Location
Martin, H.J. (1984). A revised measure of approval motivation and its relationship to social desirability. Journal
of Personality Assessment, 48 , 508/C0519.
Results and Comments
Research interest in individual differences in approva l motivation has emerged in two distinct traditions.
Perhaps the best known involves the social desirability response bias /C0the tendency for people to answer
self-report questions in ways that portray them in a positive light ( Holden & Passey, 2009 ). Concerns regard-
ing the effects of socially desirable responding on the validity of personality measurement led to the devel-
opment of several measures of social desirability, some of which were developed as ‘lie scales’ for specific
personality measures and some of which were designe d as free-standing measures (the best known of which
is the Marlowe /C0Crowne Social Desirability Scale). A second line of research has focused on the implications
of individual differences in approval motivation for cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal phenomena
outside the domain of response biases in personality measurement. Some of that work has used various
measures of social desirability, but other research has relied on other measures of approval motivation such
as the MLAMS.
The fact that correlations between the MLAMS and measures of social desirability bias (including the
Marlowe /C0Crowne scale) are negative and that the MLAMS and MCSDS correlate quite differently with a variety
of other measures confirm an essential distinction between these two scales. Martin (1984) asserted that the
Marlowe /C0Crowne measure assesses ego-defensiveness (high scorers possess an idealized view of themselves
that must be maintained and defended), whereas the MLAMS directly assesses the desire for social approval /C0
to please others, receive positive evaluations and approval, and avoid negative evaluations and rejection. Given
that the MLAMS’s patterns of correlations diverge from the MCSDS’s, researchers should consider conceptually
which construct they wish to measure.
MARTIN-LARSEN APPROVAL MOTIVATION SCALE
15Disagree Strongly
25Disagree
35No Opinion
45Agree
55Agree Strongly
1.Depending upon the people involved, I react to the
same situation in different ways.
2.I would rather be myself than be well thought of. (R)*
3.Many times I feel like just flipping a coin in order to
decide what I should do.
4.I change my opinion (or the way that I do things) in
order to please someone else.*
5.In order to get along and be liked, I tend to be what
people expect me to be.*
6.I find it difficult to talk about my ideas if they are
contrary to group opinion.*
7.One should avoid doing things in public which
appear to be wrong to others, even though one
knows that he is right.
8.Sometimes I feel that I don’t have enough control
over the direction that my life is taking.
9.It is better to be humble than assertive when dealing
with people.
10.I am willing to argue only if I know that my friends
will back me up.*11.If I hear that someone expresses a poor opinion of
me, I do my best the next time that I see this person
to make a good impression.
12.I seldom feel the need to make excuses or apologize
for my behavior. (R)*
13.It is not important to me that I behave ‘properly’ in
social situations. (R)*
14.The best way to handle people is to agree with them
and tell them what they want to hear.
15.It is hard for me to go on with my work if I am not
encouraged to do so.
16.If there is any criticism or anyone says anything
about me, I can take it. (R)*
17.It is wise to flatter important people.
18.I am careful at parties and social gatherings for fear
that I will do or say things that others won’t like.*
19.I usually do not change my position when people
disagree with me. (R)*
20.How many friends you have depends on how nice a
person you are.
Notes :
(R) Reverse scored item.
*Items in short form.
Reproduced with permission.456 16. MEASURES OF CONCERNS WITH PUBLIC IMAGE AND SOCIAL EVALUATION
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES