Common personality patterns among alcoholic males: A multivariate study.

Determined whether the proper combination of measures and multivariate methods would identify homogeneous prototype subgroups of alcoholics with common diagnostic and prognostic characteristics and if these subgroups would reflect known clinical syndromes rather than specialized types. Data from 366 inpatient alcoholic veterans (mean age, 44 yrs) on the Personality Research Form (PRF) and the 16 PF were examined by factor and canonical correlational analysis. The PRF and 16 PF showed substantial and appropriate convergences. Based upon these initial structural analyses, the Lorr correlational clustering procedure was applied to patient profiles composed of selected PRF scales. Contrasts among the 7 obtained types, using the PRF and 16 PF scales as referents, led to a tentative characterization of each type in terms of known psychopathological syndromes (i.e., compulsive, impulsive, aggressive-paranoid, submissive, avoidant-schizoid, asocial-schizoid and narcissistic-psychopathic types). These types are considered suitable for future studies of the Patient Type * Therapy Type variety. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality correlates of volunteers' experiment preferences.

After completing the Personality Research Form (PRF), 178 male and 201 female college students indicated their interest in serving as Ss in each of 14 experiments. These were hypothetical experiments designed to appeal to individuals with various personality characteristics. There were marked sex differences in preferences, consistent with sex-role expectations. Within each sex group, the predicted correlations between the PRF and the experiment preferences were generally significant. Results are discussed in terms of the social psychology of the experiment and particularly the issue of volunteer bias. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Personality Research Form in a Canadian context: Does language make a difference?

Evaluated Form E of the Personality Research Form (PRF-E), using 2,141 male English-speaking and 1,040 male French-speaking Ss (aged 17-24 yrs) in a personnel selection context, quite different from the original PRF college samples. Using several item analysis criteria, 97% of the English PRF-E items and 95% of the French items replicated their effectiveness in this noncollege population. Scale reliabilities for both language groups were within a similar range. A set of 7 linear combinations of PRF-E scales reflecting personality dimensions related to vocational interests yielded reliabilities ranging from .68 to .86. Factor analytic solutions from both language versions showed marked correspondence. Five interpreted factors include: (a) Orientation Toward Work vs Play; (b) Outgoing, Social Leadership; (c) Dependence vs Autonomy; (e) Self-Protective vs Submissive Orientation; and (f) Esthetic-Intellectual. Results support the comparability of the English and French PRF-E versions and their applicability to applied research problems in Canada. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From catalog to classification: Murray's needs and the five-factor model.

The alphabetical list of needs described by Murray (1938) has formed the basis for a number of inventories, including the Personality Research Form (PRF; Jackson, 1984). In an attempt to provide a more meaningful classification of the Murray needs, the scales of Form E of the PRF were examined in relation to the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI; Costa & McCrae, 1985), which measures the five major dimensions of normal personality. Data from 296 adult men and women showed hypothesized correlations on the level of individual scales, and suggested that the Desirability scale of the PRF measures substantive traits when used in a volunteer sample. Although the NEO-PI and PRF have different conceptual origins and measure somewhat different aspects of personality, a joint factor analysis showed that the needs measured by the PRF can be meaningfully organized within the framework of the five-factor model. Use of this taxonomy can facilitate communication between motivational and trait psychologists, and supplement the dynamic interpretation of motives with a second level of interpretation that points to related affective, interpersonal, and experiential styles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward the objective diagnosis of psychopathology: Generalizability of modal personality profiles.

