Reactive-narcissistic character, obsessional personality and obsessive-compulsive behaviour: a study of the validity of Sandler and Hazari's typology.
Sandler & Hazari's (1960) questionnaire measuring reactive-narcissistic character and obsessional personality was filled in by 120 medical students. Principal components analysis was applied to their scores. The resulting factor structure is highly similar to Sandler & Hazari's. Both reactive-narcissistic character and obsessional personality can be measured in a reliable way. In support of the hypotheses, reactive-narcissism is correlated positively with achievement motivation, but shows no correlation with traits reflecting lack of self-confidence (external locus of control and negative fear of failure), nor with aggression. Contrary to expectation, a positive correlation was found with control uncertainty. According to expectation obsessionality is correlated negatively with achievement motivation and positively with traits reflecting lack of self-confidence and with aggression. The hypothesis that obsessional subjects exhibit more obsessive-compulsiveness in a decision-making task than reactive-narcissistic subjects could not be confirmed. Results are discussed in the light of previous findings. The conclusion is that the typology as measured by Sandler & Hazari's (1960) questionnaire has high construct validity. The question whether the typology is predictive of future obsessive-compulsive behaviour remains unanswered.
Trijsburg
R W
RW
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Duivenvoorden
H J
HJ
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009289:Narcissism; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept