Date of Award

3-1973

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Edward H. Tiller

Second Advisor

Dr. L. James Tromater

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine if long-term heroin addicts could be differentiated from short-term users and non-users of heroin on a personality inventory and by comparing their worlt histories and interpersonal relationships . Subjects were incarcerated felons at the Virginia State Penitentiary for men, and the data was collected while the men were still in the institution's Receiving Cell. First it was hyr)othesized that four factors (C, L, M, and O) from Cattell's 16 P. F. Questionnaire would be critical in discriminating addicts from non-addicts. When compared, the addict profiles and non-addict profiles did not differ significantly on any of the 16 factors. Secondly, it was hypothesized that addicts would have poorer work histories than non-addicts when length of time employed, length of time unemployed, number of times fired, and number of jobs at which eligibility for rehiring exists were measured. When compared on these indices, the addict group manifested significantly poorer work histories. Finally, it was hypothesized that addicts would perceive the interpersonal relationships they had with their parents, spouses, and friends as being more distant than the relation- ships non-addicts shared with those persons. This hypothesis was cautiously accepted with the firm recommendation that further research be done in the area. In conclusion, these findings have engendered serious doubts about the use of psychometric data to support the assumption that there is an "addiction prone" personality. Nevertheless, it was demonstrated the.t addicts can be differentiated from non-addicts by examination of their job histories and interpersonal relationships.

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