University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Personality Characteristics: Ideal And Perceived In Relation To Mate Selection

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Personality Characteristics: Ideal And Perceived In Relation To Mate Selection

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Content T h is d is s e r ta tio n h as b een M ic 61— 1701
m ic r o film e d e x a c tly a s r e c e iv e d
KING, E ls ie V io la . P E R SO N A L IT Y CH ARAC
T E R IST IC S— ID E A L AND P E R C E IV E D IN
RELA TIO N TO M ATE SE L E C T IO N .
U n iv e r s ity of Sou thern C a lifo rn ia
P h .D ., 1961
S o c io lo g y , fa m ily
U niversity M icrofilms, Inc., A nn Arbor, M ichigan
PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS— IDEAL AND PERCEIVED
IN RELATION TO MATE SELECTION
by
Elsie Viola King
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Sociology)
January 1961
UNIVERSITY O F S O U T H E R N CA LIFO RN IA
GRADUATE SCH O O L
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES 7. CALIFO RNIA
This dissertation, written by
JSlale. Viola. King.. ...
under the direction of hBXt...Dissertation C o m
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Dean of
the Graduate School, in partial fulfillment of
requirements for the degree of
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
Dean
Date. January, 1961
COMMITTEE RTAT, DI
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Pag©
LIST OF TABLES..................................... lv
Chap ter
I. THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED . . . 1
Introduction
The Problem
Importance of the Study
Delimitations of the Study
Limitations of the Study
Definitions of Terms
Organization of the Remainder of the
Dissertation
II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.................... 22
Theories of Romantic Idealization
Related Scientific Studies
Burgess and Wallin's study
The pilot study
Hobart's studies of romanticism
Ideal mate studies
Armchair Speculation Versus Fact Finding
Conclusion
III. THE METHODOLOGY AND GROUP STUDIED............ 62
Selection of Subjects
Methodology
The Interpersonal Checklist
IV. RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICAL FINDINGS ... 77
Processing the Data
Description of the Sample
Testing the Hypotheses
Analysis of Sex Differences in Idealization
ii
Chapter Page
V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.........................127
Summary
Implications for General Sociology, the
Sociology of the Family, Educational
Sociology, and Marriage Counseling
Suggestions for Further Research
APPENDIX: Set of forms for females................... 1$3
Set of forms for males ................... l$l±
BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................
ill
LIST OP TABLES
Table Page
1. Ethnic Distribution of the Group Being
Studied, by Per Gent........................ 32
2. Residence Distribution of Group Being Studied,
by Per C e n t ............................... 82
3. Distribution of Occupation of Group under
Study, by Per Cent.......................... 85
I 4 . . Combined Occupation Groups of Sample under
Study, by Per Cent.......................... 86
5. Occupational Class Membership of Parents, by
Per Cent.................... .............. 87
6. Religious Affiliation of Sample under Study,
by Per C e n t ............................... 87
7. In-Faith and Out-of-Faith Marriage for Group
Studied, by Per Cent ................ 88
8. Percentage Distribution of Inter-Faith
Marriage for Major Religious Groups .... 89
9- Level of Education of Group Being Studied,
by Per C e n t ............................... 91
10. Age Distribution of Group under Study, by
Per Cent................................... 92
11. Marital Status of Sample under Study, by Per
Cent........................................ 93
12. Income Level of Group Studied, by Per Cent . . 93
13. Length of Engagement of Sample Studied, by
Per Cent................................... 9i+
l i j . . Anticipated Marriage Date, by Per Cent .... 9l^
iv
Table
1£. Inter-Ethnic Marriage for Males and Females,
by Per Cent ...............................
16. Combinations of Inter-Ethnic Marriage . . . .
17. Class Membership of Males and Their Mates, by
Per Cent ...................................
18. Distribution of Perceptions, by Per Cent . . •
19* Sex Distribution of Perceptions of Fiance(e),
by Per Cent ...............................
20. Ethnic Distribution of Perceptions of
Fiance(e), by Per Cent .....................
21. Inter-Group Comparisons of Incidence of
Unrealistic Perceptions, by Per Cent . * . •
22. Occupational Class Distribution of Perceptions
of Fiance (e), by Per C e n t .............. ..
23. Age Group Distribution of Perceptions of
Fiance(e), by Per Cent .....................
2l+. Marital Status Distribution of Perceptions of
Fiance(e), by Per Cent .....................
25. Length of Engagement Distribution of Percep
tions of Fianc6(e), by Per Cent ..........
26. Sex and Age Distribution of Sample, by Per
Cent.............. ........................
27. Sex and Ethnic Distribution of Sample, by Per
Cent.......................................
28. Sex and Education Distribution of Sample,
by Per Cent ...............................
29. Sex and Occupational Class Distribution of
Sample, by Per Cent .......................
30. Sex and Marital Status Distribution of Sample,
by Per Cent ...............................
31. Sex and Religious Distribution of Sample, by
Per Cent ...................................
v
Page
95
95
96
98
100
101
103
105
106
108
109
112
113
iii+
115
116
117
Table Page
32. Distribution of Conceptions of Ideal Mate,
by Per C e n t ................................. 119
33, Sex Distribution of Conceptions of Ideal Mate,
by Per C e n t .............. 121
3l|. Ethnic Distribution of Conceptions of Ideal
Mate, by Per C e n t ........................... 122
35. Occupational Distribution of Conceptions of
Ideal Mate, by Per C e n t ......................122
36. Age Distribution of Conceptions of Ideal Mate,
by Per C e n t ..................................123
37. Marital Status Distribution of Conceptions of
Ideal Mate, by Per C e n t ...................... 12i+
38. Length of Engagement Distribution of Concep
tions of Ideal Mate, by Per Cent.............12$
vi
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
Introduction
A growing body of knowledge of factors differen
tiating happy from unhappy marriages has been accumulated
by such scientists as Terman, Peterson, Locke, Burgess and
Cottrell, Kirkpatrick, David, Hamilton, Burgess and Wallin
and others. Significant differences involving a variety
of socio-cultural and psychological factors characterise
"adjusted," "maladjusted," and dissolved marital unions.
Valuable as these studies have been in academic circles,
marriage counseling and pre-marltal counseling centers,
they do have limitations as the investigators acknowledge.
One of the most obvious limitations of these studies Is
the fact that the majority of the Investigators studied
people who were already married or had been married.
Therefore, their value as predictive devices is limited
to those who are married. Burgess and Wallin’s study of
engaged couples is the only large-soale investigation
assessing factors prior to marriage that are later
associated with happiness, unhappiness, or marital
failure. Their valuable study also had its limitations.
1
Its chief liability was Its only partial attempt to
Investigate the personallty-stimulus value the partners
have for each other. Therefore, the focus of the present
study Is to determine how the perceptions of the partner
prior to marriage affect the subsequent marital relation
ship. This objective will be discussed In more detail
after considering Harvey Lockefs comments that are
relevant to the present Inquiry.
Dr. Looke acknowledges that one of the limitations
of his study is the possible ’ ’halo” effect likely to be
operative In one's estimate of one's marital satisfaction.
He notes, for example, that the happily married wife tends
to feel that her husband's income is adequate, although,
. . from a commonsense point of view, it would make
marital adjustment difficult if not impossible.”^
Similarly, an unhappy wife tends to regard the husband's
income as Inadequate although it may be more than adequate
with respect to their community's standard of living.
Obviously, in both instances, the wife's attitudes and
feelings toward her mate color her evaluation of his
adequacy as the family breadwinner. Thus, there is some
Indication marital adjustment or maladjustment is
■^Harvey J. Locke, Predicting Adjustment in
Marriage: A Comparison of a Divorced and a Happily
Marrleo Group (llfew ifork: 3enrv flolfc and Company. 1951),
P. 297.
3
associated with the stimulus-value of the mate's person
ality rather than with the objective adequacy of role
behaviors.
Burgess and Wallin undertook limited research of
the stimulus-value the partners have for each other. They
confined their investigation to five aspects of personal
ity as assessed by the partner: "quick-tempered,"
"stubborn," "selfish," "irritable," and "moody," Such a
brief list was, of course, not Intended to cover the many
dimensions of personality.
This then, marks the point of departure for the
present study. It is hypothecated that a possible richly
significant area associated with marital adjustment,
marital unhappiness, and marital failure may be disclosed
by a study of the personality perceptions the partners
have of each other before marriage.
The Problem
Statement of the problem.— This study consists of
two distinct but converging lines of inquiry into socio-
psychological factors in mate selection. The long-range
objective is to determine what relationship exists between
those factors and marital adjustment, maladjustment, and
marital failure. The study is considered as the first of
a series of longitudinal studies which will be made of the
k
large majority of the subject# comprising the present
sample* The follow-up studies will consider such questions
as to whether there Is a relationship between differential
perceptions of the engagement partner and subsequent
marital adjustment* Similarly, the inquiry will study the
relationship between differential conceptions of the ideal
marital partner and marital satisfaction* These objec
tives are specifically stated in the following questions:
1* What is the relationship between realistic
perceptions of the fiance(e) and marital
success?
2. What is the relationship between unrealistic
perceptions of the fiance(e) and marital
success?
3* What is the relationship between realistic
conceptions of the ideal mate prior to
marriage and marital success?
I j . * What is the relationship between unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate prior to
marriage and marital success?
In addition to the above questions other relation
ships will be explored along the following lines of
inquiry:
1* Is marital success associated with realistic
conceptions of the ideal mate and realistic
perceptions of the fiance(e), or Is it related
to unrealistic conceptions of the ideal mate
and unrealistic conceptions of the flanc£(e)?
2. Is marital success related to unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate and realistic
perceptions of the fiance(e), or is it asso
ciated with realistic conceptions of the ideal
mate and unrealistic perceptions of the
fiance(e)?
The above questions raise the question of the
relevance of the present study to the problem of romantic
Idealization which is a much theorized but little studied
feature of modern courtship in Western Society. Since
these problems are in fact closely related, romantic
Idealization becomes the second and more Immediate objec
tive of this study. The methodology devised here is
considered as an indirect approach to the investigation of
this phenomenon.
Accordingly, the approach to both of these
problems may be stated as follows:
1. To assess the relationship between differen
tial perceptions of the fiance(e) and
differential conceptions of the ideal mate as
they are related to sex membership, ethnio
membership, socio-economic status, age,
marital status, and length of engagement.
2. To determine the relationship between romantic
idealisation as operationally defined in this
study and the set of variables set forth above.
These objectives are specifically stated in the
following hypotheses:
1. There is no significant difference in the
incidenoe of realistic and unrealistic percep
tions of the engagement partner.
2. The incidence of realistic and unrealistic
perceptions of the fiance(e) is not differen
tiated by
a) Sex membership.
b) Ethnic membership.
c) Socio-economic status.
d) Age.
e) Marital status.
f) Length of engagement.
3. The incidence of unrealism in mate perception
is not differentiated by
a) Sex membership.
b) Ethnic membership.
c) Socio-economic status.
d) Age.
e) Marital status.
f) Length of engagement.
k.
5.
There la no significant difference in the
lnoidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the Ideal mate.
The incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate is not differen-
tiated by
a
b
c
d
e
f
Sex membership.
Ethnic membership.
Sooio-economic status.
Age.
Marital status.
Length of engagement.
Importance of the Study
The importance of this study is conceived as
investigating a significant number of factors associated
with marital satisfaction and family disorganization.
Further, this study will attempt to define a research
approach to the phenomenon designated as romantlo ideali
zation, regarded by some writers, notably Ellis, Peterson,
and Winch as a lamentable feature of courtship and
marriage in Western Society. Others, such as Parsons and
Biegel, disagree with this point of view, and maintain
romantic involvement serves the useful function of steer
ing youth away from its pleasure-chasing activities and
lures them into accepting the responsibilities of maturity
and family responsibility.
A great deal of speculation and empirical observa
tion have taken the place of scientific research into the
Incidence of romantic idealisation* Consequently, that
material filling textbooks, as veil as that disseminated
for lay consumption, represents to a great extent
unsystematlsed empirical observations and speculation.
Lacking scientific evidence for their contentions, that is
unhampered by the facts, various writers, notably Winch,
write so eloquently, humorously, and persuasively on the
subjeot that only the scientific eye notes the absence of
p
supporting evidence* This study attempts to get the
scientific facts so that romantic idealization can be
dealt with on a solid, factual basis, replacing empiricism
and speculation.
Finally, this whole problem has significance for
all those persons interested in improving mate selection:
marriage counselors, educators, social workers, psychol
ogists, and psychiatrists, as well as those laymen who are
concerned with the problems presented In modern courtship
and marriage.
Delimitations of the Study
Scope.— One group is being used in this study.
Robert F. Winch, The Modern Family (New York:
Henry Holt and Company, 19^2).
9
The group was randomly end systematically seleoted from
among eouples who mere successful in obtaining a marriage
lieense at the Los Angeles County Courthouse, Los Angeles,
California. Kendall and Smith's "Tables of Random
Sampling Humbers" were used to select the couples. Two
hundred and fifteen usable cases were obtained.
The original Intention was to consider the entire
county of eligible persons as comprising the population
from which samples would be taken at the several Marriage
License Bureaus. Several considerations led to the
abandonment of this plan. The County Clerk pointed out
that the City Hall serves all outlying oities in Los
Angeles County and that a sample obtained there would be
fully representative of all soolo-eeonomio and ethnlo
groups. Further, although the County Clerk granted
permission to use the facilities in the other Bureaus, he
advised that cramped physical conditions would make
testing diffioult in some instances, and when court was in
session testing could not be scheduled. These considera
tions, along with a preliminary examination of the records
which showed relatively few licenses are issued in the
outlying areas, resulted in the decision to do all the
testing at the Los Angeles County Courthouse.
Length of testing.--The testing of the entire
10
sample was conducted over a period of one month, beginning
on Februery 8, i960 And ending on Meroh 8, i960. Each
couple selected was spprosched Immediately After being
grAnted a mArriAge license. The refusal rate varied
between none and 63 per oent, with an average rate of
37 per cent. The highest refusal rate wan among the
Mongoloid ethnic group.
The community.--The community in which this study
was made is a large metropolitan area with a population
of over 2,1^00,000. However, an even larger population was
represented in the study since other cities in Los Angeles
County, and other counties in the State of California are
served by the Los Angeles County Courthouse; also several
other states were represented, as well as one foreign
country.
Los Angeles is a city composed of persons repre
senting a variety of ethnic groups, religions, and cults.
The sample studied represents the three major ethnic
groups, the three major religious denominations and the
upper, middle, and lover socio-economic groups, and an
extremely wide age range. Failure to obtain proportional
representation of the three major ethnic groups and
certain types of wage earners raises questions concerning
the applicability of findings. These questions are
considered in the section on the limitations of the study.
11
Further question regarding the universality of applica
bility of findings is found in Chapter IV.
Limitations of the Study
It is assumed that because a rigid methodological
procedure was used to select the sample under study that
the sample is representative of the total population from
which it was drawn. This must be noted as an assumption,
not a fact, for several factors were operating to decrease
the representative character of the sample. Nothing, of
course, is known about the persons who were not selected
for study, but several things are known about those who
refused to participate. For example, the rate of refusal
was significantly high among the Mongoloid ethnic group
which certainly reduces its representativeness. Further,
almost one-third of the refusals stated they had to either
return to work or go to work. This may have affected
representation of hourly workers in the middle and lower
socio-economic groups who *re "docked” for time off the
job. If this line of reasoning is correct salaried
professional persons may be over-represented because they
generally suffer no loss of income from time away from
their work. Also, about 22 per cent of the refusals could
not participate because of the language barrier which, of
course, reduces foreign-born representation and non-
English speaking members of the Mexioan-Amerlcan ethnic
12
group*
The question might arise about the lack of a
control group* In this study the use of a control group
is not indicated because the objective is to study engaged
persons' perceptions of their partners, not to determine
if engaged persons differ from other people.
One of the two lines of investigation is related
to romantic idealization which is believed to be charac
teristic of persons who are romantically involved, that is
who are "in love” with whatever meaning is attached to the
term. Because of the widespread notion that in the United
States marriage is contracted on the basis of mutual
emotional Involvement it was assumed that the individuals
believed themselves to be "in love"; therefore they were
not questioned about this. This assumption may not be
Justified. Other factors may be Involved, such as forced
marriage because of pregnancy, the desire for financial
security, the need for social status, and from a more
cynical point of view (but supported by clinical evidence)
the need to pool unhappiness, loneliness, or misery.
Another limitation may have been the use of two
different investigators. However, this influence is
probably negligible for the examiner's assistant is a
licensed psychometrist and thoroughly trained in the
administration of psychometric devices.
13
Some questions night be raised about the validity
of results obtained in what oould reasonably be expected
to be a happy occasion* Would a person in a state of
euphoria describe the mate in other than positive terms?
Inspection of the data shows that the subjects did mark
items which might be regarded as negative, such as
"frequently angry," "dominating," "bitter," "proud and
self-satisfied," and so forth*
One serious limitation which plagues all the
studies of engagement and marriage is the fact that they
have not been studies of couples but studies of differ
entiated groups of persons. This limitation will, of
course, have a great bearing upon the results obtained
from follow-up studies of marital adjustment of this
sample; for marital adjustment characterizes a relation
ship between two persons, not how groups of persons fare
in marriage*
One limitation which definitely restricts applica
tion of the findings to other engaged persons is the
operational definition of "engaged couple," whloh
designates only those persons who have taken the necessary
steps required by law to obtain a license to marry*
Finally, the results of this study oannot be
universally applied. Their application is limited to the
specific population from which the sample was drawn. The
results may, with caution, that is by matching variables
14
and conditions, be applied to other populations*
Definitions of Terms
Adole soenoe.--In this study adolescence refers to
the period between thirteen and twenty, that is to the
"teens."
Engaged couple.--The operational meaning of this
term designates a male and a female who have received a
license to marry.
Ethnic group.— In this study ethnicity replaces
the concept "race" which has been discarded by leading
anthropologists because of the inability to devise a
scientifically accurate and completely reliable system for
classifying individuals into racial and ethnic types,
either on a physical or a cultural basis, or a combination
of both. In disoussing this problem Montague notes that a
completely unambiguous classification has not yet been
aohieved even when highly elaborate measurements have been
made of various physical characteristics. In summing up
his criticism of the word "race" he says, "The omelette
called 'race' has no existence outside the statistical
frying pan which has been reduced by the heat of the
15
anthropological Imagination."3 Ha tharafora proposes tha
usa of "ethnic group" which ha daflnes as:
One of a number of populations, which togathar
comprise tha spaelas Homo sapiens but Individually
maintain thalr differences, physical and cultural,
by means of Isolating mechanisms such as geographlo
and social barriers.5
In this study athnlc membership was assigned on
the basis of tha participants1 self-identifIcation as
reflected by the response to the statement "race.”
Ideal mate.— Ideal mate refers to the image which
a person of marriageable age has of the personality
attributes desired in the Ideal marital partner.
Occupational class membership."-In this paper the
term refers to the position of a collectivity within the
occupational hierarchy, these positions assigned on the
basis of occupation, using the system Alba Edwards pre
pared for the United States Census.^ The subjects in
this study were assigned occupational class membership in
one of three groupings: the upper, the middle, and the
lower. The problems encountered in using this method are
^M. F. Ashley Montague, Man’s Most Dangerous Myth
(2d ed.; New York: Columbia University Press, I9I 4 -5)»
p. 31*
* +Ibld., p. 72.
^Alba M. Edwards, Alphabetical hidex of Occupa
tions and Industries (Washington: United S’ tates Government
Printing Office, 1937)•
Illustrated In the methodology established to stratify
eertaln subjects In the sample. Those females vho had
reached the age of eighteen and those males vho had
reached the age of twenty-one, therefore legally emanci
pated from the parents, but vho had never been employed,
were assigned occupational class membership on the basis
of the occupation of other subjects vho had achieved their
level of education. Those under age, and therefore not
emancipated, were assigned the occupational class position
of the father.
Perceived mate.— This term refers to the entire
congeries of personality characteristics ascribed to the
fiance(e). The attributes ascribed to the fiance(e) are
also considered as a description of personality expecta
tions of the mate; thus perceptions and expectations are
used interchangeably In this paper. The rationale
underlying this synonymity Is as follows: If one measures
the reaction of a person to another person one is at the
same time measuring what the one expects of the other
behavior-vlse.
Perceptions: adaptive and maladaptive.--The
former term refers to the description of personality
located by a summary point in the normative area of the
Interpersonal Checklist grid, which serves as graphic
17
representation of the result* obtained in using this
Instrument* "Adaptive" is operationally defined in this
paper as "reallstio." Maladaptive designates a descrip
tion of personality whose summary point Is located in the
maladaptive area of the grid. "Maladaptive" is opera
tionally defined in this paper as "unrealistic."
Personality.— Probably no concept in psychology
has been defined as extensively as this term. The breadth
and scope of these many definitions make it impossible to
achieve a "universe of discourse." Thus the investigator
is obliged to operationally define the term. This will
follow a sketch of the history and use of the word which
will also provide the rationale for the adopted definition.
