Parataxic Distortion and Perceived Parenting

Abstract

When a person experiences feelings of low self-acceptance and further attributes this low self-acceptance to the average person, a distortion in perception is said to exist. Harry Stack Sullivan termed this distortion “parataxic.” The present study attempted to find evidence of such a distortion. Once a person was identified as a “distorter” nine factors of perceived parenting were revealed by the subjects. These nine factors examined were nurturance, instrumental companionship, predictability of standards, affective punishment, achievement pressure, deprivation of privileges, principled discipline, protectiveness, and physical punishment. Distortion was found to be significantly related to low nurturance, less instrumental companionship, excessive protectiveness, greater achievement pressure, and excessive punishment by parents as perceived by the 220 subjects involved.