Date of Award
12-1991
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The identification of methodological and statistical difficulties in previous impression accuracy research has necessitated that the role of personality in impression accuracy be reinvestigated. The present research addressed: (1) the impact of obsessive-compulsive personality traits on impression accuracy; and (2) subject perceptions of actual self, ideal self, others, and others' perceptions of them.
This study utilized a 2 x 2 x 2 design. Independent variables included: (1) judge vs. observer status; (2) high vs. low obsessive-compulsive traits; and (3) first vs. second session. Dependent variables included subject ratings on the OSCARS (Versions 1-4), designed to measure the obsessive-compulsive tendencies in actual self (OSCARS 1), ideal self (OSCARS 2), others (OSCARS 3), and predictions of others' perceptions of self (OSCARS 4). The MAACL-R State Form was also utilized as a dependent variable both before and after each interaction.
Twenty-six high and low obsessive-compulsive subjects were each paired with an unfamiliar low obsessive-compulsive partner for two sessions. Subjects were assigned different partners for each session. The subjects were asked to complete the OSCARS 1-2 and the MAACL-R prior to an unstructured 40-minute interaction. After this interaction, they were asked to complete the OSCARS 3-4, and a MAACL-R for both themselves and their partner.
The MAACL-R demonstrated that the obsessive-compulsive group was significantly more hostile, and scored lower on positive affect and sensation-seeking than did the controls on the administration immediately prior to the second interaction. Results also indicated that the high obsessive-compulsive group demonstrated significantly different actual and ideal selves. They demonstrated a tendency to rate their partners in accordance with their own ideal self perceptions. They also believed their partners rated them significantly lower on obsessive-compulsive traits than they rated themselves to be. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Plevell-Omdahl, Jill M., "The Relationshiop of Obsessive-Compulsive Characteristics to Impression Accuracy and Perceptions of Self and Others" (1991). Theses and Dissertations. 942.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/942