The word "personality" of Latin origin, is derived
from "persona" meaning mask. In the early outdoor Greek
Theatre the players wore masks to make the audience aware
at once of the characterization of the "role,” and also
to reduce or eliminate the effect of the actor’s personal
ity upon the role. In other words, the actor was expected
to play the role according to the prescriptions of the
mask, and to conceal or submerge his uniqueness behind it.
Thus, the mask served a dual purpose. Throughout history
the term has continued to embody the old duality of the
mask. Although definitions vary they can generally be
dichotomized as a description of the intrinsic identity of
18
the individual or as that mask, or masks, with which ho
faoos the world and behind which is concealed the "true"
identity*
In recent years the sociologist has come to
associate the term "personality” with roles, that is with
the parts one plays in life's drama, again reflecting its
origin in the theatre. So that currently among academi
cians, personality has meaning only in an interactional
situation. In this connection, Gaskill, in his book on
the subject says, ”. • .to make the term personality
meaningful, we must have a social situation— the reaction
of other people to the individual."^ Similarly, Preston,
Pelts, Mudd, and Froacher say, "Personality may be regarded
primarily as an Impression which is formed by another
person."? Thus, the concept of personality is introduced
with regard to its impact on another which, of course,
denotes the observer, not the observed, as the object of
scientific study. This, then, is the operational meaning
of personality as used here: the social stimulus value
one partner has for the other. This study is not concerned
with subjective or intrinsic aspects of personality but
^Harold V. Gaskill, Personality (New York:
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1936), p. 2.
?Maicom G. Preston, Wm. L. Peltz, Hnily H. Mudd,
and Hazel B. Proscher, "Impressions of Personality as a
Function of Marital Conflict," Journal of Abnormal and
Social Psychology. XLVII (19£2), 32b-3&.
19
with the impression which person X forms of Y's personal
ity*
Romantic idealization.— Willard Waller's
definition is employed in this study. "Idealisation may
be defined as the process of building up a complete
picture of another person in one's own imagination, a
picture for which sensory data are absent or to whloh they
o
are definitely contradictory.In his elaboration Waller
says idealization involves Imputing desirable qualities to
a person lacking them, exaggerating their proportion when
they are present, and denying the existence or extent of
unfavorable qualities.^
Romanticism.— This term refers to the relationship
between two persons in which greatest emphasis is placed
upon the fact that they "love" each other, and in which
the importance of other social realities is de-emphasized
or ignored.
Romantic love.— Henry Bowman distinguishes
romantic love from other types of love— filial, parental,
brotherly— by the fact that it grows out of an awareness
^Willard Waller, The Family, a Dynamic Interpre
tation (New York: The Cordon Company, 1^3^), p. 200.
9Ibid.
20
of and response to sex d i f f e r e n c e s . ^
Organisation of the Remainder
of the Dissertation
Chapter II reviews the related literature in two
parts. The first part consists of an examination of
theories of romantic idealization; the second deals with
studies of romantic idealization and such related matters
as romanticism and studies of the ideal mate. In the
third seotion of the chapter scientific findings are
integrated within the extant theoretic formulations; and
the final section provides the rationale on which the
present study is based.
Chapter III describes the method of collecting
the sample and the socio-cultural characteristics of the
subjects. Also Included is a summary of the history of
the Interpersonal Checklist, the instrument used in the
s tudy.
Chapter IV reports the statistical findings of
the study. Each hypothesis is supported or rejected by
appropriate statistical procedures. These are described
and reported in this ohapter.
Chapter V gives an over-all statement of the
experiment and offers some suggestions for further
*®Henry A. Bowman, "The Diagnosis of Love," in
Modern Marriage and Family Living, ed. Morris Pishbein
(New York: Oxford University Press, 1957).
21
studies, This chapter also includes a section which
examines implications and applications of the results for
various fields in sociology, Including the sociology of
the family, and for marriage counseling.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OP THE LITERATURE
The present ohapter has the following objectives:
(1) an examination of the theoretic literature on romantic
idealization, and an attempt to achieve some systematic
integration of these contributions; (2) a report on scien
tific studies of romantic idealization and such related
subjects as romanticism and studies of the ideal mate;
(3) *n attempt at systematic integration of scientific
findings with existing theory, and (I 4 .) the rationale
underlying the orientation for the present study.
Theories of Romantic Idealization
An examination of the theoretical orientations
which abound on this subject will demonstrate that
although there is wide disagreement regarding determinants
of idealization and Just which groups of persons do
idealize, there is a common core of agreement regarding
the quality of its manifestation. This conclusion will be
documented and elaborated following presentation of the
various theories.
22
23
Willard Waller*— In 1930* Waller, a social
psychologist, prsssnted his theory of Idealization between
lovers as consisting of three main strands: (1) Imputing
desirable qualities to a person lacking them; (2) exag
gerating their proportion when they are present; and
(3) denying the existence or extent of unfavorable
qualities. He defines Idealization as follows:
. . . the process of building up a complete picture of
another person in onefs own imagination, a picture
for which sensory data are absent or to which they are
definitely contradictory. A lover Idealizes his
beloved. It Is not sufficient to say that he
Idealizes her because of the tendency to over-value
the sex-objeot, although that is, In fact, an element
in the situation. He idealizes her because he strives
toward her. He wants to possess her completely both
physically and spiritually, which In our culture Is
not possible; balked at this striving, he fills his
mind with her by imagining things about her. A young
man Idealizes a woman because he has strong passions,
because he does not know very much about women,
particularly the woman whom he Idealizes, and also
because he has been trained to idealize. In romantic
love one builds up an almost completely unreal
picture of a person which he calls by the same name as
a real person, and vainly Imagines to be like that
person, but in fact the only authentic thing In the
picture is the emotion which one feels toward it.l
He continues his analysis of the process of
Idealization with an explanation of Its biological genesis,
as follows:
The idealization of romantic love is founded upon
a temporary blocking or frustration of sexual
impulses. Love of a person is essentially a striving
toward her, an urge to behave toward her In a certain
^Willard Waller, The Family, a Dynamic Interpre
tation (New York: The Gordon Company, 1938), p. 200.
2k
way. Whan overt expression of this urge la wholly or
partially frustrated, the tandanoy axpraaaaa itself
in imagination; arotio phantaay aubatitutaa for
arotie behavior. Slnca phantaay la much lasa
affective than tha appropriate phyaleal behavior aa
a meana of relieving phyaioal tensions, there must be
a great deal of thla phantaay and it must occupy
oonaciouanaaa almost completely. Since the phantasies
of moat people have little real direction of their
own, culture enters here to furnish the form and
content of the phantasies which go to make up the
preoccupation of the lover. 2
Waller emphasizes the point that idealization and
the euphoria of love force the individual to channelize
hia biological drives in the approved social direction of
marriage.
One has to love in order to marry, but there are
tendencies which oppose both love and marriage; one
generates the commanding emotions of romantic love in
order to overcome thla opposition to a fundamental
drive (i.e., the aexual). Always there is a part of
the man that loves, and another part that cries out
against the slavery of love. The answer of the
organism is to heighten the intensity of the emotion.
. . . When love ohoioe was freed from the prescrip
tions of the family and the tribe, the individual was
set free in many other respects as well. As individ
uation of life patterns Increases, the person becomes
Increasingly unwilling to make the sacrifices involved
in love and marriage and the upbringing of children.
. . . A part of the individuated man struggles against
paying the costs of love, bargains, exploits, and
seeks its own interests. But the mating impulse la
powerful, and, at least in persons who have been
conditioned as we have, it is not satisfied by purely
objective, touch and go, segmental relationships.
Therefore the individual falls in love and disciplines
his other behavior tendencies in the interest of the
satisfaction of the one. The peculiar phenomenon
known as falling in love is therefore a resultant of
mental conflict; it emerges when sentiment-formation
2Ibid.. p. 203.
25
conquers the self-interest of the individual. . . . It
(the euphoria of love) is the anesthetic which renders
the amputation of our cherished habits painless.3
In summary, it will be noted that Waller's theory
of romantic idealisation is heavily biologically oriented
as reflected in his emphasis on culturally blocked sex
drives. Yet he does stress the point that the culture
determines the content of the fantasy life of the lover.
Edmund Bergler.— Bergler, a psychoanalyst, speaks
of the overvaluation of the loved object as follows:
The man in love lives in an acute frenzy of love
in a world of fantasy, in which the loved object of
the moment seems to be the most beautiful, sublime,
glorious in the world. If the rest of the world,
which is not in love, tries to draw his attention to
the defects and blemishes of the loved one, he denies
them indignantly in a delusive rejection of reality.4
This world of fantasy, Bergler notes, is comprised
of the lovers' ideal and the feeling that the loved one is
the material objectification of the ideal. The whole
complex is likened to a psychosis, Insomuch as the lover
denies reality. He says the lovers' protestation, "I
shall always love you," resembles more than anything else
a psychotic state.5
3Ibid.. p. 206.
^■Edmund Bergler, Unhappy Marriage and Divorce (New
York: International Universities Press, 194^}* P* 18.
^Ibld., p. 20.
26
It la clear from Bergler'a preaentatlon that he
Includea both the male and the female aa being subject to
romantic Idealisation, whereaa Waller Implies that thla
malady affeota only males.
Meyer Nlmkoff.—-Nlmkoff, a sociologist, reflects
In hia analysis the psychoanalytic orientation aa well as
acceptance of Waller’s theory. He also Introduces the
Idea that Idealization serves to enhance the Individual’s
self-esteem, which notion was later elaborated by Burgess
and Wallin to become the core of their "self-esteem"
theory. Nlmkoff notes that:
There is a great deal of Irrationality in the
relationship of lovers. Each is blinded by love to
the Imperfections of the other. The young man falls
in love and strives to possess completely his beloved.
For one reason or another he cannot have her imme
diately, so he must repress his desire. The
accumulated emotion finds indirect expression in his
love-making, in the many courtesies he shows her, in
his daydreams, in a process which the psychoanalysts
call sublimation. Part of the sublimation takes the
form of idealization fluid he imagines his beloved as he
would like her to be. All her freckles fade away and
only her big blue eyes remain. • . . The beloved is
perfect, for cuiything less than a perfect choice
reflects on the intelligence of the chooser.®
Sigmund Freud.— Freud’s theoretical orientation to
idealization, as might be anticipated, is biological in
formulation, for he speaks of the sexual over-estimation
of the loved one:
^Meyer Nirakoff, Marriage and the Family (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 19^7)» P* 375>.
27
In connection with this question of being in love,
we have always been struok by the phenomenon of sexual
over-estimation— the fact that the lowed objeot enjoys
a certain amount of freedom from crltioism, and that
all Its characteristics are valued more highly than
those of people who are not lowed, or than Its own
were at a time when It itself was not lowed.?
Freud's theory has in common with Waller's and
Nlmkoff*s the idea of sexual frustration or suppression as
the basis for idealization. Neither Nlmkoff or Freud or
Bergler recognize the role culture plays in romantic
idealization, not a surprising omission considering
Freud's and Bergler's orientation, but unexpected of
Nlmkoff, a sociologist.
Robert Winch.— Winch, in his brilliant analysis of
romance in American culture, makes a unique contribution
with his recognition that romantic love and idealization
are of functional value within the framework of society's
cardinal values.® He notes romantic lowers exaggerate the
importance of the affeotive component of their relation
ship and minimize or ignore the importance of such factors
as social class, family, property, status, religion, and
even language. All this, Winch believes, serves to
support the cult of individualism and the maximization of
^Sigmund Freud, Group Psychology and the Analysis
of the Ego (London: Hogarth Press, 1^8), p. ?2.
^Robert F. Winch, The Modern Family (New York:
Henry Holt and Company, 19^21/ P* 3&3*
28
self-realization, prominent values in our culture*
Winch lays great stress on the role various
Institutions play in fostering the development of unreal
istic Ideals of the love relationship. He maintains
organized religion created and continually reinforces the
doctrine that the sexes are sexually inaccessible to each
other exoept in marriage. Thus religion, with its
approval of only legalized sexual relationships, tends to
preserve a type of social distance which fosters and
develops unrealistic romantic ideals. Mass Industry, with
its "monotonization" of the Job and anonymity for the
worker, leaves the worker with unsatisfied emotional needs
thus rendering him more vulnerable to romantic appeals.
Winch believes, however, that economic institutions reach
their capacity as purveyors of the romantic complex in the
vast amount of advertising designed to convince the
consumer that if he buys a particular product he will
become a god and thereby attract a goddess. The mass
media of romantic literature, and the stereotyped, pre
fabricated love plots of soap operas and movies, he
believes, exert a powerful influence on the individual’s
idea of perfect love, perfect romance, and perfect
marriage.
Within this general sociological orientation of
romantic love, Winch offers his theory of romantic
29
idealization and designates those vho are most susceptible
to it. He says, "In accordance with the love-is-bllnd
theme, a lover is able to see only the virtues of his
love-object, and, indeed, he oreates virtues invisible to
the disinterested eye."9
Winch does not take a definite and clear-cut stand
on just vho idealizes. While his introductory comments
imply the vhole of romantically Involved Western Culture
is subject to romantic idealization, his subsequent
comments emphasize idealization la characteristic of
adolesoents only, fluid is related to their feelings of
insecurity. In this connection he observes that feelings
of inferiority and insecurity are part of the "natural
history" of adolescence in middle-class culture, vhere the
adolescent oonceives himself or herself as being more
insecure, inferior to, and weaker than others. As a
consequence of this lack of self-esteem the adoleaoent
looks to auiother person for strength, seeking reassuremce
concerning his weaknesses. The adolescent's need for
self-validation amd acceptance ace met by someone who la
thought to be cleairly superior to himself. Therefore,
according to Winch, "Projection of the ego-ideal is the
psychic basis for idealization and for the aphorism that
9Ibld., p. 329
30
'Beauty la In the eye of the beholder.'"10 (The ego-ideal
la uaed in the Freudian Interpretation to algnlfy a
peraon'a oonoeptlona of himself aa he would like to be*)
Winoh'a exaot poaltion la further obaoured by hla
statement that idealization la the . . natural expres
sion of the adolescent personality*"X1 However, Winch Is
not referring to the personality of the adolescent as auch
but to the type of personality characteristic of immature
individuals* Thla ia evident from his elaboration that
the person who attains emotional adulthood is able to
renounce the imposslble-to-meet ideal love objeot and
replaoe It with hla own "personal-psychic ideal mate in
terms of his idiosyncratic need pattern; * . • while the
adolescent must have a goddess to satisfy his requirements,
the mature man or woman can be satisfied with a mere human
being."12
From the foregoing presentation of Winch's theory,
several conclusions may be drawn:
1. In America, romantic idealization is a culture
complex, the consequence of continuous indoctrination and
reinforcement by its institutions. Thus romantic ideal
ization is characteristic of all those persons who are
romantically Involved. Yet, as has been noted, Winch says
10Ibid.
12Ibld., p. 1*33
X1Ibld., p. 432.
31
this Is not always the case, for he maintains mature
persons are able to compromise with the romantic ideal
and to settle for mere mortals.
2. Idealisation is an affliction of middle-class
adolescents.
3. Idealization is characteristic of the adoles
cent personality, that is, immature individuals.
Burgess and Wallin.— Burgess and Wallin’s theory
explains idealization as a vehicle for the enhancement of
self.^-3 They recognize that it Is important for most
people to think well of themselves and that through
idealizing those with whom they Identify are able to
maintain self-esteem. In the tradition of Mead and James
they regard the self as composed of other selves, partic
ularly parents, children, and friends with whom one is In
intimate rapport. Therefore, to be proud of these
significant others is cause for pride in self. Through
this process of identification and the need for maintain
ing the self as an object of love and respect, the
individual tends to overestimate others’ "virtues" and to
underestimate their "defects."^
^Ernest W. Burgess and Paul Wallin, Engagement
and Marriage (New York: J. B. Lippincott Co., 19^3)»
pp. 2li±-l4 . 3.
^Ibld., p. 2ll±.
32
This theory led Burgess and Wallin to the follow
ing conclusions about the Incidence and extent of
Idealization:
1. Individuals who tend to idealize the loved one
with whom they identify and are identified will tend to do
so after marriage as well as before.
2. Individuals differ in the extent to which they
idealize and some do not idealize the loved one at all.
3. Idealization is likely not be extreme in the
majority of cases.
This conclusion is especially true of middle-class,
college-level persons in our culture, sinoe one of the
standards to which they try to adhere is to be
reallstlo and not to be starry-eyed or romantic in
their courtship.15
These two social scientists, along with Freud,
Bergler, and Nimkoff ignore the possibility that the
culture has a hand in fostering and perpetuating romantic
idealization.
Albert Ellis.— Ellis, a psychotherapist, takes a
very strong position against romantic idealization which
he believes to be entirely a cultural product. He notes
the similarity between idealization and neurosis with
reference to the failure to recognize reality. Thus, the
romantic lover exaggerates, overestimates, sees his
^Ibld., p. 222.
33
beloved as she really is not* He speaks of the "perni
cious and widespread effects of our romantio ideologies"
on the lives of some of his patients, and notes that they
and the people with whom they become Involved have
"impossible romantic, perfectionist notions of the ideal
mate and the ideal marriage. AO
Ruth Shonle Cavan.— Cavan, a sociologist, speaks
of Idealization as consisting of the "Imagined person
ality" which the lover projects onto what he perceives in
the other.
The imagined conception of the otherfs personality
is based upon a few desirable phases of personality
rather than upon the entire personality, good and bad.
Because a few characteristics are unusually pleasing,
it Is assumed that the entire personality of the other
is on the same plane
Cavan accounts for idealization in terms of the
circumstances In which romantic contacts occur, noting
that the self-enforced isolation of the couple prevents
their seeing each other in contact with others where less
ideal traits may appear* While she believes
. • . overidealization breaks down under the impact
of dally living and may be a factor in conflict and
divorce, she feels that in "mature" conjugal love
^Albert Ellis, The American Sexual Tragedy (New
York: Twayne Publishers, 19^4?# P* 131*
■^Ruth Shonle Cavan, The American Family (New
York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1953)# p* I 4 .I0.
l8Ibid.
3^
there Is still a strong element of idealization . . •
shortcomings are generously overlooked, and desirable
traits are valued and praised.19
Robert 0. Blood.--Blood, marriage counselor and
educator, defines idealization as deluding oneself into
believing that the dating partner has the desired
pft
characteristics. w It is thus the opposite of seeing a
person as he really is— with his faults and limitations as
well as his assets and virtues. He, like Winch, relates
idealization to insecurity saying,
In general, the more Insecure an individual, the
greater his need for distorting his partner into
idealized form. An insecure person longs for
security so much that he is convinced he has found it
in every date. If a date appreciably resembles his
ideal marriage partner, the datervs Imagination fills
in the missing details.21
James Peterson.— Peterson, marriage counselor and
educator, introduces a unique theory of romantic ideal
ization.^ He maintains the whole process to be a
complicated arrangement of double-masking. The process is
delineated as follows: the lovers tend to obsoure their
negative qualities in order not to threaten the developing
1^xbid., p. I 4 . I 5 ; .
20Robert 0. Blood, Anticipating Your Marriage
(Glencoe, 111.: The Free Presi' /IfegT.
21Ibld., p. 6i+.
James A. Peterson, Education for Marriage (New
York: Charles Scribner*s Sons, 19^6),p. 1§8.
35
&ffactional relationship; in addition, they tend to regard
each other as the incarnation of the ideal mate* Thus
idealization, from Peterson's point of view, becomes a
two-layered arrangement, involving two double-masked
individuals*
In postulating a psycho-social theory of idealiza
tion Peterson does not neglect the importance of other
factors* He recognizes the significant influence played
by mass media and also the possibility that sexual
suppression is another cause* He does not, however,
assign to biology the Importance stressed by Freud and
Waller.23
Theodore Reik,— Relk, a psychotherapist, believes
men are more inclined to romantically Idealize than
women.He says:
Women in general are less idealistic than men,
even in love. They can more easily stand seeing the
faults and the shortcomings of their men, and love
them nevertheless. Men have an imperative need to
see women as if they were walking angels, at least
when they are young men and in love.O
Francis E* Merrill.--Merrill, a sociologist, takes
23james A. Peterson, Toward a Successful Marriage
(New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 19&0), pp. &3-JJ.1*
^■Theodore A* Reik, A Psychologist Looks at Love
(New York: Rinehart, 19l+-5)» P* t>9*
2^Ibid.
the position romantic idealization is the oonsequenoe of
cultural indoctrination and the frustration of sex
drives. ° He maintains romantic love differs with respect
to social classes, ethnic groups, and religious groups.
