To determine whether personality type influences the selection of an approach to weight loss, 46 college students completed a food-habits questionnaire and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Analysis indicates that persons who score high on the feeling and perceiving scales of the Keirsey sorter are more likely to choose a group weight-loss program than others. There were no significant personality differences with regard to calorie counting, fasting, or use of diet foods or pills.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barrett-MoranL. M. (1983) Personality differences among overweight, thin, fat, and normal women. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, US International University) Dissertation Abstracts International, 1983, 43, 11B, 3724.
2.
BassechesH. I.KarpS. A. (1984) Field dependence in young anorectic and obese women. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 41, 33–37.
3.
DunnP. K.OndercinP. (1981) Personality variables related to compulsive eating in college women. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 37, 43–49.
4.
HatsukamiD.OwenO.PyleR.MitchellJ. (1982) Similarities and differences on the MMPI between women with bulimia and women with alcohol or drug abuse problems. Addictive Behaviors, 7, 435–439.
5.
HermanP. C.OlmstedM. P.PolivyJ. (1983) Obesity, externality and susceptibility to social influence: an integrated analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 926–934.
6.
KaganD. M.SquiresR. L. (1984) Compulsive eating, dieting, stress and hostility among college students. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 312–320.
7.
KaplanH. I.KaplanH. S.A psychosomatic concept. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1957, 11, 16–38.
8.
KeirseyD.BatesM. (1978) Please understand me: character and temperament types. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Books.
9.
McKennaR. J. (1972) Some effects of anxiety level and food cues on the eating behavior of obese and normal subjects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 22, 311–319.
10.
RichardsonH. B. (1946) Obesity as a manifestation of neurosis. Medical Clinics of North America, 30, 1187.
11.
RudermanA. J. (1983) Obesity, anxiety and food consumption. Addictive Behaviors, 8, 235–242.
12.
RupertC. (1986) The hypoglycemia syndrome: personality, stress and dietary influences on blood glucose regulation. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology) Dissertation Abstracts International, 46, 8B, 2857.
13.
RydénO.DanielsonA. (1983) Personality factors of grossly obese surgical patients: a preoperative study. Archiv für Psychologie, 135, 115–134.
14.
SchachterS. (1971) Emotion, obesity and crime. New York: Academic Press.
15.
StraussC. C.SmithK.FrameC.ForehandR. (1985) Personal and interpersonal characteristics associated with childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 10, 337–343.
