This research was designed (1) to develop an instrument for measuring ego states and (2) to use the instrument to explore the relationship between ego states and psychopathology.
The Gough Adjective Check List was used to develop 8 ego state scales, based on the eight functional ego states described by Taibi Kahler.
Three particularly interesting findings resulted from this useful study: (1) +AC is not significantly related to a lack of pathology—thus, acting “good” or appropriate does not necessarily indicate psychological health; (2) + CP appears to play a greater role in a lack of pathology than does + NP; and (3) — NP is more highly correlated with pathology than is — CP.
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