University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Personality And Interpersonal Factors Associated With The Duration Of Marriage Counseling

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Personality And Interpersonal Factors Associated With The Duration Of Marriage Counseling

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Content T h is d isse r ta tio n h as been 63— 5064
m ic r o film e d e x a c tly a s r e c e iv e d
SM ITH, J a m es R ex, 1 9 2 1 -
PERSO NALITY AND IN TERPERSO N AL FACTORS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DURATION O F MARRIAGE
COUNSELING.
U n iv e r sity o f Southern C a lifo rn ia
P h .D ., 1963
S o c io lo g y , fa m ily
University Microiilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
PERSONALITY AND INTERPERSONAL FACTORS ASSOCUTED
WITH THE DURATION OF MARRIAGE COUNSELING
Jam es Rex S m ith
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P r e s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In P a r t i a l F u lf i ll m e n t o f th e
R e q u ire m e n ts f o r th e D egree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(S o c io lo g y )
January 1963
UNIVERSITY O F SO U TH ER N CA U FO R N IA
GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANOELES 7 . CALIFORNIA
This dissertation, written by
.....................Jam.ea-Eex-Sinl.th-.....................
under the direction of h%*. ..Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by ail its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Graduate
School, in partial fulfillment of requirements
for the degree of
D O C T O R OF P H I L O S O P H Y
........
Date., i ...S..ft. .....(S . .f? ... .^77!........
DISSERTATlQJi-XOMMITTEE
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Page
LIST OP TABLES........................................................................................ v l
C h a p te r
I . THE PROBLEMS, TERMS AND INSTRUMENTS USED. . • 1
I n t r o d u c tio n
The P roblem
The Im p o rta n c e o f th e S tu d y
The Soope o f th e S tu d y and t h e M ajor
H y p o th eses
Scope
M ajor H y p o th e se s
L im i ta ti o n s o f th e S tudy
D e f i n i t i o n o f Term s
L o n g -term C o u p les
S h o rt- te rm C o u p les
P e r s o n a l i t y P a c to r s
I n t e r p e r s o n a l P a c to r s
T heory
R o le
S ta tu s
R ole E x p e c ta tio n s and R ole B e h a v io r
O r g a n iz a tio n o f R em ainder o f th e
D i s s e r t a t i o n
I I . REVIEW OP THE LITERATURE.................................................. 18
I n t r o d u c t i o n
B ackground S tu d ie s
M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h i l a d e l p h i a
B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th S c a le
P s y c h o th e ra p y and P e r s o n a l i t y Change
O th e r B ackground S tu d ie s
Summary
ii
Chapter Page
R e la te d S c i e n t i f i c S tu d ie s
S o c io lo g y o f th e P am ily S tu d ie s
R e la te d P s y c h o lo g ic a l R e s e a rc h
R o le T h eo ry an d P e r c e p tio n S tu d ie s
C u rre n t S tu d ie s i n R o le T h eo ry
S o c i a l i s a t i o n o f th e P e r s o n a l i t y
Summary
I I I . THE METHODOLOGY OP THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENT . . 52
D evelopm ent o f th e R e s e a rc h In s tru m e n t
The R e s e a rc h M ethodology
P i l o t S tu d y
The R e s e a rc h S tu d y
The K -P a c to r S c a le
The E g o -S tr e n g th S c a le
P u rp o se
S c a le C o n s tr u c tio n *
V a li d a ti o n o f th e S c a le
The P i l o t S tu d y
D evelopm ent o f th e M a rria g e I n t e r p e r s o n a l
S c a le s
P u rp o se
C o n s tr u c tio n o f th e S c a le s
S ta g e s o f R e fin em e n t
Summary o f I n s tr u m e n t D evelopm ent
IV . SELECTION, SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND
LIMITATIONS OP THE SAMPLE................................................ 73
S e le c ti o n o f th e S u b je c ts
S o c ia l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e Sam ple
E th n ictty
Age D i s t r i b u t i o n
P am lly Incom e
E d u c a tio n
In d ex o f S o c ia l P o s i t i o n
R e lig io u s A f f i l i a t i o n
iii
Chapter Page
P re v io u s M a rria g e S ta t u s
L e n g th o f E ngagem ent
L en g th o f M a rria g e
L im i ta ti o n s o f th e He s e a r c h Sam ple
Summary
V . RESEARCH METHODS AND THE STATISTICAL FINDINGS . 9 » +
Summary o f th e R e s e a rc h M ethods
R e s e a rc h D e sig n
S t a t i s t i c a l M ethodology
P ro c e s s in g th e S t a t i s t i c a l D ata
T e s tin g th e H y p o th e ses
A n a ly s is o f F in d in g s — P e r s o n a l i t y F a c to r s
A n a ly s is o f F in d in g s — I n t e r p e r s o n a l F a c to r s
P r e d i c t i v e C a p a b ility o f I n d iv id u a l T e s t
S c a le Ite m s
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h ree
Summary
V I. SU M M A RY AND CONCLUSIONS......................................................... 122
Summary o f th e h y p o th e s e s
Summary o f th e S t a t i s t i c a l F in d in g s
P e r s o n a l i t y F a c to r s A s s o c ia te d w ith L e n g th
o f M a rria g e C o u n s e lin g
I n t e r p e r s o n a l F a c to r s A s s o c ia te d w ith
L e n g th o f M a rria g e C o u n s e lin g
I n d iv id u a l T e s t Ite m s A s s o c ia te d w ith
L en g th o f M a rria g e C o u n s e lin g
I m p lic a tio n s o f th e S tu d y f o r S o c io lo g y o f
th e Feuaily
I m p lic a tio n s o f th e S tu d y f o r M a rria g e an d
Feuaily C o u n s e lin g
S u g g e s tio n s f o r F u r th e r R e s e a rc h
iv
Chapter Page
R e p lic a ti o n o f th e P r e s e n t S tu d y
V a li d a ti o n o f O th e r I n s tr u m e n ts
S u g g e s tio n s f o r R e la te d R e se a ro h
Summary
APPENDIX.................................................................................................................l * + 6
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 163
v
LIST OF TABLES
T a b le
Page
1 .
Age D i s t r i b u t i o n o f S tu d y S am p le, by P e r C ent . 77
2 . F am ily Inoome L e v e l o f S tu d y S am p le, by
P e r C e n t...................................................................................
3 .
L e v e l o f E d u c a tio n o f S tu d y S am p le, by
P e r C e n t.............................................................................. ....
if.
In d e x o f S o c ia l P o s i t i o n s o f S tu d y S am ple,
by P e r C ent ..........................................................................
5.
R e lig io u s A f f i l i a t i o n o f S tu d y S am p le, by
P e r C e n t....................................... ................................. ....
6 . P re v io u s M a rria g e S ta tu s o f S tu d y S am ple,
by P e r C e n t .........................................................................
7 .
L e n g th o f E ngagem ent o f S tu d y Sam ple C o u p le s ,
by P e r C en t • • • • .............................
8. L e n g th o f M a rria g e o f S tudy Sam ple C o u p le s,
by P e r C ent • • ................................................................ . 91
9 .
Ego S tr e n g th S c o re s o f Tvo Sam ple G ro u p s,
by Chi S q u are V a lu e s ....................................... ....
1 0 . K -F a c to r S c a le S c o re s o f Two Sam ple G ro u p s,
by Chi S q u a re V a lu e s ......................................................
1 1 . I n t e r p e r s o n a l S o a le One S o o re s o f Two
Sam ple G ro u p s, by C hi S q u are V a lu e s . • . .
1 2 . I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two S c o re s o f Two
Sam ple G ro u p s, by Chi S q u are V a lu e s . . . . . 105
1 3 .
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h ree S c o re s o f Two
Sam ple G ro u p s, by Chi S q u are V a lu e s • • • • . 106
l*f. R e la tio n s h ip o f C o u p le ’ s A ges a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s ...................................
vi
T ab le Page
1 5 . C o u p le *8 R e lig io u s F a it h a a P r e d i c t i v e F a o to r ,
by Chi S q u are V a lu e s ......................................................
1 6 . C o u p le 's C o o p e ra tio n i n P la n n in g a s P r e d ic ti v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s ...................................
1 7 . C o u p le 's E d u c a tio n L ev el a s P r e d i c t i v e F a c t o r ,
by C hi S q u are V a lu e s ......................................................
•
00
H
A s s o c ia tio n w ith F rie n d s a s P r e d i c t i v e F a c t o r ,
by Chi S q u are V a l u e s ..............................• • • • •
19.
R e c r e a tio n a l A c t i v i t i e s a s P r e d i c t i v e F a c t o r ,
by C hi S q u are V a l u e s ............................................ ....
2 0 . C o u p le 's L en g th o f E ngagem ent a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a l u e s ........................
2 1 . C o u p le 's L en g th o f M a rria g e a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by Chi S q u are V alu e s ..................................
2 2 . C o u p le 's P re v io u s M a rria g e s a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by Chi S q u are V a lu e s ..................................
2 3 .
P re v io u s H o s ti l e S e p a r a tio n s a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s • • • • • • • •
2h. C o u p le 's L en g th o f S e p a r a tio n a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by Chi S q u are V a lu e s ...................................
2 5 .
C o u p le 's Happy C h ild h o o d s a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s ...................................
2 6 . P a r e n t s ' Happy M a rria g e s a s P r e d i c t i v e
F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s
2 7 . P a r e n t s ' A t t i t u d e s to w ard P r o s p e c tiv e Mate a s
P r e d i c t i v e F a c t o r , by C hi S q u are V a lu e s . • . . 115
2 8 . Number o f D iv o rc e s i n F a m ilie s a s P r e d i c ti v e
F a c t o r , by Chi S q u are V a lu e s ...................................
2 9 .
P r e d i c t i v e A b i l i t y o f I n d iv id u a l Ite m s I n t e r
p e r s o n a l S c a le Two, by Chi S q u are V alu e s • . . 118
3 0 . P r e d i c t i v e A b i l i t y o f I n d iv id u a l Ite m s I n t e r
p e r s o n a l S c a le T h re e , by Chi S q u are V alu e s . . 120
vii
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEMS, TERMS AND INSTRUMENTS USED
I n t r o d u c tio n
In a n e r a n a rk e d by a h ig h d iv o r c e r a t e an d f a m ily
d i s i n t e g r a t i o n i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s t h e r e i s a n i n c r e a s i n g
e m p h a sis on r e s e a r c h i n th e a d ju s tm e n t p h a s e s o f th e
f a m il y . S o c io lo g y o f th e fa m ily h a s grow n o u t o f th e
s p e c u l a t i v e s t a g e . M a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i s now i n t e r d i s c i
p l i n a r y , and i s u s in g r e s e a r c h m a t e r i a l s from i t s v a r i e d
d i s c i p l i n e s .
The c o n tin u e d u s e f u ln e s s o f f a m ily s o c io lo g y and
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g d ep e n d s l a r g e l y u p o n th e d i r e c t i o n and
th e d e p th o f i t s s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h . B e h a v io ra l and
s o c i a l s c ie n c e s have b e e n c o n s tr a in e d t o in c r e a s e t h e i r
r e s e a r c h in s tru m e n ts * l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e , i f th e y a r e
t o r e t a i n th e d e s c r i p t i v e d e s ig n a ti o n " s c i e n t i f i c " i n a
h ig h ly t e c h n o lo g i c a l w o r ld . A m ore p r e c i s e r e l i a b i l i t y
and v a l i d i t y o f th e r e s e a r c h in s tr u m e n ts a r e e s s e n t i a l to
th e m a tu r i ty o f f a m ily s o c io lo g y and m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
P r o g r e s s i n s o c i a l s c ie n c e r e s e a r o h m akes i t p o s s i b l e f o r
fa m ily c o u n s e lin g to a tte m p t t h r e e c l e a r l y d i s t i n c t
a v e n u e s o f m e th o d o lo g ic a l r e s e a r c h i n th e f u t u r e .
1
2
F i r s t , th e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n s an d I n s tr u m e n ts w h ich
h av e h e e n a c c e p te d i n th e f i e l d m ust be r e d e f in e d w ith
t e s t - r e t e s t an d l i k e p ro c e d u re s w h ich s tr e n g th e n th e c r e d i
b i l i t y o f t e s t f i n d i n g s . More p r e c i s e s t a t i s t i c a l m ethods
and m e asu rem en ts w i l l g r a d u a l ly e v o lv e i n th e p r o c e s s o f
r e t e s t i n g u n d e r d i f f e r e n t e n v iro n m e n ts and by c o n t r o l l i n g
m ore v a r i a b l e s . The w e l l - a c c r e d i t e d m a rria g e an d fa m ily
s t u d i e s su o h a s th o s e by B u rg ess an d W a llin , L ooke, W inch,
P e te r s o n and K i r k p a t r i c k , d e s e rv e a d e q u a te r e s t u d i e s m aking
p r o p e r u s e o f s t a t i s t i c a l m ethods d e v e lo p e d i n r e c e n t
y e a r s .
S eco n d , th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l, p e r s o n a l i t y , and s o c io
m e tr ic t e s t s a d a p te d fro m o t h e r d i s c i p l i n e s m ust be
r e t e s t e d f o r p r o p e r r e l i a b i l i t y and v a l i d i t y when a p p l ie d
t o m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g . F o r e x a m p le , m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
h a s u s e d many o f th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l an d p e r s o n a l i t y t e s t s
f o r p r e d i c t i o n an d i n s i g h t . S in c e l e v e l s o f v a l i d i t y and
r e l i a b i l i t y f o r m ost p s y c h o lo g ic a l t e s t s w ere d e te rm in e d
f o r i n d i v i d u a l c o u n s e lin g (one t h e r a p i s t w ith one c l i e n t ) ,
i t i s o n ly s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t th e same l e v e l s a r e a c c e p ta b le
f o r th e i n t e r a c t i v e p r o c e s s o f dyad c o u n s e lin g (o n e t h e r a
p i s t w ith two c l i e n t s ) . C e r t a in l y t h e r e a r e many c o n f ig u
r a t i o n a l p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s in v o lv e d i n th e i n t e r a c t i o n
o f dyad c o u n s e lin g w h ich a r e n o t fo u n d i n i n d i v i d u a l coun
s e l i n g . I t seem s e v id e n t from su o h ex am p les t h a t r a n g e s ,
m ean s, s ta n d a r d d e v i a t i o n s , and t - s o o r e s p r e s e n t ly a c c e p te d
a t f a c e v a lu e f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g o l i e n t s n ay h av e
n e i t h e r p r o p e r r e l i a b i l i t y n o r v a l i d i t y .
T h ir d , s o c i a l t h e o r i s t s m u st o r e a t e new d e s ig n s
and in s tr u m e n ts f o r s c i e n t i f i c t e s t i n g an d r e s e a r c h p r o
j e c t s to m eet th e s p e c i a l n e e d s o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
I t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t th e n ew er m eth o d s o f r e s e a r c h and
t e s t i n g be c o m p le te ly n o v e l . H i s t o r i c a l l y , s c i e n t i f i c
r e s e a r c h h a s n o t a lw a y s r e s u l t e d i n ad v an cem en t and p r o
g r e s s . I n e a c h s c i e n t i f i c f i e l d o f e n d e a v o r m e th o d o lo g ic a l
r e s e a r c h h a s b ee n a s lo w ly e v o lv in g p r o c e s s . The new te c h
n o lo g y o f o u r a g e h a s come th ro u g h th e p r o c e s s o f r e d e f i n i
t i o n o f p r e v io u s f i n d i n g s an d th ro u g h th e m onotonous
m ethods o f t e s t - r e t e s t an d t r i a l - a n d - e r r o r . The d i s c i
p l i n e s o f fa m ily s o c io lo g y and m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g a r e p re s
e n t l y en g ag ed i n su c h a n e r a o f h a rd w ork and p a t i e n t
e n d e a v o r.
The P ro b lem
I t i s th e p u rp o s e o f t h i s s tu d y to t e s t p r o c e d u re s
w h ich p r e d i c t th e p r o b a b i l i t y o f c l i e n t s re m a in in g i n th e
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g p r o c e s s s u f f i c i e n t tim e to p ro v id e a
s u c c e s s f u l c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m . Two d i s t i n c t l i n e s o f
in q u ir y a tte m p t to m e asu re th e p e r s o n a l i t y and th e i n t e r
p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e le n g th o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g .
P a r t one o f t h i s s tu d y m e a su re s th e p e r s o n a l i t y
f a c t o r s o f th e c l i e n t s th ro u g h th e u s e o f th e B a rro n Ego
S tr e n g th (E s) S c a le o f th e MMPI (M in n e so ta M u ltip h a s lo P e r
s o n a l i t y I n v e n to r y ) . T h is s p e c i a l s c a l e o f th e MMPI was
d e v e lo p e d by a g ro u p o f p s y c h o lo g is ts u n d e r th e d i r e c t i o n
o f D r. P ra n k B a rro n a t th e U n iv e r s it y o f C a l i f o r n i a
( B e r k e le y ) .^ Though t h e s c a l e p u r p o r te d o n ly t o p r e d i c t
th e r e s p o n s e o f m e n ta lly i l l p e rs o n s to p s y c h o th e ra p y , i t
h a s c o n tin u e d to be u s e d by many c l i n i c i a n s i n a t te m p ts to
p r e d i c t th e p ro b a b le l e n g t h o f c o n tin u e d th e r a p y . B a rro n
s a id ) " I t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t w h at i s b e in g m easu red i s a
g e n e r a l f a c t o r o f c a p a c ity o f p e r s o n a l i t y i n t e g r a t i o n , o r
2
e g o - s t r e n g t h ."
The Es S c a le i s f r e q u e n t l y u s e d t o t e s t w h e th e r o r
n o t th e c l i e n t w i l l s t a y i n th e r a p y lo n g enough to p ro v id e
im p ro v ed m e n ta l h e a l t h . The s c a le s c o r e s i n d i c a t e t o th e
t h e r a p i s t th e c l i e n t 's a b i l i t y to cope w ith su c h c o u n te r
m e a su re s a s r e s i s t a n c e d u r in g th e p r o c e s s o f p s y c h o th e ra p y .
A o c e p tin g th e p re m is e t h a t t h i s p s y c h o lo g ic a l t e s t
s c a l e d o e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y m easu re th e a b i l i t y to p r e d i c t
l e n g t h o f i n d i v i d u a l t h e r a p y , th e i n i t i a l p a r t o f t h i s
F ran k B a rro n , "An Ego S tr e n g th S c a le W hich P r e
d i c t s R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y . XVII (1 9 5 3 ), 3 2 7 -3 3 3 .
2I b i d . . p . 329 .
r e s e a r c h s tu d y t e s t s th e u s e o f th e same s o a le f o r p r e d i c
t i o n i n th e le n g t h o f s t a y i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g * T h is
p a r t o f th e r e s e a r c h s e r v e s a s a r e t e s t o f a c u r r e n t
p s y c h o lo g ic a l t e s t s c a l e when i t i s a d a p te d to th e m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g (d y a d ) r e l a t i o n s h i p * The Ee S o a le i s u s e d to
m easu re th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s o f th e i n d i v i d u a l c l i e n t
w h ich a r e a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e o a p a o lty (eg o s t r e n g t h ) to
co m p le te a d e q u a te t h e r a p y .
The seco n d p a r t o f th e s tu d y m e a su re s th e i n t e r
a c t i o n a l f a c t o r s w h ich h av e ta k e n p la c e and c o n tin u e to
ta k e p la c e b etw een th e two c l i e n t s i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g *
The p ro b le m s o f i n d i v i d u a l th e ra p y a r e ev en more com plex
an d c o m p lic a te d f o r dyad c o u n s e lin g b e c a u s e o f t h e s e i n t e r
p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s . To oope w ith th e p ro b lem o f m e a s u rin g
th e s e I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s t h i s s tu d y a tte m p ts to c o n
s t r u c t a new t e s t in s tr u m e n t w h ich may r e l i a b l y p r e d i c t
th e p r o b a b i l i t y o f a c o u p le (m a rrie d p a i r ) re m a in in g i n
th e m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g r e l a t i o n s h i p .
The t e s t in s tr u m e n t f o r m e a s u rin g I n t e r p e r s o n a l
f a c t o r s i s com posed o f th r e e i n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s w h ich
m easu re i n d iv i d u a l an d s o c i a l m o tiv a tio n s to c o m p le te th e
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g program * I t i s h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t s i g
n i f i c a n t d is c r e p a n c ie s i n th e c o u p l e 's s c o r e s on th e s e
s c a l e s I n d i c a t e th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f p r e d i c t i n g e a r l y te rm in a
t i o n i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g *
S p e c i f i c a l l y , th e seco n d p a r t o f th e s tu d y d e sc rib e s
t h e I n t e r p e r s o n a l t e s t s c a l e s an d t e s t s t h e i r v a l i d i t y
th r o u g h s t a t i s t i c a l m e th o d o lo g y .
The Im p o rta n c e o f th e S tu d y
The s t a t i s t i c a l r e s u l t s o f t h i s s tu d y may make a
s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n to w h at K e p h a rt h a s te rm e d , " th e
f a m ily f i e l d T h o u g h th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s a r e v a l i
d a te d s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , th e s tu d y
s u g g e s ts r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s w h ich may p ro v id e a c o n t r i b u t i o n
to s o c io lo g y , s o c i a l p sy c h o lo g y an d p s y c h o lo g y .
The s tu d y c o n t r i b u t e s to m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g by
p r o v id in g a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t o f a c o u p l e 's c a p a c i t y
to c o n tin u e i n a c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m . P e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r
s c a l e s p r e s e n t l y u s e d i n i n d i v i d u a l th e r a p y w ere r e t e s t e d
f o r f u r t h e r r e l i a b i l i t y i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . T h re e
i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s w ere c o n s tr u c te d an d t e s t e d to m easu re
th e i n d i v i d u a l an d s o c i a l m o tiv a tio n n e o e s s a ry f o r good
r e s u l t s i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . A t t h i s tim e no s u c h p r e
d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t i s a v a i l a b l e f o r th e m a rria g e an d fa m ily
l i f e c o u n s e lo r .
The s tu d y i s im p o r ta n t f o r s o c io lo g y o f th e fa m ily
i n th e f a o t t h a t I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One m e a su re s d a t a
^ W illia m M. K e p h a rt, The F a m ily . S o c i e t y , an d th e
I n d i v i d u a l (B o s to n : H oughton M i f f l i n Company, ± 9 6 l7 7 p T 6 •
7
w h ic h p r e v i o u s s t u d i e s d is c o v e r e d w e re t h e b i n d i n g a n d
i n t e g r a t i n g b a c k g ro u n d f a c t o r s e s s e n t i a l t o m a r r ia g e
s o l i d a r i t y a n d a d j u s t m e n t • The f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y may
s t r e n g t h e n e a r l i e r i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e r e i s m ore h a rm o n i
o u s i n t e r a c t i o n b e tw e e n t h e m a r r ie d p a i r w hen t h e i r s o c ia l*
l z a t i o n p r o c e s s h a s b e e n i n h o m o g en eo u s s e t s o f s o c i a l
m o r e s 9 s o c i a l v a l u e s , a n d f a m il y fo rm s o r p a t t e r n s . W inch
n o t e s t h a t :
T h e re a r e e i g h t v a r i a b l e s w h ic h h a v e b e e n
i n v e s t i g a t e d i n a l a r g e n u m b er o f s t u d i e s : a g e ,
r a c e , r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n , e t h n i c o r i g i n , l o c a
t i o n o f p r e v io u s r e s i d e n c e , s o c io -e c o n o m ic s t a t u s ,
e x t e n t o f f o rm a l e d u c a t i o n , p r e v i o u s m a r i t a l
s t a t u s . W ith r e s p e c t t o e a c h o f t h e s e v a r i a b l e s
t h e e v id e n c e seem s q u i t e c o n v i n c in g t h a t l i k e
m a r r i e s l i k e , a n d t h u s s o c i o l o g i s t s a r e j u s t i f i e d
i n s t a t i n g t h a t m a te s e l e c t i o n t e n d s t o b e hom og-
am ous w i t h r e s p e c t t o su o h s o o l a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
I t i s h y p o t h e s is e d t h a t t h e s e h o m o g en eo u s f a c t o r s o f t h e
m a r r ie d p a i r p r o v id e c o h e s iv e m o t i v a t i o n f o r a s u c c e s s f u l
m a r r ia g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . The r e s e a r c h m e th o d o lo g y o f t h i s
s tu d y w as d e s ig n e d t o m e a s u re th e c o r r e l a t i o n o f t h e s e
i n t e g r a t i n g f a c t o r s w i t h t h e c o u p l e 's a b i l i t y t o c o m p le te
a s u c c e s s f u l m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g p ro g ra m .
The s tu d y i s im p o r ta n t t o s o c i o l o g y a n d s o c i a l
^ R o b e r t P . W in c h , M a te - S e l e o t i o n (New Y o rk : H a r p e r
a n d B r o t h e r s , 1 9 5 8 ) , p p .
* O th e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t u d i e s sh o w in g homogamy i n
s o o l a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e e i g h t v a r i a b l e s a r e l i s t e d
b y W in c h , p p . 5 - 7 .
8
p ay oho lo g y I n t h a t t h e i n t e r p e r s o n a l m e asu rem e n t s c a l e s
a r e c o n s t r u c t e d fro m ( a ) t h e s o c i a l i s a t i o n o o n c e p ts o f
s o c i o l o g y , a n d ( b ) t h e r o l e p e r c e p t i o n c o n c e p ts o f t h e
i n t e r a c t i o n l e t g ro u p i n s o c i a l p s y c h o lo g y . I n a n a l y s i n g
t h e s o c i a l i s a t i o n a n d f a m ily i n t e r a c t i o n a l p r o c e s s e s i n
s o c i a l a c t i o n t h e o r y , P a r s o n s n o t e s t
The se c o n d m a jo r t h e o r e t i c a l them e w h ic h s h o u ld
b e f o llo w e d th r o u g h o u r s u b s t a n t i v e a n a l y s i s i s
t h a t o f c e r t a i n s t r u c t u r a l r e l a t i o n s b e tw e e n c u l
t u r e , p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d s o c i a l s y s te m s a s s y s te m s .
T h is w i l l b e t r e a t e d p r i m a r i l y i n te rm s o f i n t e r
r e l a t i o n s o f t h e l a t t e r tw o p e r s p e c t i v e s , th o u g h
t h a t o f c u l t u r e i s b y n o m eans a b s e n t . The m a jo r
th em e w i l l b e t h e w ays i n w h ic h t h e d e v e lo p in g
s t r u c t u r e o f p e r s o n a l i t y s y s te m s c a n b e u n d e r
s to o d i n te r m s o f t h e i r in v o lv e m e n t i n a s u c c e s s
f u l s e r i e s o f s y s te m s o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n . O nly
by i n t e r n a l i s i n g t h e c u l t u r e o f e a o h o f t h e s e s y s
te m s i n t u r n c a n i t s own i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e ta k e
s h a p e • ?
Ite m s i n S c a le One o f t h i s s tu d y p resu m e th e im p o r ta n t
e f f e o t o f s i g n i f i c a n t o t h e r s an d o f o u l t u r e i n t h e s o c i a l i
s a t i o n p r o c e s s o f p e r s o n a l i t y f o r m a t i o n . S c a le s Two an d
T h re e u s e r o l e p e r c e p t i o n t e c h n iq u e s i n a n a t te m p t t o
m e a su re t h e i n d i v i d u a l 's h o s t i l i t y to w a rd h i s m a te i n th e
m a r r ia g e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
P i n a l l y , t h i s s tu d y a d d s t o t h e c o n t i n u i n g accum u
l a t i o n o f v e r i f i a b l e d a t a to b e u s e d f o r p r e d i o t i v e p u r
p o s e s i n t h e b e h a v i o r a l a n d th e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s .
5
T a l o o t t P a r s o n s a n d R . ? • lfora-ny, S o c i a l ! -
s a t i o n a n d I n t e r a c t i o n P r o c e s s ( G le n c o e . I l l i n o i s * The
Free Press, 19555, p. 31.----
So ope
S t a t i s t i c a l d a t a f o r t h i s s tu d y w ere o b ta in e d from
c l i n i c s an d I n d iv i d u a l t h e r a p i s t s I n th e g r e a t e r M e tr o p o li
t a n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a . The r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t
was c o n d u c te d I n a s ix -m o n th p e r io d fro m J a n u a ry to J u l y ,
1 9 6 2 . T e s ts w ere g iv e n ran d o m ly to o o u p le s com ing t o th e
s e l e c t e d c l i n i c s an d to t h e r a p i s t s f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
E ach i n d i v i d u a l c o m p le te d a M in n e so ta M u ltlp h a s ic P e r s o n a l
i t y I n v e n to r y (MMPI) an d th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s c o n
s t r u c t e d f o r th e r e s e a r o h s tu d y . D iv is io n o f th e sam p le
o o u p le s i n t o th e two c a t e g o r i e s o f H L o n g -term " an d " S h o r t
te rm ” o o u p le s w as a c c o m p lis h e d i n a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e c r i
t e r i a o f th e r e s e a r c h m eth o d o lo g y w h ich i s d e s c r ib e d i n
C h a p te r I I I o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
Ma.1or H y p o th eses
The m a jo r h y p o th e s e s f o r t h i s s tu d y a r e a s f o llo w s :
1 . T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e
Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le s c o r e s o f th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s
and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n t h i s s tu d y .
2 . T h ere i s n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e
K - f a c to r (MMPI) s c o r e s o f th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s an d th e
" S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s .
3 . T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b etw e e n
10
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S o a le One s c o r e s o f t h e " lo n g -te rm " o o u p le s
and th e " S h o rt-te rm " o o u p le s .
S c a le One a tte m p ts to m easu re p e r s o n a l i t y an d c u l
t u r a l f a c t o r s w h ich p r e v io u s r e s e a r c h d a t a fo u n d to he
c o h e s iv e an d i n t e g r a t i n g f o r th e m a rr ia g e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
if. T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e en
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two s c o r e s o f th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s
an d th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s .
S o a le Two a t te m p ts ( a ) t o m e asu re th e i n d i v i d u a l 's
p e r c e p tio n o f h i s h o s t i l i t y to w ard h i s m ate and (b ) to com
p a re i t w ith h i s m a t e 's h o s t i l i t y to w ard h im .
5 . T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e en
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h re e s c o r e s o f t h e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s
and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p l e s .
S c a le T h ree a tte m p ts ( a ) t o m easu re th e i n d i v i d u a l 's
p e r c e p tio n o f h i s m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p an d (b ) t o com pare
i t w ith th e m a te 's p e r c e p tio n o f th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
L im i ta ti o n s o f th e S tu d y
The f i r s t l i m i t a t i o n o f t h i s s tu d y i s t h a t t h e r e
a r e o t h e r p e r s o n a l i t y a n d i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s w h ich a r e
n o t m easu red by th e s e s c a l e s . Numerous o t h e r f a c t o r s w h ich
c a u s e o l i e n t s to d is c o n tin u e m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g a r e n o t
c o n t r o l l e d . Econom ic f a c t o r s , i l l n e s s e s , c a t a s t r o p h e s ,
i n f l u e n c e s o f s i g n i f i c a n t o t h e r s and p e e r g ro u p s s e r v e a s
ex am p les o f r a t i o n a l e f o r te r m i n a ti o n o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g . H ow ever, t h i s s tu d y p ro p o s e s o n ly t o m e asu re
i d e n t i f i a b l e p e r s o n a l i t y an d I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s w hioh
a s s i s t i n p r e d i c t i n g t h e le n g th o f m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g .
I t i s assum ed t h a t l o n g i t u d i n a l s t u d i e s w i l l c o n tin u e to
d e f in e m ore c o m p re h e n siv e p r e d i c t i o n f a c t o r s .
A seco n d l i m i t a t i o n o f th e s tu d y i s th e n a t u r e o f
th e s a m p le . Even th o u g h th e t e s t s w ere g iv e n o u t ran d o m ly
by th e t h e r a p i s t s a n d m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r s , th e f a c t t h a t
th e sam p le was s e l e c t e d fro m o n ly two o l i n i c s i n th e
m e tr o p o l ita n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a , w ould te n d
to d e c r e a s e th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r o f th e s a m p le .
I t s h o u ld n o t be assu m ed t h a t th e sam p le i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
o f th e t o t a l p o p u la tio n fro m w h ich i t w as d raw n . I t i s
o n ly p o s s i b l e to s p e c u l a t e t h a t i t i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
c o u p le s s e e k in g m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The s m a ll s i z e o f th e sam ple Im p o ses l i m i t a t i o n s
on th e s tu d y . The p e r s o n a l i t y an d i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
o f f o r t y c o u p le s m ig h t p ro v id e a s u f f i c i e n t "n" f o r some
s o c i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s , b u t t h i s s tu d y a tte m p ts to v a l i d a t e
a p r e d i c t i v e s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t . F in a l v a l i d a t i o n o f th e
r e s e a r c h in s tr u m e n t r e q u i r e s ( a ) a l a r g e r sa m p le , ( b ) a
m ore d e f i n i t i v e d e s i g n , an d (o ) t e s t - r e t e s t r e s e a r c h
m e th o d o lo g y .
A n o th e r l i m i t a t i o n i s th e p r e lim in a r y n a t u r e o f
th e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n . The i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s w ere
12
c o n s t r u c t e d fro m p r e v io u s r e s e a r c h d a t a b e lie v e d by t h e r a
p i s t s t o m easu re f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t i n g w ith th e l e n g th o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . T h is m ust be a c c e p te d a s a n assum p
t i o n u n t i l th e p r e s e n t t e s t I n s tr u m e n t h a s b een v a l i d a t e d
I n l o n g i t u d i n a l s t u d i e s . T h is s tu d y i s th e f i r s t s t e p o f
a l o n g i t u d i n a l p r o j e c t t o v a l i d a t e a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t
f o r th e le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . S t a t i s t i c a l d a t a
o f t h i s s tu d y a r e p r e lim in a iy an d in c o n c lu s iv e w ith o u t
r e f in e m e n t th ro u g h r e p l i c a t i o n an d r e t e s t m e th o d o lo g y .
The r e s u l t s o f t h i s s tu d y c a n n o t be u n i v e r s a l l y a p p l i e d ,
and t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n i s l i m i t e d to th e s p e c i f i c p o p u la tio n
from w h ich th e sam p le w as d raw n .
D e f i n i t i o n o f Term s
" L o n g -te rm ” C o u p les
The "L o n g -term " o o u p le s i n t h i s s tu d y a r e d e f in e d
a s a m a rr ie d p a i r who h a v e had m ore th a n e i g h t (8 ) j o i n t
s e s s i o n s o r f i v e ( 5) i n d i v i d u a l c o u n s e lin g s e s s io n s (e a c h
m a te ) w ith a m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r .
" S h o rt-te rm " C o u p les
The " S h o rt-te rm " o o u p le s i n t h i s s tu d y a r e d e f in e d
a s a m a rr ie d p a i r who te r m in a te b e f o r e th e y h av e h ad f o u r
(*t) j o i n t s e s s i o n s o r t h r e e ( 3 ) i n d i v i d u a l c o u n s e lin g
s e s s i o n s (e a c h m a te ) w ith a m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r .
13
P e r s o n a l i t y P a c to r s
A t th e p r e s e n t s ta g e o f d ev e lo p m e n t i n th e s c ie n c e
o f p e r s o n a l i t y m ost o f th e texm s u s e d by th e a u t h o r i t i e s
do n o t h a v e g e n e r a ll y a c c e p te d d e f i n i t i o n s . I t h a s b e e n
n e c e s s a r y f o r ea o h w r i t e r to s t a t e e x p l i c i t l y th e m ean in g
o f h i s d e f i n i t i o n s . P a lto n s u g g e s te d t h a t th e s tu d y o f
p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s in v o lv e d ( a ) d e s c r i p t i o n an d a n a l y s i s
o f th e c o n te m p o ra ry b e h a v io r o f th e p e r s o n i n i n t e r a c t i o n
w ith h i s e n v iro n m e n t, ( b ) a n a l y s i s o f a n te c e d e n ts o f th e
p r e s e n t b e h a v io r i n te rm s o f th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e
p r e s e n t b e h a v io r to p r e v io u s p e r s o n a l I n t e r a c t i o n s , and
( c ) p r e d i c t i o n o f f u t u r e b e h a v io r i n th e l i g h t o f p r o j e c t e d
s i t u a t i o n s . ^ T h is s tu d y a c c e p ts D a l t o n 's w o rk in g d e f i n i
t i o n t h a t p e r s o n a l i t y i s a c o n s tr u c t o f th e dynam ic o r g a n i
z a t i o n w i t h i n th e i n d i v i d u a l w h ich s p e c i f i e s h i s p o te n -
7
t i a l i t l e s f o r a c t i o n . The s tu d y a t te m p ts to m easu re th e s e
p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s w ith th e Es S c a le an d th e K - f a c to r
S c a le o f th e MMPI.
I n t e r p e r s o n a l P a c to r s
The I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s i n t h i s s tu d y a r e p ro d
u c t s o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n . S o c ia l i n t e r a c t i o n r e f e r s to
^ R o b e rt H. D a lto n , P e r s o n a l i t y an d S o o la l I n t e r
a c t i o n (B o s to n t D. C. H ea th an d Company, 1 ^ 6 l ) , p . *fr.
