Comparison of Retarded and Non-Retarded Adolescents on Need-Approval

Abstract

Age and sex matched groups of normal, institutionalized and non-institutionalized mentally retarded adolescents were compared on need-approval as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Scale. All groups appeared significantly different from one another with the strength of need-approval following a non-institutionalized, institutionalized, and normal order from high to low respectively. Because previous data would predict a greater need for approval in retarded than normal, the higher scores of non-institutionalized Ss appear somewhat inconsistent. A competitive community interpretation was presented and discussed.