Psychology Commons^™

Self Efficacy, Locus Of Control, And Task Difficulty As Predictors In Athletic Competition, Glen F. Cox

Honors Theses

With the increasingly competitive nature of athletics today there has been a great deal of interest in the various factors contributing to athletic success. Athletes are bigger and faster, stronger and more physically fit than ever before. Yet there is another factor, a psychological one, that seems to be a key ingredient in the ultimate success of any athlete.

The Relationship Of Stress, Coping, And Social Support To Depression, Katherine B. Wissman

Honors Theses

The relationship of the sources, mediators, and manifestations of stress were examined in a review of the literature. Stress is comprised of microstressors and daily hassles in addition to negative life events and changes. Direct, problem-focused coping mechanisms were found to be more effective in reducing stress than emotion-focused strategies. Social support reduces stress through strong main effects, but the interaction of stress and support depends on the specific types of stress and support under study.

The Effects Of Sex Typing, On The Perception Of Gender In Projected Animal Content, Steven J. Lash

Honors Theses

The present study replicates and extends Lash and Polyson's (1986) findings that a majority of mental images of commonly projected animals are gender associated. In the present study 91 subjects created mental images of the same animals and rated them on degree of masculinity-femininity and clarity on seven point Likert scales. The two studies were very consistent for feminine animals, but many of the masculine associated animals in the original study were found to be non-gender associated. With few exceptions the gender associations generalized across sex type as measured by the Personal Attributes Questionnaire, visualizing ability, and sex of subject. …

Observational Investigation Of School-Aged Children's Peer Relations, Darcy Milhaven

Honors Theses

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of early peer relations in the social and emotional development of children (Hartup, 1983; Cowen, Pederson, Babagian, Izzo, & Trost, 1973; Roffl Sells, & Golden, 1972). The recognition of the contribution of peer relations to later adult adjustment has lead to a significant increase in the investigation of children's social relations. In particular, three general methodologies have been employed in these studies. First, informant reports with their origin in the sociometric tradition have utilized peer-, adult-, and self-reports to assess children's social reputations, behavioral characteristics, and self-perceptions (e.g., …

Styles Of Leadership : Leader Behavior In A Crisis Situation, Jacqueline J. Delisle

Honors Theses

This study examined leadership behavior in a simulated crisis situation. The subjects were 16 undergraduate students enrolled in a leadership class. Subjects completed a leadership behavior questionnaire, and two leaders were chosen on the basis of their scores. The remainder of the subjects were assigned to groups in a manner which balanced their average scores. The findings indicated that the appointed leaders made significantly less suggestions as emergent leaders arose and gained power. Possibilities for future research were proposed.

The Future Of Elderly Women : Psychosocial Factors Influencing The Aging Transition, Michelle Dever

Honors Theses

In the U.S. today there is an increasing number of elderly in the population. There are over twenty million persons who are 65 years of age and older. It is predicted that there will be over 32 million older Americans by the year 2000. There has been a greater increase in the number of older women compared to men with women having a greater life expectancy also. The effects of aging on individuals and their ability to adapt to society needs to examined in our society today. There is a special need to study elderly women and the difficulties they …

Effects Of The Color Analysis Process On The Self-Concept Of Women, Sherry Tanenbaum

Honors Theses

This study used a pre/post test design to investigate the effects of a color analysis by Suzanne Cagyill on the self-concept of women. The individual's value system was examined for its effect on integration of the color process. Personality correlations of participants using Suzanne's Season typology were also investigated. Ninety-eight subjects, 94 women and 4 men, completed both the California Personality Inventory (CPI) and the Gordon Allport Scale of Values. Pre-test and post-test pictures were also taken of each subject. A subgroup of approximately 45 women received a more intense analysis in addition to the general color analysis. A two …

The Effects Of Birth Order Upon Personality, Laura W. Quarles

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between birth order and personality with particular attention paid to the first born as opposed to other children. Familial differences in the early socialization of various ordinal positions are explored. Their impact upon first borns calls for a study of the needs and social characteristics of oldest children. Differences in sociability from early childhood through adulthood are also investigated as are birth order effects within mentally ill populations. Finally, the methodological problems in birth order research are explored.

