These four interesting papers attempt, in the authors’ words, to go beyond attachment. Attachment is seen as overly focused on the mother‐child relationship, thereby neglecting other developmental frameworks, including... more
These four interesting papers attempt, in the authors’ words, to go beyond attachment. Attachment is seen as overly focused on the mother‐child relationship, thereby neglecting other developmental frameworks, including social networks and multiple significant others. Although the four papers raise crucial issues about the contexts of human development, they are – as is so much research on human development –
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This study classified for resemblance 102 preschool children, who were described by their nursery school teachers using the California Child Q-sort. Inverse (Q) factor analysis identified three personality prototypes initially defined in... more
This study classified for resemblance 102 preschool children, who were described by their nursery school teachers using the California Child Q-sort. Inverse (Q) factor analysis identified three personality prototypes initially defined in terms of ego resiliency and ego undercontrol: overcontrolled resilient, resilient under-controlled, and brittle. These personality prototypes showed strong to moderate similarity with typologies obtained in comparable studies and theoretical meaningful relations with experimental measures of ego functioning and IQ. Ten years later, as adolescents, overcontrolled resilients were shy and restrained yet conscientious and intelligent; resilient undercontrollers were extraverted, assertive, and impulsive; and brittles were relatively unintelligent. The discussion focused on the several meanings of person-centered methods, the sample-dependence of personality typologies, and the complementary contributions made by person versus variable-centered analytical strategies in the study of human development.
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... assessed characteris-tics denoting family harmony, including cross-generational consensus on values, marital satisfaction, and effective parenting (J. H. Block et al., 1981; Deal, Halverson, & Wampler, 1989; Stoneman, Brody,... more
... assessed characteris-tics denoting family harmony, including cross-generational consensus on values, marital satisfaction, and effective parenting (J. H. Block et al., 1981; Deal, Halverson, & Wampler, 1989; Stoneman, Brody, & Burke, 1989; Vaughn, JH Block, & J. Block, 1988 ...
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Research Interests: Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Personality, and 15 moreDepression, Adolescent, Gender Identity, Internalization, Humans, Personality Development, Female, Male, Gender Difference, Longitudinal Studies, Depressive Symptoms, Externalization, Young Men, Epidemiologic Studies, and Personality Tests
This study introduces a cultural theme analysis to assess within–culture variation in attachment, with special emphasis on asymmetry in Japanese marital roles. Thirty–nine young urban married Japanese couples were interviewed using a... more
This study introduces a cultural theme analysis to assess within–culture variation in attachment, with special emphasis on asymmetry in Japanese marital roles. Thirty–nine young urban married Japanese couples were interviewed using a modification of the Adult Attachment Interview. The participants also described their marital experiences, viewed both from their own and from their spouse”s perspective, and the ego resiliency of their child. Husbands” attachment strategies vis–à–vis their parents and their adherence to the marital asymmetry theme conjointly influenced their marital attachment security. The secure husband’s strategy seemed to be enhanced by using his “motherly” wife as a secure base, thereby leading to higher marital attachment security. In contrast, the dismissing husband—when adhering to the marital asymmetry theme—appeared to further intensify deactivating strategies by downplaying the emotional significance of his motherly wife. Thus the marital asymmetry theme appears to have different psychological implications for Japanese husbands, depending on their attachment strategies (secure versus dismissive). Conceptual and methodological issues in the study of adult attachment from a cultural perspective are discussed.
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ABSTRACT "Measuring the Home Environments of Children in Early Adolescence" describes the development of a scale that is to be used with adolescents from different "ethnic groups": African Americans,... more
ABSTRACT "Measuring the Home Environments of Children in Early Adolescence" describes the development of a scale that is to be used with adolescents from different "ethnic groups": African Americans, Chinese Americans, European Americans, Mexican Americans, and Dominican Americans.1 The previous Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) scales have proven very useful. The scale presented in the target article is likely to find wide usage and to contribute importantly to our knowledge of adolescents' home environments.
