PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT AND SELF-REINFORCEMENT STYLE

The relationship between self-reinforcement behavior and one index of mental health—viz., Maslow’s need hierarchy—was investigated. Ninety-three university students (21 males, 72 females; X age = 18.7 years) completed Bellack et al. ‘s. Time Completion Test to measure self-reinforcement behavior, while Barling’s Need Hierarchy questionnaire assessed psychological adjustment. The results supported the contention that high self-reinforcers tend to be psychologically healthy, while no relationship was found between the four lower order needs and self-reinforcement. Implications for the importance of self-reinforcement style in an extended behavioral framework are discussed. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.