Dorothy E. Lee

DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE ROLE IN THREE INSTITUTIONS

Results from a survey of 71 chairpersons at three midwestern universities are reported. Focus is on their perceptions of their roles, their performance and their selves and the factors influencing those perceptions. Comparisons of the three institutions are discussed in terms of differences in size, environments, and sources of funding and further research possibilities are suggested.

BELIEFS ABOUT SELF AND OTHERS: A TEST OF THE DOGMATISM THEORY

The 7 propositions of Rokeachs theory of open- and closed-mind relating to beliefs about self and others were tested. It was hypothesized that closed-minded persons, in contrast to open-minded persons, would hold negative beliefs about self and about others, hold contradictory self-beliefs, engage in self-proselytization, seek status and power, report a sense of martyrdom, and display moral self-righteousness. In keeping with theoretical expectations, all hypotheses were confirmed although the magnitudes of correlations between dogmatism scale scores and the dependent variable measures were low.

The Self-Deception of the Self-Destructive

317 college students as respondents were measured for suicide proneness and self-destructive behaviors and were also asked questions about self-attitudes, value for life, beliefs about suicide and self-destruction, religiosity and dogmatism. Those who score high on suicide proneness and self-destructiveness do not tend to be the same people, and they differ from one another. Correlations and factor analyses suggest the Suicide Prone are aware of their tendencies and are influenced by their value for life and beliefs about suicide and self-destruction. The Self-destructive are tied to negative self-evaluations, are less aware of their self-destructive tendencies, and score significantly higher than the Suicide Prone on dogmatism. Belief structure of the highly dogmatic person may allow those who are self-destructive to deny negative self-attitudes and to be unaware of self-destructive behaviors which are inconsistent with their beliefs.

ALTERNATIVE SELF-DESTRUCTION

Data from 63 respondents indicate significant relationships between both suicide proneness and self-destructive behavior and reverence for life but not with self-worth. Need for research includes construction of a different measure of self-worth and creation of typologies to compare correlates of suicide-proneness and of self-destruction.

IDEAL FEMALE-MALE TRAITS AND EVALUATION OF FAVORABILITY

Less favorable evaluations of women physical education majors than of home economics majors, especially by men (N = 141), in a previous study (N = 268), led to expectations for differential Ideal Male and Ideal Female trait assignments to the two targets in this research. The expected tendency was found among this sample (N = 217), especially among men (N = 90).

Sensory alienation and interpersonal constraints as correlates of cognitive structure.

This research tested the proposition that closed-minded persons will restrict sensory input and interpersonal relationships. 303 high and low scorers on dogmatism, self-attitude, and self-reliance scales were compared for food-avoidance and reference-other relationships. While there was no significant difference in number of foods tasted and rejected, the closed-minded had tried significantly fewer foods. There was no difference in number of reference others but the closed-minded felt significantly greater constraint regarding the perceived importance of, control of, and accountability to their reference others. The theoretical consistency of these findings is discussed.

Professional self-favorability compared with perceived and actual evaluations of others.

Abstract Women majors in home economics and physical education responded to an adjective-checklist Self-Favorability Scale, indicating adjectives they believed to be characteristic of women in their field. They then responded as they perceived a general college sample would toward their majors. Finally, a general college sample evaluated its own women majors, majors in home economics and women in physical education. As hypothesized, the general sample was more favorable to its own women majors than to the others. Also, women home economics majors perceived their majors would be more favorably rated than did the women physical education sample. These perceptions were correct. Contrary to expectations, women home economics and physical education majors were equally favorable to their own majors and self-favorability, perceived favorability, and actual assigned favorability differed significantly from each other.

STEREOTYPES OF ACADEMIC MINORITIES

Samples of 68 Home Economics majors and 92 women Physical Education majors were considered as having minority status within the academic community. Adjectives from a 100-adjective list were checked by each sample if they were believed to be characteristic of women in their field. A sample of 268 non-Home Economics, non-Physical Education majors also indicated the adjectives they believed characteristic of women in the two target fields. Distinctive sets of beliefs are held by and about each target and many are highly consensual. The two groups characterize themselves more similarly than does the general sample which seems to view the Physical Education group more ambiguously, less favorably, and in active, assertive terms. Home Economics majors are stereotyped in passive, emotional terms.

NOTE: THE SITUATION OF BEING IGNORED

A hypothetical situation is presented in which respondents are ignored. While an earlier study reported female subjects reacted negatively toward themselves in such a situation, in the present study, proportions of women (n = 134) and men (n = 79) making these choices were nor significantly different.