Psychopathology and the differentiation of values, emotions and behaviours: a repertory grid study

Disturbed and non-disturbed subjects were compared on a Repertory Grid measure of the differentiation of values, emotions and behaviours. The disturbed subjects tended to show either excessively tightened or excessively loosened relationships between values, feelings and behaviours. Tight relationships denoted a close correspondence between a subject's assessment of these three items; loose relationships denoted a poor correspondence. Non-disturbed subjects showed more moderate relationships. Among the disturbed patients, loosened relationships were found in schizophrenics rather than neurotics or personality disorders and tightened relationships in neurotics and personality disorders rather than schizophrenics.