Date of Award
1994
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This study investigated the degree to which conduct disorder and normal adolescents differ with respect to social interest as assessed by the Personal Trait Value Scale (Crandall, 1975). An attempt was also made to determine whether significant differences exist between groups with respect to manifest content of early recollections as assessed by the Manaster-Perryman Manifest Content Early Recollections Scoring Manual (Manaster-Perryman, 1979). Special attention was given to the manifest content of early recollections regarding early caregiver-child interactions, the subjects' perceived attachment to caregiver, and sense of security. Sixty male subjects participated in this study (N = 60). The conduct disorder group consisted of 30 adolescent criminal offenders. The normal adolescent group was comprised of 30 high school students with no known psychosocial adjustment difficulties. Both groups were similar with respect to age, race, and level of intellectual functioning. In the current study, the conduct disorder group scored significantly lower on the measure of social interest than did the normal adolescent group. Significant differences were also found in life style themes of early recollections. The normal group reported a significantly greater frequency of mother, father, and non-family members. The conduct disorder group mentioned a significantly greater frequency of negative themes. They also mentioned a significantly greater frequency of early recollections in which the setting was unclear, the subject initiated less activity, and the affect was negative. The normal group reported a significantly greater frequency of primed early recollections in which the caregiver was recalled as being interactive and providing a sense of security or support. The results suggest that conduct disorder adolescents display lower levels of social interest. Support is also added to the usefulness of early recollections as a means of assessing life style themes of different adolescent groups. The findings of the current study provide partial support for Adler's (1926/1988) assumptions about the relationship between early caregiver-child interactions, sense of security, and social interest.
Recommended Citation
Latta, Michael Lee, "Attachment To Care-Giver As Reflected In Early Recollections And Social Interest Of Normal And Conduct Disorder Adolescents" (1994). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 772.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/772