7 I b i d . . p . 1 2 .
t h e r e c i p r o c a l ex c h an g e b etw e en two p e r s o n s i n a c o n c r e te
s i t u a t i o n w h ich i n f l u e n c e s th e s u b s e q u e n t b e h a v io r o f
q
e a c h . S o c ia l i n t e r a c t i o n im p lie s e x p e c ta tio n s on th e p a r t
o f b o th m a te s . One m ate d o e s so m e th in g an d e x p e o ts a c e r
t a i n r e s p o n s e fro m th e o t h e r . T h is fu n d a m e n ta l phenom enon
P a rs o n s an d S h i l s h av e o a l l e d th e " c o m p le m e n ta rity o f
9
e x p e c t a t i o n s T h i s n e e d n o t mean t h a t th e o o u p le a c t s
i n th e same w ay, b u t t h a t e a c h p e rs o n a o t s a s h e d o e s
b e o a u se o f h i s e x p e c t a t i o n s o f th e m a te . D a lto n su m m arises
t h a t when a p e rs o n d e v e lo p s a n o r g a n is e d sy ste m o f i n t e r
a c t i o n w ith o t h e r p e r s o n s , s t a b i l i t y i n s o c i a l b e h a v io r i s
th e r e s u l t . 10 The p r e s e n t s tu d y a tte m p ts to m easu re th e s e
i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s w ith th e t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l t e s t
s c a l e s .
T h eo ry
In t h i s s tu d y th e o r y m eans e i t h e r s o c i o l o g i c a l o r
p s y c h o lo g ic a l t h e o r y . T h eo ry i s th e s y s te m a tic p r e s e n t a
t i o n o f g e n e r a liz e d know led g e c o n c e rn in g phenom ena, w h ich
i s s u f f i c i e n t l y v e r i f i e d s c i e n t i f i c a l l y to s e rv e a s a
r e l i a b l e b a s i s f o r s o c i o l o g i c a l o r p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n t e r p r e
t a t i o n .
8 I b i d . . p . 1 3 .
^ T a l c o tt P a rs o n s and £ . S h i l s , Toward a G e n e ra l
T h eo ry o f A c tio n (C am bridge* H a rv a rd U n iv e r s ity P r e s s ,
1 9 5 1 ;.
10D a lto n , o p . o i t . . p . 2 3 5 .
R o le
In t h i s s tu d y th e f o llo w in g d e f i n i t i o n o f Newcomb
h a s b e e n a c c e p te d :
The w ays o f b e h a v in g w h ich a r e e x p e c te d o f
an y i n d i v i d u a l who o c c u p ie s a o e r t a l n p o s i t i o n
( o r , s t a t u s ) c o n s t i t u t e s th e 'r o l e * s o o l a l
r o l e ) a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h a t p o s i t i o n . 11
S ta t u s
The d e f i n i t i o n o f s t a t u s by H u b e rt B onner i s
a c c e p te d f o r g e n e r a l u s e i n t h i s s tu d y : " s t a t u s n ay be
d e f in e d sim p ly a s th e r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n o r s ta n d in g
12
a s o r ib e d to a n i n d i v i d u a l by th e g r o u p ."
R o le E x p e c ta tio n an d
R o le B e h a v io r
R o le e x p e c t a t i o n s and r o l e b e h a v io r a r e two m a jo r
a s p e c t s o f th e c o n c e p t o f th e s o c i a l r o l e . S im ply d e f i n e d ,
r o l e e x p e c ta tio n s r e p r e s e n t th e " o u g h t to d o ” p a r t o f r o l e
c o n c e p t; an d r o l e b e h a v io r i s e x p re s s e d by w hat th e
i n d i v i d u a l " d o e s .” R o le e x p e c ta tio n s a r e form ed by b o th
s e l f - e x p e c t a t i o n s an d th e e x p e c ta tio n s o f s i g n i f i c a n t
o t h e r s .
T h u s, s e l f - e x p e c t a t i o n s an d o t h e r - e x p e c t a t i o n s
a r e n o t in d e p e n d e n tly d e r i v e d . They a r e r e c i p r o c a l l y
^ T h e o d o r e M. Newcomb. S o c ia l P sy c h o lo g y (New Y ork:
The D iy d en P r e s s , 1 9 5 0 ) , p . 2 8 0 .
12H u b ert B o n n e r, S o c ia l P sv o h o lo g v --A n I n t e r d i s c i
p l i n a r y A pproach (New Y ork: A m erican Book Company, l 9 5 3 ) ,
p . 1 6 8 .
16
fo rm u la te d d e f i n i t i o n s o f th e s i t u a t i o n , v h io h
so m etim es m e rg e, som etim es d iv e r g e , and w hich
a r e m o d ifie d an a r e f o r m u la te d i n th e p r o o e s s .
They a r e n o t o n ly th e p ro d u c ts o f s o c i a l i n t e r
a c t i o n . b u t th e y * lfQ e s t a b l i s h th e p a t t e r n s o f
th e s e i n t e r a c t i o n s . ^
O rg a n iz a tio n o f th e R em ainder c f th e D i s s e r t a t i o n
C h a p te r I I re v ie w s th e l i t e r a t u r e o f th e s tu d y .
The f i r s t s e c t i o n s u rv e y s th e p r e lim in a r y r e s e a r c h i n p r e
d i c t i o n o f c l i e n t movement and le n g th o f th e r a p y . S e c tio n
two re v ie w s b r i e f l y some r e l a t e d s t u d i e s i n th e f i e l d s o f
s o c io lo g y , p sy c h o lo g y and s o c i a l p s y c h o lo g y . I n t e r a c t i o n a l
f a c t o r s i n r o l e th e o ry and th e s o c i a l i z a t i o n p ro c e s s a r e
em p h asized a s b a s e s f o r th e d ev e lo p m en t o f th e i n t e r p e r
s o n a l t e s t s c a le p .
C h a p te r I I I e x p la in s th e f o r m u la tio n o f th e
r e s e a r c h d e s ig n , th e r e s e a r c h In s tru m e n t and th e r e s e a r c h
m eth o d o lo g y o f th e s tu d y . The c h a p te r p r e s e n ts b ac k g ro u n d
in f o r m a tio n r e g a r d in g th e Ego S tr e n g th S c a le , th e K - f a c to r
S c a le an d th e th r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l t e s t s c a l e s .
C h a p te r IV d e s c r ib e s th e s e l e c t i o n o f th e sam ple
s u b j e c t s , some Im p o rta n t s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e
sa m p le , and n o te s th e l i m i t a t i o n s o f th e r e s e a r c h sa m p le .
C h a p te r V c o n s id e r s th e n a t u r e and v a l i d i t y o f th e
^R . M. S t o g d i l l , E . L . S c o t t , and W. E . J a y n e s ,
Ohio S t a t e U n iv e r s ity R e se a rc h M onograph, No. 86 (1 9 5 6 ),
p .
17
r e s e a r o h m e th o d o lo g y , an d th e p ro c e d u re s o f p r o c e s s in g and
a n a ly s in g th e s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a . A n a ly s is o f th e f i n d i n g s
a r e d iv id e d i n t o ( a ) p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s , and (b ) i n t e r -
p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s .
C h a p te r VI su m m arizes th e s t a t i s t i c a l f i n d in g s o f
th e b y p o th e s e s and th e f in d i n g s o f th e s tu d y . I m p lic a
t i o n s o f th e s tu d y f o r s o c io lo g y o f th e fa m ily an d m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g a r e d i s c u s s e d . S u g g e s tio n s f o r f u t u r e r e s e a r c h
a r e I n d i c a t e d , and a b ib lio g r a p h y an d a p p e n d ic e s c o n c lu d e
th e s tu d y .
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OP THE LITERATURE
I n t r o d u c t i o n
A re v ie w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e i n d i c a t e s a p a u c ity o f
m a t e r i a l on th e p a r t i c u l a r s u b j e c t o f c r i t e r i o n f o r p r e
d i c t i n g le n g t h i n m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g . T h is s tu d y i s th e
f i r s t one a tte m p te d on t h i s s p e c i f i c t o p i c . H ow ever,
p e r t i n e n t s t u d i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e i n th e p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c
c e s s f u l th e r a p y ,^ t r a c i n g th e p o s i t i v e movement o f a c l i e n t
2 3
i n c o u n s e lin g , an d p e r s o n a l i t y ch an g e i n p s y c h o th e ra p y .
S u p p le m e n tin g th e s e s t u d i e s a r e r e l a t e d s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h
p r o j e c t s i n s o c io lo g y , p s y c h o lo g y , r o l e th e o ry and s o c i a l i
z a t i o n o f th e p e r s o n a l i t y .
T h is c h a p te r re v ie w s th e l i t e r a t u r e u n d e r g ir d in g
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y . F i r s t , i t d e s c r i b e s th e s t u d i e s and
F ra n k B a rro n , "An E g o -S tre n g th S c a le W hich P r e
d i c t s R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ." J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y . XVII ( 1 9 5 3 ) , 3 2 7 -3 3 3 .
^M alcolm G -. P r e s t o n , E m ily H. Mudd, and H a z e l B.
F r o s c h e r , " F a c to r s A f f e c tin g Movement i n C a sew o rk ,” S o c ia l
C asew o rk , M arch, 1953*
3C a rl R. R o g e rs an d R . F . Dymond. P s y c h o th e ra p y
a n d P e r s o n a l i t y Change (C h ic a g o : The U n iv e r s it y o f C nieago
P r e s s ,
18
19
m a t e r i a l s w h ich r e l a t e to th e p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c c e s s f u l
c o u n s e lin g and th e r a p y . S eco n d , i t p r e s e n t s r e s e a r c h d a t a
e x p l a in i n g th e Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le o f th e MMPI an d
t e s t i n g i t s v a l i d i t y . T h ir d , i t l i s t s r e l a t e d s c i e n t i f i c
s t u d i e s fro m ( a ) s o c io lo g y o f th e f a m il y , (b ) p s y c h o lo g y ,
( c ) s o c i a l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s e s , an d (d ) r o l e t h e o r y .
B ackground S tu d ie s
M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h i la d e l p h i a
P r e d i c t i o n o f s u c c e s s f u l t h e r a p y . —As e a r l y a s 1953
th e M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h ila d e lp h ia w as c o n d u c tin g p r e lim
in a r y s t u d i e s o f a n t i c i p a t e d d ev e lo p m e n t o f s u c c e s s f u l
th e r a p y o f a c l i e n t fro m f i r s t i n te r v i e w d a t a . Though
c l i n i c a l e x p e rie n c e i n d i c a t e d c l i e n t s w ere o f te n u n a b le to
be c o m p le te ly r e s p o n s iv e i n th e e a r l i e s t s ta g e s o f c o u n s e l
i n g , y e t , " th e f i r s t in te r v i e w e x p e r ie n c e p r o v id e s some
if
e v id e n c e f o r e x p e c t a t i o n s a s to how th e c a s e w i l l d e v e lo p ."
A s tu d y w as c o n d u c te d u s in g th e r e c o r d s o f n i n e t y - f o u r
m ale c l i e n t s , a l l o f whom w ere c o u n s e le d i n c o n n e c tio n
w ith m a r i t a l p ro b lem s a t th e M a rria g e C o u n c il o f
P h i l a d e l p h i a . F i r s t in te r v i e w ite m s w h ich w ere p r o je c t e d
a s p r e d i c t o r s f o r l a t e r d e v e lo p m e n ts i n th e c a s e w e re :
t o w a r d E . M i t c h e l l , M alcolm G. P r e s to n and
E m ily H . Mudd, " A n tic ip a te d D evelopm ent o f Case fro m Con
t e n t o f F i r s t I n te r v ie w R e c o rd ," M a rria g e an d F am ily L iv
i n g . 1 7 ( 1 9 5 3 ), 226.
20
th e c o u n s e l o r 's im p r e s s io n o f th e c l i e n t ; th e c l i e n t 's
a t t i t u d e to w ard h i s m a r i t a l s i t u a t i o n ( i n te rm s o f th e
e x t e n t to w h ich h e a c c e p t s , p r o j e c t s o r r e j e c t s blam e f o r
m a r i t a l d i f f i c u l t i e s ) ; w h e th e r th e c l i e n t came to th e
in te r v i e w an d w as in te r v ie w e d w ith h i s w if e ; th e p i c t u r e o f
h i s sp o u se w h ich th e c l i e n t p r e s e n te d i n th e f i r s t i n t e r
v ie w ( e i t h e r p o s i t i v e an d a t t r a c t i v e o r n e g a tiv e and
u n a t t r a c t i v e ) ; th e e x t e n t to w h ich th e c l i e n t e x p re s s e d a
n e e d f o r c o u n s e lin g d u r in g th e f i r s t in te r v ie w ; an d th e
*
s o u rc e o f r e f e r r a l .
R e se a rc h d a t a fro m th e ab o v e s tu d y in d i c a t e d t h a t
th e b e s t g ro u n d s f o r c o n fid e n c e i n p r e d i c t i n g c a s e d e v e lo p
m ent w e re : ( 1 ) th e way i n w h ich blam e was h a n d le d , an d
( 2 ) th e p i c t u r e o f th e sp o u se w h ich th e c l i e n t p r e s e n t s to
th e c o u n s e lo r . The im p o rta n c e o f th e im p re s s io n o f th e
sp o u se form ed by th e o l i e n t c o n firm s a g ro w in g f e e l i n g
h e ld by s tu d e n ts o f p e r s o n a l i t y t h a t m a t e r i a l im p o rta n c e
a t t a c h e s t o th e s tu d y o f f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e
im p r e s s io n s o f p e r s o n a l i t y a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d from th e s tu d y
o f p e r s o n a l i t y I t s e l f .
W e commonly t h i n k o f th e p ro b le m s o f p e r s o n a l
i t y a s h a v in g to do w ith w hat th e I n d iv id u a l i s a s
a p e rs o n —w h e th e r he i s h o n e s t o r d i s h o n e s t,
The p r e s e n t s tu d y t e s t s th e v a l i d i t y o f some o f
th e s e ite m s f o r p r e d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
i n th e t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s .
21
i n t r o v e r t e d o r e x t r o v e r t e d , c a p a b le o f g ro w th o r
in o a p a b le o f g ro w th — t h i s i s th e c l a s e l o v iew
o f a l l o f th e c l i n i c a l t h e o r i s t s a s w e ll a s
th o s e who h av e a tte m p te d to d e v e lo p p e r s o n a l i t y
t h e o r i e s on a m ore r ig o r o u s an d e x p e rim e n ta l
b a s i s . T a n g e n tia l t o t h i s v ie w , h o w ev e r, i s
t h a t e x p r e s s e d by I c h e i s e r l 5 ] and th e p r e s e n t
a u t h o r s , w h ich l a y s e m p h asis upon th e im p re s
s io n w hioh we fo rm o f a n o t h e r 's p e r s o n a l i t y a s
th e r o o t o f th e m a t t e r when we r a i s e q u e s tio n s
w h io h h av e to do w ith th e way i n w h ich we
b e h a v e an d re s p o n d to e a c h o t h e r . ”
Such a v ie w p o in t i s s ti m u la te d by a d e v e lo p in g th e o r y i n
s o c i a l p sy c h o lo g y w hioh i n r e c e n t y e a r s h a s come t o em pha
s i z e th e im p o rta n c e o f p e r c e p tio n a s a b a s i s f o r u n d e r
s ta n d in g s o c i a l b e h a v io r . I t i s a l s o s tim u la te d by th e
th e o ry o f p r o j e c t i v e t e s t i n g i n w h ich th e g u id in g th r e a d
i s th e r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t much o f o u r s e lv e s e n t e r s th e p e r
c e p tu a l p r o c e s s i n d e te r m in in g w hat we make o f th e w o rld
7
aro u n d u s .
P r e d i c t i n g c l i e n t movement i n p o m m e lin g - — I n c lo s e
c o r r e l a t i o n w ith t h e i r s t u d i e s o f p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c c e s s f u l
th e r a p y , th e M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h i l a d e l p h i a h a s c o n
d u c te d r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s w hich a tte m p t t o p r e d i c t p a t t e r n s
o f c l i e n t movement i n c o u n s e lin g . P r e s to n , Mudd an d
^G u stav I o h e l s e r , " M is u n d e rs ta n d in g s i n Human R e la
t i o n s ! A S tu d y i n F a ls e S o c ia l P e r c e p t i o n ," The A m erican
J o u r n a l o f S o c io lo g y . XV (19*+9)* 1 - 7 0 .
^ M i t c h e l l , P r e s to n an d Mudd, l o c . c i t .
7I b i d . . p . 230.
22
F ro s o h e r r e p o r te d t h a t th e f o llo w in g f a c t o r s seem ed t o
a f f e c t th e n a t u r e a n d d e g re e o f m ovem ent i n s e o l a l c a s e
w o rk :
1 . B i o lo g ic a l f a c t o r s , in c lu d in g a g e o f o l i e n t ,
l e n g th o f m a r r ia g e , so c io -e c o n o m ic s t a t u s , r e l i g i o u s b a c k
g ro u n d , r e l i g i o u s a c t i v i t y , and e d u c a ti o n .
2 . S i t u a t i o n a l f a c t o r s , I n c lu d in g f a c t o r s p e c u l i a r
to th e c l i e n t 's p ro b lem and to th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
3 . F a c to r s r e l a t e d to th e c o u n s e lin g p r o c e s s ,
i n c lu d in g th e te c h n iq u e s o f c o u n s e lin g u s e d w ith th e c li« n t*
if. F a c to r s r e l a t e d to th e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e
8
c l i e n t 's p e r s o n a l i t y .
B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th CEs) S c a le
The c o n c e p t o f a s i n g l e , p e r v a s iv e p ro o e s s o f
p e r s o n a l i t y t h a t f u r n i s h e s s t r e n g t h i n th e f a c e o f te m p ta
t i o n , s t a b i l i t y u n d e r e x t e r n a l and i n t e r n a l s t r e s s e s , o r
o o n tr o l o v e r c o n f l i c t i n g im p u ls e s to a c t h a s lo n g b ee n u se d
by p e r s o n a l i t y t h e o r i s t s to a c c o u n t f o r th e v a s t d i f f e r
e n c e s t h a t a r e fo u n d i n in d iv id u a l t o l e r a n c e and i n t e g r a
t i o n . W hether i t i s c a l l e d w i l l p o w er, c h a r a c t e r , g e n e r a l
n o r m a l i t y , ego s t r e n g t h , s e l f - c o n s i s t e n c y , r a d i x , b i o
s p h e r e , re g n a n c y , o r s e l f - a c t u a l i z a t i o n , th e v iew t h a t a
p e r s o n 's s t a b i l i t y o v e r tim e and a c r o s s s i t u a t i o n s ste m s
8
P r e s to n , Mudd, and F r o s c h e r , l o c . c i t .
23
fro m a s i n g l e o r g a n is in g p r o c e s s k e e p s r e a p p e a r in g i n
9
p s y c h o lo g ic a l t h e o r i e s ,
B a r r o n 's Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le was d e v e lo p e d to
m easu re t h i s p e r s o n a l i t y p r o c e s s ,10 The s o a le o r i t e r l o n
w as th e re s p o n s e to t r e a t m e n t , an d th e ite m a n a l y s i s id e n
t i f i e d th e p r e t r e a t a e n t f a c t o r s b e a r in g some r e l a t i o n s h i p
to th e d e g re e o f im provem ent th e s u b j e c t s showed a f t e r
i n d i v i d u a l p s y c h o th e r a p y . The ite m s w ere assum ed t o be
i n d i c a t i v e o f d i f f e r e n c e i n s t r e n g t h o f ego s t r u c t u r e .
B a rro n r e p o r te d a num ber o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f E s w ith
a t t r i b u t e s t h a t a r e c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e c o n s t r u c t o f Ego
s t r e n g t h , an d h a s r e p o r t e d th e f i n d i n g s on t h r e e c r o s s -
v a l i d a t i o n a l s a m p le s .11
W irt fo u n d t h a t th e E s s c a l e s i g n i f i c a n t l y s e p a r a te d
e i g h t y - n i n e im proved c a s e s fro m ll* t u n im p ro v ed o a s e s who
12
had b e e n g iv e n p s y c h o th e r a p y . He s u b s e q u e n tly com pared
th e e f f i c i e n c y o f th e Es s o a le a g a i n s t th e judgm ent o f
9w. G ra n t D a h ls tro m an d G, S . W elsh , An MMPI Hand
book (M in n e a p o lis : The U n iv e r s ity o f M in n e so ta P r e s s ,
19o 0 ) , p . 3 0 0 .
10B a rro n , l o c . c i t .
^ G . S . W elsh an d W, G. D ahl s tro m ( e d s . ) , B a s ic
B la d in g s on th e MMPI i n P sy ch o lo g y a n d M ed icin e
(M in n e a p o lis : U n iv e r s it y o f k ln n e s o ta P r e s s , 1 9 5 6 ), B a rro n
a r t i c l e , "Ego S tr e n g th an d th e M anagem ent o f A g g re s s io n •"
12B . D. W ir t, " f u r t h e r V a li d a ti o n o f th e E g o -S tre n g th
S c a l e ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g Pay oho l o g y . XIX (1 9 5 5 )* M**f.
2*f
c l i n i c i a n * who c l a s s i f i e d th e c a s e s fro m th s t o t a l MMPI
p r o f i l e c h a r t* W hile o n ly one o f th e s i x ju d g e s d id b e t t e r
th a n c h a n c e i n s e p a r a t i n g o a s e s w h ich u l t i m a t e l y im p ro v ed
g r e a t l y a s opp o sed to th o s e w hioh w ere unim proved a f t e r
p s y c h o th e r a p y , th e Es S o a le i d e n t i f i e d t h i r t y o f t h e t h i r t y -
e i g h t o a s e s o o r r e o t l y by a sim p le m ed ian c u t . 1 ^
Quay fo u n d t h a t th e E s S c a le s e p a r a te d d e p e n d a b ly
s e v e n ty - f o u r h o s p i t a l i s e d fem a le p s y c h i a t r i c p a t i e n t s ,
n in e ty - tw o s tu d e n t n u r s e s , and f o r t y - o n e p s y c h i a t r i c
a t t e n d a n t s a lth o u g h t h e r e w as a g r e a t d e a l o f o v e r la p p in g
I k
i n th e d i s t r i b u t i o n . T a f t fo u n d a s i g n i f i c a n t s e p a r a t i o n
b e tw e en n o rm al c o l l e g e s t u d e n ts an d p s y c h i a t r i c p a t i e n t s
when he a p p l ie d th e E s S c a le to h i s w e s te r n A u s t r a l i a n
p o p u l a t i o n .1 ^
S u l l i v a n , M i l l e r , an d S m e lse r in c lu d e d th e MMPI
among s e v e r a l m e a su re s a d m in is te r e d t o a g ro u p o f c a s e s
s e e n i n a V e te ra n s A d m in is tr a tio n m e n ta l h y g ie n e c l i n i c i n
a s tu d y d i r e c t e d to w ard th e p ro b lem o f e a r l y d ro p o u ts from
^ R . P . W ir t, " A c tu a r ia l P r e d i c t i o n , " J o u r n a l o f
C o n s u l t XX (1 9 5 6 ), 123“ 2*f.
llfH . Q uay, "The P erfo rm an c e o f H o s p ita liz e d
P s y c h i a t r i c P a t i e n t s on th e E g o - s tr e n g th S o a le o f th e
MMPI," J o u r n a l o f C l i n i c a l P s y c h o lo g y . XI (1 9 5 5 ), **03-05.
^ R . T a f t , "The V a l i d i t y o f th e B a rro n E g o - S tr e n g th
S c a le an d th e W elsh A n x ie ty I n d e x ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y . XXI ( 1 9 5 7 ) , 2*f7-»f9.
25
treatment programs.1^ The original group was divided at
the median into arbitrarily designated stay and non-stay
subgroups* In that study the Barron Es Soale failed to
separate the two groups*
G rottesm an found in a later attempt to validate
the Es Seale that it did not discriminate between psychiat
ric and nonpsyohlatric populations* Neither did it differ
entiate between degrees of mental incapacity* G rottesm an
fe lt that the Es Scale was questionable in predicting
17
favorable response to psyohotherapy•
Psychotherapy and Personal-
—
A recent research project under the direction of
Carl Rogers and Rosalind D ym on d at the University of
Chloago attempted to provide scientific evidence that
people do change as a result of psychotherapy* Each client
in the study cam e to the Counseling Center of the Univer
sity of Chicago for an average of thirty interviews. T he
ollent was given an extensive battery of tests before and
after therapy, and again after a follow-up period to
16
P. L. Sullivan, Christine Miller, and W * Smelser,
"Factors in Length of Stay and Progress in Psychotherapy,"
Journal of Consul P sychology. XXII (1 9 5 8 ), 1-9*
1^1. x, Gcttesman, " M ore Construct Validation of
the Ego Strength Scale," Journal of Consulting Psychology.
X X III ( 1 9 5 9 ), 3*f2-»t6.
26
d i s c o v e r w h at c h a n g e s o c c u rre d * To d e te x m in e w h e th e r th e
ch a n g e s n o te d w ere due t o th e r a p y t h e o l i e n t g ro u p w as
com pared w ith a m atch ed c o n t r o l g ro u p and w ith th e c l i e n t s
th e m s e lv e s d u r in g a p r e c e d in g p e r io d o f no th e r a p y . F o r
o b j e c t i v e m easurem ent a w ide v a r i e t y o f c a r e f u l l y c h o s e n
in s tr u m e n ts w ere u s e d , r a n g in g fro m th e new ly d e v e lo p e d
Q -te c h n iq u e to th e T h em atic A p p e ro e p tlo n T e st* The r e s u l t s
o f th e p r o j e c t w ere r e p o r t e d i n t h i r t e e n s t u d i e s , e a c h
i n v e s t i g a t i n g a d i f f e r e n t h y p o th e s is a s t o p e r s o n a l i t y
18
c h a n g e . The s t u d i e s o f T ougas an d V arg as c o n t a in p e r t i
n e n t in f o r m a tio n and f i n d i n g s f o r t h e p r e s e n t s tu d y , and
t h e i r s t u d i e s a r e b r i e f l y d e s c rib e d *
The V arg as s tu d y a tte m p te d t o d is c o v e r w h e th e r th e
two v a r i a b l e s " s e lf - a w a r e n e s s " an d " s u c c e s s i n th e ra p y "
w ere r e l a t e d . The w o rk in g h y p o th e s is w as: ju d g e d s u c c e s s
o f th e r a p y c o r r e l a t e s p o s i t i v e l y w ith s e lf - a w a r e n e s s d u r
in g th e ra p y * In th e s tu d y f o u r d i f f e r e n t c r i t e r i a o f
s u c c e s s f u l th e ra p y w ere em ployed: two c o u n s e lo r r a t i n g
s c a l e s ; TAT r a t i n g s on f o u r s c a l e s ; th e Q - s o r t a d ju s tm e n t
s c o r e ; an d a se co n d in d e p e n d e n t TAT r a t i n g on a n o th e r
s c a le * The c o n c lu s io n s from a n a l y s i s o f th e d a t a w e re :
( a ) a c c o r d in g to th e c o u n s e lo r-ju d g m e n t c r i t e r i o n , t h e r e
18
C a rl R* R o g e rs and R . 9* Dymond, P s y c h o th e ra p y
an d P e r s o n a l i t y Change (C h ic a g o : The U n iv e r s ity o f
C h icag o P r e s s , 1^9+
27
i s a p o s i t i v e c o r r e l a t i o n b etw een s u o o e s s o f th e r a p y an d
i n c r e a s i n g s e lf - a w a r e n e s s ; (b ) a c c o r d in g t o th e p sy c h o
a n a l y t i c a l l y o r ie n te d TAT a n a l y s t , t h e r e I s a n e g a tiv e
c o r r e l a t i o n b etw e en s u c c e s s o f th e r a p y an d th e t h r e e f o l d
movement to w ard i n c r e a s i n g s e lf - a w a r e n e s s ; ( c ) a c c o r d in g
to th e Q - s o r t a d ju s tm e n t s c o r e , t h e r e i s no c o r r e l a t i o n
b etw een s u c c e s s f u l th e r a p y an d th e t h r e e f o l d movement
19
to w a rd i n c r e a s i n g s e lf - a w a r e n e s s .
T ougas e x p lo re d th e in f lu e n c e o f e th n o c e n trie m on
I n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s an d on p e r c e p tu a l f u n c tio n i n g
w i t h in th e i n d i v i d u a l . B a r r o n 's r e s e a r c h had im p lie d th e
p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t some f a i l u r e s i n th e r a p y may b e due to
th e p re s e n c e o f e t h n o c e n t r ic a t t i t u d e s an d t h e i r r e l a t e d
20
p s y c h o lo g ic a l c o n c o m ita n ts . The T ougas s tu d y p ro p o se d
to t e s t B a r r o n 's h y p o th e s is f u r t h e r , and to se e k o u t f a c
t o r s w hioh w ould i s o l a t e c l i e n t s who w ere good t h e r a p e u t i c
21
r i s k s . Two s e t s o f co m p arab le d a t a w ere a v a i l a b l e f o r
th e r e s e a r c h . R a tin g s o f s u c c e s s an d f a i l u r e i n th e r a p y o f
• ^ I b i d . , V arg as a r t i c l e , "C hanges i n S e lf-A w a re n e s s
d u r in g C lie n t- C e n te r e d T h e ra p y ," p p . 1 ^ 5 -6 5 .
20
P . X. B a rro n , " P s y c h o th e ra p y a s a S p e c ia l Case
o f P e r s o n a l I n t e r a c t i o n * P r e d i c t i o n o f I t s O utcom e,"
(u n p u b lis h e d D o c to r 's d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r s it y o f
C a l i f o r n i a , B e rk e le y , 1 9 5 0 ).
2 1
R o g ers an d pym ond, o p . c i t . , T ougas a r t i c l e ,
" E th n o c e n trla m a s a L im itin g P a o to r i n V e rb a l T h e ra p y ,"
p p . 196-21V .
28
S u l 1 I r a n i a n o r i e n t a t i o n f o r t w e n t y - f i r e c l i e n t s h ad b e e n
p a ir e d w ith t h e i r E - s c a l e (E th n o c e n trls m ) s c o r e s i n th e
22
s tu d y made by B a rro n . A s i m i l a r s e t o f r a t i n g s an d
s c o r e s was o b ta in e d f o r a g ro u p o f tw e n ty - s e r e n o l i e n t e
s e e n a t th e C o u n s e lin g C e n te r , U n iv e r s ity o f C h ic a g o . The
s p e c i f i c h y p o th e s e s to b e t e s t e d w ith th e a r a i l a b l e d a t a ,
th e n , w e re : ( a ) t h e r e i s no d i f f e r e n c e i n th e ra n g e o f
o p tim a l f u n c tio n i n g b etw een S u ll i v a n i a n and R o g e ria n
t h e r a p i e s w ith r e s p e c t to r a r y i n g d e g r e e s o f e th n o c e n tr ls m
i n c l i e n t s and (b ) "good t h e r a p e u t i c r i s k s " a r e s t a t i s t i
c a l l y d i f f e r e n t i a b l e fro m th o s e who a r e n o t w ith r e f e r e n c e
to t h e i r E - s c a le s c o r e s when p a ir e d w ith r a t i n g s o f s u c
c e s s an d f a i l u r e i n th e r a p y . B a s ic c o n c lu s io n s from
a n a l y s i s w e re :
1 . T h ere w as no d i f f e r e n c e i n th e fre q u e n c y
o f im proved and u n im p ro v ed c l i e n t s i n th e two
sa m p le s u s e d i n t h i s s tu d y .
2 . The p r o b a b i l i t y o f a c l i e n t b e in g r a t e d
a s im p ro v e d , i f h i s E - s c a le s c o r e was a t o r below
th e m ean, d e r iv e d fro m a n o rm a tiv e g ro u p , was s i g
n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from ch an ce a t l e s s th a n th e
1 p e r c e n t l e v e l o f c o n f id e n c e .
3 . W ith in t h e C hicago sam ple th r e e su b g ro u p s
w ere s t a t i s t i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t i a b l e on th e b a s i s o f
t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e r a t i n g s and E - s c a l e s c o r e s . T h u s,
f o r p u rp o s e s o f a p r o je c te d s tu d y , "good th e r a p y
r i s k s " may be d is c r i m in a te d fro m th o s e l e s s l i k e l y
to su c c e e d a t w e ll beyond o h an ce e x p e c ta n c y , a t
l e a s t w ith r e f e r e n c e to e th n o c e n tr ls m and some
v e r b a l t h e r a p i e s . 3
op
B a rro n , " P s y c h o th e ra p y a s a S p e c ia l Case o f
P e r s o n a l I n t e r a c t i o n • • • ," l o c . c l t .
^ R o g e r s and Dymond, T ougas a r t i c l e , l o c . o i t .
29
Other Background Studies
A ff le c k and G a r f i e ld e v a lu a te d th e r e l a t i o n e h i p o f
t h e r a p i s t s ' r a t i n g s o f p a t i e n t s to d u r a t i o n o f s ta y i n
t h e r a p y , an d a tte m p te d to a p p r a is e th e e f f e c t o f c l i n i c a l
e x p e rie n c e on th o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p s . F i f t y - s e v e n p a t i e n t s
who had h e e n e v a lu a te d f o r o u t p a t i e n t p s y c h o th e ra p y w ere
r a t e d f o r d u r a tio n o f s ta y i n th e r a p y by th r e e s t a f f
p s y c h i a t r i s t s , f o u r t e e n p s y c h i a t r i c r e s i d e n t s , and f o u r t e e n
s o c i a l w ork s t u d e n t s . A ff le c k and G a r f i e ld c o n c lu d e d :
The m o st s t r i k i n g f in d i n g o f t h i s s tu d y i s th e
m o d e ra te t o h ig h r e l i a b i l i t y o f th e r a t i n g s o f
e x p e rie n c e d ju d g e s on t h e r a p e u t i c a s s e t s o f th e r a p y
c a n d id a te s and th e f a i l u r e o f t h e s e ju d g m en ts to
r e l a t e to a o t u a l d u r a t i o n o f s ta y i n p s y c h o th e ra p y
. . . The f a i l u r e o f b ro a d a c t u a r i a l v a r i a b l e s
( s e x , e d u c a tio n , a g e , d i a g n o s is ) an d th e f a i l u r e
i n t h i s s tu d y o f t h e r a p i s t s ' ju d g m e n ts o f h y p o th e
s i s e d t h e r a p e u t i c a s s e t s to show a s i g n i f i c a n t
r e l a t i o n s h i p to d u r a t i o n o f s ta y s u g g e s t th e n e e d
t o e v a lu a t e s p e c i f i c a l l y th e n a t u r e o f th e t h e r a
p e u t i c i n t e r a c t i o n i n th e i n i t i a l th e r a p y s e s s io n s
and i t s r e l a t i o n to d u r a tio n o f s t a y . 24,
Shyne r e c o r d e d th e r e s u l t s o f a l a r g e s u rv e y o f
s h o r t- te r m s o c i a l w ork c a s e s te r m i n a ti n g w ith fe w e r th a n
two in - p e r s o n c l i e n t in te r v i e w s a f t e r th e i n i t i a l i n t e r
v ie w . D ata f o r th e s tu d y c o v e re d 3 * case c l o s in g s i n
19*+8, by s i x t y - f o u r member a g e n c ie s o f th e F am ily S e r v ic e
A s s o c ia tio n o f A m e ric a . The r e s u l t s o f t h i s b ro a d s tu d y
^ T ). C. A ff le c k an d S . L . G a r f i e l d , " P r e d i c t i v e
Ju d g m e n ts o f T h e r a p is ts an d D u ra tio n o f S tay i n P sy c h o
t h e r a p y ," J o u r n a l o f C l i n i c a l P s y c h o lo g y . XXVII ( 1 9 6 1 ),
1 3 ^ -3 7 .
30
a r e p r e lim in a r y i n n a t u r e , b u t th e y s u g g e s t some g e n e r a l
f a c t o r s w h ich a p p e a re d t o c o r r e l a t e w ith c o n tin u a n c e I n
.. 25
t h e r a p y •
Lake and L e v in g e r a tte m p te d t o i s o l a t e some d e t e r
m in in g f a c t o r s o f c l i e n t d is c o n tin u a n c e i n th e ra p y * The
s tu d y w as o o n d u cted a t th e C h ild G uidance C e n te r , T re n to n ,
New J e rs e y * The sam p le f o r th e s tu d y c o n s is te d o f f i f t y
f a m i l i e s who d is c o n tin u e d t h e i r c o n t a c t w ith th e c l i n i c
a f t e r t h e i r i n i t i a l in te r v i e w and f i f t y f a m i l i e s c o n tin u in g
th e ra p y * B e s u lts o f th e s tu d y showed t h a t th e f o llo w in g
f a c t o r s s i g n i f i c a n t l y p r e d ic te d c o n tin u a n c e o f th e r a p y
( c h i s q u a re s c o r e s beyond th e *01 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e ) :
1* C o n tin u a n c e i s p o s i t i v e l y a s s o c i a t e d w ith
th e d e g re e to w hioh th e fa m ily s e e s i t s p ro b le m s .
2* C o n tin u a n c e i s p o s i t i v e l y a s s o c i a t e d w ith
t h e d e s i r e o f th e c l i e n t to s e e ch an g e i n h im s e lf
a s w e ll a s i n h i s sp o u se and c h i l d r e n .
3* C o n tin u a n c e i s p o s i t i v e l y a s s o c i a te d w ith
th e d e g re e t o w h ich p a r e n t s a g r e e w ith th e t h e r a
p i s t s ' i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e c o re p ro b lem * 2®
K rau se a tte m p te d to f in d f a c t o r s i n th e f i r s t
in te r v i e w w ith a c l i e n t w hich p r e d i c t d is c o n tin u a n c e o f
s o c i a l casew ork* I f a c c u r a te p r e d i c t i o n s o f d is c o n tin u a n c e
c o u ld b e made i n th e f i r s t i n t e r v i e w , th e s e p r e d i c t i o n s
2 5a .v w. S h y n e. "W hat R e se a rc h T e l l s Us a b o u t S h o r t-
Term C a ses i n F am ily A g e n c ie s ," S o o ia l C asew ork. XXXVIII
(1 9 5 7 ), 2 2 3 -2 3 7 .