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The longitudinal implications of age-18 dysphoric mood were evaluated in 23-year-old young adults using a prospective multidata, multi-informant design. Dysphoric mood was measured using both initial Center for Epidemiological... more
The longitudinal implications of age-18 dysphoric mood were evaluated in 23-year-old young adults using a prospective multidata, multi-informant design. Dysphoric mood was measured using both initial Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scores and residual CES-D scores from which the contributions of concurrent age-18 anxiety and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) IQ were partialed. Elevated initial CES-D scores predicted chronic depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in both genders. In young men, initial CES--D scores were also prospectively related to observer evaluations of interpersonal antagonism, repressive tendencies, anxious self-preoccupation, undercontrol of impulse as well as to self-reported hostility and anger. In young women, initial CES-D scores were also prospectively related to both observer- and self-report of anxious self-preoccupation as well as to self-reported interpersonal antagonism, low self-esteem, and insecure romantic attachment. Once the co...
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Research Interests: Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Intelligence, Depression, and 15 moreCognition, Ft, Block, Finkelstein, Mock, H, M, P, E, C, N, L, G, J, and A
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Research Interests: Marketing, Cognitive Science, Developmental Psychology, Cognition, Child Development, and 15 moreAdolescent, Early Childhood, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Defense Mechanisms, Ego, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Longitudinal Studies, Egocentrism, Childhood Development, Level, Child preschool, and Independent set
Personality and intelligence associated with depressive symptoms in 23-year-olds were evaluated using prospective data from preschool through adolescence. Gender moderated the prospective relations between personality/intelligence and... more
Personality and intelligence associated with depressive symptoms in 23-year-olds were evaluated using prospective data from preschool through adolescence. Gender moderated the prospective relations between personality/intelligence and age-23 depressive symptoms. Young men with elevated age-23 General Behavior Inventory (GBI) scores manifested as early as in preschool allocentric behaviors: undersocialization and interpersonal antagonism. This pattern remained highly stable over the following 15 years. Prospective correlates of depressive symptoms in young women--not reliably identified until adolescence--were more likely than in young men to express autocentric concerns: oversocialization and introspective concern with self. These gender differences continued to persist but decreased in strength after puberty. Intellectual competence displayed significantly stronger negative correlations with age-23 GBI scores in males than in females. Findings were discussed in terms of gender differences in the development of chronic depressive symptoms, with special emphasis on equifinality in developmental pathways.
Research Interests: Cognitive Science, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Intelligence, Depression, and 15 moreChild Development, Adolescent, Medicine, Gender Identity, Humans, Child, Personality Assessment Inventory, Personality Development, Chronic Disease, Female, Male, Longitudinal Studies, Adult, Depressive Symptoms, and Child preschool
The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to summarize the theoretical frame-work, methodological orientation, and gender-differentiated findings of our ongoing study of the personality context, prospective and concurrent, for... more
The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to summarize the theoretical frame-work, methodological orientation, and gender-differentiated findings of our ongoing study of the personality context, prospective and concurrent, for depressive symptoms at age 18; and (2) to report new longitudinal relations between preadolescent play constructions (at age 11) and depressive tendencies reported seven years later. Eighty-seven 18-year-olds completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Seven years earlier, at age 11, the subjects were observed in a play construction situation. Six psychologically coherent, reliable play composite variables were generated from the codings of videotapes and related longitudinally, in a hierarchical polynomial regression design, to the later CES-D scores. Among preadolescent girls, concern with morality and loss foretold, linearly, depressive experiences. The quadratic regression function explained additional variance: relative to girls receiving intermediate CES-D scores, girls earning loworhigh scores were seen as more overcontrolling of impulse, more angry, and more concerned with loss. Among preadolescent boys, only curvilinear relations were obtained. Relative to boys receiving intermediate CES-D scores, boys earning loworhigh CES-D scores were seen during preadolescence as more undercontrolling of impulse, more angry, and more concerned with loss as theme. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Research Interests: Marketing, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Developmental Psychology, Psychometrics, and 15 morePersonality, Depression, Adolescent, Medicine, Gender Identity, Anxiety, Prospective studies, Humans, Personality Development, Female, Male, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, ANXIETY, Personality Tests, and Prospective Study
