Relation of the Revised Repression-Sensitization Scale to Measures of Self-Description

Abstract

An internal-consistency item-analysis was carried out for the 182-item Repression-Sensitization Scale. Responses to each question were correlated with Total R-S score for two samples consisting of 370 undergraduates each. A revised scoring key was made, consisting of 127 cross-validated items. Using a new sample, reliability coefficients of .94 (split-half) and .82 (test-retest) were found. In subsequent investigations, R-S scores were found to be positively related to self-ideal discrepancy and negative self-description on Worchel's SAI. On a measure of Hostility Incongruency, R-S scores were positively related to each of three types of incongruency. There were only minimal differences between the two scoring keys in the relationships found. The consistent finding that self-report measures are related to the R-S Scale was discussed and alternate hypotheses were advanced to account for these relationships.