Ego identity status, conformity behavior, and personality in late adolescence.

Tested the predictive relation among identity, status, personality, and conformity behavior in an attempt to replicate findings by N. Toder and J. Marcia (see record 1973-31281-001). In Study 1, with 40 male and 40 female undergraduates, no relation was observed between identity status (diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement) and conformity on the measure developed by S. E. Asch (1956). Study 2, with 138 Ss, confirmed the validity of the measure of identity employed, the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status. In Study 3, 87 Ss completed 4 measures of conformity behavior—peer assessments, an experimental task, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and sections from the California Personality Inventory. Diffusion Ss were most influenced by peer pressures toward conformity, whereas identity-achievement Ss were most likely to report engaging in conformity behavior for achievement gains. Although Toder and Marcia's results on the Asch conformity task were not replicated, Study 3 supported the predicted relation between identity and conformity. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of peer pressure, peer conformity dispositions, and self-reported behavior among adolescents.

Two samples, consisting of a total of 1,027 6th–12th graders from separate communities, were given measures of peer conformity dispositions (willingness to accede to peer pressure), perceptions of peer pressure, and self-reported frequency of behavior concerning 2 major aspects of teenage life: peer involvement (degree of socializing with friends) and misconduct (drug/alcohol use, sexual intercourse, and minor delinquent behavior). Results indicate that Ss perceived less peer pressure toward misconduct than peer involvement and also were comparatively less willing to follow peers in misconduct. Nevertheless, perceived peer pressure and conformity disposition accounted for more of the variance in self-reported misconduct than in self-reported peer involvement. Age differences were modest and varied among measures and samples. The samples also differed in the magnitude of perceived pressures and conformity dispositions as well as in the degree to which these variables were associated with self-reported behavior. It is concluded that the findings reveal a complexity in adolescent conformity that bears elaboration in future research. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of intolerance of ambiguity upon product perceptions.

32 male undergraduates, with high and low scores on S. Budner's (see record 1964-08477-001) measure of intolerance of ambiguity, judged the newness of products varying systematically in atypicality and reported their willingness to buy them. The more intolerant Ss perceived the atypical products as newer than did tolerant Ss. Perceived product newness tended to be positively related to willingness to buy among tolerant Ss, but negatively related among intolerant ones. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathy and nonverbal behavior in an interpersonal situation.

88 male adolescents living in a minimum security institution were judged by their counselors on a scale measuring psychopathic behavior. Two extreme groups were composed, with 25 Ss each. These Ss were questioned by a male interviewer in a face-to-face situation about their leisure activities. Trained judges analyzed videotape recordings of the Ss' and the interviewer's nonverbal and paralinguistic behavior. Global judgments of the Ss' emotional states were also requested of the judges. Results show that compared with nonpsycopaths, psychopathic Ss displayed more hand gestures and leaned forward more, thus reducing the distance between them and their partner. They also looked toward their partner's eyes for much longer periods and tended to smile less than nonpsychopaths. On the other hand, when interacting with psychopaths, the interviewer spoke significantly less than with nonpsychopaths. A number of other observed differences in emotional expression between the 2 groups are discussed. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Work values of the chronically unemployed.

Constructed and administered a scale of specific work values, the Work Requirements Rating Scale, to 23 supervisors employed for over 10 yrs, 52 hourly wage workers employed for over 2 yrs, and 50 chronically unemployed individuals. Ss also completed a social access questionnaire measuring components of the sociocultural environment and personality which has been shown to be predictive of vocational adjustment. Supervisors differed from the other 2 groups in the high value they placed on basic work behaviors. Chronically unemployed Ss and wage workers did not differ on work values. Results suggest that the scale has considerable promise in the assessment of work values. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal affect and conformity behavior in schizophrenics.

A group of 28 schizophrenics Ss was equated with a group of 28 normal Ss on the factors of age and education. Each S was then tested as to the number of affectual relationships he produced on 4 Thematic Apperception Test cards. A measure of his conformity to social influence was obtained by a measure of his behavior in a group situation in which he was asked to compare the length of lines in an optical illusion study. An analysis of the data by means of multiple X2 design showed a significant interaction among all 3 factors: mental health, conformity, and affect. The factors of mental health and conformity interacted to a greater extent than did any other 2 factors taken together. Conformity and affect were more closely related to the factor of mental health than they were to each other. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The generalization of the effects of agreement and correctness on relative competence mediating conformity.

Presented a social communication task to 215 Canadian high school students (Grades 8-13). Results show that correctness and group agreement interacted with grade level, producing varying degrees of perceived competence relative to a simulated group. For Ss in Grades 8-10 only, the experimental manipulation of relative competence influenced conformity; Ss who were told that they were more competent than the group conformed less than those who were told that they were either less competent than or as competent as the group. Ss who perceived themselves to be more competent than the group also conformed less. Other findings are that: (a) females showed significantly higher conformity, (b) Ss in Grades 11-13 indicated more suspicion and awareness of the possibility of deception, and (c) no differences in conformity existed between suspicious and nonsuspicious Ss. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alternative responses to dissonance.

