The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between self-concept and goal attainment for assertive training groups. To determine if self-concept is related to the extent to which one's goals are attained was of major interest. Another purpose was to determine if self-concept measures increase as a result of participation in group assertive training. Subjects were 67 volunteers, students from Utah State University, and Cache Valley, Utah, community members. Subjects were administered as pretests and posttests the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Goal Attainment Scaling procedures including the Behavioral Monitoring Progress Record. Three groups were formed: 1) AT I, a self-directed assertive training group, 2) AT II, a directed, goal-oriented assertive training group, and 3) a no-treatment control group. Four assertive training sessions were conducted and posttesting was completed. Two correlations were computed: 1) the pretest TSCS scores were correlated with the GAS scores, and 2) the posttest TSCS scores were correlated with the GAS scores. A test of significance between correlation coefficients was applied to the two correlation coefficients obtained. The two correlations were not significantly different at the .05 significance level suggesting that the extent to which goals are attained is not related to self-concept for the two assertive training groups. Increases from the TSCS pretest to posttest for each assertive training group were significant as indicated by the analysis of variance for repeated measures. The experience of participating in both assertive training groups was suggested as effecting positive changes in self-concept.

Relationships between adolescents' perceptions of their parents' responsiveness and demandingness, adolescents' locus of control orientation, and adolescents' self-concept ratings were investigated. Subjects included 198 students from a middle school in northern Utah. Subjects were given the Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale for Children, the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Perceived Parenting Style Survey. Results indicated that subjects who perceived their parents as being authoritative had significantly (p < .001) more internal locus of control scores than subjects who reported either the permissive or authoritarian styles. Also, self-concept scores were significantly higher (p < .001) for the authoritative group than the authoritarian group on the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents subscales of Scholastic Competence, Social Acceptance, Physical Appearance, Behavioral Conduct, Close Friendship, and Global Self Worth. The permissive group reported significantly lower scores (p < .05) on the subscales of Scholastic Competence and Behavioral Conduct. There was also a significant negative correlation (p < .001) between locus of control scores and the subscale scores on the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Although there were some limitations in the study methodology, the significant differences found between the groups indicated that the authoritative parenting style positively correlates with higher self-concept and internal locus of control, while the authoritarian parenting style negatively correlates with self-concept and internal locus of control.

Marital roles have become a subject of major concern in recent years. Many critiques consider traditional marriage roles to be responsible for hindering appropriate social-emotional development of the wife, in particular, and also the husband. Past research in assessing the relationship between marital roles and the happiness and well-being of husbands and wives is limited in quantity and generally is inconclusive or controversial. This study was designed to clarify the relationship between marriage roles and two dependent variables, marital happiness and self concept. The sample population consisted of 124 volunteer couples selected from the teaching staffs of eight school districts in Southeastern Idaho and Northern Utah. Each participant provided information for this study by completing a questionnaire, the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the Marriage Adjustment Scale, and the Marriage Role Expectation Inventory. Forty-three variables were generated from these measures which, when factor analyzed produced 12 factors for husbands and 10 factors for wives, served as dependent and independent variables for this study. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify relationships between dependent variables (self concept and marital happiness of husbands and wives) and independent variables {i.e., level of education; hours spent as an employee, religious volunteer, and in community service; freedom to choose present role; income level). Husbands and wives were assessed independent of each other. None of the independent variables explained a significant amount of the variance on marital happiness or self concept neither when considered alone nor when stepped together in the multiple regression model. Thus, no significant relationship was determined between marital roles and marital happiness or self concept. Recommendations were made for studying more diversified populations and for controlling sample bias resulting from the use of volunteers.

The thesis is dedicated to changing the self-concept of parents who have adopted a child. The aim of the thesis is to explore how parents who have adopted a child perceive and evaluate changes in their self-concept. How these changes are perceived by mothers and fathers. How the perception of self-concept changed throughout adoption decisions, adoption processes, and adaptation to parenthood. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with parenting, substitute family care and the adoption process. It also describes the identity, role and self-concept of the parent, then the adaptation and the specifics of adoptive parenting. The practical part represents qualitative research that is done through semi-structured interviews with parents who have adopted a child. The results of the research resulting from the data analysis are interpreted and compared with specialist literature. Self-perception changed due to the burden that respondents had to cope with, from coping with childlessness to adaptation and becoming the parent of an adopted child. Perceived changes in the self-concept of fathers and mothers are somewhat different, but they basically result from different positions in the family and their role. Keywords: parenting, adoption, self-concept, substitute family care

The foremost argument of this research is that self concept is of fundamental influence in the choices consumers make when purchasing luxury clothing brands. The objective of this research was to determine the relationships between self concept and the experience, attachment and loyalty that consumers have towards brands. The research further sought to confirm the role that identity theory plays in brand consumption. Sixty-nine respondents were surveyed via an electronic tool to understand how they view the role that self concept plays in the experiences they encounter with clothing brands. Experts were also interviewed to gain deeper insights into brands and the importance that communication and branding strategies play in developing brands for consumption. Ttests and bivariate regression was performed in order to determine relationships amongst the constructs. The findings show that consumers place a relatively high importance on the brand experience and self concept constructs. Marketing and advertising companies have an enormous responsibility to ensure that the right messages are communicated to consumers in order to give consumer a positive brand experience. A robust brand strategy and Communications strategy plays a pivotal role in successful delivery of the essence and image of luxury brands. Identity and self concept theory are central to understanding consumer behaviour and consumption decisions. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This investigation examined the relationship of the self-concept of children with cleft lip and palate to the self-concept of non-cleft children. Fifty cleft lip and palate children between the ages of eight and 18 were individually matched by age, sex and race with 50 non-cleft children. Each child was given the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Children with clefts, regardless of sex, reported significantly lower global self-concept than non-cleft subjects (p < .005). Further significant differences between cleft and non-cleft subjects were found in five of six cluster scores. These included: behavior (p < .05), school status (p < .05), popularity (p < .05), happiness and satisfaction (p < .001), and physical attributes and appearance (p < .001). A significant effect (p < .01), was found on the popularity score, with cleft males feeling less popular than their non-cleft peers. A significant effect was also found on the anxiety score, with cleft females reporting significantly more anxiety (p < .01) than their non-cleft peers. A questionnaire was completed by the parents of the cleft and non-cleft subjects evaluating their child's relationship with family, peers and progress in school. In general, parents of both groups reported positive ratings of their child's social interactions. Parents of cleft. . subjects reported more negative responses than the parents of non-cleft subjects concerning the teasing the child experiences because of his/her facial appearance (p < .05) and the effect that the child's facial appearance had on progress in school (p < .05).

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