Psychology Commons^™

Sensation Seeking And Daily Activities As Determinants Of Criminal Behavior, Rebecca S. Fulper

Master's Theses

This study looks at sensation seeking and daily activities as possible determinants of criminal behavior within the age range of 15 to 30. A male offender and a male nonoffender population between the ages of 15 and 18 were compared on two questionnaires; Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale, Form VI, (SSS) and the Daily Activities Questionnaire (DAQ). The design consisted of one independent variable with two levels and multiple dependent variables. The research hypotheses indicated that the juvenile offender group would score higher on both Disinhibition subscales of the SSS and lower on the DAQ (Intention - Disinhibition (IDIS); Experience - …

The Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test As A Group Screening Instrument For Social Maturity, Andrea Davis

Master's Theses

This study investigated the use of the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BVMGT) as a measure of social maturity. A group BVMGT was administered to 80 second grade children and scored using the Koppitz Developmental Scoring System. The Social Domain of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) served as the measure of social maturity. It was hypothesized that there is a significant positive relationship between VABS performance and BVMGT performance, also that there is a significant positive relationship between BVMGT performance and gender. The hypotheses were not supported. The VABS, variability within the subjects, age, halo effect, and scoring system …

Relationship Between A Gifted Child's Label And Perceived Family Environment, Anne Hall

Master's Theses

This study investigated the relationship between the number of years in which a child has been labeled as gifted and family members' perceptions of their family's social environment. Second, possible differences between gifted childrens' and siblings' perceptions of their family's environment were investigated. A significant negative relationship was found between the number of years of labeling time and mothers' perceived level of cohesion, organization and control in the family environment. A significant positive relationship was found between the number of years in which the gifted child had been labeled and the gifted child's growing orientation to achievement and with unlabeled …

The Influence Of Gender Schema On The Perception Of Advertising, Kim Seitz

Honors Theses

Schemas are used to organize knowledge about a stimulus or concept. They help to show what information should be notice or ignored, interpret between long-term memory and the current stimulus, and aid in efficiently storing information. Individuals' responses to decisions are guided by schemas. The process of eleviating cognitive dissonance between reality and existing schemas serves as their motivation (Ruble & Stangor, 1986).

Outcome-Biased Correspondent Inferences And Choice Behavior In Social Dilemmas : "Acting On Inference", Shannon J. Pratt

Honors Theses

An experiment employing 38 intro-psychology students was performed in order to a) observe the outcome-biased correspondent inference, b) investigate whether this inference may be manifested in social dilemma behavior, and c) investigate the role of social values in reactions to feedback, investment behaviors, and sensitivity to the correspondent inference. The experiment consisted of two parts. The first part categorized subjects as either cooperators or defectors using the Ring Measure of Social Values. In the second part, subjects completed a booklet with the aid of taped instructions. The booklet contained a questionnaire, a bogus scenario, and three investment situations. Results showed …

Jealousy : An Investigation Of Attribution, Margaret L. Offerdahl

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of jealousy in different situations. Specifically, the research extended a study which identified five major categories of jealousy: romantic jealousy, jealousy of others' social acceptance, jealousy of others' undeserved accomplishments, jealousy of others' traits, and jealousy of others' happiness (Baldwin, 1988).

The investigation utilized a questionnaire narrating one scenario for each of the five jealousy provoking situations. Subjects rated the appropriateness of the jealous response in each situation on a scale from 1 to 7 and generated perceived causes for each jealous response. An analysis of variance of the appropriateness …

Warning Compliance : Behavioral Effects Of Cost And Consensus, Nancy A. Mckenna

Honors Theses

The behavioral effects of cost and consensus on warning compliance were examined. Cost was defined as the amount of effort expended to perform the instructed behavior, while consensus was defined as whether the presence of another person who complies or fails to comply affects the rate of compliance of another. Subjects performed a chemistry laboratory task during which, they read a warning directing them to wear a safety mask and gloves. The frequency of the subjects' compliance was recorded. The results show reduced compliance when the cost was high. The results also show that the behavior of just one other …

The Development Of The Child And Adolescent Coping Inventory, Laura K. Mcgraw

Honors Theses

The development of the Child and Adolescent Coping Inventory (Cobb, Gwanter, & Newcomb, 1987) is described and reliability and validity statistics are reported. The inventory consists of a parent form and a child form. The parent form contains 91 descriptions of children's behaviors when faced with difficulties. The child form is in interview format and asks children to describe seven positive and negative events and their reactions to them.The Inventory in both forms is capable of obtaining both observable and subjective reactions of children to stress. Reliability and validity is stronger for the child form. Suggestions are made for possible …

The Relationship Of General Tolerance With Education, Ultimate Religious Motivation, Theological Position, And Denominational Affiliation, Cheryl L. Epperson

Master's Theses

The current study assessed whether educational level and ultimate religious motivation were positively correlated with general tolerance, while fundamentalism and tolerance were negatively correlated. One hundred eighty-five subjects at least 21 years of age were recruited from seven different Christian orientations. Educational level and ultimate religious motivation, as measured by an Intrinsic Motivation Scale, were positively correlated with tolerance measured by the Jackson Personality Inventory Tolerance Scale. A significant negative correlation was displayed between tolerance and fundamentalism as measured by an Orthodoxy Scale. In addition, a multiple regression analysis showed that fundamentalism was negatively correlated with tolerance, while ultimate religious …

An Exploratory Analysis On The Situational Determinants Of Jealousy, Renee Jean Baldwin

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to transcend the trait and affective boundaries in order to account for the situational and cognitive variables which provoke the responses elicited by jealous emotion. The focus of the study is comprised of two major objectives: (1). To discover and define the structural dimensions associated with people's conceptions of jealous situations and (2) to deter mine whether there are gender differences in the interpretation and conceptualization of jealous emotion. Thirty-one undergraduate psychology students participated in the study. A cluster analysis was performed on the co-occurrence of situations. Five major categories of the situational determinants …

Social Psychology's Three Little Pigs, Donelson R. Forsyth

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

Three perspectives on the nature of scientific research are discussed allegorically: (1) basic science, or the study of theoretically meaningful hypotheses through rigorous research; (2) applied science, which focuses on practically significant problems; and (3) "action research," which integrates elements of both basic and applied science. The allegory concludes by advocating the unification of basic and applied science.

Fathers And Sons : The Relationships Among Orientations Of Sex Role, Sport And Winning, Leah Sigler Narro

Master's Theses

The present study examines relationships among several cognitive orientations of sons and fathers as well as sons' participation in sport and perception of the influences of others in sport. The subjects, 80 boys enrolled in fifth through twelfth grades, and their fathers completed the Short Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1981), the Sport Value Orientation scale (McElroy, 1983), and the Orientation Toward Winning scale (Kidd & Woodman, 1975). The sons' perceptions of who influences them the most in sport, and the sons' participation in sport were also assessed. The results imply that fathers who have a strong Orientation Toward Winning …