Hostile emotion and obsessional neurosis

Abstract

Synopsis: The literature on the place of hostile emotion in obsessional neurosis is reviewed. In the main study 11 obsessional neurotic and 11 depressive patients matched for severity of illness were given questionnaires to measure experienced hostility and anger, and a repertory grid of standard form. The obsessional group showed a qualitatively distinct correlational pattern of measured aspects of hostility–anger, including a high correlation between outwardly directed aspects of hostility and anger; this pattern was replicated in a validation study. In contrast, the obsessional group was not differentiated by a negative cognitive set. Treatment implications for obsessional neurosis are briefly discussed.