^ M a r th a Lake an d G eorge L e v in g e r, "C o n tin u a n c e
beyond A p p lic a tio n I n te r v ie w s a t a C h ild G uidance C l i n i c , "
S o c ia l C asew ork. XLI ( i 96 0) , 303-309*
31
c o u ld be u se d to sa v e a p p o in tm e n t t i n e an d a l e o c o u ld be
u s e d to p r e v e n t te r m i n a ti o n o f t h e r a p y . Members o f th e
s t a f f a t f a m ily S e r v ic e o f th e C in c in n a ti A rea w ere a s k e d
to make a p r e d i c t i o n on e a c h c l i e n t who a c c e p te d a f i r s t
i n - p e r s o n i n - t a k e a p p o in tm e n t a s to w h e th e r t h a t o l l e n t
was l i k e l y to k e e p th e a p p o in tm e n t. K ra u se su m m arised i
C l i n i c a l p r e d i c t i o n s o f d is c o n tln u a n o e made
a f t e r a n I n ta k e i n te r v i e w w ere fo u n d to be 69%
c o r r e c t . T h is w as o n ly s l i g h t l y b e t t e r th a n
c h a n c e c o r r e c t n e s s . Such p r e d i c t i o n s seem t o be
o f som ewhat l i m i t e d p r a c t l o a l v a lu e and may w e ll 27
r e q u i r e e x te n s iv e r e s e a r c h f o r t h e i r im p r o v e m e n t.^
B ackground s t u d i e s r e l a t i n g to p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c
c e s s f u l th e r a p y w ere re v ie w e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n . R e s e a rc h
p r o j e c t s sp o n so re d by th e M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h il a d e l p h i a
s tu d ie d p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c c e s s f u l th e r a p y and p r e d i c t i o n o f
c l i e n t movement i n t h e r a p y . V a lid a ti o n s t u d i e s f o r th e
B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le o f th e M in n e so ta M u ltlp h a s ic
P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n to ry w ere re v ie w e d an d a n a ly z e d b r i e f l y .
R e s e a rc h d a t a fro m th e U n iv e r s ity o f C hicago C o u n s e lin g
C e n te r was re v ie w e d b e c a u s e o f i t s p e r t i n e n t f i n d i n g s on
p e r s o n a l i t y ch an g e i n p s y c h o th e ra p y an d p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c
c e s s i n t h e r a p y . O th e r c u r r e n t s t u d i e s f o r d u r a t i o n o f
s t a y i n th e r a p y w ere l i s t e d a s b ac k g ro u n d d a ta f o r th e
p r e s e n t s tu d y .
2 7m. S . K ra u s e , " P r e d ic t i n g C l i e n t D is c o n tin u a n c e
a t I n t a k e ," S o c ia l C asew o rk . X L III ( 1 9 6 2 ) , 3 0 8 -3 1 2 .
R e la te d S c i e n t i f i c S tu d ie s
The t h r e e I n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s c o n s tr u c te d f o r t h i s
s tu d y w ere b a s e d h e a v i l y on p r e v io u s s o c i o l o g i c a l an d
p s y c h o lo g ic a l r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s . S o c io lo g y o f th e f a m ily
r e s e a r c h d a ta p ro v id e d th e m a tr ix f o r S c a le O ne. S o a le One
a tte m p ts to m easu re th e c o h e s iv e f a o t o r s m o tiv a tin g th e
m a rrie d p a i r to c o m p le te th e c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m . P e r t i n e n t
p s y c h o lo g ic a l t e s t ite m s fro m p r e v io u s s t u d i e s w ere u s e d i n
a l l t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s . T e c h n iq u e s o f m easu rem en ts
i n th e s e s o a le s f o llo w th e r o l e th e o r y c o n c e p t t h a t a l i e n a
t i o n i s th e r e s u l t o f d is c re p a n c y b e tw e e n r o l e e x p e c ta tio n s
and r o l e b e h a v io r . The s o c i a l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s p r o v id e s a
b a s i s f o r u n d e r s ta n d in g th e e s s e n t i a l I n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a
t i o n s h i p s w ith s i g n i f i c a n t o t h e r s i n th e m a r r ia g e . To p ro
v id e a b e t t e r u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e s c i e n t i f i c j u s t i f i c a t i o n
f o r th e u s e o f th e s e t e s t ite m s and c o n c e p ts , t h i s s e c t i o n
re v ie w s b r i e f l y ( a ) s o c i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s , (b ) p s y c h o lo g ic a l
s t u d i e s , ( c ) r o l e th e o x y r e s e a r c h , an d ( d ) a d e s c r i p t i o n o f
th e s o c i a l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s .
S o c io lo g y o f t b « * S tu d ie s
B u rg ess and C o t t r e l l . — B u rg e ss an d C o t t r e l l co n
d u c te d one o f th e f i r s t s o c io lo g y o f th e fa m ily s t u d i e s a t
th e U n iv e r s it y o f C h ic a g o . The d a t a w ere sum m arized and
a n a ly z e d i n t h e i r b o o h , P r# d ^ o t^ n g S u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e i n
M a r r ia g e . Q u e s tio n n a ir e s o f 526 c o u p le s who w ere r e s i
d e n ts o f I l l i n o i s , h ig h ly e d u c a te d , p re d o m in a n tly u r b a n ,
an d o f u p p e r c l a s s Incom e w ere s e l e c t e d f o r t h e i r s a m p le .
I n t h e i r i n i t i a l a tte m p t to o o r r e l a t e c e r t a i n b a c k g ro u n d
f a c t o r s w ith l a t e r m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n t, some im p o r ta n t co n
c l u s i o n s o f th e s tu d y w eres (1 ) th e b a c k g ro u n d c o n d i t i o n
in g e x p e r ie n c e s o f th e h u sb a n d w ere m ore im p o rta n t f o r
a d ju s tm e n t i n m a rria g e th a n w ere s i m i l a r Ite m s o f t h e w if e ;
(2 ) a f f e c t i o n s ! r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n c h ild h o o d c o n d i tio n
re s p o n s e p a t t e r n s o f th e a d u l t an d a f f e c t h i s m a r i t a l r e l a
t i o n s h i p ; (3 ) th e s o c i a l i z a t i o n o f th e p e r s o n , a s in d lo a te d
by h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n th e s o c i a l an d c u l t u r a l l i f e o f
h i s s o c i e t y , w ere s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e l a t e d to h i s a d ju s tm e n t
i n th e m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p , an d (*+) p r e d i c t i o n b e f o r e
m a rria g e o f l a t e r m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n t w as f e a s i b l e an d
29
s h o u ld be f u r t h e r d e v e lo p e d .
L o ck e. — The Locke s tu d y w as a c o m p a riso n o f m ar
r i a g e s e n d in g i n d iv o r c e w ith th o s e ju d g e d by r e l a t i v e s ,
f r i e n d s , an d a c q u a in ta n c e s a s th e m o st h a p p ily m a rrie d
o o u p le s known to th e m . D iv o rce an d h a p p in e s s i n m a rria g e
w ere s e l e c t e d a s c r i t e r i a o f m a r i t a l m a la d ju s tm e n t an d
2®E. W. B u rg e s s and L . 3 . C o t t r e l l , J r . . P r e d ic tin g
S u c c e s s o r P a i l u r e i n M a rria g e (New York* P r e n t l c e - H a l l ,
I n c . , 1 9 3 ^ ) •
29 l b l d .« p p # 3 * fl-it9 .
3V
a d ju s tm e n t b e c a u se s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s w ere m ore l i k e l y
to be r e v e a le d when th e e x tre m e s o f a co n tin u u m o f b e h a v io r
w ere o o m p ared . An a tte m p t w as made i n th e stu d y t o s e c u re
a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e sam p le o f d iv o rc e d p e rs o n s and o f h a p p ily
m a rr ie d p e rs o n s fro m t h e g e n e r a l p o p u la tio n o f a s i n g l e
c o u n ty in I n d ia n a r a t h e r th a n to d ep en d on th e v o lu n ta r y
c o o p e r a tio n w ith q u e s t i o n n a i r e s .
L ocke*s sam p le In c lu d e d 929 i n d i v i d u a l s . The sam
p le o f d iv o r c e d p e r s o n s was o b ta in e d by g e t t i n g fro m th e
o o u rth o u s e f i l e s th e nam es o f a l l th e c o u p le s d lv o ro e d i n
th e y e a r s im m e d ia te ly p re c e d in g th e tim e o f i n te r v i e w in g .
O ver h a l f o f th e d iv o r c e d sam ple ( 5 1 .6 p e r c e n t) s e c u r e d
t h e i r d iv o r c e s b etw een 1938 and 1 9 ^ -• The m a rrie d sam ple
was oom posed o f 200 p e rs o n s w ith t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e m a te s ,
p lu s f o u r c a s e s w here o n ly one p a r t n e r w as s e c u r e d . T hese
c o u p le s w ere s e l e c t e d a s h a p p ily m a rrie d c o u p le s by b o th
d iv o r c e d and m a rrie d p e r s o n s .
The p u rp o se o f th e s tu d y w as to d e te rm in e w h at
ty p e o f b e h a v io r an d a t t i t u d e s b e f o r e an d a f t e r m a rria g e
d i f f e r e n t i a t e d b etw e en th e d iv o rc e d an d h a p p ily m a rrie d
g r o u p s . The f o llo w in g ite m s w ere fo u n d to be p o s i t i v e l y
a s s o c i a t e d w ith m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n tt ( l ) a happy o r v ex y
happy c h ild h o o d ; (2 ) som e, b u t n o t e x tre m e , c o n f l i c t w ith
m o th e r and f a t h e r ; ( 3 ) a h i s t o r y o f b e in g a llo w e d u s u a l l y ,
b u t n o t a lw a y s , t o h av e o n e 's own way by p a r e n t s ; Of) a
35
p a t t e r n o f no d iv o r c e among r e l a t i v e s ; ( 5 ) a r a t i n g o f
happy o r v e ry happy f o r th e m a rria g e o f th e p a r e n t s ;
( 6 ) a p p ro v a l o f th e p r o s p e c tiv e m ate by th e p a r e n t s ; and
(7 ) n o t l i v i n g w ith own p a r e n ts o r p a r e n t s o f m ate d u r in g
30*
th e m a r r ia g e .
W inch. — In th e f o r m u la tio n o f h i s c o n c e p t o f com
p le m e n ta ry n e e d s , W inch m o d ifie d a schem e f o r c l a s s i f y i n g
31
human n e e d s an d human b e h a v io r . E is p ir e d by th e p re v io u s
32
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f M u rra y , Winch l i s t e d t h i r t e e n n e e d s
an d t h r e e g e n e r a l t r a i t s . The n e e d s w ere a b a s e m e n t,
a c h ie v e m e n t, a p p ro a c h , auto n o m y , d e f e r e n c e , d o m in an ce ,
h o s t i l i t y , n u r tu r a n c e , r e c o g n i t i o n , s e x , s t a t u s a s p i r a
t i o n , s t a t u s s t r i v i n g , and s u c c o r a n c e . The g e n e r a l t r a i t s
w ere a n x i e t y , e m o t i o n a li t y , and v i c a r i o u a n e s s . W inch
e l a b o r a t e d a n e a r l i e r t h e s i s o f B e r g le r J J t h a t m a tes a r e
s e l e c t e d on th e b a s i s o f u n o o n so io u s e m o tio n a l n e e d s .
^°H arvey J . L o c k e , P r e d i c t i n g A d ju stm en t i n M ar
r i a g e (New Y orks H enry H o lt an d Company, l £ 5 1 ) , p p . 123“
3 0 .
*N ote t h a t th e p r e s e n t s tu d y t e s t s th e v a l i d i t y o f
m ost o f th e s e ite m s f o r p r e d i c t i o n o f le n g th o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g i n S c a le O ne.
^ R o b e r t P . W inch, The M odern F am ily (New Y ork:
H enry H o lt Company, 1 9 5 2 ) , p p . *t08-09*
3 % . A . M urray ( e d . ) , E x p lo r a tio n s i n P e r s o n a l i t v
(New Y orks O xford U n i v e r s i t i e s P r e s s , 1938)» C h a p te r 3 .
33
•'■'Edmund B e r g l e r , U nhappy M a rria g e and D iv o rc e
(New Y orks I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s P r e s s , 19*t6), p . 27.
36
I n m a t e - s e l e c t i o n e a c h i n d i v i d u a l s e e k s w i th i n
h i s o r h e r f i e l d o f e l l g l b l e s f o r t h a t p e rs o n who
g iv e s th e g r e a t e s t p ro m ise o f p r o v id in g him o r h e r
w ith maximum n e e d g r a t i f i c a t i o n *3*
R rrm ess an d W a llin . — The m o st co m p re h en siv e f a m ily
r e s e a r c h s tu d y w as u n d e r ta k e n a t th e U n iv e r s it y o f C hicago
by B u rg e s s and W a llin * I t b eg an w ith a s tu d y o f 1 ,0 0 0
en g ag ed c o u p le s an d I n te r v ie w e d 666 o f them a g a in a f t e r
t h r e e t o f i v e y e a r s o f m a rria g e * The m a jo r g o a l o f th e
r e s e a r c h t e s t e d w h e th e r d a t a s e c u re d from p e rs o n s b e f o r e
m a rria g e c o u ld p r e d i c t t h e i r m a r i t a l s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e *
I t was h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t m a r i t a l su c cesB o r f a i l u r e c o u ld
be r e l i a b l y p r e d ic te d fro m engagem ent s u c c e s s s c o r e s on
th e r e s e a r c h In s tru m e n t* Though th e c o r r e l a t i o n o f th e
engagem ent s u c c e s s s c o r e s an d th e m a r i t a l h a p p in e s s s c o r e s
i n d i c a t e d o n ly s l i g h t s i g n i f i c a n c e , th e e x p a n s iv e d a t a from
t h i s l o n g i t u d i n a l s tu d y c o n tin u e s to be b a s ic f o r s o c io lo g y
o f th e fa m ily r e s e a r c h . ^
B e la te d P s y c h o lo g ic a l R e s e a rc h
T eim an*— In 1938 Terman p u b lis h e d h i s d a ta d e a lin g
w ith th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith m a r i t a l
h a p p in e s s * He u se d 792 v o l u n t e e r c o u p le s s e c u re d fro m
S ^ o b e r t F* W inch, M a te -S e le o t A on (New York*
H a rp e r an d B r o th e r s , P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9) , p p . 88-89*
35
E r n e s t W * B u rg e s s an d P a u l W a llin , Engagem ent and
M a rria g e (C h ic a g o t J . B . L lp p ln c o tt Company, 1 9 5 3 )•
3 7
v a r io u s g ro u p s th ro u g h o u t C a l i f o r n i a . The p e r s o n a l i t y
f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t l y w ith m a r i t a l u n h a p p in e s s
w ere t h a t i t w as c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e unhappy m a r i t a l
p a r t n e r s ( a ) t o b e to u c h y and g ro u c h y ; (b ) t o l o s e t h e i r
te m p e rs e a s i l y ; ( o ) t o f i g h t to g e t t h e i r own way; (d ) t o
be c r i t i c a l o f o t h e r s ; ( e ) t o c h a fe u n d e r d i s c i p l i n e ;
( f ) to l a c k s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e ; (g ) t o b e d o m in a tin g i n t h e i r
r e l a t i o n s h i p s w ith th e o p p o s ite s e x ; an d (h ) to be u n c o n
v e n t i o n a l i n t h e i r a t t i t u d e s . ^ Term an fo u n d many b a c k
g ro u n d an d p e r s o n a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e c o u p le s w ere
r e l a t e d t o th e m a r i t a l h a p p in e s s s c o r e s o f th e r e s e a r c h
in s t r u m e n t. In th e s tu d y a l l th e ite m s fo u n d to m easu re
m a r i t a l s u c c e s s w ere g iv e n n u m e ric a l s c o r e s , and a l l th e
n u m e rio a l s c o r e s w ere t o t a l e d t o p ro v id e th e i n d i v i d u a l
p r e d i c t i o n s c o r e s . T ezm an 's b a s ic f i n d in g s w ere t h a t p e r
s o n a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , b ack g ro u n d f a o to r B , an d s e x
a d ju s tm e n t te n d e d to c o r r e l a t e w ith h a p p in e s s i n m a r r ia g e .
MMPI. — The M in n e so ta M u ltip h a s lo P e r s o n a l i t y In v e n
t o r y w as fo rm u la te d i n th e l a t e 1 9 3 0 's a s a n a sse m b la g e o f
ite m s f o r a new k in d o f p e r s o n a l i t y i n v e n to r y . The a u th o r s
b e lie v e d t h a t a n o b j e c t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r th e " m u ltip h a s lo ”
a s s e s s m e n t o f p e r s o n a l i t y by m eans o f a p r o f i l e o f s c a l e s
-^ L e w is M. Term an ( e d . ) , P s y c h o lo g ic a l f a c t o r s i n
M a r it a l H a p p in e ss (Hew Y orkt M cG raw -H ill Book C om pany^
J * PP• 3 b 7 -3 7 7 .
w ould b e u s e f u l i n r e s e a r c h an d c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e . T hese
s c a l e s u s e d a n a p p ro a c h r e l a t e d t o th e e m p i r i c a l l y d e v e l
oped B ln e t t e s t s o f i n t e l l i g e n c e an d th e S tro n g V o c a tio n a l
I n t e r e s t B la n k , an d th e y w ere c o n s tr u c te d fro m th e r e s p o n
s e s o f g ro u p s o f p a t i e n t s r o u t i n e l y c l a s s i f i e d w ith th e
c u r r e n t c l i n i c a l n o s o lo g y . The a u t h o r s n o te d :
A . p e r s o n a l i t y t e s t c a n be u s e d a s a com m unica
t i o n m ethod b etw e en c l l n i o l a n s , b u t i t a l s o p e r
m its c l i n i c i a n s to know w h ich p a t i e n t s a r e p r e p a r e d
t o p la y th e game o f d ia g n o s is an d th e r a p y a s we
h a v e le a r n e d i t . . . . C o n s tr u c t v a l i d i t i e s f o r
p e r s o n a l i t y t e s t p r o f i l e s , t h e n , a p p e a r to be
w h at we a r e w o rk in g to w a rd . T h ese p ro v id e s t a n d
a r d i s a t i o n a s co m m u n icatio n an d s u g g e s t th e
s t a b i l i s a t i o n o f some o f th e c o n s t r u c t s i n t o
d i a g n o s e s .J 7
R e s e a rc h s t u d i e s and d a ta a tte m p tin g to v a l i d a t e
th e i n d i v i d u a l ite m s o f th e MMPI p e r s o n a l i t y s c a l e s a r e
to o num ero u s to c a t e g o r i z e i n t h i s re v ie w o f th e l i t e r a
t u r e . H ow ever, i t i s i l l u m i n a t i n g to n o t i c e t h a t th e MMPI
O Q
H andbook l i s t s 213 b a s i c and s p e c i a l s c a l e s f o rm u la te d
from th e o r i g i n a l in s t r u m e n t. The p r e s e n t s tu d y h a s made
u s e o f two o f th e s p e c i a l s c a l e s — th e B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th
(E s) S c a le and th e E - f a c t o r S c a le .
I C 1 .~ T h e I n t e r p e r s o n a l C heck L i s t was d e v e lo p e d
by D r. T im othy L e a ry an d th e K a is e r F o u n d a tio n P sy c h o lo g y
s t a f f a s a n i n t e r p e r s o n a l sy stem o f p e r s o n a l i t y a s s e s s m e n t
3 ^ D ah lstro m an d W elsh , o p . o i t . . fo re w o rd .
3 8 I b i d .
39
an d d i a g n o s i s . The ICL m akes u s e o f a d j e c t i v e an d s h o r t
a d j e c t i v e p h r a s e s to e n a b le th e s u b j e c t to t r a n s l a t e h i s
r o l e p e r c e p tio n s an d e x p e c ta tio n s i n t o la n g u a g e sy m b o ls.
I t c o n t a i n s 128 s e l f - r e f e r e n c e o r r o l e - r e f e r e n c e ite m s
a r r a n g e d t o r e p r e s e n t and p ro v id e s c o r e s f o r s i x t e e n ty p e s
39
o f r o l e d e s c r i p t i o n s . The v a l i d i t y o f th e ICL a s a
d i a g n o s t i c in s tr u m e n t i n a p s y c h ia tric s s e t t i n g h a s b e e n
s u b je o te d to e m p ir ic a l s tu d y by p o o le d r a t i n g s o f c l i n i -
c l a n s an d th e MMPI. I t was u s e d t o a s s e s s r o l e p e r c e p tio n
and r o l e e x p e c ta tio n i n s t u d i e s a t th e O hio S ta te U n iv e r -
s i t y on c h i l d d e v e lo p m e n t and fa m ily l i f e , and l a t e r by
*fl 1*2
K o tla r and K ing a t th e U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a .
FIRO . — A n o th e r r e c e n t and u n iq u e s tu d y i n th e
m easu rem en t o f i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s w as c o n d u c te d u n d e r
th e s u p e r v is io n o f S h u ts . S h u ts p o s t u l a t e d ( a ) t h a t e v e ry
^ l i n o t h y Leary, The Interpersonal Diagnosis o f
P A T » w n n « i -tty (N ew Yorki T he Ronald Press C om pany, 1957).
^A . R. Mangus, "Family Impacts on Mental Health,"
Marriage and Family Living. 19 (1 9 5 7 ), 2 5 6 -2 6 2 .
^ S a l l y L . K o t l a r , " M id d le - o la s s R o le s — I d e a l and
P e r c e iv e d — i n R e la t io n t o A d ju stm en t i n M a rria g e ," (u n p u b
l i s h e d D o c to r 's d i s s e r t a t i o n . U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 6 1 ).
^ ^ E ls le V . K in g , " P e r s o n a l i ty C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s —
I d e a l an d P e r c e iv e d — I n R e la tio n t o M ate S e l e c t i o n ,"
(u n p u b lis h e d D o c to r 's d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 6 1 ).
i n d i v i d u a l h a s t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l n e e d s ; i n c l u s i o n , co n
t r o l , an d a f f e c t i o n , an d (b ) t h a t i n c l u s i o n , c o n t r o l and
a f f e c t i o n c o n s t i t u t e d a s u f f i c i e n t s e t o f a r e a s o f i n t e r
p e r s o n a l b e h a v io r f o r th e p r e d i c t i o n an d e x p la n a tio n o f
i n t e r p e r s o n a l phenom ena. The m e a s u rin g in s tr u m e n t u s e d i n
th e s tu d y was c a l l e d FIRO-B, w h ich s ta n d s f o r F u n d am en tal
I n t e r p e r s o n a l R e la t io n s O r i e n t a ti o n — B e h a v io r. The t i t l e
r e p r e s e n t s th e m easu rem en t o f how a n i n d i v i d u a l c h a r a c t e r
i s t i c a l l y r e l a t e s to o t h e r p e o p le . The "B" s ta n d s f o r th e
a s p e c t o f p e r s o n a l i t y b e in g e x p lo r e d — b e h a v io r . P rim a ry
p u rp o s e s o f d e v e lo p in g FIRO-B w ere ( 1 ) t o c o n s t r u c t a
m easu re o f how a n in d i v i d u a l a c t s i n i n t e r p e r s o n a l s i t u a
t i o n s , and (2 ) t o c o n s t r u c t a m easu re t h a t w i l l l e a d to
th e p r e d i c t i o n o f i n t e r a c t i o n b etw een p e o p le , b a s e d on
d a t a fro m th e m e a su rin g in s tru m e n t a l o n e . The I n s tr u m e n t
was d e s ig n e d n o t o n ly to m easu re in d i v i d u a l c h a r a c t e r i s
t i c s , b u t to m easu re s p e c i f i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t may be
com bined i n p a r t i c u l a r ways to p r e d i c t r e l a t i o n s b e tw e en
p e o p le •
R o le T h eo ry and R o le
P e r c e p tio n S tu d ie s
R o le th e o r y and r o l e p e r c e p tio n s ( i n c lu d i n g r o l e
e x p e c t a t i o n s , r o l e b e h a v io r and r o l e c o n f l i c t s ) fo rm th e
^ W i l l ia m C. S h u ts , FIRO (New Y ork: R in e h a r t and
Company, I n c . , 1 9 5 8 ).
b a s ic s t r u c t u r e f o r th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s o f th e p r e s
e n t s tu d y . I n o r d e r to s tr e n g t h e n th e v a l i d i t y o f th e
s o a le 8 i t i s n e c e s s a r y to re v ie w a b r i e f b u t s i g n i f i c a n t
p a r t o f th e e x p a n s iv e b ib lio g r a p h y i n th e i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y
f i e l d o f s o o i a l r o l e s . I t i s n o t d l f f i o u l t to f i n d c u r
r e n t r e s e a r c h i n s o c i o l o g i c a l an d p s y c h o lo g ic a l j o u r n a l s .
The c h i e f d i f f i c u l t y l i e s i n o r g a n is i n g th e m a t e r i a l s to
p r e s e n t a c r y s t a l l i s e d p o in t o f v ie w . T h is re v ie w o f th e
l i t e r a t u r e a tte m p ts to a c c o m p lis h th e t a s k o f i n t e g r a t i n g
th e r e s e a r c h (an d th e s c h o l a r s ) o f s o c io lo g y , p s y c h o lo g y ,
an d s o c i a l p s y c h o lo g y .
W illia m Ja m e s. — The b e g in n in g o f th e th e o ry o f
r o l e s i n th e f i e l d s o f s o c io lo g y a n d p sy c h o lo g y i s n o t
d e f i n i t e , b u t t r a c e s o f i t a r e s e e n e a r l y i n th e d e v e lo p
m ent o f th e two d i s c i p l i n e s . Some o f th e h i s t o r i c a l
w r i t e r s i n s o c io lo g y b e l i e v e t h a t th e in f lu e n c e o f W illia m
Jam es i s fo u n d i n su c h men a s E llw o o d , C ooley and M ead.
Jam es saw th e s o c i a l s e l f a s one o f th e s e c t i o n s o r
d i v i s i o n s o f th e t o t a l s e l f , and he b e lie v e d t h a t th e
s o c i a l s e l f w as d e v e lo p e d to some e x t e n t th ro u g h th e i n t e r
a c t i o n (th o u g h he d id n o t u s e t h a t te rm in o lo g y ) w ith o th e r
p e r s o n s . Jam es p re c e d e d C ooley an d Mead i n th e c o n c e p tio n
t h a t we a r e c o n s t a n t l y m o d ify in g o u r a t t i t u d e s i n r e s p o n s e
to th e r e f l e c t i o n w h ich o t h e r s m ir r o r b ack to u s a b o u t
o u r s e l v e s . Jam es b e lie v e d t h a t ( a ) th e s o c i a l s e l f was
k2
th e r e c o g n i t i o n w h ich s e n r e c e iv e s fro m h i s n a t e s , ( b ) t h a t
n a n h ad a s many s o c i a l s e l v e s a s t h e r e a r e i n d i v i d u a l s who
r e c o g n iz e him and who c a r r y a n im age o f him i n t h e i r m in d ,
and ( c ) t h a t we l i v e v e r y l a r g e l y i n th e r e f l e c t i o n w h ich
o t h e r p e o p le c a s t b a c k to u s a b o u t o u r s e l v e s . H en ce, th e
tre m e n d o u s im p o rta n c e o f s o c i a l s t a t u s , s o c i a l e x p e c ta tio n s
Mf
and s o c i a l b e h a v io r .
C h a rle s H o rto n C o o ley . — T h re a d s o f th e th e o r y o f
r o l e s an d s t a t u s a r e s e e n i n th e w o rk s o f C h a rle s H. Cooley.
He d iv id e d c o n s c io u s n e s s i n t o t h r e e a s p e c t s : th e s e l f -
c o n s c io u s n e s s (w hat I t h i n k o f m y s e lf ) ; th e s o c i a l c o n
s c io u s n e s s (w hat I t h i n k o f o t h e r p e o p le ) ; and th e p u b lic
c o n s c io u s n e s s ( a c o l l e c t i v e v iew o f th e f o re g o in g a s
o r g a n iz e d i n a co m m u n icatin g g r o u p ) . He b e lie v e d t h a t th e
m ind and th e s e l f d id n o t grow i n s e p a r a te c h a n n e ls . The
s e l f d e v e lo p e d from g r o u p s , and fro m th e s e g ro u p s i t
r e c e iv e d f r e s h in f lu e n c e and r e c i p r o c a t i o n .
C o o le y 's c o n c e p tio n o f th e " lo o k i n g - g la s s s e l f "
in f lu e n c e d th e th e o x y o f r o l e s an d s t a t u s a s we u n d e r s ta n d
t h a t th e o iy to d a y . The " lo o k i n g - g la s s s e l f " was b a s e d on
C o o le y 's d e s c r i p t i o n o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s . A p e r s o n 's
c o n s c io u s n e s s o f h im s e lf came fro m a r e f l e c t i o n o f th e
- V E. Barnes (ed.), T he History and Prospects of
the Social Sciences (N ew York: Alfred A. Knopf,
K im b a ll Young a r t i c l e , " S o c ia l P s y c h o lo g y ," p p . 1 6 5 -6 6 .
^3
o p in io n s and e s t im a t e s w h ich he b e l ie v e d t h a t o th e r s
a ro u n d him had o f h im . One saw i n th e lo o k in g - g la s s th e
r e f l e c t i o n o f h im s e lf form ed by h i s im a g in a tio n o f o t h e r 's
a t t i t u d e s to w ard h im . C ooley su m m arised !
A s e l f id e a o f t h i s s o r t seem s t o h av e t h r e e
p r i n c i p a l e le m e n ts ! th e im a g in a tio n o f o u r
a p p e a ra n o e to th e o t h e r p e r s o n ; t h e im a g in a tio n
o f h i s ju d g m en t o f t h a t a p p e a ra n c e ; an d some
s o r t p f s e l f - f e e l i n g , s u c h a s p r id e o r m o r t i f i c a
t i o n . ^
C o o le y 's c o n c e p t o f th e " p rim a ry g ro u p " p r o v id e s
b a s ic b ack g ro u n d m a t e r i a l f o r th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s o f
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y . The p rim a ry g ro u p c o n c e iv e d by C ooley
was a s m a ll g ro u p i n w h ic h th e m em bers m a in ta in e d a f a c e -
t o - f a c e r e l a t i o n s h i p . The members l i v e d i n th e p re s e n c e
and th e th o u g h t o f one a n o t h e r , and th u s th e p rim a ry g ro u p
e x e r te d a b a s ic in f l u e n c e on th e f o r m a tio n o f th e i n d i v i d
u a l 's p e r s o n a lity *
C u rre n t S tu d ie s i n R o le T heory
Dvmond. — Dymond s tu d ie d th e c o r r e l a t i o n o f th e
a c c u ra c y o f th e p e r c e p tio n o f r o l e s by th e m a rria g e p a r t
n e r s w ith th e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
The sam p le f o r th e s tu d y c o n s is te d o f f i f t e e n c o u p le s
m a rrie d s i x m onths to t h i r t y - e i g h t y e a r s . A s u b j e c t i v e
m a r i t a l h a p p in e s s s c o r e w as o b ta in e d by h a v in g e a c h c o u p le
^ ‘ ’C h a rle s H , C o o le y , Human N a tu re and th e S o c ia l
O rd e r (New Y ork: C h a r le s S c r i b n e r 's Slons, 1 9 2 2 ), p p . 1B3-
w :
Mf
l i s t t e n m a rrie d c o u p le s th e y knew . They w ere r e q u i r e d
to l i s t th e s e c o u p le s fro m th e m ost h a p p ily m a rrie d to th e
l e a s t h a p p ily m a r r ie d . The c o u p le s l a t e r r a t e d t h e i r own
m a r r ia g e s I n r e l a t i o n to th e o n es th e y had l i s t e d . The
seco n d p a r t o f th e s tu d y p ro c e d u re h ad e a c h p a r t n e r f i l l
o u t two c o p ie s o f a q u e s tio n n a i r e c o n s i s t i n g o f 115 MMPI
Ite m s — th e f i r s t g ro u p o f a n sw e rs f o r h i m s e l f , an d th e
seco n d a s he p r e d ic te d h i s sp o u se w ould a n sw e r th e q u e s
t i o n n a i r e .
Dymond'a r e s u l t s in d i c a t e d t h a t th e p a r t n e r s i n
th e h ap p y g ro u p (1 ) made s i g n i f i c a n t l y fe w e r e r r o r s i n
p r e d i c t i n g t h e i r s p o u s e s ' r e s p o n s e s , (2 ) had a s i g n i f i
c a n t l y h ig h e r d e g re e o f s i m i l a r i t y i n t h e i r s e l f - c o n c e p t s ,
and (3 ) h ad s i g n i f i c a n t l y fe w e r p r o j e c t i o n ty p e e r r o r s —
e r r o r s o f assu m in g th e sp o u se w ould a n s w e r s i m i l a r l y when
i n f a c t th e y d i f f e r e d .
In t h i s k in d o f g ro u p ( m a r i t a l u n i t ) th e
g e n e r a l p r o p o s i t io n was c o n firm e d t h a t a c c u r a te
p r e d i c t i o n o f th e p a r t n e r 's s e l f - c o n c e p t (w h ich
assu m e s h ig h u n d e r s ta n d in g o f him ) andf s a t i s f a c
t i o n w ith th e r e l a t i o n o c c u r t o g e t h e r . ^
Y i-C huang h u . — A s tu d y by Y l-C huang Lu in v e s tig a te d
th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e d o m in a n t- e q o a lita r la n - s u b m is s iv e
r o l e i n m a rria g e to th e m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n t o f young
^ R o s a l i n d Eymond, "The R e la t io n o f A ccu racy o f
P e r c e p tio n o f Spouse an d M a r ita l H a p p in e s s ," A m erican
P s y c h o l o g i s t . V I I I ( 1 9 5 3 ) , 3M t.
»f5
couples* T he study used the data obtained by Burgess and
Wallin In their investigation of 1,000 engaged couples*
The general conclusions of the L u study were that the
equalltarlan relationships or democratic partnership cor*
related with good marital adjustment, and that the domi
nance of either the husband or the wife was associated
M -7
with poor adjustment in marriage*
Hurritz.—Hurvitz studied a sample of 10*f middle
class couples in the Los Angeles area attempting to corre
late the discrepancy between role expectations and role
behavior with marital happiness* H e measured the discrep
ancy with an instrument developed to measure an "index of
strain" in the marriage relationship* Hurvitz found that
when one spouse had a pattern of role expectations differ
ing from the mate's pattern of role expectations, the
married pair experienced "strain" and maladjustment in the
^■ 8
marriage relationship*
Kotlar.—Kotlar compared fifty adjusted married
couples with fifty unadjusted married couples with respect
^ Y i-C h n a n g L u, " M a r ita l R o le s and M a r ita l A d ju s t
m e n t," S o c io lo g y an d S o c ia l R e s e a rc h . XXXVI ( 1 9 5 2 ), 3o8*
kg
Nathan Hurvitz, "Marital Roles and Adjustment in
Marriage in a Middle-Class Group," (unpublished Doctor's
dissertation, University of Southern California,
Los A n g e le s , 1958)*
t o t h e i r p e r c e p tio n s o f th e m s e lv e s a s h u sb a n d s an d w iv e s ,
and t h e i r p e r c e p tio n s o f t h e i r s p o u s e s a s m a r i t a l p a r t n e r s .
U sin g th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l Check L i s t (IC L ), sh e a tte m p te d to
d is c o v e r w h e th e r th e d e g re e o f d i s p a r i t y b etw e en th e
i n d i v i d u a l 's s e l f - p e r c e p t i o n o f r o l e s an d h i s i d e a l r o l e
w i l l d i s t i n g u i s h b e tw e en th e a d j u s t e d an d u n a d ju s te d m a ri
t a l g r o u p s . K o tla r c o n c lu d e d t h a t t h e r e was a c u l t u r a l
norm f o r th e r o l e o f th e h u sb an d and f o r th e r o l e o f th e
w i f e , an d t h a t th e s e r o l e s w ere d e f in e d i n te rm s o f e q u a li-
t a r i a n and co m p an io n sh ip a t t i t u d e s r a t h e r th a n i n te rm s o f
th e t r a d i t i o n a l r o l e o r i e n t a t i o n . She fo u n d t h a t t h e r e
w as s t i l l a d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b etw e en m a s c u lin e and fe m in in e
r o l e s i n th e A m erican m id d l e - c la s s c u l t u r e , an d t h a t
u n a d ju s te d s p o u s e s o o u ld be d i s t i n g u i s h e d fro m a d j u s te d
s p o u s e s i n te rm s o f d e v i a t i o n from th o s e c u l t u r a l norm s
w ith r e s p e c t t o b o th s e l f and m ate p e r c e p t i o n s . N e g a tiv e
s e l f an d sp o u se im ag es ( i n d i c a t i n g f r u s t r a t i o n o f r o l e
e x p e c t a t i o n s ) w ere h ig h ly a s s o c ia t e d w ith m a la d a p tiv e
if>9
m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s .
S o c i a l i z a t i o n o f th e
flergonalitv
S o c i a l i z a t i o n o f th e s e l f o r th e p e r s o n a l i t y
th r o u g h th e i n t e r a c t i o n w ith s i g n i f i c a n t o th e r s i s
^ K o t l a r , l o c . c i t .
\ 7
im p o r ta n t to t h i s s tu d y b e c a u se ( a ) i t p r o v id e s a fram e o f
r e f e r e n c e f o r th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l m easu rem en t s c a l e s , an d
(b ) i t h e lp s to c l a r i f y th e e s s e n t i a l n a t u r e o f i n t e r p e r
s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n s u c c e s s f u l m a r r ia g e . The p r o c e s s
i s d e s c r ib e d b r i e f l y b e c a u s e i t p r o v id e s b ac k g ro u n d m a te
r i a l s r e l a t e d to th e r e s e a r c h s tu d y .
G eorge H e r b e r t Mead. — M ead 's c o n c e p ts r e g a r d in g
s o c i a l i s a t i o n p r o c e s s e s a g re e d c l o s e l y w ith th e s o c i a l
r o l e c o n c e p ts o f C o o le y . W ritin g s o f Mead an d C ooley i n
r e g a r d to th e d ev e lo p m e n t o f th e s e lf - c o n s c io u s n e s s and
th e s o c i a l s e l f r e f l e c t a common h e r i t a g e . T h e ir g e n e r a l
t h e s i s w as t h a t s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s d e v e lo p e d o n ly when th e
i n d iv i d u a l a c q u ir e d th e a b i l i t y to " ta k e th e r o l e o f th e
o t h e r . M The p r o c e s s to o k p la c e by m eans o f th e a t t i t u d e s
an d g e s t u r e s t h a t " o th e r s " d i r e c t e d to w ard th e i n d i v i d u a l .
I t w as a t t h i s s ta g e i n th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f p e r s o n a l i t y o r
th e s e l f t h a t Mead h y p o th e s iz e d th e c o n c e p t o f th e " g e n e r
a l i z e d o t h e r . " The o o n c e p t h a s b ee n a s im p o rta n t to th e
p r o c e s s o f s o c i a l i z a t i o n a s C o o le y 's c o n c e p t o f th e
" lo o k i n g - g la s s s e l f ” w as to r o l e t h e o r y . B ogardus
e x p la in e d th e p r o c e s s a s f o llo w s :
The w oof o f p e r s o n a l i t y i s a s e r i e s o f r e a c
t i o n s to th e l i v e s o f o t h e r p e r s o n s . One p la y s
a s many d i f f e r e n t ' r o l e s ' a s t h e r e a r e o t h e r
p e r s o n s to whom h e r e s p o n d s . O ut o f a l l th e s e
' r o l e s ' ta k e n w ith r e f e r e n c e t o o t h e r s ' b e h a v io r
one d e v e lo p s a s y n t h e t i c s e l f , o r , a s Mead s a i d ,
50
a 'g e n e r a l i s e d o t h e r * *
M e ad 's g e n e r a l i s e d o t h e r c o n c e p t h a s b e e n a d a p te d
i n r a r i o u s w ays an d w i t h a v a r i e t y o f c o n n o t a t i o n s . The
id e a i s d i f f i c u l t t o e x p l a i n w ith o u t so u n d in g m y s t i c a l o r
p h i lo s o p h ic a l* M o r r is , w r i t i n g i n th e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o
M e a d 's b o o k , M ind. S e l f an d S o c i e t y * o f f e r e d th e f o llo w in g
c o n c is e d e s c r i p t i o n s
Mead s t r e s s e s two s t a g e s i n th e d e v e lo p m e n t
o f th e s e l f s th e s t a g e s o f p la y an d th e gam e.
I n p la y th e c h i l d s im p ly assu m es o n e r o l e a f t e r
a n o t h e r o f p e r s o n s an d a n im a ls t h a t h av e i n some
way o r o t h e r e n t e r e d i n t o i t s l i f e * * * * I n
th e gam e, h o w e v e r, one h a s b eco m e, a s i t w e re ,
a l l o f th e o t h e r s im p lic a te d i n th e common a c t i v
i t y — m u st h av e w i t h i n o n e 's s e l f t h e w hole o rg a n
i s e d a c t i v i t y i n o r d e r to s u c c e s s f u l l y p la y o n e 's
own p a r t* The p e r s o n h e r e h a s n o t m e re ly assu m ed
th e r o l e o f a s p e c i f l o o t h e r , b u t o f an y o t h e r
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e common a c t i v i t y ; h e h a s
g e n e r a l i z e d th e a t t i t u d e o f r o l e - t a k i n g * In one
o f M e a d 's h a p p i e s t te rm s an d m o st f e r t i l e c o n
c e p t s h e h a s ta k e n t h e a t t i t u d e o r r o l e o f th e
'g e n e r a l i s e d o t h e r * *
F o r M ead, i t w as th r o u g h t h e s o o i a l p r o c e s s t h a t
th e b i o l o g i c i n d i v i d u a l r e c e iv e d h i s m ind and a s e l f *
T h rough s o c i e t y th e im p u ls iv e a n im a l becam e a r a t i o n a l
a n im a l— a man* In v i r t u e o f th e i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e
s o c i a l p r o c e s s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n , th e i n d i v i d u a l g a in e d th e
^ E m o ry S . B o g a rd u s , The D ev elo p m en t o f S o o ia l
T h o u g h t (3 d e d . ; Hew Y orks L ongm ans, G reen an d C o*, 1 9 5 7 ),
p . 501*
^ 6 * H, M ead, Mind* S e l f an d S o c ie ty (C h ic a g o : The
U n i v e r s i t y o f C h icag o £ r e s s , 1 9 3 * 0 , p . r x iv T
**9
m echanism o f r e f l e o t i v e th o u g h t— th e a b i l i t y to d l r e o t h i s
* *
a c t i o n i n t e r n s o f f o r e s e e n c o n s e q u e n c e s o r a l t e r n a t i v e
c o u r s e s o f a o t l o n ; he a c q u ir e d th e a b i l i t y t o make h im s e lf
a n o b j e c t to h im s e lf an d to l i v e i n a common m o ral an d
s c i e n t i f i c w o rld ; and h e becam e a m o ra l in d i v i d u a l w ith
im p u ls iv e e n d s tra n s fo rm e d i n t o th e c o n s c io u s p u r s u i t o f
e n d s - in - v ie w • ^
H u b e rt B o n n e r. — In more c u r r e n t l i t e r a t u r e B onner
em p h asized th e f a c t t h a t s tu d e n ts o f s o o i a l p sy c h o lo g y
f i n d I t in c r e a s i n g l y e v id e n t t h a t p e r s o n a l i t y s t u d i e s m ust
u s e th e s o c i a l i z a t i o n p r o c e s s . B onner p o in te d o u t t h a t :
th e i n t e g r a t i o n o f o u r know ledge o f th e b i o l o g i c a l
o rg a n is m , s o c i e t y , and c u l t u r e i n t o a n o r g a n is m io ,
dynam lo s o o i a l p sy c h o lo g y m arks a tu r n in g p o in t i n
th e s c i e n t i f i c s tu d y o f human b e h a v io r . No s o o i a l
p s y c h o lo g is t to d a y c a n ig n o re th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f
s o c i o l o g i c a l an d a n th r o p o lo g i c a l d a t a i n th e s tu d y
o f th e p e r s o n a l i t y ; f o r th e s tu d y o f human b e h a v io r
i s th e s y s te m a tic f o r m u la tio n o f th e i n t e r r e l a t i o n
s h ip s o f th e i n d i v i d u a l , s o c i e t y , an d c u l t u r e . '3
T heodore M. Newcomb. — Newcomb i s a n o th e r o f th e
s o c i a l p s y c h o lo g is ts c u r r e n t l y s tu d y in g th e s o c i a l i z a t i o n
p r o c e s s o f th e p e r s o n a l i t y . Newcomb*s th o u g h t v a r i e d from
t h a t o f B o n n e r, b u t h i s o v e r - a l l sy ste m o f p e r s o n a l i t y
d e v e lo p m e n t s t r e s s e d th e n ee d f o r th e s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n
52
I b i d . , p . x x v .
^ H u b e r t B o n n e r, S o o ia l P a v e h o ip g r--A n I n t e r d i s c i
p l i n a r y A pproach (New Y orEi A m erican Book Company, 1953)*
50
o f th e g ro u p . He s u g g e s te d t h a t s e l f - p e r c e p t i o n an d s e l f
a t t i t u d e s s e rv e a s in t e r v e n i n g v a r i a b l e s , and t h a t th e y
d e te rm in e th e ways i n w h ich I n d iv i d u a l s ta k e t h e i r r o l e s .
The c r e a t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n a l i t y i s one o f th e im p o r
t a n t c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s o o i a l i n t e r a c t i o n . Newcomb ex p lain ed }
P e r s o n a l i t y may b e som ewhat l o o s e l y d e s c r i b e d ,
i n f a o t , a s th e n a t u r e o f th e i n d i v i d u a l a f t e r he
h a s b ee n m o d ifie d by s o o i a l i n t e r a c t i o n . B ut i t
i s e q u a lly t r u e t h a t th e n a t u r e o f s o c i a l i n t e r
a c t i o n in any s p e o i f i c s i t u a t i o n i s d e te rm in e d by
th e p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f th e i n t e r a c t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s .
. . . W e w ant to u n d e r s ta n d n o t o n ly how th e
i n d i v i d u a l s 'g o t t h a t w a y ,' b u t a l s o how th e y
in f lu e n c e o t h e r s to 'g e t t h a t w a y ,' how i n t e r
a c t i o n c o n t r i b u t e s to p e r s o n a l i t y , an d how p e r
s o n a l i t y a f f e c t s i n t e r a c t i o n . ^
S u m m ary
S c i e n t i f i c l i t e r a t u r e r e l a t e d to th e p r e s e n t s tu d y
w as re v ie w e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n . R e s e a rc h d a t a from s o c io lo g y
o f th e fa m ily e t u d l e s w ere a n a ly z e d f o r s i g n i f i c a n t ite m s
u se d i n i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a le t e s t c o n s t r u c t i o n . R e la te d
p s y c h o lo g ic a l s t u d i e s w ere re v ie w e d b e c a u se th e y p ro v id e d
t e s t ite m s an d v a r io u s te c h n iq u e s f o r m easurem ent o f i n t e r
p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s . The b r i e f h i s t o r i c a l su rv e y o f r o l e
th e o ry an d s o c i a l i s a t i o n l i t e r a t u r e s u g g e s te d t h a t th e s e
p r o c e s s e s p ro v id e ( a ) th e m a tr ix f o r th e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f
5*t
T heodore M. Newcomb. S o o ia l P sy c h o lo g y (New Y ork!
The D ryden P r e s s , 1 9 5 0 ) , p . 3 3 7 .
th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s , and (b ) th e s c i e n t i f i c c r i t e r i a
f o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s i n th e a a r r i a g e
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
CHAPTER III
THE METHODOLOGY 0 ? THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
D evelopm ent o f th e R e s e a rc h In s tru m e n t
The h a s lo p ro b lem I n th e d ev e lo p m e n t o f th e
r e s e a r c h m eth o d o lo g y w as to f i n d o r to d e v e lo p a t e s t
In s tr u m e n t w hich w ould m easu re f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith th e
le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . P re v io u s e m p lr io a l r e s e a r c h
d a t a I n d ic a te d (1 ) t h a t movement o f c l i e n t s I n c o u n s e lin g
and th e r a p y c o r r e l a t e d h ig h ly w ith I n t e r r e l a t i o n o f f a c t o r s
em erg in g w ith in th e I n i t i a l i n t e r v i e w ,1 and (2 ) t h a t su e*
2 3
c e s s f u l p s y c h o th e ra p y an d s u c c e s s f u l m a rria g e a d ju s tm e n t
c o u ld b e p r e d ic te d by m eans o f s c i e n t i f i c a l l y v e r i f i e d
t e s t s c a l e s . Such f i n d i n g s s u g g e s te d th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
v a l i d a t i n g t e s t s c a l e s f o r th e p r e d i c t i o n o f l e n g th o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
1 M a rg a re t B la n k e r , J . McV. H u n t, and L . S . K ogan,
"A S tu d y o f I n t e r r e l a t e d B & otors i n th e I n i t i a l I n te r v ie w
w ith New C l i e n t s , " S o c ia l C asew ork. XXXII (1 9 5 1 ), 2 3 * 3 0 .
^ P ra n k B a rro n , "An E g o * s tre n g th S c a le W hich P r e
d i c t s R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y . XVII (1 9 5 3 ), 327*333.
3
''E m e s t W. B u rg e s s and P a u l W a llin , E ngagem ent and
M a rria g e (C h ic a g o : J . B . L ip p in c o tt Company, 1953
52
53
I n i t i a l c r i t e r i a f o r th e r e s e a r c h was su o h t h a t
th e in s tr u m e n t f o r t h e t e s t w ould m easu re (1 ) th e p e r s o n a l
i t y f a c t o r s o f th e i n d i v i d u a l m a te s (m a r rie d p a i r ) , an d
(2 ) th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l ( i n t e r a c t i o n a l ) f a c t o r s w h ich w ere
c u r r e n t l y e v id e n t i n th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e m a rrie d p a i r .
T h ese f a c t o r s and th e m ates* p e r c e p tio n o f r o l e s an d i n t e r
a c t i o n w ere u se d a s th e e s s e n t i a l c r i t e r i a f o r p r e d i c t i n g
th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
P e r s o n a l in te r v i e w s w ith a s e l e c t e d g ro u p o f
p s y c h i a t r i s t s , c l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g i s t s , s o c i o l o g i s t s and
m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lo r s , r e v e a le d a m y riad o f d iv e r g e n t i d e a s
r e g a r d in g a m e a su rin g in s t r u m e n t. H ow ever, th e s e p e r s o n a l
in te r v i e w s r e s u l t e d i n th e d e te r m in a tio n o f a tw o fo ld
a p p ro a c h t o t e s t th e d a ta *
1 , The B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le and th e
K - f a c to r S c a le to m e asu re th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s e s s e n t i a l
to th e s tu d y ,
2 , A new t e s t c o n s tr u c te d to m easu re th e i n t e r
p e r s o n a l ( i n t e r a c t i o n a l ) f a c t o r s o f th e m a rrie d p a i r s .
Though o t h e r t e s t s an d t e s t s c a l e s w ere s u g g e s te d ,
i t w as d e c id e d t h a t th e y w ould n o t h e a tte m p te d i n th e
r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t . I f th e s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a o f th e p r e s e n t
s c a l e s i n d i c a t e a c o r r e l a t i o n o f s c a l e f a c t o r s w ith p r e
d i c t i o n i n le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , th e n i t w i l l be
s u g g e s te d t h a t th e f o llo w in g s c a l e s b e t e s t e d i n l o n g i
t u d i n a l s t u d l e s i (1 ) th e Ma S o a le o f th e M in n e so ta
5b
L
M u lti p h a s ic P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n to r y , (2 ) th e E d v a r d 's P e r -
5
s o n a l P r e f e r e n c e S c h e d u le , an d (3 ) L e a r y 's I n t e r p e r s o n a l
C h e c k l i s t .^
The R e s e a ro h M ethodology
The P i l o t S tu d y
I n November a n d D ecem ber, 1 9 6 1 , & p r e - t e s t o r
p i l o t s tu d y was made I n o r d e r to f i n d s c a l e s w ith p r e d i c
t i v e a b i l i t y f o r th e r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t . E ig h t c o u p le s
( s i x t e e n i n d i v i d u a l s ) o f th e " S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p w ere com
p a re d w ith e i g h t c o u p le s ( s i x t e e n i n d i v i d u a l s ) o f th e
"L o n g -term " g ro u p . S t a t i s t i c a l e v id e n c e s u g g e s te d t h a t th e
K - f a c to r (MMPI) an d th e E s S c a le (MMPI) w ould d i f f e r e n t i a t e
p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s o f "L o n g -term " an d " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s
i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . The th r e e i n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s
w ere r e f i n e d to f e v e r an d more p r e d i c t i v e s ta te m e n ts .
The two ty p e s o f s t a t i s t i c s u s e d f o r th e p i l o t
s tu d y w ere th e c h i - s q u a r e and s ta n d a r d e r r o r o f th e d i f f e r
en ce b e tw e e n th e m ean s. S t a t i s t i c s w ere p ro c e s s e d by th e
H f. G. D a h ls tro m an d G. S . W elsh . An MMPI Handbook
( M in n e a p o lis * The U n iv e r s it y o f M in n e so ta P r e s s , 19& 0),
P . A .
^A. L . E d w ard s, The S o c ia l D e s i r a b i l i t y V a r ia b le
i n P e r s o n a l i t y A sse ssm e n t and A e se a rc h (New Yorkx D rvden
P r e s s , 1 9 5 7 ).
^T im othy L e a ry , The I n t e r p e r s o n a l D ia g n o s is o f
P e r s o n a l i t y (New York* The R o n ald P r e s s dom pany, l 9 5 ? ) .
55
F o r tr a n (IBM -7090) c o m p u te r o f th e W e ste rn D ata P r o c e s s in g
C o r p o r a tio n , U n iv e r s it y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los A n g eles* The
Q u e s tio n n a ir e A n a ly s is P rogram F o u r f o r th e IBM 7090 D ata
P r o c e s s in g System h ad b e e n p re p a re d to e lim in a te th e c l e r
i c a l e f f o r t r e q u ir e d to t a b u l a t e an d sum m arize th e r e s u l t s
o f q u e s t io n n a i r e s an d s u rv e y s o f m u lt ip le - c h o ic e a n s w e r
v a r i e t y . T h ere was a p o t e n t i a l o f t h i r t y - s i x p o s s i b l e o u t
p u t f o r m a ts , in c lu d in g fo rm a ts f o r p e r c e n ta g e s o f r e s p o n s e s
a t e a c h l e v e l , fre q u e n c y c o u n ts , m eans an d s ta n d a r d d e v ia
t i o n s , th e K olm ogorov-S m irnov and c h i - s q u a r e t e s t s b etw e e n
p a i r s o f c l a s s i f i c a t i o n g r o u p s , an d o t h e r s ta n d a r d s t a t i s -
7
t l c a l m e a s u re s .
The QUAP-lf P ro g ram com puted th e s t a t i s t i c s o f th e
two g ro u p s o f c o u p le s an d a n a ly z e d e a c h o f th e t e s t ite m s
f o r p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y . The b a s ic p la n o f th e p ro g ram
m e asu red th e mean o f th e r e s p o n s e s to th e t e s t i te m s , and
w ith th e K olm ogorov-S m im ov t e s t com puted th e d i f f e r e n c e o f
th e m eans i n th e two g r o u p s . S t a t i s t i c a l e v id e n c e i n d i
c a te d t h a t th e K olm ogorov-S m im ov t e s t was v e ry e f f i c i e n t
f o r t h i s s m a ll a s a m p le , and t h a t i t a p p e a re d more p o w e rfu l
i n a l l c a s e s th a n e i t h e r th e o h i- s q u a r e t e s t o r th e m edian
8
t e s t . D ixon s t a t e d t h a t com pared w ith th e t - t e s t , th e
?S ee W. D* QUAP-lf P ro g ram , W e ste rn D ata P r o c e s s in g
C o r p o r a tio n , U n iv e r s it y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los A n g e le s ,
C a l i f o r n i a .
^ S id n ey S i e g e l , H o n p a ra m e tric S t a t i s t i c s (New York*
M cG raw -H ill Book Company, I n c . , 1 9 5 b ) » p . 1 3 b .
K olm ogorov-S m im ov t e s t bad h ig h e r p o w e r - e f f ic ie n c y (a b o u t
96 p e r o e n t) f o r s m a ll s a m p le s , b u t t h a t a s th e sam p le e l s e
9
in c r e a s e d th e p o w e r - e f f ic ie n c y te n d e d to d e c re a s e s l i g h t l y .
A d d itio n a l s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s was u se d t o com pare
th e d i f f e r e n c e i n th e mean s c o r e s o f th e two g ro u p s o f
c o u p le s * C h i-s q u a re s c o r e s i n d ic a t e d s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r
e n c e s b etw e e n th e two g ro u p s o f c o u p le s f o r i n d i v i d u a l
ite m s o f th e s c a l e s , an d th u s h e lp e d to d e te rm in e w h ich
ite m s s h o u ld be e l im in a te d from th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h i n s t r u
m ent*
The R e s e a rc h S tu d y
The m ain s t a t i s t i c a l te c h n iq u e s o f th e r e s e a r c h
s tu d y w ere ( a ) th e m ed ian t e s t an d ( b ) th e c h i- s q u a r e t e s t
o f th e d ic h o to m iz e d s e t s o f s c o re s * The m edian t e s t d e t e r
m ined th e m edian s c o r e s o f th e com bined g ro u p s o f c o u p le s
f o r th e E s s c a l e an d th e t h r e e i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r a c t i o n a l
s c a l e s . T h en , f o r e a c h s c a le o f th e t e s t b o th s e t s o f
s c o r e s w ere d ic h o to m iz e d a t th e com bined m e d ia n , an d th e
d a t a w ere p la o e d i n a 2 x 2 c o n tin g e n c y ta b le * When
re s p o n s e s c o r e s f e l l a t th e com bined m e d ia n , th e g ro u p s
w ere d ic h o to m iz e d a s th o s e s c o r e s w h ich ex ceed ed th e m edian
and th o s e w h ich d id n o t e x c e e d th e m e d ia n . S in c e th e sum
9
W * J . D ix o n , "Pow er U nder N o rm a lity o f S e v e r a l
N o n p a ra m e tric T e s t s ," A nnual o f M ath em atic S t a t i s t i c s .
XXV (1 9 5 V ), 6 1 0 -llf.
57
o f ^ p lu e n 2 was l a r g e r th a n M-0, th e c h i - s q u a r e c o r r e c t e d
f o r c o n t i n u i t y was u s e d .^ 0
P r e d i c t a b i l i t y o f in d i v i d u a l ite m s on th e t h r e e
t e s t s c a l e s w ere m e asu red by th e same p ro c e d u re o f
( a ) d ic h o to m is in g r e s p o n s e s to e a c h ite m a t th e mean o f
th e r e s p o n s e s and (b ) co m p arin g th e "L o n g -term " c o u p l e s '
r e s p o n s e s w ith " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p l e s ' r e s p o n s e s w ith c h i -
s q u a re s t a t i s t i c s .
S ie g e l s t a t e d t h a t th e m ed ican t e s t i s a p ro c e d u re
f o r t e s t i n g w h e th e r two in d e p e n d e n t g ro u p s d i f f e r i n c e n
t r a l te n d e n c i e s . More p r e c i s e l y , th e m edian t e s t g iv e s
in f o r m a tio n a s to w h e th e r i t i s l i k e l y t h a t two in d e p e n d e n t
g ro u p s h av e b e e n draw n from p o p u la tio n s w ith th e same
m e d ia n . The n u l l h y p o th e s is i s t h a t th e two g ro u p s a r e
from p o p u la tio n s w ith th e same m e d ia n . The a l t e r n a t i v e
h y p o th e s is i s e i t h e r t h a t th e m ed ian o f one p o p u la tio n i s
d i f f e r e n t from t h a t o f th e o t h e r ( t w o - t a i l e d t e s t ) o r t h a t
th e m ed ian o f one p o p u la tio n i s h ig h e r th a n t h a t o f th e
o t h e r ( o n e - t a i l e d t e s t ) . ^
The u s e o f th e m edian t e s t and th e c h i- s q u a r e
s t a t i s t i c s w ere d i c t a t e d by i n t e r e s t i n th e num ber o f
c o u p l e s ' re s p o n s e s f a l l i n g i n v a r io u s c a t e g o r i e s on e a c h
10S i e g e l , o p. c i t . . pp. 1 1 1 -1 2
11 I b i d . . p . 1 1 1 .
58
t e s t s c a l e . The t e s t s w ere u se d to d e te rm in e th e s t a t i s
t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f fre q u e n c y d i f f e r e n c e s b etw een s u b
g r o u p s . The c h i - s q u a r e i s e x p re s s e d a s th e sum o f th e
r a t i o s b e tw e e n th e o b s e rv e d and e x p e c te d f r e q u e n c ie s o v e r
th e e x p e c te d f re q u e n c y .
The l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r th e s t a t i s t i c s o f
t h i s s tu d y w as s e t a t t h e .0 5 l e v e l . D e te rm in a tio n o f th e
s i g n i f i c a n c e o f c h i - s q u a r e was made by c o n s u ltin g a t a b l e
o f c h i - s q u a r e f o r g iv e n d e g re e s o f fre e d o m . S in c e t h i s
s tu d y u s e d a sim p le 2 x 2 c o n tin g e n c y t a b l e , one d e g re e o f
freed o m ( d f = 1 ) was th e b a s i s f o r d e te r m in in g s i g n i f i c a n c e
o r n o n s i g n i f i c a n c e .
The K -F a c to r (MMPI) S c a le
The K - f a c to r w as i n i t i a l l y s tu d i e d f o r i t s u s e i n
th e c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f b o r d e r l i n e p r o f i l e s o f th e MMPI.
E le v a te d K s c o r e s w ere fo u n d to i n d i c a t e t h a t th e m a rg in a l
v a lu e s o f th e c l i n i c a l s c a l e s s h o u ld a c t u a l l y be som ew hat
h i g h e r . L a te r r e s e a r c h i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e s c a le was a n
im p o r ta n t p e r s o n a l i t y m easu re a s w e ll a s a u s e f u l s u p p r e s -
12
s o r f a c t o r i n s t a t i s t i c a l c o r r e c t i o n .
S u l l i v a n , M i l l e r , and S m e l s e r 1 ^ in c lu d e d th e MMPI
12D a h lstro m and W elsh, o n . c i t . . p p . 1 ^2 -M f.
L . S u l l i v a n , C h r is t in e M i l l e r , and W. S m e ls e r,
" F a c to r s i n L en g th o f S ta y an d P ro g r e s s i n P s y c h o th e ra p y ,"
J o u r n a l o f Consul t i n g P s y c h o lo g y . XX II (1 9 5 8 ), 1 - 9 .
59
among s e v e r a l m e asu re s a d m in is te r e d to a g ro u p o f o a s e s
se e n i n a V e te ra n A d m in is tra tio n m e n ta l h y g ie n e c l i n i c who
m a in ta in e d t h e i r c o n t a c t w ith th e c l i n i c f o r v a r y in g
le n g th s o f tim e . The o r i g i n a l g ro u p was d iv id e d a t th e
m edian i n t o a r b i t r a r i l y d e s ig n a te d s ta y and n o n - s ta y su b
g ro u p s . The o r i g i n a l s e p a r a tio n showed t h a t th e s ta y g ro u p
had lo w e r K -s c o re s th a n th e n o n - s ta y g ro u p .
The m ethodology o f t h i s s tu d y p ro p o sed t h a t a h ig h
s c o re on th e K - f a c to r s c a le in d ic a t e d d e f e n s iv e p e r s o n a l i t y
f a c t o r s n o t a s s o c i a t e d w ith lo n g -te rm c o u n s e lin g and t h e r
a p y . The u s e o f th e K - f a c to r i n th e p i l o t s tu d y in d ic a t e d
no s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y f o r le n g th o f c o u n s e lin g .
In f a c t , th e a n a ly z e d d a ta s u g g e s te d th e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t
th e s t a t i s t i c s a p p e a re d to be m oving i n a d i r e c t i o n oppo
s i t e to th e h y p o th e s is ( i . e . . th e K - f a c to r s c o re s o f th e
"L o n g -term " c o u p le s w ere h ig h e r th a n f o r th e " S h o rt-te rm "
c o u p l e s ) . Mean K - f a c to r s c o re f o r th e "L ong-term " m a le s
was 1 7 .3 com pared w ith 1 6 . for th e " S h o rt-te rm " m a le s .
The mean K - f a c to r s c o re was 1 6 .8 f o r th e "L ong-term "
fe m a le s and H f.6 f o r th e " S h o rt-te rm " f e m a le s . S in c e p r e -
l lf
v io u s s t u d i e s had s u g g e s te d t h i s p o s s i b i l i t y u n d e r c e r
t a i n c ir c u m s ta n c e s , i t was d e c id e d to r e t e s t th e K - f a o to r
s c o re s o f th e two g ro u p s i n th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t .
l^ f
D ahlB trom an d W elsh, o p . c i t . . p p . 1 ^ 7 -1 5 2 .
60
The B g o -S tre n g th S c a le
I t v a a e s s e n t i a l f o r t h i s s tu d y t h a t one t e s t o r
t e s t s c a l e he s e l e c t e d a s a M e a su rin g in s tr u m e n t f o r th e
p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e d u r a tio n o f m ar
r i a g e c o u n s e lin g . A re v ie w o f th e l i t e r a t u r e s u g g e s te d a
num ber o f t e s t s c a l e s p u r p o rte d to i s o l a t e th e s e f a c t o r s
f o r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h . The B a rro n Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le
w as s e l e c t e d b e c a u se (1 ) i t had b ee n v a l i d a t e d f o r th e p re
d i c t i o n o f c l i e n t s who Im proved i n p s y c h o th e r a p y , ( 2 ) i t
te n d e d to m easu re th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s w hioh th e
t h e o r i s t s a s s o c i a t e d w ith ego s t r e n g t h o r p e r s o n a l i t y
s t a b i l i t y , and (3 ) i t s r e l i a b i l i t y h ad b e e n v a l i d a t e d f o r
n o rm al p o p u la tio n s a s w e ll a s p s y o h o n e u ro tlc p a t i e n t s .
B a rro n sum m arized:
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e s c a le may b e u s e f u l a s an
a s s e s s m e n t d e v ic e q u i t e a p a r t from th e c l i n i c a l
s i t u a t i o n . I t s c o r r e l a t e s w ith p e r s o n a l i t y v a r i a
b l e s i n n o rm al sa m p le s a r e s i m i l a r t o th e p a t t e r n
o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s s e e n i n c l i n i c s a m p le s , and i n
g e n e r a l i t seem s t o be m e a s u rin g c o n s t r u c t i v e
f o r c e s i n th e p e r s o n a l i t y . Thus i t may s e rv e a s
a p r e d i c t o r i n an y s i t u a t i o n i n w h ich a n e s tim a te
o f p e r s o n a l a d a p t a b i l i t y an d r e s o u r c e f u l n e s s i s
c a l l e d f o r . 15
P u rp o se
The Ego S tr e n g th S c a le was d e v e lo p e d i n a n e f f o r t
to v a l i d a t e th e v iew t h a t a p e r s o n 's s t a b i l i t y o v e r tim e
1 ^ B a rro n , "An Ego S tr e n g th S c a le W hich P r e d i c t s
R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," p . 333•
61
an d a o r o s s s i t u a t i o n s ste m s from a s i n g l e o r g a n is i n g p ro *
c e s s o f p e r s o n a l i t y i n t e g r a t i o n . The s t r e n g t h o r ad e q u ac y
o f su c h a s t r u c t u r e w as a p p r a is e d i n a n e f f o r t to d e te rm in e
th e p r o g n o s is o f a p e rs o n f o r t r e a t m e n t .
H igh ego s t r e n g t h im p lie d a b i l i t y to d e a l w ith th e
e n v iro n m e n ta l p r e s s u r e s f a c i n g o n e , t h e m o tiv a tio n a l p re s *
s u r e s p ro m p tin g one to v a r io u s c o n f l i c t i n g a c t i o n s , an d th e
e m o tio n a l p r e s s u r e s a c t i n g to d is o r g a n i z e and d i s r u p t
u s u a l p a t t e r n s o f b e h a v io r . I t m eant t h a t ( a ) th e p e rs o n
had s u f f i c i e n t c o n t r o l to d e a l w ith o t h e r s and to c r e a t e
f a v o r a b le im p r e s s io n s u p o n th em , (b ) th e p e rs o n w as u s in g
a v a i l a b l e s k i l l s an d a b i l i t i e s to f u l l a d v a n ta g e , an d
( c ) th e p e rs o n was w o rk in g w ith in th e c u l t u r a l , s o c i a l and
p e r s o n a l l i m i t s o f e t h i c s and s e l f * r e s p e c t . Low ego
s t r e n g t h im p lie d d e f e c t s i n s e l f * r e s t r a i n t , e n v iro n m e n ta l
m a s te r y , o r c o g n i tiv e a w a re n e ss t h a t l i m i t a p e rs o n * s
a b i l i t y t o d e a l w ith s t r e s s e s , u n f a m i l i a r p ro b le m s , o r
h a r d s h i p s •
Some fo rm s o f t h e r a p y , p a r t i c u l a r l y th e m ore
e x te n d e d an d d e t a i l e d fo rm s o f p s y c h o th e r a p y , presum e a
m o d e ra te to h ig h l e v e l o f ego s t r e n g t h b e f o r e b e g in n in g
th e r a p y . T hese t h e r a p i e s a r e a l s o a d v a n ce d a s m eans o f
in c r e a s i n g th e ego s t r e n g t h t o h ig h e r l e v e l s , and th e Es
s c a le may be u t i l i z e d a s a c r i t e r i o n o f im provem ent a s
6 2
16
w e ll a e a n In d e x o f p r o g n o s is o r o f th e r a p y r e a d i n e s s .
S c a le C o n s tr u c tio n
The Es S c a le w as o r i g i n a l l y d e s ig n e d to p r e d i c t
r e s p o n s e o f p s y c h o n e u ro tlo p a t i e n t s t o p s y c h o th e ra p y . I t
w as d e s ig n e d u n d e r th e d i r e c t i o n o f D r. Prank: B a rro n a t
th e I n s t i t u t e o f P e r s o n a l i t y A sse ssm e n t and R e s e a rc h ,
U n iv e r s it y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t B e rk e le y , C a l i f o r n i a . C o n sid
e r a t i o n o f th e s c a l e o o n te n t an d i t s c o r r e l a t e s s u g g e s te d
t h a t a som ewhat b r o a d e r p s y c h o lo g ic a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o o u ld
be p la c e d on th e s c a l e , an d t h a t I t c o u ld be u s e f u l a s an
a s s e s s m e n t d e v ic e I n an y s i t u a t i o n w here some e s tim a te o f
a d a p t a b i l i t y and p e r s o n a l r e s o u r c e f u l n e s s was n e e d e d . The
s c a l e m easu red v a r io u s a s p e c t s o f e f f e c t i v e p e r s o n a l fu n c
t i o n i n g w h ich h av e u s u a l l y b ee n subsum ed u n d e r th e te rm
M e g o - s t r e n g t h ."
The s c a le c o n s is te d o f 68 ite m s from th e MMPI,
s e l e c t e d from a t o t a l MMPI p o o l o f 550 ite m s on th e b a s i s
o f s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n s w ith r a t e d im provem ent i n 33
p s y c h o n e u r o tic p a t i e n t s who had b ee n t r e a t e d s i x m onths i n
a p s y c h i a t r i c c l i n i c . The t e s t r e s p o n s e s o f th e p a t i e n t s
w ere o b ta in e d b e f o r e p s y c h o th e ra p y b e g a n , so t h a t th e
s c a l e w as l o g l o a l l y d e s ig n e d to p r e d i c t w h e th e r o r n o t th e
p a t i e n t w as im proved a f t e r m onths o f th e r a p y .
^ D a h ls tr o m an d W elsh , o p . c i t . . p . 356
When th e "im p ro v e d ” an d "u n im p ro v ed " g ro u p s w ere
e c o re d on t h i s 6 8 - ite m s c a l e , th e mean o f th e im proved
g ro u p p ro v ed to he 5 2 .7 , and t h a t o f th e unim proved g ro u p
w as 2 9 .1 . T h is w as a d i f f e r e n c e w e ll beyond th e .0 1 l e v e l
( t o f 1 0 , 3 ) . The o d d -e v e n r e l i a b i l i t y o f th e s c a l e i n a
c l i n i c p o p u la tio n o f 126 p a t i e n t s w as .7 6 . T e a t - r e t e e t
r e l i a b i l i t y a f t e r t h r e e m onths i n a sam p le o f 30 c a s e s was
.7 2 .17
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e s c a l e s c o r e s to t h e r a p e u ti c
ou tco m e b i n c o n tin u e d c r o s s - v a l i d a t i o n sa m p le s l e d B a rro n
to th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t a s i g n i f i c a n t d e te r m in a n t o f p e r
s o n a l i t y ch an g e i n p s y c h o th e ra p y was s t r e n g t h o f th e ego
p r e v io u s to th e r a p y . Among th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s c o lle c tiv e ly
r e f e r r e d to a s e g o - s t r e n g t h w ere p h y s io l o g ic a l s t a b i l i t y
an d good h e a l t h , a s t r o n g s e n s e o f r e a l i t y , f e e l i n g s o f
p e r s o n a l ad eq u acy and v i t a l i t y , p e r m is s iv e m o r a l i t y , la c k
o f e t h n i c p r e j u d i c e , e m o tio n a l o u tg o in g n e s s and sp o n
t a n e i t y , and i n t e l l i g e n c e .
S in c e th e p a t i e n t s s e e k in g p s y c h o th e ra p y w ere
i n v a r i a b l y i n some s o r t o f p s y c h o lo g ic a l d i f f i c u l t y , i t
seem ed e v id e n t t h a t t h e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere n o t s a l i e n t
f e a t u r e s o f th e c l i n i c a l p i c t u r e a t f l r B t o o n t a c t . The
e v id e n c e s u g g e s te d , h o w ev e r, t h a t su c h s t r e n g t h s w ere
17
'B a r r o n , "An Ego S tr e n g th S c a le W hich P r e d i c t s
R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," p . 3 2 7 .
6k
l a t e n t i n th e p e r s o n a l i t y , and t h a t th e y em erged a s th e r a p y
p r o g r e s s e d . By i m p l i c a t i o n , i t seem ed p ro b a b le t h a t th e
k in d s o f p e r s o n a l c r i s i s b r in g in g th e p e rs o n o f good e g o -
s t r e n g t h t o th e c l i n i c w ere more s i t u a t i o n a l - l i n k e d an d
l e s s c h a r a o t e r o l o g i o a l l y b a s e d ( i . e . « l e e s c h r o n ic ) th a n
th e p e r s o n a l d i f f i c u l t i e s o f th e p e rs o n w ith p o o r ego**
s t r e n g t h . 1®
B a rro n s u g g e s te d t h a t c o n s id e r a b le c a u tio n s h o u ld
be e x e r c is e d in th e o l l n i c a l u s e o f th e Es S c a le . The
s c a le s h o u ld n o t be u s e d a s th e b a s i s f o r c a t e g o r i c a l
reco m m en d atio n s to t r e a t o r n o t t o t r e a t c e r t a i n p a t i e n t s .