Evaluated the representativeness of 8 previously identified personality prototypes among 282 male and 129 female alcoholic inpatients (mean ages, 44.9 and 44.4 yrs, respectively), 69 male prison inmates, 79 male and female chronic psychiatric patients (mean age, 33.0 yrs), 102 male and female short-term psychiatric patients (mean age, 26.8 yrs), and 197 male and female normal undergraduates. Classification hit rates ranged from 25.0% for the college student group to 53.6% for male prison inmates, compared with 56.0% for the derivation sample of male alcoholics. These figures were substantially greater than chance, as evidenced by an average hit rate of 4.9% using randomly generated targets. Two profiles were notably pervasive across all samples. A 2nd analysis compared group average profiles using multiple discriminant analysis. Three interpreted dimensions included (a) repression vs a rebellious, antisocial syndrome; (b) general symptom severity, and (c) a dimension differentiating male from female groups. It is concluded that the present modal profiles and proposed extensions offer considerable potential for developing more effective bases for diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-cultural personality correlates of intensity and content category of positive experiences.

Investigated the relationship between teenagers' personality traits and 2 aspects of their most positive remembered experiences (MPREs)—intensity and content—across cultures expected to differ on these variables. 192 male and 159 female Israeli Arabs, 166 male and 191 female Israeli Jews, and 195 male and 191 female US Christians (aged 14–15 yrs) completed a high school personality questionnaire (HSPQ) and a positive experience questionnaire (PEQ). MPREs elicited by the PEQ were rated on a 4-point intensity scale and then classified as with external world, with self, or interpersonal. Results indicate that, despite cultural differences in mean intensities and content-category distributions, 9 of the HSPQs' 14 personality factors correlated (beyond the effect of culture) with either intensity, content category, or both. Content categories exhibited sharply differentiated personality factor tendencies. Intensity-linked personality factor tendencies seemed consistent with self-actualizer characteristics described by A. H. Maslow (1971). (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The perception of social-environmental characteristics in kibbutz families with family-based and communal sleeping arrangements.

Compared the perception of social-environmental characteristics in 38 families from kibbutzim with family-based sleeping arrangements (FBA) with those of 47 families from kibbutzim with communal sleeping arrangements (CA), using the Family Environment Scale—Form R. In the FBA families, the mean age of fathers was 42.2 yrs and of mothers, 37.9 yrs. The 38 children of these families were primarily in Grades 5 and 6. In the CA families, the mean age of fathers was 42.1 yrs and of mothers 38.6 yrs. Their 47 children were also primarily in Grades 5 and 6. Significant differences were obtained between the family profiles of the 2 groups. FBA families were higher in cohesion and expressiveness than were CA families. FBA families were also lower in active-recreational orientation and organization. In both groups of families, there were no differences in the perception of family climate between the husbands and wives, whereas children's perceptions differed significantly from those of their parents. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships between marital distress and child behavior problems, maternal personal adjustment, maternal personality, and maternal parenting behavior.

Examined the relationship of marital adjustment to maternal personal adjustment, maternal personality, maternal perception of child adjustment, maternal parenting behavior, and child behavior using 20 maritally distressed and 20 maritally nondistressed mothers and their children (aged 3–7 yrs). Ss were given a battery of tests that included the Beck Depression Inventory, the Trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Personality Research Form—Form A. Results indicate that, compared to mothers in the maritally nondistressed group, mothers in the distressed group perceived themselves as significantly more anxious and depressed and perceived their children as having significantly more behavior problems, particularly in the area of undercontrol. There were no differences between the groups with respect to maternal personality. Maritally distressed mothers showed less appropriate parenting behavior than did nondistressed mothers and the children of maritally distressed mothers were more deviant than were children of nondistressed mothers. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factorial invariance across sex of the Form V of the Sensation-Seeking Scale.

The factorial properties across sex of the Sensation-Seeking Scale—Form V were examined in a sample of 335 female and 363 male Australian Ss aged 17–60 yrs. A 4-factor solution was applied to the data of both sex groups to test the correspondence with M. Zuckerman's (1977) postulated 4 distinct dimensions of sensation seeking. The results generally support the existence of the 4 dimensions; however, the percentage of total variance accounted for was only 33% for females and 31% for males. No additional factor accounted for more than 4% of total variance. The factor structures of the male and female samples were very similar. Attention is drawn to items that do not load significantly on the expected factor, multifactorial items, and items with loadings that suggest sex differences in the connotations of item content. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender schema theory and sex role inventories: Some conceptual and psychometric considerations.

