Success, Failure, and Personality

Abstract

The cultural patterns of success and failure were defined as a two-dimensional process. The first is indicated by objective measures of achievement, the “societal” success-failure continuum; the other by the aspirations of the individual and his self perception of success or failure. Results indicate a moderate correlation (.51) between the two dimensions. Failure on both dimensions was found to be related to a poorer self concept, fewer adjustive attitudes, greater complaints of physical and mental illness symptoms and less socially desirable personality traits than found in individuals who score as successful on both criteria. Some variables were found to be primarily related to the psychological failure dimension and others primarily related to societal failure.