Racial Discrimination in Apartment Rentals1

A lack of adequate housing in the Southern California city studied was perceived by minority groups to be the result of racial discrimination. To verify this, 25 apartment houses were visited by male-female couples from three ethnic groups: Mexican-American, Negro, and Caucasian. The couples asked about apartment availability, amount of rent, and miscellaneous fees. Fewer apartments were available to the minority groups than to Caucasians (p <.02). Negroes were quoted rents and miscellaneous fees which were higher than those quoted to Caucasians. Overall, Negroes were discriminated against more often than Mexican-Americans, who in turn were more discriminated against than Caucasians. Seventy-six percent of the apartment house managers displayed some overt indication of racial discrimination.     

Studies in social influence: I. Those absent are in the right: Convergence and polarization of answers in the course of a social interaction

The theories of social influence assert that: a) the existing dependence on the source of influence and hence the presence of the latter, is the cause of the above changes, b) the effective qualities of the stimulus or those which are attributed to it - ambiguity, clarity and certitude, etc., - can be seen in the divergence or convergence of the estimations made on the stimulus have an independent effect from the relations which exist between this source and its target. In this research OUI aim is to question both postulates by using a very well know phenomenon. On the one hand we have shown that the style of behaviour of the source, its consistency, is sufficient to produce the desired influence. On the other hand, we have shown that if this behaviour creates a conflict of response, the subject will adopt the proposed response on the condition that he has done so of his own free will and not because of having given in under pressure. That is why an absent source of influence can be successfull; the subject has the impression of approaching it without giving in to it, while the presence of a source of influence causes the polarization, this being the only means for the subject to preserve his independence. The experimental paradigm used is the same as that of Sherif. Dozens of experiments have shown that the greater the distance between the stooge subjects and the naive subjects, the greater the tendency for response polarization. In the control situation where subjects were confronted with a constant stoodge for the entire duration of the experiment, we obtained the same results. In the experimental situation where the stooge would leave the room with a justified excuse before the end of the experiment, we have found a trend converging towards his judgements. The polarization phenomenon is therefore due to the relation between the source and the target of influence, to the meaning which is assigned to the distances of judgment rather than to the distances themselves. Moreover, the withdrawal of the source in no way diminishes its influence and so, those who are absent are sometimes right.     

COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING FOR PARENTS: EXPERIMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALIDATION

Coordination of professional services on behalf of children often hinges on the involvement of informed parents. The purposes of this study were to identify and experimentally and socially validate skills required of parents for effective communication with professionals. Target skills were identified on the basis of judges' social validation ratings of (a) sample interactions between parents and professionals and (b) the behaviors comprising a resultant task analysis. Eight parents were then trained in these skills via an instructional package. Results of a multiple baseline design across subjects and grouped skill domains showed that each parent acquired the targeted skills during simulated conferences and that correct responding usually generalized to actual conferences. Independent judges validated training outcomes, and participating parents indicated satisfaction with the curriculum.     

Subject Competence and Minimization of the Bystander Effect

While performing a drawing task, either alone or in the presence of an observer, high- and low-competent subjects heard a workman fall off a ladder in an adjoining room. As expected, high-competent subjects (Registered Nurses) who witnessed the emergency with another bystander helped as frequently as subjects who witnessed the emergency alone; low-competent subjects (general students) evidenced the familiar bystander effect. Responses to the post-emergency questionnaire indicated that at the time of the emergency both high- and low-competent subjects felt strongly that they should do something to help the workman. The minimization of the bystander effect for the high-competent subjects was mediated by confidence in their ability to help the workman and in knowing what steps to take to help. Discussion focused on the role of subject competency in bystander intervention, effective debriefing, and the subjects' positive reactions to participating in a bystander experiment.     

Jensen's use of the Hick paradigm: Visual attention and order effects

Longstreth (1984, 1986) and Carroll (1987) have recently raised questions concerning the effects of practice and order and retinal displacement in Jensen's use of the Hick paradigm. The results of this study indicate that the effect of practice and order is nonsignificant. The effect of retinal displacement, although significant, accounts for such a small amount of the variance as to be of little practical or theoretical importance in Jensen's investigations with the Hick paradigm.     

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-derived psychopathology subtypes among former prisoners of war (POWs): Replication and extension

Psychopathology and symptom patterns identified among former prisoners of war (POWs) by Sutker, Winstead, Goist, Malow, and Allain (1986) were replicated in an independent sample of 51 former POWs with similar personal backgrounds and military experiences. Data collection instruments included the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), self-report measures of anxiety and depression, and a structured clinical interview including a POW Trauma Index. Two prototypic MMPI profile patterns were identified using modal profile analysis (Skinner & Lei, 1980). Both were highly similar in shape and elevation to those reported in the previous investigation. Multiprofile-multisample analysis produced prototypic profile patterns which were accurate representations of profiles identified in separate analyses of the derivation and replication samples (r's .96). Representing unique constellations of clinical features, profile subtypes were associated differentially with confinement stress severity, postservice adjustment, and nature and extent of stress-induced symptomatology.     

A comparison of moral reasoning and moral character in male and female incarcerated felons

Gender differences among incarcerated adult felons along dimensions of moral reasoning and moral character were examined. Previous work was extended by comparing adult male and female felons, and by exploring the relationship between moral reasoning and moral character. Subjects completed the Socio-moral Reflection Questionnaire, which measures moral reasoning. Moral character was assessed by a socialization scale, two empathy measures, and two autonomy questionnaires. Discriminant function analysis revealed that men were higher than women on moral reasoning, lower on socialization, higher on role-taking empathy, lower on emotional empathy, and more internal in locus of control. Moral reasoning was correlated with role-taking empathy and locus of control. Implications for theories of gender differences in moral reasoning and criminality were discussed.     

Perceptions of self-disclosure as a function of gender-linked variables

One hundred and sixty raters with either an androgynous, masculine, or feminine sex role orientation judged the intimacy and commonness of masculine and feminine self-disclosures attributed to either men or women speakers. Feminine disclosures were rated as significantly more intimate and more common than masculine disclosures. Masculine disclosures made by women were rated as significantly less common than either feminine disclosures by women, or masculine or feminine disclosures by men. Although rater sex role orientation had no significant effects, physical gender did. Female raters judged all disclosures as more intimate than male raters. Implications for future research are discussed.We express our appreciation to Camille DeBell, to the late JoAnn Mantovani, and to Christine Robitschek for their assistance in this research.