Concerning the present study, if in the test result of psychotic patients there is some distortion of reality concepts, as is generally expected, then their scores on any personality scale should vary considerably from norms established on the same test by "normal" subjects.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1974. / Title from title page screen, viewed Nov. 3, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Clayton Thomas (chair), Elwood Egelston, Gary Ramseyer, Mort Waimon, Ronald Laymon. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-108) and abstract. Also available in print.

It is the basic assumption of this study that a relationship exists between the interpersonal needs of inclusion, control, and affection and occupational choice as indicated by college major. Studies in the area of vocational choice have largely dealt with people who are practicing the vocation, leaving doubt as to whether people are attracted to the vocation as a result of need-satisfaction behavior, or whether the people determine their orientation by practicing the occupation. The need for further clarification of these questions was recognized, and this study was an effort to add to the evidence for or against the validity of the concept of interpersonal need satisfaction as a factor in vocational choice.

This research paper describes what role interpersonal communication plays in coping with and accepting job loss. The study is framed by theories of stress, appraisal, coping, and the theory of Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO), where aspects of control, inclusion, and affection are achieved through interpersonal communication. Using a combination of surveys and in-depth interviews, two groups of copers were determined: healthy and unhealthy. Then, messages were themed and communication strategies were extracted, to establish what helps a person to thrive or not thrive through a layoff experience. A majority of healthy coping subjects showed solid social support and/or interpersonal communication elements of FIRO-B. Within those categories of FIRO-B, this study shows laid off workers – with purposeful interpersonal communication containing characteristics of affirmation, belonging & acceptance, encouragement, problem solving, trust, elevation, and reverence – are able to focus on opportunities which facilitate their ability to cope effectively with a layoff. Keywords: job loss, layoff, unemployment, stress, appraisal, acceptance, coping, thriving, support, interpersonal communication, self-efficacy, Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO)