Date of Award

Fall 12-1-1994

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Michael J. Murphy

Abstract

Until recently, few empirical studies have explored crying reactivity in normal adults. The present study investigated adult weeping by first developing the Weeping Propensity Scale (WPS) and then by comparing scores on that scale to traits which had been hypothesized to be related to weeping propensity. The WPS is a self-report, 22 item, Likert-type scale designed to measure an individual's tendency to react to emotional stimuli with tears. Factor analysis results and internal consistency are reported for the WPS. In order to investigate traits hypothesized to be related to the WPS, 173 university students completed the WPS, the Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy (QMEE), the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (RSMS), and Sommers' projective technique. Participants were screened for factors which might affect their emotional response such as depression. A multiple regression analysis revealed emotional empathy (QMEE) to be the strongest predictor of weeping propensity (WPS) followed by gender and sensitivity to the expressive behavior of others (RSMS subscale 2). A wide range of internal affective states (Sommers' projective technique) and the ability to modify one's self-presentation (RSMS subscale 1) were not significant predictors of weeping propensity.

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