Relation of masculinity to self-esteem and self-acceptance in male professionals, college students, and clients.

Previous studies that have suggested that masculinity is a strong predictor of mental health have been generally limited to college student populations or have focused specifically on women. This study investigated the relation of masculinity to self-esteem and self-acceptance in male professionals (n?=?96), clients (n?=?55), and college students (n?=?73). The Personal Orientation Inventory, Bem Sex Role Inventory, and Rotter Internal–External Locus of Control Scale were administered to the subjects, along with a demographic data sheet. Correlations were used to investigate the relation and relative predictive significance of masculinity, femininity, education, occupation, and locus of control to self-esteem and self-acceptance. Masculinity was found to be the best predictor of self-esteem for male professionals and clients, and the best predictor of self-acceptance for clients. Femininity did not correlate with self-esteem or self-acceptance in any group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Male victims of domestic violence and their history of perpetrating violence

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether male victims of domestic violence have similar rates of violence perpetration compared with men evaluated in the ED with other causes of injury. METHODS: Case-control retrospective ED record review with linkage to police department records. Cases were identified by ICD code N-code 995.81 (adult maltreatment syndrome) over a 4-year period (January 1, 1991, to December 31, 1994) at one urban trauma center. Medical records were reviewed to confirm that the assailant was an intimate female partner. Controls were identified by E-codes 880-888 (unintentional falls) and matched by age, race, and date of visit. All names were linked to police department record information regarding arrests for domestic violence perpetration, nonaggravated assaults, aggravated assaults, firearms violations, and driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). This information was reported without patient identifiers. Comparisons between cases and controls were made with chi2 analysis. RESULTS: Forty-five cases and 45 controls were identified. The cases were injured by unarmed fights, E960 (31%); cuttings, E966 (33%); blunt objects, E968.2 (31%); and bites, E968.8 (5%). Median age (interquartile range) for cases was 32 (25.75, 38.25) years and for controls was 31 (25, 36.5) years. Median follow-up (interquartile range) of police records after ED visit was 45 (37, 50) months for cases and 45 (36.75, 51) months for controls. Fifty-one percent of the cases had arrests for domestic violence perpetration vs 22.2% of the controls (p=0.009). Forty-four percent of the cases had been arrested for nonaggravated assaults vs 20.0% of the controls (p=0.024). There was no statistical difference between the cases and controls in arrests for aggravated assaults (13.3% vs 4.4%), firearm violations (22.2% vs 17.8%), or DUIs (35.6% vs 20%). CONCLUSION: Men who present to the ED with injuries inflicted by their female partners have a high rate of domestic violence perpetration. This information calls into question whether many male "victims" of domestic violence are injured in self-defense by the female "victim." Also, injury by a female partner may be a useful indicator to identify batterers, so they can be referred by appropriate resources.     

Clinical pathways for diagnosing and treating victims of domestic violence.

This article examines clinical algorithms and critical pathways in the identification, reporting, assessment, and treatment of domestic violence. At-risk factors in family violence are addressed as are the victim–victimizer spectrum, referral and treatment strategies, and victim education. Issues in application of clinical algorithms and critical pathways are explored. It is suggested that clinicians, regardless of professional discipline, must be sensitive to a standardized and immediate response to the needs of individuals who have been victimized through domestic violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Morally based self-esteem, drinking motives, and alcohol use among college students.

This research examined the relationship of morally based self-esteem with drinking motives and alcohol consumption among college students. Basing self-esteem on morals was expected to be negatively associated with drinking behavior. We further expected this relationship to be mediated by drinking motives. Participants (N = 201; 45% male, 55% female) completed self-report measures of contingencies of self-worth, drinking motives, and drinking behavior. Previous research was supported in that college students whose self-esteem was more strongly contingent upon following personal morals consumed less alcohol. The current research extended these findings by showing that this relationship was mediated by drinking motives. Results suggest that it may be useful to better incorporate personal values into interventions for college students. The implementation of personal values in combination with brief treatments is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adults with witnessing histories: The overlooked victims of domestic violence.

Although investigations have uncovered the effects of witnessing domestic violence on children and adolescents, adults with witnessing histories have received limited attention. This article summarizes the research efforts toward revealing long-term effects of witnessing domestic violence and indicates the need for careful consideration of the relationship and psychological effects, especially in clinical practice. Specific therapeutic interventions and direction for further investigations are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drinking patterns and dating violence among college students.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 8(2) of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (see record 2008-09988-001). The first author's name in the second entry of the References on page 53 was misspelled. The correct reference is appears in the erratum. Likewise, the citation on page 52 in the first paragraph in the Materials and Procedure section should read "Cahalan, Cisin, & Crossley, 1985."] Investigated the relationships between 221 college students' (1) alcohol use, (2) perceived antecedents and consequences of alcohol use, and (3) experience with dating violence. It was hypothesized that the highest level of dating violence would occur in those Ss who reported drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and having the expectation that drinking would have negative effects on their behavior. Ss completed a questionnaire measuring the 3 factors being studied. Results of a multiple regression analysis supported the hypothesis: Higher dating violence was predicted by lower use of alcohol and by stronger expectancies of negative effects of alcohol. [A correction concerning this article appears in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 1994(Jun), Vol 8(2), 115. A correction is made on pages 52 and 53.] (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Desensitization and resensitization to violence against women: Effects of exposure to sexually violent films on judgments of domestic violence victims.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of repeated exposure to sexually violent films on emotional desensitization and callousness toward domestic abuse victims. Results indicated that emotional response, self-reported physiological arousal, and ratings of the extent to which the films were sexually violent all diminished with repeated film exposure. Three days following exposure to the final film, experimental participants expressed significantly less sympathy for domestic violence victims, and rated their injuries as less severe, than did a no-exposure comparison group. Five days after the final film exposure, their level of sensitivity to the domestic violence victims had rebounded to baseline levels established by the comparison group. Emotional responsiveness at the final film exposure was correlated with levels of sensitivity to the domestic violence victims 3 days later but not at subsequent observation points. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using feminist MRI brief therapy during initial contact with victims of domestic violence.

This article seeks to provide an alternative approach to traditional point-of-contact crisis services for victims of domestic violence. This approach, based on a feminist Mental Research Institute brief therapy model, takes into account the many forces arrayed against battered women that influence their decisions about staying or leaving their batterers. Many service organizations provide services targeted to the woman who leaves, not the woman who stays. Thus, this approach provides a model with which to fit the services to each woman, not the woman to the services. In addition, by honoring and acknowledging the many forces that keep women from leaving, service providers may reduce their rates of burnout by redefining the meaning of successful intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of self-esteem manipulation on arousal and reactions to sad models in depressed and nondepressed college students.

24 depressed and 24 nondepressed college students were given spurious feedback, either positive or negative, about the results of personality tests. They then watched a film of an intensive encounter group. Psychophysiological reactions to both feedback and observation of sad film models were recorded. Depressed Ss showed greater arousal than nondepressed Ss only after negative feedback. Depressed Ss reacted emotionally to the sad models after negative feedback; nondepressed Ss, after positive feedback. Arousal results indicate that depressed Ss were particularly reactive to a "loss" of self-esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality differentiation, effectiveness of personality integration, and mood in female college students.

Personality differentiation was measured by an index computed from 72 female undergraduates' rod-and-frame test and Embedded Figures Test scores. Effectiveness of personality integration was measured by the Ego Identity Incomplete Sentences Blank. Personal Feelings scales were used as the mood assessment instrument. The final sample of 31 Ss rated their moods 3 times daily on each of the 16 Personal Feelings scales for 33 consecutive days. Measures of 3 characteristics of mood—affective complexity, mood level, and mood variability—were constructed by factor analysis of mood-rating records. Psychological differentiation theory was used to generate hypotheses concerning mood/personality relationships. Results indicate that (a) greater personality differentiation was associated with less affective complexity; (b) neither personality differentiation nor effectiveness of personality integration was significantly associated with mood level; and (c) greater effectiveness of personality integration was associated with less mood variability. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in moral judgment and self-acceptance in college students as a function of companionship with hospitalized mental patients.

The present investigation describes studies undertaken to determine the effects of association with hospitalized mental patients on the personalities of 32 male college students who were compared to a control group of 24 comparable students who had not been involved in this experience with mental patients. The former demonstrate significant positive change in self-acceptance and in moral judgments concerning sexual and aggressive behaviors. The nature of the companionship experience is examined in order to elucidate the reasons for these changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of familial and social factors to socialization in middle-class college students.

Reviews sampling problems encountered in the studies of factors associated with poor socialization using adjudicated delinquents and nondelinquents. To determine the familial and social factors associated with differences in socialization in a nondelinquent population, the CPI Socialization (So) scale and a personal history questionnaire were administered to 208 female and 280 male college students. Ss scoring low on the So scale revealed the same basic pattern of associations usually encountered in studies of delinquents, indicating that the previous studies were not simple artifacts of the judicial process. Differences between high and low So scale scorers and male and female delinquents are discussed. (26 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How employment helps female victims of intimate partner violence: A qualitative study.

