Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Leonard Handler

Committee Members

Robert Wahler, Lawrence James, Michael Johnson

Abstract

In this study the construct validity and clinical utility of three early memory probes are investigated. Early memory probes assessing themes of dependency, transitional relatedness, and ego-relatedness were empirically validated by comparing memory scores to construct specific content scales from the Rorschach Test, as well as theoretically and empirically derived behavioral ratings. Sixty-five psychiatric patients and their therapists participated in the study. Results demonstrated moderate to strong correlations among the early memory scores and the Rorschach scale scores, thus demonstrating good concurrent validity. Two of the three early memory probes (dependency and transitional relatedness) were significantly correlated with therapist ratings of key behavioral patterns in therapy, thus supporting the predictive validity of the early memory probes. Results are discussed in light of recent shifts in psychological assessment to focus primarily on the utility of predicting transference impasse, negative therapeutic reactions, and assessing core object-relational paradigms. Case illustrations are explored to bring clinical clarity to the study.

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