Program Evaluation Of St. Mary's Hospice, Lyn M. Harper

Honors Theses

The purpose of this program evaluation was to identify the needs of families of terminally ill patients and their perceptions of their loved ones needs. Another objective was to determine if these needs were met in St. Mary's Hospice Program and who responded to these needs. Subjects consisted of ten randomly chosen family members, nine females and one male, ages forty to eighty, who had lost loved ones enrolled in the hospice program at least six months prior to the study. The subjects had not received volunteer bereavement care prior to the evaluation. Responses to need questionnaires and interviews indicated …

Environmental Psychology : Theory, Methodology, And Research, Ellen R. Divers

Honors Theses

The purpose of this literature review is to introduce the reader to the emerging field of environmental psychology. The first section deals with problems and challenges of theory and methodology in environmental psychology, and is followed by samples of research in the areas of visual perception, noise, and spatial perception. Finally, two areas, women and the environment and residential satisfaction, selected by the author as important topics for further investigation, are described briefly. It is concluded that since environmental psychology appears to be growing as a field, it is crucial that clear communication be established between environmental designers and those …

The Effects Of Subject Assertiveness On Perceived Assertiveness Of Others, Lisa E. Robertori, Sandra D. Hulbert

Honors Theses

The effects of subject-assertiveness on perceived assertiveness in others were investigated. A subject's assertiveness level was determined by scores on the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Subjects were randomly assigned to watch a videotape portraying a low-, medium-, or high-assertive actor and then asked to rate the actor on a 14-item semantic differential scale and on the Impact Message Inventory. Several Pearson product-moment correlations revealed significant results, supporting the original hypothesis. Suggestions for future research are included.

Family And Peer Relations Of Conduct Disorder And Hyperactive Children, Katy N. Morrison

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of the family and the peer systems on the development and maintenance of conduct disorder and hyperactivity. In the first section, the diagnostic criteria for children with conduct disorder and hyperactivity, the behavioral characteristics and prevalence of these disorders, as well as the controversy over differential diagnosis between these two disorders will be presented. Following this, the significant familial determinants of these two disorders will be discussed. Finally, the peer determinants of conduct disorder and hyperactivity will be presented.

Cognitive Development In Females : Effects On Self-Esteem And Achievement Motivation, Mary Miller

Honors Theses

The recent years, with changing roles for males and females, have in addition generated both questions and research about the psychological nature of men and women. If differences do indeed exist, they are no longer accepted as permanent and unchangeable. If nothing else, recent social change has made us aware that one's ideas and concepts about social order are much more challengeable than we thought previously. Research in these areas is particularly fascinating in that it has direct implications for how we live, relate to one another, challenge ourselves, and even raise our children.

One area that is of interest …

The Biological, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, And Social Psychological Perspectives Of Athletic Participation, Katharine R. Johnson

Honors Theses

Why become an athlete? Why all the long hours of continuous dedication? Would male and female athletes answer these questions differently?

The following essay is a review of the potential reasons why individuals strive to become athletes as perceived by the biological, psycho-dynamic, humanistic, and social psychological perspectives. Emphasis is placed on differences between the sexes when the perspective under discussion considers these differences to be relevant.

Children Of Divorce : A Survey Of Factors Related To Children's Adjustment To Parental Divorce, Carey A. Dougherty

Honors Theses

Children's adjustment to parental divorce is a complex interaction of: a) families pre and postseparation functioning b) the child's individual capacity for dealing with stress c) current values and beliefs as expressed through teachers and peers. Current research in each area is reviewed and discussed as are major themes in children's long term adjustment.

Concept Formation And Development In The Congenitally Blind Child, Kimberly J. Franco

Honors Theses

T.D. Cutsforth once stated that "no single mental activity of the congenitally blind child is not distorted by the absence of sight." Blindness permeates the intellectual functioning of language, thought, comprehension and conceptualization. Ultimately, the child lacking vision will both understand and respond to the world in a manner unlike that of a sighted child. This incongruous interaction breeds frustration since the blind are a minority in a world which concentrates on the characteristics, needs, behaviors, and accomplishments of sighted individuals. Lacking the visual modality, the blind rely on the information about the objective world which they receive from people …

Personality And Behavioral Characteristics Important To The Coach/Athlete Relationship, Michael A. Zacharias

Honors Theses

Research in the area of sport psychology has grown tremendously over the past twenty years. One area, in particular, that has been researched a great deal is the idea of the typical athletic personality. (Fletcher and Dowell, 1971; Foster, 1977; Morgan and Johnson, 1978; and Morris, Vaccaro and Clarke, 1979 are examples.) Does the personality of the athlete differ from that of the non-athlete? Of particular concern are the areas of personality dealing with locus control and self-esteem. Locus of control is distributed along the internal/external dimension. Internal control was defined by Rotter, Livenant and Seeman (1962) as the perception …

An Overview Of Virginia Satir's Method Of Family Therapy And An Evaluation As To Its Use In The Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Field, Katherine A. Startzman

Honors Theses

The family, mistakenly perceived as an inert system in our culture, is in reality a dynamic and constantly evolving unit both in structure and function. More quickly than ever before, the roles family members play, values, and beliefs are changing. (1975, p. 18) Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a move from an agrarian to an urban society along with rapid economic and social change which has had a major impact on all institutions. New values in family living have emerged. The nuclear family was considered ideal. The institutional family of rural society, with its subordination of the wife …

Behavior Modification Techniques Used On Austistic Children : A Literature Review, Timothy J. O'Keefe

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the application of behavior therapy techniques to the specific problems of the autistic child. The paper is divided into four sections . The first section consists of a brief introduction of autism and a review of learning theories used in behavior modification. The next section discusses self-stimulatory behavior and selective responding of the autistic child. The third section deals with specific behavior therapies used with specific problems. The last section summarizes the findings of this paper.

The Problems In Research Within Juvenile Corrections, Laura Egerton

Honors Theses

The research included in this evaluation had to meet two criteria. First, it had to be indexed in the 1980 or 1981 Sociological Abstracts of Social Source Citation Index. The research must also have been conducted in a correctional institution or in a diversion program. A diversion program is a community-based therapy program dealing primarily with status and first offenders. The goals of the program vary, but focus primarily on prevention of delinquency through early intervention. Of the over one hundred articles reviewed, only thirty met the criteria. The studies not included focused primarily upon either delinquents on probation or …

Assessment, Intervention And Treatment Of Geriatric Psychopathology : A Comparison Of The Medical And Behavioral Models, Susan C. Mcclintock

Honors Theses

The elderly represent nearly a third of the population in public psychiatric facilities. The social and physiological changes associated with aging can lead to a variety of psychiatric disturbances which necessitate institutionalization of the elderly individual. Treatment of these disturbances is likely to be based on the medical model of psychopathology, although findings indicate that behaviorally-oriented therapy may often be the more appropriate course of action. The reported findings carry implications pertinent to the future of geropsychology.

Reality Orientation : Is It The Answer To Old Age "Senility"?, Kay W. Hardy

Honors Theses

The only way that an outsider can appreciate the inner turmoil of a confused older person in a nursing home is to imagine a short scene. Think of the lonely old woman who sits alone day after day in the same chair waiting for her husband to come pick her up so that she can go home. At first glance, nothing seems unusual, but in probing deeper into this woman's personality, one finds that her husband has been dead for fifteen years, and furthermore, she does not have any conception of where she is, what city she is in, or …

The Evaluation Of Social Programs, Susan L. Hitchcock

Honors Theses

In the uncertain economy of today, there is one thing that we all can be sure of, that prices will increase. It is almost inevitable that everything will be effected by inflation: from food to gas to home heating oil. The very quality of the lives that we lead may be altered by the path that the economy of the United States is taking. The recently elected President, Ronald Reagan, has taken as his main task the stabilization of inflation. The improvement of the economy and the balancing of the federal government's budget. In order to meet these goals, President …

Cognitive Impulsivity Of Children : Its Handicap And Treatment, Godwin Koon Tat Lau

Honors Theses

A number of studies have found the relationship between cognitive impulsivity and impulsive behavior among children. There also exists a fair amount of evidence to indicate that an impulsive cognitive style exerts a handicapping influence in the educational process.

Relationship Enhancement : A Study In Four Parts, Brett W. Oakley

Honors Theses

The concept of empathic communication evolved from a family therapy model originated by Bernard C. Gurney, Jr. called Relationship Enhancement. The major premise to this model is that if families can be taught to listen and speak to each other empathically, then the family itself could resolve their own interpersonal problems without reliance on a professional (Gurney, 1977).

The Treatments Of Child Abuse, Susan D. Haske

Honors Theses

Child abuse is a major problem in our society today. It is the major killer of children in the Untied States. (Kalman, 1977) There are many different estimates of the rate of occurrence, and no one knows for sure how prevalent it is. The major problem with making estimates of incidence is that so many cases are never reported. Only 20-50% of the cases are reported. (Kempe, 1978)

There are three types of child abuse. (Roth, 1975) One type is situational. This type is in response to an overwhelming stress. It usually happens one time, and is the easiest to …

The Effects Of Sex-Role Identity On The Perception Of Work Situations, Tamra J. Hall

Honors Theses

The present study investigated the effects of an individual's sex-role orientation on the perception of work situations. It was hypothesized that sex-typed individuals would rate the feelings of an actor performing a sex-atypical task as experiencing more feelings of uncomfortableness than an actor performing a sex-typical task. Androgynous individuals, on the other hand, were not predicted to display any descrepancies between their ratings of sex-typical and sex-atypical behavior. Results did not yeild support for this hypothesis. Perhaps the most significant finding was the abberant rating pattern of feminine females who conisitenly rated female actors in sex-typical settings in a negative …

Impulsive Cognitive Style And Self-Reported Anger Arousal In Emotionally Disturbed Children, Godwin Koon-Tat Lau

Honors Theses

A total of thirty-one emotionally disturbed children participated in the study to test whether impulsive children have higher anger arousal as a response to provocation than the reflective children. Twenty-two children were classified as impulsive (n=11) or reflective (n=11) on the basis of their error and latency scores on the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT). The two groups of children were compared on their self-reported anger arousal in response to conflict situations (Children's Inventory of Anger). Impulsives and reflectives did not differ significantly on their self-reported anger arousal on the total Children's Inventory of Anger score. Therefore, the hypothesis was …

A Demographic Profile Of The 1980 Clients Of The Family Crisis Center, Susan Lee Hitchcock

Honors Theses

"Parents in stress" is the target population of the Family Center. This program is run by Family and Children's Service of Richmond and serves an area which includes the Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover communities, Professionals as well as volunteers who work under the supervision of said professionals as family counselors, comprise the program staff of the Family Crisis Center.

The Type A Coronary-Prone Personality : A Coping Mechanism For Situational Control, Elizabeth Bennett

Honors Theses

What is the factor that relates coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular problems to societal advancement and increased occupational demands? This paper will examine this question by first reviewing the studies done by Meyer Friedman and R.H. Rosenman which have provided evidence to suggest that there is a link between stressful situations and coronary heart disease, and which led to the development of the personality type A which is coronary prone. The physiological effects that stress may produce and the ways in which this may lead to coronary heart disease will be discussed. Also examined will be the proposal by …