Effects of Gender, Age, and Education on Assertiveness in a Nigerian Sample

Two hundred fourteen (214) married persons, 101 men and 113 women aged 20–60, with at least high school education, participated in the study which investigated the effects of gender, age, and educational attainment on assertiveness among married persons in Nigeria. The Assertive Behavior Assessment scale (ABAS; Onyeizugbo, 1998 ) was used to measure assertiveness. It was hypothesized that persons with higher educational attainment will report more assertiveness than persons with lower educational attainment. Results supported the hypothesis. In addition, interactions between gender and age, and gender and educational attainment were found. Younger men reported more assertiveness than younger women whereas older women reported more assertiveness than older men. Also, women participants of lower educational attainment reported more assertiveness than their men counterparts whereas men of higher educational attainment reported more assertiveness than their women counterparts. Results of this study suggest that women in Nigeria may become more assertive with age.     

The Effects of a Mental Training Program on Juniors Pre-Competitive Anxiety,Self-Confidence,and Tennis Performance

This investigation reports the impact of a season-long Mental Training Program (MTP) on two elite junior tennis players. The two reported cases were part of a study in which MTP players (n = 5) in addition to their tennis practice were exposed to 5 different psychological skills: goal setting, positive thinking and self-talk, concentration and routines, arousal regulation techniques, and imagery. Another group of elite junior tennis players (n = 4) followed the same amount and quality of tennis practice but received no mental training practice. Program effectiveness was evaluated through (a) the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), (b) the athletes' appraisal on 8 aspects of tennis performance, and (c) tennis-specific statistical data of two selected cases. The results indicated an increase in the direction dimension of the somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety and self-confidence for the intervention group at the posttest. Moreover, the intensity of self-confidence, as well as the overall tennis performance, were greater for all the participants of the intervention group after the MTP. Results on two selected cases are reported which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the MTP in eliminating specific performance problems.     

The Effects of Income Levels and Income Inequalities on Happiness

The standard of living reflected by one’s income and consumption is the primary explanation for the utility or satisfaction of the private consumer. However, empirical evidence very often demonstrates that the level of happiness is not necessarily higher for wealthy people in comparison to the poor. This holds within specific populations of a country, and in macro terms by comparison between the happiness of populations with low and high GDP_ppp per capita. Different research studies have used other economic and social explanatory variables for determining consumer happiness within countries. The present paper adds the new factor of income inequality that affects happiness. It is empirically proved that at extreme values of inequality measured by the Gini index, the effect of happiness is negative regardless of GDP_ppp per capita. However, at the intermediate ranges of the Gini index the effect of changes in the index on happiness is ambiguous. These results are found regardless of the actual values of GDP_ppp per capita.     

Effects of Importance of Issues,Gender, and Power of Contenders on Conflict Management Style

Abstract

The effects of employee turnover on the productivity of those who remain were examined. In a laboratory investigation, subjects completed a proofreading task. A confederate quit the task during a break, citing either illness or dissatisfaction and a desire for greater rewards elsewhere as the reasons for his or her departure. The subjects then worked on a second proofreading task, after which they completed a questionnaire about their attitudes toward the study. The subjects who were exposed to the dissatisfied confederate proofread significantly less material on the second task than the subjects who were exposed to the ill confederate did. The findings are interpreted in terms of equity theory: A departing colleague can arouse inequity in a stayer that results in a drop in productivity.     

Gender, Rewards and Research in Education

Under the "merit" ideology of academic research, the criteria for academic rewards are quality and quantity of research publications. Do men and women receive equal rewards for equal performance in educational and social research? This question is addressed with a sample of 901 authors of research on education, 14% of whom were women. Gross differences emerge between men and women regarding levels of income. Lesser differences appear in research resources and rank, and no variations occur in departmental prestige. A sample of 390 of their research papers were anonymously rated by a national panel of 39 judges, revealing no difference in the quality of work done by men and women. Women, however, are less productive than men, and consequently less frequently cited. But the criteria of quality and quantity of publications are not related to rewards in the same way for women and men. Quantity counts more heavily for women than for men, although important for both. Hence, performance criteria are selectively applied by gender in ways that affect women detrimentally.     

The Application of Counseling Skills in the Business and Industrial Setting

Counselors have often failed to seek employment in the business and industrial communities. It can be demonstrated, however, that counseling skills are quite applicable in business and industry settings and that the financial resources to hire counselors exist. Therefore, to encourage counselors to seek employment in business and industry, the article explores the applicability of their skills within this nontraditional setting and offers suggestions regarding the job search.     

Changes in Attitudes and Self-Confidence in the Women's and Gender Studies Classroom: The Role of Teacher Alliance and Student Cohesion

Previous research provides evidence that women's and gender studies (WGS) classes are successful in helping students to develop more egalitarian gender role attitudes, appreciation and acceptance of diversity, awareness of sexism and other social inequities, and agentic self-confidence in both women and men. The mechanisms by which these changes take place were the focus of this study. WGS students (n = 328) from 23 classes on four college campuses participated. Results indicated that (a) student readiness (positive WGS class expectations and capacity for positive interpersonal relationships) predicted the development of alliances with teachers and cohesion with classmates, (b) alliance and cohesion were associated with changes toward more egalitarian attitudes, (c) cohesion was associated with increases in confidence, and (d) links between student readiness and change were mediated by alliance and cohesion developed within the WGS classroom.     

