Maternal child-rearing practices and authoritarian ideology.

A study designed to investigate the way in which the mother's authoritarianism affects her selection of behavior control techniques in a variety of socialization situations. The theory of the authoritarian personality was combined with the socialization model of Whiting and Child to yield specific testable predictions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Loneliness and patterns of self-disclosure.

The 1st study examined the hypothesis that feeling lonely is related to a self-perceived lack of self-disclosure to significant others. 37 male and 38 female undergraduates rated themselves on the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire. Analyses showed that for males and females, loneliness was significantly and linearly related to a self-perceived lack of intimate disclosure to opposite-sex friends. For females, loneliness was also associated with a perceived lack of self-disclosure to same-sex friends. The 2nd study investigated the relationship between loneliness and actual disclosure behavior. 24 lonely and 23 nonlonely Ss were paired with nonlonely partners in a structured acquaintanceship exercise. Both opposite-sex and same-sex pairs were included in the design. Postexercise ratings by partners indicated that lonely Ss were less effective than nonlonely Ss in making themselves known. Analysis of the intimacy level in the conversations showed that lonely Ss had significantly different patterns of disclosure than nonlonely Ss. The authors suggest that the self-disclosure style of the lonely person impairs the normal development of social relationships. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal child-rearing practices and social problem-solving strategies among preschoolers.

Examined the relation of nurturant and restrictive maternal childrearing practices and maternal education to the types of social problem-solving strategies used by 72 preschoolers (mean age 4 yrs 7 mo). Children were administered the Preschool Interpersonal Problem Solving Test, and mothers completed the Child Rearing Practices Report. Maternal variables successfully predicted 5 out of 9 strategies identified. Restrictiveness was positively associated with the use of evasion and negatively with personal appeal and negotiation strategies. Maternal nurturance was the best discriminator for reliance on authority. An S's use of delay of gratification strategy was significantly predicted by the level of the mother's education. Education was also positively related to maternal nurturance and negatively to maternal restrictiveness. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived effects of therapist self-disclosure of attraction to clients.

Psychotherapists (60 female, 60 male), 80% of whom were psychologists, responded to one of two 8.5-min segments of a simulated therapy session in which the client disclosed sexual attraction toward the psychologist. The therapist either was noncommittal about his or her own feelings or disclosed that attraction to the client while also indicating they would not act on their mutual feelings. The depicted therapist-client configuration was either male-female or female-male. The self-disclosing condition was rated as less therapeutic for the client, and the psychologist offering it was rated as less expert. Women therapists were perceived as more expert, regardless of condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intergenerational comparisons of child-rearing attitudes and practices in Hong Kong.

The present research comprises two studies, one focusing on maternal child-rearing attitudes and practices and the other on paternal roles and attitudes in Hong Kong. Intergenerational comparisons are made possible by having 17 pairs of grandmothers and mothers and 20 pairs of grandfathers and fathers from the same families serve as informants. An interview schedule was used in the first study, and a questionnaire and two attitude scales were used in the second study. Results show that the fathers depart more from the traditional orientation concerning child training and filial piety and tend to be more involved in child care than the grandfathers. On the other hand, intergenerational comparisons of maternal care are mostly nonsignificant (at the .05 level). Despite important changes that have taken place, continuity with the past remains strong, such as in the control of sex and aggression. A high degree of intergenerational commonality remains in attitudes and conceptions concerning human nature, the importance of social–environmental influences in character formation, and the desired characteristics expected of children when they grow up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parental perceptions of child-rearing practices in physically abusive and nonabusive families.

The purpose of this study was to examine parents' perceptions about their child-rearing practices in physically abusive and nonabusive families. The sample consisted of 28 abusive families with a child between the ages of 4 and 11 and 28 nonabusive families that were well-matched with the abusive families on social class and other demographic characteristics. A multimethod approach, including interviews, paper-and-pencil tasks, and Q sorts, was used to assess broadly parental child-rearing practices and beliefs. Analyses indicated that, as compared with nonabusive families, abusive parents were less satisfied with their children, perceived child rearing as more difficult and less enjoyable, reported very different disciplinary approaches, promoted an isolated life style for both themselves and their children, and reported more anger and conflict in the family. Implications for intervention programs are drawn. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A reassessment of self-disclosure patterns among Anglo-Americans and Hispanics.

