t . The d e f i n i t i o n of n e u r o s i s used should be

t h e same as t h a t d e s c r i b e d by the MMPI s c a l e s .

The p o s i t i ve f i n d i n g s of the fourth hypothes i s sugges t

that with i n c r e a s e in age there i s a tendency to become raore

29

defensive In a denying and avoiding sort of way. Apparently

this tendency results in a more conservative reaction to the

environment by not allowing experiences into consciousness

which ar© incongruent with the self concept. Before accepting

the results of this hypothesis, the saapl© population should

be closely examined and data from a more general population

collected and analyzed.

CHAPTER BIBLIOGBAPHY

1. Adler, A., The Neurotic Consti t u t l o n . New York, Dodd , Mead and Co. , 1926.

2. A t t rocch i , John, 0. A. Persons, and Hilda Dickof f , "Changes in S e l f - I d e a l Discrepancies in Repressors and S e n s i t i z e r s , ' J our m l &I MM Social HmMi&SXi (1960), 67-72.

3. Gordon, J . E . , MInterp@rson®l Pred ic t ion of Repressors and S e n s i t i z e r s f a M M l Ml tfiJ9fimUt7» x x v < 1957), 686-698.,

4. H i l l son , J , J , aad £. Worchel, w5@l£~€o«c@pt and Defensive Behavior in the M a l a d j u s t e d / JLC £2MB1MSSL Psychology. XXI (1957), 83-88.

5. Rogers, C. R. , Cl ient-Centered Therapy. Boston, Houghton M i f f l i n , 1951.

30

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of the Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation-

ships which exist between self-ideal discrepancy scores and

defensiveness as measured on a repressor-sensitizer dimension.

The Bill's s i Adjustments jjy| Vslues was used to measure

the discrepancy between self and ideal-self concepts, f)efen-

si veness on the repressor-sensitizer dimension was measured

by a collection of MMPI scales, as described by Attrocchi

e.t al. (2) *

The sample consisted of eighty-one subjects, all students

at North Texas State University. The sophomore, junior,

senior, and graduate classes were represented in the sample.

These subjects were divided into repressor and sensitizer

groups on the basis of scores obtained on Attrocchi *s

repressor-sensitizer dimension. The thirty subjects with

the highest positive scores were defined as the repressor

group. The sensitizers were defined as those with the highest

negative scores. Mean self-ide&l discrepancy scores and ideal

scores were obtained for each group and treated statistically

to determine if a significant difference existed. The

31

32

repressor and s e n s i t i z e r groups were also compared on scores

obtained oa the neurot ic t r i a d . All subj e c t s ' s e l f - i d e a l

discrepancy scores were co r r e l a t ed with age.

S t a t i s t i c a l techniques u t i l i z e d were the t, t e s t ,

Hotel l ing*s T 2 , ®nd Pearson ' s Product-Moment c o r r e l a t i o n .

The leve l of s i g n i f i c a n c e was set at .05. This level was

a t t a ined in a l l cases , which confirmed a l l four o r i g i n a l

hypotheses.

I t was found that there was a high level of s i g n i f i c a n t

d i f f e r e n c e between the discrepancy scores of the repressor

group and the s e n s i t i z e r group. This d i f f e r e n c e was s i g -

n i f i c a n t in the hypothesized d i r e c t i o n at b e t t e r than the

.001 level of conf idence. Thus, in t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s tudy,

i t can be said tha t the degree of perceived discrepancy

between sel f and ideal-self concepts would be a f a c t o r to

consider as an i nd i ca to r of a type of behavior u t i l i z e d as

a means of adjustment .

I n v e s t i g a t i o n of the second hypothesis revealed a

s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e between the mean ideal scores of the

s e n s i t i z e r group and the repressor group. This hypothesis

was confirmed at b e t t e r than the .001 level and in the

hypothesized d i r e c t i o n .

The th i rd hypothesis was confirmed at b e t t e r than the

.001 level and in the hypothesized d i r e c t i o n . This f ind ing

revealed tha t the s e n s i t i z e r group exhib i ted behavior more

33

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t he n e u r o t i c , as de f i ned by the n e u r o t i c

t r i a d , than did the r e p r e s s o r group.

The f o u r t h hypo thes i s s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e would be a

s i g n i f i c a n t nega t ive c o r r e l a t i o n between s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p -

ancy scores and age. This hypo thes i s obta ined a c o r r e l a t i o n

c o e f f i c i e n t of - . 3 4 . This c o r r e l a t i o n was t r e a t e d with a i

t e s t and found to be s i g n i f i c a n t at b e t t e r than the ,01

l e v e l .

Conclusions

This s tudy a g r e e s , in g e n e r a l , w i t h o ther i n v e s t i g a t i o n s

in t h i s area (2 , 3 , 5, 6, 8 , 10, 11, 12) . Block and Thoatas

(3) found an a s s o c i a t i o n between s e l f - i d e a l d i sc repancy scores

and isaladjustraent on the MMPI s c a l e s . I t was found in t h i s

s tudy t h a t the degree of s e l f - i d e a l d i sc repancy can be i n d i c -

a t i v e of a mode of a d j u s t i v e behav io r . This behavior i s

descr ibed by the r e p r e s s o r - s e n s i t i z e r dimension as de f ined

by the MMPI s c a l e s used , both o r i g i n a l and supplementary.

This was found to e x i s t at b e t t e r than the .001 l eve l of

c o n f i d e n c e . Consequent ly , i t would seem tha t perce ived

d i s c r e p a n c i e s between s e l f and i d e a l - s e l f concepts could be

qu i t e d i s i n t e g r a t i n g to the whole i n d i v i d u a l . These d i s -

c repanc ies could reduce the e f f e c t i v e n e s s of the o rgan i sm 's

f u n c t i o n i n g in a l l phases of behav io r .

The genera l d i scomfor t enperienced by persons seeking

cl inical a s s i s t a n c e i s be l i eved by Sogers (9) to be a f u n c t i o n

34

of p e r c e i v e d d i s c r e p a n c i e s between t h e s e l f and i d e a l - s e l f .

T h i s would i n d i c a t e t h a t e s t a b l i s h i n g some congraency would

be a goa l f o r t h e r a p y . I t should be no ted t h a t t h e use of

d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s wigh t be b e n e f i c i a l i n e v a l u a t i n g p r o g r e s s

be ing made i a v a r i o u s t h e r a p y s i t u a t i o n s . In t h e school

c o u n s e l i n g s i t u a t i o n , d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s could be used to

a n a l y z e t h e problems of a d j u s t m e n t or o a l a d j u s t w e n t . The

f u n c t i o n i n g i n e f f i c i e n c y of many s t u d e n t s hav ing d i f f i c u l t y

nay through a n a l y s i s of d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s be r e f e r r e d f o r

p rope r t r e a t m e n t a n d / o r c o u n s e l i n g . Th© a n a l y s i s of d i s -

c r e pa nc y s e o r e s should be made wi th c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e

modes of b e h a v i o r m a n i f e s t e d by t h e r e p r e s s o r and s e n s i t i z e r

g r o u p s . Although t h e d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e has on ly a broad

d e s c r i p t i v e v a l u e , I t way be used f o r g r o s s d i s c r i m i n a t i o n

p u r p o s e s . One of t h e p u r p o s e s f o r which i t cou ld be used i s

i n t h e r o l e of a supp l emen ta ry d i a g n o s t i c I n s t r u m e n t .

H i l l s o n and Worchel ( ? ) found t h a t s e l f - i d e a l d i s c r e p a n c y

s e o r e s were s i g n i f i c a n t l y l a r g e r f o r n e u r o t i c s t h a n f o r a

p s y c h o t i c g r o u p . T h u s , i t could be used to l end s u p p o r t to

o t h e r f i n d i n g s r e s u l t i n g i n a d i a g n o s i s of n e u r o s i s or

p s y c h o s i s .

