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Old Dominion University

The Relationship Between Needs and Interpersonal Problems of Women in Four Interpersonal Categories

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This study empirically assessed the relationship between needs structure and interpersonal presentation in women. Proposed indices for selective attention were assessed as to their ability to detect pathology. The relationship between interpersonal presentation and interpersonal problems were also studied. The measures used were The Picture Identification Test (Chambers, 1976), The Interpersonal Adjective Scales-Revised (Wiggins, 1985), The Inventory for Interpersonal Problems (Horowitz, 1986), and The Marlowe-Crowne Social-Desirability Scale (1964).</p> <p>Subjects were assigned to one of four interpersonal categories (Friendly-Dominant, Friendly-Submissive, Hostile-Dominant, Hostile-Submissive) on the basis of their self-reported IAS-R and one category on the basis of their counselor-reported IAS-R scores. Subjects were further divided into three groups (High, Medium, Low) on the basis of the discrepancy between self- vs. counselor-reported IAS-R octant or category scores (Discrepancy Angle) and by the discrepancy between self vs. counselor IAS-R Vector or Intensity Scores (Discrepancy Vector).</p> <p>Results, both conclusive and tentative, were discussed in terms of their support for the tenets of interpersonal theory. That is, interpersonal dimensions can saliently discriminate individual differences in belief systems about how we satisfy interpersonal needs (Golding, 1982; Carson, 1979). This was suggested in the trends observed in motivational structure between the four therapist-assessed groups and in the differences between interpersonal problems between these four groups.</p> <p>The study also offered empirical support for Leary's (1957) operationalized definition of selection attention as the discrepancy between self and other viewpoint which corresponds to pathology. However, only the discrepancy between client and therapist vector scores (discrepancy vector) was found to detect pathology in motivational structures. These findings are consistent with Wiggins' (1985) results that extreme vector scores alone are not indicative of psychopathology. Results of this study were also discussed in terms of implications for future research.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Psychology
Year dc:date.available
1990

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sikes-Nova, Valarie Elaine
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Jay L. Chambers
  • Donald J. Kiesler
  • Neill Watson
  • Janice Sanchez-Hucles
  • Ronald A. Giannetti

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/313
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1314

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Old Dominion University
Base URL
digitalcommons.odu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sikes-Nova, Valarie Elaine. The Relationship Between Needs and Interpersonal Problems of Women in Four Interpersonal Categories. Dissertation thesis, 1990. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/313