Assessed whether the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personality Research Form (PRF) ANDRO scale developed by J. I. Berzins et al (see record 1978-30742-001) are appropriate for investigations of gender schema theory, as outlined by S. L. Bem (see record 1981-25685-001). On the basis of the propositions of gender schema theory, several predictions were made about the psychometric properties that should be exhibited by a valid measure of this construct. Responses of 223 male and 338 female undergraduates to the PRF ANDRO and the BSRI were factor analyzed separately for sex-typed and non-sex-typed groups. Results show consistent and theoretically predictable differences in the factor solutions of these 2 groups. The sex-typed or gender-schematic group obtained bipolar factors, with masculine items loading with one sign, whereas feminine items loaded with the other sign on each factor. Also, sex of S loaded highly on almost every factor for this group. The non-sex-typed group, however, obtained few such distinctly dichotomous factors, and sex of S loaded only on the weaker factors. Results support the construct validity of the BSRI and the PRF ANDRO for use in researching the implications of the gender schema approach. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subjective organization of personality in adulthood and aging.

Studied self-perceived personality change across 3 phases of adult life (young adulthood, middle age, old age). Drawn from developmental theory, dimensions were identified that were predicted to show self-perceived change during these age periods. Scales were written for the specific dimensions of complexity, generativity, integrity, and interiority. These were administered to 270 Ss divided equally among the 3 ages (young adult mean age 20.6 yrs, middle-aged mean age 47.8 yrs, and old-age mean age 69.3 yrs) and between males and females. Self-perceived change was examined by varying instructional conditions to include concurrent, prospective, and retrospective self-assessments. Four control scales from the Personality Research Form (Abasement, Defendence, Impulsivity, Order) were also administered and were predicted to show no self-perceived change. The predicted pattern of self-perceived change was supported for the generativity scale and partially so for the integrity and interiority scales. In addition, 3 of the 4 scales evidenced no self-perceived change. Sex differences were absent throughout the findings. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organization of needs in male and female drug and alcohol users.

Administered the Personality Research Form (PRF) to 1,095 college students divided into groups of nonusers of drugs and alcohol, users of alcohol only, users of marihuana, and users of a variety of drugs in addition to marihuana. The PRF was factored for each of the groups, with 6 factors extracted in each analysis. Subgroup factor-pattern matrices were aligned to a common position, and the stability of the factorial solution across groups was assessed. All the factors were stable. The total sample was also divided into 4 groups based on the year of testing and the sex of the student. A 6-factor solution was calculated for each group, and factor stability across analyses was examined. The factor pattern matrices for male and female samples were quite similar. Moreover, the pattern of correlations among the primary factors found in each analysis was stable across subgroups. Results suggest that the organization of motivational tendencies in college students is the same for both sexes and for different types of substance users. The relationship of the factors to several other personality research variables is discussed. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A new measure of psychological androgyny based on the Personality Research Form.

Describes the development and validation of the PRF (Personality Research Form) ANDRO scale whose Masculinity and Femininity subscales were drawn, on the basis of theoretical definitions, from the item pool of the Personality Research Form. Using data obtained from 2,146 undergraduates, the subscales of the PRF ANDRO scale are shown to be independent, reliable, minimally related to socially desirable responding, and substantially related to corresponding subscales on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (correlations between .50 and .65) and to major personality dimensions. Further evidence of construct validity is adduced from the score patterns in 18 different samples that included over 6,000 Ss from populations varying in age, education, occupation, and clinical status. Since the PRF ANDRO scale can be scored from the answer sheets of the Personality Research Form, other investigators may reanalyze prior studies with particular regard to the proposition that high levels of Masculinity and Femininity, jointly denoting psychological androgyny, predict greater interpersonal competence and transsituational adaptability than do traditionally sex-typed role orientations. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships of cessation of smoking with job stress, personality, and social support.