The p r o g n o s tic a s s e r t i o n s made on th e b a s i s o f t h i s t e s t
sh o u ld be t e n t a t i v e w ith o u t f u r t h e r v a l i d a t i o n . The Es
S c a le s h o u ld be u s e f u l b o th a s a r e s e a r c h in s tru m e n t an d a s
an a d d i t i o n a l c l i n i c a l i n d i c a t o r on th e MMPI.
V a li d a ti o n o f th e S c a le
V a li d a ti o n and r e t e s t s t u d i e s r e g a r d in g th e r e l i a
b i l i t y o f th e Es S c a le in d i c a t e d a v a r i e t y o f p o s i t i v e and
n e g a tiv e f i n d i n g s . A t r i s e r i a l e t a o f »5k b etw een th e Es
and l e v e l o f im provem ent o f f i f t y - t w o c l i n i c c a s e s ; a c o r
r e l a t i o n o f .3 8 b e tw e en Es and a n i n e - p o i n t r a t i n g o f
im provem ent on f o r t y - s i x c l i n i c c a s e s s t i l l i n tr e a tm e n t ;
and c o r r e l a t i o n o f .*f2 b etw een a t h i r t y - n i n e - i t e m Es S c a le
l 8 I b l d . . p p . 3 3 2 -3 3 .
65
( th e o n ly Es s c a le ite m s a v a i l a b l e i n th e s h o r t fo rm o f
th e MMPI) and te r m in a l r a t i n g s o f im provem ent on th e f i f t y -
19
t h r e e c a s e s w ere r e p o r te d by H a r r i s an d C h r i s t i a n s e n , ^
W irt fo u n d t h a t th e Es S o a le s i g n i f i c a n t l y s e p a r a te d
e i g h ty - n i n e im proved c a s e s (mean raw s c o re 53*9* SD 7 ,1 )
from ll* f unim proved o a s e s (mean 33*39 SD 7*0) who h ad b ee n
20
g iv e n p s y c h o th e ra p y . He fo u n d , h o w e v e r, t h a t t h e r e was
a r e v e r s a l on E s s c o r e s when a g r e a t l y im proved su b g ro u p
was com pared w ith th e re m a in d e r o f th e Im proved c a s e s ; th e
g r e a t l y im proved su b g ro u p a c t u a l l y e a rn e d a lo w e r p r e
th e r a p y E s mean s c o r e .
T am kin, h o w e v e r, was u n a b le to s e p a r a te a g ro u p o f
p s y c h o tic s from a g ro u p o f n e u r o t i c s an d c h a r a c t e r d i s
o r d e r s by m eans o f th e Es S c a le When Tamkin an d K l e t t
r e p l i c a t e d th e s tu d y w ith a l a r g e r sam p le o f e a c h k in d o f
p s y c h i a t r i c d i s o r d e r , E s a g a in f a i l e d to a c h ie v e s e p a r a -
22
t i o n . G ottesm an t e s t e d th e r e l i a b i l i t y o f th e Es S c a le
^-9r . e . H a r r i s and C. C h r i s t i a n s e n , " P r e d i c t i o n o f
R e sp o n se to B r i e f P s y c h o th e ra p y ," J o u r n a l o f P s y c h o lo g y .
XXI ( 1 9 ^ 6 ) , 269-8V .
20R. D. W ir t, " F u r th e r V a li d a ti o n o f th e E go-
S tr e n g th S c a l e ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g P s y c h o lo g y * XIX
(1 9 5 5 ), M * .
23-A. S* T am pkin, "An E v a lu a tio n o f th e C o n s tru o t
V a l i d i t y o f B a rro n ’ s E g o -S tr e n g th S c a l e ," J o u r n a l o f C l i n i
c a l P s y c h o lo g y . X I I I ( 1 9 5 7 ), 1 5 6 -5 8 .
S . Tam pkin and C. J . K l e t t , " B a r r o n 's E go-
S tr e n g th S c a le : A R e p li c a t i o n o f a n E v a lu a tio n o f I t s Con
s t r u c t V a l i d i t y , " J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g P s y c h o lo g y . XXI
(1957), b!2.
66
to d is c r im in a te b etw een p s y c h i a t r i c an d n o n p s y c h ia tr ic
p o p u la tio n , and fou n d t h a t d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b etw een d e l i n
q u e n t and n o n d e lin q u e n t a d o le s c e n ts d id n o t o c c u r . The
stu d y co n c lu d e d t h a t th e Es was u n a b le to p r e d i c t re s p o n s e
23
to p s y c h o th e ra p y .
The P i l o t S tudy
The p u rp o se o f th e p r o j e c t p r e t e s t o r p i l o t s tu d y
was to r e f i n e q u e s tio n ite m s on th e t h r e e i n t e r a c t i o n a l
s c a l e s and to e lim in a te q u e s tio n s w ith l i t t l e p r e d i c t i v e
a b i l i t y . Not enough c o u p le s w ere t e s t e d to p ro d u ce s i g
n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in th e Es s c o re s o f th e "L o n g -term "
and th e " S h o rt-te rm " g r o u p s . H ow ever, th e s t a t i s t i c s o f
th e p r e t e s t showed a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e mean s c o re s o f th e
two g ro u p s i n th e h y p o th e s iz e d d i r e c t i o n . The mean Es co n
v e r te d t - s c o r e o f th e "L on g -term " fe m a le s was 55.3 com pared
w ith **5.0 f o r th e " S h o rt-te rm " f e m a le s . The mean c o n v e rte d
t - s c o r e was 5 6 .2 f o r th e "L on g -term " m a les and 5*+.0 f o r th e
" S h o rt-te rm " m a le s .
The f i n a l r e s e a r c h stu d y s p e c i f i c a l l y t e s t s th e Es
S c a le f o r v a l i d i t y i n p r e d i c t i o n o f le n g th o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g . I t a l s o a d d s s u p p le m e n ta l d a ta to p r e v io u s
e v a lu a tio n s o f Es S c a le c o n s tr u c t v a l i d i t y .
2 3 x . I . Grot te a m a n , "More C o n s tru c t V a lid a tio n o f
th e Ego S tr e n g th S c a l e ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g P sy c h o lo g y .
X X III (1 9 5 9 ), 3 ^ 2 -lf6 .
67
D evelopm ent o f th e M a rria g e
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S o a le s
The e s s e n t i a l p u rp o se f o r t h i s s tu d y was to c o n
s t r u c t a t e s t o r t e s t s c a l e s w hich w ould m easu re th e
i n t e r a c t i o n a l and i n t e r p e r s o n a l p e r c e p tio n s o f in d i v i d u a l
r o l e s o f th e m a rrie d p a i r . I t w as b e lie v e d t h a t th e s e
p e r c e p tio n s o f - i n t e r a c t i o n form ed p a t t e r n s w h ich c o r r e
l a t e d w ith th e p r e d i c t i o n o f le n g t h an d s u c c e s s o f m ar
r i a g e c o u n s e lin g .
As n o te d p r e v io u s l y i n t h i s c h a p t e r , w e ll c o n
s t r u c t e d an d v a l i d a t e d t e s t s and t e s t s c a l e s w ere a v a i l
a b le f o r m e a su rin g i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s . R e se a rc h o f th e
i n t e r a c t i o n ! a t g ro u p o f s o c i a l p sy c h o lo g y and s o c io lo g y
em p h asized th e im p o r ta n t n a t u r e o f i n t e r p e r s o n a l i n t e r
a c t i o n i n th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . H ow ever, p r e v io u s
s c i e n t i f i c d a t a s t r e s s e d th e d e v e lo p m e n ta l p r o c e s s o r
s o c i a l i z a t i o n o f th e p e r s o n a l i t y . The I n te r p e r s o n a l C heck
l i s t m easu red i n t e r p e r s o n a l p e r c e p tio n s o f th e m a te s
(m a rrie d p a i r ) , b u t th e v a l i d a t i o n w as f o r p r e d i c t i o n o f
s u c c e s s f u l c o u n s e lin g an d th e r a p y . The r e l i a b i l i t y o f a
t e s t f o r p r e d i c t i n g th e le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
c o u ld n o t be assum ed due to th e v a r y in g n a t u r e o f th e
r e s e a r c h p ro b le m . The E dw ards P e r s o n a l P re fe re n c e
S c h ed u le m easu red p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s e s s e n t i a l to o u r
68
s tu d y , b u t made no p r e te n s e o f m e a s u rin g th e i n t e r a c t i o n a l
f a c t o r s .
I n te r v ie w s w ith s e l e c t e d a u t h o r i t i e s i n th e f i e l d s
o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , c l i n i c a l p sy c h o lo g y and p s y c h ia tr y
c o n firm e d th e p re m is e t h a t no one t e s t o r t e s t s c a le
m easu red th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s b e lie v e d to be c o r r e
l a t e d w ith le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . The g e n e r a l co n
s e n s u s w as t h a t new s c a l e s sh o u ld be c o n s tr u c te d an d v a l i
d a te d to m easu re i n t e r a c t i o n a l p a t t e r n s i n th e m a rria g e
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
C o n s tr u c tio n o f th e S c a le s
T h ree I n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s w ere c o n s tr u c te d f o r th e
p u rp o se o f m e a su rin g ( a ) th e f a c t o r s o f a l i e n a t i o n w h ich
te n d e d to s e p a r a te an d d iv id e th e m a rr ie d p a i r , an d ( b ) th e
m o ti v a ti o n a l f a c t o r s w h ich te n d e d to c o h e s iv e ly i n t e g r a t e
th e m a rrie d p a i r . S c a le One p u r p o rte d to m easu re th e
i n t e g r a t i v e and c o h e s iv e f a c t o r s i n d i c a t e d by p r e v io u s
s t u d i e s to b e a s s o c i a t e d w ith m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n t w h ile
S c a le Two and T h ree a tte m p te d to m e asu re b o th th e i n t e
g r a t i n g an d th e d i v i s i v e f a c t o r s i n th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n
s h i p .
B a s ic c r i t e r i a f o r th e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f I n te r p e r s o n a l
S c a le One w ere s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s from su c h
69
w ell-k n o w n fa m ily s t u d i e s a s W in c h ,^ B u rg e ss an d W a llin ,
o f* 27
L o c k e , a n d th e M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h ila d e lp h ia * The
s c a l e c o n ta in e d ite m s d e f i n i t e l y c o r r e l a t e d w ith c o h e s iv e
n e s s an d a d ju s tm e n t i n m a rria g e * A d d itio n a l ite m s t e s t e d
i n th e p i l o t s tu d y an d th e r e s e a r c h p r o j e o t w ere g le a n e d
from p e r s o n a l in te r v i e w s w ith c l i n i c i a n s and s c h o l a r s i n
th e f a m ily f i e l d . S c a le One a tte m p ts to m easu re th e b a c k
g ro u n d and s i t u a t i o n a l f a c t o r s b e lie v e d to c o r r e l a t e w ith
s u c c e s s f u l m a r r ia g e .
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two a t te m p ts to m easu re th e
I n d i v i d u a l m a te 's p e r c e p tio n o f th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l h o s t i l i t y
in t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p . D eg rees o f a l i e n a t i o n o f th e
m a rrie d p a i r w ere d e te rm in e d by d i s c r e p a n c i e s i n th e m a te 's
p e r c e p tio n o f h i s sp o u se and o f h i s own l a t e n t o r e x p r e s s e d
h o s t i l i t y to th e sp o u se o r to th e m a rria g e * B a sic ite m s
i n S c a le Two w ere s u g g e s te d by t h e r a p i s t s and c l i n i c i a n s
in te r v ie w e d i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r th e r e s e a r c h s tu d y .
2l+R o b e rt P . W inch, M a te - S e le c tio n (New Y ork:
H a rp e r an d B r o th e r s , P u b l i s h e r s , l9 5 S ) .
2 ^ E rn e s t W * B u rg e s s an d P a u l W a llin , E ngagem ent
and M a rria g e (C h ic a g o : J . B. L ip p i n c o tt Company, 1 9 5 3 ) •
2^H arvey J . L o ck e , P r e d i c t i n g A d ju stm e n t i n
M a rria g e (New Y ork: H enry rfo lt an d Company, 1 9 5 1 ).
2 ?Howard E . M i t c h e l l , M alcolm G. P r e s to n and
E m ily H* Mudd, " A n tic ip a te d D evelopm ent o f Case from Con
t e n t o f P i r s t I n te r v ie w R e c o rd ." M a rria g e and P am ilv L iving.
IV ( 1 9 5 3 ) , 2 2 6 . ----------- --------------------------------
70
H ow ever, i t s h o u ld be n o te d t h a t ( a ) th e ite m s on t h i s
s c a l e fo llo w e d th e b a s ic i n t e r p e r s o n a l r o l e p e r c e p tio n
p a t t e r n o f th e IC L, an d (b ) th e r e s e a r c h s c a le d e s ig n was
s i m i l a r t o th e ICL i n ite m c o n s t r u c t i o n . The im p o rta n c e
o f th e e x p o s u re o f th e i n d i v i d u a l 's an d th e m a rrie d p a i r 's
2d
h o s t i l i t y h a s b een em p h asiz ed by R o g e rs an d by th e
M a rria g e C o u n c il o f P h i l a d e l p h i a . 2^ S c a le Two p ro p o s e s to
m easu re t h i s h o s t i l i t y and c o r r e l a t e i t w ith th e l e n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
Ite m s o f S c a le T h ree a tte m p t to m easu re th e in d iv id
u a l a n d th e m a rrie d p a i r ' s p e r c e p tio n s o f th e p r e s e n t m ar
r i a g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . D eg ree s o f a l i e n a t i o n and f a c t o r s o f
i n t e g r a t i n g m o tiv a tio n f o r th e c o u p le w ere m easu red by
d is c r e p a n c y o f i n d i v i d u a l m a te 's p e r c e p tio n o f t h e i r c u r
r e n t i n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p .
S ta g e s o f R e fin em e n t
The t h r e e i n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s w ere c o n s tr u c t e d ,
r e f i n e d , and r e c e iv e d p r e lim in a r y v a l i d a t i o n i n th e s e
d e v e lo p m e n ta l s t a g e s :
1 . F o llo w in g th e a p p ro v a l o f th e r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t
by th e d i s s e r t a t i o n c o m m itte e , p e r s o n a l in te r v i e w s w ere
c o n d u c te d w ith s i x m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r s , c l i n i c a l
28
C a rl R. R o g e rs , C l ie n t C e n te re d T h erap y (B o s to n :
H oughton M i f f li n C o ., 1 9 5 l ) , C h a p te r 2 .
^ M i t c h e l l , P r e s to n and Mudd, l o c . c i t .
71
p s y c h o lo g is ts an d p s y c h i a t r i s t s i n th e g r e a t e r m e tr o p o li
ta n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a . The t h r e e i n t e r p e r
s o n a l s c a l e s w ere c o n s tr u c te d to oonform w ith th e g e n e r a l
c o n s e n s u s a t t a i n e d i n th e i n t e r v i e w s .
2 . The p r e lim in a r y r e s e a r c h in s tru m e n t r e c e iv e d
f u r t h e r r e f in e m e n t fro m th e o r i g i n a l in te r v i e w e e s , th e
d i s s e r t a t i o n co m m ittee and a c l i n i c a l s e s s io n w ith t h e r a
p i s t s i n an e s t a b l i s h e d m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c e n t e r .
3 . The t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s r e c e iv e d f i n a l
r e f in e m e n t in th e p i l o t s tu d y i n November an d D ecem ber,
1 9 6 1 . The K olm ogorov-S m irnov t e s t w as a p p lie d to e a c h
s c a le ite m . S in c e e a c h q u e s tio n c o n ta in e d f i v e re s p o n s e
c a t e g o r i e s and b e c a u s e t h e r e w ere o n ly s i x t e e n c o u p le s i n
th e p r e t e s t g ro u p — no a tte m p t was made to t e s t th e s i g n i f i
ca n ce o f in d i v i d u a l c a te g o r y r e s p o n s e s . F o r th e p u rp o se
o f n a rro w in g and p e r f e c t i n g th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h in s tr u m e n t
th e K olm ogorov-S m im ov w as a p p lie d to d e l i n e a t e th e p r e t e s t
q u e s tio n s w h ich seem ed to h av e no p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y . S ix
p r e t e s t s c a l e ite m s w ith s i g n i f i c a n c e l e v e l s o f .9 0 w ere
e lim in a te d from S c a le O ne. In s i m i l a r f a s h io n b o th S c a le
Two and S c a le T h ree w ere n arro w e d to tw e n ty q u e s ti o n s .
I t w ould h av e b ee n p o s s i b le to in c r e a s e th e l e v e l
o f s i g n i f i c a n c e i n th e p r e t e s t by d ic h o to m iz in g e a c h s c a le
ite m w ith e i t h e r a m ed ian s p l i t o r a n a r b i t r a r y c a te g o r y
s p l i t . H ow ever, b e c a u s e th e p r e t e s t was p r e lim in a r y i n
72
n a t u r e , i t w as d e c id e d t h a t s c a l e ite m s i n d i c a t i n g p r e d i c
t i v e a b i l i t y s h o u ld be r e t a i n e d f o r f i n e r v a l i d a t i o n i n
th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h I n s tr u m e n t.
S uw A ry f»f In s tru m e n t D evelopm ent
I n i t i a l l y , t h i s p r o j e c t p ro p o se d to t e s t s c a l e s
p r e v io u s ly v a l i d a t e d an d to r e t e s t them f o r p r e d i c t i o n i n
th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . I t becam e e v i d e n t t h a t
th e Es S c a le c o u ld be u s e d to m easu re a p p r o p r ia te p e r s o n a l
i t y f a c t o r s , b u t t h a t new s c a l e s s h o u ld be c o n s tr u c te d f o r
m e a s u rin g i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s . The p i l o t s tu d y a n a ly z e d
d a t a o f th e E s S c a le (MMPI), th e K - f a c to r S c a le (MMPI),
and th e t h r e e i n t e r a c t i o n a l s c a l e s . T h ere w as a s l i g h t
d i f f e r e n c e i n th e E s S c a le mean s c o r e s o f th e two sam ple
g r o u p s , and th e s c a le * s c o n tin u e d v a l i d a t i o n was p ro p o se d
to m easu re p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s i n th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h p r o
j e c t . The mean s c o r e s o f th e K - f a c to r S c a le a p p e a re d to
be i n th e o p p o s ite d i r e c t i o n from th e h y p o th e s is — a n in n o
v a t i o n w h ich s u g g e s te d a f u r t h e r r e t e s t i n th e f i n a l s tu d y .
The K olm ogorov-S m irnov t e s t s e p a r a te d th e i n t e r a c t i o n a l
s c a le ite m s w ith p r e d i c t i o n c a p a b i l i t i e s . I n t e r p e r s o n a l
S c a le One w as r e f i n e d to f i f t e e n i t e m s , and b o th S c a le Two
and S c a le T h ree w ere re d u c e d to tw e n ty -ite m s c a l e s .
CHAPTER IV
SELECTION, SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND
LIMITATIONS ON THE SAMPLE
S e le c ti o n o f th e S u b je c ts
The p ro b lem o f t h i s r e s e a r c h s tu d y was to I s o l a t e
and t o i d e n t i f y p e r s o n a l i t y and i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . I t was
b e lie v e d t h a t th e s e p e r s o n a l i t y an d i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
c o u ld be fo rm u la te d i n t o an I n s tr u m e n t w hich w ould r e l i a b l y
p r e d i c t th e l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . To d i f f e r e n
t i a t e th e p e r s o n a l i t y and I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d
w ith th e l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , t e s t s and t e s t
s c a l e s w ere a p p lie d to m a rrie d c o u p le s i n two d ic h o to m is e d
g r o u p s . The g ro u p u n d e r s tu d y was com posed o f m a rrie d
c o u p le s who te rm in a te d e a r l y i n th e c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m .
The t e s t s c a l e s c o r e s o f th e g ro u p u n d e r s tu d y w ere com
p a re d w ith th e t e s t s c a le s c o r e s o f a c o n t r o l g ro u p o f
m a rrie d c o u p le s who re m a in e d i n c o u n s e lin g s e s s io n s s u f f i
c i e n t tim e f o r th e c o m p le tio n o f s u c c e s s f u l m a rria g e coun
s e l i n g . I t was h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s
i n th e t e s t s c a le s c o r e s o f th e two g ro u p s w ould p ro v id e
th e i n i t i a l s t e p i n th e r e f in e m e n t and v a l i d a t i o n o f a
73
7b
t e s t in s tr u m e n t f o r p r e d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e l
i n g .
S u b je o ts f o r t h e sam ple w ere s e l e c t e d from c o u p le s
s e e k in g m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g d u r in g a six -m o n th p e r io d from
J a n u a ry t o J u l y , 1962* The m a rrie d c o u p le s w ere c h o s e n
from c l i e n t s i n two m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i n i c s l o c a t e d i n
th e g r e a t e r m e tr o p o lita n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a .
The n a t u r e o f th e s tu d y r e q u ir e d t h a t ( a ) b o th th e m ale
and th e fe m a le o f th e m a rrie d p a i r b e g in th e c o u n s e lin g
p ro g ra m , and (b ) t h a t e a c h c l i e n t c o m p le te a M in n e so ta
M u ltlp h a s ic P e r s o n a l i t y In v e n to ry and th e th r e e i n t e r p e r
s o n a l t e s t s c a l e s o f th e s tu d y e a r l y i n th e c o u n s e lin g
p ro g ra m .
D iv is io n o f sam p le c o u p le s i n t o th e two c a t e g o r i e s
o f "L o n g -te rm ” and " S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p s fo llo w e d th e c r i
t e r i a e x p la in e d i n th e d e f i n i t i o n o f te rm s and i n th e ch a p
t e r d e s c r i b i n g th e r e s e a r c h m e th o d o lo g y . As a r e s u l t o f
th e p i l o t s tu d y i t w as d e c id e d t h a t a w id e r d i s p a r i t y i n
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g was n e c e s s a r y to p ro v id e
s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s b etw een th e s tu d y g ro u p and th e
c o n t r o l g ro u p . T h u s, i n th e f i n a l p r o j e c t c r i t e r i a w ere
ch an g ed so t h a t th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s w ere th o s e c o u p le s
h a v in g h ad more th a n e i g h t (8 ) j o i n t s e s s i o n s o r f i v e (5 )
I n d i v id u a l s e s s io n s (e a c h m a te) w ith th e m a rria g e c o u n s e
l o r . The " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s w ere th o s e o o u p le s who
75
te r m in a te d c o u n s e lin g b e f o r e h a v in g h ad a t l e a s t f o u r OO
j o i n t s e s s i o n s o r t h r e e ( 3 ) i n d i v i d u a l s e s s io n s w ith th e
m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r .
S o c ia l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e Sample
I t was n o t th e p u rp o se o f t h i s c h a p te r e i t h e r to
(1 ) c o r r e l a t e s p e c i f i c p e r s o n a l i t y and I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c
t o r s w ith th e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e sam ple g r o u p s ,
o r (2 ) a tte m p t p r e d i c t i o n o f l e n g t h i n m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
o n th e b a s i s o f s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . The d a t a i n t h i s
s e c t i o n i s p r e s e n te d a s a c o n t r i b u t i o n to th e f i e l d s o f
g e n e r a l s o c io lo g y an d s o c io lo g y o f th e f a m ily . S p e c u la tiv e
a n a l y s i s o f c e r t a i n d i s p a r i t i e s i n th e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s
t i c s o f th e two g ro u p s a r e n o te d , b u t th e a n a l y s i s i s by
no m eans e x h a u s tiv e s in c e th e m a t e r i a l s a r e n o t e s s e n t i a l
to th e f o c a l in q u ir y o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y . H ow ever, th e
s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e sam ple a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r
( a ) th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f o u r s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a , (b ) an y
f u t u r e r e p l i c a t i o n o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y , and ( c ) f u t u r e
s t u d i e s b a s e d on p r e lim in a r y f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s tu d y .
E t h n i c i t y
A ll o f th e sam p le s u b j e c t s i n t h i s s tu d y w ere from
th e C a u c a so id e th n ic g ro u p . T h is l i m i t a t i o n was n o t p a r t
o f th e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n s in c e th e t e s t in s tru m e n t p ro v id e d
c a t e g o r i e s f o r a l l b a s i c e t h n ic g r o u p in g s . No known
76
r e s t r i c t i o n s l i m i t e d o t h e r e t h n i c g ro u p s from th e two m ar
r i a g e c o u n s e lin g o l i n l c s . N e ith e r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
c l i n i c w as lo c a te d i n a com m unity known to p r a c t i c e r e s i
d e n t i a l s e g r e g a tio n o f m in o r ity e t h n i c g r o u p s .
E th n ic d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th e s tu d y sam ple i s n o t
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e e t h n i c d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th e g r e a t e r
Los A n g e le s m e tr o p o lita n a r e a . The 1956 C ensus f i g u r e s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e e t h n i c d i s t r i b u t i o n w as: C a u c a s o id ,
8 6 .2 p e r c e n t; N e g ro id , 1 1 .3 p e r c e n t ; and o t h e r r a c e s ,
2 .5 p e r c e n t . 1 S in c e i t i s known t h a t m a rrie d c o u p le s o f
v a r io u s e t h n ic g ro u p s s e e k m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , i t m ust be
assum ed t h a t th e p r e s e n t sam ple i s n o t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
th e p o p u la tio n . The a l l - C a u c a s i a n sam p le may be a n a d v a n
ta g e i n f u t u r e r e p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s s tu d y o r i n r e l a t e d
l o n g i t u d i n a l p r o j e c t s .
Age D i s t r i b u t i o n
The f i n d i n g s r e g a r d in g th e a g e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th e
sa m p le a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 1 . The mean ag e o f th e com
b in e d sam p le a t th e tim e o f t e s t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n was 35*^
y e a r s o f a g e . The mean a g e s o f th e "L o n g -te rm 1 * and th e
" S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p s i n th e sam ple w ere r e s p e c t i v e l y 3 2 .8
1 D ep artm en t o f Commerce, B u reau o f th e C e n su s,
C u rre n t P o p u la tio n R e p o r ts . S p e c ia l C e n s u s e s . S e r ie s P -2 8 ,
Ho. 927 C W ashington: U n ite d S t a t e s G overnm ent P r i n t i n g
O f f i c e , P e b ru a ry 2 5 , 1 9 5 6 ).
TABLE 1
AGE DISTRIBUTION OP STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Group
A g e b 7 Y e a r s
20- 2* f
2 5-29 30-3** 3 5-39
* f0 and o v e r
L ong-term P e a a le s 20 20 25 15
20
S h o rt-te rm Pem ales 0 15 35 20 30
L ong-term M ales 15 5 25
50 5
S h o rt-te rm M ales 0 15 30 5
50
Combined L ong-term
Combined S h o r t - t e n
1 7 .5
0
1 2 .5
15
25
3 2 .5
3 2 .5
1 2 .5
1 2 .5
IfO
N J
>3
78
and 38*2— i n d i c a t i n g a d i s p a r i t y b e t we a n th e two g ro u p s o f
5.h y e a r s . A verage a g e o f th e "L o n g -term " fe m a le s w as
32 y e a r s com pared w ith 36 A y e a r s f o r th e " S h o rt-te rm "
f e m a le s . The a v e ra g e a g e o f y e a r s f o r th e " S h o r t-te rm "
m a le s w as 6.*t y e a r s ab o v e th e a v e ra g e o f 33*6 o f th e "Long
term " m a le s .
The l a r g e num ber o f " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s l i s t e d a s
o v e r f o r t y y e a r s o f a g e may s u g g e s t i n t e r e s t i n g s p e c u la
t i o n s a s to th e c o r r e l a t i o n o f c l i e n t ag e w ith l e n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . F u tu re s t u d i e s may f in d t h a t i n t e r
p e r s o n a l a l i e n a t i o n o f th e m a rrie d p a i r i s g r e a t e r an d th e
m o tiv a tio n to w ork o u t d i f f e r e n c e s l e s s l i k e l y a t l a t e r
s ta g e s o f th e m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p .
F am ily Income
B a ta r e g a r d in g th e l e v e l o f f a m ily incom e o f th e
g ro u p u n d e r stu d y a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 2 . The a v e ra g e
y e a r l y incom e o f th e oom bined sam ple was $ 9 * 8 9 7 .5 0 . The
y e a r l y incom e o f $ 9 > 3 7 0 .0 0 f o r th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s o f
th e sam p le was $ 1 ,0 5 5 .0 0 l e s s th a n th e $ 1 0 ,^ 2 5 .0 0 y e a r l y
incom e o f th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s . The f a c t t h a t 50 p e r
c e n t o f th e c o u p le s h ad a n n u a l in co m es above $ 9 * 0 0 0 .0 0 and
9 5 p e r c e n t o f th e c o u p le s had a n n u a l Incom es above
$ 5 * 0 0 0 .0 0 w ould a p p e a r to s u p p o rt p r e v io u s s p e c u la tio n s
t h a t m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g h a s b een l i m i t e d , in g e n e r a l , to
m id d le an d u p p e r s o c io -e c o n o m ic f a m i l i e s .
TABLE 2
FAMILY INCOME LEVEL OF STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
F a m i l y A n n u a l I n c o m e
Group
$ 3 ,0 0 0 -
*f,999
$ 5 ,0 0 0 -
6 ,9 9 9
$ 7 ,0 0 0 -
8 ,9 9 9
$ 9 ,0 0 0 -
1 0 ,9 9 9
$1 1 ,000
and o r e r
L ong-term C ouples 5 25 5
IfrO 25
S h o rt-te rm C ouples 5 35 25 5 30
Combined Sample 5 30 15 2 2 .5 2 7 .5
Vj
s O
E d u c a tio n
The f i n d i n g s r e g a r d in g th e l e v e l o f e d u c a tio n f o r
th e sam p le a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 3» I t sh o u ld be n o te d
t h a t 6 2 .5 p e r c e n t o f th e "L o n g -term " g ro u p an d 50 p e r c e n t
o f th e " S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p had a t l e a s t some c o l le g e e d u c a
tio n * O nly 7*5 p e r c e n t o f th e "L o n g -term " g ro u p an d 22*5
p e r o e n t o f th e " S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p w ere n o t h ig h s o h o o l
g ra d u a te s * The f a c t t h a t t h e r e was a f i f t e e n p e r o e n t d i s
p a r i t y i n th e num ber o f "L o n g -term " c o u p le s and " S h o r t
te rm " o o u p le s h a v in g l e s s th a n h ig h s c h o o l e d u c a tio n may
i n d i c a t e a p o s s i b le c o r r e l a t i o n o f e d u c a tio n l e v e l w ith
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n f u t u r e l o n g i t u d i n a l
s t u d i e s .
In d e x o f S o c ia l P o s i t i o n
I n s te a d o f a tte m p tin g to s t r a t i f y th e sam ple on a n
o c c u p a tio n a l c o n tin u u m , th e s tu d y made u s e o f th e "Two-
F a c to r In d ex o f S o c ia l P o s itio n " d e v e lo p e d tjy D r. A u g u st B.
2
H o ilin g s h e a d o f Y ale U n i v e r s i t y . The in d e x u t i l i z e d th e
f a c t o r s o f o c c u p a tio n and e d u c a ti o n , w hich w ere s c a le d and
w e ig h te d i n d i v i d u a l l y to o b ta in a s i n g l e s c o re f o r e a c h
i n d i v i d u a l o r fa m ily u n i t *
The e d u c a ti o n a l s c a le was b a s e d upon th e y e a r s o f
^A ugust B* H o llln g s h e a d and F r e d e r ic k C. R e d lic h ,
S o c ia l C la s s an d M e n tal I l l n e s s (New York} Jo h n W iley and
S o n s, 1$58)*
TABLE 3
LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Group
]3 d u c a t i o n
Less th a n
8th G rade
C om pleted
8th G rade
High S ch o o l
G ra d u ate
1 - 3 T e a rs
C o lle g e
C o lle g e
G ra d u ate
P o s t
G ra d u ate
L ong-term Fem ales 0 10 ^5
ho
5
0
S h o rt-te rm Fem ales 5 25 35 35 0 0
L ong-term M ales 0 5 15 30 *f0 10
S h o rt-te rm M ales 5 10 20 k O 10 15
Combined L ong-term 0
7 .5 30 35 2 2 .5 5
Combined S h o rt-tex m 5 1 7 .5 2 7 .5 3 7 .5 5 7 .5
oo
s c h o o l c o m p le te d b y t h e h e a d o f t h e h o u s e h o ld * H o llin g s h e a d
s u g g e s t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g s c a l e v a l u e s * P r o f e s s i o n a l d e g r e e ,
1 ; f o u r - y e a r c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e , 2 ; o n e t o f o u r y e a r s c o l l e g e ,
3 ; h i g h s c h o o l g r a d u a t e , if; t e n t o e l e v e n y e a r s o f s c h o o l ,
5; s e v e n t o n i n e y e a r s o f s c h o o l , 6 ; a n d u n d e r s e v e n y e a r s
o f s c h o o l , 7 . The s c a l e s c o r e w as m u l t i p l i e d by a n e d u c a
t i o n a l w e i g h t i n g o f if t o f i n d t h e t o t a l e d u c a t i o n s c o r e *
The o c c u p a t i o n a l s o a l e o f t h e t w o - f a c t o r I n d e x
d e p e n d s on a p r e c i s e k n o w le d g e o f t h e y e a d o f t h e h o u s e
h o l d 's o c c u p a tio n * A l i s t o f o c c u p a t i o n s w as s c a l e d f o r
t h e t w o - f a c t o r in d e x i n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s o f p o s i
t i o n s ! 1 , H ig h e r E x e c u t i v e s , P r o p r i e t o r s o f L a rg e C o n c e rn s,
a n d M a jo r P r o f e s s i o n a l s ; 2 , B u s in e s s M a n a g e rs , P r o p r i e t o r s
o f M edium S iz e d B u s i n e s s e s , an d L e s s e r P r o f e s s i o n a l s ;
3 , A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P e r s o n n e l , S m a ll I n d e p e n d e n t B u s i n e s s e s ,
a n d M in o r P r o f e s s i o n s ; if, C l e r i c a l a n d S a l e s W o r k e r s , T e c h
n i c i a n s , a n d O w ners o f L i t t l e B u s i n e s s e s ; 5, S k i l l e d M anual
E m p lo y e e s ; 6 , M ach in e O p e r a t o r s a n d S e m i - S k i l l e d E m p lo y e e s ;
a n d 7 , U n s k i l l e d E m p lo y e e s . The s c a l e s c o r e fro m t h i s
o c c u p a t i o n a l l i s t w as m u l t i p l i e d b y a n o c c u p a t i o n a l w e i g h t
i n g o f 7 t o f i n d t h e t o t a l o c c u p a t i o n s c o r e *
The In d e x o f S o c i a l P o s i t i o n s c o r e w as c a l c u l a t e d
by a d d in g t h e t o t a l o c c u p a t i o n s c o r e w i t h t h e t o t a l e d u c a
t i o n s c o r e . H o llin g 8 h e a d s u g g e s te d t h a t w i t h t h e I . S . P .
s c o r e t h e i n d i v i d u a l may b e s t r a t i f i e d e i t h e r o n t h e
83
continuum of scores or into a "class'* (soolal position).
The range of scores in each class on the two-factor Index
ares
C la s s I . 3 . P . S c o re s
I 1 1 - 1 7
I I 18 - 31
I I I 32 - h7
IV V8 - 63
V 6*+ - 77
T a b le show s th e In d ex o f S o c ia l P o s i t i o n o f th e
sam p le u n d e r s tu d y . The a v e ra g e I . S . P . s c o r e f o r th e com
b in e d sam p le was 3 3 .9 . Tk® a v e ra g e "L o n g -term " I . S . P .
s c o re o f 3^*8 w as k.5 p o i n t s h ig h e r th a n th e a v e ra g e I . S . P .
s c o r e o f 3 6 .1 f o r th e " S h o r t- te r m " c o u p l e s . I t may be
n o te d t h a t 8 5 p e r c e n t o f th e com bined sam ple u n d e r s tu d y
w as i n t h e u p p e r t h r e e c l a s s e s o f th e In d e x o f S o c ia l P o s i
t i o n , w ith o n ly 1 5 p e r c e n t i n th e tw o lo w e r c l a s s e s .
T h ese f i n d i n g s seem t o ad d f u r t h e r s u p p o r t to p r e v io u s
s p e c u l a t i o n (n o te d i n th e e x p l a n a t io n o f T a b le 2 ) t h a t m ar
r i a g e c o u n s e lin g h a s b e e n l i m i t e d t o m id d le an d u p p e r s o c io
econom ic f a m ily u n i t s .
R e lig i o u s A f f i l i a t i o n
L a ta r e g a r d in g t h e r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n o f th e
g ro u p u n d e r s tu d y a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 5 . T h e re w ere no
i n t e r - f a i t h m a r r ia g e s i n th e r e s e a r c h s a m p le . I n o n ly one
c a s e w as t h e r e a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e r e l i g i o u s f a i t h o f th e
m a r r ie d p a i r , one m ate b e in g a C a th o lic an d th e o t h e r
T A B L E h
INDEX OP SOCIAL POSITIONS OP STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
1 n d e x o f S o c i a l P 0 S 1 t 1 0 n
Group
C l a s s
I II III IV V
L ong-term C ouples 30 15 b5
10
S h o r t - t e n C ouples 15 15 50 15 5
Combined Sam ples 2 2 .5 15 7.5 12.5 2.5
I
TABLE 5
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION OF STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
Group
R e 1 i g i o n
P r o te s ta n t C a th o lic Je w ish None
L ong-term Fem ales 35 1*5 15 5
S h o rt-te rm Fem ales 30 65 5
0
L o n g -term M ales 35
50 15 0
S h o rt-te rm M ales 30 65 5
0
Combined L ong-term 35 1*7.5 15 2 .5
Combined S h o rt-te rm 30 65 5
0
a>
86
i n d i c a t i n g no r e l i g i o u s f a i t h . I t w as n o t s p e c i f i e d i n
th e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n o f th e s tu d y t h a t th e c o u p le s be o f th e
same r e l i g i o u s f a i t h , an d th e t e s t in s tr u m e n t d id n o t l i m i t
th e c a t e g o r i e s to t h e f o u r l i s t e d i n T a b le 5.
