The J-Curve Hypothesis of Conforming Behavior

Abstract

We examined fear of crime in the residential environment from a theoretical and social psychological perspective by constructing a model that relates feelings of unsafety to attributions about self, the potential criminal, and the situation in which the criminal act might occur. Using data from a questionnaire field survey of 440 residents in four urban neighborhoods, the model was compared with a socio-demographic alternative (comprising such variables as gender, age, and educational level). LISREL, a relatively new method of analysis that takes measurement error into account, indicated that the model has superior explanatory power and greater in-terpretability. Multiple regression analyses confirmed these results and point to ways in which operationalization of the theoretical model might be improved.     

A Creative Model: The Three-Selves

This article presents a Three-Selves Model illuminating ways the self can be expressed: closed, absorbent, and flexible. This model integrates three counseling approaches which are described, and a creative poster is offered to illustrate the model. Then, the model is applied to a hypothetical case to reveal how the model can promote awareness, congruence, and choice.     

A Model of Chinese Adolescents' Creative Personality

Since the 1950s, there has been a systemic development of research on creative personality. Three themes are apparent in this literature: individual differences of creative people, the construct of creative personality, and longitudinal studies about creative personality. However, little research has been conducted in any of these areas with Chinese samples, and the purpose of this study is to study the construct of Chinese adolescents' creative personality. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with data from 1,300 Chinese adolescents. The results provide evidence that adolescents' creative personality consists of three largely independent dimensions: Internal, External, and Self. The internal factor includes self-confidence, norm-doubt, internal motivation, and persistence; the external factor includes curiosity, risk-taking, openness and independence; the self factor pertains to self-acceptance.