The purpose of the present research study is to provide preliminary evidence of validity for the Eating Behaviors and Attitudes Inventory (EBAI) as an educational device and screening tool. The ultimate goal for the development of the EBAI is to provide an instrument that could be administered by 8-12th grade health education teachers or guidance counselors to facilitate learning about healthy and unhealthy self-regulatory eating behaviors and attitudes among adolescent women. A secondary goal for the EBAI is for the instrument to be utilized by counselors to help college women in a counseling setting to help them fine-tune and shape healthy eating patterns. The EBAI is an instrument which was initially developed through sampling college women in order to identify behavioral mechanisms and attitudes women employ to self-regulate eating behaviors when faced with three levels of eating stress, (a) baseline, (b) 3-5 day disturbance, and c) 10 lb. weight change. The item development of the EBAI yielded a total of 84 items: 60 behavior and 24 attitude items. The EBAI is comprised of two sections, the Assessment of Eating Behaviors (Part I) and the Assessment of Eating Attitudes (Part 2). The EBAI's format calls for a yes/no response to each of the behavior and attitude items. Participants are directed to recall three episodes of eating stress and to complete the instrument accordingly. The sample for the preliminary validation study consisted of a combined, assessable, and heterogeneous sample of 202 undergraduate women enrolled at three academic institutions. The participants were 18 to 44 in age and the mean age was 20.6 years. The sample was also comprised of: 40% freshmen, 17% sophomores, 26% juniors, and 17% seniors. In regards to race, 45% of the individuals self-identified themselves as majority participants and 55% of the individuals self-identified themselves as minority participants. One subsample was composed of 100 undergraduate female African American students who were enrolled in an introductory psychology course at a large historically African American university in the Southeast. A second subsample consisted of 42 undergraduate female cadets who were enlisted in an introductory psychology course and attended a military academy in the Northeast. The third subsample was comprised of 60 undergraduate women who were enrolled in either a science of nutrition, communication and human relations, or introduction to educational psychology course at a large state university in the Southeast. During the last 30 minutes of a class period within their respective course, each of the participants received and completed a packet consisting of informed consent, a background data sheet, and the EBAI. This study addressed six research questions in order to ascertain the descriptive attributes, factorial validity, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity of the EBAI. First, frequency counts of behavior and attitudes items endorsed at each of the three levels of eating stress were conducted. Then, a frequency count of the total mechanisms selected per individual was performed. Next, an exploratory factor analysis, using a principal components analysis with varimax rotation, was conducted on both the behavior and attitude checklists across three levels of eating stress. Then, a Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to ascertain the strength of the relationship between the participant's BMI and factor scores on the both the behavior and attitude checklists of the EBAI. A t-test was also performed to compare the number of behavior strategies and attitude items employed by majority and minority participants. Finally, a chi square analysis was administered to contrast the endorsement between majority and minority participants for each item. The results show that all items of the EBAI are useful, as each item was endorsed by at least one participant. Also, a four-factor structure model for both the Behavior and Attitude Checklists emerged. The factors were labeled control and monitoring, self-detachment, extreme behaviors and action for the Behavior Checklist and positive emotions, negative emotions, guilt, and motivation to change for the Attitude Checklist. A Pearson Product Moment correlation showed some relationship between participants' BMI score and factor scores. The majority participants endorsed significantly more behavior and attitude items than the minority participants. However, the individual items did not discriminate between race and therefore no bias was present at the item level. Finally, suggestions for further research development and validation of the EBAI and implications for practice are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2008. / July 21, 2008. / Disordered Eating, Eating Habits, Self-Regulation, Self-Regulation in Eating, Eating Attitudes, Eating Behaviors / Includes bibliographical references. / James P. Sampson, Jr., Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; Gary W. Peterson, Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; Thomas E. Joiner, Outside Committee Member; Steven I. Pfeiffer, Committee Member.

The purpose of this research study is to develop the Eating Behaviors and Attitudes Inventory (EBAI) as a diagnostic tool and educational device. The EBAI is an instrument that measures women's ability to self-regulate eating behaviors when faced with eating stress. A sample of 100 female students ranging in ages of 14-23 completed the Eating Behaviors and Attitudes Inventory. The participants consisted of 90 undergraduate women who were enrolled in an introductory psychology course and attended a large university in the Southeast. The sample also contained 10 female high school students who attended a charter high school in the Southeast. The EBAI is comprised of a behavior and attitude checklist. The participants recalled four episodes of eating stress and completed the instrument accordingly. The development of the EBAI yielded a total of 84 items: 60 behavioral items and 24 attitudinal items. The results showed that 11 of 60 behavioral items and 14 of 24 attitudinal items discriminated among four levels of eating stress. For both the behavior and attitude scales, every item was endorsed by at least once one individual and none of the items were endorsed by every individual. In addition, the behavior items were aggregated into nine domains of self-regulation of which 4 of the 9 domains varied among levels. The findings also indicated that individual's employ an average of 9.8 mechanisms along all levels of eating stress. The implications of findings for further research and potential uses of the EBAI are described. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2005. / June 15, 2005. / Eating Attitudes, Self-Regulation, Eating Behavior / Includes bibliographical references. / Gary W. Peterson, Professor Directing Thesis; Steven I. Pfeiffer, Committee Member; Thomas Joiner, Committee Member.

Bibliography: leaves 406-467. / This explorative study, partially based on the psychological and developmental perspectives, evaluated female sexuality and body image during pregnancy and the postnatal period. A cross-sectional and longitudinal research design was used. Several female (n = 208) and male ( n = 84) subsamples were evaluated. Assessment included a Biographical Questionnaire, Female and Male Sexuality Scales rated on 3- and 5- point scales, and the Rorschach Inkblot Test, scored for Barrier and Penetration responses. Parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques were employed in the cross-sectional data analysis. The biographical background of the subjects was homogeneous. Predominantly all of the women were educated, had planned their pregnancies, attended prenatal classes and were informed about the process of pregnancy. Chi-square tests on the single items measuring female sexuality, from prior to conception to during pregnancy, and after childbirth, showed a significant decline in females' sexual satisfaction and in the intensity with which they experienced orgasms. Excluding the retrospective data, a significant decline was found on female sexual desire and enjoyment during pregnancy and during the postnatal period. Physiologically related reasons were commonly associated with declined sexual desire. Few pregnant or postnatal women abstained from sexual intercourse or introduced coital methods and positions unfamiliar to them. A factor analysis of the single sexuality variables revealed four factors, Sexual Responsivity, Sexual Orgasmic Ability, Multiple Orgasmic Ability and Sexual Motivation. The data subjected to a multivariate analysis of variance yielded a significant linear downward trend of Female Sexual Responsivity over the gestation period and after childbirth. The conclusion is drawn that female sexuality I specifically referring to the psychological dimension (Factor 1) was not related to a specific trimester (or stage). No significant differences were evident on the physiological dimension of female sexuality referring to Orgasmic Ability or Sexual Motivation. Female body image was assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The descriptive analysis showed that pregnant women felt overweight, and unacceptable by social standards, yet they viewed these bodily states as temporary. The projective account of body image yielded no significant differences. The conclusion was drawn that women consciously rejected their pregnant body image, but subconsciously it formed part of their identity. Expectant fathers only experienced a significant decline in sexual satisfaction and initiated less sexual activity during their wives' pregnancy. It was concluded that male sexuality was minimally affected by their partner's pregnancy. Finally, pregnancy was found to be a natural and positive event.

Thesis (M.A. ( Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study investigated the relationship between the ‘dark triad’ personality traits and risky sexual behaviour (sociosexuality), and the effect of gender on the relationship. Participants consisted of two hundred and twenty-two (222) University of Limpopo students. Correlation analysis results indicate that, among males, primary psychopathy is positively associated with overall sociosexuality and secondary psychopathy is negatively associated with the behavioural component of sociosexualiy. Primary, secondary and overall psychopathy was positively related to risky sexual behaviour (sociosexuality). However, Machiavellianism, narcissism and overall psychopathy were not related to all dimensions of sociosexuality. Regression analysis results revealed that very few ‘dark triad’ personality traits have the capacity to predict risky sexual behaviour (sociosexuality). High risk socio-sexual behavioural features were predicted by the ‘dark triad’ personality traits mostly among females than among males. There were comparatively more factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among females than males in this sample. Generally, the ‘dark triad’ personality traits varied in relating with features of risky sexual behaviour. The nature of the relationship of ‘dark triad’ personality traits depends on the particular type of risky sexual behaviour. This is contrary to previous empirical findings that suggest that, when measured in a normal sample, correlates of the ‘dark triad’ personality traits will be the same. Recommendations were made on the basis of the results. Key words: ‘dark triad’, narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, sociosexuality.

