Psychology Commons^™

A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis Of Sex Guilt, Kevin E. O'Grady

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Sixty males and 60 females, divided at the median of their scores on the sex guilt subscale of the Mosher Forced Choice Guilt Inventory, made all possible comparisons between 15 stimulus cues. The cues were descriptions of individuals written to reflect characteristics felt to be important to the concept of sex guilt. Ratings of dissimilarity were analyzed by INDSCAL, and an unfolding method, both of which are multidimensional scaling techniques. Results indicated that high sex guilt individuals perceived a greater degree of dissimilarity between the stimulus "individuals" than did low sex guilt subjects. Furthermore, although the dimensions along which high …

The Effects Of Central And Peripheral Graphics On Personal Disclosure, Louis C. Saksen

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Forty-eight college students, twenty males and twenty-eight females, were used to assess the effects of central and peripheral graphic environments on personal disclosure and subjective evaluation. Scales developed by Cash (1972) were used to determine the type and amount of subjects' disclosure and non-disclosure; scales developed by Nehrabian and Russell (1974) were utilized to assess subjective evaluation of the environmental space in terms of information theory and approach-avoidance.

Results replicated a previous study by Cash (1974), indicating that females made more positive self-references than males (p < .01) . Hales also chose to disclose less often than females (p < .05) . No significant differences resulted from the graphic environmental conditions.

The data did produce substantial variance between the sexes in response to the environments. …

A Structural-Functional Approach To Attitudes : Development And Application Of A Theoretical Framework, Alberto Mario Dos Santos

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to present a theoretical framework for the concept of attitude and to examine the attitudes of selected subjects within this frame of reference. It was hoped that the results would clarify the concept of "attitude” and that they would provide solutions for problems in education.

Method. A theoretical framework which consisted of sixteen propositions dealing with organization, structure, function, and change of attitudes was presented as the frame of reference. The 180 subjects who responded to the questionnaire that was prepared for this study were selected f±om the student body of Andrews University, …

Sex And Curriculum Differences In Conceptions Of The Teacher Role: A Role Theoretical Analysis, Steven Michael Koning

Masters Theses

This study is concerned with factors which influence the way individuals conceptualize and define their social roles. Role theory suggests that role conceptions, which are individual orientations to a role, are affected by expectations associated with the role and personality characteristics that an individual brings to the role. These suggestions are tested by examining sex and curriculum differences in conceptions of the teacher role among education students at a midwestern university. Conceptions of teacher control and nurturance are assessed by two scales developed by the author. Results indicate that factors associated with a student's curriculum influence orientations toward teacher control …

Predictive Correlates Of Adoption Behavior In A Social Context: A Multiple Discriminant Analysis, Robert Brady

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Working from a communication theory paradigm and from previous literature, the purpose of this study was to empirically examine significant receiver correlates which predict adoption behavior of Sigma Nu Fraternity on three campuses. Drawing from past research, the present study utilized a unique combination of social and communication variables as predictors of fraternity membership. A stepwise multiple discriminant analysis using five factors derived from the thirteen independent variables yielded a highly significant three factor discriminant function (p < .001) which explained 46.65 percent of the common variance in adoption/non-adoption behavior of Sigma Nu. The significant factors were labeled peer group behavior, parental economic support, and social attitudes. Based on intuitive interpretation features of the data, the researcher suspects that adopters are more socially oriented, have a wider variety o: friends, are less dependent on parental economic support, and exhibit higher scores on measures such as self-esteem, liberalism, conservatism, and the need for identification with groups.

Self-Concept And Reinforcement: Two Paths To Achievement For Black And White Elementary School Children, Kirby L. Throckmorton

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Moving Toward Integration: A Study Of Theory And Practice In Feminist Therapy, Susan Amelia Thomas

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes a study designed to explore the emerging field of feminist therapy. The goal was not to test the validity of feminist therapy, to probe the assumptions on which it is based, or to compare it to other forms of therapy but to characterize the theory and practice of feminist therapy as it now exists. Feminist therapy was seen as growing out of the cultural and historical context of the feminist movement, which includes a critique of society with emphasis on the particular psychological consequences for women, and a critique of psychotherapy, particularly Freudian psychotherapy, as oppressive to …

Intimacy And Content Of Self-Disclosure As A Function Of Target-Status, John Richard Mccallum

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

No abstract.

