CONSTRUCTION OF A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE ATTITUDE SCALE

Theory development and research in the area of psychologically healthy competition has been impeded by the lack of a psychometrically sound instrument. Four stud;es were conducted as part of a research program designed to remedy this deficiency by constructing an individual diffe rence measure of general personal development competitive attitude wit h satisfactory psychometric properties. In Studies 1 and 2, a 15-item scale was derived primarily through item-total correlational analysis; it demonstrated satisfactory internal and test-retest reliabilities. Studies 3 and 4 were concerned with establishing the construct validit y of the scale. Both Studies 3 and 4 showed the scale's discriminant v alidity through its lack of association with hypercompetitiveness. In addition, its construct validity was seen in its negative association with neurosis and its positive links with personal and social self-est eem and optimal psychological health. Also, as expected, personal deve lopment competitiveness was positively correlated with needs for affil iation, whereas hypercompetitiveness was unrelated to affiliation need s. Although hypercompetitive individuals were more aggressive, dominan t, and exhibitionistic, this was not the case for personal development competitors.