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The university environment provides many opportunities to be sexually active. University students are reported as tending to engage in high-risk behaviours related to sex, alcohol and drugs. First-year university students are reported to be most vulnerable, as they lack experience to make good and risk-aware decisions when it comes to sexual liaisons. Available initiatives aimed at improving sexual behaviours of students are reported as being implemented simply because they work well somewhere else, without prior assessment of the needs/characteristics of the target population. This can negatively affect their effectiveness. The following question motivated the study: What factors influence sexual behaviours of first-year students on a university campus? This study sought to describe the perceptions of first-year students about engaging in sexual behaviours at a university campus. To answer the research question, theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was applied as the framework of the study. The study was descriptive in nature. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire from a conveniently selected sample of 240 first-year university students from one campus in the Eastern Cape. The measuring instruments were constructed from the constructs of the TBP, namely attitudes (ATT), perceived social norms (PSN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and behavioural intentions (BI). The SPSS was used to analyse data for frequencies of responses and multiple regression. Most participants reported being sexually active (85.3%) and the lack of provision of information on sexual issues from adults (parents (23.3%) and church authorities (10.8%) was apparent. Perceived social norms were the most prominent factor that showed to be predictive of sexual behaviours with three significant predictor variables, namely partner age difference (beta = .059, ρ< .040), number of sexual partners in 3 months (beta = .238, ρ< .008) and condom use (beta = .095, ρ< .014). Behavioural intentions also showed some prediction, to a lesser extent, with one predictor variable, namely age at first willing intercourse (beta = .86, ρ< .001). The results from this study suggested that targeting social norms in intervention efforts aimed at improving sexual behaviours of first-year university students in the target population could be beneficial. More studies to explore available social norms in this target group and intervention to change negative norms are recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die universiteitsomgewing bied studente meer geleenthede om seksueel aktief te wees. Daarbenewens is universiteitstudente na bewering geneig om hoërisikogedrag met betrekking tot seks, alkohol en dwelmmiddels te openbaar. Eerstejaarstudente word as die kwesbaarste beskou, aangesien hulle die ervaring kortkom om goeie, risikobewuste besluite oor seksuele verhoudings te neem. Tog word die beskikbare inisiatiewe vir die verbetering van seksuele gedrag onder studente blykbaar slegs in werking gestel omdat dit elders goed werk, sonder om eers die behoeftes/kenmerke van die teikenpopulasie te bepaal. Dít kan die doeltreffendheid van dié inisiatiewe benadeel. Die vraag wat as beweegrede vir hierdie studie gedien het, was: Watter faktore beïnvloed die seksuele gedrag van eerstejaars op ’n universiteitskampus? Die navorsing wou dus ondersoek instel na eerstejaars se opvattings oor seksuele gedrag en seksuele verhoudings op ’n universiteitskampus. Om hierdie navorsingsvraag te beantwoord, is ’n teorie van beplande gedrag (TPB) as studieraamwerk gebruik. Die studie was beskrywend van aard. Data is met behulp van ’n vraelys van ’n gerieflik gekose steekproef van 240 eerstejaar-universiteitstudente op ’n enkele kampus in die Oos- Kaap ingesamel. Die deelnemers het self die vraelys ingevul. Die meetinstrumente is saamgestel uit die verskillende konstrukte van die TPB, naamlik houdings (ATT), waargenome sosiale norme (PSN), waargenome gedragsbeheer (PBC) en gedragvoornemens (BI). SPSS-sagteware is gebruik om die data vir die frekwensie van response en meervoudige regressie te ontleed. Die meeste deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle seksueel aktief is (85,3%), en die gebrek aan inligting oor seksuele kwessies vanaf volwassenes (ouers 23,3%) en die kerk (10,8%) blyk duidelik. Waargenome sosiale norme het as die sterkste voorspeller van seksuele gedrag na vore getree, met drie beduidende voorspellerveranderlikes, naamlik ouderdomsverskil met bedmaats (Beta = .059, p< .040), aantal bedmaats in drie maande (Beta = .238, p< .008) en kondoomgebruik (Beta = .095, p< .014). Gedragvoornemens het ook ’n mindere mate van voorspellingsvermoë getoon, met een voorspellerveranderlike, naamlik ouderdom met eerste gewillige seksuele omgang (Beta = .86, p< .001). Die resultate van hierdie studie dui daarop dat intervensiepogings om seksuele gedrag onder eerstejaar-universiteitstudente te verbeter, by ’n klem op sosiale norme kan baat vind. Verdere studies oor die bestaande sosiale norme van hierdie teikengroep, sowel as intervensie om negatiewe norme te verander, word aanbeveel.

