Correlates of autophotographic individuality: Therapy experience and loneliness

Author(s): Cook, C. A., Robinson, N. M.

Journal/Book: J Soc Clin Psychol. 1999; 18: 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012, USA. Guilford Publications Inc. 325-340.

Abstract: Individuality is valued in most theories of psychotherapy but is seldom operationalized. The present research uses the social psychological tool of autophotography (photo essays about the self) as the medium for operationalizing self-construals that are unlike others (i.e., are uniquely abstract, self-reflective, multidimensional, and creative) as a measure of individuality. This measure was found to correlate in several samples (total N = 484) with (a) having experienced counseling or therapy and (b) loneliness or social alienation. Individualists had more commonly experienced therapy and were more lonely and alienated; each finding explained variance independently of the other. These findings are discussed in terms of a preliminary model of individuality and compared with Snyder and Fromkin's (1980) construct of the need for uniqueness.

Note: Article Dollinger SJ, So Illinois Univ, Dept Psychol, Carbondale,IL 62901 USA

Keyword(s): ACHIEVEMENT; IDENTITY; SCALE; SELF; PERSONALITY; SHYNESS

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