THE INFLUENCES OF THE P-M LEADERSHIP TYPES ON EINSTELLUNG EFFECT IN PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the influences of the P-M leadership types and anxiety levels on the einstellung effect in problem solving process.The subjects are Women's College students (N=201).The task is a variation of Water-jar problem which Luchins, A. S. used in 1942.The assumptions are, I. P function increases einstellung effect and M function decreases it.II. High anxiety subjects have more einstel-lung effect than low anxiety subjects.III. M function decreases einstellung effect only when P function (outside influences) or high anxiety (inside) brings subjects tension. From these assumptions the following experimental hypotheses are led.(1) The subjects under P-type leader will show higher einstellung effect than other types.(2) The high anxiety subjects under M-type leader will show lower einstellung effect than pmtype.(3) Under pm-type leader, high anxiety subjects will show higher einstellung effect than low anxiety subjects.Main results and discussion are as follows.(1) On high anxiety subjects, there is a significant difference between P-type and PMtype, M-type, but not significant difference between P-type and pm-type. On low anxiety subjects, there is a significant difference between P-type and pm-type. From this result, the following is inferred that P function (outside) plus high anxiety (inside) do not multiply tension and einstellung effect.(2) The hypothesis 2 is supported. But in low anxiety subjects, there is a new finding that M-type has more einstellung than PM-type, which is not mentioned in hypothesis. The result is discussed that there are two processes, one is task oriented, the other is human relation oriented, to increase einstellung effect.(3) Under pm-type, high anxiety subjects have less einstellung effect than low anxiety subjects. Hypothesis 3 is not supported.