Relationships Among Psychological Differentiation, Self-report Response Style And Aspiration Estimation In Substance Abusers In Treatment.

Hypothesized relationships among psychological differentiation, as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), self-report response styles, as measured by the validity scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and aspiration estimation, as measured by the Level of Aspiration Board (LAB), of substance abusers in treatment were studied in sixty nine participants consisting of a clinical group (27 substance abuse outpatients) and 2 contrast groups (a group of 22 college students and a group of 20 community dwellers). The clinical group was significantly more field dependent (lower GEFT scores) than the control groups, as predicted, but no significant differences were found among the groups when controlling for years of education. It was also found that the clinical group distorted self-report responses at a significantly higher level (higher PAI validity scale scores) than the control groups, as predicted. No differences were found between the groups on level of aspiration estimation. Across the groups it was found that respondents who were more field dependent (had lower GEFT scores), had increasingly unrealistic self-expectations (have higher LAB Scores), as predicted. Tests of predicted group differences in pathology scales of the PAI, showed the clinical group to exhibit significantly higher levels of pathology as expected. Level of response style distortion did not discriminate participants based on an interaction between field dependence and level of aspiration estimation. Finally, field dependence/independence, self-expectation in aspiration and response style distortions did not discriminate those substance abusers who were more successful from those who were less successful in their treatment and further research with more socioeconomic comparability between substance abuser and non abuser control groups was discussed. Clarification of criteria for drug treatment success and expanded content of programs is supported by the results of this study. Cross-cultural replications of differentiation measurement and tracking for normal life coping (Mshelia & Lapidus, 1990) with African children and adolescents and active mastery of stress in mentally ill Korean outpatients living in the U.S. (Lapidus, et al., 2001) may improve the "success" of treatment for substance abusers and contribute to reduction on drug related crime and a family and community peace.