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Submissive behaviour and psychopathology
Author(s) -
Allan Steven,
Gilbert Paul
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1997.tb01255.x
Subject(s) - psychopathology , psychology , hostility , clinical psychology , association (psychology) , interpersonal communication , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology
Objectives . A variety of behaviours have been identified as submissive (Buss & Craik, 1986). These are believed to be associated with vulnerability to psychopathology. This paper explores the construct and measurement of submissive behaviours and their association with psychopathology. Design . Two self‐report scales were designed to measure the frequencies of ( a ) typical submissive behaviours (SBS) and ( b ) passive/withdrawal and affiliative strategies focused on conflict de‐escalation (CDS). The association of these scales with psychopathology was explored in a series of questionnaire studies. Methods . Study 1 assessed the SBS using a student sample ( N = 332) and a mixed clinical group ( N = 136). Of these, 177 students and 66 patients also completed the SCL‐90‐R. In Studies 2 and 3, the CDS and its association with depressive symptoms were assessed using a student sample ( N = 154) and a depressed patient group ( N = 60). Results . The SBS and CDS appeared reliable. There was a positive relationship between the SBS and the SCL‐90‐R, including interpersonal sensitivity and unexpressed hostility. The passive/withdrawal subscale of the CDS was associated with depressive symptoms. Evidence was obtained for sex differences with the affiliative subscale. Conclusions . Some forms of submissive behaviour, especially those associated with passive/withdrawal and inhibition, are associated with a wide range of psychological problems.