The r e s u l t s of t h e second h y p o t h e s i s , which d e a l t wi th

t h e wean i d e a l s c o r e s of t h e s e n s i t i z e r and r e p r e s s o r g r o u p s ,

might i n d i c a t e a t h e r a p y p r o c e d u r e f o r t h e s e n s i t i s s e r - t y p e

i n d i v i d u a l s . There a p p e a r s to be a breakdown of d e f e n s e s

35

which profoundly a f f e e t s the e f f i c i e n c y with which they behave,

As Sarbin and Rosenberg (11) poin ted o u t , t h e r e i s a tendency

f o r these types of i n d i v i d u a l s to be deroga tory toward them-

s e l v e s , yet in accordance with A d l e r ' s theory (1) they se t

f i c t i t i o u s l y high goals which are u n r e a l i s t i c and una t t» in~

a b l e . Their f a i l u r e to ob ta in t he se goals may r e i n f o r c e t h e i r

s e l f concept and r e s u l t in inc reased f e e l i n g s of anxie ty and

i n f e r i o r i t y . A therapy based on the theory of success ive

approximation would serve a twofold purpose in the t r ea tment

of t hese i n d i v i d u a l s . I t would, through re in fo rcement of

s u c c e s s f u l behavior on simple t a s k s , enhance the s e l f p i c t u r e ,

and on the o ther hand, allow the i n d i v i d u a l to concen t r a t e on

not too d i s t a n t g o a l s .

The s i g n i f i c a n c e found in the t h i r d hypothes i s seems to

r e i n f o r c e the conc lus ions drawn f r o « the f i r s t two hypotheses .

I t sugges ts t h a t the s e n s i t i z e r s are more c h a r a c t e r i z e d by

n e u r o t i c behavior? t h u s , they are the group more l i k e l y to

develop i n t o c l i n i c a l problems. One of the bas i c c r i t e r i a

f o r the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of neuros i s i s a n x i e t y . The l eve l of

anx ie ty can be considered an i n d i c a t o r of the degree of d i s -

i n t e g r a t i o n of the ego which has taken p lace wi th in the

i n d i v i d u a l . Ego d i s i n t e g r a t i o n i s considered to be one of

the primary reasons why an i n d i v i d u a l seeks c l i n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e

The f o u r t h hypothes i s revea led a s i g n i f i c a n t nega t ive

c o r r e l a t i o n between age and s e l f - i d e a l d i sc repancy s c o r e s .

36

T h i s f i n d i n g might s u g g e s t t h a t d e f e n s e s a r e a c q u i r e d ove r a

long p e r i o d of t ime and ove r a number of e x p e r i e n c e s . The

i n d i v i d u a l a a y , t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e , become aware of h i s

i n a d e q u a c i e s and r e a l i z e he canno t a t t a i n h i s a s p i r e d l e v e l .

He may, as Ford and Urban (4) s u g g e s t , a s s i m i l a t e e x p e r i e n c e s

i n h i s s e l f c o n c e p t e n a b l i n g him t o r e c o n c i l e h i s g o a l s t o

h i s a b i l i t i e s .

Due t o t h e sample u t i l i z e d i n t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n and t h e

f a c t t h a t t h e o l d e r s u b j e c t s were p r e d o m i n a n t l y s c h o o l

t e a c h e r s who, as a g r o u p , have been found to e x h i b i t an

a u t h o r i t a r i a n p e r s o n a l i t y , which i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by d e f e n -

s i v e n e s s of t h e r e p r e s s o r t y p e , t h e r e s u l t s might not ho ld

t r u e f o r t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n . A s t u d y u s i n g a wore

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e sample might be p r o f i t a b l e .

