Action theory provides a theoretical framework for examining administrative behavior in a higher educational system. The specific problem with which this study is concerned is the relationship between parental identification, a selected aspect of early acculturation, and the managerial roles of community college administrators. The purposes of this investigation are twofold. The first is to determine the relationships between perceived parental identification and Theory X and Theory Y action frames of reference of administrators in a selected community college district. The second purpose is to determine Theory X and Theory Y action frames of reference based on (a) age, (b) sex, (c) method of succession, (d) type of administrative position, and (e) length of time in present position.

This study examined the perception of parental nurturance, the parental identification, and the sex-role orientation of women who had been sexually abused as children. Its purpose was to explore these aspects of a woman's relationship with her parents and the subsequent sex role development, as it relates to the presence or absence of sexual abuse in the relationship. Eighty women averaging 31 years of age volunteered to participate in the study. The women represented three distinct populations with respect to the question of sexual abuse. The first group reported never having been sexually abused (Nonabused). The second group reported having been sexually abused by their father or stepfather (Father Abused). The third group reported having been sexually abused by someone other than their father or stepfather (Other Abused). As predicted, perceived parental nurturance was significantly lower for members of the Father Abused group than for the remaining two groups. In addition, the Nonabused group reported the highest nurturance scores of the three groups. Contrary to expectation, there was no difference between the parent identification patterns of the three groups. Support was provided for the prediction that women who had been sexually abused by their fathers were more likely to express undifferentiated sex roles than androgynous ones. Women not abused by their fathers were more likely to express androgynous sex roles than undifferentiated ones. Limitations of the study and implications of the results were discussed.