Changes in the perception of interpersonal relationships in successfully treated adolescent delinquent boys.

Successful psychotherapy with adolescent delinquent boys revealed significant improvement in the perception of interpersonal relationships on thematic stories to pictures selected to measure 3 areas of personality functioning (self-image, control of aggression, and attitude toward authority). People in the stories were seen as having more highly differentiated roles and relationships. These changes were highly correlated with improved academic performance (revealed on achievement tests) and improvement in overt behavior (reduction in antisocial behavior and better employment history). The results are consistent with many views regarding the nature of personality change in psychotherapy and strongly indicate that improvement in the perception of interpersonal relationships is associated with higher levels of overall performance and integration. Exactly how these changes are brought about during psychotherapy still remains to be explored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of film violence on inhibitions against subsequent aggression.

As a test of the possibility that recently-angered people can "purge" their anger through viewing filmed scenes of aggression, 160 college men and women were shown a 7-minute prize fight scene after having been either deliberately insulted or treated in a neutral fashion by a male graduate student. Just before the Ss saw the movie, E, a female graduate student, provided them with 1 or 2 synopses of the movie plot. In ? of the cases E told the Ss the film protagonist (who took a bad beating in the flight) was a downright scoundrel. The fantasy aggression witnessed by this group was presumably regarded as justified. The remaining Ss were told that the protagonist was not really bad, and they presumably came to regard the filmed aggression as less justified. All Ss rated the male graduate student after seeing the movie. In opposition to the thesis of vicarious hostility reduction, the authors had predicted that the justified fantasy aggression would produce heightened overt hostility toward the insulting male graduate student by lowering inhibitions against aggression. The questionnaire ratings support the prediction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathology as a function of neuroticism and a hypnotically implanted aggressive conflict.

Tested 5 hypotheses concerning psychopathology generated by hypnosis using 26 undergraduates. Hypnotically implanted paramnesias (false stories) designed to arouse an unacceptable aggressive impulse successfully generated psychopathology in experimental Ss who were high in neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Inventory). Control Ss received a similar paramnesia that was designed to arouse an acceptable impulse. The induced psychopathology approximated that observed in a psychiatric outpatient population. Experimental Ss who directed their aggressive impulses at fictitious authority figures experienced more psychopathology than did experimental Ss who directed their impulses at an authority figure who was physically present. Experimental Ss told shorter TAT stories and expressed more blatant anger and aggression in their stories than did the controls, but the 2 groups did not differ in amount of anger and aggression or amount of paramnesia material projected. Results suggest that the experimental Ss' psychopathalogy was a function of an intrapsychic conflict involving an intense, dissociated, and unacceptable wish to destroy the experimenter's TAT cards that was blocked from discharge by equally strong intrapsychic forces. The authors state that other explanations, besides the psychodynamic one presented, must be considered. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of fantasy arousal of affiliation drive on doll play aggression.

Amount of aggression shown by 20 groups of nursery school children was measured in doll interviews before and after a story was read to them. In one group the story was designed to arouse affiliation drive; the story told the other group was neutral. While the controls increased in aggression on the 2nd doll play session, the experimental group remained about the same. Initially high and low aggressive Ss were equally affected by the affiliation arousal, as were boys and girls. The results indicate that the arousal in fantasy of affiliation drive significantly lowers the expression of aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationships between overt and fantasy aggression.

The interrelationships among aggressive needs, anticipation of punishment, and overt aggressive behavior in 29 lower-class boys were investigated in this study. Three hypotheses were tested: 1) among lower class boys, those having a relatively great amount of fantasy aggressive needs indulge in more overt aggressive behavior than those who have relatively few aggressive fantasy needs; 2) Ss whose TAT stories included a great deal of punishment press relative to the number of their aggressive needs demonstrate less overt aggression than Ss whose ratios of punishment press to aggressive needs are low; and 3) Those with low punishment press/aggressive fantasy ratio show more aggression in their behavior than those with high P/A ratio. All three hypotheses were supported by the data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Time orientation in delinquents.