Recommendations

S i n c e t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s s t u d y have shown t h a t t h e

d e g r e e of d i s c r e p a n c y s c o r e s be tween t h e s e l f and i d e a l - s e l f

c o n c e p t s a r e r e l a t e d t o t y p e s of a d j u s t i v e b e h a v i o r i t i s

deemed f e a s i b l e t h a t e l a b o r a t i o n of t h i s s t u d y shou ld be

c o o r d i n a t e d wi th o t h e r b e h a v i o r a l t r a i t s and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

A l s o , t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s s t u d y shou ld be f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t e d

i n hope of more d i s c r i m i n a t i n g r e s u l t s .

The r e s e a r c h i n t h i s a r e a i s l i m i t e d and t h e o r y i s t oo

ambiguous , o f t e n permi t t i ng o p p o s i n g h y p o t h e s e s . For example ,

one might s u s p e c t t h a t r e p r e s s o r s , s u p p o s e d l y b e i n g more

37

c o n s t r i c t e d , would p r e s e n t fewer obvious c u e s , t h e r e f o r e

making p r e d i c t i o n of t h e i r r e s p o n s e s more d i f f i c u l t . On the

o t h e r hand, s e n s i t i z e r s a re more m a n i f e s t l y anxious and

migh t , t h e r e f o r e , appear to be poo r ly o rgan ized in t h e i r

b e h a v i o r , again making p r e d i c t i o n d i f f i c u l t . Pe rhaps wi th

g r e a t e r i n t e r e s t i n t h i s a rea of psychology i t w i l l be pos -

s i b l e to develop b e t t e r t o o l s f o r measur ing t h e s e phenomena.

T h e r e f o r e , some of t h e i n a d e q u a c i e s which p r e s e n t l y e x i s t

in t h e v a r i o u s p e n c i l and paper t e s t s w i l l be dirainished.

Another m o t i v a t i n g f a c t o r of behav io r which has been con-

s i d e r e d very l i t t l e i n s e l f concept t h e o r i e s i s t h a t of

unconsc ious det eruii nants . When r e s e a r c h instruments can be

des igned to a d e q u a t e l y measure and d i s c r i m i n a t e e f f e c t s of

unconsc ious mot iva t ion , some of the ambigui ty of e x i s t i n g

t h e o r i e s may be a l l e v i a t e d .

Another f a c t o r to consider i s that of the number of

subj e c t s i n t he g r o u p s . With v a r i a b l e s and c o n d i t i o n s

p e r m i t t i n g , pe rhaps a more complex des ign u s ing a l a r g e r

populat ion should be contemplated.

CHAPTER BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.

2,

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

10,

11

Adler, A'., The Mead, and Co., 1926.

Const!tutioa. New York, Dodd,

Attrocchi, John, 0. A. Pearson, and Hilda Dichoff, "Changes in Repressors and Sensitizers," Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. LXI (I960), 67-72.

Block, J, and H. Thomas, "Ig Satisfaction With Self a Measure of Adjustment," Journal &£ Abnormal and Social Psychology. LI (1955), 254-259.

F o * d ' b' ?. a«5 H. Urban, of Psychotherapy. New York, London, and Sydney, John Wylie and Son, Inc., 1965. '

Friedman, Ira, "Phenomenal, Ideal, and Projected Concepts of Self,** Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. LI (1955), 611-615.

Haigh, Gerand, "Defensive Behavior in Client-Centered Therapy,- Journal of Comultino Psychology. IL (1949), 181-189.

Hi 1lson, J. J. and P. Worchel, "Self-Concept and Defensive Behavior in the Maladjusted,** Journal of Consulting Psychology. XXI (1957), 83-88.

Lepine, L. T. and B. Chodorkoff, "Goal Setting Behavior, Expressed Feelings of Adequacy, and the Correspondence Between the Perceived and Ideal Self " lAHTjLil Of Clinical Psychology. XI (1955), 135-137/

9. Sogers, C. R., Client-Centered Mifflin, 1951.

Therapy. Boston, Houghton

Rosen, E., of MMPI

Self Appraisal and Personality Traits,"

Perceived Desirability Journal of Counseling

Psychology. Ill (1956), 44-5l7

Sarbin, T. II. end B. G. Bosenberg, "Contribution to Bole-Takings IV, A Method for Obtaining a Qualitative Estimate of the Self." Journal of Social XLII (1955), 71-81.

