Master's Theses

Department

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between individuals' personality characteristics, their general beliefs about what makes intimate relationships happy and successful, and the specific social behaviors (both positive and negative ) that individuals engage in within the context of their own intimate relationships. There have been many studies examining the relationship between a person's relationship beliefs and various other variables, such as relationship satisfaction, attachment styles, and behavior. However, the relationship between the NEO-PI-R, general relationship beliefs, and specific relationship behavior has not been extensively studied. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine this relationship. Several hypotheses were proposed that predicted that certain NEO-PI -R personality domains and facets would be related to certain general relationship beliefs, as well as to certain specific relationship behaviors. Subjects were required to fill out three surveys to explore the relationship between personality and relationship behaviors and beliefs: the NEO personality Inventory Revised, the Relationship Beliefs Scale, and a relationship behavior scale. Multiple regression procedures were used to determine the relationship between the three sets of variables. Twenty-two regression equations were formulated involving the personality domains and facets of the NEO-PI-R as the predictor variables and the various relationship behaviors and beliefs as the criterion variables. Results indicated that 20 of the 22 equations were significant. Thus, a general overall conclusion is that personality is significantly related to both relationship beliefs and behaviors. The personality variables (domains and/ or facets) were all significant predictors of all four relationship beliefs and all seven relationship behaviors. Thus, the results suggest that one can predict beliefs others will hold as well as how others will behave in a relationship based upon knowledge of their personality traits.

Keywords

Psychology

Advisor

Kenneth Olson

Date of Award

Spring 1996

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

Comments

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