Analyzed the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire responses of 155 Anglo-American and 119 Hispanic undergraduates according to overall frequency of reported self-disclosure, preferred topics (whether about taste, attitude, body, personality, or money) and preferred targets (whether to mother, father, male friend, female friend, or spouse). Examiner ethnicity and gender were systematically varied so that the interaction with S gender and ethnicity could be determined. Results reveal that females reported significantly more disclosure than males. Anglo-Americans indicated more disclosure than Hispanics, and disclosure among Hispanic males was particularly low. However, Hispanics reported high self-disclosure under some conditions. Specifically, Hispanic females reported high self-disclosure to female administrators, and Hispanic males reported significantly high self-disclosure with Hispanic female administrators. Ethnicity was not a significant factor in determining preferred topic and target of self-disclosure. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived levels of self-disclosure, mental health, and helpfulness of group leaders.

Studied the relationship between therapist self-disclosure, mental health, and helpfulness as perceived by group members and determined if a member's perception of the group leader is a function of the member's own level of self-disclosure and mental health. Data were collected from 6 university encounter groups by using ranks for group member variables and rating scales for perceptions of group leaders. Perceptions of group leader self-disclosure, mental health, and helpfulness were all positively correlated. No differences occurred in the perceptions of group leaders as a result of the members' ranked levels of self-disclosure and mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist self-disclosure.

Studied therapist self-disclosure in 8 cases of brief psychotherapy with anxious/depressed female clients (aged 32–60 yrs) and experienced therapists (aged 34–78 yrs). As predicted, reassuring disclosures were rated as more helpful by clients and therapists and led to higher levels of client experiencing than did challenging disclosures. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that self-involving (present tense) disclosures would be more helpful than self-disclosing (past tense) disclosures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal liking and self-disclosure.

66 female college students viewed a videorecording of a female stranger who discussed her opinions about 10 social issues. After this, Ss rated the stranger on the Interpersonal Judgment Scale and indicated on the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire what topics they would be willing to discuss with the stranger. What the Ss would discuss was found to be positively related to their characteristic level of disclosure and their attraction toward the stranger. Implications for therapist–client interactions are discussed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Political and child-rearing attitudes in Sweden.

"3 groups of questionnaire items were constructed to measure authoritarian political attitudes, authoritarian child-rearing attitudes, and authoritarian aspects of upbringing. 144 adults from a random sample in a Swedish town were interviewed. It was found that individuals who made strict demands as parents expected in turn that strict demands be made on them as citizens. Significant positive correlations were also found between authoritarianism of upbringing and authoritarianism of both political and child-rearing attitudes. These findings verified predictions which had been derived from 3 hypotheses concerning the nature of the relationship between roles of authority and roles of submission." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived location of two-dimensional patterns

The study attempted to test the possibility that the center of gravity of two-dimensional patterns is the cue used by a human observer for their localization. Four experiments were carried out. The first, using a matching procedure, required the localization of the center of irregular dot patterns, contour and filled polygons which varied in size and orientation. In the other three experiments the subjects had to point to briefly exposed dot patterns in which overall shape (convex and concave in Expts 2 and 3) and dot density (Expt 4) were manipulated. The performance of these direct localization tasks was found to be as accurate as the performance in previous studies of indirect localization or regular patterns. The results consistently supported the claim that information about position of the center of gravity is used for the localization of visual objects.     

Parental child-rearing attitudes and preadolescents' problem behaviors.

Correlated teacher's ratings of 278 5th and 6th graders on internalization and externalization behaviors with scores on ss' reports of their parents' child-rearing behaviors as assessed by schaefer's child report of parental behavior inventory. While the degrees of both internalization and externalization were inversely related to reported parental acceptance, externalization alone was related to reported parental control in a positive direction. High correlations between internalization and externalization were also found. Results are discussed in terms of the ss' characteristics, past findings, and conceptualization of internalization and externalization as categories of a more general dimension of maladjustment. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parents' child-rearing style and child's sociometric status.