D i s t r i b u t i o n o f r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n f o r th e s tu d y
sam ple i s n o t a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r th e
Los A n g e le s m e tr o p o l ita n a r e a . The l a r g e r p e r c e n ta g e o f
C a th o lic s i n th e sam p le r e s u l t e d fro m th e f a c t t h a t one o f
th e m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i n i c s p r o v id in g d a t a f o r th e
s tu d y o p e r a te d u n d e r a u s p ic e s o f th e C a th o lic C h u rch . The
l a r g e r C a th o lic sam p le d o es n o t l i m i t th e r e s e a r c h d a t a
s in c e t h i s s tu d y d o e s n o t p ro p o se to c o r r e l a t e r e l i g i o u s
a f f i l i a t i o n w ith p r e d i c t i o n o f l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e l
i n g . D a ta o f sam ple s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s have b e e n p r e
s e n te d f o r g e n e r a l ac ad e m ic I n t e r e s t a n d a s b ack g ro u n d
m a t e r i a l f o r f u t u r e r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s .
The r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n o f th e com bined sam p le
w as: P r o t e s t a n t s , 3 2 .5 p e r o e n t; C a t h o l i c s , 5 6 .2 p e r c e n t;
J e w s , 1 5 p e r c e n t; N one, 1 .2 p e r c e n t .
P re v io u s M a rriag e S t a t u s
T a b le 6 p r e s e n t s th e m a rria g e s t a t u s o f th e sam ple
s u b j e c t s p r e v io u s to t h e i r p r e s e n t m a r r ia g e s . The d a t a
show t h a t 35 p e r c e n t o f th e " S h o rt-te rm " g ro u p h ad b een
m a rrie d p r e v i o u s l y , w h ile o n ly 15 p e r c e n t o f th e "Long
te rm " g ro u p h ad p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e s . The p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h
87
TABLE 6
PREVIOUS MARRIAGE STATUS OP STUDY SAMPLE,
BY PER CENT
G roup
P re v io u s M a rria g e S ta tu s
No P re v io u s
M a rria g e
P re v io u s
M a rria g e (8 )
L o n g -term F em ales 90 10
S h o r t- te r m F em ales 70 30
L o n g -term M ales 80 20
S h o r t- te r m M ales 60 IfO
Combined L o n g -term 85 15
Combined S h o rt- te rm 65 35
88
d e s ig n d o e s n o t a tte m p t to c o r r e l a t e sam ple s o c i a l c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c s w ith p r e d i c t i o n o f l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g ,
b u t t h e s e f in d in g s s u g g e s t th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f su c h a c o r r e
l a t i o n , I t sh o u ld be n o te d a l s o t h a t p r e v io u s m a rria g e
s t a t u s o f th e i n d i v i d u a l i s p ro p o se d a s a t e s t ite m f o r
p r e d i c t i o n o f le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g in S c a le One o f
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
L e n g th o f Engagem ent
The f i n d i n g s r e g a r d in g th e l e n g t h o f en g ag em en t o f
th e sam p le c o u p le s a r e p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 7 . L en g th o f
en g ag em en t h a s b ee n c o r r e l a t e d w ith p r e d i c t i o n o f s u c c e s s -
3
f u l m a r r ia g e s i n many r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s , and i s p ro p o se d
i n th e p r e s e n t s tu d y a s a t e s t ite m ( S c a le One) f o r p r e
d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . No s t a t i s t i c a l
a n a l y s i s i s made o f th e d a t a i n T a b le 7 , b u t i t may be
n o te d t h a t 75 p e r c e n t o f th e " L o n g - te r a " c o u p le s w ere
engaged more th a n n in e m onths com pared w ith 30 p e r c e n t o f
th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p l e s . T hese f i n d i n g s s u g g e s t s u p p o r t
in g e v id e n c e f o r u s in g l e n g th o f en g ag em en t a s a t e s t ite m
i n p r e d i c t i n g th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
3
Jam es A, P e t e r s o n , E d u c a tio n f o r M a rria g e
(New Y orki C h a rle s S c r i b n e r 's S o n s, 1 ^ 5 6 ), p p . 1 9 2 -9 3 •
E r n e s t W. B u rg e bs an d P a u l W a llin , E ngagem ent and
M a rria g e (C h ic a g o : J . B . L ip p in e o tt Company, 1 9 5 3 )i
p p . 5 2 2 -2 3 .
TABLE 7
LENGTH OP ENGAGEMENT OP STUDY SAMPLE COUPLES,
BY PER CENT
Group
L e n g t h o f E n g a g e m e n t ( i n m o rl t h s )
2 o r L ess
3 - 5
6 - 8 9-12 More th a n 12
L ong-term C ouples 10 5 10 30 b5
S h o rt-te rm C ouples 30 25 15 10 20
Combined Sample 20 15 1 2 .5
20 3 2 .5
CD
V O
L e n g th o f M a rria g e
T a b le 8 p r e s e n t s th e d a t a r e g a r d in g th e l e n g t h o f
#
th e p r e s e n t m a rr ia g e s o f th e sam ple o o u p le s . From th e
d a t a i n T ab le 8 o v e r 70 p e r c e n t o f th e com bined sam p le had
b e e n m a rr ie d to h i s p r e s e n t m ate m ore th a n s i x y e a r s , and
o v e r 50 p e r c e n t o f th e com bined sam p le had b een m a rrie d
more th a n n in e y e a r s . O nly 1 2 .5 p e r c e n t o f th e sam p le
c o u p le s h ad b een m a rrie d l e s s th a n t h r e e y e a r s .
L im i ta ti o n s o f th e R e s e a rc h Sam ple
The r e s e a r c h sam ple i s l i m i t e d by i t s p o s s i b l e la c k
o f ran d o m n ess an d i t s i n a b i l i t y to be r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e
g e n e r a l p o p u la tio n . The f a c t t h a t th e sam ple c o u p le s w ere
s e l e c t e d from o n ly two m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i n i c s i n a
l a r g e m e tr o p o lita n a r e a may s e r i o u s l y d e c re a s e th e r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r o f th e sa m p le . The t a b l e s p r e s e n t i n g
sam ple s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t many o f
th e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere n o t d i s t r i b u t e d i n th e same
p r o p o r tio n a s th e g e n e r a l p o p u la tio n . T h e r e f o r e , i t c a n
n o t be assum ed t h a t th e sam ple i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f th e
p o p u la tio n fro m w h ich i t was d raw n . I t i s o n ly s p e c u l a t i o n
t h a t th e sam ple i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f c o u p le s s e e k in g m ar
r i a g e c o u n s e lin g i n th e m e tr o p o lita n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s ,
C a l i f o r n i a .
"L e n g th o f p r e s e n t m a rria g e w as p ro p o se d a s a t e s t
ite m f o r th e p r e d i c t i o n o f l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
i n S c a le One o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .
TABLE 8
LENGTH OP MARRIAGE OP STUDY SAMPLE COUPLES,
BY PER CENT
L e n g t h o f M a r r i a g e ( i n y e a r s )
Group
L e ss th a n 3
3 - 5 5 - 9
O
1
H
'JX
More th a n 15
L ong-term C ouples 20 10 15 »f5
10
S h o rt-te rm C ouples 5
20 25
20 30
Combined Sample 1 2 .5 15
20
3 2 .5
20
92
The l i m i t a t i o n o f th e s m a ll num ber o f m a rrie d
c o u p le s I n th e sam ple w as d is c u s s e d p r e v io u s ly i n C h a p te r
I . I t i e assum ed t h a t f i n a l v a l i d a t i o n o f th e r e s e a r o h
t e s t in s tr u m e n t r e q u i r e s a l a r g e r and m ore r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
sam ple i n l o n g i t u d i n a l s t u d i e s .
The sam ple i s a l s o l i m i t e d by th e p e r s o n a l h a lo
e f f e c t w hioh K o tla r te rm e d " v i s i b i l i t y " i n a p r e v io u s
L .
s tu d y . The l i m i t a t i o n ste m s from th e a b i l i t y o f th e
r e s p o n d e n t to know how h i s t e s t a n s w e rs w i l l be in te r p r e te d )
and fro m h i s a tte m p t to p r e s e n t a p l e a s a n t im p r e s s io n t o
th e t h e r a p i s t . K o tla r n o te d t h a t some sp o u s e s i n h e r
s tu d y r e c e iv e d a p e r f e c t s c o r e , w h ich i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e r e
was a c o m p le te a g re e m e n t w ith t h e i r m ate i n a l l a r e a s o f
m a r i t a l i n t e r a c t i o n . Such a " v i s i b i l i t y " e f f e c t o p e r a t in g
i n th e p r e s e n t sam ple c o u p le s s e r i o u s l y l i m i t s th e s t a t i s
t i c a l v a l i d a t i o n o f a n I n s tru m e n t t o p r e d i c t le n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
Summary
The r e s e a r c h sam p le o f th e s tu d y was com posed o f
two g ro u p s o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i e n t s d ic h o to m iz e d in to
"L o n g -te rm " and " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s f o r th e p u rp o se o f
if
S a l l y L . K o t l a r , " M id d le -C la s s R o le s — I d e a l and
P e r c e iv e d — i n R e la t io n t o A d ju stm e n t i n M a rr ia g e ," (u n p u b
l i s h e d D o c to r 's d i s s e r t a t i o n . U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1 9 6 1 ), p p . 8 0 -8 1 .
v a l i d a t i n g a t e s t in s tr u m e n t to p r e d i c t th e le n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . Soma s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e
sam ple s u b j e c t s w ere p r e s e n te d i n s t a t i s t i c a l t a b l e s , and
p r e lim in a r y s p e c u l a t i v e a n a l y s i s w as n o te d o f th e d i s p a r i
t i e s i n th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e two sam ple g r o u p s . Some
l i m i t a t i o n s o f th e s tu d y sam ple w ere d e s c r ib e d to c o n c lu d e
th e c h a p t e r .
CHAPTER 7
RESEARCH METHODS AND THE STATISTICAL FINDINGS
Srnnmft-ry n-f th e R e s e a rc h M ethods
R e s e a rc h D esig n
The r e s e a r c h m eth o d o lo g y o f t h i s s tu d y w as d e s ig n e d
a s a n a tte m p t t o v a l i d a t e a n in s tr u m e n t f o r m e a s u rin g f a c
t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith l e n g t h o f m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g . The
Ego S tr e n g th (E s) S c a le an d th e K - f a c t o r S c a le o f th e
M in n e so ta M u ltip h a s ic P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n to r y w ere s e l e c t e d
a s in s tr u m e n ts to m e a su re th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s . T h re e
new i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s w ere c o n s tr u c te d i n a n e f f o r t to
f i n d a t e s t in s tr u m e n t f o r m e a su rin g i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
i n th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . The s t u d y 's r e s e a r c h d e s ig n
p ro p o se d to v a l i d a t e th e s e p e r s o n a l i t y an d I n t e r p e r s o n a l
s c a l e s f o r p r e d i c t i n g th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The sam ple waB s e l e c t e d fro m m a rr ie d c o u p le s who
came f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g to c l i n i c s lo c a te d i n th e
g r e a t e r m e tr o p o lita n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a .
D iv is io n o f th e sam ple c o u p le s i n t o th e s tu d y g ro u p ( S h o r t
te rm c o u p le s ) and th e c o n t r o l g ro u p (L o n g -te rm c o u p le s )
fo llo w e d c r i t e r i a s t a t e d i n th e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n ( c f • a n t e .
95
p . 1 2 )* I n d iv id u a l m em bers o f th e sam p le w ere a d m in is te r e d
a M in n e so ta M u ltip h a s lc P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n to ry and th e t h r e e
i n t e r p e r s o n a l t e s t s c a l e s e a r l y i n t h e i r c o u n s e lin g p ro
g ram . I t w as b e lie v e d t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s i n t e s t
s c a le s c o r e s o f th e " S h o r t- te r m ” an d th e "L o n g -te rm ” couples
w ould I d e n t i f y p e r s o n a l i t y and i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s a s s o
c i a t e d w ith th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g *
S c a le ite m s f o r th e t h r e e new i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s
w ere c o l l e c t e d from p r e v io u s r e s e a r c h d a t a i n s o c io lo g y
o f th e f a m ily , p s y c h o lo g y , and s o c i a l casew ork* S c a le con
s t r u c t i o n was a c c o m p lis h e d u n d e r th e d i r e c t i o n o f s e l e c t e d
p s y c h i a t r i s t s , p s y c h o lo g is ts and m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r s i n th e
L os A n g e le s a r e a . The o r i g i n a l t e s t s c a l e s w ere r e f i n e d i n
a p i l o t s tu d y c o n d u c te d i n November an d D ecem ber, 1 9 6 1 , so
t h a t i n th e f i n a l e tu d y S c a le One w as com posed o f f i f t e e n
ite m s an d b o th S c a le Two an d S c a le T h re e had tw e n ty ite m s*
S t a t i s t i c a l M ethodology
The p i l o t s tu d y and th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t u se d
s ta n d a r d e r r o r i n th e d i f f e r e n c e s b etw e en th e m eans and
c h i - s q u a r e s t a t i s t i c s * T hese s t a t i s t i c s w ere d i c t a t e d by
i n t e r e s t i n th e num ber o f th e c o u p l e 's re s p o n s e s f a l l i n g
i n v a r io u s c a t e g o r i e s on e a c h t e s t s c a l e . The p i l o t s tu d y
u t i l i z e d th e QUAP-lf P ro g ram o f th e W e ste rn D ata P r o c e s s in g
C o r p o r a tio n to com pute th e s t a t i s t i c s o f th e two sam ple
g ro u p s suid to a n a ly z e e a c h t e s t ite m f o r p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y .
96
The b a s i c p la n o f th e s t a t i s t i c a l p ro g ram was to m easu re
th e mean re s p o n s e i n e a c h t e s t ite m , a n d to a p p ly th e
K olm ogorov-S m irnov t e s t to com pute t h e d i f f e r e n c e o f th e
m eans i n th e two g ro u p s*
S t a t i s t i c s u s e d i n th e f i n a l r e s e a r c h s tu d y w ere
th e M edian T e s t an d th e c h i- s q u a r e t e s t o f th e d ic h o to m iz e d
s e t s o f s c o r e s . The M edian T e s t d e te rm in e d th e m ed ian
s c o re o f th e com bined g ro u p s o f c o u p le s f o r e a c h t e s t scale*
T h en , b o th s e t s o f s c o r e s w ere d ic h o to m iz e d a t th e com bined
m edian and th e d a t a w ere p la c e d i n a 2 x 2 c o n tin g e n c y
t a b l e to o b ta in th e c h i- s q u a r e *
S t a t i s t i c a l m e th o d o lo g y f o r t h i s ty p e o f r e s e a r c h
r e q u i r e d t h a t a l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e be a c c e p te d b e f o r e
th e s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a w ere com puted* The l e v e l o f s i g n i f i
c a n c e f o r t h i s s tu d y w as s e t a t th e *05 l e v e l . D e te rm in a
t i o n o f th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f c h i - s q u a r e w as o b ta in e d by
c o n s u l t i n g a t a b l e o f c h i - s q u a r e f o r g iv e n d e g re e s o f
fre e d o m . S in c e th e s tu d y u s e d a s im p le 2 x 2 c o n tin g e n c y
t a b l e , one d e g re e o f fre ed o m ( d f » 1 ) s e rv e d a s th e b a s i s
f o r d e te r m in in g s i g n i f i c a n c e o r n o n s i g n i f i c a n c e .
P r o c e s s in g th e S t a t i s t i c a l D ata
The r e s e a r c h d a t a w ere c o l l e c t e d from th e i n d i v i d
u a l MMPI's and I n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a le t e s t b la n k s , and w ere
punched on H o l l e r i t h c a rd s * The s t a t i s t i c a l d a ta w ere p ro
c e s s e d by th e F o r tr a n ( I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s in e s s M achines
97
C o r p o r a tio n ) 7090 D a ta P r o c e s s in g S y ste m , w h ich i s a h ig h
sp e e d d i g i t a l c o m p u ter o p e r a te d by th e W e ste rn D ata P ro
c e s s in g C o r p o r a tio n , U n iv e r s ity o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los Aogales.
S t a t i s t i c a l d a ta v h io h c o u ld n o t be p ro c e s s e d w ith th e
s ta n d a r d p ro g ram s s e t u p i n th e F o r t r a n la n g u a g e w ere c a l
c u l a te d by th e i n v e s t i g a t o r .
T e s t in g th e H y p o th e se s
H y p o th e s is One an d H y p o th e s is Two o f th e s tu d y
d e a l t w ith th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s w h ic h w ere b e l ie v e d to
b e a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e p r e d i c t i o n o f le n g t h o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g . The Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le and th e E - f a c t o r
S c a le o f th e MMPI w ere s e le c t e d a s th e t e s t s c a l e s t o
m easu re th e s e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s . The Es S c a le w as u s e d
b e c a u s e ( a ) i t te n d e d t o m easu re th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s
w h ich t h e t h e o r i s t s a s s o c i a t e d w ith ego s t r e n g t h o r p e r
s o n a l i t y s t a b i l i t y , (b ) i t had b een v a l i d a t e d f o r th e p r e
d i c t i o n o f c l i e n t s who Im proved i n p s y c h o th e ra p y , an d
( c ) i t s r e l i a b i l i t y h ad b een v a l i d a t e d f o r n o rm al p o p u la
t i o n s a s w e ll a s p s y c h o n e u r o tic p a t i e n t s . The E - f a c t o r
S c a le h ad a l s o shown some p r e lim in a r y a b i l i t y to s e p a r a te
s ta y an d n o n - s ta y p a t i e n t s i n p s y c h o th e ra p y i n p r e v io u s
r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s .
H y p o th e se s T h re e , F o u r and F iv e w ere c o n c e rn e d w ith
th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith p r e d i c t i n g th e
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . T h ree s c a l e s w ere fo rm u late d
98
i n t h i s r e s e a r c h s tu d y to m easu re th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l p e r c e p
t i o n s o f i n d i v i d u a l r o l e s o f th e m a rrie d p a i r . I n t e r p e r
s o n a l S c a le One a tte m p te d t o m easu re th e i n t e g r a t i v e
c o h e s iv e f a c t o r s d is c o v e r e d by p r e v io u s s t u d i e s to b e
a s s o c i a t e d w ith h a p p in e s s and a d ju s tm e n t i n m a r r ia g e .
S c a le Two a tte m p te d t o a s s e s s th e i n d i v i d u a l m a te 's p e r
c e p tio n o f th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l h o s t i l i t y i n t h e i r r e l a t i o n
s h i p . S c a le T h ree a tte m p te d to m easu re th e i n d i v i d u a l 's
an d th e m a rrie d p a i r 's p e r c e p tio n s o f th e p r e s e n t m a r i t a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
The h y p o th e s e s w ere t e s t e d f o r s i g n i f i c a n c e w ith
th e M edian T e s t w hich d ic h o to m iz e d th e s c a le s c o r e s a t
th e com bined m edian an d made u s e o f c h i - s q u a r e s t a t i s t i c s
t o f i n d d i f f e r e n c e i n r e s p o n s e s o f th e two sam ple g r o u p s .
A s i g n i f i c a n t c h i - s q u a r e s c o re f o r a n y o f th e h y p o th e s e s
w ould i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e was a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e r e s p o n s e s
o f th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s on
t h a t t e s t s c a l e . Such a f i n d i n g w ould a l s o s u g g e s t t h a t
th e t e s t s c a le m ig h t be a v a l i d p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t f o r
l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
In a d d i t i o n t o th e t e s t i n g o f th e s tu d y h y p o th e s e s
a p r e lim in a r y a tte m p t w as made to a n a ly z e th e p r e d i c t i v e
c a p a b i l i t y o f th e i n d i v i d u a l t e s t ite m s i n th e t h r e e i n t e r
p e r s o n a l s c a l e s . An a r b i t r a r y s p l i t b etw e en c a te g o r y two
and c a te g o r y th r e e i n th e t e s t ite m s o f S c a le One
99
d ic h o to m iz e d th e two g ro u p s o f r e s p o n s e s . C h i-s q u a re
s t a t i s t i c s w ere u s e d to f in d i f t h e r e w ere a s i g n i f i c a n t
d i f f e r e n c e i n r e s p o n s e s o f th e "L o n g -te rm ” an d th e " S h o r t
te rm " c o u p le s .
S in c e S c a le Two an d S c a le T h re e m easu red d is c r e p a n
c i e s i n p e r c e p tio n o f th e m a rrie d p a i r , th e a r b i t r a r y s p l i t
t o d ic h o to m iz e th e two g ro u p s w as made b etw een th e c a t e
g o r i e s o f "one d is c re p a n c y " and "tw o d i s c r e p a n c i e s ."
Though t h e s t a t i s t i c a l f in d i n g s f o r th e a n a l y s i s o f th e
i n d i v i d u a l t e s t ite m s a r e n o t s u g g e s te d a s f i n a l , i t was
b e l ie v e d t h a t su ch d a ta w ould be o f c o n s t r u c t i v e v a lu e f o r
f u t u r e in s tr u m e n ts a t te m p tin g t o p r e d i c t th e le n g th o f
m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g .
A n a ly s is o f F in d in g s —
P e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s
H y p o th e s is O ne. — T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r
en ce b e tw e e n th e Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le s c o r e s o f th e
"L o n g -te rm " c o u p le s an d th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n t h i s
s tu d y .
T a b le 9 i n d i c a t e s th e c h i - s q u a r e s c o r e s r e s u l t i n g
fro m th e a p p l i c a t i o n o f th e M edian T e s t to H y p o th e s is One
d a t a . A c h i - s q u a r e o f 3*8*f w as n e c e s s a r y t o p ro v e t h a t
t h e r e w as a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b etw e en th e c o n v e rte d
t - s c o r e s o f th e "L o n g -term " and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s
i n th e p r e s e n t s a m p le . The c h i- s q u a r e o f 7 .1 9 a llo w s th e
100
r e j e c t i o n o f th e h y p o t h e s i s , and th e n u l l h y p o th e s is i s
r e j e c t e d . T h ere was a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e Es
s c o r e s o f th e two sam p le g r o u p s . I n t h i s p r e lim in a r y
s tu d y th e Ego S tr e n g th S c a le s i g n i f i c a n t l y s e p a r a te d th e
L o n g -term m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c o u p le s from th e S h o r t- te r m
c o u p le s .
TABLE 9
EGO STRENGTH SCORES OR TW O SAMPLE GROUPS
G roup Combined M edian
and Above
Below Combined
M edian
L o n g -term C o u p les 26 lb
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les lb 26
X2 =
7 .1 9
The m edian o f th e com bined sam ple was 5b, The mean
o f th e com bined L o n g -term g ro u p was 5 7 .1 , w h ile th e mean o f
th e com bined S h o r t- te r m g ro u p was 5 0 . S ubgroup m eans w e re :
L o n g -term m a le s , 5 7 .3 ; S h o rt- te rm m a le s , 5 1 .2 ; L o n g -te rm
f e m a le s , 5 6 .9 ; and S h o r t- te r m f e m a le s , * f8 .8 .
When B a rro n u t i l i z e d th e Es S c a le to s e p a r a te
im proved p a t i e n t s from unim proved p a t i e n t s i n p s y c h o th e r
a p y , mean s c o r e s o f t h e im proved g ro u p w as 5 2 .7 and th e
101
1
mean o f th e unim proved g ro u p was 29*1*
H y p o th e s is Two. — T here i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e
i n th e K - f a c to r S c a le s c o r e s (MMPI) o f th e "L o n g -term "
c o u p le s and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n t h i s s tu d y .
TABLE 10
K-FACTOR SCALE SCORES OF T W O SAMPLE GROUPS
Group Combined M edian Below Combined
and Above M edian
L o n g -term C ouples l*f 26
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 22 18
X 2 - 3 .1 9
The d a t a f o r t e s t i n g H y p o th e s is Two i s p r e s e n te d i n
T a b le 1 0 . The c h i- s q u a r e o f 3 .1 9 i a n o t s i g n i f i c a n t a t th e
.0 5 l e v e l , and th e n u l l h y p o th e s is t h a t th e r e i s no s i g
n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e K - f a c to r S c a le s c o re s o f th e two
sam ple g ro u p s m ust be a c c e p te d . Some p re v io u s s t u d i e s had
a s s o c i a t e d a low s c o re on th e K - f a c to r S c a le w ith low ego
s t r e n g t h and in a d e q u a c y o f p e r s o n a l i t y d e f e n s e s . The p ro
p o s a l f o r t h i s s tu d y w as t h a t th e s c a le c o u ld be u se d to
^ F ran k B a rro n , "An E g o -S tre n g th S c a le W hich P r e
d i c t s R esponse to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y . XVII (1 9 5 3 ), 3 2 7 -3 3 .
102
m easu re p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s I n p r e d i c t i n g th e l e n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . The f in d in g s o f no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r
en ce i n H y p o th e s is Two w ould le a d u s to d o u b t th e a b i l i t y
o f th e K - f a o to r S c a le t o s e p a r a te "L o n g -term " c o u p le s from
" S h o rt-‘te rm " c o u p le s i n le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
D a h lstro m an d W elsh n o te d t h a t a low K -s c o re seem ed
to h av e b o th a p o s i t i v e an d a n e g a tiv e im p l ic a tio n f o r a
c l i e n t 's s u c c e s s f u l t h e r a p y . In a c l i n i c a l s e t t i n g one
m eaning o f a low K -s c o re was t h a t th e c l i e n t had fo u n d h i s
v a r io u s p e r s o n a l i t y d e f e n s e s so u s e l e s s and in a d e q u a te t h a t
he w as r e l a t i v e l y d e f e n s e l e s s . He was th e n r e a d i l y a c c e s s i
b l e an d a lm o s t m a s o c h is tic i n h i s s e l f - r e v e l a t i o n s a n d co n
f e s s i o n s . W hile t h i s a c c e s s i b i l i t y was a boon t o th e
c l i n i c i a n m aking th e d i a g n o s t i c a p p r a i s a l , th e la c k o f
d e fe n s e and s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e seem ed a d i s t i n c t l i a b i l i t y to
2
th e t h e r a p e u t i c p ro g ra m .
I n th e p r e s e n t s tu d y th e m edian s c o re f o r th e com
b in e d sam ple was 1 7 . The mean s c o re o f th e L o n g -term g ro u p
was 1 7 .2 , and th e mean s c o re o f th e S h o rt- te rm g ro u p 1 5 .6 .
A n a ly s is o f F in d in g s —
I n t e r p e r s o n a l F a c to r s
H y p o th e s is T h re e . — T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t
^W. G ran t D a h ls tro m and G. S . W elsh , An MMPI Hand
book (M in n e a p o lis : The U n iv e r s ity o f M in n eso ta P r e s s ,
i§6o), p. l* to •
difference between the Interpersonal Scale One scores of
the "Long-term" couples and the "Short-term" oouples in
this study,
TABLE 11
INTERPERSONAL SCALE ONE SCORES OP TW O SAMPLE GROUPS
G roup Combined M edian
and Above
Below Combined
M edian
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 27
13
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 12 28
X2 = 11.2*f
T a b le 11 c o n t a i n s th e d a ta r e s u l t i n g from th e
a p p l i c a t i o n o f th e M edian T e s t to th e S c a le One s c o r e s o f
th e two sam ple g r o u p s . The c h i - s q u a r e o f 11.2** i s s i g n i f i
c a n t a t th e .0 0 5 l e v e l ) an d th e n u l l h y p o th e s is i s r e je c te d .
T h ere i s a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e S c a le One s c o r e s
o f th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n
th e s tu d y . T hese f i n d i n g s o f f e r p r e lim in a z y e v id e n c e t h a t
th e t e s t s c a l e i s u s a b le a s a p r e d i c t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
S c a le One w as com posed o f i n t e r p e r s o n a l ite m s
w hich e a r l i e r r e s e a r c h had fo u n d c o r r e l a t e d w ith a d j u s t
m ent an d h a p p in e s s i n m a r r ia g e . T h is s tu d y p ro p o se d t h a t
th e s e c o h e s iv e f a c t o r s m ig h t p ro v id e m o tiv a tio n f o r a
10b
c o u p le to co m p lete t h e i r program o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
I t seem ed p l a u s i b l e t h a t hom ogeneous f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d
w ith m a r i t a l h a p p in e s s m ig h t a l s o p ro v id e th e I n t e g r a t i n g
i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s n e c e s s a r y f o r s u c c e s s f u l m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g .
The m edian s c o r e o f th e com bined sam ple w as 3 7 .
The mean s c o re o f ^ 0 .7 f o r th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p w as 8
p o i n t s lo w e r on th e s c a l e th a n th e L o n g -term g ro u p mean
s c o re o f 3 2 .7 . The mean s c o r e s o f th e su b g ro u p s w e re :
L o n g -te rm m a le s , 3 2 .^ ; S h o rt- te rm m a le s , 3 9 .1 ; L o n g -te rm
f e m a le s , 3 3 .1» and S h o r t- te r m f e m a le s , * f2 .3 .
H y p o th e s is f o u r . — T h ere i s no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r
en ce b etw e en th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two s c o r e s o f th e
"L o n g -te rm ” c o u p le s an d th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n t h i s
s tu d y .
The d a ta t e s t i n g H y p o th e s is F o u r i s p r e s e n te d i n
T a b le 1 2 . A c h i- s q u a r e o f 3 .8 lf was n e c e s s a r y to show a
s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e S c a le Two s c o r e s o f th e
"L o n g -term " c o u p le s an d th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n th e
sa m p le . The c h i- s q u a r e o f 1 6 .1 9 i s s i g n i f i c a n t a t th e .001
l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e . The n u l l h y p o th e s is i s r e j e c t e d .
T h ere i s a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e S c a le Two s c o r e s
o f th e t e s t in s t r u m e n t. T h ere a p p e a r s to be i n i t i a l e v i
d en ce t h a t I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two may be u se d a s a p r e
d i c t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
10 5
O b v io u sly th e p r e lim in a r y d a t a o f t h i s r e s e a r c h s tu d y d o es
n o t v a l i d a t e any o f t h e t e s t s c a l e s a s p r e d i c t i v e i n s t r u
m en ts f o r le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . Any p o s i t i v e
f i n d i n g s m ust be r e t e s t e d w ith l a r g e r sa m p les and w ith
r e f i n e d r e s e a r c h d e s ig n s b e fo re th e y a r e a c c e p te d a s c o n
c l u s i v e p r e d i c t i v e in s t r u m e n ts .
TABLE 12
INTERPERSONAL SCALE T W O SCORES OP T W O SAMPLE GROUPS
Group Combined M edian
and Above
Below Combined
M edian
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 2 M - 16
S h o r t- te r m C ouples 8 32
X2 = 1 6 .1 9
The s c o r in g o f S c a le Two i s b a s e d on d is c r e p a n c ie s
b etw een e a c h c o u p le ’ s t e s t r e s p o n s e s on th e s c a l e . C r i
t e r i a f o r th e s c a le i n t h i s r e s e a r c h d e s ig n p ro p o se d t h a t
fe w e r d is c r e p a n c ie s i n th e c o u p le ’ s p e r c e p tio n s o f i n t e r
p e r s o n a l h o s t i l i t y w ould c o r r e l a t e w ith a b i l i t y to c o m p le te
th e c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m .
The m edian s c o r e o f th e t o t a l d i s c r e p a n c ie s f o r
e a c h c o u p le was 2 1 . The mean s c o r e s w ere 17 f o r th e Long
te rm c o u p le s and 2 6 .3 f o r th e S h o r t- te r m c o u p le s .
106
H y p o th e s is F i v e . — T h ere l a no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r
en ce b etw e en th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h re e s c o r e s o f th e
'"L ong-term " and th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s I n t h i s s tu d y .
TABLE 13
INTERPERSONAL SCALE THREE SCORES OP T W O SAMPLE GROUPS
G roup Combined M edian B elo v Combined
an d Above M edian
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 28 12
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 15 25
I 2 * 8 .0 5
T a b le 13 c o n t a i n s th e d a t a t e s t i n g if y p o th e s is F iv e
w h ich s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e w as no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e
b etw een th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h ree s c o r e s o f th e "Long
te rm " and th e " S h o r t-te rm " c o u p le s i n t h i s s tu d y . The
c h i- s q u a r e o f 8 .0 5 i s s i g n i f i c a n t a t th e .0 5 l e v e l o f s i g
n i f i c a n c e , end th e n u l l h y p o th e s is i s r e j e c t e d . T h e re i s
a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e s c o r e s o f th e two sam ple g ro u p s i n th e
s tu d y , an d S c a le T h ree may be a p o t e n t i a l p r e d i c t i v e
in s tr u m e n t f o r le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
S c a le T h ree s c o r in g m e a su re s th e num ber o f d i s
c r e p a n c ie s f o r e a c h c o u p le i n t h e i r p e r c e p tio n s o f t h e i r
m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . The s c a l e d e s ig n p ro p o sed t h a t
107
fe w e r d is c r e p a n c i e s i n th e c o u p l e 's r e a l i s t i c p e r c e p tio n s
o f t h e i r m a rria g e w ould c o r r e l a t e w ith c o h e s iv e f a c t o r s
m o tiv a tin g th e c o u p le to co m p lete m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The m edian s c o r e o f th e t o t a l d is c r e p a n c ie s f o r
e a c h c o u p le was 2 2 . The mean d is c re p a n c y s c o re f o r th e
L o n g -te rm g ro u p was 1 7 , w h ile th e mean s c o re f o r th e S h o r t
te rm g ro u p w as 27.3*
P r e d i c t i v e C a p a b il ity o f I n d iv id u a l
T e s t S c a le ite m s
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One
I n te r p e r s o n a l S c a le One t e s t ite m s a tte m p te d to
m easu re f a c t o r s w h ich e a r l i e r r e s e a r c h d a t a fou n d c o r r e
l a t e d w ith c o h e s io n and a d ju s tm e n t i n th e m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n
s h i p . In t h i s s tu d y th e s e ite m s w ere m easu red by f i v e
c a t e g o r i e s o f r e s p o n s e , a tte m p tin g to form a co n tin u u m from
h ig h e r to lo w e r c o h e s iv e n e s s i n th e c o u p l e 's m a r r ia g e .
I t was p ro p o se d t h a t c o u p le s w ith a g r e a t d e a l o f c o h e s iv e
n e s s and i n t e g r a t i o n i n th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p w ould
have m ore m o tiv a tio n to co m p lete t h e i r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g
p rogram th a n th o s e c o u p le s w ith l i t t l e c o h e s iv e n e s s i n
t h e i r m a r r ia g e . H y p o th e s is T h ree o f t h i s s tu d y a tte m p te d
to v a l i d a t e th e t o t a l s c o re o f S c a le One a s a p r e d i c t i v e
in s tr u m e n t f o r l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . In a d d i t i o n ,
a p r e lim in a r y a tte m p t w as made to d is c o v e r w hich in d i v i d u a l
108
t e a t Ite m s bad s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e v a lu e i n t h i s s tu d y .
As a r e s u l t o f th e p i l o t s tu d y d a t a , a n a r b i t r a r y s p l i t
was made b etw een re s p o n s e c a t e g o r i e s 2 and 3 to d ic h o to m iz e
th e r e s p o n s e s o f th e tw o sam ple g r o u p s . A s i g n i f i c a n t c h i -
s q u a re s c o re o f th e d i f f e r e n c e s b etw e en r e s p o n s e s o f th e
"L o n g -term " c o u p le s an d th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s w ould
i n d i c a t e t h a t th e t e s t ite m was a p r e d i c t i v e ite m f o r
d e te r m in in g le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n t h i s s t u d y .
S t a t i s t i c a l r e s u l t s from t e s t i n g th e c a p a c ity o f
ite m s i n S c a le One to d is c r i m in a te b etw e en th e tw o g ro u p s
o f c o u p le s a r e fo u n d i n T a b le s l 1 * th ro u g h 18 o f th e
s t u d y .
F in d in g s o f p r e d i c t i v e c a p a c i t y f o r i n d i v i d u a l
t e s t ite m s i n th e s tu d y s h o u ld n o t be c o n s id e r e d v a l i d o r
f i n a l . They a r e p r e s e n te d i n t h i s s e c t i o n f o r g e n e r a l
acad em ic i n t e r e s t and a s b ack g ro u n d m a t e r i a l f o r f u t u r e
r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s .
TABLE l*f
BELATIONSHIP OF COUPLE'S AGES AS PREDICTIVE FACTORS
(Scale One, Item 1)
G roup
S o a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
02 an d ab o v e 03 an d below
L o n g -term C o u p les 21 19
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 28 12
X2 * 2 .¥ f
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's ag e r e l a t i o n s h i p
was n o t a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .0 5 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i
c a n c e .
TABLE 15
COUPLE'S RELIGIOUS FAITH AS PREDICTIVE FACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Item 2)
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
p #2 a n d ab o v e 03 and below
L o n g -term C o u p les 32 8
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 29 H
I 2 - .1 9 9
D if f e r e n c e i n th e c o u p l e 's r e l i g i o u s f a i t h w as n o t
a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r i n t h i s s tu d y .
