Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify a core of behavioral characteristics, particularly concerning social, or interpersonal relationships that differentiate diagnosed as afflicted with the Borderline Personality Disorder from those diagnosed as suffering from the Schizophrenic Disorders.The Behavior Exchange Inventory and Social Interest Scale were given to 21 Borderline Disordered patients and to 22 Chronic Schizophrenic patients. Student's t tests and analyses of variance were performed to assess differences in self perceptions between these populations and in comparison with normal control subjects. The strength of association between item scores, scale scores, and overall scores on the instruments were depicted using correlation matrices.Preliminary results showed significantly greater self perceptions of tendencies to infer negative reinforcers from others, regardless of intent, among the Borderline group relative to each of the others. The tendency of Borderline subjects to ask for both positive and negative reinforcers to a marked degree was also noted. Other significant differences found included the inclination of Normal Control subjects to give positive reinforcers to a greater degree than did the patient populations, and the greater reluctance of Schizophrenic subjects to give either positive or negative reinforcers than the other groups. Other results of like nature were found in varying degrees. There were indications of usability of the correlation matrices for further refinement of the two self-report questionnaires.