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Dependent personality traits and information processing: Assessing the interpretation of ambiguous information using the Thematic Apperception Test
Author(s) -
Weertman Anoek,
Arntz Arnoud,
Schouten Erik,
Dreessen Laura
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1348/014466505x85853
Subject(s) - psychology , thematic apperception test , personality , interpretation (philosophy) , schema (genetic algorithms) , big five personality traits , cognitive bias , social psychology , personality test , mediation , cognition , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychometrics , test validity , psychiatry , political science , law , machine learning , computer science , programming language
Objectives This study was designed to investigate interpretation bias in people with dependent personality traits. Method Eight Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards were administered to participants ( N =56) who scored high or low on DSM‐III‐R dependent personality pathology. Two independent judges rated the TAT stories using a rating list based on the cognitive model of the dependent and paranoid personality disorder. Results Controlling for self‐esteem, the dependent interpretation bias appeared to be specific for dependent personality pathology. SEM analysis supported a mediation model in which beliefs mediate the relationship between DSM‐III‐R traits and interpretation bias. Conclusions The findings in this study support the hypothesis that people with dependent traits are characterized by a schema‐related interpretation bias and that this bias is mediated by dependent beliefs.