Date of Award

1981

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

Supervisor

Robert C. Fehr

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was twofold. The major issue was to investigate the effects of Directive Parental Counseling (Holland, 1976) on parental acceptance, and perception of personality changes in the child. The second issue was to determine, if there were any differences in age, sex, and parental acceptance scores on deviant behavior reduction, and if training would reduce deviant behavior. Seventy-nine mothers from various socio-economic levels participated in this program. Children ranged in age from 3 - 13, and were not preselected. There were 41parents in the treatment group, and 3g in the control group. In the treatment group, there were 25 younger children (5 and under) and 16 older children (6-13); in the control group there were 20 younger children and 18 older children. There ·were 26 boys and 15 girls in the treatment group, and 26 boys and 12 girls in the control group. Parents completed two tests, a parental acceptance test and a personality inventory, and they recorded one major behavior problem of the identified child. This data was collected at baseline, post-treatment, and three months after treatment. Analysis of the data demonstrated that there were significant positive changes in deviant behavior and parental acceptance between baseline and 3 month follow-up. Significant positive changes in perceived personality of the child was found between baseline and 3 month follow-up, but not between baseline and post treatment. No support was found for differences in age, sex, and parental acceptance scores on deviant behavior reduction, either between baseline and post-treatment or between baseline and 3 month follow-up. Several suggestions for future research in Directive Parental Counseling were also discussed.

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