The time orientation of a group of 26 delinquent boys is compared with that of a matched control group of non-delinquents by obtaining stories from all Ss and scoring them in terms of the length of time covered by the action of the stories. The delinquent boys produce stories with significantly shorter time spans than do the control boys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Images of violence in Thematic Apperception Test stories

TAT stories written by 88 male and 50 female undergraduates were coded for the presence or absence of violent imagery and for the context in which the violence occurred. Results confirm previous findings of a greater incidence of violence in males' fantasy stories (M. S. Horner, see record 1973-09174-001) but extend these findings to show a sex difference in the distribution as well—violence in males' stories was more frequent in response to situations of affiliation, whereas violence in females' stories appeared more often in response to situations of achievement. Interpreting fantasies of violence as indicative of the perception of danger, it is suggested that males and females perceived danger in different contexts and construed danger in different ways. This study offers a new understanding of Horner's research and points to the relationship between impulsive expression and social perception, suggesting that the differences in aggression in males and females may be due to whether they perceive relationships as dangerous or safe. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some factors affecting the reduction of overt hostility.

2 assumptions were tested to explain observations that initial expressions of aggression may be followed by decline in such unfriendly attitudes. The "symbolic catharsis hypothesis" assumes the reduction of hostile attitudes due to vicarious (fantasy) expression of hostility; guilt theory assumes inhibition, rather than reduction, of hostile atitudes. Ss were fed information, supposedly opinions of each other, which encouraged unfriendly or friendly attitudes. Ss were then either allowed to associate to TAT cards or fed additional information so as to be made to feel guilty about unfriendly attitudes towards the other. Results were interpreted as supporting the guilt hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Origins and pawns in the classroom: Self-report and projective assessments of individual differences in children's perceptions.

Two studies examined the significance of children's perceptions of their classroom environment along autonomy vs external control dimensions. Study 1 related a self-report measure of the perceived classroom climate—R. deCharms's (1976) origin climate questionnaire—to other self-related constructs. Among 140 4th–6th graders, the more "origin" the Ss perceived in their classroom, the higher their perceived self-worth, cognitive competence, internal control, and mastery motivation, and the lower their perceived control by unknown sources or powerful others. These relationships were primarily due to individual differences within classrooms rather than average classroom differences. Ss also wrote projective stories about an ambiguous classroom scene. Ratings of these stories indicated that originlike behavior in Ss' fantasy was associated with autonomy-oriented teachers and low aggression. Self-report and projective methods converged, particularly for Ss whose self-reported perceptions were extreme. In Study 2, with 578 Ss, relative contributions of classroom and individual difference effects were further examined. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of perceived autonomy and issues in assessment strategies. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between overt and fantasy aggression as a function of maternal response to aggression.

44 boys and their mothers were studied in order to explore the relationship between fantasy and overt expressions of aggression as a function of maternal attitudes and practices towards aggression. "Support was found for the hypothesis that under conditions of maternal encouragement of aggression, a greater degree of correspondence exists between fantasy and overt aggression of children than under conditions of maternal discouragement of aggression." 19 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antisemitism and the expression of fantasy aggression.

"In order to test a hypothesis derived from the scapegoat theory of prejudice [Dollard, et al, 1939], two groups… chosen on the basis of… high and… low scores on the Levinson Anti-Semitism Scale, [A-S] were subjected to an aggression arousing situation. Following aggression arousal a specially designed fantasy test was administered, which yielded measures of aggression expressed toward fantasy characters with Jewish or non-Jewish names. Control subjects, matched with Arousal group subjects on… A-S scores, took the fantasy test without prior aggression arousal. Aggression arousal produced significant differences in the fantasy aggression of High and Low A-S subjects… . [supporting] the hypothesis that persons high in anti-Semitism have a greater… tendency… to displace aggression selectively onto Jews." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4GD54W. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What do you do when asked to answer humorously?

250 12th-grade and male Jewish and Arab students were given a modified version of the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study. They were asked to answer this questionnaire twice: (a) ordinarily (as if they were present in the situation) and (b) humorously (as amusingly as possible). When ordinary and humorous answers were compared, it was found that humorous answers contained more expressions of high aggression and fantasy denials. Ordinary answers contained low aggression and rational denials. Humorous answers manifested the use of special techniques as specified by Freud: displacement, representation by the opposite, play on words, absurdity, and fantasy. Results show that Ss applied clear rules when answering with humor. They used more aggression, more sex, and more fantasy and they used Freud's techniques as if they had read his writings. Results are discussed by contrasting incongruity explanations with motivational explanations. Results do not support Freud's cathartic hypothesis. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

THE DRIVE-REDUCING FUNCTION OF FANTASY BEHAVIOR.

