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Development of a striving to avoid inferiority scale
Paul Gilbert1, Claire Broomhead, Chris Irons
1Mental Health Research Unit, Kingsway Hospital, Derby, UK. p.gilbert@derby.ac.uk
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|September 20, 2007
Summary
This study introduces the Striving to Avoid Inferiority Scale (SAIS), revealing its link to social rank and mood. High SAIS scores predict psychopathology, particularly in individuals with low perceived social rank.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Social rank theory posits mood variation correlates with social domain security and sensitivity to subordination.
- Research has often focused on dominance-seeking, while social rank theory emphasizes avoiding inferiority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a measure of 'Striving to Avoid Inferiority' (SAIS).
- To examine the relationship between SAIS and other rank-related and mood-related variables.
Main Methods:
- Developed the Striving to Avoid Inferiority Scale (SAIS) with two hypothesized factors: insecure striving and secure non-striving.
- Administered the SAIS to 207 undergraduates.
- Conducted exploratory factor analysis to validate the scale's structure.
Main Results:
- The SAIS demonstrated good psychometric properties, with strong support for the 'insecure striving' and 'secure non-striving' factors.
- Both factors significantly correlated with fears of rejection, need for validation, hypercompetitive attitudes, feelings of inferiority, submissive behavior, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Striving to avoid inferiority emerged as a significant predictor of psychopathology, especially when individuals perceived low social rank.
Conclusions:
- The SAIS is a reliable measure for assessing the drive to avoid inferiority.
- The findings support the link between social rank, striving to avoid inferiority, and psychological distress.
- Understanding the motivation to avoid inferiority is crucial for addressing psychopathology, particularly in low-ranking individuals.
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