Bernard I. Murstein

Stimulus value role: A theory of marital choice.

A three-stage theory of marital choice is presented called Stimulus-Value-Role. The first (stimulus) stage consists of value satisfaction obtained by visual, auditory, and non-interactional means. The second (value) stage consists of values appreciated through verbal interaction, and the third (role) stage involves the ability of the couple to function in mutually assigned roles. Among the topics considered are whether similars or opposites marry, sex-drive, self-acceptance, neuroticism, physical attraction, greater importance of men in determining courtship progress, and imagined role-compatibility as opposed to actual role-compatibility. A series of 19 hypotheses and supporting data are presented.

Mate Selection in the 1970s.

The author reviews major trends in courtship in the United States and abroad during the past 10 years. Topics considered include trends in the sociocultural determinants of marital choice the decreasing emphasis on dating the rise in cohabitation changes in courtship behavior research on love and theories of mate selection (ANNOTATION)

The Revised Exchange-Orientation Scale

The literature regarding exchange-orientation in relationship to marital adjustment and cohabitation and friendship compatibility is briefly reviewed and a revised exchange-orientation scale is constructed. The items selected were judged relevant to exchange and passed internal consistency tests as well as differentiating between high and low scorers. Various versions for husbands and wives are presented. All versions show high reliability as measured by coefficient alpha.

A NORMATIVE STUDY OF TAT AMBIGUITY.

Abstract The 31 TAT cards were administered to varying groups of college students and the stories categorized according to the sex of characters, their age, relationship, what is happening, why, and how the story would end. A measure of uncertainty Ĥ was obtained for each variable for each card. It was hypothesized that the more uncertainty existing as to who was in the picture, the less uncertainty there would be in what is going on in the themes. This hypothesis was confirmed. Other analyses indicated that the most productive cards were in order: cards with both males and females depicted, cards with two or more individuals of the same sex, cards with a single person, and cards with no persons.

The Relationship of Exchange-Orientation To Friendship Intensity, Roommate Compatibility, Anxiety, and Friendship

The Exchange-Orientation Scale (E) was given to 98 randomly assigned roommate pairs at three New England colleges at the beginning of the semester. It was predicted that interpersonal compatibility, as measured by a roommate compatibility rating and a friendship intensity score given three months later, would be higher for nonexchange couples as compared to exchange couples. It wasfurtherpredicted that anxiety would be correlated with E for women but not for men, and that paranoia would be associated with Efor both women and men. All hypotheses were substantiated except the one regarding paranoia. The results are discussed in terms of the role of E in interpersonal relationships.

Bulimia nervosa: Prevalence and psychological correlates in a college community

Abstract A questionnaire survey was distributed to 273 female, undergraduate students at a private, liberal arts college (94.1% response rate) to determine the prevalence of bulimia nervosa, as defined by DSM-III-R criteria. In addition, several psychological traits of participants meeting the criteria were compared with a control group and a group of bingers and vomiters of subclinical severity. Results of the study indicated that 11.3% (n = 28) of the student population surveyed met the DSM-III-R criteria for bulimia nervosa. Individuals with bulimia nervosa reported significantly more depression, loneliness, and anxiety, and lower self-esteem, as well as significantly greater concerns about body-shape and size compared to both other groups. A discriminant function analysis isolated three variables (concerns about body shape, self-esteem, and loneliness) that were highly successful (91.2% correctly classified) in predicting group membership. The results emphasize the importance of overconcern with body ...

EFFECT OF STIMULUS, BACKGROUND, PERSONALITY, AND SCORING SYSTEM ON THE MANIFESTATION OF HOSTILITY ON THE TAT

It has long been acknowledged that the projective response is multiply determined, including the individuals idiosyncratic methods of dealing with the testing situation and the influence of nonprojective determinants. Despite verbal acceptance of this fact, little research has attempted to focus on more than one of these determinants at a time. There are many reasons for this state of affairs. The early adherents of projective techniques tended to presume that the subjects personality was the key determinant of his response and paid scant attention to the context in which the test was administered or to the stimulus characteristics of the projective instrument. Moreover, the lack of concern with quantitative methodology would, in any event, have assured the inability to measure these components and their interaction. In recent years, the importance of the stimulus (Eron, 1950; Murstein, 1963) and situational factors (Masling, 1960) have been heavily emphasized. At the same time, numerous quantitative measures have been derived (Murstein, 1963) with respect to the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), and the

Assortative matching for sex-role and marriage adjustment

Abstract Eighty-two middle-class married couples were administered the Bem Sex-role Inventory, a newly derived Behavioral Inventory measuring sex-role by task performance and the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale. It was hypothesized that individuals are assortatively matched by sex-role in marriage, that all-androgynous couples have greater marriage adjustment (MA) than stereotypic couples who are, in turn, higher than ‘other’ couples (undifferentiated or cross-type), and that there is an interaction effect with certain combinations more deleterious to MA than others. All hypotheses were supported and evidence presented that matching occured by selection rather than as a result of living together. In addition, subsequent analysis indicated that mens sex-roles are more associated with MA than womens sex-roles.

Normative Written TAT Responses for a College Sample

Summary Knowledge of the stimulus seems mandatory before one can determine the extent of projection in a TAT response. Written responses to projected TAT slides were obtained from college students. Stories were scored for Who (age), Who (sex), Who (relationship), What, Why, and End. A reliable categorization system was developed. Overall, stories were mostly negative but positive for endings. There were, however, large variations from card to card. Women gave more positive stories and endings than men, and sex differences were found for 45 of 182 chi-squares computed. A number of differences from the card descriptions given by Murray were also found.

Gender differences in love, sex, and motivation for sex.

In 1989 Sprague and Quadagno reported a significant interaction between sex and age for “motive for sexual intercourse” (affection-closeness vs physical release). Young men exceeded women in physical release as primary motive for sex, but women exceeded men in this choice at an older age. We conducted a modified replication, and we also studied Rubins Love Scale, sexual interest, frequency of sexual arousal, and sexual enjoyment. Analysis did not confirm the earlier findings. For 60 men and 60 women differences were found for sexual interest, frequency of sexual arousal, and sexual enjoyment, with men scoring higher. Scores on Rubins Love Scale did not differentiate the sexes.