Quality of Object Relations Scale

Abstract

The Quality of Object Relations Scale (QORS) provides a methodological and theoretical framework for personality classification based on relative level and quality of object relations. The authors believe that many available clinical assessment systems have little heuristic value, and propose that the QORS yields more meaningful descriptions of people. They discuss its theoretical basis in psychoanalytic object relations theory, and how its construction and rationale represent an attempt to incorporate recent thought relevant to the classification of personality. They include criteria for its organizational levels, prototypical vignettes, and a case demonstration. They also explore methodological issues relevant to clinical use and present reliability and validity data derived from empirical studies.