Anxiety and actualization: further research

In a recent article, Wilkins, Hjelle, and Thompson (1977) argued that unlike the Dabrowski-deGrace hypothesis, self-actualized Ss should have lower levels of manifest anxiety than low self-actualized Ss. Wilkins et al. demonstrated that this was indeed a preferable hypothesis. The present experiment concerns the relationship of actualization to state and trait anxiety. Ss were administered the Personal Orientation Inventory, the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Catteil's measure of state-trait anxiety. The results support the Wilkins et al. reformulation by demonstrating that: (1) high self-actualized Ss had lower trait anxiety scores; and (2) high self-actualized Ss were susceptible to state anxiety within the limits established by their trait anxiety level.