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The purpose of the present study was to determine whether or not significant correlations could be obtained between raw scores on fifty-three scales of the Mini-Mult Prison Questionnaire (MMPQ), a personality test, and nine selected behavior variables for a group of thirty-two institutionalized male delinquents. A correlation matrix using Pearson's r revealed that seven MMPQ scales correlated at the p = .05 level of significance with the behavior criteria. Thus, four of the five hypotheses formulated were supported. However, caution was emphasized in interpreting the results due to sample size, sample homogeneity, and the dissimilarity of the adolescent sample from the adult prison population on which the MMPQ was developed.

The problem of this study was to determine the relationship of the self concept, ideal self concept, values, and parental self concept to the vocational aspiration of adolescent Negro males.

Psychopathy, as conceptualized by Cleckley (1941), describes a constellation of psychological and behavioral correlates including superficial charm, untruthfulness, lack of remorse or shame, poor judgment, and failure to learn from experience. Based on Cleckley's initial work, Hare (1991) developed a two-factor model of psychopathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles that sensation seeking, impulsivity, ADHD, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder have on adolescents classified as psychopaths. The participants consisted of 79 adjudicated male adolescents in a maximum-security facility. As hypothesized, adolescent male psychopaths had higher levels of sensation seeking, impulsivity, conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. A discriminant function analysis found that sensation seeking, impulsivity, ADHD, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder was moderately useful in classifying adolescent psychopathy. The results suggest that behavioral dysregulation is an important aspect of adolescent psychopathy. The relationship of these data to theories of adolescent psychopathy is discussed.

This dissertation investigates the social nature of the gender difference in teen depression by studying its association with social integration at the institutional, group, and personal levels. Taking a developmentally appropriate approach to social integration, I focus on fit within the normative high school context, friendship group position, and involvement in romantic relationships. Based on a conceptual model derived from the strong theoretical assumptions of past literature, the starting point of this research is that the depression of girls, compared to boys, will be more reactive to social integration in positive and negative ways (social integration is conceptualized as a moderator). However, competing viewpoints are also considered to determine whether this traditional assumption masks greater reactivity for boys at these three distinct levels. The quantitative analyses utilize Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results indicate that boys are actually more reactive to a lack of social integration into the normative context of the school. Boys and girls' depression is equally sensitive to integration within the friendship group. Additionally, girls' depression is more reactive to aspects of romantic relationship break-ups. To better explain the gender differences in teen depression, in-depth interviews of students from an Austin Independent School District high school are analyzed to identify the social and psychological mechanisms through which the elements of social integration are associated with depression. Qualitative results support key elements of the proposed conceptual model indicating social comparison and social feedback as the main mechanisms through which social integration is associated with psychological well-being for girls and boys, respectively. / text

In recent decades, the use of strengths-based approaches has become increasingly popular in youth intervention and prevention programs (Maton et al., 2004), which emphasize creating emotionally safe environments through the process of relational community building (Maton, 2000). However, relatively little is known about the relationship between group composition, specifically similarity between group members, and emotional safety and program efficacy. This thesis examines the relationship between adolescent males' similarity to their peers in terms of their demographic profiles and behaviors and belief systems, experiences of emotional safety, and changing behaviors and belief systems in a strengths-based intervention program within Ohio juvenile correctional facilities. Results indicate that in the cases of education-related self-efficacy and the benefits associated with criminal activity, participants significantly changed in the direction opposite of the program's intentions. However, these negative changes were attenuated by differences between participants and their peers in the program. Theoretical implications and potential explanations are discussed.

