Kineret Weissler

Who will attend tests for the early detection of breast cancer

Abstract The purpose was to construct a questionnaire for predicting which women would undergo screening for the early detection of breast cancer. The study was done in the theoretical framework of the cognitive orientation (CO) theory (Kreitler & Kreitler, 1976) that shows how cognitive contents guide behaviors. A CO questionnaire assessing beliefs of four types (about goals., norms, self and general beliefs) and an informational questionnaire were administered to five samples of 619 women differing in age, occupation, residential location and screening conditions. Discriminant analyses showed that the CO questionnaire provided significant predictions of physician-performed screening. regularity of screening, whether it was self-initiated or not, and breast self-examination. Predictions were not improved by including genetic risk for cancer. Women who attend for screening have beliefs supporting, for example. optimism, realism, emotional control, projecting good impression, and readiness to face problems...

The cognitive orientation of compliance in short- and long-term type 2 diabetic patients

Previous research showed that providing diabetic patients with information about diabetes is mostly insufficient for compliance. The purpose was to develop a new model for studying and promoting compliance in diabetes based on the theory of cognitive orientation (Kreitler & Kreitler), which assumes that in addition to knowledge it is necessary to consider the patients goals, values and self image. We expected cognitive contents (beliefs) to be related to compliance, more in long-term than short-term patients. The subjects were 112 Type 2 diabetic patients. They were administered a Cognitive Orientation Questionnaire of Diabetic Compliance assessing cognitive contents in terms of four belief types (goals, norms, self and general) referring to relevant themes (e.g. discipline, reducing tensions). Compliance was assessed in terms of physical measures (HbA and number of complications) and behavioral measures based on information provided by the medical staff about glucose testing, taking medication, diet, exercise, independence, and follow-ups. The results showed that beliefs predicted (by discriminant analyses) the compliance measures more in long-terms and enabled describing the personality dynamics of compliers. The findings support a cognitive model of compliance. It predicts better in long-term than short-term diabetic patients.

The relation of smoking to psychological and physiological risk factors for coronary heart disease

Abstract Smoking has been held to be responsible for a great number of diseases. Yet criticism has been raised about the role of smoking as the cause or independent cause of the diseases. This study was motivated by Eysencks thesis that smoking and personality affect disease synergistically. The purpose was to examine the relation of smoking to psychological and physiological risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). The former were the Type A Behavior Pattern and its constitutents assessed by the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), the latter were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and the Quetelet body mass index. There were 520 randomly selected subjects (302 men, 218 women), 46–65 yr old. The results showed that smoking was related to higher scores on the JAS scales of Type A, Hard Driving, and Speed and Impatience, and lower scores on Job Involvement. Further, smokers had lower HDL, higher body mass index and lower systolic blood pressure. The results indicate that smoking is not an independent risk factor for CHD, and if it affects the risk for CHD then it is only in conjunction with the other psychological and physiological risk factors. Further, in view of deviant findings in different subsamples it is important to study large samples and check results in subsamples of age, gender and education.

Impact of an Enrichment Program on Intelligence, by Sex, Among Low SES Population in Israel

This study is based on data collected in an enrichment program for gifted students of lower socio-economic background (forty boys and forty girls from fourth through eighth grade). Its goals were to examine our work: whether there would be an increase in intelligence from the pre- to the post-test in all the participants; how girt-participants fared in comparison with boys and whether special attention to avoid sexism would bring girls who began with a lower intelligence to show the greatest improvement of all.

The Relationship between Emotional Maturity, Intelligence and Creativity in Gifted Children.

From experience of working with gifted children we could observe a gap between their intellectual and emotional functions. The purpose of this study was to explore the inter-relationships between emotional maturity and intelligence in gifted children. Emotional maturity is defined as the strength and courage to actualize individual abilities within the frame of social demands. Our hypothesis was that emotional maturity would have an affect on creativity, independent of intelligence. In the study, 221 children participated, between the ages of 9–13. All were measured for emotional maturity, intelligence and creativity. Results showed an effect of emotional maturity on creativity, as well as an effect of intelligence. Among the highly intelligent group, emotionally mature children were more creative. These results demonstrate that giftedness is conditioned not only by high intelligence but that emotional maturity has its share in it, and their interaction facilitates creative behavior — the actualization of the whole personality.

Tracing leadership in gifted children

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine whether characteristics of leadership identified among adults also exist among young gifted children. The study was conducted in Israel among 63 gifted children aged 10 to 14 who completed the Leadership Questionnaire, constructed especially for this study. The characteristics found to distinguish between high and low scorers on leadership were responsibility, desire to dominate, consistency, physical energy, achievement orientation, expressive and persuasive powers, cooperation, adaptability, daring, self-confidence, and emotional equilibrium. The results confirmed our hypothesis that the characteristics of leadership identified in adults do exist among gifted children.

Smoking, personality and the gender gap

Abstract The study is based on Eysencks thesis about the synergistic effects of smoking and personality on health. The purpose was to apply it to explain gender differences in the incidence of smoking-related disease and mortality. Our hypothesis was that women were less susceptible to the noxious effects of smoking because of their specific personality dispositions. There were 96 healthy adult subjects (37 men, 59 women) including 48 smokers and 48 nonsmokers. The following questionnaires were administered in the framework of a routine health check-up: the neuroticism scale, stress reaction scale, the Strelau Temperament Inventory, the Life Events Survey, the Personal Problems Questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States, the Positive Emotions Check List and the Cognitive Orientation of Health questionnaire. Information about white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was available. Two-way analyses of variance showed effects due to gender or to smoking but mainly interactive effects indicating that women had health-promoting and disease-suppressing characteristics, notably: low scores on inhibition, low number of life events, low number of negative life events and high number of positive life events, low number of problems especially in work, family and interpersonal relations, low scores on depression, anger and anxiety, and high scores on satisfaction. It is suggested that these characteristics contribute to the lower susceptibility of women to smoking-dependent diseases.

Psychological correlates of the three variables in the Strelau Temperament Inventory

Most of the validational studies concerning the Strelau Temperament Inventory (STI) have focused on the Strength of Excitation scale and on a limited number of domains. This study was designed to examine the STI validity in new domains or with new tools, emphasizing the contribution of each of the three STI scales. We focused on health orientation and behaviour, stress susceptibility, emotional reactions, life events, and personal problems. The subjects were 91 healthy adults of both genders. Also information about smoking (health behaviour), white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (physiological stress measures) was available. Regression and discriminant analyses showed that the STI scales were related neither to smoking nor to the Cognitive Orientation of Health but only to three of its components. Furthermore, the STI scales were related to the verbal but not to the physiological stress measures; and to the negative emotions but hardly to the positive ones. Finally, they were related to measures of life events and personal problems. The relations were mostly modest but broadened the validational basis of the STI, indicating that, although all three scales have to be considered, each has a unique contribution.