The Effect of Variations in Relatedness Need Satisfaction on Relatedness Desires.

Abstract : Hypotheses pertaining to relatedness satisfaction and desire were derived from E.R.G. theory and tested in an experimental social psychology laboratory setting. Twenty-one adult male middle and upper middle managers participated in role playing activities based upon actual work experiences described by the men in pre-experimental interviews. Three significantly different degrees of mutuality and relatedness satisfaction were created by the role playing. The study presents a new behavior coding system for scoring mutuality in interpersonal behavior and demonstrates that high degrees of relatedness satisfaction can be produced in a laboratory setting. (Author Modified Abstract)