This exploratory, qualitative study documents ways in which being employed is helpful to victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 21 women employed by a large health care organization in a major U.S. city. Through content analysis, the authors identified six ways in which employment was helpful to participants: by (1) improving their finances, (2) promoting physical safety, (3) increasing self-esteem, (4) improving social connectedness, (5) providing mental respite, and (6) providing motivation or a "purpose in life." Findings suggest that employment can play a critically important, positive role in the lives of IPV victims. The importance of flexible leave-time policies and employer assistance to IPV victims is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between racial identity and self-esteem in African American college and high school students.

The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity was used to examine the relationship between racial identity and personal self-esteem (PSE) in a sample of African American college students (n?=?173) and a sample of African American high school students (n?=?72). Racial identity was assessed using the Centrality and Regard scales of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity, whereas the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to assess PSE. Four predictions were tested: (a) racial centrality is weakly but positively related to PSE; (b) private regard is moderately related to PSE; (c) public regard is unrelated to PSE; and (d) racial centrality moderates the relationship between private regard and PSE. Multiple regression analysis found that racial centrality and public racial regard were unrelated to PSE in both samples. Private regard was positively related to PSE in the college sample. Racial centrality moderated the relationship between private regard and PSE in both samples, such that the relationship was significant for those with high levels of centrality but nonsignificant for those with low levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissociative experiences, psychopathology and adjustment, and child and adolescent maltreatment in female college students.

33 female college students who scored in the upper 15% on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) were compared with 33 female students who scored below the mean on the DES on measures of psychopathology (SCL-90), college adjustment (Student Adpatation to College Questionnaire), and child and adolescent maltreatment. Compared with controls, high-DES Ss reported more psychopathology, poorer college adjustment, and a greater extent of psychological, physical, and sexual maltreatment. On the basis of the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, 2 high-DES Ss but none of the control Ss met criteria for a dissociative disorder (i.e., multiple personality and psychogenic amnesia). Despite the sensitivity of the DES, 8 Ss who scored in the upper 2% of the population on the DES failed to meet criteria for a dissociative disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Crime and violence in America: The victims.

The present article is based on the author's presidential address delivered at the meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Anaheim, California, August 27, 1983. Data are presented regarding the growth of crime and violence in the US, with particular attention focused on the victims of crime and violence. The victim is described, and the experience of victimization is discussed. The absence of adequate research in the area is emphasized, and the unique role that psychology can play in understanding and treating this national social malignancy is underscored. The APA is urged to take the initiative in entering a hitherto neglected psychological arena. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Male honor and female fidelity: Implicit cultural scripts that perpetuate domestic violence.

Two studies explored how domestic violence may be implicitly or explicitly sanctioned and reinforced in cultures where honor is a salient organizing theme. Three general predictions were supported: (a) female infidelity damages a man's reputation, particularly in honor cultures; (b) this reputation can be partially restored through the use of violence; and (c) women in honor cultures are expected to remain loyal in the face of jealousy-related violence. Study 1 involved participants from Brazil (an honor culture) and the United States responding to written vignettes involving infidelity and violence in response to infidelity. Study 2 involved southern Anglo, Latino, and northern Anglo participants witnessing a "live" incident of aggression against a woman (actually a confederate) and subsequently interacting with her. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of alcohol use to other health behaviors among college students.

The present study examined whether high levels of drinking are negatively associated with the likelihood of engaging in health-enhancing behaviors and positively associated with the likelihood of engaging in health-compromising behaviors. It was hypothesized that higher levels of drinking would be associated with more negative indicators of psychological health. Health behaviors of 183 college freshmen were assessed with the Computerized Lifestyles Assessment and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Consistent with prior research, results indicated a significant positive linear trend across abstainers, light-moderate drinkers, episodic drinkers, and heavy drinkers in reports of cigarette use, other drug use, and sexual activity. However, a comparison of other health areas, including psychological health, indicated no significant trends. Implications for substance abuse prevention programs and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training psychology students and professionals to recognize and intervene into partner violence: Borrowing a page from medicine.

Partner violence is an epidemic with serious medical and psychological consequences. While victims frequently seek medical and psychological help, they rarely, if ever, disclose victimization as a presenting problem. Conversely, health care professionals, including psychologists, rarely ask about violence or provide appropriate help when violence is detected. To address this problem, organized medicine has promoted and developed models and curricula for educating students and professionals to identify and help partner-violence victims. Psychologists have made important contributions to understanding partner violence. However, organized psychology has yet to develop and widely promote model violence education curricula for identifying and helping victims (as well as perpetrators) of partner violence. This article describes a medical-education curriculum and discusses its potential applications for psychology training. The curriculum emphasizes helping learners develop appropriate (a) knowledge of partner-violence issues and dynamics, (b) motivation to identify and help victims and perpetrators, and (c) requisite skills for identification and intervention. Applications of these principles are described and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)