Castellano B. Turner

Perception of College Students' Motives for Shoplifting

Motivational patterns for shoplifting among college students were assessed using a projective questionnaire. Of the various motives offered for shoplifting, “poverty” and “self-indulgence” were the most prevalent. The third most frequent reason given was some variant of “fun” or “thrill,” indicating that some shoplifters may engage in this form of larceny for pleasure and excitement. A number of respondents indicated that revenge or diffusion of responsibility also play a significant role. The relationship between the shoplifter and the company from which one steals may be an important element in shoplifting. Finally, sex differences were explored among respondents. Of the different shoplifting categories studied, the only difference that emerged was within “self-indulgence.” Although this finding needs to be interpreted with caution because the number of comparisons undertaken were large, there may be motivational differences between male and female shoplifters.

Self-Orientation and Depression Level among Dominicans in the United States

This research examines an interaction model in which self-orientation levels mediate the effects of perceived social support and general self-efficacy on depression level. Two dimensions of self orientation were included in this formulation: idiocentrism (the tendency to define oneself through self-attributes) and allocentrism (the tendency to define oneself in relation to others). We hypothesized that idiocentrism would interact with general self-efficacy and that allocentrism would interact with perceived social support to create an individuals depression level. The two hypotheses were tested using 85 low-socioeconomic-status Dominicans living in the United States by means of ANOVAs. No support wasfoundforeither hypothesis. Wefound, however; that this sample reported high levels of (a) depressive symptomatology and (b) allocentric orientation.

Bem Sex-Role Inventory Stereotypes for Men and Women Varying in Age and Race among National Register Psychologists:

554 psychologists listed in the National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology used the Bern Sex-role Inventory to rate a “mature, healthy, socially competent” individual in one of 18 target groups (a black or race-unspecified man, woman, or adult in their late 20s, late 40s, or late 60s). Factor analysis produced factors which generated three scales—nurturant, agentic, and self-governing. The attributes “feminine” and “masculine” were treated as individual items. Old targets were viewed as less agentic than younger targets and as less self-governing than the middle-aged. Female targets were perceived as more feminine and less masculine than were men. Interactions for agentic and self-governing suggest age and race and sex of target influence person perceptions.

Careers, Contingencies, and Locus of Control among White College Women.

This study examined social-psychological antecedents of the sex type of occupational preferences and expectations of White college women. High sex-role contingency orientation (SRCO)—attitudes and explanations for occupational choices which reflect a primary and explicit concern with marriage and family—was associated with expectations and preferences for occupations in which females predominate and with the tendency to have more traditionally feminine expectations than preferences.SRCO was significantly related to locus of control (I-E) with women high or intermediate in SRCO being primarily internal or external; women with low SRCO being primarily intermediate in I-E.

Racial Solidarity and Separate Education.

Racial solidarity is a central theme of minority nationalist movements. It may be expressed in symbols designed to promote race identity, in efforts of minority members to gain control of their political, social, and economic institutions, and in attempts to establish separate societies removed from majority group control. In those societies where the dominant and the minority racial groups compete for the same scarce goals (control of land, jobs, capital) and where the minority group is dependent on the dominant group (for housing, income, jobs), racial solidarity themes most frequently manifest themselves when minority members have become frustrated and disillusioned because of unfulfilled expectations.2 In the United States the latest wave of black solidarity senti-

Education and family planning among black american women.

The factors which relate to family planning and fertility-related attitudes and practices among black Americans are not well understood. This study evaluates the importance of three demographic factors (level of education, age, and region) in predicting such fertility related variables. Black women between the ages of fifteen and forty-five (N = 1,074) living in either a northern or a southern city were interviewed. The fertility-related variables included knowledge of, attitudes toward, and usage of various family planning methods; desired, ideal, and actual family size; and fears of race genocide. Using a three-factor (education, age, and region) Analysis of Variance for each of the dependent variables, education emerged as the most powerful and the only consistent predictor of the several fertility-related variables. Only desired number of children was unrelated to level of education. Such findings provide support for the contention that black fertility levels would be the same as that among whites, if access to equal educational opportunity were available to Blacks.

Black Couples and Birth Control: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Reported Practices

A research project aimed at understanding the process of birth control among black couples is described. This focus has been lacking in the research literature, if not in the theoretical literature. Knowledge, attitudes, and reported practices of matched pairs of black couples in a northern and a southern city were compared. Female partners were found to have more knowledge about birth control methods, more positive attitudes toward specific birth control methods, and reported more usage of birth control methods. When age, education and marital status were controlled, these findings remained essentially the same. The findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to family planning programs and community health education programs among black couples.