Personal Control, Self-Efficacy in Sexual Negotiation, and Contraceptive Risk among Adolescents: The Role of Gender

Adolescents’ sexual decision making is shaped by normative ideas about “appropriate” sexual roles for women and men; consequently, the motivation and ability to engage in safer sex may be different for adolescent girls and boys. The aim of this study was to explore how social–psychological resources influence the behavior of girls and boys within the highly gendered and inequitable domain of sexual relationships. I used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine whether personal control and self-efficacy in sexual negotiation are associated with contraceptive risk (engaging in sexual intercourse or not using condoms) among adolescents and whether these associations differ for adolescent boys and girls. Results indicate that personal control and self-efficacy in sexual negotiation are significantly associated with safer sex behavior, and are often more important for girls than for boys in predicting contraceptive risk.     

情绪、性别和方案数量对危机决策的影响

本研究采用实验和问卷相结合的方法,探讨了愤怒和恐惧情绪及不同的方案数量对危机决策的影响,并分析了该效应的性别差异。研究结果表明:(1)恐惧情绪下被试的危机决策时间显著长于其在愤怒情绪下的危机决策时间,且情绪和性别变量在危机决策时间上存在显著的交互作用;(2)女性在恐惧情绪下的危机决策时间显著长于其在愤怒情绪下的危机决策时间,且显著地长于男性的危机决策时间。同时,男性对其危机决策的满意程度显著高于女性,且情绪变量和性别变量在危机决策自信程度指标上存在显著的交互作用;(3)随着方案数量的增加,尤其当方案数量为4时,被试的危机决策时间较其他两种情况显著增长。该研究结果可为各类突发性危机事件的管理与决策提供依据。     

误导信息效应中年龄差异与自信差异初探

本研究对误导信息效应中不同年龄被试对最初事件再认的表现差异和自信心差异进行了探讨。结果表明:在再认成绩方面,被试对误导项目的错误反应率要高于对控制项目的错误反应率,即产生了误导信息效应,而且老年被试比年轻被试更易受误导信息的影响;在自信心方面,被试不存在年龄差异,即无论是在误导项目上,还是在控制项目上,老年被试和年轻被试对其再认的正确和错误反应有一样高的自信心。     

Successful Personal Ads: Gender Differences and Similarities in Offers,Stipulations, and Outcomes

Content analysis of 281 newspaper personal ads placed mainly by older singles revealed that men often stipulated looks, and women often stipulated status. Advertisers who offered looks or status were the more demanding in their stipulations. A subsample of 55 women and 59 men completed mailed questionnaires about outcomes. Women received far more replies than did men. Reply rates were correlated with advertisers' satisfaction and the number of people they met. However, offers of looks and status were best weakly related to reply rates and other variables, apparently because this market was saturated with such offers. Examination of the most and least successful ads suggested that the writer's age was important. Relatively younger women (M = 35.0 years old) and older men (M = 43.9 years old) received high returns. Finally, a similarity across gender was that 65% of the women and 62% of the men met with at least one respondent.     

The Effects of Food and Gender on Interpersonal Perceptions

Male and female subjects provided ratings of personal traits, femininity and masculinity, and total caloric consumption for a female or a male target based on the type of diet she or he had allegedly consumed. The gender associated with the foods presented for each dietary profile was manipulated. Results showed that Target Gender and Dietary Profile significantly affected impression ratings and calorie estimates. Both male and female subjects perceived male eaters and those who ate a feminine diet more favorably. Results are discussed in terms of the different underlying expectations held for males and females when food consumption is involved during the impression formation process.     

The Effects of Gender,Dysphoria, and Performance Feedback on the Accuracy of Self-Evaluations

Two experiments tested hypotheses derived from previous research by Beyer (1990, 1998, 1999a; Beyer & Bowden, 1997) and research on depressive realism. It was predicted that gender differences in the accuracy of self-evaluations of performance will be found on a mathematics test (masculine task), but not on an English test (feminine task) or on history and geography tests (neutral tasks). Furthermore, it was hypothesized that dysphorics are not more accurate self-evaluators than are nondysphorics and that the effect of gender on the accuracy of self-evaluations is moderated by dysphoria. Finally, it was predicted that the provision of performance feedback does not moderate the effect of gender on the accuracy of self-evaluations. These hypotheses were supported. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

The Effects of Ego Identity,Gender Role,and Attachment on Depression and Anxiety in Young Adults

Main and interaction effects of Ego Identity Status/Type (Bennion & Adams, 1986), Gender-Role Orientation (Bem, 1981a), and Adult Attachment Style (Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994) on Depression (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) and Anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) were examined. Participants included adults 18 years and older from a midwestern U.S. university. Multivariate analysis revealed significant interactions between ego identity status and gender-role orientation only for participants with an insecure attachment style. A significant main effect for attachment style revealed that secure individuals were less anxious and depressed than insecure individuals. The influence of gender (rather than gender role) is explored. The influence of ethnicity on levels of depression and anxiety for various ego identity statuses and clinical implications are discussed.     

Spatial Skills and Self-Perceived Masculinity: Considering College Major STEM-ness,Directionality, and Gender

Sex Roles - The sex-role mediation hypothesis suggests that a masculine self-concept promotes male-typed cognition, including spatial skills. Support for the hypothesis is mixed, limited by small...     

The Challenge and Urgency of Gender Inclusion in Theological Education

Twenty years after the conclusion of the Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women, this article considers the development and the need for inclusion of gender in the sphere of theological reflection and education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rather than a historical account, it proposes an approach that works toward thinking about and developing a new form of relationship between women and men, and between them and today's society and church.     

Gender Differences in Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Perceived Personal Discrimination

Why is women's mental health inferior to that of men? This study hypothesized that women's mental health is not as good as men's because women perceive more personal discrimination. It was confirmed that women obtained higher scores than did men on a subjective scale of psychological distress. Additionally, women perceived greater personal and group discrimination than did men. Perceived personal discrimination proved to be the more robust predictor of psychological distress. This was evident when results of a mediation analysis revealed that gender differences in subjective distress were mediated by the measure of perceived personal discrimination, but not by the measure of group discrimination.