John P. Gaa

The relation of individuation and psychosocial development.

In this study, the authors examined gender differences in levels of individuation, the relation of individuation and psychosocial development, and whether this relation is of a curvilinear nature. Two hundred and twenty-four students completed the Measure of Psychosocial Development (G. A. Hawley, 1988), the Level of Differentiation of Self Scale (LDSS ; J. Haber, 1990a), and the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire, Version C (J. H. Bray & D. M. Harvey, 1987). The authors used a general linear models procedure to examine the hypothesis. A positive relation between individuation and the psychosocial resolution of identity and intimacy was demonstrated. Curvilinearity was found in the relation between the LDSS measure of individuation and identity. Results support C. Gilligans (1982) argument that gender differences exist in the developmental patterns.

Emotional response to abortion: a critical review of the literature.

Anti-abortion groups in the US cite the existence of a post-abortion syndrome--a sense of loss, emptiness, and grief similar to that reported by trauma survivors. Although research on the longterm effects of induced abortion is marred by methodological errors, most studies have found no adverse psychological sequelae; rather, there appears to be a sense of relief and opportunity for personal growth. Nevertheless, there is a small group of women who do experience emotional distress after abortion and it is important to identify the demographic, social, and psychological factors that place women at risk of such a reaction. In terms of demographic factors, young age (adolescence), low or nulliparity, 2nd-trimester procedures, and Catholicism have been characteristics of women who suffered post-abortion depression. Of the social variables that have been examined, a lack of support from significant others (parents or partner) has been linked in some studies to emotional distress after abortion. A relatively consistent finding is that women who feel coerced to abort or are ambivalent about their decision at the time of the procedure are most likely to experience regret, depression, and anger. Women whose coping style involves avoiding responsibility are also prone to post-abortion distress. As noted, the literature does not support the contention that abortion causes longterm trauma. On the other hand, given the fact that 1.5 million abortions take place each year in the US, the existence of some post-abortion distress in even as small percentage of acceptors is enough to indicate a need for pre- and post-abortion counseling to help women determine the meaning of the experience and own their decisions.

A comparative factor analysis of the bem sex role inventory and the personality attributes questionnaire

The conceptualization of masculinity and femininity as separate and independent dimensions is an underlying assumption of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personality Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ). This assumption was examined by a factor analytic technique to identify possible factors within each measure. Initial factor analysis of the BSRI employed a principal components extraction rotated to an oblique position through the use of the Harris-Kaiser Type II method. Subsequently, the intercorrelations of the oblique factors were subjected to a principal components extraction, which in turn was rotated to the varimax criterion. Factor analysis of PAQ also employed principal components extraction, rotated using Varimax criteria. Sixteen first-order and 16 second-order factors were identified for the BSRI, with 6 first-order and 9 second-order factors designated as major factors. Six first-order factors were identified for the PAQ, with 4 labeled as major. No single, independent, masculine or feminine factors were identified for either the BSRI or the PAQ, although several factors represented or approximated constellations of sex-typed items. The results suggest that more than two dimensions of masculinity and femininity, as well as other personality variables, are being measured by the instruments.

The effect of individual goal-setting conferences on academic achievement and modification of locus of control orientation

The study was designed to investigate the effects of individual goal-setting conferences on classroom achievement and locus of control orientation. Subjects were blocked on sex and previous achievement and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: the goal-setting (GS) group, which received weekly individual goal-setting conferences; the conference (Cf) group, which received weekly individual conferences but set no goals; and the control (C) group, which received no conferences. Analyses of the data showed a significant treatment effect for achievement across treatment groups, with the GS group having significantly higher achievement than the Cf and C groups. Treatment effect across locus of control measures across treatment groups was less clear, although post hoc analyses indicated that the GS group was significantly more internal than either the Cf or C groups on the three intellectually oriented measures.

Cyberbullying among gifted children

Peer victimization, or bullying, is a phenomenon that has received increasing global attention, and the use of technology, or cyberbullying, to bring about acts of bullying has certainly increased as access to various technological tools has escalated. While it is unclear whether this attention is a function of actual increases in cyberbullying or is simply a function of the fact that the same boom in technological access also enables more rapid reporting of such incidents, the reality remains the same: a number of young people use cyberspace as a means for attacking peers. An examination of the literature pertaining to cyberbullying serves as a backdrop for considering cyberbullying and its particular effects on gifted and talented students, and a call for increasing research efforts in this arena is issued.