He neglects to specify these differences beyond saying
the middle class "appears" to be more subject to romantic
love than the wording class. ^
Summary and conclusions.--Having presented the
theoretic formulations of idealization of a noted group of
social scientists, educators, and psychotherapists the
most obvious conclusion is the lack of agreement on just
who the romantic ldeallzers are. It is variously main
tained that romantlo Idealization is characteristic of all
who believe they are in love; that it affects only males,
only females, only adolescents, only the immature, and
that it is a middle class phenomenon. Considerable
disagreement obtains as to whether it is the consequence
of sexual inaccessibility, the need to maintain one's
self-esteem, or whether it is the result of indoctrination.
In short, there is no agreement as to whether the genesis
is biological, social, or cultural, or all three.
^Francis E. Merrill, Courtship and Marriage; A
Study in Social Relationships Wew York: rfenrv riolt and
£o7,’ lnc".", 19557.” p.~W.---
^^jbid., p. I 4 . 6.
37
However, along with the lack of consensus on just
who Idealizes, and what the "cause" is, there is "universe
of dlsoourse" on how idealization affects the romantically
involved. They do not perceive each other aa ordinary,
garden-varlety human beings, but as the personification
of extraordinary and unusual personality characteristics.
In other words, they do not perceive each other in
realistic but in unrealistic terms. Further, it is
implied in all these theories there is a "real" other whom
the individual does not perceive at all; and that which
he does perceive is to a large extent his own projections.
In demonstrating the points of agreement between
the several theories, we have inadvertently Implied why
frontal attack on the problem is impossible. In the first
place no Instrument has been available which measures
"unrealistic" or "realistic" perceptions of another
person. Secondly, since the notion of the "real" other is
a vague and nebulous concept which is extremely difficult
to study (except perhaps with depth techniques or psycho
therapy) it is not subject to the type of scientific
inquiry set forth In this paper.
The question then arises as to how idealization
can be studied. An instrument is now available with which
one individual can describe another in "realistic" and
"unrealistic" terms. It is so standardized that
38
statements of probability can be made about the occurrence
of these types of behavior with a given degree of confi
dence. Therefore, this paper proposes an indirect
approach to the study of Idealization by investigating
what is operationally defined as realistic and unreallstio
behavior with reference to their probability of occurrence.
To summarize the foregoing: the theoretic litera
ture on romantic idealization has been presented; attention
has been directed to the three lines of divergence into
which the theories may be grouped with respect to the
genesis of idealization; the two points of convergence
have been set forth; discussion has shown that a direct
approach to its study Is impossible except with the aid
of projective techniques or "depth" therapy; and finally,
preliminary mention is made of the proposed methodology
for this investigation.
Attention is now directed to the one published
study of romantic idealization. Burgess and Wallin,
recognizing the difficulties of devising a direct approach
to testing either Waller’s or their self-esteem theory
tested a number of hypotheses deduced from Waller's
theory.^®
^®Burgess end Wallin, op. clt.. pp. 2ll|-i|3.
Related Scientific Studies
39
Burgess and Wallin’s study
Burgess and Wallin aceept the essential tenets of
Waller’s theory which, for ease of reference, Is recapit
ulated here: (1) Imputing desirable qualities to a person
lacking them, (2) exaggerating their proportion when they
are present, and (3) denying the existence or extent of
unfavorable qualities. They reject Waller’s theory that
Idealization is the result of blocking the sex drives,
but as previously set forth, maintain it can be explained
In terms of the individual’s need to maintain his or her
self-esteem. They ostensibly set out to either refute or
validate Waller's theory but, as will be demonstrated,
take liberty in interpreting all their findings as
invalidating Waller and thus supporting their theory.
With respect to the euphoria of love, from which
Burgess and Wallin derived the hypothesis that if Waller’s
theory is valid, the subjects should report their state of
health as significantly improved during courtship— the
findings showed three-fourths of the subjects reported
their health remained unchanged.
Waller had maintained that within a few weeks or
months after marriage the "delusive solidarity" character
istic of courtship would be fractured by conflict and
unhappiness. Burgess and Wallin tested this hypothesis
ko
and found both males and females shoved a marked tendency
to reeall the first year of marriage as happier than the
year prior to marriage.
It vas inferred from Waller's analysis that the
longer a couple is engaged the greater would be the sexual
frustration and the more marked their idealization of one
another. The data from the engagement success schedule
revealed a slight tendency for the evaluation of the loved
one and the relationship to become more negative as the
length of engagement increased. These investigators
interpret the above results as in no way casting doubt on
the self-esteem theory but as a refutation of Waller's
theory. There is considerable question that the methodol
ogy used in testing this hypothesis was sound. All
Burgess and Wallin did was to compare length of engagement
with engagement success scores. They neglected to
introduce sexual frustration as the necessary variable.
Scientific procedure requires the comparison of the inter
course and non-intercourse groups, holding length of
engagement and engagement success scores constant.
As a rough test on Waller's theory that engaged
/ .
persons would regard the fiance(e) in a more favorable
light before than after marriage, the investigators
obtained before and after marriage data on (1) the ratings
of one another on five personality attributes; (2) the
ratings by couple members of each other's physical
ifl
appearance; and (3) the number of changes couple members
desired In their partner. The findings on (1) personality
attributes, showed no significant difference between
before and after-marriage ratings. The results on (2)
physical appearance, show some down-grading after marriage,
the tendency being significant for men. Burgess and
Wallin do not interpret this result as supporting Waller's
theory, but maintain that either such men may not have
been ideallzers before marriage or that the women's
appearance actually changed after marriage because of
child-bearing. The findings on (3) number of changes
desired in the partner show a decline in the favorableness
of the after-marriage evaluation. This result is not
considered supportive evidence for Waller's theory but is
held as being consistent with Burgess and Wallin's theory.
They regard the change in attitude as due to the first
awareness of inadequacies of their partner I
To test Waller's theory that idealization is the
consequence of frustrated sex drives comparison was made
between the engagement scores of the premarital inter
course and non-intercourse groups. They reasoned that if
Waller's theory is valid the intercourse group would tend
to have the lower engagement scores. This was corrob
orated by the findings which, while the authors grant are
in the direction predicted by Waller, are not so
k2
interpreted. Instead, they offer the ad hoc hypothesis
that suoh unconventional persons might be expected to rate
the engagement partner less favorably because they are
less conventional and not because of release or diminution
of sexual tension.
To attempt a thorough-going critique of this
investigation (an intriguing prospect) is not germane to
the present inquiry. There is considerable question that
their evidence justifies the conclusion idealization is
not as widespread as commonly maintained. The question is
raised because of its relevance to the present study.
Their conclusion is based in part on the results obtained
from the Engagement Success Schedule. The only justifica
tion for the use of this instrument is stated briefly aa
follows: "Is the loved one and the relationship with her
characterized more favorably— assuming this is evidence of
idealization— or less so the longer she is known before
marriage?"^ i3 this assumption warranted? Is there
anything in any of the theories, stated or Implied, about
"favorable" characterization of the loved one or the
relationship? The language of idealization has to do with
— and again Waller and Burgess and Wallin are quoted--
(1) Imputing desirable qualities to a person lacking them,
(2) exaggerating their proportion when they are present,
29lMd., p. 226.
k3
and (3) denying the existence or extent of unfavorable
qualities. This definition of idealization, as demon
strated previously, implies that the lover perceives the
beloved in unrealiatio terms. What, in the Burgess and
Wallin schedule, is related to unrealistic perception of
the engagement partner? If it could be conceded that the
Schedule actually measures idealization (which it does
not) one further question arises. Since 78 per oent of
the subjects scored in the third quartile, vhat is the
basis for maintaining idealization is not extensive in
on
American culture?-*
The pilot study
This writer, in an exploratory study, using the
same instruments employed in this investigation, attempted
to study idealization based on the indirect approach
previously outlined. The focus of the study was to deter
mine the incidence of unrealistic conceptions of the ideal
mate and the incidence of unrealistic perceptions of the
fiance(e). The sample consisted of thirty-eight couples
studied at the Marriage License Bureau of the Los Angeles
County Courthouse immediately after they were granted a
license to wed.
The results showed that a significantly high
^Ibld., pp. 306-309 contain the Engagement
Success Schedule.
k k
percentage of the subjects' conceptions of the ideal mate
and perceptions of the engagement partner were unrealis
tic. (By unrealistic is meant the statistical
improbability that this incidence would be found in the
population studied.
The second objective was the investigation of sex
differences in Incidence of unrealism with respect to the
ideal and the engagement partner. No differences were
found. The third objective was to determine sex differ
ences in the correlations between ideal and chosen mate.
The correlations between ideal and engagement partner
were significantly higher for women than for men,
suggesting this group is more romantically involved. The
final objective was a rough test of Waller's theory of
sexual frustration as being associated with idealization.
Comparisons between the intercourse and non-intercourse
groups yielded no difference with respect to incidence of
unrealism.
The above findings, certainly tentative because of
the small sample involved, suggest a high incidence of
romantic idealization. They also question the validity of
those theories which maintain or imply this complex is
unique with either sex. The findings do suggest women are
3^This statement will beoome more meaningful in
the analysis of the instrument which Is contained in
Chapter III.
ks
more romantically involved than men if congruence between
the ideal and ohoaen mate can be accepted aa a criterion
of romantloiam.
Hobart*a atudlea of romantiolam
The publlahed literature pertaining to romanticiam
la more apeculatlve than scientific. The oonaenaua ia
that romanticism, or romantio love, originated in Weatern
Europe during the Middle Agea. It la generally believed
to have been a aocio-psychological reaction againat the
socio-economic, religious, philosophic determinism.
Denis de Rougemont believes that romantic love appears to
have been the individuals attempt to meet what may be a
basic human need within the limits of frustrating social
situations.
In Weatern Culture, particularly in the United
States, where individualism is a cardinal value, romantio
love has flourished aa one of the highly valued preroga
tives. Similarly, romantic love, emphasizing the
emotional involvement between two persons who are unaware
or unmindful of other oultural and social realities, has
furthered the cause of individualism.
Romanticism la variously regarded aa a scourge and
aa fulfilling a necessary social and cultural function.
3^Denis de Rougemont, Love in the Western World
(New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., l%-0).
1*6
Ellis and Winch ape especially vehement in the denuncia
tion of romantio love, maintaining that its overemphasis
in our soolety encourages dreams impossible of fulfill
ment. 33 Persons and others regard romantic love as
serving the useful function of luring youth away from
their pleasure-chasing activities and to set them to doing
the world's work.3^ Burgess, in his olassio monograph,
"The Romantic Impulse and Family Disorganization,"
published in 1926, emphasized its dislocating effects on
family stability.35 His appeal for scientific research
in this area has received little serious attention until
reoent years. Hobart, a sociologist, is the only person
who has studied the phenomenon e x t e n s i v e l y . - ^
Within the framework of structural-functional
theory, whioh places much emphasis on a romantically
oriented adolescent sub-culture, Hobart investigated
romantiolsm among college students in a West Coast,
33ehIs, optclt., pp. 97-121; Winch, op. clt.. pp.
361-89.
3^-Talcott Parsons, Essays in Sociological Theory.
Pure yid Applied (Glencoe, 111*1 The Free Press,
p. 2 Hugo G. Blegel, "Romantic Love," American Socio
logical Review. XVI (195D, 326-3^.
3^E!rneat W. Burgess, "The Romantic Impulse and
Family Disorganization. Survey. LVII (1926), 290-9^.
3^Charles Hobart, "The Incidence of Romanticism
during Courtship," Social Forces. XXXVI (195>8), 362-67;
Charles Hobart, Attitude Changes during Courtship and
Marriage," Marriage and Family Living. XXII (i960), 352-59-
sectarian, coeducational oollege. The aample consisted
of 83I undergraduate students, together with their off-
campus relationship partners: dates, fiance(e)s, and
mates. The sample vas divided into groups aoeordlng to
the following courtship stages: no particular date,
casual dating, favorite dating, going steady, engaged,
and married. His Instrument was an abbreviated form of
the dross Scale which was designed to measure romanticism
as reflected in the attitudes towards the prospective
mate and beliefs regarding marriage.37
Hobart's hypothesis that the romanticism of '
adolescents will change at different stages of courtship
because of the different tensions associated with these
statuses was partially supported by the results obtained
from the males. However, the romanticism score of the
going steady males is not significantly larger than that
of the married male group, as the hypothesis predicts.
He found a significant increase in romanticism from the
non-dating to the going steady stage for males; however,
there was no significant decline in romanticism from the
going steady to the married stage, as predicted. None of
the data for females substantiated his hypothesis. In
other words, he found that among males romanticism is
•^Llewellyn Gross, "Belief Pattern Scale for
Measuring Attitudes toward Romanticism," American Socio
logical Review. IX (19Mf)» 1^3-72.
1*8
affooted by varying degrees of intimacy vlth the opposite
sexv while females tend to maintain their initial adoles-
oent romantic views throughout differing stages of dating,
courtship, engagement, and marriage. This suggests that
an idiosyncratic factor operates in the case of females:
they are either romantically or non-romantically oriented,
and the type of relationship they have with the opposite
sex does not appreciably alter their views.3®
Hobart was not concerned with sex differences in
romanticism at given stages of intimacy, but examination
of the data shows the mean romanticism score is higher for
males than females on nine of the twelve courtship stages
tested. Whether these differences are significant cannot
be ascertained from the data given.39
Another feature of the study reported above was
Hobart’s inquiry into whether the unrealistic, roman
tically oriented attitudes of youth are reflected in
their attitudes towards marital role behaviors.^-0 He
hypothesized that the marital role opinions of adolescents
at premarital courtship stages would tend to be
3®This interpretation is suggested by the data,
not by Hobart,
3^The data necessary for calculating significant
differences Is not available from Hobart.
^Charles W. Hobart, "Marital Role Opinions and
the Courtship Process” (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation,
Indiana University, 1955)* Charles W. Hobart, "Some
unrealistic when compared with married persons who, since
they were already Involved in marriage, would presumably
have realistic marital role opinions.
The instrument used to teat the hypothesis was a
marital role Inventory consisting of seventy statements
about marital role preferences and expectations. The
results oonfirmed the hypothesis. For the men thirty-
three items exemplified a statistically significant
difference and for the women twenty-nine items differen
tiated them from the married group’s opinions. It would
appear from this finding that men tend to be more
unrealistic in their marital role opinions than women;
whether this difference Is statistically significant is
not stated, presumably because Hobart was concerned with
adolescents and married persons, not with sex differences.
Ideal mate studies
Numerous studies have been made on what persons
desire in the marital partner.^ A complete report on
Effects of Romanticism during Courtship on Marriage Role
Opinions,” Sociology and Social Research, XLII (1958)*
336-43.
5. Bernard, "Student Attitudes on Marriage
and the Family,” American Sociological Review. Ill (1938),
35^-61; Harold T. Christensen, "StudTent Views on Mate
Selection,” Marriage and Family Living. IX (1947), 85-88;
Clifford Kirkpatrick, ^£Vuctent Attituaes toward Marriage
and Sex,” Journal of Educational Sociology. X (1938),
54£-55>J M. C. Langhorne and Paul F. Secord, "Variations In
Marital Needs with Age, Sex, Marital Status, and Regional
50
these studies would be a volume in itself and ox limited
relevance to the present study. Valuable as these studies
have been for the participants, the general applicability
of their findings is limited by the fact that the samples
routinely consist of high school or college students, and
encompass such a miscellany of factors that intelligible
presentation of the unwieldy body of data is impossible.
Depending on the investigator's purposes and interests
such studies Include some or all of the following factors:
personality traits, physical traits, socio-economic
factors, nationality, religious affiliation, role expecta
tions, need satisfactions, and so forth. Only those few
studies pertinent to the present inquiry are summarized
here.
One of the most reoent studies, made by Zubrack,
is cited here for its relevance to the present s t u d y . ^
Location," Journal of Social Psychology. XLI (1955)>
19-37; Thomas C. McCormick and Boyd E. Macrory, "Group
Values in Mate Selection in a Sample of College Girls,"
Soolal Forces. XXII (191+4)» 315*17» W* Mather, "Courtship
Ideals of High School Youth," Sociology and Social
Research. XIX (193^)» 166-72; H. h. Rammers, A. J. Drucker,
and itarold T. Christensen, "Courtship Conduct as Viewed by
Highschool Youth," Purdue Opinion Panel. Poll No. 27,
1950; Marvin B. Sussman and Harold C. Yeager, Jr., "Mate
Selection among Negro and White College Students,"
Sociology and Social Research. XXXV (1950), 46-1+9; and
F. Weller, ' v Student Attitudes on Marriage Partners,
Sociology and Social Research, XXVI (I9I 4 . 2), £12-2i j . .
^2Fred Zubraok, "Adolescent Values in Marital
Choice," Marriage and Family Living. XXI (1959)* 77-79*
51
His findings lend further supporting evidence for the
existence of a romantically oriented youth sub-culture.
His survey of 713 high sohool students vas designed to
determine what personality traits or other factors were
most Important In selecting a marital partner. The
students ranked the following items according to their
importance as follows: emotional love, emotional maturity,
agreeable personality, same religion, physical attractive
ness, common interests, financial responsibility,
intelligence, family background. Zubrack*s examination of
the results from different age-groups disolosed no
significant differences in choice ratings although the
sample ranged from thirteen to twenty years of age.
Emotional love, as defined by fifty boys and girls
personally questioned, meant only physical, sexual love.
Zubrack calls attention to the romantic choice of "emo
tional love" as the first prerequisite which heads a list
of less romantically oriented qualifications. He calls
attention also the dynamics of the romantic complex in
the appearance of "family background" in the last place in
the list, along with such practical considerations as
"intelligence," "financial responsibility," and "good
health" just above it.
Strauss* doctoral study investigated the relation
ship between the ideal and ohosen mate, and the degree of
52
satisfaction with the chosen mate.^ While the focus of
his inquiry was not romanticism per se his findings are
relevant to the present study, since Strauss was inter
ested in determining sex differences with respect to ideal
mate and fiance(e) or marital partner.
Interpretation of Straussf findings is not
incontrovertible with respect to sex differences: con
siderable evidence Indicates the Incidence of romanticism
is higher among women than men. On the other hand, some
evidence Indicates the incidence is higher among men. The
data lending Itself to the former interpretation is as
follows: 53 P®r cent of the women reported the need of a
mate to love them, whereas only 36 per cent of the men
stated this need. Twenty-nine per cent of the women
reported the need of a mate they can "look up to" whereas
only 16 per cent of the men made this requirement.
Twenty-four per cent of the women reported that four-fifths
of their needs are satisfied by the mate, whereas only
12 per cent of the men stated this degree of satisfaction.
While 29 per cent of the men reported less than two-fifths
of their needs are being satisfied in the relationship,
only 18 per cent of the women stated this degree of
dissatisfaction.
^Anselm Strauss, "A Study of Three Psychological
Factors Affecting Choice of a Mate" (unpublished Ph.D.
dissertation, Dept, of Sociology, University of Chicago,
1945).
53
The data lending itself to the interpretation that
the Incidence of romanticism is higher among males is the
finding that men emphasize the personal beauty of the mate
while women tend to emphasize similar ethnic, educational,
and social backgrounds.
Armchair Speculation Versus Fact Finding
An additional objective of this chapter is the
problem of integrating empirical findings with theoretic
formulations of idealization. Preliminary to this final
objective is the task of presenting in summary form the
theoretic contributions to the genesis of romantic
idealization; and secondly, to identify just which groups
are alleged to be romantic ldeallzers.
In some instances the various proponents can be
regarded as occupying mutually exclusive positions;
generally considerable overlapping occurs. The proponents
of one-factor schools of thought can be separated into
three groups: the psycho-social, the biological, and the
cultural.
The psycho-social school emphasizes the lovers’
intense preoccupation with each other which mobilizes in
idealization in proportion to the lovers' need to maintain
and enhance their self-esteem. Lack of emotional security
appears to be the essential component and accordingly the
less personal security, the greater the tendency to
5k
exaggerate the desirable characteristics of the mate, and
the less the tendency to note undesirable qualities.
Burgess and Wallin's theory is the classic example of the
psycho-social frame of reference. Other exponents of
this school are Blood and Cavan. The latter is Identified
with this orientation because her approach emphasizes the
individuals' preoccupation with each other and limited
contact with others where less than ideal behavior might
be observed.
The biological school, in the traditional psycho
analytic frame of reference, emphasizes the primacy and
urgency of biological Imperatives which, when blocked in
expression, are sublimated in the form of erotic and
romantic fantasies. This school is represented by Freud
and Waller.
The third school adopts the cultural perspective
and maintains that advertising, mass media, and the
institutionalization of romance foster and perpetuate
unrealistic ideals of the love and marital relationship.
Ellis is the only writer who oan be identified exclusively
with this orientation.
The multi-factor proponents comprise those
theorists who postulate various combinations of psycho
social, biological, and cultural origins of idealization.
Peterson’s approach, for example, may be regarded as the
55
single example of persuasion along all three lines. His
theory of masking one's faults, thus creating a more
desirable personality, implies that one is not emotionally
secure enough to be oneself. He also emphasizes that
frustration of sex drives is an important determinant of
unrealistic attitudes towards the love object. Further,
he recognizes the role the culture plays in fostering and
perpetuating romanticism.
