The study sought to determine whether persons differing in defensive style (R-S Scale) also differ systematically in their degree of openness to experience, ego strength (Es), and personality functioning (ACL). Using 3 groups of college students, high sensitizers, relative to their more repressed counterparts, were more open to experience, differed significantly on a large number of ACL scales and were no lower on Es than median R-S persons. Findings suggest that sensitizers, while critical, impatient, action-oriented, and personally more troubled, also have the capacity for personal integration (Es) and for more creative potential than previous literature would indicate.
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