The current study replicated and extended previous research by examining empirically the direct and indirect influence of social pressure (to lose weight and diet), social body comparisons, internalization of the thin ideal, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and cardiorespiratory fitness on self-reported dietary restraint in a diverse sample of middle school boys (n = 663); Mage was 12.49 years (SD = .99). With IRB approval, parental consent, and child assent, during annual FITNESSGRAM testing, participants completed questionnaires that measured the study’s constructs. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was determined by the boys’ performance on the PACER running test. The proposed model was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Because measures demonstrated univariate and multivariate normality, the maximum likelihood procedure within EQS to examine the measurement and structural models was used. Fit was determined using a two-index procedure. Participants were randomly split into exploratory (Sample A - 331) and confirmatory (Sample B - 332) samples. For Sample A, the measurement and structural models fit the data well. The structural model was confirmed in Sample B, with the same paths being significant and nonsignficant. For both Sample A and Sample B, 35% of the Dietary Restraint variance was explained. These findings support a multifactorial approach to understanding boys’ self-reported dietary restraint, and illuminate the negative influence of sociocultural weight pressures and salutary effects of CRF on early adolescents’ psychosocial well-being and dietary behaviors.

The lack of emotional intelligence can be linked to problem behaviour in adolescent boys between 14 and 18 years of age. The concepts of emotions, emotional intelligence, adolescents and adaptation formed the focal point of this research. Profiles were compiled from data obtained from the Q-metrics emotional intelligence questionnaire, the Sacks Sentence Completion Test, an unstructured interview and the projection media (Draw a person). Detailed information with regards to risk and protective factors for each adolescent boy were provided. The above techniques and measuring instruments provided a holistic picture of the adolescent's level of emotional functioning as well as hypotheses for future therapy. The importance of the father-son relationship in the adolescent years was stressed. Early identification of adolescent boys in a private school (with low levels of emotional development) enables the school to implement programmes aimed at developing emotional intelligence. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om die leefwereld van die aggressiewe adolessente seun te verken. Aggressie word beskou as 'n gedragsafwyking wat op fisieke, verbale of passiewe wyses kan manifesteer. Die oorsake van aggressiewe gedragsmanifestasies by die adolessente seun word hoofsaaklik gevind in die ontoereikende gesinsrelasies. Gevoelens van ongeborgenheid, verwardheid en verwerping is dan die gevolg. 'n Onrealisties positiewe of -negatiewe selfkonsep kan hieruit voortvloei en kan daartoe lei dat die aggressiewe adolessente seun betrokke raak by negatiewe portuurrelasies, waar onder andere rook, dwelm- en drankmisbruik asook roekelose gedrag manifesteer. Ult hierdie literatuurbevindinge is twaalf postulate gestel en bespreek. Vyf idiografiese studies is onderneem, waarvan drie volledig bespreek is. Die bevindings uit hierdie studies sluit aan by die feite wat ult die literatuurstudie oor die leefwereld van die aggressiewe adolessente seun verkry is. Vroee uitkenning, ouerleiding en navorsing met betrekking tot hulpprogramme aan terapeute word aanbeveel om aggressiewe gedragsmanlfestasles by die adolessente seun te voorkom / The purpose of this study is to explore the lifeworld of the aggressive adolescent boy. Aggression is regarded as deviant behaviour, that may manifest itself physically, verbally or passively. The causes of aggressive behaviour in the adolescent boy can be due to inadequate family relationships. Feelings of insecurity, confusion and rejection are the results of the problematic relationships. An unrealistic positive or negative self concept may develop that might lead to involvement with the negative peer group. Smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as reckless behaviour may occur. Twelve postulates have been determined and discussed. Five idiographic studies have been done. Three are discussed in detail. Deductions made from these studies are in agreement with findings in existing literature of the life world of the adolescent boy. Early identification parental guidance and research regarding therapeutical programmes are recommended to prevent aggressive behaviour with the adolescent / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)

The lack of emotional intelligence can be linked to problem behaviour in adolescent boys between 14 and 18 years of age. The concepts of emotions, emotional intelligence, adolescents and adaptation formed the focal point of this research. Profiles were compiled from data obtained from the Q-metrics emotional intelligence questionnaire, the Sacks Sentence Completion Test, an unstructured interview and the projection media (Draw a person). Detailed information with regards to risk and protective factors for each adolescent boy were provided. The above techniques and measuring instruments provided a holistic picture of the adolescent's level of emotional functioning as well as hypotheses for future therapy. The importance of the father-son relationship in the adolescent years was stressed. Early identification of adolescent boys in a private school (with low levels of emotional development) enables the school to implement programmes aimed at developing emotional intelligence. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.