title: Self-construal among psychiatric outpatients: a test of the golden section.
abstract: Self-construal among individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder has been examined infrequently, and many variables (e.g. sex, patient status, type of problem) possibly related to self-construal and psychological problems have yet to be examined in combination and in detail. This paper reports on research into a variety of factors that could influence self-construing as predicted by the golden section hypothesis. A study was conducted to examine how psychiatric outpatients, both male and female with varying mental health diagnoses, view themselves and others in terms of positive and negative construct poles. A card-sort repertory test was used to elicit personal constructs. Among 40 Canadian outpatient participants, the golden section could account for the overall results, with no significant statistical differences by sex or diagnosis. Some deviations from the golden section were found, however. Females with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, for example, applied more negative than positive constructs to themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Augustana University College, Camrose, Alberta, Canada. jasbade@telusplanet.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badesha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010045:Outpatients; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012649:Self Concept