RELATION OF SCORING CATEGORIES TO THE ADJUSTIVE BEHAVIORAL SEQUENCE

Our classification of many of the aspects of the behavior and experiences of characters in imaginative stories reveals an implicit acceptance of the kind of descriptive categories elaborated by many different psychological theorists in conceptualizing adjustive overt behavior. Thus, we perceive the behavioral sequence originating when an individual experiences a state of need or a motive (N). (The symbols in parentheses are used throughout to denote the various scoring categories.) He may also be anticipating successful attainment of his goal (Ga+) or anticipating frustration and failure (Ga−). He may engage in activity instrumental (I) to the attainment of his goal, which may lead to the attainment of the goal (I+) or not (I−). Sometimes his goal-directed activity will be blocked. The obstacle or block (B) to his progress may be located in the world at large (Bw) or it may be some personal deficiency in himself (Bp). He may experience strong positive and negative affective states while engaged in solving his problem, for example, in attempting to gratify his motive. He is likely to experience a state of positive affect (G+) in goal attainment, or a state of negative affect (G−) when his goal-directed activity is thwarted or he fails.