Howard B. Kaplan

Self-derogation and psychosocial adjustment.

The present investigation sought to verify hypotheses relating to the relationship between self-derogation and selected indices of psychosocial adjustment derived from theoretical statements, clinical observations, and empirical studies (of narrowly defined populations) in the general area of self-attitudes. It was hypothesized that self-derogatory attitudes would be related to reports of psychophysiological manifestations of anxiety, depressive affect, and utilization of psychiatric and other medical helping resources during the year preceding the interview of the subjects. The study group consisted of a random sample (N = 500) of the adult population of Harris County (including the city of Houston), Texas, selected by a three-stage probability sampling design. Data were collected by personal interview survey techniques. Self-derogation was determined by scores on a factorially derived scale. Indices of psychosocial adjustment included self-reports of psychophysiological symptoms, scores on a depressive affect scale, and reports of utilizing psychiatric and other medical resources (for purposes pertinent to experiences of psychophysiological symptoms or depressive affect) during the preceding year. In all instances the hypotheses were confirmed. These data together with consideration of the literature upon which the study was based suggest the possible utility of an explanatory model based on the concept of negative self-attitudes as a general theory of psychosocial deviance.

Familial responses to stress: The case of cystic fibrosis

Abstract The effects of a cystic-fibrotic child upon the personalities of family members, intra-familial role functioning, and family-community relationships are described and discussed in relationship to the findings of other studies of chronic and terminal childhood illness and related areas of investigation.

The self-esteem motive and change in self-attitudes.

The theoretical significance of the postulate of the self-esteem motive and related empirical findings are reviewed. Two hypotheses implied by the postulate are tested by way of further consideration of its justification. Hypotheses were tested using questionnaire data from 3148 junior high school students collected annually at three points in time. It was hypothesized and observed that a) mean self-derogation scores of the population would decrease significantly over time; and b) individuals with initially more negative self-attitudes relative to those with initially more positive self-attitudes would display significantly greater decreases in self-derogation over time. The findings are interpreted as support for the prevalence of the self-esteem motive. The observed increase in self-derogation over a 1-year period in persons with initially positive self-attitudes is discussed with regard to the literature on developmental disturbances in self-image; differential vulnerability to self devaluing experiences; and the relationship between change in, and level of, self-acceptance.

From Theory to Practice: The Planned Treatment of Drug Users

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This interview is part of a project supported by Sandoz, Inc. Without the belief and support of Dr. Craig Burrell, the project would never have been initiated or completed.