An investigation of relationships between neurotic styles and conceptual dynamics

Some of the relationships between neurotic styles and conceptual dynamics were investigated. The neurotic styles studied were: obsessive, hysteric, and impulsive. Conceptual variables were divided into formal and content characteristics. The formal characteristics were permeability, impermeability, propositionality, preemption, cognitive complexity, and self-identification with contrast. The content characteristics were classified as attitudes, behavior, facts, repetitions, and self-references. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1.) Significant correlations were established between permeability and impermeability, as well as between propositionality and preemption, thus supporting the view thait these are two unitary dimensions. 2.) Hysterics use significantly more permeable constructs than either impulsives or obsessives. 3.) Hysterics use significantly more propositional constructs than obsessives. 4.) Obsessives use significantly more constructs consisting of attitudes than either hysterics or impulsives. 5.) Obsessives use significantly fewer constructs consisting of facts than impulsives. These significant findings pertaining1 to content variables were discussed, in terms of an abstract-concrete continuum, with attitudes being the mostt abstract and facts the most concrete, thus confirming the experimental expectations. 6.) Obsessives use significantly fewer repetitions than either hysterics or impulsives, which was seen as a reflection of a relative absence of naivete.