This study compared beginning and advanced counselor education students on self-reported sex-role orientation and preference for selected counseling responses. It was assumed that sex-role socialization leads to restrictive attitudes that make it difficult for students to acquire and use selected interpersonal counseling skills. It was anticipated that counselor education training programs would provide a means for students to overcome the limitations imposed by sex-role socialization practices. Subjects in this study were 87 counselor education graduate students, 34 advanced students enrolled in the final two courses required for the master's degree and 53 beginning students enrolled in the first course in the master's degree sequence. Based on scores obtained from the Bern Sex-Role Inventory, subjects were divided into three groups: (1) feminine, (2) androgynous, (3) masculine. The Response Alternatives Questionnaire was used to determine subjects' preference for counseling responses.

The opinions of individuals may be influenced by groups of different gender configurations. This influence was studied by asking college students to respond to a series of statements in pretest and post-test settings. Post-test settings included the use of manipulatively constructed confederate groups to influence the subjects' responses. A pretest was administered in an anonymous nonthreatening environment. Within a week, the subjects were post-tested in a setting with four "confederates" who had previously been instructed to unanimously voice opposite answers to the subjects' initial responses to pretest questions. The objective of this experiment was to determine the number of opinions that were changed when confronted with opposing views. Change of opinions between pretest and post-test were considered to be operational definitions of "conformity."

This study developed and validated the Trueblood Sexual Attitudes Questionnaire, created to measure attitudes about one's personal sexual behavior and attitudes about the sexual behavior of others. Scores from 414 college level participants were used to determine the internal consistency of the Trueblood Sexual Attitudes Questionnaire. Participants were recruited from one university and two community colleges in California. Coefficient alpha was computed on the two scales, (a) attitudes towards one's personal sexual behavior and (b) attitudes towards the sexual behavior of others, and yielded results of .93 and .96. Factor analysis showed that the items did not cluster together in five groups as expected. A 2 x 2 split plot factorial ANOVA with sex as the between subjects variable and self/other as the within subjects variable was calculated for the total scores and significant differences were found. Five 2 x 2 ANOVA's with sex as the between subjects variable and self/other as the within subjects variable were calculated for each subscale score and significant differences were found. This questionnaire has good psychometric properties, and can be used in additional research and academic settings to determine the amount of attitude change occurring in the classroom. It may help to determine the effectiveness of sexuality education in changing attitudes, and to compare different methods of sexuality education.

