Abstract
Ego-dystonicity and ego-syntonicity are usually considered opposite ends of the same dimension, and they are used to define
both obsessions and eating disorder-related symptoms. This study aims to examine the characteristics of ego-dystonicity/syntonicity,
their relationships with symptom contents, and with the emotions, behaviours, and evaluative appraisals provoked by these
symptoms. A sample of 349 community individuals rated the ego-dystonicity and ego-syntonicity associated with their most upsetting
obsessional intrusive thought (OIT) and eating disorder-related intrusive thought (EDIT). Three dimensions, Undesirability/Desirability,
Immorality/Morality/, and Irrationality/Rationality explained ego-dystonicity and ego-syntonicity. The size of the relationships
among these dimensions was medium, and no correlation exists between morality/immorality concerning the OIT. Since the OIT
was rated as more egodystonic and less egosyntonic than the EDIT, both thought modalities were egosyntonic, as they were considered
rational/coherent with the personality, but at the same time egodystonic, as they were undesirable. The ego-dystonicity of
both the OIT and EDIT was associated with negative emotions, dysfunctional appraisals, and interference in on-going activities,
with Immorality being the most noteworthy dimension of ego-dystonicity. Both subclinical OCD and ED subjects scored higher
than non-clinical participants on the ego-dystonicity caused by their most upsetting intrusive thought.
both obsessions and eating disorder-related symptoms. This study aims to examine the characteristics of ego-dystonicity/syntonicity,
their relationships with symptom contents, and with the emotions, behaviours, and evaluative appraisals provoked by these
symptoms. A sample of 349 community individuals rated the ego-dystonicity and ego-syntonicity associated with their most upsetting
obsessional intrusive thought (OIT) and eating disorder-related intrusive thought (EDIT). Three dimensions, Undesirability/Desirability,
Immorality/Morality/, and Irrationality/Rationality explained ego-dystonicity and ego-syntonicity. The size of the relationships
among these dimensions was medium, and no correlation exists between morality/immorality concerning the OIT. Since the OIT
was rated as more egodystonic and less egosyntonic than the EDIT, both thought modalities were egosyntonic, as they were considered
rational/coherent with the personality, but at the same time egodystonic, as they were undesirable. The ego-dystonicity of
both the OIT and EDIT was associated with negative emotions, dysfunctional appraisals, and interference in on-going activities,
with Immorality being the most noteworthy dimension of ego-dystonicity. Both subclinical OCD and ED subjects scored higher
than non-clinical participants on the ego-dystonicity caused by their most upsetting intrusive thought.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-011-9255-4
- Authors
- Amparo Belloch, Department of Personality Psychology, Research Unit for Obsessive-Compulsive and Eating Disorders, Facultad de Psicología, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- María Roncero, Department of Personality Psychology, Research Unit for Obsessive-Compulsive and Eating Disorders, Facultad de Psicología, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Conxa Perpiñá, Department of Personality Psychology, Research Unit for Obsessive-Compulsive and Eating Disorders, Facultad de Psicología, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689