Nimkoff's theory reflects both the psycho-social
and the biological orientation. Elements of the psycho
social theory also appear in Winch's theory, especially
with reference to romantic attachments of adolescents.
His strong emphasis on institutional determinants and
reinforcements of romanticism also identify him with the
cultural school.
Merrill may be identified with both the biological
and cultural schools since he emphasizes the role of the
frustration of sexual drives and also recognizes the
influence of cultural determinants.
In summary, the psycho-social school may be said
to be represented by Burgess and Wallin, Blood, and Cavan.
Waller and Freud are identified with the biological
approach, and the cultural school claims Ellis. Multi
factor theories of the origin of idealization are
expounded by Merrill, Nimkoff, Peterson, and Winch.
56
The second task— the identification of just which
groups are held to be ldeallzers, and the incidence of
romantio idealisation— involves the task of again present
ing speculation, not the enumeration of scientific data.
Many uninvestigated and therefore unsupported olalms have
been made about the prevalence of this phenomena. Most of
the writers In this field generalize to the point of
creating the impression that no romantioally Involved
person can escape its insidious and crippling effects.
Others, generously extrapolating beyond the limited data
available, assert only certain groups idealize, such as
adolescents, the emotionally Immature, females only, and
males only. Further, claims have been made of social
class, ethnic, and religious differences in idealization;
whether these claims have to do with an intensity
dimension or differential Incidence, or both, is not
spelled out.
The problem of Integrating the few scientific
findings with the amorphous theoretic contributions extant
becomes a relatively simple problem due solely to the
dearth of systematic, scientific study.
Winch's theory that adolescents are more roman
tically inclined than married persons received some
support from Hobart's studies. Zubrack's study demon
strated that high school youth is romantically oriented,
57
which also supports Winch*a theory. However, since
Zubrack did not use control groups it cannot be assumed
from his study that youth is more or less unrealistic than
other groups.
Both Hobart's and Strauss' studies indloate men
are more romantically involved than women. However, the
evidence is not incontrovertible, for some of their
findings indicate women are more inclined to romanticism
than men. Thus, since the evidence is not clear cut it
cannot be regarded as supporting or refuting Reik's notion
that men are more romantically oriented. In this connec
tion, the results from the pilot study are equivocal also:
evidence indicates on the one hand there are no sex
differences; yet, on the other hand, it appears women are
more unrealistic than men. Therefore, when all the
evidence is considered, there is still considerable
question of sex differences in romanticism.
Waller's and Preud's theory that idealization is
associated with sexual frustration received no support
from the pilot study for no difference obtained between
the group who had premarital intercourse and the group
which had not.
The pilot study did support the general consensus
that the incidence of romantic idealization is statis
tically high in this culture.
58
Conclusion
The purpose of the foregoing section of this
ohspter hss been: (1) the presentation and integration of
the general theoretic literature on romantic idealisation;
(2) an examination of the few available studies pertinent
to this general field of inquiry; and (3) the attempt to
relate scientific findings within the general framework of
existing theory. The final objective remains, to present
the general orientation of this study within the theoret
ical and empirical background thus provided.
Attention is first drawn to the conclusion that
theory construction of romantic idealization is altogether
a premature undertaking at this time. Considerably more
investigation must be made before such an attempt is made.
Whether idealization is, in fact, of psycho-social,
biological, or cultural origin or all three la a moot
question at this stage of the investigation. Before this
problem is tackled the preliminary, and obvious need, is
to investigate the incidence of idealization. This
objective marks the primary purpose of the present study.
This objective also obviously implies the investigation of
the incidence of non-idealization. The question thus
revolves around the consideration of who the ideallzers
are and whether they differ from the non-ideallzers.
Accordingly, the study will dichotomize these two types of
59
orientation towards the prospective partner to determine
if the ideallzers differ from the non-idealizers with
respect to the following variables: sex membership,
ethnic membership, socio-economic membership, age, marital
status, and length of engagement.
Having Isolated the ideallzers the study will then
attempt to determine if the Incidence of idealization is
correlated with the variables set forth above. The
rationale underlying the selection of these variables as
possible correlates of idealization is presented below.
Parsons, Hobart, and others of structural-
functional persuasion have suggested age is a factor in
idealization. Peterson, in his latest work, suggests
idealization may be more pronounced among that half of
the population who marry before they are twenty years
old. kk The hypothesis which investigates this variable
assumes that age is not a factor in the incidence of
unrealistic perceptions of the prospective marital partner.
The hypotheses advanced here of ethnic and socio
economic differences were suggested by Merrillrs
unsupported statement that romantic love differs with
respect to these two variables. Soclo-economio differences
are also suggested by Burgess and Wallin and Winch. The
^"Peterson, Towards a Successful Marriage,
pp. 23-1 *1.
60
hypotheses advanced in this study assumes that socio-
eoonomic and ethnic membership have no relationship to the
Incidence of unrealism in perception of the future mate.
Length of engagement is suggested by the notion
that the duration of the intimacy period before marriage
has nothing to do with unrealism in mate perception. It
is assumed that when people believe they are in love time
Itself does nothing to dispel unrealistic notions of the
intended mate.
The hypothesis involving marital status was baaed
on the consideration that the incidence of unrealistic
perceptions of the fiance(e) might be lower among those
previously married than among the uninitiated. This is
also in line with Hobart's orientation that those persons
involved in the marital relationship would tend to be more
realistic than the unmarried.
In addition to testing the foregoing hypotheses
two additional types of analysis will be made. One
approach will seek to determine whether the intensity of
unrealism differs within the subgroups under study; the
other will attempt to determine if these groups differ
with respect to the degree of congruence between the ideal
mate and the prospective marital partner.
The formulation of the hypotheses regarding
conceptions of the ideal mate revolved around the
6i
considerations that provided the framework for the
construction of the hypotheses for the incidence of
unrealism in perception of the partner. Again, the focus
of the inquiry is to determine the incidence of differing
conceptions of the ideal mate. Similarly, the study
proposes to Investigate the incidence of realistic-
unrealistic conceptions of the ideal mate as related to
such factors as sex membership, ethnicity, socio-economic
status, age, length of engagement, and marital status.
The results of this exploration should have significant
implications for mate selection, education for marriage,
pre-marltal counseling, marriage counseling, and counsel
ing following divorce.
CHAPTER III
THE METHODOLOGY AND GROUP STUDIED
Selection of Subjects
The subjects used in this study were selected from
among couples who were successful In obtaining a marriage
license at the Los Angeles County Courthouse. The cases
were picked by using a table of random numbers, thus
assuring that each case had an equal chance of being
selected. The sampling was done during the period
February 8, i960 through March 8, i960.
A total of 238 cases was obtained. Twenty-three
sets were eliminated because the subject either omitted
face sheet items, obtained help in filling out the forms,
or failed to complete the entire set, leaving a usable
sample of 215 oases. The refusal rate varied dally from
no refusals to as high as 63 per cent; the average rate of
refusal was 37 par cent. There was no significant differ
ence between the refusal rate for Negroes and Mongoloids,
nor between Negroes and Caucasoids; however, the differ
ence between Mongoloids and Caucasoids approaohed
significance at the .05 level with a "Z" score of 1.95*
62
63
Since the stated reasons for refusal may be of
Interest they are Included as follows:
.09 per cent agreed to fill out the forms but felt
their knowledge of English was Inadequate to
do so. (Eighty per cent of this group were
Spanish speaking persons.)
.31 per cent stated they were due at their place
of employment.
.12 per oent stated they had other errands to do.
•15 per cent refused without stating a reason.
.15 per cent stated they could not read English.
.10 per cent stated they were worried about
getting a traffic ticket.
•06 per cent refused for miscellaneous reasons:
had appointment with the judge who performs
marriage ceremonies in the Marriage License
Bureau; "nervous" or "ill"; did not wish to be
studied; did not have reading glasses.
Methodology
All of the individuals who participated in this
study were administered the forms under essentially the
same conditions. The only variable was that an assistant
helped when the principal examiner was required to be
away from the Marriage License Bureau. It is not believed
this change significantly affected subjeot participation
or the results obtained as the substitute examiner, a
licensed psychometrist, was thoroughly familiar with the
standardised conditions under which scientific research
must be done. Both examiners, in comparing notes,
64
observed that when changes In approach were varied as
previously agreed upon the rate of refusal dropped. For
example when, during the early days of sample-collecting,
the examiner in approaohlng subjects Introduced herself as
a student at the University of Southern California, the
rate of refusal was higher than when the examiner intro
duced herself as "with" the University. Also, it was
discovered that the refusal rate was lower when' the
examiner explained that she could study only every third
couple, and that the couple was "it." The subjects'
response indicated they felt they were something rather
special, rather than routinely selected.
The experiment made use of two copies of the
Interpersonal Checklist which was selected because it was
designed to assess the social stimulus value one person
has for another, and because it meets the previously stated
requirement for an instrument which measures normative
and non-normatlve perceptions and conceptions.
The complete battery thus included the Inter
personal Checklists, a statistical data sheet, and a form
on which the subjeots could indicate their interest in
receiving a copy of the results of the study, and/or their
willingness to participate in follow-up studies. These
instruments are self-administered after appropriate
65
directions.^ The couple-partnera were seated at aeparate
tablea In order to prevent collaboration.
The length of tine to complete the forma varied
from ten to thirty minutes* With extremely rare exoeptlon
the woman flnlahed ahead of her partner. To what thla
difference may be aacrlbed la a matter of conjecture* It
may be that women approach thla type of taak In a perfunc
tory manner* and that men are more reflective and
deliberate. It may aImply mean that women read more
rapidly than men. Whether thla time difference in complet
ing the forma affeota the reaulta cannot be aacertalned.
When approached the aubjeota were aimply told
that the object of the reaearoh was to make a study of
people juat before they marry. When they aaked for more
information they were told thla project was being done in
connection with work in progress at the University of
Southern California. If the aubjeota had further question
after completing the forms they were told the essential
purpose was to compare the "picture” of the engagement
partner with the "picture" of the ideal partner*
Often the subjects asked for special privileges
auch as being allowed to see their partnersf completed
form and of receiving a copy of their Individual results.
No auch privileges were allowed or promised.
^Theae instruments are reproduced in the Appendix.
66
Interest was quite high as indicated by questions
and consents following completion of the forms. The fact
that 95 P*r oent of the sample requested a oopy of the
results and/or agreed to participate in the follow-up
study is an objective expression of their interest.
The Interpersonal Checklist
The Interpersonal Checklist (hereafter referred to
as the ICL) is a relatively new instrument for assessing
personality. It has as yet received limited attention and
use in scientific circles although its first public
appearance was in 1954* Therefore, because of the assump
tion of general unfsmiliarity with the instrument it is
appropriate to present a summary of its background and
p
development. Further, as previously stated, it is deemed
suitable for the type of investigation here undertaken
and it is therefore mandatory to justify its selection.
Accordingly, this section is devoted to an examination of
the theoretical background underlying conceptualization of
the instrument, the methodology of its construction, and
its empirical development.
The ICL is a list of 128 adjectival statements
which can be used to describe personality at five
2
fcFor a complete and detailed history of the
development and uses of the Interpersonal Checklist see
Timothy Leary, Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality (Hew
York: The Ronald Press Co., 1^7;, pp. 3-13!.
67
different levels of behavior.3 It vaa designed for three
purposes: (1) to assess personality in a psychiatric
setting; (2) to determine the type of psychotherapy
indicated, and (3) to prediot the oourae of treatment and
its outcome. It emerged in its present form in 1956, the
culmination of six years' collaborative effort of a team
of pyschologists and psychiatrists connected with the
Kaiser Foundation in Oakland, California. It has under
gone three major revisions, and Form IV, currently In
use, Is not considered to be the final product.
The theoretic background underlying the rationale
of the ICL can be traced to cultural anthropology, social
psychology, and neopsychoanalysis which disciplines regard
personality as socially and culturally determined. Within
this socio-cultural framework personality Is behavior in
interpersonal relationships. The study of personality
thus becomes Interpersonal behavior with reference to its
social stimulus value, that is, its Impact on others. And
the data of personality is not what a given individual is
or what he does but the effeot of his behavior as inter
preted by those with whom he interacts.
In the tradition of Jung, Homey, Sullivan, and
Fromm personality is regarded as embracing a continuum of
^This paper is concerned only with Level II, self-
other descriptions.
68
behavior, one extreme being regarded as normal (adaptive)
and the other extreme designating abnormal (maladaptive)
activity. In other words within this frame of reference
normal behavior is not qualitatively but only quanti
tatively distinguished from abnormal behavior. This, then,
comprises the theoretical orientation of the team which
undertook the research that oulmlnated in the development
of the ICL.
One of the first major problems which confronted
this team of investigators was the complexity of person
ality, Its many variables, and the task of systematizing
them either on a continuum or a scale. Early in its work
the team decided the existing formal systems of person
ality classification would not be suitable; they were
either too broadly or too narrowly conceptualized.
Therefore, the group approached the problem of determining
personality variables— not with some a priori estimate—
but by studying a variety of interpersonal situations.
Several scores of individuals--male and female, neurotic,
psychosomatic, and normal-were brought into interpersonal
relationships in small groups. Some of the groups were
studied in a psychiatric setting, and others— small
discussion groups— were observed In differing circum
stances. Hundreds of interactions of eaoh subject were
observed, recorded, and studied. Other types of behavior
69
were obtained from them, including descriptive statements
of themselves and others; their dreams, fantasies, and
autobiographies were recorded, and their responses to
batteries of psychological inventories and projeotlve tests
were scrutinized. Thousands of statements of activities
and emotion were thus gathered and analyzed. As a final
result of this procedure of sifting and combining the data
16 generic Interpersonal themes of behavior emerged.
These were systematically related in such a way that the
variables could be ordered along a continuum, and thus the
ICL grid emerged.
Further, these interpersonal trends all referred
to a power or affiliation factor. By designating the
vertical axis as the dominant submission (power) continuum
and the horizontal axis as the affiliation-hostile
dimension, it was discovered that all the 16 interpersonal
themes could be expressed within these four nodal points.
Leary in discussing the construction of the grid says
considerable theoretical formulation justified the
selection of the two main dimensions and the four quad
rants.^ For example, he notes the four nodal points fit
closely the classical humors theory of Hippocrates. The
upper left quadrant (hostile strength) equates with the
choleric temperament, the lower left (hostile weakness)
^■Leary, op. clt., pp. 71-76.
70
with the melancholic, the lover right (friendly veaknesa)
with the phlegmatic, and the upper right (friendly
strength) with the sanguine. This same fourfold classifi
cation appears in Freudian analysis of the Individual's
dynamics in which Freud stresses two baslo motives— love
and hate. In his theories of social phenomena he
emphasizes group interaction as composed of domination,
power, and the interaction of the strong versus the weak.^
Similarly, Ross Stagner presents the hypothesis that the
directions of variability in human behavior can be con
ceived as operating along two continue: approach to or
withdrawal from a stimulus object; and increased or
decreased organismlc activity with reference to the
object.^* Talcott Parsons develops this hypothesis within
the action frame of reference.? He notes action takes the
form of expressing alienation or the maintenance of
compulsive conformity, and that the mode of action is
actively or passively inclined. Thus four directional
types emerge: those of aggressiveness and withdrawal on
^Sigmund Freud, "Why War?" in Vol. V of Collected
Papers (London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho
analysis, 19£0).
^Ross Stagner, Psychology of Personality (New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1937).
?Talcott Parsons and R. F. Bales, "The Dimensions
of Action-Space," in Working Papers in the Theory of
Action (Glencoe, 111.: The Free Press, 195>3)*
71
the alienative side (corresponding to the left half of
the ICL grid) and oompulslve performance and compulsive
acceptance on the affIllative side (corresponding to the
right half of the grid).
During the five years following collection of the
original Interpersonal data the Instrument was subjected
to continuous empirical study. The checklist of 128 items
currently In use was the eventual product, and is
considered of sufficiently high validity and reliability
to be used in clinical settings and In personality
research. The statements comprising the current form of
the instrument were selected on the basis of the fre
quency of response to the individual items; the number of
responses to each item determined its empirical weight.
Thus, a built-in intensity dimension emerged, represented
by a four-point scale. Each of the Interpersonal themes
contains two items having intensity number one, six items
of intensity two, six items of intensity three, and two
items of intensity four. Intensity one Items, which
reflect a mild or necessary amount of the trait, are
checked by 90 per cent of the population. Intensity two
items, which express a moderate or appropriate amount of
the trait, are checked by 67 per cent of the population.
Intensity three items, reflecting a marked or inappro
priate amount of the trait, are checked by 33 per cent of
72
the respondents, and intensity four items, expressing an
extreme amount of the trait, are checked by 10 per cent of
the population*
In the present study no consideration is given to
the individual items nor their intensity because the
formula to be presented shortly does not deal with the
Intensity dimension, but only with raw scores* The reason
for introducing the discussion of the Intensity dimension
is to show that the Instrument has been empirically
demonstrated to represent a continuum of behavior with
respect to the individual items*
The instrument as now developed can be used in
either of two ways* The raw scores for the variables can
be profiled and shaded on the ICL grid for clinical
purposes, or these scores can be treated with special
formulae to ascertain the locus of personality description.
The latter method was used in the study reported in this
paper. In both treatments the l6 variables are paired
using adjacent variables to yield 8 octants. Justifica
tion for combining the l6 variables into 8 octants was
empirically determined by the method of correlation
coefficient* Inter-sixteenth correlations were obtained
on several samples and in each sample the results showed
a higher correlation between adjacent sixteenths than
between those two, three, or more steps apart. Thus
73
A (forceful dominance) la combined with P (respected
success) into a power octant, and B (self-confident
independence) with C (competitive self-seeking) into a
narcissism octant, and so forth, around the circle.
When standard scores are desired (as in the
present research) the following formulae are used:
Dominant-Submission axis - AP-HI ♦ .7 (NO+BC-FG-JK)
Hostility-Love axis ■ IM-DE ♦ .7 (NO-BC-FG+JK)
The standard soores thus yielded can be plotted on
the ICL grid* the center of which is determined by the
intersection of the means of the horizontal and vertical
distribution of a normative psychiatric clinic admission
sample of 537 persons. Standard scores derived from this
sample thus define the limits of normal (adaptive) and
abnormal (maladaptive) behavior. Scores from l+O to 60
inclusive thus enclose the normal contlnuvm. and scores
lower than l j .0 and higher than 60 the abnormal continuum.
Thus, the ICL dichotomizes normal and abnormal behavior.
Empirical validity of the ICL has been determined
by comparing diagnoses obtained from it with the results
yielded by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
This Instrument was chosen for this comparative study
because it is a reliable and satisfactory estimate of
psychiatric diagnosis. The procedure involved taking
two hundred clinic patients' Level II diagnoses and
7k
oomparing them with their MMPI diagnoses as determined by
pooled ratings of three psyohologlsts. Six of the most
oonmion neurotic types of character discorders were
employed as the diagnostic criterion. They included
psychopathic, schizoid, obsessive, phobic, hysteric, and
psychosomatic labels. The results showed a high degree of
correspondence between the diagnoses obtained by two
different instruments.
Reliability of the ICL was determined by the
method of test-retest correlation. A somewhat homogeneous
all-female group of seventy-seven obese patients was used
for this investigation. The average octant correlation
was and the average sixteenth correlation was .73*
These correlations are quite high in view of the fact
that the self-concept is subject to changes in mood and
perspective.
The justification for the selection of the present
instrument as suitable for the study reported here is
based upon the following considerations:
1. The instrument Is valid with respect to the
two criteria routinely employed In judging the utility of
a testing device. By logical analysis It is evident that
descriptions at Level II comprise a description of behavior
with respect to its social stimulus value on another
individual.
IS
2. By empirical analysis the Instrument has bsen
shown to possess excellent diagnostic value when compared
with the results obtained from the Minnesota Multlphasie
Personality Inventory, a standard and reliable instrument
for assessing personality.
3. The coefficient of reliability is high on
test-retest measures of correlation.
1±. It has been empirically demonstrated that the
instrument does assess personality on a continuum, with
standard scores demarcating the area designated as
adaptive behavior from that area designated as maladaptive
behavior.
It is therefore regarded as a valid Instrument
for the purposes of the present research because the
standard score arrangement can be treated by the method of
Product-Moment Correlation to determine the relationship
between ideal and fiance(e); and similarly perceptions can
be dichotomized as being adaptive or maladaptive whloh is
the method used here to study the problem of romantic
Idealization.
In this paper the word "adaptive" (which In ICL
terminology refers to normal, usual, and expected behavior)
will be replaced by the word "realistic" and the word
"maladaptive" (which in ICL terminology refers to
abnormal, unusual, and unexpected behavior) will be
76
replaced by the word "unrealistic.” Thus, the operational
definition of idealization used In this paper is as
follows t romantlo Idealization Is the term used to
describe those raw scores on the ICL whose summary point
falls within the maladaptive area of the ICL grid.
