The identification of methodological and statistical difficulties in previous impression accuracy research has necessitated that the role of personality in impression accuracy be reinvestigated. The present research addressed: (1) the impact of obsessive-compulsive personality traits on impression accuracy; and (2) subject perceptions of actual self, ideal self, others, and others\u27 perceptions of them.
This study utilized a 2 x 2 x 2 design. Independent variables included: (1) judge vs. observer status; (2) high vs. low obsessive-compulsive traits; and (3) first vs. second session. Dependent variables included subject ratings on the OSCARS (Versions 1-4), designed to measure the obsessive-compulsive tendencies in actual self (OSCARS 1), ideal self (OSCARS 2), others (OSCARS 3), and predictions of others\u27 perceptions of self (OSCARS 4). The MAACL-R State Form was also utilized as a dependent variable both before and after each interaction.
Twenty-six high and low obsessive-compulsive subjects were each paired with an unfamiliar low obsessive-compulsive partner for two sessions. Subjects were assigned different partners for each session. The subjects were asked to complete the OSCARS 1-2 and the MAACL-R prior to an unstructured 40-minute interaction. After this interaction, they were asked to complete the OSCARS 3-4, and a MAACL-R for both themselves and their partner.
The MAACL-R demonstrated that the obsessive-compulsive group was significantly more hostile, and scored lower on positive affect and sensation-seeking than did the controls on the administration immediately prior to the second interaction. Results also indicated that the high obsessive-compulsive group demonstrated significantly different actual and ideal selves. They demonstrated a tendency to rate their partners in accordance with their own ideal self perceptions. They also believed their partners rated them significantly lower on obsessive-compulsive traits than they rated themselves to be. The implications of these findings are discussed