110
TABLE 16
COUPLE’S COOPERATION IN PLANNING AS PREDICTIVE FACTOR
(Scale One9 Item 3)
„ S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
G roup / 2 an d above 03 an d below
L o n g -te r n C o u p les 23 17
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 8 32
X2 » 1 1 .2*f
The c o u p l e 's c o o p e r a tio n i n p la n n in g was a p r e
d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .001 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e .
TABLE 17
COUPLE'S EDUCATION LEVEL AS PREDICTIVE FACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Ite m *f)
S B
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
p 02 and ab o v e 03 and below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 30 10
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 30 10
X2 - .000
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's l e v e l o f e d u c a tio n
was n o t a p r e d i c t i v e f a o t o r i n t h i s s tu d y .
Ill
TABLE 18
ASSOCIATION WITH FRIENDS AS A PREDICTIVE FACTOR
(Scale One, Item 5)
a-rnun S e a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
9 02 and above 03 an d below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 26 1**
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 11 29
I 2 - 11.2**
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's a s s o c i a t i o n w ith
m u tu a l f r i e n d s w as a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .0 0 1 l e v e l
o f s i g n i f i c a n c e .
TABLE 19
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS PREDICTIVE FACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Ite m 6 )
Croup
S o a le R esponse
02 and above
S c a le R esponse
03 an d below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 27 13
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 15 25
I 2 - 7 .1 9
The c o u p l e 's m u tu a l r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s w as a
s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .0 1 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i
c a n c e .
112
TABLE 20
COUPLE'S LENGTH OP ENGAGEMENT AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
(Scale One, Item 7)
G roup
S c a le R esponse S o a le R esponse
02 an d above 01 an d below
L o n g -term C o u p les 25 15
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 16 2»f
X2 * k.Qk
The c o u p le ' s l e n g t h o f engagem ent w as a s i g n i f i c a n t
p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r : in t h i s s tu d y a t th e *05 l e v e l o f s i g n i f -
ic a n o e •
TABLE 21
COUPLE'S LENGTH OP MARRIAGE AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Ite m 8 )
Group
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
02 an d above 03 an d below
L o n g -te rm C ouples 22 18
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 18 22
■
X2 * .7 9 9
The length of the couple's marriage was not a pre
dictive factor at the .05 level of significance*
113
TABLE 22
COUPLE'S PREVIOUS MARRIAGES AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
(Scale One, Item 9)
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
° ro u p / 2 an d above *3 and below
L o n g -term C o u p les 36 b
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 3 * + 6
X2 - .1 9 9
The r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e s
w as n o t a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r i n t h i s s tu d y .
TABLE 23
PREVIOUS HOSTILE SEPARATIONS AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Item 10)
Grouo S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
oup fa above / 3 and below -
L o n g -term C o u p les 33 7
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 23 17
X2 - *f.99
The num ber o f h o s t i l e s e p a r a t i o n s o f th e c o u p le d id
n o t p ro v e to be a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r f o r le n g th o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g a t th e .0 5 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e .
TABLE 2*f
COUPLE'S LENGTH OP SEPARATION AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Item 11)
Group
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
02 an d above 03 an d below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 2»f 16
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les
27 13
X2 *
M 9
The l e n g t h o f th e p r e s e n t s e p a r a t i o n ( i f a n y ) o f
th e c o u p le was n o t a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .0 5 l e v e l o f
s i g n i f i c a n o e .
TABLE 25
COUPLE'S HAPPY CHILDHOODS AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
( S c a le O ne, Ite m 1 2 )
S c a le R esponse S c a le R esponse
02 an d above 03 and below
L o n g -term C o u p les 22 18
S h o r t- te r m C ouples 10 30
X2 -
7 .1 9
The c o u p l e 'a happy c h ild h o o d s w as a p r e d i c t i v e f a c
t o r f o r l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n t h i s s tu d y .
115
TABLE 26
PARENTS' HAPPY MARRIAGES AS PREDICTIVE PACTOR
(Scale One, Item 13)
_ S c a le R esponse S o a le R esponse
Group #2 an d above #3 an d below
L o n g -term C o u p les 19 21
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 9 31
X2 - b,99
Happy m a rr ia g e s o f th e c o u p l e 's p a r e n t s w as a p r e
d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e •0 5 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n o e .
TABLE 27
PARENTS' ATTITUDES TO W A RD PROSPECTIVE MATES AS
PREDICTIVE PACTOR
(S o a le O ne, Item 1 ^)
r w S c a l e R esponse S c a le R esponse
r o u P / 2 and above #3 an d below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les 31 9
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les 15 25
X2 * 1 2 .9 9
The a t t i t u d e o f th e c o u p l e 's p a r e n ts to w ard th e
m ate w as a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r a t th e .0 0 1 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i
c a n c e .
TABLE 28
NUMBER OF DIVORCES IN FAMILIES AS PREDICTIVE FACTOR
(Scale One, Item 15)
G roup
S o a le R eeponae S c a le R eeponee
02 and above 03 an d below
L o n g -te rm C o u p les
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les
23
22
17
18
X2 - .<*9
The num ber o f d iv o r c e s i n th e c o u p l e 's f a m i l i e s
was n o t a p r e d i c t i v e f a c t o r i n t h i s s tu d y .
t l v e v a lu e i n t h i s s tu d y w e re : ( 3 ) C o u p le 's c o o p e r a tio n
i n p la n n in g ; (5 ) c o u p l e 's a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s ;
( 6 ) c o u p l e 's m u tu a l r e c r e a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s ; (7 ) l e n g t h o f
th e c o u p l e 's en g ag em en t; (1 0 ) c o u p le * s h o s t i l e s e p a r a t i o n s ;
(1 2 ) c o u p l e 's happy c h ild h o o d s ; (1 3 ) happy m a rr ia g e s o f th e
c o u p l e 's p a r e n t s ; an d ( l 1 *) a t t i t u d e o f th e c o u p l e 's p a r e n t s
t o th e p r o s p e c tiv e m a te .
o f m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g i n t h i s s tu d y w e re : (1 ) R e l a t i o n
s h ip o f th e c o u p l e 's a g e s ; ( 2 ) r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's
r e l i g i o u s f a i t h s ; (*t) r e l a t i o n s h i p o f th e c o u p l e 's
Summary
The i n d i v i d u a l ite m s o f S c a le One w h ich had p r e d i c -
The i n d i v i d u a l ite m s w h ich d id n o t p r e d i c t l e n g t h
117
educational level; (8) length of the present Marriage;
(9 ) relationship of the couple's previous Marriages;
(1 1 ) l e n g t h o f th e c o u p l e 's p r e s e n t s e p a r a t io n ; (1 5 ) num ber
o f d iv o r c e s i n th e c o u p l e 's f a m i l i e s .
Interpersonal Scale T w o
Interpersonal Scale T w o test items attempted to
measure the disparity between the two mates' perceptions
of the interpersonal h ostility in the marriage relation
ship. The general hypothesis for Scale T w o is that simi
larity in the couple's perceptions of hostility to their
marriage would correlate with their motivation to complete
successful marriage counseling. Hypothesis Four of this
study attempted to validate the total score of Scale T w o
as a predictive instrument for length of marriage counsel
ing. The statistical data also offered som e preliminary
suggestions of the predictive values of individual test
scale items in this study. In an effort to test the pre
dictive capability of the individual items to predict
length of marriage counseling, an arbitrary sp lit between
categories 1 and 2 dichotomized the disparity in responses
of the two sample groups. A significant chi-square of the
disparity between the responses of the "Long-term" couples
and the "Short-term" couples would indicate a predictive
ability of the test item in this study. Table 29 presents
the data indicating the predictive ability of each item
118
TABLE 29
PREDICTIVE ABILITY OP INDIVIDUAL ITEMS
INTERPERSONAL SCALE T W O
S c a le
Ite m
L o n g -term C o u p les
R e sc a n sa D is a re n a n e v
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les
R e so o n se D is c re p a n c y
X2
(Above s p l i t ) (B elow ) (Above s p l i t ) (B elow )
1 10 10 7 13
.if l
2 15
if 11 9 1 .8 2
3
16 k l»f 6
.1 3
if 16 k
1 5 5 .0 2
5 17
3 13
7 1 .2 0
6
1 5 5 9
11
3 .8 5 *
7 15 5 13 7
.1 3
8 12 8 16 if 1 .1 0
9
Ik 6
15 5 .1 8
10
15 5 16 if
.2 3
11 16 if 16 if .0 0
12 16 if 16 if .0 0
13 7 9
11 .9 8
ik
15 5 12 8
15 15 5 8 12
3 .8 9 *
16
13 7 11 9 .2 9
17 10 10 8 12 .3 2
18
15 5 9
11 3 .8 5 *
19
16 if
15 5 .2 9
20 16 k 8 12 5 .1 0 *
*
Significant at the .05 level of significance.
i n I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two
119
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S o a le T h ree
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h ree t e s t Ite m s a tte m p te d to
m easu re th e d is c r e p a n c y i n th e c o u p l e 's p e r c e p tio n s o f
t h e i r m a rr ia g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . H y p o th e s is P iv e o f t h i s s tu d y
p ro p o s e d to v a l i d a t e th e t o t a l s c o r e o f S c a le T h re e a s a
p r e d i c t i v e in s tru m e n t f o r le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
S t a t i s t i c a l d a ta a l s o i n d i c a t e d w h ich i n d iv i d u a l t e s t
ite m s i n S c a le T h ree h ad p r e d i c t i v e v a lu e i n t h i s s t u d y .
T e s tin g th e in d i v i d u a l ite m s fo llo w e d th e p ro c e d u re s
e x p la in e d i n S c a le Two ( a b o v e ) . The a b i l i t y o f e a c h t e s t
ite m o f S c a le T h ree to p r e d i c t l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e l
in g i n t h i s s tu d y i s p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 3 0 .
S u m m ary
The r e s e a r c h d e s ig n an d m eth o d o lo g y w ere re v ie w e d
an d th e m a jo r h y p o th e s e s w ere t e s t e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r .
In a n a ly z in g th e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s w h ich p r e d ic te d
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , i t w as fo u n d t h a t th e Ego
S tr e n g th S c a le w as a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t and t h a t th e
E - f a c t o r S c a le w as n o t a p r e d i c t i v e in s t r u m e n t. A ll th r e e
o f th e i n t e r p e r s o n a l t e s t s c a l e s w ere a b le to s e p a r a t e
th e "L o n g -term " c o u p le s fro m th e " S h o rt-te rm " c o u p le s i n
th e s tu d y sam ple • A p r e lim in a r y s tu d y i n d i c a t e d th e
120
T A B L E 30
P R E D IC T IV E A B IL IT Y O P IN D IV ID U A L IT E M S
IN T E R P E R S O N A L S C A L E T H R E E
S c a le
Ite m
L o n g -term C o u p les
R esp o n se D is c re p a n c y
S h o r t- te r m C o u p les
R esp o n se D is c re p a n c y
X2
(Above s p l i t ) (B elow ) (Above s p l i t ) (B elo v )
1
1 7
3 13 7 1 .2 0
2 16 if
7 13 5 .2 1 *
3 15 5 18 2
A 9
k
16 if
12 8
1 .6 2
5 18 2 Ilf 6
1 .1 6
6
lb 6
1 5 5 .8 6
7 lb 6
15 5 .8 6
8
1 5 5 lif 6
.1 9
9
lb 6
11
9 .»f3
10 lb 6
15 5 .8 6
11
15 5 8 12
3 .8 9 *
12 20 0
17
3 .01
13 11
9 9 11 .1 0
lb l*f 6 10 10
.93
15 11
9 16 If
1 .9 2
16
15 5
9
11
3 .8 5 *
17 15 5
g
12
3 .8 9 *
18 16 if
9
11
3 .8 ^ *
19 9 11 11
9
.1 0
20 l*f 6
11
9 1 .1 7
*
Significant at the .05 level of significance.
121
p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l t e s t s c a l e ite m s , an d
th e s e ite m s w ere n o te d f o r f u t u r e r e s e a r o h an d s tu d y
r e p l i c a t i o n .
CHAPTER VI
SUM M ARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The p rim a ry o b j e c t i v e o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y w as to
f i n d o r to d e v e lo p a t e s t in s tr u m e n t w h ich w ould m easu re
p e r s o n a l i t y and i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith th e
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . To a c c o m p lis h th e . o b je c
t i v e th e r e s e a r c h w as d e s ig n e d to c o n s t r u c t t h r e e i n t e r
p e r s o n a l s c a l e s an d to t e s t two p s y c h o lo g ic a l s c a l e s f o r
t h e i r a b i l i t y to p r e d i c t l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The s tu d y was p ro p o se d a s th e i n i t i a l s ta g e i n a l o n g i t u d i
n a l p r o j e c t w h ich w ould (1 ) i d e n t i f y p e r s o n a l i t y and I n t e r
p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith l e n g th o f m a rria g e co u n
s e l i n g , (2 ) fo rm u la te th e s e f a c t o r s i n t o p r e lim in a r y t e s t
s c a l e s , and ( 3 ) r e f i n e an d v a l i d a t e th e t e s t s c a l e s a s
s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n ts o f le n g th o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g .
The sam ple c o n s i s t e d o f f o r t y m a rrie d c o u p le s who
came f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g to c l i n i c s lo c a te d i n a l a r g e
m e tr o p o lita n a r e a . The c o u p le s w ere d ic h o to m iz e d a c c o r d
in g t o r e s e a r c h c r i t e r i a i n t o th e g ro u p u n d e r s tu d y ( S h o r t
te rm c o u p le s ) and th e c o n t r o l g ro u p (L o n g -te rm c o u p l e s ) .
122
123
T e s t I n s t r u m e n t s a d m i n i s t e r e d t o t h e sa m p le s u b j e c t s w e re
t h e M in n e s o ta M u lt lp h a a ic P e r s o n a l i t y I n v e n to r y a n d t h e
t h r e e I n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s o f t h e s t u d y . The Ee a n d K-
f a c t o r S c a l e s o f t h e MMPI m e a s u re d t h e p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s ,
a n d t h e t h r e e new s c a l e s m e a s u re d t h e i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c
t o r s . B a s ic h y p o th e s e s t o b e t e s t e d w e re t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t
d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e t e s t s c a l e s c o r e s o f t h e tw o s a m p le
g r o u p s w o u ld i d e n t i f y p e r s o n a l i t y a n d i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c
t o r s w h ic h w e re a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e
c o u n s e l i n g .
Summary o f t h e H y p o th e s e s
The f i v e m a jo r h y p o th e s e s o f t h e s tu d y a r e s t a t e d
i n t h e n u l l fo rm a s f o l l o w s :
1 . T h e re i s n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n t h e
Ego S t r e n g t h (E s ) S c a l e s c o r e s o f t h e “ L ong
te rm " c o u p l e s an d t h e " S h o r t - te r m " c o u p l e s i n
t h i s s t u d y .
2 . T h e re i s n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e K-
f a c t o r (MMPI) S c a le s c o r e s o f t h e " L o n g -te rm "
c o u p le s a n d th e " S h o r t - te r m " c o u p le s i n t h i s
s t u d y .
3 . T h e re i s n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One s c o r e s o f t h e "L o n g
te rm " c o u p l e s a n d t h e " S h o r t - t e r m " c o u p l e s i n
t h i s s t u d y .
W. T h e re i a no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two s c o r e s o f th e "L o n g
te rm ” c o u p le s an d th e " S h o r t- te r m " c o u p le s i n
t h i s s t u d y .
5 . T h e re i s n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h re e s c o r e s o f th e "L ong
te rm " c o u p le s an d th e " S h o r t- te r m " c o u p le s i n
t h i s s t u d y .
The M edian T e s t an d th e c h i - s q u a r e t e s t o f th e
d ic h o to m iz e d s e t s o f s c o r e s w ere th e s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t s o f
s i g n i f i c a n c e a p p l ie d to th e h y p o th e s e s . S t a t i s t i c a l
r e s u l t s o f th e t e s t i n g h av e b e e n r e p o r t e d i n th e body o f
th e d i s s e r t a t i o n , b u t th e y a r e b r i e f l y r e c a p i t u l a t e d i n
s e c t i o n one o f t h i s c h a p t e r .
Summary o f th e S t a t i s t i c a l F in d in g s
P e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s A s s o c ia te d w ith
L e n g th o f M a rria g e C o u n s e lin g
Ego S tr e n g th S c a l e . — The p u rp o s e o f H y p o th e s is One
was t o a tte m p t th e v a l i d a t i o n o f th e Ego S tr e n g th (E s )
S c a le a s a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t f o r l e n g t h o f m a rr ia g e
c o u n s e l i n g . S in c e th e E s S c a le h ad p r e v io u s ly s e p a r a te d
s ta y an d n o n - s ta y g r o u p s i n p s y c h o th e r a p y , i t was s p e c u
l a t e d t h a t th e s c a l e m ig h t m e asu re p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s
c o r r e l a t e d w ith l e n g t h o f m a rr ia g e c o u n s e li n g . The s t a t i s
t i c a l f i n d i n g s i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e Es S c a le s i g n i f i c a n t l y
125
d i s c r i m i n a t e d b e tw e e n th e "L o n g -te rm " o o u p le s an d th e
" S h o r t- te r m ” o o u p le s i n t h i s s t u d y . The s i z e o f th e c h i -
s q u a re ( 7 .1 9 ) w as s u f f i c i e n t f o r th e r e j e c t i o n o f H y p o th e
s i s One w h ic h s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e was n o d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
t h e E s S c a le s c o r e s o f t h e L o n g -te rm an d th e S h o r t- te r m
g r o u p s .
The m ed ian E s S c a le s c o r e o f th e com bined sa m p le
f o r t h i s s tu d y w as 5*t. The com bined L o n g -te rm g ro u p h ad a
mean s c o r e o f 5 7 .1 , a n d th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p h ad a m ean
s c o r e o f 5 0 . Mean s c o r e s o f th e s u b g ro u p s w e re : L ong
te rm m a le s , 5 7 .3 ; S h o r t- te r m m a le s , 5 1 .2 ; L o n g -te rm fem ales,
5 6 .9 ; a n d S h o r t- te r m f e m a le s , * f8 .8 .
K - J a o to r S c a l e . — h y p o th e s is Two a tte m p te d t o v a l i
d a te t h e K - f a c to r S c a le (MMPI) a s a n in s tr u m e n t to p r e d i c t
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e li n g . The s c a l e h ad p r e v i o u s l y
b e e n r e l i a b l e i n s e l e c t i n g im p ro v ed fro m u n im p ro v ed
p a t ie n t B i n p s y c h o th e r a p y . The p r o p o s a l i n t h e r e s e a r c h
d e s ig n w as t h a t th e s c a l e m easu red p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s
w h ich m ig h t s e p a r a t e "L o n g -te rm " c o u p le s fro m " S h o r t- te r m "
c o u p le s i n m a rria g e c o u n s e l i n g . The s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a o f
t h i s s tu d y show ed t h a t t h e K - f a c to r S c a le d id n o t s i g n i f i
c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e tw e e n th e two sam p le g r o u p s . A
c h i - s q u a r e o f w as n e c e s s a x y f o r th e r e j e c t i o n o f th e
n u l l h y p o th e s is w h ich s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e w as no d l f f e r e n o e
i n th e K - f a o t o r s c o r e s o f th e L o n g -te rm an d t h e S h o r t- te r m
126
g r o u p s . The c h i - s q u a r e o f 3 .1 9 w as n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o
r e j e c t th e h y p o t h e s i s . I t I s c o n c lu d e d t h a t th e E - f a c t o r
S c a le c a n n o t h e u s e d a s a r e l i a b l e s c a l e t o p r e d i c t l e n g t h
o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e lin g .
The m ed ian E - f a c t o r S c a le s c o r e o f th e com bined
s tu d y sam p le w as 1 7 . The mean s c o r e s o f th e com bined Long
te rm an d S h o r t- te r m g ro u p s w ere r e s p e c t i v e l y 1 7 .2 a n d 1 5 .6 .
Mean s c o r e s o f th e s u b g ro u p s w ere a s f o llo w s : L o n g -te rm
m a le s , 1 7 .1 ; S h o r t- te r m m a le s , 1 6 .1 ; L o n g -te rm f e m a le s ,
1 7 .3 * an d S h o r t- te r m f e m a le s , 1 5 .1 .
I n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s A s s o c ia te d w ith
L e n g th o f M a rria g e Co u n s e lin g
InterpeT-annfti Scale One.—Scale O n e of the Inter
personal Scales was constructed primarily of Items found by
previous research to correlate with adjustment In marriage.
Hypothesis Three proposed to test the ability of such a
scale to predict the length of marriage counseling. T he
assumption was that the Interpersonal factors which Inte
grate the marital relationship would also motivate the
couple to complete successful marriage counseling. Chi-
square of 11.2*f for the data testing the hypothesis was
significant beyond the .0 0 5 lev e l. The null hypothesis
that there was no difference In the Scale O n e soores of
the "Long-term" couples and the "Short-term" couples was
rejected. The fact that there was a significant difference
127
i n th e r e s p o n s e s o f t h e two g ro u p s s u g g e s ts t h a t i n t h i s
s tu d y I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One was a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t
f o r l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
T h ese f i n d i n g s s h o u ld b e r e g a r d e d a s t e n t a t i v e
w ith o u t f u r t h e r v a l i d a t i o n . I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le One was
c o n s tr u c te d and t e s t e d f o r th e f i r s t tim e i n t h i s s tu d y .
The v a l i d a t i o n o f th e s c a l e a s a p r e d i c t i v e I n s tr u m e n t f o r
th e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g r e q u i r e s f u r t h e r t e s t i n g
and s c a l e r e f in e m e n t. P r e lim in a r y r e s u l t s o f t h i s s tu d y
i n d i c a t e m e re ly t h a t i n th e f i r s t s ta g e o f v e r i f i c a t i o n
th e s c a l e s i g n i f i c a n t l y d is c r i m in a te d b etw een th e L ong-
te rm and th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p s in th e sam ple s tu d y .
M edian S c a le One s c o re f o r th e com bined sam p le was
3 7 . The mean s c o re o f th e com bined L o n g -te rm g ro u p w as
3 2 .7 com pared w ith th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p mean s c o re o f * f0 .7 .
The mean s c o r e s o f th e su b g ro u p s w e re : L o n g -term m a le s ,
3 2 . Short-term m a le s , 3 9 .1 ; L o n g -term f e m a le s , 33*1»
S h o r t- te r m f e m a le s , *f2.3«
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two. — The p ro p o sed o b j e c t o f
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two was to m easu re th e d is c r e p a n c i e s
b etw e en th e m a rrie d c o u p l e 's p e r c e p tio n s o f t h e i r h o s t i l i t y
to th e m a rria g e r e l a t i o n s h i p . The h y p o th e s is was t h a t
fe w e r d is c r e p a n c ie s i n th e m a te s ' p e r c e p tio n s o f i n t e r p e r
s o n a l h o s t i l i t y w ould c o r r e l a t e w ith th e m o tiv a tio n to
co m p le te th e m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m . The s i z e o f th e
128
chi-square (16.19) required that the null hypothesis of
no difference in the two sample groups be rejected.
Statistical data showed a significant difference in the
discrepancies of the "Long-term" couples and the "Short
term" oouples. T he study findings offer preliminary evi
dence that Interpersonal Scale T w o significantly distin
guished between the Long-term and the Short-term groups.
It is hypothesized that with proper replication and teat-
retest validation, Scale T w o m ay be a potential instrument
for predicting length of marriage counseling.
T he median discrepancy score for the combined sam
ple was 21. T he m ean discrepancy score of 26.3 for the
Short-term group was 9*3 points lower on the scoring scale
than the Long-term score of 17.
Interpersonal Scale Three. —This scale was formu
lated to measure the discrepancies between the couple's
perceptions of the marriage relationship. It was specu
lated that the couples with fewer discrepancies in realis
tic perceptions of their marital life would have greater
motivation to complete a successful program of marriage
counseling. I^ypothesis Five proposed that the scale would
differentiate the "Long-term" couples from the "Short-term"
couples on the basis of the scale discrepancy scores.
#
Indicates significance at the .001 level.
129
C h i-s q u a re o f 8 .0 5 w as s i g n i f i c a n t a t th e «05 l e v e l o f
s i g n i f i c a n c e . The n u l l h y p o th e s is t h a t t h e r e was no s i g
n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e s c a le s c o r e s o f th e two g ro u p s
was r e j e c t e d . T h ere w as a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n th e
s c a le s c o r e s , and S c a le T h re e r e l i a b l y s e p a r a te d th e Long
te rm g ro u p fro m th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p i n th e s tu d y . The
p o s i t i v e f i n d i n g s a r e o n ly t e n t a t i v e w ith o u t f u r t h e r
r e p l i c a t i o n and r e s e a r c h d a t a . B ut t h e i n i t i a l e v id e n c e
I n d i c a t e s t h a t S c a le T h ree may m easu re i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c
t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The m edian d is c r e p a n c y s c o re f o r th e com bined sam
p le w as 2 2 . The mean d is c re p a n c y s c o r e s o f th e L o n g -term
and th e S h o r t- te r m g ro u p s w ere r e s p e c t i v e l y 17 and 2 7 .3 *
I n d i v i d u a l T e s t Ite m s A s s o c ia te d w ith
L e n g th o f M a rria g e C o u n s e lin g
In a d d i t i o n to t e s t i n g e a c h i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e 's
t o t a l s c o r e a s a p r e d i c t i v e in s tr u m e n t f o r le n g th o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g , p r e lim in a r y e f f o r t s w ere made t o
i d e n t i f y i n d i v i d u a l s c a l e ite m s w h ich a p p e a re d to h av e
p r e d i c t i v e v a lu e i n th e s tu d y . T a b le s lM - th ro u g h 30
( l o c a t e d i n C h a p te r V) p ro v id e th e d a t a i n d e t a i l . The
f o llo w in g s e c t i o n s sum m arize th e in f o r m a tio n r e g a r d in g th e
p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l t e s t ite m s .
I n t e r p e r s o n a l S c a le O ne. — When a n a r b i t r a r y s p l i t
was u t i l i z e d to d ic h o to m iz e th e sam p le b etw een re s p o n s e
130
categories 2 and 3 in Scale O n e and the data were placed
i n a 2 x 2 c o n tin g e n c y t a b l e , th e ite m s show ing a b i l i t y to
p r e d i c t a t th e ,0 5 l e v e l o f s i g n i f i c a n c e w e re : Ite m s 3* 5,
*
6 , 7 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 13 an d 1m -. Item s w h ich h ad no s i g n i f i c a n t
p r e d i c t i v e v a lu e i n t h i s s tu d y w e re : 1 , 2 , *+, 8 , 9 , 11
and 1 5 .
I n te r p e r s o n a l S c a le Two. — D ata from T ab le 29 i n
C h a p te r V i n d i c a t e t h a t th e f o llo w in g t e s t ite m s o f I n t e r
p e r s o n a l S c a le Two had p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y a t th e .0 5 l e v e l
o f s i g n i f i c a n c e : 6 , 1 5 , 18 and 2 0 .* T hose t e s t ite m s
w h ich show ed no s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y i n t h i s
s tu d y w e re : 1 , 2 , 3» 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 1 3 , l 1 *, 16
an d 1 9 .
I n te r p e r s o n a l S c a le T h re e . — A n a ly s is o f th e s i g
n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e a b i l i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l t e s t ite m s i n
S c a le T h re e was p r e s e n te d i n T a b le 30 o f C h a p te r V . The
d a ta s u g g e s te d t h a t th e f o llo w in g ite m s s i g n i f i c a n t l y
p r e d ic t e d l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n t h i s s tu d y : 2 ,
*
1 1 , 1 6 , 17 and 1 8 . Ite m s w ith no s i g n i f i c a n t p r e d i c t i v e
a b i l i t y i n th e s tu d y w e re : 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9* 1 0 ,
1 2 , 1 3 , 1 5 , 19 and 2 0 .
SunnwA-ry s t a t e m e n t . — The above f in d in g s o f
*
See Test Instrument in the Appendix.
131
individual items' power in predicting length of marriage
counseling in the study are not fin a l. Items with no sig
n ifican t predictive a b ility in the study should not be
eliminated from further attempts to validate the te st
scales for prediction of length of counseling. The find
ings simply indicate that in the present study the te st
item did not have sign ifican t predictive value. Retest
procedures should be used for the refinement and fin al
validation of the te st items and te st scales.
Implications of the Study for
Sociology of the family
Interpersonal Scale O ne of th is study was composed
of m any social characteristics which previous studies of
Locke, Terman, Burgess and Wallin, and Winch had found to
be predictive of marital adjustment. The present study
took these assumptions one step further in an attempt to
correlate the couple's homogeneous social characteristics
with the motivation of the couple to complete successful
marriage counseling. The s ta tis tic a l findings of the
present study do not support or reject the previous find
ings of family sociology studies because the focal inquiry
did not test these factors for cohesiveness and happiness
in marriage. However, the data do strengthen previous
findings that there is more harmonious interaction between
the married pair when their socialization processes were
132
in homogeneous sets of social mores, social values, and
family forms and patterns. The fact that Scale O ne pro
vided a reliable instrument for separating the Long-term
and Short-term groups in this study appears to substantiate
previous evidence correlating these factors with good mari
tal adjustment. The study, then, adds credence to the con
cept that homogeneous factors in the socialization pro
cesses of the married pair provide reliable Indices of
marital cohesiveness and adjustment.
The study provides additional data regarding the
importance of role theory concepts and the socialization
process for understanding hum an behavior. Scales T w o and
Three were formulated and designed in terms of the inter
action conceptual framework of sociology. Within the
interactional framework, the findings that discrepancies
in the perceptions of the couples suggest reliable
measurements of their motivation to complete the counsel
ing program is an important addition to sociological
knowledge. The fact that Scale T w o and Scale Three were
able to differentiate between "Long-term" and "Short-term"
couples in the study supports the proposed use of a
couple*8 role perceptions to measure their interpersonal
relationships. Role expectations and role behavior, along
with the role conflict resulting from the disparity
between expectations and behavior, appear to provide
133
e x c e l l e n t m easu rem en t c r i t e r i a f o r i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
i n th e m a r r ia g e .
I m p lic a ti o n s o f Idie S tu d y f o r M a rria g e
and f a m ily C o u n s e lin g
The m ain im p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s s tu d y f o r m a rria g e
and f a m ily c o u n s e lin g was th e p r e lim ln a x y v a l i d a t i o n o f
f o u r s c a l e s to p r e d i c t le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . The
Es S c a le w as a b le to m easu re p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s w h ich d i s
tin g u i s h e d b etw een L o n g -te rm an d S h o r t- te r m g ro u p s o f
m a rr ia g e c o u n s e le e s . The E - f a c t o r S c a le d id n o t s e p a r a t e
th e two sam p le g ro u p s i n t h i s s tu d y . I t was a l s o fo u n d
t h a t t h e t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s c o n s tr u c te d f o r t h i s
s tu d y w ere r e l i a b l e in s tr u m e n ts f o r p r e d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . P r e lim in a r y f i n d i n g s o f th e p r e s e n t
s tu d y a r e n o t c o n c l u s i v e , an d i t s h o u ld n o t be assum ed
t h a t th e s e p e r s o n a l i t y an d i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s a r e v a l i d
in s tr u m e n ts f o r p r e d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f c o u n s e lin g . W ith
f u r t h e r r e p l i c a t i o n and r e t e s t i n g th e s e s c a l e s may p r o v id e
u s e f u l in s tr u m e n ts f o r i n s i g h t s and p r e d i c t i o n i n m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g .
I f th e s e s c a l e s a r e v a l i d a t e d i n f u t u r e r e s e a r c h
s t u d i e s , th e y may be u t i l i z e d i n th e f o llo w in g w ays:
1 . The s c a l e s w ould a s s i s t th e m a rria g e c o u n s e lo r
to p r e d i c t from th e f i r s t in te r v ie w w h ich c o u p le s seem ed
to p o s s e s s th e m o tiv a tio n a s s o c i a t e d w ith lo n g - te r m
13^
counseling. The scales would help identify the factors
which apparently cause clients to terminate the counseling
program, and would permit the therapist to stress these
factors early in the counseling program. These insights
into factors associated with length of counseling could aid
the therapist and the clients achieve m ore successful
marriage counseling.
2. T he scales could be used in social casework and
agency counseling to separate the couples w h o would use
the therapists to the best advantage. It was suggested
by Dr. David R. M ace and Dr. Emily H . M u d d that such a
predictive instrument would aid marriage counselors and
would be a boon for the social and welfare agency counse-
lore. Chapter II of this study reviewed studies which
emphasized the need for such a predictive instrument in
social casework and family counseling. Though the present
scales require intensive replication and retesting for
complete validation, study findings showed in itia l evidence
that the three interpersonal scales and the Es Scale could
predict length of marriage counseling.
Another implication of the study was its proposal
Personal correspondence to the writer, January,
1962. Dr. David R. M ace is the Executive Director,
American Association of Marriage Counselors, Inc.
Dr. Emily H . M u d d is the Director, Marriage Council of
Philadelphia, Lie., and Professor. Family Study in Psychia
try, The University of Pennsylvania.
13 5
that present psychological, temperament, and sooiometric
teste should be validated as reliable Instruments for
marriage counseling. The present study found that while
the Ego Strength (Es) Scale did measure personality fac
tors predicting length of marriage counseling, the K-factor
Scale did not measure those factors. These findings
neither rule out the use of personality factors as predic
tive instruments nor insinuate that psychological test
scales should not be used in marriage counseling. The
findings do support the contention that marriage counsel
ing needs to retest current personality and interpersonal
test scales as valid predictive instruments for marriage
counseling clients.
Suggestions for Further Research
Replication of the
Present Study
This study was proposed as the in itia l step in a
longitudinal project to formulate a test instrument for
predicting the length of marriage counseling. T he in itia l
stage was designed to find personality and interpersonal
factors associated with the length of marriage counseling.
Results of the research data indicated that only one of
the proposed test scales for personality factors was sig
nificant in this study. The three interpersonal scales
were successful in the first stage of their validation
136
process* In view of these findings, the first suggestion
for further research would be to replicate the study before
eliminating the one personality scale and individual test
items which did not differentiate between the Long-term
and Short-term groups in the study* T he following para
graphs suggest slight variations in research design and
in sample selection which should be considered in future
studies attempting to predict length of marriage counsel
ing*
Variation in sample.—T he present study should be
replicated with a larger sample* The findings of the
present study were sufficiently significant to justify the
utilization of the sam e research design with a greater
num ber of marriage counseling couples* A replication of
the sam e study with an "n " of 100 "Long-term" couples and
100 "Short-term" couples is needed to strengthen and to
refine the statistical findings of the present study.
Another variation of the sample for future studies
would be to select a purposive sample m ore representative
of couples seeking marriage counseling* A study of the
social characteristics of marriage counseling clients in
selected clin ics during a stated period of time would
determine model characteristics necessary for a represen
tative sample. Factors such as age of the couple, length
of their engagement, length of present marriage, num ber
137
and a g e s o f c h i l d r e n , r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n , num ber o f
p r e v io u s m a rr ia g e s — s e rv e a s ex am p les o f f a c t o r s w h ich
c o u ld h e l p p ro v id e a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e sam ple o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g c o u p le s . C o n t r o ll in g th e s e f a c t o r s w ould
s tr e n g t h e n th e f i n a l v a l i d a t i o n f o r th e in s tru m e n t p r e d i c t
in g le n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
V a r ia t io n s i n r e s e a r c h dwai cm .. — i f th e f i n d i n g s o f
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y a r e a c c e p te d a s v a l i d f o r c o u p le s s e e k in g
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n th e l o c a l a r e a , f u tu r e r e s e a r c h
s h o u ld be d e s ig n e d to v a l i d a t e th e in s tru m e n t f o r th e
g e n e r a l p o p u la tio n . T e s ts sh o u ld be a d m in is te r e d i n
s e l e c t e d m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i n i c s i n c i t i e s a c r o s s th e
c o u n try to c o n t r o l f o r v a r i a t i o n s i n human b e h a v io r , coun
s e l o r s , and m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g te c h n iq u e s . Such a p r o
j e c t e d s tu d y i s f r a u g h t w ith many d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r r e l i a b l e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t e s t s and p r o c e s s in g th e t e s t r e s u l t s .
The p r o j e c t would be e x p e n s iv e and tim e -c o n su m in g . R e s u lts
o f su ch a n e x te n d e d p r o j e c t w ould be d is c o u r a g in g an d f r u s
t r a t i n g , H ow ever, o n ly w ith t e s t - r e t e s t p ro c e d u re s an d
th e u t i l i z a t i o n o f p r o p e r c o n t r o l s c a n su ch t e s t s c a l e s be
s ta n d a r d iz e d f o r m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i e n t s .
The f o llo w in g l i s t s u g g e s ts p o s s i b le s ta g e s f o r th e
r e f in e m e n t and f i n a l v a l i d a t i o n o f th e s t u d y 's p e r s o n a l i t y
and i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s :
1 . P la n a r e t e s t w ith th e same r e s e a r c h d e s ig n and
138
a l a r g e r sam ple o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c o u p le s*
2 , I f th e r e s u l t s o f th e r e t e s t a r e p o s i t i v e , a
s tu d y s h o u ld be a tte m p te d w ith c o n t r o l g ro u p s o f r e p r e s e n *
t a t i v e sam ple s u b j e c t s i n v a r io u s r e g io n s o f th e o o u n try *
R e s e a rc h d e s ig n and m eth o d o lo g y s h o u ld be r e f i n e d i n
a c c o rd a n c e w ith r e s u l t s o f e a c h new s ta g e o f th e p r o je c t*
3* The in s tr u m e n t s h o u ld be com pared w ith o t h e r
s i m i l a r t e s t s c a l e s an d w ith th e t h e r a p i s t 's c l i n i o a l
ju d g m en t in ea ch sam ple c a s e . Such a p r o c e s s w ould n o t
o n ly r e f i n e th e p r e s e n t in s tr u m e n t, b u t w ould p ro d u c e new
t e s t ite m s an d s c a l e s w ith a b i l i t y to p r e d i c t l e n g t h o f
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The n e x t s t e p o f th e p r o j e c t w ould be to co n
s t r u c t th e f i n a l t e s t in s tr u m e n t w h ich b e s t m e a su re s f a c
t o r s p r e d i c t i n g lo n g - te r m o r s h o r t- te r m p ro g ram s o f co u n
s e lin g * The in s tr u m e n t w ould c o n t a in t e s t ite m s w h ich
r e l i a b l y p r e d ic te d l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g i n a t
l e a s t f o u r p r e v io u s s t a g e s o f r e s e a r c h .