CHAPTER IV
RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICAL FINDINGS
Processing the Data
Processing of statistical data.— The data were
prooessed as follows: the two copies of the Interpersonal
Cheoklist were hand-scored by the examiner and the data
fed into formulae to yield standard scores, which in turn,
yielded numerical placement on the Dominance and Affilia-
tive axes of the Interpersonal Grid. Then octant placement
in terms of adaptive and maladaptive behavior was
determined. This data, along with that obtained from the
face sheet, were punched on Hollerith cards. The Western
Data Processing Service, an affiliate of the International
Business Machines Corporation, provided the facilities for
most of the data treatment. The IBM 709 Data Processing
System, which is a large scale, high-speed digital
computer, completed most of the numerical calculations.
The internal processing speed of the 709 Is extremely
fast. Most operations, such as addition and subtraction,
are executed at the rate of approximately i j . 2,000 per
second. Multiplication and division occur at the rate of
77
78
approximately l+.,200 per second. Some of the data were
processed by using standard programs set up In the Fortran
language. Those calculations which could not be computed
by the 709 because of unavailable programs were performed
by the investigator.
The statistics used.— Chi-square was the main
statistical technique employed in this study. Its use was
dictated by interest in the number of subjects which fall
into various categories, such as adaptive and maladaptive
behavior, age, sex, ethnicity, and so forth. This method
is used to determine the statistical significance of
frequency differences between subgroups. The chi square
is expressed as the sum of the ratios between the observed
and expected frequency over the expected frequency.
Z-ratio is another technique which was used in
this study. A Z score is the expressed ratio of a
deviation from a mean or other statistic in a distribution
of sample statistics to the standard error of that
distribution. The Z ratio was used to determine the
significance of difference between uncorrelated propor
tions .
T-ratios were also used. A T ratio is defined in
exactly the same way as the Z ratio. It is particularly
useful when the sample is not of sufficient size to
justify the use of the Z ratio. The T test of a
79
Coefficient of Correlation was used to determine if
significant differences obtained between two correlation
coefficients. The T test of the difference between means
was used to determine if significant differences obtained
between two sets of means.
Since this study is primarily focused on determin
ing what significant differences, if any, exist in
comparisons between subgroups, a level of significance
must be determined beforehand. The .05> level was ohosen
which designates the "critical ratio" as I.96. Therefore,
T or Z scores of I.96 are significant at the .05 level of
confidence. The determination of the significance of
chi square is made by consulting the table of ohi square
for given degrees of freedom which vary with the number
of cells in the computational table. In this paper the
chi square is reported and stated as significant or non
significant at the ,0$ level.
Description of the Sample
The majority of studies of the type presented here
have been obtained by sampling techniques whioh yield
either an Incidental or a purposive sample; the former
term is applied to those that are taken because they are
the most available. Guilford, in discussing the inci
dental sample says, "It would be an accident if the
sample represented usefully a population in which we want
to make predictions of parameters*A purposive sample
is one arbitrarily selected beoause the investigatorTs
evidenoe indicates it ia very representative of the total
population* Guilford notes that this type of procedure
involves riak in that conditions may change so that the
sample is no longer representative of the total population.
Further, the type of study made in the field under
investigation has usually consisted of a miscellany of
persons such as those who are formally engaged, have a
tacit understanding they will marry, or are in various
other stages of courtship and dating.
The above limitations do not apply to the present
study* It is unique in that it was obtained by rigid
random sampling techniques to assure adequate representa
tion of the population from which it was drawn. Also,
only those persons participated whose courtship was in the
final stage as evidenced by obtaining a license to marry*
According to Burgess and Wallin the investigator
need not describe the characteristics of the group if the
o
sample is a random one. This point of view ia disagreed
with beoause others may wish to attempt some replication
^J. P. Guilford, Fundamental Statistics in
Psychology and Education (New Vork: McGraw- HfTT SSok
to., TncV, 19£B'), p.
2
Ernest W. Burgess and Paul Wallin, Engagement and
Marriage (New Yorks J. B. Llpplncott Co., 195>3T»
pp. 211^3.
81
of the study. Therefore, a desorlption of the present
sample will be presented in this section.
In this section some data will be presented as a
contribution to the field of general sociology and the
sociology of the family. Some analysis will be made of
aocio-eoonomio factors in marriage, religious factors,
inter-ethnic marriage, and social mobility. This material
is presented because of the general academic interest in
this type of data. The analysis is by no means exhaustlYe,
as this material is not essential to the focal Inquiry of
the study.
One further clarification is necessary with respect
to the data presented In the following tables. Statis
tical treatment by elaborate methods is not Indicated as
the conoern is not whether one group is significantly
larger than another but how a random sample of a specific
population behaves in an experimental situation.
Ethnicity.— The data regarding ethnic distribution
is presented in Table 1. As might be anticipated from the
fact that the Los Angeles area has been traditionally
composed of Caucasians, the sample loads heavily with this
ethnic group.
Comparison of this data with the latest report
from the Bureau of the Census shows that the sample is
under-representative of the Caucasoid group, that it
82
over-represents the Negroid population, and that it is
quite representative of the Mongoloid ethnic group. The
Census' figures on the ethnic distribution of Los Angeles
for 195& *1*6 *8 follows: Caucasoid, 86.2 per cent;
Negroid, 11•3 P«r cent; and other races, 2.5 per cent.3
TABLE 1
ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION OP THE GROUP BEING STUDIED,
BY PER CENT
Cauoasold Negroid Mongoloid
81.6 lb.O
2.3
Residence.--The findings regarding residence are
presented in Table 2. The table shows that the sample
consists primarily of persons claiming Los Angeles County
and/or the State of California as their residence.
TABLE 2
RESIDENCE DISTRIBUTION OP GROUP BEING STUDIED,
BY PER CENT
Los Angeles County State of California U. S. Foreign
91.8
3.5 U.l
.0I 4 .
^Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,
Current Population Reports. Speolal Censuses. Series P-28,
rfo. 9^*7 (Washington: uni tea sVates Government Printing
Office, February 25» 1956).
Occupational class membership.--In stratifying
the sample on the occupation continuum the author used
the system developed by Alba Edwards for the United States
Bureau of the Census.^ This scheme was selected because
it Is commonly agreed by scholars of social stratification
that occupation Is the most satisfactory single index of
stratification (and receives the largest weight when
combined with other Indexes) and beoause Its use relies
entirely on an objective criterion.^ Since it is objec
tive it moreover provides a reliable index of occupational
and social status. Further, this system is especially
useful in a large metropolitan community such as Los
Angeles.
Since two of the hypotheses in this paper involve
occupational class comparisons it is pertinent to discuss
the methodology involved in their determination. The
nine occupational rankings were arbitrarily grouped into
three categories which are designated, for purposes of
this study, as the higher occupational class, the middle
occupational class, and the lower occupational class. The
higher class Is composed of professionals, farmers, and
^Alba M. Edwards, Alphabetical Index of Occupa-
tlons and Industries (Washington: United States Government
Printing 6i7ioe, 1^7).
^Richard Centers, The Psychology of Social Classes
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 19( 4 - 9)* P* 15*
8k
proprietors; the middle olass ia eomposed of white collar
workers, skilled and semi-skilled workers; the lower olass
is composed of unskilled workers, laborers, and domestio
and service groups* The reason for this assignment is
based upon the fact that in most community studies it has
been found that the population generally falls into these
groupings*
Table 3 shows the occupation distribution as
worked out by the Edwardsf scheme of classification*
Table if shows these nine groups combined into three occu
pational classes* It will be noted that the sample is
heavily loaded in the middle occupational group which
represents almost 73 per cent of the total sample. Since
other studies of social stratification show considerably
higher percentages In the lower occupation group than is
represented in the present study, three possible explana
tions may be invoked to account for this difference:
1* The lower occupational class tends to fail to
legalize certain Interpersonal relationships
and this group was not therefore adequately
represented in the population from which the
sample was drawn*
2. The lower class may have been significantly
represented by those who refused to partici
pate in the study*
TABLE 3
DISTRIBUTION OP OCCUPATION OP GROUP UNDER STUDY,
BY PER CENT
Prof „ Parmer Prop.
White
Collar
Skilled
Labor
Semi-
Skilled
Labor
Farm
Labor
Unskilled
Labor
Domeatle
15.1 .23 1+.9 1+5.5
12.1
15.3
0
1.1+ 5.3
OD
vn
86
3. The Los Angeles Metropolitan area Is signifi
cantly different from other communities with
respect to lower class representation*
The second explanation is believed more tenable when other
evidence is considered. For example, there Is a very
small percentage of persons with less than a high school
education (1^.9 P©** cent) and since education is highly
correlated with occupation the lack of education may have
been self-eliminative within this strata
TABLE k
COMBINED OCCUPATION GROUPS OF SAMPLE
BY PER CENT
UNDER STUDY
Higher Middle Lower
20.3
72.9 6.7
Occupational class membership of parents.--Table 5 >
presents the data on occupational class of the parents of
the subjects in this study. Comparison of the two tables
reveals some interesting differences. It will be noted
that while almost three-quarters of the off-spring are
classified in the middle occupational grouping this is not
true of their fathers, for only slightly over half of them
occupy this position. This shift towards the middle
grouping is due primarily to a reduction in the higher
occupational grouping, although there is a slight tendency
87
for upward mobility in the lover occupational group.
TABLE 5
OCCUPATIONAL CLASS MEMBERSHIP OP PARENTS,
BY Pffi CENT
Higher Middle Lower
3^*7 55.7
9.6
Religion.--The results on religious affiliation
are presented in Table 6. Almost half the sample is
Protestant, slightly over one third is Catholic, and
slightly over 15 per cent are Jews, persons of other
faiths, and persons claiming no religious affiliation.
TABLE 6
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION OF SAMPLE UNDER STUDY,
BY PER CENT
Protestant Catholic Jewish
Other
Faiths
None
1+7.2 37.7
7.2
3.7
1+.2
Beoause of the rather widespread interest in
academic and religious circles regarding the incidence of
lnter-faith marriage such data are presented in the
following two tables. Table 7 deals with the percentage
of in-faith and out-of-faith marriage, while Table 8 deals
with the percentage of persons contracting out-of-faith
88
TABLE 7
15-FAITH AND OUT-OF-FAITH MARRIAGE FOR GROUP STUDIED,
BY PER CENT
N Prot. Cath. Jewish Other None
Per Cent
Out-of-
Faith
Prot. 203
77*7 11.9 3*9 2*4 3*9
22.3
Cath. 162 li*..S
75*3 3-1 1*9 4*9
2^.7
Jewish
31 25.9
16.1 58.0 e • • • • •
ia.9
Other 16
31.2 18.7
• * • $0.0* • • • 50.0
None 18
44*4
• • • • • • 11.1 88.4
♦Miscellaneous religious groups represented were:
Mormon, 10; Russian Molokan, 3; Buddhist, 1; Greek
Orthodox, 1; and Religious Science, 1,
89
TABLE 8
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OP INTER-FAITH MARRIAGE
FOR MAJOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Percentage
Out-of-Faith
Marriage
Protestant Catholic Jewish
Other
Faith
None
Males Females
Protestant
(18,8)
1*7.3 21.7
13.0
17.1*
Catholic
(19.8)
65.O 10.0 5.0 20.0
Jewish
( 1* 0.0)
50.0 50.0
Females Males
Protestant
(29.4)
56.5 13.0 13.0
17.1*
Catholic
(24.7)
5S.o 1^.0 10.0
0
•
0
C \ ]
Jewish
(1*3*7)
71.4
28.6
90
marriage differentiated by sex. Although eomplete
analysis of this data has not been made some conclusions
can be drawn.
1. Over 28 per cent of the marriages under study
Involve contracts between those of differing
religious affiliation.
2. The highest incidence of inter-faith marriage
among the major religious denominations ocours
among Jews, with the rate being almost i | . 2 per
cent. (It is of interest to note that whereas
Catholics and Protestants marry those of
miscellaneous religious affiliation and those
claiming no faith, Jews do not; the Jews marry
only Catholics or Protestants.)
3. There is no significant difference between the
percentage of Catholic and Protestant inter-
faith marriage.
]+. There is a significant difference between the
incidence of Jewish and Protestant inter-faith
marriage and also between Jewish and Catholic
inter-faith marriage; in both cases the
incidence is higher among the Jews.
Table 8 presents sex differences in the type of
inter-faith marriage contracted with respect to the major
religious groups. The incidence of out-of-faith marriage
91
is higher for women than for men. Jewish males marry
equally into the Protestant and Catholic groups whereas
Jewish females tend to marry Protestants. There is a
greater tendency for Catholic males to intermarry with
Protestants than for Catholic females to do so. There is
a greater tendency for female Protestants to marry
Catholics than for Protestant males to intermarry with
that religious group.
Education.— The findings regarding the level of
education for the sample are presented in Table 9- will
be noted that over i +2 per cent of the subjects in the
sample had at least some college or business school educa
tion, I 4 .O per cent had finished high school and the
remaining 17 per cent had no more than ten to eleven years
of school.
TABLE 9
LEVEL OP EDUCATION OP GROUP BEING STUDIED,
BY PER CENT
Post
Grad.
D«g.
College
Degree
1-3 Yrs. Coll.
or Bus. Soh.
High
School
Grad.
10-11
Yrs.
7-9
Yrs.
Under
7 Yrs.
2.8 11.6
27.9
lfO.O 12.7 1+.7
.2
Age.— The data regarding age groupings are
presented in Table 10. The age range was from fifteen to
92
sixty-nine years. The median age at first marriage for
females was 20.if; the modal age, eighteen.^ The age range
for females at first marriage was fifteen to forty-three.
Three marriages involved females under age sixteen and
therefore consent to marry was obtained through court
action and parents * consent. Twelve marriages involved
females over sixteen but under eighteen and consent to
marry was required of the parents.
The median age for males at first marriage was
20.5 and the modal age was twenty-one. The age range for
males at first marriage was seventeen to fifty-four.
Three marriages involved males seventeen years of age and
consent to marry was obtained through the court. Nineteen
marriages involved males over seventeen but under twenty-
one years of age and thus required parental consent.
TABLE 10
AGE DISTRIBUTION OP GROUP UNDER STUDY,
BY PER CENT
19 and Under 20-2^. 25-29 30-39
I 4 .O-69
21.4
36.9
20.2 12.1
9.3
/
°The median age for women at first marriage is
reported by Jacobsen as 20.2 for 19^8; for men the figure
is 22.9• Paul H. Jacobson, American Marriage and Divorce
(New York: Rinehart Sc Co., Inc., 1^5^), p. 75*
93
Marital status.— Data regarding marital status of
the sample are presented in Table 11. Nearly 78 per eent
of the sample was single, while the remainder reported one
or more previous marriages.
TABLE 11
MARITAL STATUS OF SAMPLE UNDER STUDY,
BY PER CENT
No Previous Marriage Previous Marriage(s)
77.9
22.1
Income.— Table 12 deals with the level of income
of the group under study. The data show that over 50 per
cent of the subjects' income is in the moderate range of
between $3,000 to $6,999 per year.
TABLE 12
INCOME LEVEL OF GROUP STUDIED,
BY PER CENT
None
Under
$3,000
$3,000-
$6,999
$7,000-
$10,999
$11,000-
flij.,999
$15,000-
$18,999
$19,000
and over
.
0
CD
• 2k
.57 .07
.02
.005
.01
Length of engagement. — Pata regarding length of
engagement are presented in Table 13. The reported
engagement length ranged from one day to seven years. The
majority of the couples reported they had been engaged
9^
less than one year and over half of the sample reported
an engagement period of less than six months.
TABLE
13
LENGTH OP ENGAGEMENT
BY PER
OP SAMPLE STUDIED
CENT
Under 6 mos. 6-11 mos. 12-17 mos. 18-72 mos.
53-0
21.I j .
Ilf. 9
10.7
Date of marriage.— Data presenting the findings
regarding the anticipated date of marriage are given In
Table 1I 4 .. The data show that the majority of couples
expect to marry either the day the license was obtained or
within the following week.
TABLE l l j .
ANTICIPATED MARRIAGE DATE,
BY PER CENT
Day License
Obtained
Within
a Week
Within
a Month
Within
2 Months
Within
3 Months
19.1
51.6 2$.6 3.2
• 5
Inter-
ethnic marria«e.— The sample under study
lncludea nine marriages between those of dissimilar
ethnic origin, that is, over 4 per oent.^ The highest
?The actual percentage of inter-ethnic marriage
among this sample is higher than reported here. Six
95
Incidence of inter-ethnic marriage Involves the Mongoloid
group, with women and men both marrying out at the rate of
20 per cent. Table If? gives the percentage of inter-ethnic
marriages differentiated by sex. Table l6 shows the
combinations of inter-ethnic marriage by number.
TABLE 15
INTER-ETHNIC MARRIAGE FOR MALES AND FEMALES,
BY PER CENT
Group Caucasoid Negroid Mongoloid
Males 2.2 11.0 20.0
Female s 2.8 8.8 20.0
TABLE 16
COMBINATIONS OF INTER-ETHNIC MARRIAGE*
Mongoloid x Caucasoid 1 Caucasoid-Mongoloid 2
Caucasoid x Mongoloid 1
Negroid x Caucasoid Negroid-Caucasoid
7
Caucasoid x Negroid
3
9 9
*The symbol "xM Is used to designate a marriage
classified by sex, the male always being first. The
symbol is used to designate marriage not classified by
sex.
couples could not be approached because of the random
sample design of the study. This addition would raise the
percentage of inter-ethnic marriage to 6.9.
9 6
Occupational class factor* in marriage.— Inter-
and intra-claaa marriage la a subjeot of perennial
interest in aoclologlcal circles. For that reason, and
as an incidental feature of the present study, data are
presented in Table 17 showing the extent of such marital
alliances. From the table it will be noted that males of
all three occupational groups tend to marry women in the
middle occupational class. It is also of interest to
note that males from the lower occupational grouping tend
to be more upperly mobile so far as marriage Is concerned
than those from the middle occupational group.
TABLE 17
CLASS MEMBERSHIP OF MALES AND THEIR MATES,
BY PER CENT
Group Females
Males Higher Middle Lower
Higher 27.e
70.3 1.9
Middle 10.9
81.6
7.£
Lower 1^.2 6k.k
21.1* .
Summary.--Analysis of the sample under study shows
that it is composed primarily of Los Angeles County
residents who belong to the middle occupational class, are
Protestant, Caucasian, between the ages of fifteen and
sixty-nine, of moderate income, who have some college or
97
business school education at least, have not been
previously married, whose engagement is relatively short,
and who plan to marry within a week of obtaining the
marriage license.
Also presented in this seotion were data of inter
est to sociology which included material regarding social
mobility, occupational factors in marriage, inter-marriage,
out-of-faith marriage, and inter-ethnic marriage.
To whom the findings may be applied.— A crucial
question arises in studies of this type with reference to
whom the findings of the research may be applied. When
the sample is collected by other than random sampling
procedure great caution must be used in applying the
results to other than the sample studied. However, when
a rigid methodology is established, as in the present
study, so that each person in a given population has an
equal chance of being selected for study, the sample is
considered representative of that population, and the
results can be asserted to apply to it with a given degree
of confidence. However, since the population from which
this sample was drawn represents many other counties in
the State of California, and other states as well, the
results may, with due regard for the matching of variables,
be applied to other engaged couples.
98
Testing the Hypotheses
The Interpersonal Checklist, an instrument
designed to assess personality attributes, vas used to
test the hypotheses stated in Chapter I, The use of this
Instrument was dietated by several considerations:
(1) the reliability and validity of the Instrument as a
measure of personality, (2) the construction of the
Instrument in such a manner that personality attributes
can be dichotomised as realistic and unrealistic behavior,
and (3) scientific statements oan be made about the
probable incidence of realistic and unrealistic behavior.
The chi square vas applied as the over-all test of
significance of differential perceptions of the flanoe(e)
and conceptions of the ideal mate. Subgroup comparisons
of differences in lnoidenoe of unrealistic perceptions
were determined by the Z test of significance between
proportions.
Hypothesis 1.— There is no significant difference
in the incidence of realistic and unrealistic perceptions
of the engagement partner. Table 18 presents the findings
on perceptions of fiance(e).
TABLE 18
DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS, BY PER CENT
Realistic Unrealistic
.lf2 .58
99
Fifty-eight per oent of the sample perceive the
mate in unrealistic terms, whereas l±2 per cent view the
mate in realistically oriented perceptions. The Z score
of the difference in realistic and unrealistic perceptions
of the marital partner is 3»U9 which is higher than the
figure required for significance at the .05 level. Super
ficial inspection of the table could lead to the
interpretation that the incidence of unrealism in
perception of fiance(e) is not, relatively speaking,
inordinately high. However, when the data are compared
with the theoretical expectancy the difference looms large,
indeed. The theoretical distribution of unrealistic
perceptions is 31.7^ per cent, whereas the observed
frequency is 58 per cent. The Z score of 7 shows a
significant difference between theoretical and observed
incidence of unrealism in perception of the partner.