Studied the relationships between job stress, social support, personality, and cigarette smoking quit rate by multivariate analyses of responses of 200 male administrators, engineers, and scientists (mean age = 40 yrs) to a battery of tests, including the Jenkins Activity Scale. Results indicate that quitters had the lowest levels of quantitative work load, responsibility, and social support, and that they scored low on Type A personality characteristics (i.e., they were not hard driving, persistent, competitive, overloaded with work, or involved in the work). While quitters tended to be administrators rather than engineers or scientists, these occupational differences in quit rates were accounted for by occupational differences in Type A personality, work load, social support, and responsibility. A Social Support * Job Stress interaction showed that decreases in stress were associated with decreases in the quit rate only for persons with low social support. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Norms for the Depression Adjective Check Lists: Age group and sex.

Presents norms for male and female adults and for male and female adolescents for the Depression Adjective Check Lists, Form E. Adult norms are derived from a national survey (area probability sampling) of 3,005 Ss (mean age 44.5 yrs), and adolescent norms are from a convenience sample of 622 12–27 yr olds. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethnic, socioeconomic, and home language influences upon early performance on measures of abilities.

Administered the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities to 84 Chicano and 87 non-Hispanic White Ss (aged 2 yrs 6 mo) to examine the levels and profiles of performance in 5 ability areas (verbal, reasoning, quantitative, memory, and motor). Data on family and language characteristics were obtained by individually administered interviews of mothers (Chicano mothers' mean age 28.4 yrs, non-Hispanic mothers' mean age 30.7 yrs) in their own homes. Results show ethnic group differences in (1) the absolute levels of performance and (2) the shapes of the profiles formed by the configuration of performance across the various ability areas. Chicanos' average performance was poorer on measures of verbal and quantitative ability and short-term memory. Analyses showed that these differences can be explained on the basis of the relatively low SES level and language minority status that characterized a disproportionately large number of Chicano families. Tests of regression parallelism in MANOVA are appended. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality test correlates of psychiatric case history data.

Correlated scores on factor analytically derived traits of normal personality, as measured by the Comrey Personality Scales (CPS), with ratings of psychological disturbance and psychiatric diagnosis derived from case-history data for 210 female (mean age 31.8 yrs) and 184 male (mean age 30.2 yrs) psychiatric outpatients. Results confirm findings from past statistical studies, showing that extreme scores on normal personality trait scales were associated with psychological disturbance, especially low scores on Trust vs Defensiveness, Activity vs Lack of Energy, Emotional Stability vs Neuroticism, Extraversion vs Introversion, and high scores on Orderliness vs Lack of Compulsion. New statistical evidence was obtained in the present study for the importance of certain extreme trait scores where only clinical evidence was available before. Findings provide further support for the premise that objective tests of normal personality traits have an important role to play in psychiatric screening, diagnosis, and design of clinical interventions. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multivariate study of personality and academic factors in college attrition.

Performed multiple linear discriminant function analyses using academic, performance, and personality variables to discriminate among groups of transfers, persisters, and dropouts 2 yrs after college matriculation. 273 male and 433 female undergraduates were Ss. Measurements included the Personality Research Form, the MMPI, Block's Ego Control scale, grade point averages, and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. Discrimination above base rates was obtained with either academic or personality variables. Analysis of all variables combined added no predictive power beyond that by either subset alone. Results held up on cross-validation. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of the Beck Depression Inventory with three non-clinical populations.

Administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to samples from 3 different nonclinical populations (402 introductory psychology students, 101 female [mean age 27.8 yrs] and 94 male [mean age 29.5 yrs] expectant parents, and 151 female [mean age 30.3 yrs] and 117 male [mean age 32.3 yrs] married adults). Responses to the BDI were subjected to principal components analysis. The factors extracted differed among the 3 samples, with the only factor common to all 3 groups being Negative Self-View. Analyses showed that the sex differences were largest for the expectant parents group and smallest for the adult couples group. Findings have implications for the choice of control or comparison groups in studies of depression. (French abstract) (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)