Prediction of Dependent Behavior in Specified Situations from Psychological Tests

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to enhance the prediction of dependent behavior from psychological tests by specifying the situation in which that behavior is to occur. It was hypothesized that overt dependency needs would have the greatest weight in determining dependent behavior, while the situation would become significant as it interacted with covert dependency needs. Two situations were devised, one of which induced dependent behavior while the other did not. The hypotheses were not confirmed. The situation accounted for virtually all the variance in the prediction of dependent behavior. Implications were that great caution should be exercised in predicting behavior from test data and that future predictive research might better focus on situational contexts than on measurement techniques.