Examined relationships between parents' childrearing style, the child's prosocial behavior, and the child's sociometric status. The sample consisted of 112 children (6–11 yrs of age) and both their parents. Parental behavior in the interaction with the child was observed at home when parents and child worked together in 2 structured tasks. Factor analyses of parental behavior revealed that 2 factors, Authoritative/Democratic and Authoritarian/Restrictive, can be found in the subsamples of mothers and fathers. These 2 dimensions of maternal and paternal behavior appeared to be predictive of both the child's prosocial behavior and sociometric status. Results are discussed in terms of the possible link between parent and peer systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Timing of self-disclosure, reciprocity of self-disclosure, and reactions to an initial interview.

Interviewed 54 college females individually for 40 min about how they were influenced by friends, family, and persons in authority. The interviewer disclosed experiences, attitudes, and beliefs similar and dissimilar to those revealed by the S 0, 4, or 12 times during the interview. Such disclosures occurred prior to (modeling situation) or immediately after (reinforcement situation) S disclosures. An intermediate number of disclosures resulted in significantly more S disclosures and led to the interviewer's being described as significantly more empathic, warm, and congruent. Timing of interviewer disclosures had no effect. Results suggest that an intermediate level of interviewer self-disclosure may best initiate reciprocity of disclosure, which in turn can lead to more positive reactions to the interviewer. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client preferences and anticipations about counselor self-disclosure.

120 female undergraduates were preselected according to high or low preference for counselor disclosure. Ss were then given 1 of 2 forms of instructions about the likelihood of counselors using self-disclosure (high or low anticipation). Finally, Ss viewed a brief videotape of a counseling session in which counselor disclosure was either present or absent. As predicted, Ss gave higher ratings on the Counselor Rating Form to self-disclosing counselors than to nondisclosing ones. Ss whose high preferences and anticipations were confirmed gave higher ratings to disclosing counselors. For Ss who had low preference and anticipation, disconfirmation led to higher ratings of disclosing counselors. Implications for distinguishing between preference and anticipation in research on expectancy are discussed. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trust and self-disclosure among black college students.

Investigated 2 models of counseling to determine which best facilitated self-disclosure and trust in 18 black undergraduates. One model involved professional counselors; the other consisted of minimally trained peer counselors. Ss were systematically assigned to 1 of the 2 models and exposed to 5 60-min counseling sessions with either a professional or a peer counselor. It was hypothesized that persons participating in a peer counseling experience will trust and self-disclose at a higher level than persons participating in a professional counseling experience. Data from the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire and J. B. Rotter's 1967 Interpersonal Trust Scale did not support the hypothesis. Both groups disclosed and trusted at a significantly higher level after treatment. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Loneliness, self-disclosure, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Examined the relationship between interpersonal intimacy and measures of loneliness, social skills, and social activity. 150 unmarried female undergraduates were administered the Self-Disclosure Situations Survey; University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale; Social Introversion scale of the MMPI; and an activity questionnaire. Results reveal that dispositional level of self-disclosure was inversely related to loneliness and interacted with disclosure flexibility: Appropriate medium disclosure across situations was associated with lower levels of loneliness than was inappropriate disclosure. Peer and observer ratings of social skills were positively related to dispositional disclosure but not to disclosure flexibility or level of loneliness. Among lonely Ss there was a trend for disclosure flexibility to be associated with different levels of social activity. Results suggest that lonely individuals have difficulty appropriately revealing personal information in new relationships and nonstructured social situations. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training adolescents in self-disclosure and empathy skills.

Conducted a study to develop, implement, and evaluate a communication skills training program for adolescent high school students. 25 students were given 16 hrs of training in the skills of self-disclosure and empathy, and 23 other students served as a contact control group and received no formal skills training. Ss completed both a behavioral and paper-and-pencil assessment prior to and immediately following training. Ss who received training demonstrated significantly higher self-disclosure and empathy skill levels than did the untrained Ss. Results are discussed in terms of the high skill level attained by Ss and the implications for training adolescents or younger populations in communication skills. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)