36

39

W y l i e , E. C. , "Some Belstionships Between D e f e n s i v e n e s s and Self Concept D i s c r e p a n c i e s , " J o u r n a l of Personality. XXV (1957), 600-616-

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Adler, A., T h e Neurotic Constitution. Mew York, D o d d , Mead and Co,, 1926.

Ford, 0. A. and H. B, Urban, Systems Psychotherapy. New York, London, and Sydney, John Wyli 0 and Son, Inc., 1965.

Rogers, C. R., Client-Centered T h e r a p y . Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1951.

Snygg, D. and A, W. Cowbs, Individual Behavior: A New Frame of Reference for Psychology. New York, Harper, 1949.

Welsh, G. S. and W. G. Dahlstrosi, Basic Readings SLS. JJLA MMPI 1n Psvcholoav and Medicine. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1956.

Wylie, R. C., The Self Concept. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 1961.

Articles

Attrocchi, John, 0. A. Parsons and Hilda Dickoff, "Changes in Self-Ideal D i s c r e p a n c i e s in Repressors and Sensitizers,u

Journal of Abnormal and Soc.ial. Psychology. LXI (1960), 67-72.

Block, J. and B. Thomas, "Is Satisfaction With Self a Measure of Adj ustwent,H Journal of Abnormal and Soci al Psychology. LI (1955), 254-259.

O i t t e s , J. E., "Effects of Changes in Self Esteem Upon Impulsiveness and Deliberation in Making Judgments," Journal of Abnormal and Sociai Psychology. LXIII (1959), 348-356.

Engel, Mary, "The Stability of the Self Concept in Adolescents," Journal si A b n o r m a l £&& Social Psychology. LXIII (1959), 211-215.

40

41

Friedman, Ira, "Phenomenal, Ideal, and Projected Concepts of Self," Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. LI (1955), 611-614.

Gordon, J. E., "Interpersonal Prediction of Repressors and Sensitizers," Journal ol Personality. XXV (1957), 686-690.

Haigh, Gerand, "Defensive Behavior in Client-Centered Therapy,' Journal of Consulting Psychology. IL (1949), 181-139.

Hilgard, E. R., "Human Motives and the Concept of the Self,** American Psychologist. IV (1949), 374-382.

Hillson, J. J. and P. Worchel, "Self-Concept and Defensive Behavior in the Maladjusted," Journal sJL Consulting Psychology. XXI (1957), 83-88.

Lepine, L. T. and 8. Chodorkoff, "Goal Setting Behavior, Expressed Feelings of Adequacy, and the Correspondence Between the Perceived and Ideal Self," Journal of Clinical Psychology. XI (1955), 135-137.

Little, K. B. and J. FisJier, "Two New Scales of the MM P.I Journal of Consulting Psychology. XXI (1958), 305-306.

Miller, K. S. and P. Worchel, "The Effects of Need Achieve-ment and Self-Ideal Discrepancy ort Performance Under Stress." Journal of Personality. XXV (1956), 176-190.

Rogers, A. H. and T. M. Walsh, "Defensiveness and Unwitting Self Evaluation," Journal of Cllnlcal Psychology. XV (1959), 302-304.

Rosen, E., "Self-Appraisal and Perceived Desirability of MMPI Personality Traits," Journal of Counseling Psychology. Ill (1956), 44-51.

Sarbin, T. S. and B. G. Rosenberg, "Contribution to Bole-Takings IV, A Method for Obtaining a Qualitative Estimate of the Self," Journal of Social Psychology. XLII (1955), 71-81.

Turner, R. Si. and I. H. Vanderlippe, "Self-Ideal Congruence as an Index of Adj ustment," Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. LVII (1958), 202-206.

Wylie, R. C., "Some Relationships Between Oefensiveness and Self-Concept Discrepancies," Journal of Personality. XXV (1957), 600-616.