Social Workers In The Community Mental Health Field A Delphi Forecast Of Training Priorities, William Boyce Thomas, Mark L. Clay

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes an exploratory research project initiated to facilitate curriculum planning for and evaluation of a social work training program in the field of community mental health. The literature concerning community mental health, the historical relationship of social work to this field, and current issues in social work manpower and education was reviewed as part of the thesis project. On the basis of the review, a study was undertaken to determine appropriate priorities for training Master ' s level social worker’s specializing in this field of practice. The researcher's decided that these priorities would be determined in terms of …

The Effects Of Experiential-Gestalt Growth Groups On A Measure Of Self-Acceptance & Acceptance Of Others, Danny Brown

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Two experiential-Gestalt oriented growth groups were conducted with the purpose of determining the effects such a group process has in increasing an individual's acceptance of himself and others. The sample included 26 students who had volunteered to participate in a growth group experience. Ten volunteers were assigned to a control group while the remaining 16 volunteers were evenly divided into two growth groups. Experiential groups met for two hours once a week for eight weeks. Focus of the groups was primarily on the moment to moment experiencing of individual participants and the interaction among them. In order to assess the …

On Justifying Enforced Requirements: A Reply To Baier, David B. Lyons

Faculty Scholarship

There are limits to the possible subjects of justification. Typically, it concerns human behavior and things that human intervention can affect. Failing special circumstances, it makes no sense to speak of justifying the weather. There may be other limits to the class of possible subjects for justification; for example, it is sometimes said that a thing cannot be justified unless it has been indicted, though it is not clear how this claim should be taken. For there simply may be no point in bothering to justify something that is not suspect in some way, and the relevant condition can generally …

Self And Ideal-Self Concepts In A Prison Population: (1) Self And Ideal-Self Patterns Of Violent And Non-Violent Offenders, (2) Self And Ideal-Self Concepts In Relation To Time Served Within A Prison, Alison Prince Berman, James W. Kushmuk

Dissertations and Theses

Two interrelated studies explored the self and ideal-self patterns, two important components of the total personality, of a male prison population using the Interpersonal Adjective Checklist (ICL). Both studies used the same prison subjects (n=38), who were divided equally between violent and non-violent offenders. Study I also used a normative sample (n=38) of male students. All subjects filled out two ICL forms, one with self and one with ideal-self instructions. Study I investigated the ICL patterns of the prisoners in terms of type of crime (violent vs. non-violent) and also compared the ICL scores of the prisoners (violent and non-violent) …

Recent Role Changes Made By Women And The Effect These Changes Have Had On Marital Adjustment, Nancy L. Scolar

Dissertations and Theses

Sex Roles, A History. From Insects to humans, gender is associated with specific behavior. Below the mammals there are sex differences in dominance that are correlated with androgen function on the inside, and with certain types of stimulation on the outside. In higher forms, the increasing complexity of brain development means increasing capacity for modification through experience and learned modes of adaptation to the environment.

By the time the primate level is reached, social influences have become so intricate and compelling as to clearly foreshadow culture.

According to Elizabeth Janeway in her article Reflections on the History of Women, in …

The Effects Of Frustration And Social Desirability On Heterosexual Attraction, Donelson R. Forsyth, Russell D. Clark Iii

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

Walster, Walster, Piliavin and Schmidt's (1973) finding that a selectively hard-to-get female was preferred over either an easy-to-get or a hard-to-get female was replicated for unfrustrated males. However, when males were mildly frustrated, they preferred females who had indicated attraction toward them. The implications of these results were discussed in terms of external rewards and the motivational state of individuals.

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Loneliness And Differential Diagnosis In A Rural Mental Health Center, Kathryn Dunscomb

Masters Theses

The review of the literature discussed loneliness in general and specified three seperate forms of loneliness; social, psychic, and existential. The relationships between loneliness, social interaction, and pathology were discussed. 139 clients were given the Belcher Extended Loneliness Scale - Revised prior to therapy. They were assigned one of six diagnostic categories to determine loneliness score (LS), diagnostic, and sex interactions. An analysis of variance found a significant difference (p <.0001) between the diagnostic categories’ LS. The schizophrenic’s and the neurotic’s LS s were significantly higher (<.05) than the remaining categories. The males had significantly (p <.036) higher LS than the females. It was also hypothesized that the degree of loneliness would increase the lower the diagnostic developmental level. The hypothesized order was not consistent with the results. Further research was recommended.

Feeling Good And Helping: Really?, Gregory A. Blevins

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Social Work, Sociology, And Social Diagnosis, Harris Chaiklin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Excerpt from the full-text article:

A new type of scholar-practitioner is needed; one who can contribute to both sociology and social work. To this point sociology has had the advantage because it has more of the needed people than social work; it just won't let them out of the closet. Social work has always been better than its own self-image. Lack of scholarship has hindered organizing and presenting the hard won knowledge which the field has acquired. The way to bring this scattered information together is by developing typologies which are refined in practice and common to both fields. Only …

The Effect Of Imposed Roles On The Direction And Magnitude Of Group Polarization Of Initially Dominant Responses (Risky Shift) In Small Discussion Groups, Neil W. Blahut

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Fear Appeal Communications And Communicators Upon Attitudes Alcohol Consumption, Robert D. Fritzen

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Woman's Roles And Career Choices Of Women Graduate Students, Barbara Backstrand

Dissertations and Theses

The purposes of the present study were to explore how American college women view their roles and whether or not women who choose not-traditional-for-women (NTW) careers have more or less social support from significant others for that choice than women who choose traditional-for-women (TW) careers. A related question asked whether aspects of a woman's personal history predict her role attitudes and behavior as an adult.

The Effects Of Reduction In Dependence Upon Group As A Source Of Influence On Field Dependence, James L. Antram

All Master's Theses

Recent research has cast doubt on Witkin's stability hypothesis of the field-dependence-independence dimension. Prior research suggested reduction of external field influences results in a decrease in level of field-dependence. It was hypothesized for this study that a reduction in dependence upon a group as a source of influence would result in a concomitant reduction in level of field-dependence as measured by the Witkin Rod-and-Frame Test.

A Study Into The Effects Of Knowledge Of Peer Group Evaluation Upon Self-Concept Change, Janice Marie Beyer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Behaviour Setting And Interaction On Patterns Of Successful Aging, George D. Macdonald

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study investigated the effects of behaviour setting and interaction on patterns of engagement and disengagement within a home for the aged. The purpose of the study was to illustrate that both patterns may be a function of situational and psychological factors and therefore should not be used as definitions of “successful aging.” Data were collected using an observational technique. Observations were made on five behaviour settings for a typical week. The results indicate that there is a relationship between patterns and the two factors specified. A similar finding was reported for staff patterns within the home. Implications of these …

Deafness As An Identity In Relation To Future Educational And Occupational Plans Among Deaf High School Students, Robert Greg Emerton

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Between Words And Actions: The Problem Of Motivation In Symbolic Interactionism, Robert Scott Broadhead

Dissertations and Theses

The development of a theory of motivation in symbolic interactionism is traced, with particular reference to the work of G.H. Mead, Kenneth Burke, C.W. Mills, Nelson Foote, and Ernest Becker. Specific attention is focused on comparing the original theoretical assumptions of particularly Mead and Burke to the varying formulations of the problems of motivation that were later developed by symbolic interactionists. Specifically, it is argued that, primarily due to Burke's analysis, the traditional practice of deterministically explaining human action as being the result of variously imagined motives "in" people is, in fact, no explanation at all but simply a variety …

Eye Contact, Spatial Invasion, And Personal Space, Thomas E. Eby

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Personality Correlates Of Interpersonal Perception In A Residential Treatment Center For Adolescent Girls, Raymond Paul Micciche, Terrell Lynn Eheler

Dissertations and Theses

While men do indeed construct self-validating and often peculiar interpretations of the realities of their world the simple fact that these views become consensually shared doctrines of experience does not protect them from the revisionism of historical scrutiny. These perceptions of the world become retrospectively altered as developing bodies of knowledge reject them as being clearly deceptive or anachronistic. The concept of psychopathology, distinguished historically under many rubrics, has not been immune to these same processes of modification, nor has it ever been free of the diverse irrationalities which men of all ages have constructed to explain the etiology and …

The Interdependence Of Measures Of Vocational Interest And Personality, David O. Barrows

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A basic problem encountered in the area of psychological testing is the determination of what a particular test is measuring. One means by which tests are evaluated is by making observations as to how well scores may predict some specified behavior. For example, a test may be found to predict on-the-job performance. This is known as the predictive validity of a test and is determined by simply computing the coefficient of correlation between the test scores and the criterion to be predicted, which is directly observable.

Self-Attribution Of Attitude By Nonverbal Response Manipulation : A Further Consideration, James Joseph Fitzpatrick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The attribution process has been empirically and theoretically explored since the publication of Fritz Heider's text, The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations (1958). All of the related thinking has not been derived from Heider's theory. Reviews by Jones and Davis (l965) and Kelley (1976) indicated that other sources such as Festinger's dissonance theory and Skinner's behavioristic perspective had led to research concerned with attribution theory.

Integrity House: The Addict As A Total Institution, Kenneth D. Colburn

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The Integrity House approach to rehabilitation is an apolitical, myth-oriented method reinforcing the pseudo psychological notion that addiction is exclusively the problem of the addict. Blame is placed solely on the addict; neither social ills nor any other factors share the responsibility for drug abuse.