An exploratory study of 102 heterosexual men examined the relationship between one's sexrole concept as measured by the Personal Attributes Questionnaire, and indices of extramarital sexual (EMS) relationship frequency, intensity and duration. Three hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis was based upon the prediction of writers and theorists in the area of EMS behavior that the adoption of the traditional masculine sexrole (versus an androgynous or feminine sexrole) defined an approach to heterosexual relationships that encouraged sexual unfaithfulness. / The second hypothesis tested whether discrepancies between one's actual and ideal sexroles were related to EMS behavior, based upon the prediction that discrepant men would "overconform" to the male role through EMS behavior. A third hypothesis tested whether sexrole concept was related differentially to the kinds of propelling and constraining factors that may influence involvement in EMS relationships. / None of the three hypotheses were supported by the data. A principle components analysis of factors propelling and constraining involvement in EMS relationships revealed two propelling factors (desire for sexual variety, and desire for emotional affiliation) and one constraining factor (religious, familial, and marital forces). An additional analysis beyond the original hypotheses found that the desire for sexual variety equally propelled monogamous and nonmonogamous men. Nonmonogamous men were less constrained by religious, familial or marital "social control" forces than monogamous men, and were more propelled by the need for "emotional affiliation" than were monogamous men. The findings were interpreted to imply that nonmonogamous men were either seeking in the EMS relationships a quality of communication and/or intimacy not found in their marriages, or, rationalizing their EMS activities due to intrapsychic conflicts over intimacy and commitment. The overall effect may be that of reducing the influence and salience of religious and familial constraints, thus making EMS more likely. / The overall results of the study suggest that EMS results from the interaction of personality and environmental-context factors, rather than the result of specific personality dimensions such as sexrole or sexrole discrepancy alone. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-07, Section: A, page: 2044. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

Motivated by literature suggesting there exists a morally antithetical lifestyle in this culture, the present study was conducted to determine whether there are any differences in the relative adherence to a particular morality or level of moral judgment development between subjects representing traditional and non-traditional lifestyles. An extensive demographic questionnaire, the Egoism Scale, and the Defining Issues Test were distributed to a non-random sample of 47 first-time married and 48 cohabiting males and females. Minimum length of time together was set at two months. Statistical formulations were conducted by means of ANOVA's and the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient measuring differences between the above-mentioned variables and marital status and sex. A descriptive analysis of the demographic data was also recorded. The results of all the analyses showed no significant differences between married and cohabiting individuals for either their moral affiliation or quality of cognitive moral reasoning. Biasing effects were discussed with regard to instrument construct, sample procurement, and demand characteristics. Further reference was made to how changing social norms and mores affected the outcome of this research. Implications for counselors and future research recommendations which might increase significant result probability were also offered. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-08, Section: A, page: 2357. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among irrational beliefs, stress, and social problem solving ability in order to provide further empirical information relevant to a more comprehensive social problem solving training model. / Seventy-four female college students participated in two separate phases of the study. During the first phase, subjects completed the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) (Jones, 1969). Based on their endorsement of certain irrational beliefs, subjects were placed into either a high-irrational or low-irrational group. During the second phase of this study, subjects from each of these two groups were randomly assigned to either a high-stress or low-stress condition. They then completed a modified version of the Means-Ends Problem Solving Procedure (MEPS) (Platt & Spivack, 1975) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-A State (STAI-A State) (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970). Results on the dependent measure (modified MEPS) were analyzed with a 2 x 2 (belief x stress condition) analysis of variance. Results on the manipulation check (STAI-A State) were analyzed with a t-test. / The findings of the study suggest that adherence to irrational beliefs was not associated with performance on a social problem solving task, either in general (main effects) or in an evaluatively stressful condition (interaction effects). Main effects were found for the stress condition: Subjects in the high-stress condition scored significantly lower on the modified MEPS task than subjects in the low-stress condition. However, when asked to report on their perceived level of anxiety (STAI-A State) during the completion of the modified MEPS task, both the high- and low-stress groups reported nearly equal levels. The implications of these results, along with suggestions for further research, were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-08, Section: A, page: 2889. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1986.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 32-11, Section: A, page: 6131. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1971.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 31-09, Section: A, page: 4460. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1968.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 31-11, Section: A, page: 5769. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1970.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 31-11, Section: A, page: 5774. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1970.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 32-04, Section: A, page: 1849. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1971.

The study focused on a procedural analysis of the concept of self as that concept was employed within the theoretical models of human nature of Carl Rogers, psychologist, and Reinhold Niebuhr, theologian and ethicist. Procedural analysis examines the definitional precision and logical consistency with which a theory's or model's concepts and arguments are developed. / The models of human nature of Carl Rogers and Reinhold Niebuhr were selected for analysis because both used the concept of self to describe an executive function within the person which organizes perception and behavior; both located the origins of maladjustment and misbehavior in the self; and both argued that a radical change in the functions of the self is required for human behavior to approach their respective normative notions of health. Rogers' and Niebuhr's models were also selected because of their influence on a wide variety of professions and disciplines, particularly pastoral counseling. Finally, their models were selected because of the continuing importance of the concept of self in contemporary thought about human nature. / The procedural analysis revealed significant differences in their conceptualizations of self. The properties associated by Rogers with the concept of self in selected writings were the constituent elements of the picture or gestalt that one has of oneself in relation to the remainder of experience. That self-concept includes the introjected conditions of worth which serve as the perceptual strainers through which experience is interpreted and often distorted, leading to psychological maladjustment. The properties associated by Niebuhr with the concept of self were attributes of an assumed spiritual element in human nature. The self is anthropocentrically described as a force of will, power, and transcendence paradoxically embodied in natural existence and anxiously tempted to escape paradox and anxiety by the will-to-power or sensuality, which underlie the primary expressions of human misbehavior. Procedural analysis also revealed basic differences between metaphysical, epistemological, and axiological assumptions supporting their respective models of human nature. / Certain implications of the study were discussed including: the importance of procedural analysis of the various models of human nature and behavior that guide counseling practice; the problem of surplus meanings frequently associated with the concept of self in counseling and psychotherapeutic literature and research; and some implications for pastoral counseling. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-03, Section: A, page: 0952. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.

This study investigated the effects of two treatments (film and discussion) on attitude change toward disabled persons, and the retention of any changes six weeks after treatment administration. One-hundred-ninety-five elementary and secondary school students from grades 6, 9, and 12 were randomly assigned to groups viewing the film A DIFFERENT APPROACH, discussing aspects of disability with a disabled person in a wheelchair, or no treatment (control). The research design was a modified pretest-posttest procedure with a follow-up observation at six weeks. Assessments were made by use of the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (ATDP) scale, Forms A, B, and O. The ATDP scale presents the items with six response categories in a Likert format and groups all forms of disability into a single attitude target--"physically disabled persons." The findings indicate that both the film and the discussion produced significant results between pretest and follow-up mean scores. However, no significant differences were found when the two treatments were compared alone. Neither the film nor the discussion group mean scores were significantly different when the posttest and follow-up scores were compared. Significant differences were found by grade level when the analysis of covariance was performed on the posttest scores with pretest scores as the covariate. Students in grades 6 and 9 showed greater positive responses to the discussion than the film. However, the film had greater positive influence on students in grade 12. Retention of attitude change was not maintained over the six-weeks period and there was no support for the contention that one of the two treatments was more likely to positively modify attitudes over time. Although retention losses occurred, there was greater retention of positive attitude the higher the grade level among students who viewed the treatment film. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-08, Section: A, page: 3429. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.