"The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the expression of aggression in fantasy will serve to partially reduce aggressive drive. This hypothesis was tested by experimentally including aggression by insulting a group of students, interpolating a fantasy or nonfantasy activity, and subsequently measuring the strength of the aggressive drive… . The results are consistent with the drive-reduction hypothesis." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thematic Apperception Test method for the differentiation of families of schizophrenics, delinquents, and "normals."

Assessed the dimension of Parent * Child interactional behavior from 240 TAT stories told by parents of 10 schizophrenics, 10 delinquents, and 10 "normals." A modified content analysis was applied to stories dealing with parent-child plots. Common underlying factors contributing to similar story qualities were abstracted into higher order classes of story behavior. 3 modal behavior categories were defined: personally involved, child-centered, flexible interactions (A), impersonally involved, superficial interactions (B), and overinvolved, parent-centered interactions (C). Blind rating of the stories by Categories A, B, and C significantly and reliably differentiated the 3 parental groups. Blind rating of a separate series of TAT stories told by 20 mothers of schizophrenic children and 20 mothers of normal children using the National Institute of Mental Health method significantly differentiated the 2 parental groups. Processes that may have determined the different patterns of narrated Parent-Child interactions are considered. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Language and TAT content in bilinguals.

Adult French bilinguals told TAT stories on 2 different occasions for the same pictures, in French at one session, in English at the other. Predictions derived from studies of child-rearing practices and values in the 2 countries were made regarding expected content differences in the 2 languages. Of 9 predicted content differences, 3 were statistically significant. Achievement themes were more common in English in the women Ss. Verbal aggression against age peers, and autonomy or withdrawal from others were more common themes in the French stories. In these respects, content shifted with language, for the same individual at 2 different sessions. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sum of MMPI Scales F, 4, and 9 as a measure of aggression.

Examined the relationship between scores on the MMPI and both concurrent and prior aggression with 426 19-yr-olds from the general population. Aggression was measured through peer nominations obtained concurrently and 10 yrs earlier. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that the sum of T scores for Scales F, 4, and 9 was a valid measure of aggression. The composite was also shown to have a higher reliability than its component scales. Using an additional 283 12.9–17.1 yr old Ss from delinquent populations, it was demonstrated that the composite was an excellent discriminator between delinquent and general populations of males and females even when intelligence and social status were controlled. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stealing and temporal orientation.

120 elementary school pupils in a lower-class neighborhood were tested in a situation providing for measures of the occurrence and magnitude of a form of psychopathic behavior (stealing) and of temporal orientation. The 49 Ss who stole money from the E during her brief absence chose fewer temporal concepts and told stories with shorter time durations than the nonstealers. This relationship between stealing and time orientation was uninfluenced by race, sex, age, IQ, academic achievement, or school and home behavior problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal models in psychotherapy and counseling: A social-psychological analysis of a clinical problem.

Presented 20 15-17 yr. Old delinquent outpatients in a community mental health center and 20 normal adolescents with potentially imbalanced situations according to F. Heider's (see pa, vol. 33:971) p-o-x model: a perceiver (p), a stimulus person (o), and an event or act (x). Ss' responses support the hypothesis that in potentially imbalanced situations, normal ps would seek balance primarily when the o had or did not have the moral obligation to act, while delinquent ps would seek balance when the o had or lacked the power to act. Change in affect toward the o was the predominant mode of balance seeking in both groups. Heider's model and its implications for psychotherapy and counseling with delinquent adolescents, as well as for psychotherapy in general, are discussed at length. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scapegoating: An experimental investigation.

A group of 48 high prejudice (HP) Ss and 48 low prejudice (LP) Ss were studied, with ? of each group exposed to an aggression including film and ? to a control film. When a measure of fantasy aggression (Objective Apperception Test) was employed, LP Ss exceeded HP Ss in expression of prejudice. However, when a verbal measure of prejudice (Triandis and Triandis Social Distance scale) was employed, an increase in prejudice always followed instigation to aggression, HP Ss always exceeded LP Ss in expression of prejudice, and scapegoating was specifically isolated towards the Chinese. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some theory and data concerning the attenuation of aggression.

The relationship of anxiety to aggression was postulated, with anxiety seen as both an inhibitor as well as a stimulus for aggression under the appropriate conditions. The data was derived from a previous study by Sears (see 21: 4422) re childrens' play with dolls. It was hypothesized that aggression would be more frequently directed towards adult rather than child dolls; the hypothesis was interpreted as being supported. In conclusion, the author states, "In fantasy as compared with real life, anxiety functions more as a stimulus than as an inhibitor." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)