The question arises as to just what the incidence
of unrealistic perceptions would be if the whole popula
tion from which this sample were drawn had been tested.
Accordingly, the standard error of estimate was figured at
the .05 level which sets the confidence limits of .53 to
.63. This means that if the whole population had been
tested there are 95/100 chances that the percentage of
unrealistic perceptions would fall within this interval.
Similarly, there are 99/100 chances that the percentage
100
of unrealistic perceptions would fall within the Interval
of .1+8 and .68 per cent.
The above finding questions the assumptions set
forth by such writers as Bergler, Nlmkoff, Freud, Cavan
and Blood who imply unrealisra Is universally character
istic of that proportion of the population who are
romantically involved. No such generalization Is
warranted when scientific data take precedence over arm
chair speculation.
Hypothesis 2.— The incidenoe of realistic and
unrealistic perceptions of the flance(e) is not differen
tiated by (a) sex membership, (b) ethnic membership,
(c) socio-economic status, (d) age, (e) marital status,
and (f) length of engagement. The results of these
investigations are presented in the following tables.
Table 19 shows the results on sex distribution of percep
tions of fiance(e).
TABLE 19
SEX DISTRIBUTION OF PERCEPTIONS OF FIANCE(E),
BY PER CENT
Group Realistic Unrealistic
Males
.1+9 • 51
Females
.31+
.66
x2 3 I+1+.6
101
Chi square of 1|4*6 requires the rejection of the
hypothesis of no sex differences in the incidence of
differential perceptions of the fiance^e).
Hypothesis 3 (a) states there Is no signlfleant
difference in incidence of unre&llsm with respect to sex
membership. The Z test, yielding & critical ratio of 15*
shows a significant difference between the groups: the
incidence of unrealism is significantly higher among
women than among men. This finding questions the validity
of Waller's and Reik's theories that idealisation is more
characteristic of males than females. It also contradicts
the results of the Pilot Study which showed no sex
differentials in Incidence of unrealism towards the
fiance(e)•
Table 20 presents the data on ethnicity and type
of perceptual orientation towards the prospective marital
partner.
TABLE 20
ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS OF FIANCE(E),
BY PER CENT
Group Realis tic Unrealistio
Mongoloid .41
.59
Negroid .56
Caucasoid .1+2 .58
X2 - .81*
102
Chi square of *8 1 4. Is not significant; therefore
the hypothesis Is not rejected. Ethnicity does not appear
to be a determinant of whether the fiance(e) Is peroelved
In reallstlo or unrealistic terms.
Hypothesis 3.— Hypothesis 3 (b) postulated the
Incidence of unrealism In mate perception Is not differ
entiated by ethnic membership. To test this hypothesis
the Z test of the difference between uncorrelated
proportions was applied to the data In Table 20. The
results showed no significant differences when Inter-group
comparisons on unrealism were made. The results of
comparisons made on this and the other variables under
consideration are found in Table 21. This finding
challenges MerrillTs statement that idealization varies
with ethnic membership.
Table 22 presents the findings on socio-economic
distribution of differential perceptions of flance(e).
Chi square of 2.I 4 . 6 is not significant. Therefore,
the hypothesis of no difference in incidence of realistic
and unrealistic perceptions of fiance(e) with respect to
occupational class membership Is accepted. The data
shows that socio-economic status has no bearing on the
orientation towards the prospective mate: whether the
fiance(e) is peroelved in realistic or romantically
colored terms appears to be Independent of this variable.
103
TABLE 21
INTER-GROUP COMPARISONS OP INCIDENCE OF UNREALISTIC
PERCEPTIONS, BY PER CENT
Subgroup
Percentage of
Unrealistic Perceptions
Critical
Ratio
Sax Male
.51
Female
.66 15.00*
Ethnicity
Caucasoid
.58
Negroid
.56
1.28
Caucasoid
.58
Mongoloid
.59 .25
Negroid
.56
Mongoloid
.59
.60
Socio-economic
Status Upper
.62
Middle
.56 1.01
Upper
.62
Lower
.69
.62
Middle
.56
Lower
.69 1.12
Age Under 19
• 5k
20-2l j .
.56
.33
Under 19
• 5k
25-29
.60 .80
Under 19
.5k 3?5 i9
.22
Under 19
• 5k
l j . 0 and over
.75
2.28*
20-2k
.56
25-29
.60
i.5h
20-2k
.56 J3 ’
.00
lolf
TABLE 21— Continued
Subgroup
Peroentage of
Unrealistic Pereeptions
Critical
Ratio
Age (continued) 20-?k
.56
i^O and over
• 75
2.20*
25-29
.60
3°-g9
.ih
25-29
.60
ho and over
.75
1.36
3?ii9
ho and over
• 75 2.59*
Marital Status Single
.56
Prev. married
.66
.56
Engagement
Length Under 6 mos.
,60
6-11 mos.
• 52
1.33
Under 6 mos.
.60
12-17 mos.
• 58 .03
Under 6 mos,
.60
18 mos. and over
• 59 .13
6-11 mos.
.52
12-17 mos.
• 58
.75
6-11 mos.
.52
18 mos• and over
• 59
.8?
12-17 mos.
.$8
18 mos. and over
.59
.10
♦Significant at/or bayond tha •0£ level.
105
TABLE 22
OCCUPATIONAL CLASS DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS
OP FIANCE(E), BY PER CENT
Group Realistic Unrealistic
Higher
00
t r \
.
.62
Middle
‘5k
.56
Lower
.31 .69
X2 * 2.1*6
The finding that 5& P®r cent of the middle class
perceive the partner in unrealistic terms raises questions
about Burgess and Wallin's statement that idealization is
not high among this stratum. Since these scholars
negleoted to specify what is meant by "high” it is diffi
cult to attack their conclusion. Therefore, a simple
statement of the facts will be submitted. The theoretic
expectation of unrealistic perceptions among middle class
participants is 3I.7I*; the observed frequency is 56 per
cent. The Z score of 1*.07 is significant beyond the
.01 level, which shows the observed frequency to be much
higher than expected on the basis of chance. Thus, whether
the incidence is interpreted as "high" depends on whether
the incidence itself is evaluated or whether the incidence
is compared with the theoretic expectation.
Hypothesis 3 (o) stated the Incidence of unrealism
106
In mate perception is not differentiated by socio-eoonomic
status. To test this hypothesis the differences in inter
group proportions of unrealism was calculated. Since none
of the groups differed significantly the hypothesis is
accepted. Thus, Merrill's and Winch's assumption of
social class differences in incidenoe of unrealism
receives no support from this analysis.
Table 23 presents the data on the incidence of
differential perceptions of the prospective marital
partner with respect to age groups.
TABLE 23
AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS OP FIANCE(E),
BY PER CENT
Age Group Realistic Unrealistic
19 and under .46
• 54
20-24
•44
• 56
25-29
.40 .60
30-39 •44
• 56
I 4 .O and over
.2 5 .75
X2 = 7.18
Chi square of 7*18 is not significant at the .05
level. Age does not appear to be a determinant of whether
the mate is perceived in realistic or unrealistic terms.
Inspection of the table shows considerable differences
107
obtain between some of the groups In incidence of unreal
ism in mate perception. The youngest group has the lowest
Incidence, and the frequency increases with age level,
with one exception. It is of interest to note also that
contrary to theoretical assumptions the incidence of
unrealisra is considerably higher among the age group forty
to sixty-nine.
Inter-age group comparisons were made in line with
hypothesis 3 (d) which stated the incidence of unrealism
in mate perception is not differentiated by age. The
results of this analysis showed two of the differences are
significant at the .05 level of confidence, and one
difference is significant at the .01 level of confidence.
The "oldsters” differ statistically with the teen-agers,
with the group in the early twenties, and with those in
their thirties.
These findings on inter-group comparisons in
incidence of unrealism contradicts both Peterson^ and
Winchfs theories that idealization is of higher Incidence
among adolescents in Western Culture.
Differential perceptions of fiance(e) with respect
to marital status are presented in Table 2\±.
The chi square value of 3«3& shows no significant
difference between the two groups. The null hypothesis Is
accordingly accepted; whether one has had the experience
108
of marriage or remained tingle does not appear to be a
determinant of hov the Intended mate la perceived*
TABLE 2lf
MARITAL STATUS DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS
OP FIANCE(E), BY PER CENT
Marital Status Realistic Unrealistic
Single
•kk
.56
Previously married
• 3k
.66
X2 - 3.36
Hypothesis 3 (e) postulated the Incidence of
unreallsm In mate perception does not statistically differ
with respect to marital status. Accordingly* the data on
unreallsm were treated by the method of testing the
difference between uncorrelated proportions. The Z score
of 6 did not permit rejection of the hypothesis. This
finding questions the validity of the theory proposed by
this dissertation that persons who have been involved in
marriage would significantly tend to appraise the subse~
quent marital partner in realistic terms. Hobart's
findings that unreallsm is more characteristic of single
than married persons (towards marital role expectations)
is not supported by the data reported here.
The findings on incidence of differential
perceptions of the fiance(e) with respect to the length
109
of engagement are presented below in Table 2f>.
TABLE 2$
LENGTH OP ENGAGEMENT ^DISTRIBUTION OP PERCEPTIONS
OP FIANCE(E), BY PER CENT
Engagement Length Realistic Unrealistic
Under 6 months .1 4 - 0 .60
6-11 months • I 4 . 8
< \ j
v\
•
12-17 months .1+2 .58
18 months and over .14-1
.59
X2 = 2.50
In formulating this hypothesis it was theorized
that the Incidence of unrealistic perceptions would be
higher among the shorter engagement group, and that it
would progressively decline with length of engagement.
The trend noted in Table 214. appears, in some ways, to
support this notion, for the incidence is higher in the
first group and also declines with the 6-11 month engage*
ment group. However, there is an increase among the third
and fourth groups. Accordingly, the over-all pattern does
not correspond to theoretical expectations. The chi
square of 2.$0 is not significant. Therefore, the hypo
thesis is accepted; length of engagement does not appear
to be a determinant of how the engagement partner is
perceived.
110
Hypothesis 3 (f) postulated the Incidence of
unreallsm does not significantly vary with respect to
length of engagement. To test this hypothesis the Z test
of the difference between uncorrelated proportions was
applied to the data in Table 25* The results showed no
significant differences when inter-group comparisons on
unreallsm were made.
•
Summary of findings on differential perceptions
of flano£(e).--The foregoing data demonstrates that while
not a universal phenomenon the incidence of romantic
idealization of the prospective partner, is Indeed, higher
than expected on the basis of chance. Whether one
perceives the partner in realistic or unrealistic terms is
apparently not affected by such factors as ethnic member
ship, occupational class membership, marital status, and
length of engagement. However, the incidence of
unrealistic perceptions of the engagement partner does
vary between the sexes: women seem to be more prone to
romantically idealize than men.
Summary of findings on romantic idealization.—
Inter-group comparisons of the incidence of unrealism in
mate perception disclose, for the most part, unrealistic
or romanticized notions of the mate are not correlated
with the variables under study.
Ill
Contrary to the assumption sat forth by Merrill
thara ara no athnlo differences In tha lnoldanea of
unraalistlo paroaptlons of tha marital partner. Winch's
and Peterson's thaorlas that youth is more subject to
unreallsm received no support from this study. Tha
surprising result in this connection is tha faot that the
inoldanca of unrealistic perceptions is significantly
lower among the teen-agers than among the "oldsters." The
latter group also surpassed the early twenties group as
well as the thirties age bracket.
The finding that the socio-economic strata do not
differ in incidence of unrealism challenges Merrill's and
Winch's assumption of class differentials in mate percep
tion. Burgess and Wallin's statement that unreallsm is
not "high" among the middle class was shown to be a
questionable assumption also.
Slnoe length of engagement and marital status
appear to have no bearing on the incidence of unreallsm
in mate perception the theories set forth in this paper
are also challenged.
Analysis of Sex Differences in Idealization
Further analysis of the data was made in the
attempt to account for the sex difference in incidence of
unrealism in mate perception. The purpose of the addi
tional analysis was to determine what* if anything* among
112
the variable* under study differentiates the women from
the men. If no suoh differences obtain it must be con*
eluded that the higher incidence of unreallsm is due to
some idiosyncratic female factor. On the other hand, if
differences do obtain with respect to other variables, the
findings must be so qualified. Accordingly, comparisons
were made between the males and females on the following
variables: age, ethnic membership, extent of formal
education, occupational class membership, religion, and
marital status. The data on these findings are presented
in the tables below. Table 26 contains the sex and age
distribution of sample.
TABLE 26
SEX AND AGE DISTRIBUTION OP SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Age
Group
19 and
Under
20-21+
25-29 30-39
1+0 and
Over
Males .10 .36 .30
.11*
.10
Females .32 *
uj
00
.11 .10
.09
X2 * 1+6.20
Chi square of 1+6.20 denotes a significant differ
ence between the age composition of the two groups. The
direction of this difference is found in the higher
113
percentage of women In their "teens," and the higher
percentage of men in the 25-29 age group. This finding
suggests the higher Incidence of unrealistic perceptions
among females is not an Idiosyncratic factor but is
complicated by age differences between the two groups.
The sex and ethnic distribution of the sample are
presented In Table 27*
TABLE 27
SEX AND ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION OP SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Group
Ethnicity
Caucasoid Negroid Mongoloid
Males .81 .16 .02
Female s .92 .16 .02
By inspection It is noted that no statistical
calculations are necessary to determine significant differ
ences between males and females with respeot to ethnic
membership* Therefore, ethnic membership cannot be
considered to have any relationship to sex differences In
realistic and unrealistic perceptions of the prospective
marital partner*
Table 28 shows the sex and education distribution
of the sample*
TABUS 28
SEX AND EDUCATION DISTRIBUTION OP SAMPLE
BY PER CENT
Education
Croup
Post
Grad.
College
Degree
1-3 Yrs.
College
High
School
10-11
Yrs.
9 Years
and Under
Males .ol*
.15 .31 • 3k
.11
• O S
Females .01
.09 .25
.1*6
• Ik
.OS
X2 * 12.8
115
Chi square of 12*8 signifies a significant differ
ence between the two groups with respect to formal
education* Fifty per cent of the males attended college,
15 per cent of the male sample received a college degree,
and 1^ per cent received a post-graduate degree* Only
38 per cent of the women went beyond high school, 9 per
cent received a college degree, and only one per cent
received a post-graduate degree*
This finding, along with the finding on age
differences between males and females, suggests the higher
incidence of unrealistic perceptions among the latter
group is not a peculiar property of females as such, but
is partly ascrlbable to age and education differences
characteristic of the two groups.
The sex and occupational class distribution of
the sample are contained in Table 29*
TABLE 29
SEX AND OCCUPATIONAL CLASS DISTRIBUTION
OF SAMPLE, BY PER CENT
Occupational Class
Group
Higher Middle Lower
Males .2^ .68
.07
Females
.35
.78
.07
X2 * 6.38
ll6
Chi square of 6.38 is significant at the *0$
level. The direction of the difference is indicated by
the higher percentage of male concentration in the higher
occupational class grouping and the higher percentage of
female concentration in the middle occupational class
grouping. Again, it appears that the higher incidence of
unrealistic perceptions among females is not a reflection
of some unique female quality but may be due to socio
economic differences between the two groups.
Table 30 gives the sex and marital status distri
bution of the sample.
TABLE 30
SEX AND MARITAL STATUS DISTRIBUTION OP SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Group
Marital Status
Single Previously Married
Males
.77 • 33
Females
.79
.21
X2 * .3^
Chi square of .3^ is not significant, showing the
two groups do not differ statistically with respect to
marital status. Therefore, marital status cannot be
considered as having any relationship to the findings of
sex differences In the incidence of unrealistic
117
perceptions. This finding can be Interpreted, along with
the finding on ethnicity, as supporting the idea that the
higher incidence of unrealistic perceptions among females
has something to do with a ’ ’female" proclivity, and is not
dependent on other variables.
Table 31 contains the sex and religious distribu
tion of the sample*
TABLE 31
SEX AND RELIGIOUS DISTRIBUTION OP SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Religious Affiliation
Group
Protestant Catholic Jewi sh Other None
Males U7.2
37.7
7.2
3.7 l *-.2
Females 1 *7.2
37.7 7.2
3.7 4.2
Since there are no arithmetical differences
between the two groups with respect to religious affilia
tion no further statistical treatment is possible.
Because the two groups are not distinguished by this
variable it would again appear that the higher incidence
of unrealistic perceptions among females is not dependent
on other variables, but is attributable to the fact of
"femaleness” alone.
The foregoing analysis was undertaken in the
attempt to acoount for the difference between males and
118
females In Incidence of realistic and unreallstlo
perceptions of mate. Hypothesis 2 (a) which assumed no
significant sex differences In the Incidence of realistic-
unrealistic perceptions was Initially rejected. Because
of the higher Incidence of unrealistic perceptions among
females a subsequent analysis was made to determine if
this result could be attributed to the biological fact of
"maleness" or "femaleness." If the comparisons between
the two groups had yielded no significant difference on
the variables under study, the conclusion would be that
the sexes simply differ with respect to the phenomenon
under study. The results from this analysis were equi
vocal: in some Instances it appears that the difference
is simply a sex difference; in other cases it appears the
difference is due to sex differences in relation to other
variables. For example, the comparisons showed the two
groups differ with respect to age, education, and occupa
tional class membership. These findings would argue
against the theory of sex differences as such because of
the differences In other variables. On the other hand,
there is good evidence to indicate the phenomenon under
investigation may be partially due to an idiosyncratic sex
factor. For example, the comparisons showed the two
groups do not differ with respect to ethnicity, marital
status, and religion.
119
Therefore, In view of this equivocal evidence, It
Is concluded that the difference between males and females
In Incidence of realistic and unreallstlo perceptions of
mate cannot be accounted for with the available data*
Orientation towards the ideal mate
Hypothesis k.— Thls section Is devoted to the
presentation of findings on reallstlo and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate* Hypothesis 4 states there
is no significant difference In the incidence of realistic
and unrealistic conceptions of the Ideal mate* The find
ings are presented in Table 32,
TABLE 32
DISTRIBUTION OF CONCEPTIONS OF IDEAL MATE,
BY PER CENT
Realistic Unrealistic
.33 -67
Sixty-seven per cent of the sample conceptualized
the ideal mate In unrealistic terms, whereas only 33 per
cent view the ideal mate in realistic terms. The Z score
of the difference is l^.lj. which is higher than the figure
required for significance at the *05 level. Therefore
the hypothesis of no significant difference in incidence
of realistic-unrealistic conceptions of the ideal mate is
rejected.
120
The theoretical distribution of unrealistic
conceptions of the Ideal mate is 31*7^ per cent, and
68,26 per cent of the soores should fall within the area
of realistic conceptions. The observed Incidence of the
two tjpes of conceptions is almost in exaot juxtaposition
to the theoretical expectation. The Z score of 8,1*5
indicates a significant difference between the expected
and observed frequencies.
The question arises as to just what the incidence
of unrealistic conceptions would be if the whole popula
tion from which this sample were drawn had been tested.
Accordingly, the standard error of estimate was figured
as ,0l j . per cent which sets the confidence limits of .63 to
.71 per cent at the ,05 level. This means that there are
95/100 chances the percentage of unrealistic conceptions
of ideal mate would fall within this interval. Similarly,
there are 99/100 chances that the percentage of unreal
istic conceptions of ideal mate would fall within the
interval of ,59 to 75 P«i* cent.
Hypothesis 5. Hypothesis 5 states the incidence
of realistic and unrealistic conceptions of the ideal
mate is not differentiated by (a) sex membership,
(b) ethnic membership, (c) socio-economic status, (d) age,
(e) marital status, and (f) length of engagement. The
results of these investigations are presented in the
121
following tables* Table 33 ehows the results on sex
distribution of conceptions of the ideal mate*
TABLE 33
SEX DISTRIBUTION OF CONCEPTIONS OF IDEAL MATE,
BY PER CENT
Group Realistic Unrealistio
Males .58
Females .22 *
-4
CD
X2 - 17*72
Chi square of 17*72 requires the rejection of the
null hypothesis of no sex differences in the incldenoe of
realistic and unrealistic conceptions of the ideal mate,
as the frequency of unrealistic conceptions is signifi
cantly higher for women than men; conversely, the
frequency of realistic conceptions is significantly lower
for women*
Hypothesis 5 (b) states there is no significant
difference in incidence of realistic and unrealistic
oonoeptions of ideal mate with respect to ethnic member
ship* The findings are presented in Table 3^-*
Chi square of *5>1 does not enable rejection of
the hypothesis of no ethnic differences in incldenoe of
realistic and unrealistio conceptions of the ideal mate.
