Repression-sensitization and its relation to measures of adjustment and conflict.

Tempone, Vincent J.; Lamb, Wesley A.

doi:10.1037/h0024427

Cited by 35 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…This two-factor interpretation of the R-S scale is supported by two types of evidence. First, R-S scale scores sometimes have been found to be correlated significantly with other measures of defensive style (Tempone, 1964;Ullmann, 1962;Ullmann, Weiss, & Krasner, 1963;White & Wilkins, 1973). For example, White and Wilkins (1973) used the R-S scale to identify repressors and sensitizers and had these subjects view TAT cards presented tachistoscopically.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, studies that used self-report measures (see Bell & Byrne, 1978, for a review) consistently portray high scorers (sensitizers) as maladjusted individuals with excessive self-doubt and portray low scorers (repressors) as mature, well-adjusted individuals with high self-esteem. In addition, studies that have contrasted psychiatric patients and clients in psychotherapy with "normal" individuals regularly find the clinical samples to have significantly higher R-S scale scores (Feder, 1967;Tempone & Lamb, 1967;Thelen, 1969).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Meaning of the Repression-Sensitization scale: Defensive style or self-report of symptoms of psychopathology

Budd¹,

Clopton²

1985

J. Clin. Psychol.

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Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that the Repression‐Sensitization (R‐S) scale assesses self‐reported symptoms of psychopathology. In Study 1, 42 subjects were assigned randomly to groups that received differing instructions on the extent to which they should report experiencing distress and reveal personal problems. This manipulation produced highly significant group differences and accounted for most of the variability in R‐S scale scores. In Study 2, R‐S scale scores and scores of the Health Opinion Survey were correlated in a sample of 100 subjects. The high correlation obtained for these two measures suggests that both measures assess the same dimension, i.e., self‐report of symptoms of psychopathology. The results of these studies indicate that the R‐S scale is influenced so powerfully by self‐report of symptoms of psychopathology that its usefulness in assessing repression‐sensitization is questionable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Meaning of the Repression-Sensitization scale: Defensive style or self-report of symptoms of psychopathology

Budd¹,

Clopton²

1985

J. Clin. Psychol.

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“…R-S scale should have a curvilinear relationship with indices of psychological adjustment. While some research supports the curvilinear hypothesis, the majority of the findings strongly suggest a linear relationship between sensitizing defenses and maladjustment (2, 14).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…l l ) . Other studies that have approached this question have compared groups of inpatients, outpatients, and normals (14). The failure of such studies to indicate a curvilinear relationship may be due in part to their emphasis on broad indicators of psychopathology rather than on indices of psychological health.…”

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confidence: 99%

Repression-sensitization and affect cognition: An examination of the two defensive modes purportedly measured by the R-S scale

Orlofsky

1976

J. Clin. Psychol.

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PROBLEMThe repression-sensitization (R-S) scale ( l ) was developed to identify two polar types of defensive reaction to threatening stimuli. Individuals who score low on the scale are thought t o utilize repressive or avoidance responses. when presented with conflictful stimuli. Those who score high on the scale, sensitizers, presumably overintellectualize conflicts and maintain a hypervigilance to threat that causes them to experience high levels of anxiety. Since neither of the extreme defensive modes would be expected to result in optimal adjustment, scores on the R-S scale should have a curvilinear relationship with indices of psychological adjustment. While some research supports the curvilinear hypothesis, the majority of the findings strongly suggest a linear relationship between sensitizing defenses and maladjustment (2, 14).The failure to establish empirically a curvilinear relationship between R-S and psychological adjustment may be due to two factors. One difficulty is with the scale itself and has to do with the fact that the R-S scale measures more than defensive style. Recent research by Golin, et al.(8) suggests that the R-S scale measures some combination of "emotionality" and "defensiveness' so that low scores, for example, may reflect either excessive denial and repression of conflict, or a lack of anxiety without significant defensiveness, or some combination of the two.The other difficulty has t o do with the indices of psychological adjustment used t o study the relationship. Several studies have used self-report questionnaires as indicators of maladjustment, and repressors tend to respond to such instruments by denying that anything is wrong with them('. l l ) . Other studies that have approached this question have compared groups of inpatients, outpatients, and normals(14). The failure of such studies to indicate a curvilinear relationship may be due in part to their emphasis on broad indicators of psychopathology rather than on indices of psychological health.The present study approached the issue of linearity-curvilinearity by focusing on an aspect of psychological health related to Rogers'(13) concept of openness to experience. Psychological health may be viewed in terms of how the individual deals with affective experience. Is he open to and able to integrate his emotional experiences with the situational context and his ensuing behavior? Or does he become constricted, on the one hand, or disorganized, on the other hand, in relation to his affects? Assessment of Ss' characteristic ways of dealing with affective experience should elucidate the two defensive modes purportedly measured by the R-S scale. While the R-S scale does not focus specifically on defensiveness against affects, if in fact it does measure the two polar defensive modes, then both types of extreme scorers should perform less well on a task that requires affective expression than would neutrals.A study by Lefcourt(ll) found a linear relationship between R-S and "affectideation," with sensitizers more "emotional" than r...

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“…R-S appears to be solidly anchored in adjustment status. Low scores (repression) are indicative of positive adjustment (Byrne et al, 1965 ;Kaplan, 1967 ;Liberty et al, 1964;Ullmann, 1962), or relative freedom from anxiety (Joy, 1963 ;Lomont, 1965), and conflict (Tempone & Lamb, 1967). Similarly, repressive defence structure is more characteristic of an adjusted hospital population, while sensitization is more descriptive of a psychiatric population (Feder, 1967).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Repression‐Sensitization and Maudsley Personality Inventory Scores: Response Sets and Stress Effects

Dana

Cocking

1969

Br J Soc Clin Psychol

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Experimental and control groups of sophomore college students were administered the revised Repression‐Sensitization Scale (R‐S) and the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) Extraversion and Introversion Scales. Stress, the threat that these scores were to be used for screening potential psychology majors, was provided for the experimental group. The Leary Interpersonal Adjective Checklist was then administered to both groups and scored for LOV, DOM and response set measures of deviation, acquiescence and social desirability. Correlational results indicated a marginally significant relation between repression and extraversion, and high correspondence between sensitization and neuroticism. Analyses of varience were done with R‐S and MPI groups' response set and IAC scores, for stress and non‐stress conditions. The results emphasized an adjustment explanation for the R‐S continuum.

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Repression-sensitization and its relation to measures of adjustment and conflict.

Cited by 35 publications

References 10 publications

Meaning of the Repression-Sensitization scale: Defensive style or self-report of symptoms of psychopathology

Meaning of the Repression-Sensitization scale: Defensive style or self-report of symptoms of psychopathology

Repression-sensitization and affect cognition: An examination of the two defensive modes purportedly measured by the R-S scale

Repression‐Sensitization and Maudsley Personality Inventory Scores: Response Sets and Stress Effects

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