50 male and 50 female Ss were placed in an experimental situation in which they found their judgments contradicted by a respected associate of the same sex. Ss were free to resolve the dissonance by conforming to the contrary judgments of the associate, rejecting the associate as one who was less competent than he had been thought to be, underrecalling the disagreements, or, devaluating the importance of the topics about which disagreements had occurred. Female Ss made less use of rejection than did male Ss and were more inclined to tolerate the conflict. Other findings suggest that individuals are inclined to employ the 4 responses as alternative means of reducing dissonance rather than as supplementary means. Finally, correlations relating the MA scale to conformity, underrecall, and tolerance were significantly different for the 2 sexes, suggesting that the effect of anxiety upon Ss' choice of dissonance reducing response depends upon the sex of the Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploratory intervention with a scale measuring adjustment to college.

Describes an intervention into the lives of college freshmen that was based on a scale measuring adjustment to college developed by the present authors (see record 1984-21813-001). 216 Ss initially completed the scale, and 150 Ss with high or low scores were assigned to interview or no-interview conditions. The scale was also used to serve as a source of topics for discussion in interviews and to measure the effects of intervention through pre- and posttesting. Qualitative and quantitative findings are presented regarding (a) attitude of Ss toward use of the scale, (b) the correspondence between test data and effectiveness of adjustment to college, and (c) the consequences of intervention by interviews for Ss indicated by the scale as well-adjusted and less well-adjusted. Results support the validity of the scale and the beneficial effects of relatively modest interventions in improving ratings of adjustment and reducing drop-outs. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in conformity: Surveillance by the group as a determinant of male nonconformity.

75 male and 71 female undergraduates met in groups containing 2 males and 2 females and received each other's opinions, which were represented as deviating from the opinions that Ss had given earlier. Ss then gave their opinions with the other group members either having or not having surveillance over these opinions. Only with surveillance was males' conformity significantly less than females' conformity. Males' conformity with surveillance was also significantly less than males' or females' conformity without surveillance. Interpretation focuses on (a) the compatibility of nonconformity with the emphasis of the male gender role on independence from other people and (b) the greater likelihood that males' (vs females') nonconformity will result in successful influence over other group members. No support was obtained for a hypothesized tendency for women to be especially conforming because of their concern about harmony in interpersonal relationships. (62 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concept formation and impressions of personality.

Ss were shown a short motion picture in which the main themes of behavior of the heroine were kindness and promiscuity. The Ss then rated the heroine on a social distance scale, and then were asked interrelate the terms used in the scale. The Rokeach task was given to determine which Ss organized terms according to hierarchic or non-hierarchic concepts. Analysis of the data showed that Ss who articulate and relate the several essential molar features of the impression-formation material are more likely to form hierarchic concepts than Ss who articulate the field without relating the various aspects, or Ss who fail to differentiate between major field characteristics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex and race effects in the conformity behavior of upper-elementary school-aged children.

Reports 2 experiments with a total of 368 Black and White lower- and middle-class 9-12 yr olds in which a novel technique was used to study sex and race effects on children's conformity behavior. Neither the White, lower-class Ss nor the White, middle-class Ss showed any consistent tendency to conform differentially to Black and White models. A tendency of Blacks in Exp I to conform more to White than to Black models constituted the only race effect of any consequence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social exchange theory: An integrative approach to social conformity.

Theoretical and research studies of social conformity are reviewed and integrated through a revised social exchange model. The concept of utility is discarded from the basic economic model in favor of a revealed preference, and this approach is then applied to the existing work on social conformity and approval. The behavior of Ss in conformity and approval studies is assumed to reflect a preference in the manner done in economics. Predictions made from the exchange model are found to be consistent with the existing knowledge about conformity. It is concluded that exchange theory provides a useful vehicle for data integration and generation of new hypotheses about social conformity. The model allows for the process of social conformity to be considered in dynamic terms, treating the influence source and influenced person simultaneously. (7 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Authority orientations of police officers.

86 police officers, all attending college, responded to the Hierarchical Control Scale, an attitude scale measuring preferences for control based on knowledge, status, and authority. 40 Ss also took the Dogmatism Scale. While dogmatism scores of police officers were not different from those of nonpolice Ss of the same age and education, Hierarchical Control Scale scores differed significantly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High school students' perceptions of AIDS risk: Realistic appraisal or motivated denial?

