Thomas T. Jackson

A Study of Fantasy: Determinants of Fantasy Function and Content.

This study is concerned with the role of fantasy. Prior research has studied the role of fantasy by investigating the content or types of fantasy and fantasy frequency with the reasoning that such knowledge provides implications as to fantasys role in human functioning. The present study examined fantasy frequency and content in relation to the variables of gender and the social attitude of liberalism/conservatism (N = 304). It was proposed that (a) liberals would engage in more sexual, and bizarre-improbable fantasies than conservatives; (b) males would be more liberal and engage in sexual fantasy more frequently than females; (c) subjects would engage in less sexual and bizarre-improbable fantasies as age increased; and (d) fantasies would be present oriented. The study yielded mixed results. Using an adapted version of the Imaginal Processes Inventory, it was found that the second and third research questions were supported entirely, while the first and fourth research questions were supported only partially.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY: XLV. ATTITUDE RESEARCH: GEORGE A. KELLY'S USE OF POLAR ADJECTIVES

This article presents information about Dr. George A. Kellys work in attitude measurement while he was at Fort Hays Kansas State College (1931–1943). The use of bipolar scales to measure the attitudes and the progress of clients supports Kellys Dichotomy Corollary, in addition to providing external validity for the use of the Semantic Differential.

EFFECT OF SIMILARITY ON SOCIAL SCHEMAS

Kuethe (1962), using the Felt Figure Replacement Technique, found that non-identical human figures (man-woman) were replaced closer together than identical non-human figures (two identical rectangles). This finding was attributed to the operation of a social schema that humans “go together.” The present experiment examined this finding, with similarity of form held constant and similarity of dimension varied. Perception of dimensional differences rather than social schemas may be a more viable explanation for the differences in replacement of the figures. These results add to the growing evidence that the technique must be subjected to much closer scrutiny before being widely accepted.

FACT VARIATION: A STUDY OF RESPONSIBILITY VERSUS FAULT

This study, a replication of the 1982 experiment done by Pallak and Davies, was done to distinguish between the processes underlying attribution of responsibility and assignment of fault to a victim. Undergraduate women read one of four descriptions of a rape committed by an assailant who had either followed the victim previously (assault premeditated) or had not followed the victim (assault not premeditated), against the victim who had either taken precautionary measures (precaution attempted) or had not taken such precautions (no precautions attempted). In contrast to the original study, observers assigned equal measures of fault to the manipulations of precautions attempted and precautions not attempted. In addition, there was no support for the original finding that maximum responsibility was attributed to the victim who failed to take precautions when the assailants behavior indicated that his assault was not premeditated.

SELECTIVE PERCEPTION SQUARED: A REPLY TO KUETHE

In a rejoinder, Kuethe (1980) criticized an article by Jackson and Klopfer (1977) which found no differences in the replacement accuracy of human and non-human figures on the Felt Figure Replacement Technique. The present reply gives primarily an analysis of those studies suggested by Kuethe as supporting his position and shows weak or non-existent support. This reply also examines the supposed ignoring of ordinal data patterns and finds no support for such criticism. The sensory-perceptual explanation supported by Jackson and Klopfer (1977) and others remains a viable alternative to the social-perceptual explanation provided by Kuethe.

George A. Kelly: Pioneer in rural school psychology

Abstract A review of the history of school indicates that during the 1930s psychological services were available to many urban school systems but that comparable services were undeveloped or nonexistent in most rural areas. It was at this time that George A. Kelly, renowed for the development of personal construct theory, was practicing rural school psychology in western Kansas. Although Kelly is usully regarded as a clinical psychologist or personality theorist, a review of his educational background, early research interests, and professional activities up to 1983 establishes his strong ties to school psychology. A description of Kellys “traveling clinics,” conducted in and for the schools of western Kansas, provides one detailed account regarding the nature of rural school psychology during ots formative years. In addition to such descriptive and historical value, this report illuminates the little-known contributions of a prominent psychologist to the area of school psychology.

Trustworthiness of Attitudinal and Behavioral Expressions: A Replication

The 1973 work of Allen indicates that individuals are more likely to trust predictions of attitude based on behavioral information than predictions of behavior based an attitudinal information. The present study is a design replication of the 1973 work and results of the original study are fully supported.

Factors Affecting the Behavior of Drive-Up Bank Users

The behavior of 537 male and female users of windows at a drive-up bank was investigated by observing: (a) length of time spent approaching teller window, (b) whether machine or personal contact was chosen, (c) length of time spent at the window, and (d) characteristics of individuals in the vehicles. The results indicate that male drivers with same sex passengers had significantly (p < .05) faster approach lane time and window times than other groups. The drivers also tended not to use window lanes that were too far removed from the teller. The results are considered in terms of interpersonal contact of the driver with both the teller and passengers.