Orientador: Fernando Silva Teixeira Filho / Banca: Maria de Fátima Araújo / Banca: Maria Lívia Tourinho Moretto / Resumo: O presente trabalho buscou realizar um estudo psicanalítico sobre as transexualidades a partir da clínica com transexuais femininas, no âmbito hospitalar, e sua demanda de alteração corporal, dirigida ao corpo médico, com o discurso de "adequarem" o seu sexo anatômico à sua "alma feminina". Pretendeu-se com esta pesquisa oferecer uma reflexão para o tema da transexualidade partindo da ótica de quem a vive, ou seja, sobre o discurso de "adequar o sexo" na singularidade de quem o expressa, mantendo-se a articulação entre o individual e o social. Utilizou-se o método de pesquisa em psicanálise, optando-se pela narrativa na apresentação dos casos clínicos pautados no acompanhamento específico de sete transexuais femininas adultas (que não mais estavam em atendimento), possibilitando vislumbrar um panorama representativo da dinâmica subjetiva de cada uma. A questão principal que norteia este trabalho se refere a: como se organiza a subjetividade de uma pessoa que, em nome de sua identidade sexual, demanda uma transformação definitiva no corpo, com o propósito de aproximar sua anatomia ao sexo biológico oposto? A leitura psicanalítica do material clínico obtido privilegiou os aspectos que permearam a busca pela cirurgia de 'mudança de sexo' e os processos de subjetivação que atuaram na construção desse pedido de alteração corporal. Foi possível constatar que tais construções subjetivas sofrem os efeitos dos modos como os processos de identificação e sexuação foram vivenciados. As saídas ou soluções encontradas, em sua dinâmica pulsional, revelam que, enquanto um fenômeno do nosso tempo, além da fascinação pela imagem, a busca pela tecnologia (que se supõe ser capaz de dominar o Real) esteve pautada em um duplo eixo: um horizontal... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The current paper results from clinical experience with female transsexuals patients who look forward to undergoing sex-change surgery in order to adjust their physical body to fit their feminine soul. This research intends to address the issue of transexualities through the eyes of he who lives it, i.e., through their sex adjustment speech in the singularity of he who expresses it, keeping a reflection on the articulation between individual and social factors. The approach method used on seven adult female transsexuals (no longer being treated) was research in psychoanalysis and narrative in clinical vignettes in order to offer a representative panorama of the psychic dynamics of each one. The main issue of this paper is how to organize the subjectivity of a person who, in the name of their sexual identity, demands a definitive body adjustment so as to bring their body closer to the one of the opposite gender. The psychoanalytical reading of clinical data collected privileged the reasons for the sexchange seek and the subjectivity processes that acted in favor of the body adjustment plead. It was possible to conclude that these subjective constructions depend on how the processes of identification and sexuation were lived. The exist, i.e., the solutions found, in its pulsional dynamics, reveal that, while a phenomenon of our time, beyond image fascination, the seek for technology (which assumes being able to dominate the Real) in some cases traveled on double tracks: horizontally in relation to his fellow, so that the desire for another man wouldn't be homossexual but a result of his heterossexuality, getting rid of homophobia and stigma) ; vertically, in relation to the Other of science, created in his imaginary that it is the shape of his genital that defines his sexual identity and not the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Sexual excess is one of an increasing list of ‘excessive’ behaviours which have in recent times been pathologised by the psycho-medical establishment, increasing regulation and control of spheres previously accepted as ‘normal.’ This study analyses the genealogy of the events, institutions, organisations and individuals in post-World War II United States of America to the present which made it possible to think scientifically and nosologically about ‘excessive’ male sexual behaviour as ‘sexual addiction.’ / The grass-roots twelve-step ideologies of Alcoholics Anonymous in the mid-1970s gave birth to twelve-step programs for ‘sex addicts’ predicated on admitting powerlessness over sex and lust rather than over alcohol as the key to recovery as the first step. The publication of Patrick Carnes’ Out of the Shadows: Understanding and Treating Sexual Addiction in 1983 created the academic concept and discourse of sex addiction, which in turn paved the way for widespread scientific debate and investigation of the concept. The AIDS phenomenon offered a platform for many groups to highlight their own causes amid the chaos of illness and death. The sex addiction movement was one such group which made use of the hysteria by pathologising homosexuality and the gay lifestyle as symptomatic of ‘sexual addiction.’ This forged an inexorable conceptual nexus between sexual addiction and AIDS and death motifs, thereby legitimising the concept of sexual addiction as a harmful and often fatal disorder. / Analysis of psycho-medical and public discourse on the sex lives of two American presidents, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, in two different eras revealed changing understandings of male sexual excess. Journalistic mores, socio-cultural values and psycho-medical ideologies (or the lack thereof) played a great role in pathologising Clinton’s behaviour while leaving Kennedy’s, at the time of his presidency but not so in the decades following it, unscathed. / This study has far-reaching implications because sex is an issue affecting and involving people from all walks of life, irrespective of gender, race, colour, creed or religion. Analyses demonstrated how the sexual addiction movement’s assault on traditional conceptions of masculinity predicated on promiscuity as a rite of passage or envied and admired behaviour has precipitated a convergence of the genders in respect of prescriptive sexual behaviour. The pendulum of power is subtly shifting from males embracing notions of sexual liberation and sexual self-determination to mental health professionals whose new diagnostic labels pathologise and stigmatise.