Whether the ideal mate is conceptualized in realistic or
122
unrealistic terms does not appear to be a function of
ethnic membership*
TABLE 3 If
ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION OP CONCEPTIONS OP IDEAL MATE,
BY PER CENT
Group Realistic Unrealistic
Caucasoid .30 .70
Negroid .11
.89
Mongoloid .20 .00
X2 r .51
Hypothesis 5 (c) states there is no significant
difference in incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate with respect to occupational
class membership. Table 35 presents the data on this
finding.
TABLE 35
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OP CONCEPTIONS
OF IDEAL MATE, BY PER CENT
Group Realistic Unrealistic
Higher .28 .72
Middle
.3k
.66
Lower .38
.6?
x2 - 1.59
123
Chi square of 1.59 1® not significant. Therefore
the hypothesis postulating no significant differences in
conceptions of ideal mate with reference to socio-economic
status is accepted.
Hypothesis 5 (d) postulates there is no signifi
cant difference in Incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate with respect to age. The
findings are presented in Table $6.
TABLE 36
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF CONCEPTIONS OF IDEAL MATE,
BY PER CENT
Age Group Realistic Unrealistic
19 and under
.1+35 .565
20-21+ .28 .72
25-29
.32 .68
30-39
.21
.79
1+0 and over .30 .70
x2 = 3. 91 +
Chi square of 3.9I+ 1® n°t significant. Therefore,
the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in
the incidence of realistic or unrealistic conceptions of
Ideal mate with respect to age is accepted. This finding
suggests that age is not a determinant of whether or not
the ideal mate is conceptualised In realistic or
12^
unrealistic terms.
Hypothesis 5 (•) states there Is no significant
difference In the Incldenoe of realistlo and unrealistic
conceptions of the Ideal mate with respect to marital
status. The findings are presented In Table 37.
TABLE 37
MARITAL STATUS DISTRIBUTION OP CONCEPTIONS
OP IDEAL MATE, BY PER CENT
Marital Status Realistic Unrealistic
Single
CVJ
e
.68
Previously married
.37 .63
X2 « .88
Chi square of .68 Is not significant* The
hypothesis of no significant difference In Incidence of
realistic or unrealistic conceptions of ideal mate is
accepted. This finding suggests that one's picture of the
ideal mate Is not related to marital status.
Hypothesis 5 (f) states there is no significant
difference in the incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate with respect to length of
engagement. The data are presented in Table 38.
Chi square of 3*90 Is not significant and there
fore the hypothesis cannot be rejeoted. The data suggest
length of engagement has no relationship to the ploture of
125
the ideal marital partner; that is, whether the picture
is conceptualized in realistic or unrealistic terms is
not a function of length of engagement. Inspection of the
table warrants the tentative conclusion that as the
engagement length Increases the tendency for unrealistic
conceptions decreases; however, this trend is not
consistent.
TABLE 38
LENGTH OP ENGAGEMENT DISTRIBUTION OF CONCEPTIONS
OF IDEAL MATE, BY PER CENT
Engagement Length Realistic Unrealistic
Under 6 months
.325 .675
6-11 months .27 .73
12-17 months
.31+
.66
18 mos. and over
.14-35 .565
x2 = 3.90
Summary of findings on differential
conceptions of the ideal mate
To summarize the findings on the incidence of
realistic and unrealistic conceptions of the ideal mate,
the results showed the Incidence of unrealistio concep
tions is significantly higher than expected on the basis
of chance. Further, the factors of ethnicity, socio
economic status, age, marital status, and length of
126
engagement do not appear to be associated with the
frequency of the phenomenon under study. However, the
hypothesis of no sex differences was rejected: the
Incidence of realistic conceptions Is significantly
higher among the men. The analysis of sex differences for
the entire sample has been reported in the previous
section. There it was concluded that sex differences in
the phenomenon under study cannot be accounted for in
terms of the available data on these groups.
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY AMD CONCLUSIONS
Summary
The present study was undertaken with the follow
ing objectives: (1) the long-range purpose of determining
what relationship exists between differential perceptions
of the engagement partner and the ideal mate as they are
related to future marital adjustment; (2) to determine
which among selected socio-psychological factors are
associated with differential perceptions of the fiance(e)
and the ideal marital partner; and (3) to determine which
among selected variables are associated with the differen
tial incidence of unrealistic perceptions of the prospec
tive marital partner.
Five hypotheses were tested with respect to the
incidence of what was operationally defined as "realistic"
perceptions of the fiance(e) and "realistic" conceptions
of the ideal mate. The instruments used to test the
hypotheses were two copies of the Interpersonal Checklist,
one describing the engagement partner, the other describ
ing the ideal mate. The sample consisted of 2l£ engaged
127
128
couples who were administered the checklists immediately
after they had been granted marriage licenses.
All of the hypotheses were stated in the null form,
as follows:
1. There is no significant difference in the
incidence of realistic and unrealistic percep
tions of the engagement partner.
2. The incidence of realistic and unrealistic
perceptions of the fiance(e) is not differen
tiated by
a) Sex membership.
b) Ethnic membership.
c) Socio-economic status.
d) Age.
e) Marital status.
f) Length of engagement.
3* The incidence of unrealism in mate perception
is not differentiated by
a) Sex membership.
b) Ethnic membership.
c) Socio-economic status.
d) Age.
e) Marital status.
f) Length of engagement.
1^. There is no significant difference in the
Incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate.
The incidence of realistic and unrealistic
conceptions of the ideal mate is not differen
tiated by
a) Sex membership.
b) Ethnic membership.
c) Socio-economic status.
d) Age.
e) Marital status.
f) Length of engagement.
The instrument used to test these hypotheses met
the requirements for a standardized, reliable index of the
social stimulus value one person has for another. Further
this instrument was so standardized that probability
statements can be made about the incidence of the ascribed
behavior under study.
Tests of significance were applied to all of the
findings and they are reported in the body of the disserta
tion. For ease of reference they are recapitulated below.
The findings and conclusions on Incidence of
realistic Mid unrealistic perceptions ot flance(e)
The incidence of realistic perceptions of fiance(e
was i |2 per cent; the incidence of unrealistic perceptions
of fiance(e) was $Q per cent. The size of the chi square
130
(ll.lj.) required the rejection of the null hypothesis which
postulated no significant difference In Incidence. Calcu
lation of the standard error enabled the prediction that
between 53 and 63 per cent of the population from which
the sample was drawn perceives the fianoe(e) in unrealistic
terms. This prediction was made at the .05 level of
confidence. At the .01 level of confidence the prediction
was made that between J 4 .8 and 68 per cent of the population
perceives the fiance(e) In unrealistic terms.
When the observed frequency of unrealistic
perceptions was compared with the theoretical expectancy,
the critical ratio showed a significant difference; the
observed frequency was nearly twice as large as the
theoretical frequency.
The incidence of realistic perceptions of flance(e)
was i +9 per cent for males and 3^ Per cent for females.
The size of the chi square (1|4«6) required the rejection
of the null hypothesis which postulated no significant
difference on this variable; the incidence of realistic
perceptions was significantly lower among females.
Further analysis of the data was made in the
attempt to account for the sex difference. Accordingly,
the two groups were compared with respect to the following
variables: age, ethnic membership, education, occupational
class membership, marital status, and religious
131
affiliation. The results showed the two groups differed
with respect to age, education, and occupational class
membership. However, the groups did not differ with
respect to ethnicity, marital status, and religion. It
was therefore concluded that the sex differences above
noted could not be accounted for with the data available
on the two groups.
None of the remaining hypotheses on Incidence of
realistic or unrealistic perceptions of fiance(e) were
rejected. Whether the mate Is perceived in realistic or
unrealistic terms does not appear to be related to such
factors as ethnicity, occupational class membership, age,
marital status, or length of engagement.
The findings and conclusions on the
differential Incidence of unrealism
In mate perception
Subgroup comparisons of the incidence of unrealism
In mate perception disclose, for the most part, unreal
istic or romanticized notions of the mate are not
correlated with the variables under study.
Contrary to Merrill’s assumption of ethnic
differences in the incidence of unrealistic perceptions,
the present data do not support this conclusion. Winch's
and Peterson’s theories that youth is more subject to
unrealism in mate perception received no support from this
study. Actually, the tendency for unrealism Is
132
significantly lower among the teen-agers than the age
group forty to sixty-nine* This latter group also
surpassed the early twenties group as well as the thirties
age bracket*
The finding of no soolo-eoonomio differences in
the incidence of unrealism challenges Merrill's and
Winch's assumptions of class differentials in mate
perception* Burgess and Wallin's statement that unrealism
is not "high” among the middle class was shown to be a
highly questionable assumption*
The finding that length of engagement appears to
have no bearing on the incidence of unrealism challenges
the validity of the theory proposed in this paper that
unrealism would tend to decrease as engagement length
increases.
The finding that marital status appears to be
unrelated to the inoldence of unrealism (as proposed by
Hobart and by this study) indicates single persons do not
approach marriage with a higher incidence of unrealism in
mate perception than those who have had the experience of
marriage.
The findings and conclusions in
incidence of reallsilo and
unreal!stlc conceptions of ideal mate
The incldenoe of realistic conceptions of the
ideal mate was 33 per cent; the incidence of unrealistic
133
conceptions of the ideal mate was 67 per cent* The size
of the chi square (51) required rejection of the null
hypothesis which postulated no significant difference in
incidence. Calculation of the standard error enabled the
prediction that between 63 and 71 per cent of the popula
tion from which the sample was drawn conceptualized the
ideal mate in unrealistic terms. This prediction is made
at the .05 level of confidence* At the *01 level of
confidence the prediction was made that between 59 end
75 per cent of the population conceptualized the ideal
mate in unrealistic terms.
The incidence of unrealistic conceptions of ideal
mate was 58 per cent for males and 70 per cent for
females. The size of the chi square (17*72) required
rejection of the null hypothesis which postulated no
significant difference with respect to sex membership.
The Incidence of unrealistic conceptions of ideal mate is
significantly higher among females. Further analysis of
the data was made in the attempt to account for the sex
difference. The groups differed on three variables, but
did not differ on three other variables; therefore, it
was concluded that the sex differences in conceptualiza
tion of ideal mate could not be accounted for with the
data available on the two groups.
Additional analysis of the data was made in
13k
addition to testing the stated hypotheses. The primary
objective was to determine if sex differences obtain in
degree of emotional Involvement with the love object, as
Relk maintained. Accordingly, sex differences in correla
tion between the ideal mate and the fiance(e) were
analyzed, and no significant differences were found.
Additional tests were made of the significance of differ
ence in correlations, using the following variables:
ethnicity, occupational class membership, age, marital
status, and engagement length. Again, no significant
differences were obtained. Therefore, if it can be
assumed that congruence between the ideal mate and the
fiance(e) is a measure of emotional involvement, this
involvement does not appear to be related to any of the
variables tested.
To determine whether any of the groups differed
with respect to the Intensity of romantic involvement as
reflected by the means of scores on the two dimensions of
th* Interpersonal Checklist, an analysis of difference
between means was calculated. None of the differences
approached significance. It is concluded that the
Intensity of romantic Involvement is not a function of sex
membership, ethnic membership, age, marital status,
occupational class membership, or length of engagement.
135
Implications for General Sociology.
the Sociology of" tbs Family.
Educational Sociology, ana
karriage 6punasling
When a scientific study Is regarded as finished
after the data and conclusions are duly reported, it is
important to delineate its implications for theory, and to
draw inferences for practical applications of the findings.
This course of action is only partially open to the
present Investigation for it is not regarded as a finished
product, but occupies the place of the first of a series
of studies of this sample. The basic objectives have been
achieved, but the long-term objective awaits completion.
Thus, from one point of view the study may be considered
as completed, but in another sense, It may be regarded as
a progress report. Preliminary to dealing with these two
problems It is appropriate to establish the significance
of certain aspects of the study for various fields of
sociology.
Aside from the implications of the findings on the
several hypotheses, the socio-economic data resulting from
this inquiry yield a wealth of material of possible
relevance to many specific areas In sociology. The value
of the data can be traced to the type of methodology used
In collecting the sample, for when a systematic, random
sample is obtained the data can be compared with similarly
obtained samples from differing regional areas. Such
136
comparative data will provide the answers to questions of
regional differences in such matters as inter-ethnic and
inter-faith marriage, occupation of children as compared
with parents', inter-* and intra-class marriage rates, and
age factors in marriage. Such combined data will also be
useful in the construction of special theories in sociology
such as social organization, and personal and social
disorganization, social stratification, social change,
social mobility, the sociology of religion, and the
sociology of the family.
An example of this type of application relates to
the area of social change and homogamy with reference to
socio-economic factors in marriage. The findings in this
study on inter- and intra-class marriage reflect the
general trend observed in a recent study of marriages in
Columbus, Ohio.l The study involved 2,706 marriage
applications obtained at intervals during the past twenty-
five years. The results showed a tendency for maximally
endogamous marriages to decline. Also, that there has
been an equally significant decline in widely disparate
marriages. Accordingly, since both extremes declined,
marriages contracted by persons relatively similar in
^■Simon Dinitz, Franklin Banks, and Benjamin
Pasamanick, "Mate Selection and Social Class: Changes
during the Past Quarter Century," Marriage and Family
Living. XXII (i960), 3* 4 - 8-51.
137
socio-economic status and tract residence Increased.
Table 17 in Chapter IV of this study shows that while
there is considerable intra-class marriage within the
middle occupational group, inter-class marriage character
izes the upper and lower groups. Males thus categorized
tend to marry into the middle occupational group. Thus,
from this type of comparative study, regional variations
appear with regard to homogamous marriages. Further
historical research in Los Angeles County would determine
whether the present trend emerged from a pattern of
endogamous marriages, whether it is an indication of
transition to this type of contract, or if it is indig
enous. Then comparisons between the historical data and
the Columbus study would determine If there are regional
variations in this aspect of social change.
A second example of how the results of this study
can be used relates to theories of social stratification.
Many studies have corroborated the theoretical position
that the structure of American society is composed of
discrete groupings of behavior patterns, expectations,
ideals, values, and so forth. Considerable class varia
tion has been demonstrated with regard to such factors as
pre-marltal and post-marital sexual habits, birth and
death rates, patterns of child care, parental expectation
for offsprings1 occupation, reaction to financial and
138
domestic crises, methods of severing marital relationships,
and the extent and type of mental Illness,
The other theoretic perspective takes the position
that the concept of social class is not a meaningful
dimension, but that the social structure forms a continuum
with respect to such variables as occupation, education,
and income.
The results of this study do not support either
the "discrete" or the "continuum" concept of the social
class structure. Jnstead, they indicate that on one
variable at least— unrealistic perceptions of the
fiance(e) and of the ideal mate— no class differences
obtain.
Thus, a third type of theory may be suggested to
supplement and round out the foregoing theoretical
positions: in some areas of human behavior in this
society both the "discrete" and "continuum" conceptions of
its structure are sociological "fictions" without empir
ical referents.
The final example of implications of the present
study has to do with marriage and the family. Consider
able concern has been expressed in professional and lay
circles over the marriage of teen-agers. Twenty-one per
cent of the sample under study involved at least one
teen-ager. Comparative studies of data readily available
139
might disclose regional variations. If this should be the
case, a research approach differing from the ourrent
psycho-social method is indicated. It is possible that
efforts in this area have been misdirected. Certainly
the findings have not contributed substantially to theory
construction nor proved functional in reducing the Inci
dence of such marriages. It is possible that the factors
responsible for teen-age marriage are to be found In the
uniqueness of certain cultural areas, rather than to
parental relationships and parent-child relationships.
The findings in this study support some generally
accepted notions regarding mate selection, and refute
others. Of singular importance, this study has demon
strated the scientific basis for theoretic assertations of
the prevalence of romantic idealization in Western
Culture. Equally significant, the study has shown unreal
istic notions of the ideal mate is a pervasive phenomenon
in modern courtship. These two major contributions, along
with other findings, can thus be considered the estab
lished baseline upon which the construction and recon
struction of theoretic orientation towards this aspect of
mate selection can prooeed with some scientific
Justification.
The most Immediate and poignant implication of
the findings for the study of the family is the fact that
lJ j - O
two romantically Involved persona undertake the most
Intimate and demanding of all personal relationships armed
with unrealizable expectations of the marital partner, and
also are dominated by equally unrealistic and unrealizable
notions of what the Ideal partner would Invest In the
marital relationship* It Is a tragic commentary that the
basic unit of society, the family, makes its start on the
basis of these faulty premises and Ideals*
The findings point up the need for more and better
family and marriage education courses at both the second
ary and college levels* Group discussion, supplementing
theoretical discussion of the Instruments used in this
study and presentation of its findings would encourage
students to re-evaluate their chances of marrying a
paragon of virtue, and also stimulate them to re-examine
the possibility of the materialization of the ideal
partner.
The finding that the longer engagement periods
have nothing to do with the reduction of unrealism
suggests that time, in itself, does not insure better
preparation for marriage. Apparently, something has to
happen in time as suggested in PetersonTs book, Education
p
for Marriage. He regards the engagement period as
p
cJames A* Peterson, Education for Marriage (New
York: Charles Scribner1 s Sons, 1^6), p* 26.
ila
providing the opportunity for mutual testing and explora
tion and meaningful comnunloatlon regarding the forth
coming marriage. Down-to-earth discussions of Ideas,
values, role-expectatlons, and attitudes towards potential
problem areas In marriage set the stage for mutual
realistic personality assessment and expectations.
Many implications of the results of this study
can be drawn for pre-marital counseling, marriage counsel
ing, and for the counseling of divorced persons. A
complete discussion of these is beyond the scope of this
study. The most obvious implication is the use of the
data on incidence of romantic unrealism which is a
scientific fact completely independent of ethnicity,
socio-economic status, age, marital status, and length of
engagement. These facts are readily available to the
marriage counselor and through him could profitably be
made available to his clients. Apart from the use of the
facts themselves, the counselor may find that the Inter
personal Checklist is a useful instrument which may be
used in a variety of ways in the many types of situations
for which counsel is sought.
In the discussion which follows several techniques
will be suggested for the administration of the instrument,
as a valuable learning experience for the client, and as a
l l j . 2
useful diagnostic tool fop the counselor. Whereas the
emphasis up to this point has been on the incidence of
particular types of perceptions and conceptions, the
following discussion relates to the individual Items on
the ICL and to the quadrants on the ICL grid.
Pre-marital counseling
A olient-counselor examination of items describing
the partner and the ideal mate could be the beginning of a
meaningful and fruitful experience for the engaged person.
The discussion would bring out discrepancies between norms
and the subject's responses. Those items which are
checked by 90 P®r cent of the population but unchecked by
the respondent, and those items checked by only 10 per
cent of the population, but checked by the subject would
perhaps receive major emphasis. A detailed discussion of
item discrepancies between the profile of the partner and
the ideal partner would provide the basis for a frank
exchange on the subject's hopes of changing the partner
after the marriage to conform to the ideal. Quadrant
placement would provide the impetus for discussing the
over-all picture of the mate, that is whether his or her
behavior is perceived as dominant or submissive and
affillative or hostile. Comparison of the ideal and
perceived quadrant placements would establish the basis
for discussion of discrepancies and similarities between
l l * 3
the two placements. An ancillary technique could be a
joint conference between the couple and the counselor In
which gross discrepancies between expectations and ideals
could be discussed.
An additional technique would require the male to
describe the ideal husband and the female to describe the
ideal wife. Discussion in the joint interview would
revolve around discrepancies between the ideals each
desires in the other. An equally profitable discussion
might ensue if the partners’ ideals for each other are the
samef that is, if the ideal is located in the same quad
rant of the grid. For example, if the partners’ ideal
wife and ideal husband are both profiled as occupying an
extreme position on the dominant axis the question might
be raised as to whether the relationship is expected to be
the "all chiefs and no Indians" type. Similarly, if the
profiles fall extremely low on the dominant axis the
question might be raised as to who will take the initia
tive in various aspects of the relationship.
Such techniques would achieve several commendable
objectives. They would provide the opportunity for
thorough exploration of the subject's expectations of the
mate in terms of his or her probable behavior in the
marital relationship; encourage the engaged person to
realistically evaluate the possibility of changing the
Ikk
mate after marriage; stimulate the individual to
realistically evaluate his or her notions of what the
ideal mate would contribute to the relationship; and
provide the opportunity for three-way discussion of dis
crepancies between the partners' conceptions of the ideal
marital partner. Ideally, this experience would mark the
beginning of profound reflection on the whole problem of
expectations in marriage, and probably more significant
than any of the foregoing values, establish the basis for
meaningful communication between the partners.
Marriage counseling
In situations of marital conflict the Inter
personal Checklist could be used in a variety of ways. In
addition to some of the techniques suggested above,
special applications can be devised for troubled marriages.
For example, the spouses may be required to describe
themselves and each other as they were before marriage.
Wide discrepancies in pre-nuptial perceptions of mate and
during marital conflict beoome the starting point for the
determination of what happened during marriage. For
example, if the husband is described in such terms as to
locate him in the hostile-dominant quadrant of the ICL
grid whereas the before-marriage profile locates him in
the submissive-affIllative quadrant, the counselor-client
discussion begins with this over-all discrepancy. The
Inquiry prooeeds vlth the foeua on what the client feela
happened during marriage to account for the discrepancy.
