(Aureet's Thesis Abstract), 1988

Addressing the need for increased understanding of developmental progression in interpersonal relatedness, Hassan (Hassan and Bar-Yam, 1987) proposed a theoretical model of stages in interpersonal development. This study engaged in an empirical evaluation of Hassan's model as it applied to young adult intimate relationships.

Subjects were 30 married females and 30 married males who participated in White et al.'s (1986) cross-sectional/longitudinal study. An Interpersonal Development scoring system was developed for use with interviews regarding close relationships. Data were gathered regarding three aspects of construct validation, namely: substantive validity; convergent validity; and sequentiality.

Initial evidence for substantive validity was found in the high interscorer reliability of the measure. No gender differences were found in Interpersonal Development, which testifies to the coherence of the constructs for both genders.

Results regarding convergent validity were mixed. No significant relationship was found between Interpersonal Development and ego development (WUSCT, Loevinger and Wessler, 1970). A significant positive relationship was found between interpersonal Development and White et al.'s Intimacy Maturity Scale (1986). A positive relationship was found for men, but not women, between Interpersonal Development and Speisman et al.'s (1983) measure of identity development. The results indicate that the Interpersonal Development Measure does assess elements of interpersonal relatedness.

Longitudinal analysis evaluating the relationship between initial Interpersonal Development and status after two years, provided support for the sequentiality of Interpersonal Development stages. High correlations showed stability in relative rank ordering in interpersonal development, and chi-squares showed that significantly more subjects progressed in development than expected by chance. The results suggest that interpersonal development progresses in a relatively steady and linear manner on the average. Preliminary qualitative analysis suggested that progression in interpersonal development is associated with qualitative changes in relationships and adequate interpersonal need satisfaction. questions were raised regarding possible mechanisms of change and directions for future research were suggested.

The results generally support a developmental conception of interpersonal relatedness in adulthood, involving a progressive sequence in the qualitative nature of interpersonal relationships. In addition, Hassan's model appears adequate as a conceptual framework for guiding efforts toward increasing theoretical and clinical understanding of life-span interpersonal development.