5 . The f i n a l s t e p o f th e l o n g i t u d i n a l p r o j e c t
sh o u ld r e t e s t th e f i n a l in s tr u m e n t s c a l e s w ith a l a r g e ,
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e sam ple o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g o o u p le s i n
c l i n i c s lo c a te d i n v a r i o u s r e g io n s o f th e c o u n tr y . The
f i n a l s t e p w ould be a c o n t in u a l p r o c e s s o f r e t e s t and
r e f in e m e n t u n t i l th e in s tr u m e n t w as a c c e p te d a s r e l i a b l e
and v a l i d f o r p r e d i c t i n g th e l e n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
Validation of Other Instruments
In the original design of the present study other
tests and test scales were proposed to measure personality
and interpersonal factors essential to the study. Since
the sta tistica l data of the present scales showed in itia l
correlation of scale items with predicting length of mar-
riage counseling, it is suggested that the other scales
should be tested for reliab ility in the longitudinal study.
The following are only a few suggested instruments
believed to be capable of predicting length of marriage
counseling.
The M a Scale of the M M P I was considered as a meas
urement of personality factors associated with length of
counseling, but the scale appeared to have too few items
essential for the study. T he hypothesis for testing the
M a Scale would have been that a high M a score was asso
ciated with the Short-term group in marriage counseling.
The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule was pro
posed as an instrument measuring personality factors for
this study. T he E P P S was designed primarily as an instru
ment for research and counseling purposes—to provide
quick and convenient measures of a num ber of relatively
independent normal personality variables. T he suggested
hypotheses were that at least three scales of E P P S should
correlate with extended counseling or therapy. A high
ik o
s c o r e on th e E n d u ran ce s c a l e , a h ig h s c o re on th e D e fe re n c e
s c a l e , and a low s c o re on th e Autonomy s c a l e w ould b e a s s o
c i a t e d w ith th e w i l l i n g n e s s and c a p a b i l i t y to c o n tin u e
th e r a p y o v e r an e x te n d e d p e r io d o f tim e .
I t had b een s u g g e s te d t h a t th e I n t e r p e r s o n a l C heck
l i s t m easu red i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e
l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . The h y p o th e s is f o r t h i s
s tu d y w ould have b ee n ( u s in g th e v a l i d a t e d s ta n d a r d s c o r e s )
t h a t t h e r e was a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b etw een S h o r t- te r m
and L o n g -term g ro u p s c o r e s on th e Lov-Dom a x i s o f t h e ICL.
L o n g itu d in a l s t u d i e s m ig h t a l s o f i n d a c l i e n t 's s ta n d a r d
s c o re l o c a t e d i n a p a r t i c u l a r s e c t o r o f th e ICL c h a r t c o r
r e l a t e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y w ith e i t h e r S h o r t- te r m o r L o n g -term
m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
The E th n o c e n tris m (E th ) S c a le o f th e MMPI s h o u ld be
t e s t e d a s a p r e d i c t i v e s c a le f o r l e n g t h o f m a rria g e co u n
s e l i n g . B a rro n d e v e lo p e d h i s Ego S tr e n g th (E s ) S c a le from
b a c k g ro u n d s t u d i e s o f th e E th S c a l e T o u g a s u se d th e E th
2
S c a le i n h i s stu d y o f p e r s o n a l i t y c h a n g e . The h y p o th e s is
f o r t h i s s tu d y w ould be t h a t e x tre m e ly h ig h s c o r e s on th e
1 F ran k B a rro n , "An E g o -S tr e n g th S c a le W hich P r e
d i c t s R esp o n se to P s y c h o th e ra p y ," J o u r n a l o f C o n s u ltin g
P s y c h o lo g y , XVII ( 1 9 5 3 ), 3 2 7 -3 3 .
2C a rl R. R o g ers and R . F . Dymond, P s y c h o th e ra p y
and P e r s o n a l i t y Change (C h ic a g o : The U n iv e r s it y o f C hicago
P r e s s , 1 $ 5 * 0 .
Ibl
E th S c a le i n d i c a t e p e r s o n a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s c o r r e l a t e d
w ith e a r l y te r m i n a ti o n from m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
F i n a l l y , th e u s e o f H u r v i tz ’ In d e x o f M a r it a l
S t r a i n and th e B u rg e ss and W a llin I n v e n to iy m ig h t be t e s t e d
i n f u t u r e r e s e a r c h * They d e a l w ith f a c t o r s c o r r e l a t e d w ith
s u c o e s s i n m a r r ia g e , b u t th o s e same f a c t o r s may a l s o pro**
v id e some o f th e o o u p l e 's m o tiv a tio n to co m p le te a s u c
c e s s f u l m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g p ro g ra m .
S u g g e s tio n s f o r R e la te d R e s e a rc h
The f i n d i n g s i n C h a p te r IV r e g a r d in g s o c i a l c h a r
a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e sam p le s u b je c t s s u g g e s t a d d i t i o n a l
r e s e a r c h c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to th e p r e s e n t s tu d y . The f o llo w
in g s u g g e s tio n s a r e th o s e c l o s e l y enough a l l i e d w ith th e
p r e s e n t s tu d y to be c o n s id e r e d i n f u t u r e r e s e a r c h d e s ig n s
1 . The num ber o f " S h o r t- te r m ” c o u p le s o v e r f o r t y
y e a r s o f ag e i n th e sam p le em p h asized t h a t th e ag e l e v e l
was s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t in th e two sam ple g r o u p s . I t
may be s p e c u la te d t h a t c l i e n t s n ee d d i f f e r e n t ty p e s an d
te c h n iq u e s o f c o u n s e lin g a t c e r t a i n a g e s i n l i f e . M o tiv a
t i o n to c o m p le te m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g may be d i f f e r e n t a t
v a r io u s ag e l e v e l s . Wide d i s p a r i t y i n th e a g e s o f th e
m a rrie d p a i r may p ro v id e d i f f e r e n c e s i n th e m o tiv a tio n s
f o r lo n g - te r m m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g . T hese an d o t h e r ag e
f a c t o r s s h o u ld be t e s t e d f o r p o s s i b le c o r r e l a t i o n w ith
le n g th o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g .
l*+2
2• R e s e a rc h s h o u ld t e s t th e c o r r e l a t i o n o f s o c io
econom ic f a c t o r s w ith l e n g t h o f m a rr ia g e c o u n s e lin g . In
th e p r e s e n t s tu d y th e a v e ra g e incom e o f th e sam p le c o u p le s
w as a b o v e th e a v e ra g e incom e f o r th e g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n .
Though th e m odal In d e x o f S o c ia l P o s i t i o n o f th e sam p le w as
C la s s 3 (M id d le C l a s s ) , th e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t a b l e s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e sam p le o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g c l i e n t s
w ere e c o n o m ic a lly an d e d u c a t i o n a l l y h i g h e r th a n a v e ra g e
f o r g e n e r a l p o p u l a t io n . The f i n d i n g s s u p p o r t p r e v io u s
s p e c u l a t i o n s r e g a r d in g th e econom ic l e v e l o f m a rria g e
c o u n s e lin g c l i e n t s , b u t in t e n s e r e s t u d l e s sh o u ld r e t e s t
th e a s s o c i a t i o n s o f s o c io -e c o n o m ic f a c t o r s w ith m a rr ia g e
c o u n s e lin g .
3. In this study there appeared to be a wide dis
parity in the educational levels of the two sample groups.
Education was found (in Scale One) to be a predictive item
for separating "Long-term" couples from "Short-term"
couples, ftiture studies should continue to identify these
characteristics which are associated with marital adjust
ment and with motivations to complete the marriage coun
seling program.
A l o n g i t u d i n a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s h o u ld c o r r e
l a t e t h e r e l i g i o u s a f f i l i a t i o n o f th e c o u p le s w ith l e n g t h
o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e lin g . No a tte m p t w as made i n t h i s s tu d y
t o c o r r e l a t e l e n g t h o f m a rria g e c o u n s e lin g w ith r e l i g i o u s
a f f i l i a t i o n * An a t t e m p t t o s tu d y t h e a s s o c i a t i o n o f i n t e r
f a i t h m a r r ia g e s w ith l e n g t h o f c o u n s e l in g w as th w a r te d
b e c a u s e t h e r e w ere few d i f f e r e n c e s i n m a te s ' r e l i g i o u s
a f f i l i a t i o n * S in c e p r e v io u s m a r i t a l a d ju s tm e n t s t u d i e s
h a v e fo u n d i n t e r f a i t h m a r r ia g e s a s s o c i a t e d w ith p o o r a d j u s t
m e n t, i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t f u t u r e r e s e a r c h t e s t th e c o r r e
l a t i o n o f i n t e r f a i t h m a r r ia g e s w ith l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e
c o u n s e lin g * S uch a s tu d y may a l s o d i s c o v e r a c o r r e l a t i o n
b e tw e e n e a c h r e l i g i o u s f a i t h an d l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e c o u n
s e l i n g .
5* F u tu r e r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s s h o u ld s e e k d e f i n i t i v e
m e th o d o lo g y t o c o n t r o l e x tr a n e o u s f a c t o r s w h io h c a u s e t e r
m in a tio n o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e lin g * E ven i f a r e l i a b l e s c a l e
w ere v a l i d a t e d f o r p r e d i c t i n g l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g
t h e r e i s no m eth o d to c o n t r o l o t h e r f a c t o r s w h ic h c a u s e a
c o u p le to t e r m i n a t e b e f o r e a c h ie v i n g s u c c e s s f u l m a r r ia g e
c o u n s e lin g * I n f lu e n c e o f p e e r g ro u p an d s i g n i f i c a n t
o t h e r s , i l l n e s s e s , c a t a s t r o p h e s , d e f i c i e n t f i n a n c e s , a r e
o n ly a few f a c t o r s c a u s in g t e r m i n a t i o n o f c o u n s e l in g .
L o n g itu d in a l s t u d i e s s h o u ld d e v e lo p m e th o d s to c o n t r o l
t h e s e f a c t o r s o r t o h o ld th em c o n s t a n t w h ile th e p r e d i c t i v e
i n s t r u m e n t i s a d m i n i s t e r e d to t h e m a r r ie d c o u p l e . The
c o u p l e 's m o ti v a ti o n f o r m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g , th e c o u p l e 's
e x p e c t a t i o n s o f w h a t th e y w i l l r e c e i v e i n c o u n s e l i n g , an d
t h e c o u p l e 's r e l a t i o n s h i p an d c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith t h e
1M+
t h e r a p i s t — p r o v id e e x a m p le s o f p r o v o c a t i v e r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s
e s s e n t i a l t o th e f i n a l r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e p r e s e n t t e s t
i n s t r u m e n t •
Summary
The f i r s t s t a g e o f a n a t t e m p t t o d e v e lo p a n i n s t r u
m en t to p r e d i c t l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g a c c o m p lis h e d
some p o s i t i v e ( th o u g h t e n t a t i v e ) r e s u l t s . When r e s p o n s e s
o f L o n g -te rm a n d S h o r t - t e r m g ro u p s o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g
c o u p l e s w e re t e s t e d w i t h c h i - s q u a r e s t a t i s t i c s , f o u r o f
t h e p r o j e c t ' s t e s t s c a l e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y s e p a r a t e d t h e two
g r o u p s o f c o u p l e s . The s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a i n d i c a t e d t h a t
w ith r e p l i c a t i o n a n d t e s t - r e t e s t p r o c e d u r e s t h e Ego S tr e n g th
S c a le a n d t h e t h r e e i n t e r p e r s o n a l s c a l e s may b e p o t e n t i a l
p r e d i c t i v e i n s t r u m e n t s f o r l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g .
I t s h o u ld n o t b e assu m ed t h a t t h e f i n d i n g s o f th e
s tu d y a r e c o n c l u s i v e o r t h a t t h e t e s t s o a l e s h a v e b e e n
v a l i d a t e d a s p r e d i c t i v e i n s t r u m e n t s . F u r t h e r s t e p s i n t h i s
l o n g i t u d i n a l s tu d y m u st ( a ) i n c r e a s e t h e sa m p le s i z e ,
( b ) r e f i n e t h e r e s e a r c h d e s i g n , ( c ) w e ig h t a n d a s s i g n
s t a n d a r d s c o r e s t o i n d i v i d u a l t e s t i t e m s , a n d ( d ) r e t e s t
th e s c a l e s i n v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y . The p r e
l i m i n a r y d a t a o f t h i s s tu d y a r e p r e s e n t e d w i t h th e h o p e
t h a t th e y a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y p o s i t i v e t o e n c o u ra g e l o n g i t u d i
n a l s t u d i e s o f th e p e r s o n a l i t y a n d i n t e r p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s
a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h e l e n g t h o f m a r r ia g e c o u n s e l i n g .
*
A P P E N D I X
APPENDIX
C l i n i c C ase N u ab er_
C l i n i c o r C o u n s e lo r
C l i n i c A d d re ss '
* * * * * * * * * *
BASIC INFORMATION SHEET
C l i e n t 's O c c u p a tio n __________________________________
FAMILY In co n e_________________________________________
C l i e n t 's A g e ______________________
R e lig io u s F a i t h :
C a t h o l i c Ot h e r
J e w ish _______ None
^ P ro te s ta n t
E d u c a tio n A ch iev ed :
Po s t G ra d u a te _______ H igh S ch o o l G ra d u a te
_______ C o lle g e G ra d u ate _______ C om pleted 8t h G rade
_______ 1~3 Y e a rs C o lle g e _______ L e ss th a n 8t h G rade
E th n ic G roup:
C a u c a s ia n
N egro
O r ie n ta l
O th e r
Ib7
M A R R I A G E C O U N S E L IN G IN T E R A C T IO N A L S C A L E
a C A L B I C M a T eT
(Will you please read carefully through the alternative
answers to each question, and then m ake an M X " In the one
which you feel most adequately describes the relationship
of you and your wife.)
1 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r a g e an d y o u r w i f e 's
a g e ?
( a ) W e a r e th e same age*
(b ) I am o l d e r by l e s s th a n 5 y e a r s .
( c ) My w ife i s o l d e r by l e s s th a n 5 y e a r s .
(d ) I am o ld e r by m ore th a n 5 y e a r s .
( e ) My w ife i s o l d e r by more th a n 5 y e a r s .
2 . W hat i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r r e l i g i o u s f a i t h s ?
( a ) W e a r e b o th o f th e same f a i t h .
( b ) I was c o n v e rte d to my w i f e 's f a i t h .
(c) M y w ife w as c o n v e rte d to my f a i t h .
( d ) My w ife a t t e n d s h e r f a i t h ; I do n o t a t t e n d .
( e ) I a t t e n d my f a i t h ; my w ife d o e s n o t a t t e n d .
3* How do y o u p la n an d a d m in is t e r y o u r fa m ily b u d g e t?
( a ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r and a d m in is t e r i t to g e t h e r
(b ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r , and I a d m i n is t e r i t .
( c ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r , an d my w ife a d m in is t e r s i t .
(d ) I p la n i t an d a d m in is t e r i t .
_ ( e ) My w ife p la n s i t and a d m in is t e r s i t .
1 + * What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r e d u c a tio n a l b a c k -
?
ro u n d s ?
a ) W e b o th h av e same am ount o f e d u c a tio n .
( b ) I have b etw e en 0 and y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n th a n
my w if e .
( c ) I have b etw een b- and 8 y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n th a n
my w if e .
(d ) M y w ife h a s b etw e en 0 and y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n
th a n I .
( e ) M y w ife h a s b etw e en b and 8 y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n
th a n I .
5* What i s th e fa m ily p a t t e r n o f a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s ?
_ _ _ ( a ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith m u tu a l f r i e n d s .
( b ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith my f r i e n d s .
( c ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith my w i f e 's f r i e n d s .
(d ) T h ere i s l i t t l e m u tu a l a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s .
( e ) T h ere i s no m u tu a l a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s .
H+8
SCALE I (Male)
6 . What l a y o u r f a m ily p a t t e r n f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l
a c t i v i t i e s ?
( a ) W e h o th a g r e e on o u r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s .
( b ) Our i n t e r e s t s v a r y , b u t we c o o p e r a t e .
( c ) tty i n t e r e s t s p re d o m in a te .
( d ) tty w i f e 's i n t e r e s t s p re d o m in a te .
( e ) W e h av e no m u tu a l r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s .
7 . How lo n g w ere y o u and y o u r w ife en g ag ed p r e v io u s
t o m a rria g e ?
( a ) 12 m onths o r m o re.
( b ) 9 to 12 m o n th s .
( c ) 6 to 8 m o n th s.
(d ) 3 to 5 m o n th s.
( e ) 2 m onths o r l e s s .
8 . How lo n g h av e y o u an d y o u r w ife b ee n m a rrie d ?
_ _ _ ( a ) 15 y e a r s o r m o re.
( b ) 10 y e a r s o r m o re.
( c ) 5 y e a r s o r m o re .
____ ( d ) 3 y e a r s o r m o re.
( e ) L e ss th a n 3 y e a r s .
9 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r p r e v io u s m a rr ia g e s ?
( a ) N e ith e r one o f u s p r e v io u s ly m a r r ie d .
( b ) One m ate no p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e ; one m ate one
p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e .
( c ) E ach m ate one p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e .
(d ) E ach m ate h ad two p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e s .
( e ) E ach m ate h ad more th a n two p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e s .
1 0 . Have y o u had h o s t i l e s e p a r a t i o n s from y o u r w ife ?
( a ) N ev e r.
( b ) 1 o r 2 tim e s .
( c ) 3 o r * * tim e s .
( d ) 5 o r 6 tim e s .
( e ) More th a n 6 t i m e s .
1 1 . How lo n g h av e y o u b e e n s e p a r a te d fro m y o u r w ife t h i s
tim e ?
( a ) N e v e r.
(b ) 1 to 3 d a y s .
( c ) b to 7 d a y s .
( d ) 8 to 1* + d a y s .
( e ) More th a n 1 * + d a y s .
3>9
SCALE I (Male)
1 2 . My own c h ild h o o d was a
( a ) E x tre m e ly h a p p y .
( b ) Q u ite h a p p y .
( o ) H appy.
( d ) S l i g h t l y u n h a p p y .
Ce) V ery u n h a p p y .
1 3 . My p a r e n t s ' m a rria g e was*
( a ) E x tre m e ly h a p p y .
( b ) Q u ite h a p p y .
( 0 ) H appy.
(d ) S l i g h t l y u n h a p p y .
( e ) V ery u n h a p p y .
l*f. Hy p a r e n t s ' a t t i t u d e s to w ard my p r o s p e c tiv e m ate w ere:
( a ) H igh a p p r o v a l.
( b ) A p p ro v a l.
( c ) I n d i f f e r e n t .
( d ) S l i g h t d i s a p p r o v a l.
_ _ _ ( e ) S tro n g d i s a p p r o v a l .
1 5 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f d iv o r c e s i n y o u r f a m ily
an d in y o u r w i f e 's fa m ily ?
( a ) T h ere h a s b e e n no d iv o r c e i n e i t h e r im m ed iate
f a m il y .
(b ) N e ith e r o f o u r p a r e n ts w ere d iv o r c e d .
( c ) p a r e n t s w ere d iv o r c e d ; my w i f e 's w ere n o t .
(d ) M y w i f e '8 p a r e n t s w ere d iv o r c e d ; m ine w ere n o t .
( e ) B o th my p a r e n t s and my w i f e 's p a r e n ts w ere
d iv o r c e d .
150
M A R R I A G E C O U N S E L IN G IN T E R A C T IO N A L S C A L E S C A L E I CIntensity)
S c a le !fl ( k a le ) ' ( a ) Very much s o .
(b) Considerably.
(M ake an " X " in the correct soale (c) Somewhat,
category) (d) A l i t t l e .
(e) Not at a ll.
( a ) (b ) ( c ) (d ) ( e )
1 . I t h i n k t h a t I w elcom e my w i f e 's
s u r a e s t i o n s .
2 . I t h i n k t h a t my w ife w elcom es my
s u g g e s tio n s .
3 . I t h i n k t h a t my w ife i s a good
h o u s e k e e p e r.
*f. My w if e th in k s t h a t I am a good
p r o v i d e r .
5 . I t h i n k t h a t my w if e i s a good
p a r e n t to o u r c h i l d r e n .
6 . My w ife th i n k s t h a t I am a good
p a r e n t to o u r c h i l d r e n .
7 . I t h i n k t h a t my w ife i s s e x u a lly
f a i t h f u l to me.
8 . M y w ife th i n k s t h a t I am s e x u a lly
f a i t h f u l t o - h e r .
9 . I t h i n k t h a t my w i f e 's fa m ily
c a u s e s o u r q u a r r e l s .
1 0 . M y w ife th i n k s t h a t my fa m ily
c a u s e s o u r q u a r r e l s .
1 1 . I t h i n k t h a t my w ife i s n e a t in
h e r p e r s o n a l a p p e a r a n c e .
1 2 . My w if e th in k s t h a t I am n e a t
i n my p e r s o n a l a p p e a r a n c e .
1 3 . I t h i n k t h a t my w if e w a n ts to o
much a f f e c t i o n .
lb. M y w ife th i n k s t h a t I w ant to o
much a f f e c t i o n .
15* I t h i n k t h a t my w ife i s to o
moody and u n p r e d i c t a b l e .
i5l
Soale II (Male)
16 * Ify w ife th i n k s t h a t I am to o
moody an d u n p r e d i c t a b l e .
( a ) (b ) ( c ) ( d ) ( e )
1 7 . I t h i n k t h a t a y w if e "com es f i r s t "
i n my a f f e c t i o n *
I d . M y w ife th i n k s t h a t 1 "come
f i r s t " i n h e r a f f e c t i o n .
1 9 . I t h i n k t h a t a y w ife " n e g le c ts "
me i n a g ro u p o f p e o p le .
2 0 . Hy w if e th i n k s t h a t I " n e g le c t"
h e r i n a g ro u p o f p e o p le .
152
MARRIAGE COUNSELING INTERACTIONAL SCALE SCALE» ( I n t e n s i t y )
SCALE lit (M ale) ( a ) V ery much s o .
(b ) C o n s id e ra b ly .
(Make an nX" I n th e c o r r e c t s c a le ( c ) Som ewhat,
c a te g o r y ) (d ) A l i t t l e .
( e ) Not a t a l l .
( a ) (b ) ( c ) ( d ) ( e )
1 . I t h i n k t h a t we a r e s e x u a lly
c o m p a tib le •
2 . My w ife th in k s t h a t we a r e
s e x u a lly c o m p a tib le .
*
3 . I t h in k t h a t I am a c o o p e ra tiv e
m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
^ • Hy w ife th in k s t h a t I am a c o o p e ra
t i v e m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
5 . I th in k t h a t my w ife i s a c o o p e ra
t i v e m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
6 . M y w ife th in k s t h a t she i s a
c o o p e r a tiv e m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
7 . I th in k t h a t we q u a r r e l a b o u t
money p ro b le m s.
8 . M y w ife th in k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
a b o u t money p ro b le m s .
9 . I t h in k t h a t we q u a r r e l o v e r
who i s " b o s s .”
1 0 . tty w ife th in k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
o v e r who i s " b o s s ."
1 1 . I t h in k t h a t we q u a r r e l o v e r s e x .
1 2 . M y w ife th in k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
o v e r s e x .
1 3 . I t h in k t h a t o u r m a rria g e h a s
h e lp e d me to be a b e t t e r p e rs o n .
I 1 *. My w ife th in k s t h a t o u r m a rria g e
h a s h e lp e d me to b e a b e t t e r
p e r s o n .
153
SCALE III (Male)
( a ) (b ) ( c ) ( d ) ( e )
1 5 . I t h i n k t h a t o u r m a rria g e h a s
h e lp e d my w ife to b e a b e t t e r
p e r s o n .
1 6 . My w if e t h i n k s t h a t o u r m a rria g e
h a s h e lp e d h e r to be a b e t t e r
p e r s o n .
1 7 . I t h i n k t h a t b a s i c a l l y we h av e
a "good m a r r ia g e ."
1 8 . My w if e th i n k s t h a t b a s i c a l l y we
h av e a "good m a r r ia g e ."
1 9 . 1 t h i n k t h a t we q u a r r e l to o much
o v e r s m a ll m a t t e r s .
2 0 . Hy w ife th i n k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
to o much o v e r s m a ll m a t t e r s .
C l in ic C ase Number__
C l in ic o r C o u n s e lo r
C l in ic A d d re ss ’
* * * * * * * * * *
BASIC INFORMATION SHEET
C l i e n t 's O c c u p a tio n _______________________________________________
FAMILY In co n e
C l i e n t 's A g e ______________________
R e lig io u s F a i t h :
_______ C a th o lic _______ O th e r
J e w is h _______ None
_______ P r o t e s t a n t
E d u c a tio n A ch ie v ed :
Po s t G ra d u a te _______ H igh S ch o o l G ra d u a te
C o lle g e G ra d u a te C om pleted 8t h G rade
_______ 1 -3 Y ea rs C o lle g e Le s s th a n 8t h G rade
E th n ic G roup:
C a u c a sia n
‘ N egro
O r ie n ta l
O th e r
155
MARRIAGE COUNSELING INTERACTIONAL SCALE
SflJLLE I ( f c m a ir r ------------------------------------------
(W ill y o u p le a s e r e a d c a r e f u l l y th r o u g h th e a l t e r n a t i v e
a n s w e rs to e a c h q u e s t i o n , an d th e n make a n "X” i n t h e one
w h ich y o u f e e l m ost a d e q u a te ly d e s c r i b e s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p
o f y o u an d y o u r h u s b a n d .)
1 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r a g e an d y o u r h u s b a n d 's
a g e ?
( a ) W e a r e th e same a g e .
(b ) Ity h u sb an d i s o l d e r by l e s s th a n 5 y e a r s .
( c ) I am o l d e r by l e s s th a n 5 y e a r s .
(d ) My h u sb an d i s o l d e r by m ore th a n 5 y e a r s .
( e ) I am o l d e r by m ore th a n 5 y e a r s .
2 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r r e l i g i o u s f a i t h ?
( a ) W e a r e b o th o f th e same f a i t h .
(b ) M y h u sb an d w as c o n v e rte d to my f a i t h .
( c ) I w as c o n v e rte d to my h u s b a n d 's f a i t h .
( d ) I a t t e n d my f a i t h ; my h u sb an d d o e s n o t a t t e n d .
( e ) My h u sb an d a t t e n d s h i s f a i t h ; I do n o t a t t e n d .
3 . How do y o u p la n an d a d m in is t e r y o u r fa m ily b u d g e t?
( a ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r and a d m i n is t e r i t t o g e t h e r .
( b ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r , and my h u sb a n d a d m in is t e r s i t .
( c ) W e p la n t o g e t h e r , and I a d m i n i s t e r i t .
( d ) My h u sb an d p la n s and a d m i n i s t e r s i t .
( e ) I p la n an d a d m in is t e r i t .
What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r e d u c a tio n a l b a c k
g ro u n d s ?
( a ) W e b o th h av e same am ount o f e d u c a tio n .
(b) My h u sb an d h a s b etw een 0 and y e a r s m ore e d u c a
t i o n th a n 1 .
( c ) Ity h u sb a n d h a s b etw een and 8 y e a r s more e d u c a
t i o n th a n I .
(d ) I have b etw een 0 and y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n th a n
my h u sb a n d .
_ _ _ ( e ) I h av e b etw e en k and 8 y e a r s m ore e d u c a tio n th a n
my h u sb a n d .
5 . What i s th e fa m ily p a t t e r n o f a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r ie n d s ?
( a ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith m u tu a l f r i e n d s .
(b ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith my h u s b a n d 's f r i e n d s .
( c ) W e a s s o c i a t e w ith my f r i e n d s
(d ) T h ere i s l i t t l e m u tu a l a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s .
( e ) T h ere i s no m u tu a l a s s o c i a t i o n w ith f r i e n d s .
156
SCALE I (Female)
6 . W hat i s y o u r f a m il y p a t t e r n f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i
t i e s ?
( a ) We b o th a g r e e o n o u r r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s .
( b ) O ur I n t e r e s t s v a r y , b u t we o o o p e r a t e .
( o ) My h u s b a n d 's I n t e r e s t s p r e d o m in a te .
( d ) My i n t e r e s t s p r e d o m in a te .
Ce) W e h a v e n o m u tu a l r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s .
7 . How lo n g w ere y o u a n d y o u r h u sb a n d en g a g ed p r e v io u s
t o m a r r ia g e ?
( a ) 12 m o n th s o r m o re .
( b ) 9 t o 12 m o n th s .
( c ) 6 to 8 m o n th s .
( d ) 3 t o 5 m o n th s .
( e ) 2 m o n th s o r l e s s .
8 . How lo n g h a v e y o u a n d y o u r h u sb a n d b e e n m a r r ie d ?
( a ) 15 y e a r s o r m o re .
( b ) 10 y e a r s o r m o re .
_ ( c ) 5 y e a r s o r m o re .
( d ) 3 y e a r s o r m o re .
_ _ ( e ) L e s s th a n t h r e e y e a r s .
9 . W hat l a t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f y o u r p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e s ?
( a ) N e i t h e r o n e o f u s p r e v i o u s l y m a r r ie d .
( b ) One m ate n o p r e v io u s m a r r ia g e ; one m ate one
p r e v io u s m a r r i a g e .
( o ) E a c h m ate o n e p r e v io u s m a r r i a g e .
( d ) E ac h m ate h a d two p r e v io u s m a r r i a g e s .
( e ) E a c h m ate h ad m ore th a n tw o p r e v io u s m a r r i a g e s .
1 0 . Have y o u h ad h o s t i l e s e p a r a t i o n s fro m y o u r h u s b a n d ?
( a ) N e v e r.
( b ) 1 o r 2 t i m e s .
( c ) 3 o r ^ t i m e s .
( d ) 5 o r 6 t i m e s .
( e ) M ore th a n 6 t i m e s .
1 1 . How lo n g h a v e y o u b e e n s e p a r a t e d fro m y o u r h u sb a n d
t h i s tim e ?
( a ) N e v e r,
( b ) 1 t o 3 d a y s .
( c ) V t o 7 d a y s .
( d ) 8 t o l*f d a y s .
( e ) More th a n l*f d a y s .
157
SCALE I (Female)
1 2 . tty own c h ild h o o d v a s t
( a ) E x tre m e ly h a p p y .
( b ) Q u ite h a p p y .
( c ) H appy.
( d ) S l i g h t l y u n h a p p y .
( e ) V ery u n h a p p y .
1 3 * tty p a r e n t s ' m a r r ia g e v a s t
( a ) E x tre m e ly h a p p y .
(b ) Q u ite h a p p y .
( c ) H appy.
( d ) S l i g h t l y u n h a p p y .
( e ) V ery u n h a p p y .
I 1 * , tty p a r e n t s ' a t t i t u d e s to w a rd my p r o s p e c tiv e m a te w e re :
( a ) H ig h a p p r o v a l .
(b ) A p p ro v a l.
( c ) I n d i f f e r e n t .
( d ) S l i g h t d i s a p p r o v a l .
( e ) S tro n g d i s a p p r o v a l .
1 5 . What i s th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f d i v o r c e s i n y o u r f a m ily
an d y o u r h u s b a n d 's f a m ily ?
( a ) T h ere h a s b e e n no d iv o r c e i n e i t h e r im m ed ia te
f a m il y .
( b ) N e ith e r o f o u r p a r e n t s w ere d iv o r c e d .
( c ) tty h u s b a n d 's p a r e n t s w ere d iv o r c e d ; m ine w ere n o t*
( d ) tty p a r e n t s w e re d iv o r c e d ; my h u s b a n d 's p a r e n t s
w ere n o t .
( e ) B o th my p a r e n t s and my h u s b a n d 's p a r e n t s w ere
d iv o r c e d .
158
M A R R I A G E C O U N S E L IN G IN T E R A C T IO N A L S C A L E S C A L E « (Intensity)
S C A L E II (fremaiel (a; Very m uch so.
(b) Considerably.
(M ake an " X " in the correct scale (o) Somewhat,
category) (d) A l i t t l e .
(e) Not at a ll.
( a ) (b ) ( c ) ( d ) ( e )
1 . M y h u sb an d w elcom es my s u g g e s tio n s .
2 . I t h i n k t h a t I w elcom e my h u s
b a n d 's s u g g e s tio n s .
3 . My h u sb a n d t h i n k s t h a t I am a
good h o u s e k e e p e r.
I t h i n k t h a t my h u sb an d i s a
good p r o v id e r .
5 . tty h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I sun a good
p a r e n t to o u r c h i l d r e n .
6 . I t h i n k t h a t my h u sb an d i s a good
p a r e n t t o o u r c h i l d r e n .
7 . M y h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I am
s e x u a lly f a i t h f u l to h im .
8 . I t h i n k t h a t my h u sb a n d i s
s e x u a lly f a i t h f u l to me.
9 . tty h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t my fa m ily
c a u s e s o u r q u a r r e l s .
1 0 . I t h i n k t h a t my h u s b a n d 's fa m ily
c a u s e s o u r q u a r r e l s .
1 1 . tty h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I am n e a t
i n my p e r s o n a l a p p e a r a n c e .
1 2 . I t h i n k t h a t my h u sb a n d i s n e a t
i n h i s p e r s o n a l a p p e a r a n c e .
1 3 . h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I w ant
to o much a f f e c t i o n .
I 1 *. I t h i n k t h a t my h u sb a n d w an ts
to o much a f f e c t i o n .
1 5 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I am to o
moody an d u n p r e d i c t a b l e .
159
SCALE I I (Pemale)
U'*
(b ) (o ) (d ) ( e )
16* I t h i n k t h a t ay h u sb a n d i s to o
moody and u n p r e d ic ta b le *
17* My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I "come
f i r s t ” i n h i s a f f e c t i o n *
1 8 . I t h i n k t h a t ay h u sb an d "com es
f i r s t " in my a f f e c t i o n .
19* M y h u sb an d th i n k s t h a t I " n e g le c t"
him i n a group*
2 0 . I t h in k t h a t ay h u sb an d " n e g le c ts "
me i n a g ro u p .
160
MARRIAGE COUNSELING INTERACTIONAL SCALE SCALE: ( I n t e n s t i v )
Scale t i l (F em ale ) ( a ) V e ry s u c h s o .
( b ) C o n s id e r a b ly .
(Make a n "X" in th e c o r r e c t s c a l e ( c ) Som ew hat,
c a te g o r y ) ( d ) A l i t t l e .
( e ) Mot a t a l l .
( a ) (b ) ( c ) ( d ) ( e )
1 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t we a r e
s e x u a l ly c o m p a tib le .
2 . I t h i n k t h a t we a r e s e x u a lly
c o m p a tib le .
3* My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t he i s a
c o o p e r a tiv e m a r r ia g e p a r t n e r .
*+• I t h i n k t h a t he i s a c o o p e r a tiv e
m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
5 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t I am a
c o o p e r a tiv e m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
6 . I t h i n k t h a t I am a c o o p e r a tiv e
m a rria g e p a r t n e r .
7 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
a b o u t money p ro b le m s .
3 . I t h i n k t h a t we q u a r r e l a b o u t
money p ro b le m s .
9 . My h u sb an d th i n k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
o v e r who i s " b o s s ."
1 0 . I t h i n k t h a t we q u a r r e l o v e r who
i s " b o s s ."
1 1 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
o v e r s e x .
1 2 . I t h i n k t h a t we q u a r r e l o v e r s e x .
1 3 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t o u r
m a rria g e h a s h e lp e d him to be a
b e t t e r p e r s o n .
I 1 *. I t h i n k t h a t o u r m a rria g e h a s
h e lp e d my h u sb an d to be a b e t t e r
p e r s o n .
l 6 l
SCALE I I I (?em ale)
( a ) (b ) ( c ) (d ) (e )
15* My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t o u r m a rria g e
h a s h e lp e d me to be a b e t t e r p e rs o n .
16 • I t h i n k t h a t o u r m a rria g e h a s
h e lp e d me to be a b e t t e r p e r s o n .
1 7 . My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t b a s i c a l l y
we h a v e a "good m a rria g e "
1 8 . I t h in k t h a t b a s i c a l l y we have a
"good m a rria g e "
19* My h u sb an d t h i n k s t h a t we q u a r r e l
to o much o v e r s m a ll m a t t e r s .
2 0 . I t h i n k t h a t we q u a r r e l to o much
o v e r s m a ll m a t t e r s .
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Asset Metadata

Creator Smith, James Rex (author)

Core Title Personality And Interpersonal Factors Associated With The Duration Of Marriage Counseling

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Sociology

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

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,sociology, individual and family studies

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Peterson, James A. (committee chair), Seward, Georgene H. (committee member), Vincent, Melvin J. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-287804

Unique identifier UC11359151

Identifier 6305064.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-287804 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 6305064.pdf

Dmrecord 287804

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Smith, James Rex

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