CHAPTER 5
 DISCUSSION


 Introduction


 The basic research questions of this study were as follows: Is

personality type associated with a particular type of pain response?

That is, is type associated with sensory, affective, or evaluative

responses? Additionally, is coping style associated with pain response?

If so, in what direction? Results of this investigation are presented

in Chapter 4. A discussion of these results appears in this chapter,

along with a description of additional findings and suggestions for

further research.


 Summary of the Study


 Fifty-five surgical patients from two different surgical practices

were recruited as volunteers for this study. Subjects filled out the

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory, the

Wallston Health Locus of Control scale, and a Health History

Questionnaire. In addition, they were visited by the investigator while

they were recuperating from surgery, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire

was filled out at that time.

 Because of differences in the types of surgery, the time between

surgery and the postoperative visit, and significant differences within

the groups on the dependent variable, the McGill Pain Questionnaire