Intuition and Moral Development

Abstract The relation between the sensing (S)/intuition (N) dimension of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and moral development was investigated using two samples of 74 participants each who were administered the MBTI and Rests (1988) Defining Issues Test (DIT). Correlation coefficients were computed for the P scores of the DIT and for the continuous scores of each of the four preference scales of the MBTI. The coefficients of the two samples were statistically pooled, and the results supported the hypothesis that, of the four personality dimensions of the MBTI, the S-N dimension would be the only one to have a positive relation with ones level of moral reasoning.

Domain Specific Locus of Control among Black, Anglo, and Chicano Undergraduates

The present study examined the assumption that minority groups, especially blacks, have significantly higher external locus of control scores. A domain specific locus of control measure, Locus of Control in Three Achievement Domains (LOCITAD), was administered to 29 Black, 299 Anglo, and 12 Chicano undergraduates at two Southern state universities. Results indicated that (a) the black and Chicano Ss were significantly more internal than the Anglos with respect to success in intellectual activities; (b) there were no significant differences between groups in relation to physical activities; (c) the Anglo Ss were significantly more internal than either the Black or the Chicano Ss relative to social success; and (d) the Anglo Ss were significantly more internal than the Blacks who in turn were significantly more internal than the Chicano Ss with respect to social failures. The findings indicate that locus of control generalizations across domains and success-failure are inappropriate, and that assumptions drawn in light of earlier work in the field need to be re-examined.

Domain-Specific Locus of Control Orientations of Anglo, Black, and Chicano Adolescents.

Summary College students in a course on the psychology of men and women were subjected to an experiential curriculum designed to facilitate movement towards androgyny. Students in a course on the psychology of sexuality were used as a comparison group. All Ss were given the Bem Sex Role Inventory before and after the courses. Responses were assessed on three Bem scales: masculinity, femininity, and androgyny (scored as endorsement of both masculine and feminine personality characteristics). Exposure to the psychology of men and women course led to significant change toward an androgynous perspective, while exposure to psychology of sexuality did not. At the end of the semester, females from both classes scored significantly higher in masculinity. Only comparison females made a significant move towards femininity, and only treatment females made a significant move towards androgyny. No significant changes were found in either group of male students.

Domain specific aspects of locus of control: Implications for modifying locus of control orientation

An examination was made to see if locus of control orientation with respect to intellectual achievement could be changed and to determine whether the change generalized to other types of situations. Goal-setting conferences were employed to improve LOC orientation for academic achievement situations among junior high school students. Significant differences were observed between the goal-setting conference group, the conference only group, and the control group on three measures of LOC orientation pertaining to academic situations: IAR+ and IAR- scores from the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire, plus the IA subscale of LOCITAD. No significant differences were recorded on the SA (LOC orientation for social achievement situations) and the PA (LOC orientation for physical achievement situations) of LOCITAD. High correlations were observed between Intellectual Achievement Responsibility scores and scores on the IA subscale of LOCITAD. More moderate correlations were observed between IAR scores and the other LOCITAD subscales. Results were interpreted as supporting domain-specific aspects of LOC. Results implied that educators can design programs to modify LOC orientation with less fear that a more internal orientation for academic situations will lead to maladaptive responses in other types of situations. Results also support the development of more precise measures of LOC.

Ego and Moral Development in an Adult Population

Summary Studies which have previously examined the relationship between ego and moral development have found substantial correlations. However, they have used both child and adult Ss, thereby focusing on maturational aspects of development. Also, they have employed linear parametric correlations, which may have been inappropriate for the scaling level of the data. The present study employed only adult Ss, and a nonlinear, nonparametric measure of correlation was developed to examine the relationship between ego and moral development scores. Nonparametric analysis of the variance revealed a significant relationship between scores on the two measures and yielded a moderately high nonlinear correlation coefficient (η2 = .42).