Interpretation of Interpersonal Interactions

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale and perceptions and interpretations of interpersonal interactions. It compared 20 elderly females and 20 young females on the dimensions of loneliness, chronic loneliness, and negativeness of interpretation. No significant age differences were found, but a highly significant relationship was obtained among loneliness, chronic loneliness, and negative interpretations of interpersonal interactions. When the time elapsed since the occurrence of loneliness was taken into consideration, the correlation became even stronger. The relationship between loneliness scores and negative interpretations held true for interactions with a family member, neighbor, and authority figure. An inverse relationship was obtained between education and loneliness and between education and negativeness of interpretation. A developmental perspective of friendship and intimacy was proposed to explain severe or chronic loneliness.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Beck, A. T. , & Young, J. E. (1978, September). College blues. Psychology Today, 80-92.

Fidler, J. (1976). Loneliness: The problems of the elderly and retired. Royal Society of Health Journal, 96, 39-44.

Gerson, A. C. , & Perlman, D. (1979). Loneliness and expressive communication. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88, 258-261.

Goswick. R. A. , & Jones, W. H. (1981). Loneliness, self-concept, and adjustment. Journal of Psychology, 107, 237-240.

Hansson, R. O. , & Jones, W. H. (1981). Loneliness, cooperation, and conformity among American undergraduates. Journal of Social Psychology, 115, 103-108.

Jones, W. H. (1981) Loneliness and social contact. Journal of Social Psychology, 113, 295-296.

Jones, W. H. (1982). Loneliness and social behavior. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.), Loneliness. New York: John Wiley.

Jones, W. H. , Freemon, J. E. , & Goswick, R. A. (1981). The persistence of loneliness: Self and other determinants. Journal of Personality, 49, 27-48.

Jones, W. H. , Hobbs, S. A. , & Hockenbury, D. (1982). Loneliness and social skills deficits. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 682-689.

10.

Parlee, M. B. (1979, October). The friendship model: PT's survey report on friendship in America. Psychology Today, pp. 43-54, 113.

11.

Russell, D. (1982). The measurement of loneliness. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.), Loneliness. New York: John Wiley.

12.

Russell, D. , Peplau, L. A. , & Cutrona, C. E. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472-480.

13.

Russell, D. , Peplau, L. A. , & Ferguson, M. (1978). Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 42, 290-294.

14.

Smollar, J. , & Youniss, J. (1982). Social development through friendship. In K. H. Rubin & H. S. Ross (Eds.), Peer relations and social skills in childhood (pp. 279-298). New York: Springer.

15.

Sullivan, H. S. (1953). The interpersonal theory of psychiatry. New York: Norton.

16.

Weiss, R. S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

17.

Young, J. E. (1982). Loneliness, depression, and cognitive therapy: Theory and application. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.), Loneliness. New York: John Wiley.

18.

Youniss, J. (in press). Morality, communicative relations, and the development of reciprocity. In W. Edelstein (Ed.), Structuralism and development. Frankfurt: Suhrkzamp.