The content and quality of the client's communication will
be of Inestimable value to the counselor In determining
the nature of the client's dynamics. The client's ability
to accept or repudiate responsibility for the change In
the marital partner becomes the basis for the counselor's
hypothesis of the extent to which the client may be
expected to modify her actions and expectations in the
marital relationship.
A further approach for the combined use of the
findings of this study and the ICL in dealing with marital
conflict Is suggested by the Idea that marriage is a need-
meeting proposition and that unrealistic needs cannot be
fulfilled in the present or any other marriage. In a
three way conference the counselor could discuss the
profiles each partner submits of the Ideal partner In
terms of the unrealistic nature of the needs each
expresses. When the partners come to see that they do not
regard the marriage as a partnership for the meeting of
"realistic" needs but are, in fact, comparing each's
performance with impossible Ideals, the possibility is
open for modifying the ideals along the lines of more
realistic expectations.
The first technique described above can also be
ll*6
used in counseling divorced persons. Similarly, as in
conflicted marriages, valuable diagnostic clues would be
obtained from the type of communication characterizing the
discussion of the discrepant profiles. Sinoe so many
persons who have failed in marriage are anxious to marry
again, this type of exploration should prove useful in
helping them to determine their readiness for another
marriage. An adjunctive technique would consist of
obtaining the profile of the ideal mate and to discuss the
prospects of its materialization in marriage.
Summary and conclusions
The foregoing section comprised a brief sketch of
how the socio-economic data resulting from this study may
be used in specific areas of sociology both for compara
tive purposes and theory construction. Implications of
the findings on the study proper have been drawn for the
sociological study of the family, educational sociology,
and marriage counseling. This brief presentation has been
based on what is considered to be the finished part of
the dissertation.
Thus, the task remains to consider what may be
regarded as the progress report. In this connection it
will be recalled that the second objective of the study
is to determine how the results of the initial Investiga
tion will be related to the course of marriage for the
1 1 * 7
sample under study. While the methodology of the follow-
up studies has not been worked out in detail the over-all
objective may be stated as the determination of
differential perceptions of the engagement partner and
marital success. Similarly, the studies will inquire into
the relationship between differential conceptions of the
ideal marital partner and conjugal happiness. The
specific focus of these studies will be the determination
of the relationship between marital success and the
following variables:
Realistic and unrealistic perceptions of fiance (e).
Realistic and unrealistic conceptions of ideal
mate.
Realistic conceptions of the ideal mate and
flance(e).
Unrealistic conceptions of ideal mate and
flance(e)•
Realistic conceptions of ideal mate and unreal
istic perceptions of fiance{e).
Unrealistic conceptions of ideal mate and
reallstio perceptions of fiance(e).
Another technique of investigation, which emerged
after the conceptualization of the long-range objective,
will be the determination at regular intervals of whether
or not the before-marriage profile of the fiance(e)
ll(.8
changes when the apouee la described. It ia predicted
that the profiles will ohange on the intensity dimenaion
and quadrant placement. Specifically, it ia predicted
that those persona who achieve a high degree of marital
satisfaction will profile the mate within the realistic
area of the Interpersonal Checklist grid and that those
persons who receive low marriage adjustment scores will
locate the mate in the hostile-dominant or hostile-
submissive quadrants of the grid.
A further objective may be to determine the fate
of Ideals in marriage by requiring the sample to submit
periodically an ICL on the conception of the ideal mate.
This technique would serve the purpose of determining if
the marital relationship has anything to do with altera
tion of values. Such an Investigation should make some
contribution to whatever theory is available about the
evolution of values.
The follow-up studies tracing the relationship
between differential perception of partner and conceptions
of ideal mate and marital happiness may contribute some
thing to the growing body of knowledge of small groups
dynamics. It is possible that the small group comes into
being on the basis of unrealistic conceptions of what It
will materialize for its members, and because of the
unrealistic expectations the Individuals have of each
ll*9
other. It is conceivable, and the follow-up studies
should determine this, that groups dissolve when the
Ideals and/or expectations are not satisfied, and that
they maintain solidarity only when more realistic Ideals
and expectations are adopted.
Suggestions for Further Research
Before a definitive position can be taken with
regard to the value of the findings of a particular study
a broader type of research methodology should be employed.
Such an approach would either support or invalidate the
findings from the present study. The size of some of the
subgroups in the sample presented some problems which
might be rectified in future research. Sampling should be
done in such a way as to increase their size, for there
is always the possibility of error when the subgroups
differ appreciably in size. The ideal methodology would
be to collect N's of such size as to make analysis of
variance possible. While this would Increase the length
of sampling time, particularly for a treatment times
level design, it would reduce the possibility of error,
and also tend to reduce statistical calculations in those
instances in which the over-all variance is not signifi
cant.
During the analysis it become evident that a third
copy of the Instrument could have been administered,
1£0
requiring the participants to make an assessment of their
own personalities* This would have provided data which
could be used in a variety of ways* For example, onefs
picture of self could be compared with that asoribed to
the fiance(e). Congruence, or lack of congruence, in the
two pictures might be of great value In follow-up studies
of marital success*
An additional instrument in another suoh study
might be the Burgess and Wallin Engagement Success
Inventory* Correlations could be calculated between the
scores on the inventory and the scores on the Inter
personal Checklist to determine the relationship between
stated satisfaction with the marital relationship and
perceptions of the fiance(e)* This technique, if followed
by factor analysis, might discriminate the predictive
value of the two Instruments.
The use of Hurvitz’ Index of Marital Strain might
be employed in future research, along with the Inter
personal Checklist and the Burgess and Wallin Inventory.
The results could be treated by the method of factor
analysis to determine which instrument has the highest
predictive value for marital success.
Face sheet data could be extended to provide a
variety of possible relevant information. The way in
which a person perceives the love object may be related to
his or her evaluation of the relationship with the
opposlte-sexed parent and/or the marital relationship of
the family of origin. It is also possible that distortion
of the perception of the love object is related to the
types of activities in which the couple engage* Activities
which require communication, adaptation, cooperation, and
sharing may provide opportunities for more realistic
appraisal than provided when the couple relates on a
"spectatoritis" basis* The type of preferred reading
matter, drama, and music may also influence perception of
the love object*
If this investigation is accepted as the final
word on personality perceptions of the engagement partner
and personality conceptions of the ideal marital partner
it will defeat its purpose. It ia a successful and
provocative study, but if its findings stand without
further investigation, it will be deemed to have failed
its objective of laying the groundwork for other suoh
studies of mate seleotlon*
APPENDIX
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Department o f Sociology
We are trying to learn more about factor* which make for happy and unhappy marriage. To do this* we need the
cooperation and aiaiatance of engaged couple*. You can help u* a great deal by filling out the following queation*
as frankly and a* carefully as possible.
Experience has shown that some people hesitate to answer personal questions if they have to reveal their names.
Therefore, we do not ask for names. Please answer all questions. If you cannot give the exact answer to a question,
answer the best you can. Please do not consult with your fiance(e) in answering the questionnaires. qq
WRITE HERE
1. Age_________ ) 1.
2 . Resident o f____________________________ (County) (State) ) 2.
3. Race: Chinese Japanese Negro White Other ) 3.
4. Highest year of school completed (check one) ) 4.
Post Graduate Degree College Degree 1-3 years college (or business )
High School graduate 10-11 years of school school j
7-9 years of school Under 7 years of school
5. My present occupation is ___________________ Industry or organisation ) 5.
6. My total yearly income is (check one) ) 6.
Under $ 3,000___ $ 3,000.$ 6,999___ $ 7,000.$10,999
$11,000-14,999 15,000- 18,999___ 19,000. and over )
7. My father's occupation is (or was) ) 7,
8. My religion is: (check one) Catholic Jewish Protestant None ) 8,
Other ( Please write in) j
9. I have been m arried__________times. ) 9.
10. How long have you been engaged to your present fiance(e)7 Years Months )10.
11. When are you going to be married? )11.
)U.
CHECK ( / ) THOSE STATEM ENTS WHICH DESCRIBE YOUR FIANCE
well thought of
nakei a good inpreasion
able to give orders
forceful
self-respecting
independent
able to take care of self
can be indifferent to others
can be atrict if necessary
,firs but juat
can be frank and honest
critical of others
can cosplain if necessary
often glossy
able to doubt others
frequently disappointed
able to criticise self
apologetic
can be obedient
usually gives in
grateful
adsires and isitates others
appreciative
very anxious to be approved of
cooperative
eager to get along with others
friendly
affectionate and understanding
considerate
encourages others
helpful
big-hearted and unselfish
_ often admired
__ respected b y others
good leader
likes responsibility
self-confident
self-reliant and assertive
businesslike
__ likes t o compete with others
hard-boiled when necessary
_ stern but f a i r
irritable
_ straightforward and direct
_ resents being bossed
skeptical
hard to impress
touchy and easily hurt
easily embarrassed
lacks self-confidence
___easily l e d
modest
often helped by others
__very respectful of authority
__accepts advice readily
trusting and eager to please
__always pleasant and agreeable
wants everyone to like him
sociable and neighborly
warm
_kind and reassuring
tender and soft-hearted
enjoys taking care of others
gives f reely of self
always giving advice
acts important
bossy
„ dominating
boastful
proud and self-satisfied
__ thinks only of himself
shrewd and calculating
inpatient with others mistakes
self-seeking
outspoken
___ often unfriendly
bitter
complaining
jealous
slow t o forgive a wrong
self-punishing
shy
passive and unaggressive
_ meek
__ dependent
wants to b e led
lets others make decisions
easily fooled
too easily influenced by friends
will confide in anyone
___ f o n d of everyone
__1 i k e s everybody
forgives anything
oversympathetic
generous t o a f a u l t
overprotective of others
_ tries to be too successful
_ expects everyone to admire him
manages others
_ dictatorial
__ somewhat snobbish
egotistical and conceited
__ selfish
_ cold and unfeeling
sarcastic
cruel and unkind
__ frequently angry
_ hard-hearted
resentful
rebels against everything
stubborn
distrusts everybody
timid
always ashamed of self
— obeys too willingly
___spineless
hardly ever talks back
_ _ _ clinging vine
lik e s t o b e taken care o f
_ _ _ _ _ will believe anyone
___wants everyone's l o v e
___agrees with everyone
friendly all the time
loves everyone
too lenient with others
tries to comfort everyone
too willing to give to others
spoils people with kindness
CHECK ( / ) THOSE STATEM ENTS WHICH DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL HUSBAND.
well thought of
■ikes • good impression
able to give orders
forceful
self-respecting
independent
able to take care of self
can be indifferent to others
can be strict if necessary
f i n but just
can be frank and honest
critical of others
.can complain if necessary
often gloomy
able to doubt others
frequently disappointed
able to criticise self
apologetic
can be obedient
usually gives in
grateful
admires and initates others
appreciative
very anxious to be approved of
cooperative
eager to get along with others
friendly
affectionate and understanding
considerate
encourages others
helpful
big-hearted and unselfish
often admired
respected by others
( o o d leader
likes responsibility
_ self-confident
self-reliant and assertive
businesslike
likes t o compete with others
hard-boiled then necessary
stern but f a i r
_ irritable
___straightforward and direct
resents being bossed
_ skeptical
hard t o impress
touchy and easily hurt
_ easily embarrassed
lacks self-confidence
_.easily l e d
__ modest
— often helped by others
_very respectful of authority
_ accepts advice readily
trusting and eager to please
— always pleasant and agreeable
wants everyone to like him
sociable and neighborly
warm
__ kind and reassuring
tender and soft-hearted
__enjoys taking care of others
gives freely of self
always giving advice
acts important
— bossy
boastful
proud and self-satisfied
__ thinks only of himself
_ shrewd and calculating
impatient with others mistakes
_ self-seeking
_ outspoken
___ often unfriendly
bitter
complaining
jealous
slow to forgive a wrong
self-punishing
shy
_ passive and unaggressive
meek
dependent
wants to be l e d
lets others make decisions
easily fooled
too easily influenced by friends
will confide in anyone
____ fond of everyone
_ likes everybody
forgives anything
oversympathetic
generous to a fault
__overprotective of others
_ tries t o b e too successful
_ expects everyone to admire him
__ manages others
_ dictatorial
__ somewhat snobbish
egotistical and conceited
_ selfish
_cold and unfeeling
sarcastic
cruel and unkind
frequently angry
hard-hearted
resentful
rebels against everything
_____ stubborn
distrusts everybody
timid
always ashamed of self
_ obeys too willingly
spineless
_— hardly ever talks back
_ clinging vine
likes to b e taken care of
will believe anyone
_ wants everyone's love
__agrees with everyone
friendly all the time
_ loves everyone
too lenient with others
tries to comfort everyone
too willing to give to others
spoils people with kindness
Thank you very much S ot cooperating in what we believe
to be one of the m ost important pieces o f research on
engaged couples. The resu lts w ill have a wide variety of
u ses and w ill be esp ecially helpful to others considering
m arriage.
You are perhaps wondering what this study is a ll about and
what we are looking for. If you would like to have a summary
of our findings kindly Indicate below.
In a year or so we expect to make a follow -up study as we
are interested in your m arital happiness. Perhaps you
would like to be a part o f the future study. If so, kindly
indicate below. Remember any information you give us
is com pletely confidential.
Mail me a copy of the resu lts of th is stu d y___
I would like to be a part of the follow-up study
Name
Address
City and State
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Dep&rtment of Sociology
We are trying to learn more about factors which make for happy and unhappy marriage. To do this, we need the
cooperation and assistance of engaged couples. You can help us a great deal by filling out the following questions
as frankly and as carefully as possible.
Experience has shown that some people hesitate to answer personal questions if they have to reveal their names.
Therefore, we do not ask for names. Please answer all questions. If you cannot give the exact answer to a question,
answer the best you can. Please do not consult with your fiance(e) in answering the questionnaires.
1. Age
2. Resident of
3, Race: Chinese Japanese
4. Highest year of school completed (check one)
(County)
Negro
(State)
White Other
Post Graduate Degree
High School graduate
7-9 years of school
5. My present occupation is
College Degree 1-3 years college (or business
10-11 years of school school
Under 7 years of school
Industry or organization
6. My total yearly income is (check one)
Under $ 3,000___ $ 3,000.$ 6.999
$11,000-14,999___ 15,000. 18,999
7. My father's occupation is (or was)__________
$ 7,000.$10,999 _
19,000. and over
8. My religion is: (check one) Catholic Jewish____
Other ( Please write in)
9. I have been married times.
10. How long have you been engaged to your present fiance(e)? Years
11. When are you going to be married ? _____________
Protestant None
Months
DO NOT
WRITE HERE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. _
10.
n . _
12.
CHECK ( / ) THOSE STATEMENTS WHICH DESCRIBE YOUR FIANCEE
veil thought o f
makes « good impression
able to give orders
forceful
self-respecting
independent
able to take care of self
can be indifferent t o others
can be atnct i f necessary
_fir« but juat
can b e frank and honest
critical of others
_can coaplain if necessary
often gloosy
able to doubt others
frequently disappointed
able to criticiie self
apologetic
can be obedient
usually gives i n
grateful
adsirea and initates others
appreciative
very anxious to be approved o f
cooperative
eager to get along with others
friendly
affectionate and understanding
considerate
encourages others
helpful
big-hearted and unselfish
__ often admired
_ respected b y o t hers
good l e ader
likes responsibility
_ self-confident
self-reliant a n d assertive
_ businesslike
likes t o compete with others
hard-boiled when necessary
_ stern but f a i r
irritable
straightforward and direct
resents being b ossed
_ skeptical
hard t o impress
touchy and easily hurt
easily embarrassed
l a c k s self-confidence
_easily l e d
modest
often helped b y others
_ very respectful o f authority
_ accepts advice readily
trusting and eager to please
_ always pleasant and agreeable
_ wants everyone t o l i k e him
sociable a n d neighborly
_warm
__ kind and reassuring
tender and soft-hearted
_enjoys taking c are of others
gives f r e e l y o f self
_ always giving advice
acts important
bossy
dominating
__ boastful
proud and self-satisfied
_ thinks only of himself
shrewd and calculating
impatient with others mistakes
_ self-seeking
outspoken
often unfriendly
bitter
complaining
jea l o u s
slow t o forgive a wrong
self-punishing
shy
__ passive and unaggressive
_me e k
dependent
_ wants to be led
l e t s others make decisions
easily fooled
too easily influenced by friends
will confide m anyone
_____ f o n d of everyone
likes everybody
forgives anything
_____ oversympatHetic
generous to a fault
overprotective of others
_ tries t o b e too successful
_ expects everyone t o admire him
____ manages others
_ dictatorial
somewhat snobbish
egotistical and conceited
_ selfish
_ cold and unfeeling
___ sarcastic
cruel and unkind
_ frequently angry
hard-hearted
resentful
_ rebels against everything
stubborn
distrusts everybody
_ timid
always ashamed of self
_ obeys Loo willingly
__ spineless
____ hardly ever talks b a c k
_ clinging v i n e
l i k e s t o b e taken care of
will believe anyone
_ wants everyone's l o v e
agrees with everyone
friendly a l l t h e t i m e
_ loves everyone
too l e n i e n t with others
tries to comfort everyone
too willing t o give to others
spoils people with kindness
1
I
^ . 4
CHECK (/) THOSE STATEMENTS WHICH DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WIFE.
_ well thought of .often admired _ always giving advice _ tries to be too successful
_ makes a good impression _ respected by others _ acts important _ expects everyone to admire him
able to give orders good leader __ bossy manages others
_forceful _likes responsibility _ dominating _ dictatorial
_ self-respecting _ self-confident _ boastful .somewhat snobbish
__ independent __self-reliant and assertive __proud and self-satisfied egotistical and conceited
..able to take care of self businesslike _thinks only of himself _selfish
_can be indifferent to others _ likes t o compete with others _shrewd and calculating _cold and unfeeling
can be strict if necessary __hard-boiled when necessary impatient with others mistakes ... sarcastic
.firai but just _ stern but f a i r _ self-seeking _ cruel and unkind
can be frank and honest irritable _ outspoken _ frequently angry
-..critical of others ..straightforward and direct _ often unfriendly _ _ hard-hearted
.can complain if necessary . resents being bossed _bitter _ resentful
.often gloomy
_ skeptical __ complaining rebels against everything
able to doubt others __hard t o impress jealous stubborn
.frequently disappointed _ touchy and easily hurt _ s l o w to forgive a wrong _distrusts everybody
_able to criticize self _easily embarrassed _ self-punishing _timid
_ apologetic l a c k s self-confidence shy always ashamed of self
_, c a n be obedient easily l e d _ passive and unaggressive
. o b e y s Luo willingly
.usually gives i n _modest _meek spineless
. grateful _ often helped by others _ dependent .. hardly ever talks back
.admires and imitates others .very respectful of authority _wants to b e l e d _clinging vine
___ appreciative accepts advice readily lets others make decisions likes to b e taken care of
___very anxious to be approved of __trusting and eager t o please __easily fooled __will believe anyone
.cooperative _ always pleasant and agreeable _ too easily influenced by friends _wants everyone's l o v e
_eager to get along with others _wants everyone t o like him will confide in anyone _agrees with everyone
friendly __sociable and neighborly ___ fond o f everyone friendly all t h e time
.affectionate and understanding warm _ likes everybody _ loves everyone
.considerate . kind and reassuring _forgives anything .too l e nient with others
encourages others __tender and soft-hearted oversympathetic tries t o comfort everyone
helpful enjoys taking care of others generous to a fault too willing t o give to others
big-hearted and unselfish _gives freely o f self overprotective of others spoils people with kindness
AP__ HI__ NO__ BC__ P G__ Jh__ IW__ DE__ _ DOM___ dov;_ _
m c
U
Thank you very much for cooperating in what we believe
to be one of the most important pieces of research on
engaged couples. The results will have a wide variety of
uses and will be especially helpful to others considering
marriage.
You are perhaps wondering what this study is all about and
what we are looking for. If you would like to have a summary
of our findings kindly indicate below.
In a year or so we expect to make a follow-up study as we
are interested in your m arital happiness. Perhaps you
would like to be a part of the future study. If so, kindly
indicate below. Remember any information you give us
is completely confidential.
Mail me a copy of the results of this study___
I would like to be a part of the follow-up study
Name
Address
City and State
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Asset Metadata

Creator King, Elsie Viola (author)

Core Title Personality Characteristics: Ideal And Perceived In Relation To Mate Selection

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Sociology

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,psychology, personality,psychology, social,sociology, individual and family studies

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Peterson, James A. (committee chair), Brackenbury, Robert L. (committee member), Vincent, Melvin J. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-92359

Unique identifier UC11358044

Identifier 6101701.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-92359 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 6101701.pdf

Dmrecord 92359

Document Type Dissertation

Rights King, Elsie Viola

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA