Psychology
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Item THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SENSATION SEEKING, ANXIETY, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND AIDS-RELATED SEXUAL RISK-TAKING IN A COLLEGE STUDENT SAMPLE(1994) Isralowitz, Stuart Adam; Teglasi, Hedwig; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, MD)The researcher investigated how the personality traits of sensation seeking, anxiety, and self-confidence are associated with AIDS-related sexual risk-taking of college students. It was hypothesized that individuals who exhibited high levels of sensation seeking, low anxiety, and low self-confidence in specific domains would participate in a significant amount of sexual risk-taking. If this were true, then preventive approaches could be geared toward helping risk-takers cope with the characteristics that place them at-risk. The researcher administered the following measures to 313 college students: the Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS V), the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales-Trait (EMAS-T), the Personal Evaluation Inventory (PEI), a modified Sexual Behavior Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Two aspects of sensation seeking (Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility) on the SSS V were significantly associated with AIDS-related sexual risk-taking. High sensation seekers engaged in more sexual risk-taking than low sensation seekers in these areas. In addition, moderate sexual risk-takers only exhibited less anxiety than low risk-takers in the Daily Routines aspect of anxiety on the EMAS-T. Moderate risk-takers displayed greater self-confidence regarding Romantic Relationships than low risk-takers on the PEI. The association between sensation seeking and anxiety was negative. High sexual risk-takers showed a greater worry about getting AIDS and higher perception of AIDS risk than low sexual risk-takers. No gender differences were found in sexual risk-taking. Implications for research included conducting studies regarding sensation seeking and AIDS-related sexual behavior with gay and lesbian college students, and with individuals of college age not attending college. Studies measuring the psychometric qualities of the SSS V and the PEI were also suggested. A practical outcome of this study was the proposed use of an updated measure to assess participation in novel, varied, and risky activities. Clinicians could employ this measure in public schools and college counseling centers, under certain circumstances.Item African-Americans and African-English-Speaking West Indians: Relationships Between Racial Identity Attitudes, Self-Attitudes, Self-Esteem, Skin Color Perceptions and Sex-Role Attitudes(1994) Murray-Carney, Melita Josephine; Fretz, Bruce; Psychology; Digital Repository and the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)This study examined the relationship of racial identity attitudes to skin color perceptions, sex-role attitudes and self-esteem among 106 African-Americans and 102 African-English speaking West Indians. Skin color perceptions were measured by Helms and Carter's (in press) skin color scale and the present author's (1992) skin color chart. Sex-role attitudes were measured by the Bem's Sex-role Inventory and self-esteem by the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale respectively. It was hypothesized that differentially statistically significant relationships would be found among racial identity attitudes, skin color perceptions, sex-role attitudes and self-esteem for African-Americans and African-West Indians . For African-Americans , the results indicated racial identity was associated with self-esteem but was not related to skin color perceptions or sex-role attitudes when gender was controlled. For African-English speaking West Indians, racial identity was associated with sex-role attitudes but was not related to either skin color perceptions or self esteem. Additional exploratory results pointed to a need to include other variables such as socioeconomic status and education in understanding more about racial identity attitudes of African-Americans and African-English speaking West Indians. Research and counseling implications for African-Americans and African-English speaking West Indians are discussed.Item The Role of Gender, Race and Racial Identity in Relation to Attitudes Toward Interracial Dating(1991) Murray, Melita Josephine; Fretz, Bruce R.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The purpose of this study was to examine whether an individual's gender, race, and racial identity significantly relate to interracial dating attitudes. Two hundred subjects (101 Blacks, 99 Whites) were administered an interracial dating questionnaire and a racial identity measure. Findings indicated that there were no significant main effects for gender, but race was significantly related to interracial dating attitudes with blacks having more positive attitudes. As hypothesized, racial identity was also found to be Significantly related to both Blacks' and Whites' attitudes toward interracial dating.Item Modelling of Heuristic Evaluation Strategies in Game Playing: Linear and Configural Effects in Othello(1981) Phillips, Robert Vernon III; Norman, Kent L.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)Psychological research on problem solving began with Thorndike's work on trial and error learning with cats, dogs, and monkeys. Kohler later initiated research with apes which convinced him that problems could be solved with insight. Through the 1940's, the study of human problem solving focused on general principles (following the Gestalt tradition) and S-R mechanisms to explain how people solve problems. The advent of computer technology in the 1950's spurred research in artificial intelligence, game playing, and problem solving. Formal definitions of problems outlined the components of a constituting the problem representation. This provided a framework for computer scientists to mechanize problem Solving with algorithms of search. Computer scientists met with success in developing programs to work on well-defined problems, such as games and puzzles, where the components of the problem representation are easily stated. Once the representation is adopted, solution is a matter of search. It has been shown that the efficiency of mechanized search is aided by the use of a ''heuristic evaluation function" (Nilsson, 1971), which has a form similar to psychological models applied in research on human decision making and judgment (Slovic and Lichtenstein, 1972). Samuel (1959), used a regression model of human judgment based on the knowledge of skilled checkers players in order to produce a heuristic evaluation function for a checkers playing program. Another model which can also be used to provide a heuristic evaluation function is based on Anderson's (1962) technique of functional measurement. This approach allows estimation of subjective scale values for the levels of information components relevant to playing a game. In contrast to these linear models, Edgell (1978) has argued that people can utilize configural information when making judgments, an issue which has been avoided by most decision modelling research. Samuel (1967) showed that use of configural infermation by a heuristic evaluation function can augment the skill of a checkers playing program, but the question of whether human players use such information was not researched. This paper reports one pilot experiment and two other experiments which were conducted to investigate whether people do use configural information when evaluating alternative moves in a game situation. The effects of game experience, learning, and training on use of configural information were examined. In addition, the research was conducted in a game playing situation in order to address the issue of ecological validity (Neisser, 1976) in psychological research. As Newell and Simon (1972) have argued, a good psychological theory of how a good chess player plays chess should play good chess.Item Cuban Latin Americans: Psychosocial Correlates of Cultural Adjustment(1988) Sinclair, Elsa A. Rivera; Magoon, Thomas M.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The process of adjustment to a new culture-acculturation-- is considered a crucial factor contributing to variations of psychological distress and anxiety among immigrant groups. It is believed that a person's level of distress during the cultural adaptation process is a reflection of the interconnection of the psychological and sociocultural processes of personality functioning. Behavioral scientists' accounts of the psychological effects experienced by Latin Americans during the cultural adjustment process point to maladjustment rather than to the positive aspects of this cultural phenomenon. To a lesser degree the literature reveals that acculturation may have a wholesome effect for some individuals in the long run. Some evidence, however, suggests that biculturalism may be a healthy approach to cultural adjustment. The present study investigated the psychosocial correlates of biculturalism. Two-hundred and fifty four male and female Cuban participants ranging from 18-90 years of age, living in metropolitan Washington, o.c., were administered self-report questionnaires. This field study examined the role played in biculturalism (Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire, BIQ) by age, length of time in the United States, and gender of the participants. The role played by presence of a support group, educational level, income level, ethnic identification, and use of mental health facilities was also explored. The criterion for level of adjustment was the participants' anxiety scores (State Anxiety Scale, SAS). The investigation's assumption is that biculturalism is related to relatively low anxiety levels. A hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that (a) biculturalism and anxiety are related to the length of time the Cuban participant has been in the United States, (b) biculturalism is associated with the person's age, (c) there is a significant and positive linear relationship between BIQ scores and SAS scores. This means that if a person continues to remain monoculturally Cuban while living in a bicultural community, his/her levels of anxiety will be high. This tested the psychosocial model of adjustment. However, the test for the curvilinear relationship was not significant, and (d) the presence of support group networks, educational level, family income and ethnic identification are significantly associated with the process of biculturalism.Item PREDICTORS OF PARENT AND CHILD BEHAVIORS DURING DAILY SEPARATIONS AND REUNIONS AT DAYCARE(1996) Livesey, Karen Anne; Fein, Greta F.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)To test a model which describes the factors expected to predict parent and child behaviors in separations and reunions in daycare, 88 dual-career mothers (n= 54) and fathers (n= 34) were observed during interactions with their infants and toddlers in this context. Simultaneous regression analyses and path analyses provided mixed support for the model. In general, separation behaviors were predicted better by the model than reunion behaviors. At separation, parent sensitivity was predicted by parent gender and increased levels of child distress was predicted by lower levels of parental involvement in child-care and increased parental separation anxiety. Parents who were less involved in their children's daily care had children who were more distressed at separation as did parents who were anxious about the effect of separation. At reunion, parent sensitivity was predicted by separation anxiety. Parents who were more anxious about employment-related separations were more sensitive in their interactions with their children. Child happiness at reunion was not predicted by any variables included in the model. There were mean differences between mothers and fathers on a number of variables including parent sensitivity (mothers were more sensitive), involvement in child-care (mothers were more involved), and anxiety about employment-related separations (mothers were more anxious). There were no significant differences in regression coefficients between mothers and fathers suggesting that the model held equally well for mothers and fathers. The results are discussed in terms of their support for the model and attachment theory.Item A COMPARISON OF THE MMPI-2 AND RORSCHACH INKBLOT TECHNIQUE IN ASSESSING SCHIZOPHRENIA(1995) Lindgren, Karen N.; Smith, Barry D.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The study examined the concordance of Rorschach and MMPI-2 variables relating to schizophrenia. 85 psychiatric inpatients were administered both the MMPI-2 and Rorschach. A profile analysis compared individuals who elevated on the Rorschach SCZI index to nonelevators. No significant profile differences were found using a SCZI index cutoff of 4. When more distinct SCZI index groups were created ( ≥ 5 vs. ≤ 2) the profiles were found to be significantly different (average MMPI-2 profile for elevated SCZI group = 8-6-7) and the elevated SCZI group evidenced higher MMPI scale scores overall. The 8-6-7 profile has been associated with schizophrenia in previous research. The sensitivity, specificity, and hit rate of both instruments in predicting clinical diagnoses were also calculated. The MMPI-2 demonstrated better sensitivity while the SCZI index yielded higher specificity; the combination of instruments produced the best hit rate. The study demonstrated a relationship between MMPI-2 and Rorschach variables related to psychosis.Item PREDISPOSING FACTORS IN PEDOPHILIA(1989) Gordon, Susan; Spokane, Arnold; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)This was an exploratory study about the etiology of pedophilia which examined the biological, psychological, and social background variables that may predispose men to a paraphilic sexual orientation. The biological variables included were chromosomal and hormonal irregularities. The psychological variables were introversion, depression, moralistic attitudes, and aggression (MMPI scales). The social background variables were childhood losses, relationship with parents, childhood sexual victimization, familial pedophilia, incest, and violence. Data on these variables were collected from a retrospective chart review of former male patients at Johns Hopkins sexual Disorders Clinic. The patients represented six different paraphilic (sexually deviant) diagnostic categories: (a) Homosexual pedophiles (b) Heterosexual pedophiles (c) Bisexual pedophiles (d) Exhibitionists (e) sexual sadists (f) Atypical paraphiliacs. Results of a stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that there were significant demographic, biological, and social differences among these six paraphilic groups. There were also significant differences between the major groupings of pedophiles (homosexual, heterosexual and bisexual pedophiles) and non-pedophiles (exhibitionists, sadists and the atypical group). Demographically, the diagnostic groups differed with respect to age, birth order, marital status, number of children, occupation and education. Biologically, the paraphilic groups had different testosterone levels. Psychologically, the paraphilic groups did not differ. Because only 14 of the 211 subjects had been given the MMPI, however, results of the analysis of psychological variables must be interpreted cautiously. Socially, the paraphilic groups' differences included experience of childhood loss, age of first sexual involvement, use of violence, and incestuous involvement. Two path analyses were conducted to test models of correlational relationships among the variables. The path analyses were conducted first with, and second without, the HMPI scores. Results indicated that two path coefficients were significant: (a) social circumstances, and particularly having a pedophile relative, was related to childhood sexual involvement with an adult, F(4,118)=6.54, p<.001; (b) incestuous involvement with a child was related to sexual orientation, F(1,203) = 11.19, p<.001. It is concluded that although generalizations about pedophiles as a single group cannot be made, a biological predisposition (hormonal irregularities) may interact with childhood familial relationships (father-son) in the development of paraphilias. This study's limitations, suggestions for future research, theoretical and practical implications are presented.Item DREAM INTERPRETATION GROUPS WITH DIVORCING WOMEN(1993) Falk, Dana Rachel; Hill, Clara E.; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)The effectiveness of dream interpretation groups with recently separated and divorced women was the topic of this investigation. 34 women aged 23 - 57 participated in this study; 22 were assigned to a dream interpretation group and 12 to a wait-list control condition. Four eight-week groups, with a semi-structured dream interpretation format were run. It was hypothesized that dream interpretation group intervention would help this population to feel less anxious, less depressed, to experience higher self-esteem and to cope better with the stress of the divorcing process. Outcome measures were administered at pre- and post-test points. Client psychological-mindedness was expected to moderate treatment effectiveness. Women in the experimental condition were expected to gain dream interpretation skills. Trained raters judged the insight of interpretations collected from all subjects at pre- and post-test points. In an effort to understand the role of group process in treatment effectiveness. three process measures were examined: (a) Clients and therapists utilized a sociometric instrument after each session to nominate whom they believed to be most "involved," (b) clients and therapists both rated the working climate of the group each week. using the Group Climate Questionnaire, and (c) trained Judges viewed 30 minute segments of the three middle sessions (4, 5. and 6) on videotape and rated group cohesion. An overall MANOVA for treatment effectiveness was significant. indicating that group participants made more progress on outcome measures than did controls. However. due to low statistical power, univariate analyses of the effects due to each of these factors were all nonsignificant. A t-test of independent means for insightfulness of dream interpretations was significant. suggesting that group members improved their dream interpretation skills more than control subjects did. Psychological-mindedness was not found to be related to any of the predictors and thus was dropped as a covariate. In general. measures of group process (cohesion. group climate, client involvement) were neither significantly related to client outcomes nor to each other. Clients and therapists were not in agreement concerning group climate or client involvement. Observer and participant perspectives of group cohesion differed. as well.Item BEHAVIORAL AND AFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING STEREOTYPED(1996) Canfield, Jennifer Ellen; Stangor, Charles; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md)Two studies were conducted to examine women's reactions to being stereotyped. I hypothesized that women who report a high concern with gender-based discrimination would be more likely to interpret a sexist comment as sexist, consequently exhibiting more anxiety and lower task performance as compared to women who report a low concern with gender-based discrimination. In study 1, women who reported a high or low concern with discrimination overheard either a sexist comment or no comment while performing on a task. A trend was found where high concern women who overheard a sexist comment experienced an increase in anxiety, and women who overheard the sexist comment (regardless of concern) subsequently displayed poorer task performance than women who heard no comment . For Study 2 , the control comment was changed from no comment to a nonsexist comment, allowing for comparison between the effects of receiving negative feedback which either was sexist or nonsexist . I found that women who overheard the sexist comment were the only group to interpret the sexist comment as sexist, a trend where women who perceived a sexist comment as sexist experienced an increase in anxiety, and that women's task performance significantly dropped after overhearing the negative comment , whether the comment was sexist or nonsexist. Also, women who perceived the sexist comment as sexist reported less enjoyment of the task, less likelihood of volunteering for a similar task, and less likelihood of improving their task performance than women who overheard a nonsexist comment or who did not perceive a sexist comment as sexist.