Psychology

A Rorschach assessment of children's mutuality of autonomy

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Explored the construct validity of the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (Urist. 1977), which assesses the developmental level of object relations based upon Rorschach percepts, within a nonclinical child population. Mutuality of Autonomy was found to be related to teacher ratings of interpersonal functioning in the classroom, and to academic grades but not to either standardized achievement or intelligence. In addition, the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale demonstrated predicted correlations with children's perceived control. Children with developmentally lower object relations scores were more likely to perceive “powerful others” or “unknown” sources as controlling outcomes, particularly within the social domain. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale, and the significance of object relations for personality functioning. © 1985, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Journal of Personality Assessment

Publication Date

1985

Volume

49

Issue

1

First Page

6

Last Page

12

ISSN

0022-3891

DOI

10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_2

Keywords

construct validity of Mutuality of Autonomy Scale, assessment of developmental level of object relations based on Rorschach test, 4th–6th graders

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