On Confounding of the Repression-Sensitization and Manifest Anxiety Scales

Abstract

The MMPI and Edwards Personality Inventory were administered to 218 college students. Scores on the Manifest Anxiety (MA), Repression-Sensitization (R-S), and Social Desirability (SD) scales were scored from the MMPI and a non-overlapping, balanced True-False, non-pathological content social desirability (BSD) scale was scored from the items of the Edwards. The scales were intercorrelated and factor analyzed by the method of principal components. The results support a social desirability interpretation of scores on the four scales, and questioned the discriminant validity of the R-S and MA scales, as have other studies which were briefly reviewed.