296 9th and 10th graders were asked to indicate their absolute and comparative risk of acquiring AIDS and to complete questionnaire items measuring AIDS-related behaviors and the constructs expected to influence risk judgments. Results indicate Ss used their behaviors as a basis for assessing personal risk in the sense that they perceived higher risk when their behavior was in fact riskier. However, this relation did not hold for those Ss classified as repressors on a repression-sensitization scale; repressors' perceptions of absolute (but not comparative) risk were negatively correlated with degree of behavioral risk. In a secondary analysis, perceived absolute risk emerged as a significant predictor of intention to change AIDS-risk behaviors. Data support a motivational interpretation of perceived invulnerability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trust, trustworthiness, and the F scale.

"Ss played an interprersonal game which, in one position, required them to choose between being trusting or suspicious of another and, in a second position, required them to choose between being trustworthy or untrustworthy toward another. There was a striking tendency for Ss who were trusting to be trustworthy and for Ss who were suspicious to be untrustworthy. F scale scores correlated significantly with game behavior; Ss with Low scores tended to be Trusting and Trustworthy while Ss with High scores tended to be Suspicious and Untrustworthy in their game choices." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

When a scale measures more than its name denotes: the case of the Test Anxiety Scale for Children

Administered a revision of the Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC) on which there were separate comparative Self-Evaluation and Anxiety scales to 133 females and 131 males in Form 1 (equivalent to Grade 6). Ss also responded to self-report measures (self-concept of attainment, causal attribution, independent reading, and friendship choices), and teachers rated Ss on their classroom behavior. Findings indicate that correlations between Ss' TASC scores and variables that had been found to be related to the original scale and assumed to be affected by anxiety were generally higher for the Self-Evaluation scale than the Anxiety scales. It is suggested that many results with the TASC may be better interpreted in terms of self-evaluation than anxiety effects. Results with measures of causal attributions suggest that self-evaluation measures are more effective predictors of achievement behavior than anxiety measures because anxiety is but one of a number of possible consequences of poor self-evaluation that could mediate relatively unproductive achievement behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Demand characteristics or conformity?: Suspiciousness of deception and experimenter bias in conformity research.

Administered to 87 undergraduates (a) the Psychology Research Survey (PRS), a measure of attitudes toward psychology experiments; and (b) a battery of attitude scales on current issues. 6 advanced undergraduate Es, led to believe that Ss had high- or low-conformity scores on the battery, presented R. Wyer's dot-estimation conformity task to Ss. Results of a postexperimental questionnaire indicate Ss' suspiciousness of deception was quite common (43.7%) and suspicious Ss conformed less. The prediction that suspicious Ss would be more positive in their attitudes on the PRS than nonsuspicious Ss was not supported. However, Ss who were aware that they were being deceived and nevertheless conformed had significantly more positive attitudes on the PRS than aware Ss who conformed less. In addition, Es who tested Ss of the opposite sex biased their results according to their expectations, while for Ss of the same sex the bias was reversed. It is apparent that conformity studies are quite susceptible to the effects of demand characteristics and that only with controlled E-S interaction and more attention to deception procedures can results be generalized. (French summary) (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Symptom changes and self-esteem as correlates of positive conditioning of grooming in hospitalized psychotics.

Evaluated a behavior modification program aimed at improving grooming behaviors with regard to changes in self-esteem and ward behavior. 27 unselected, institutionalized psychotics were rated on a self-esteem interview scale and the Psychotic Reaction Profile (PRP) before and after experimental Ss (n = 14) received behavior modification. After treatment, experimental Ss displayed significantly higher scores on verbal expression of self-esteem, which related to feelings of attractiveness, and had significantly lower scores on the PRP Paranoid Belligerence scale than controls. Results suggest that improvement in affective states, particularly as reported by the patient, should be considered when implementing behavioral programs dealing with the performance of self-care and grooming behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies.

Describes a scale measuring dispositional optimism, defined in terms of generalized outcome expectancies. Two preliminary studies, involving a total of 438 male and 336 female undergraduates, assessed the scale's psychometric properties and its relationships with several other instruments. The scale was then used in a longitudinal study of symptom reporting among 79 male and 62 female undergraduates. Ss were asked to complete 3 questionnaires 4 wks before the end of a semester. Included in the questionnaire battery were the measure of optimism, a measure of private self-consciousness, and a 39-item physical symptom checklist. Ss completed the same set of questionnaires again on the last day of class. Consistent with predictions, Ss who initially reported being highly optimistic were subsequently less likely to report being bothered by symptoms (even after correcting for initial symptom-report levels) than were Ss who initially reported being less optimistic. This effect tended to be stronger among Ss high in private self-consciousness than among those lower in private self-consciousness. Discussion centers on other health related applications of the optimism scale and the relationships between the theoretical orientation of the scale and several related theories. (3 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)