In a longitudinal study, the personalities of children from intact families at ages 3, 4, and 7 were reliably assessed by independent sets of raters using Q-items reflecting important psychological characteristics of children. A number of... more
In a longitudinal study, the personalities of children from intact families at ages 3, 4, and 7 were reliably assessed by independent sets of raters using Q-items reflecting important psychological characteristics of children. A number of these families subsequently experienced divorce. The behavior of boys was found, as early as 11 years prior to parental separation or formal dissolution of marriage, to be consistently affected by what can be presumed to be predivorce familial stress. The behavior of boys from subsequently divorcing families was characterized by undercontrol of impulse, aggression, and excessive energy prior to parental divorce. The behavior of girls from subsequently divorcing families was found to be notably less affected by the stresses in families prior to parental divorce. The prospective relations afforded by the longitudinal analyses suggest that the behavior of conflicting, inaccessible parents during the preseparation period may have serious consequences for personality development, especially for boys. Hence, some characteristics of children commonly seen to be a consequence of divorce may be present prior to marital dissolution.
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Intelligence, and 15 moreChild Development, Adolescent, Medicine, Prospective studies, Humans, Child, Aggression, Personality Development, Female, Divorce, Male, Sex Factors, Longitudinal Study, Prospective Study, and Child preschool
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ABSTRACT This prospective study examined relations between preschool personality attributes and narcissism during adolescence and emerging adulthood. We created five a priori preschool scales anticipated to foretell future narcissism.... more
ABSTRACT This prospective study examined relations between preschool personality attributes and narcissism during adolescence and emerging adulthood. We created five a priori preschool scales anticipated to foretell future narcissism. Independent assessors evaluated the participants’ personality at ages 14, 18, and 23. Based upon these evaluations, we generated observer-based narcissism scales for each of these three ages. All preschool scales predicted subsequent narcissism, except Interpersonal Antagonism at age 23. According to mean scale and item scores analyses, narcissism increased significantly from age 14 to 18, followed by a slight but non-significant decline from age 18 to 23. The discussion focused on a developmental view of narcissism, the need for research on automatic processing and psychological defenses, and links between narcissism and attachment.
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ABSTRACT Measures of breadth of categorization were administered to approximately 64 girls and 64 boys at ages 4 and 11 yrs. The data were related to California Child Q-Set descriptions obtained at ages 3, 4, 7, 11, and 14 yrs. Many... more
ABSTRACT Measures of breadth of categorization were administered to approximately 64 girls and 64 boys at ages 4 and 11 yrs. The data were related to California Child Q-Set descriptions obtained at ages 3, 4, 7, 11, and 14 yrs. Many relations were observed between the categorization indexes and personality descriptions. Independently of gender, the preschool-based breadth composite was related to a core set of personality relations. Broad categorizers identified at age 4 yrs were described at all 5 ages as lacking in autonomous structure and being more susceptible to environmental distraction. Boys who categorized broadly at age 11 yrs were described at all 5 ages as able to organize information about the world in a resourceful manner. Furthermore, breadth of categorization at age 4 yrs correlated negatively with intelligence, whereas boys' breadth of categorization at age 11 yrs correlated positively with intelligence. This reversal in relation was highly significant. It is suggested that the use of relatively broad categories in early childhood reflects an inability as yet to organize experience effectively; by preadolescence, however, the use of relatively broad categories reflects a creative ability to see as importantly equivalent those instances that superficially are unrelated. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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... These include preoc cupati on with special sa m ples, so rnctirue s in vol ving o nly cli nical populations. and sampling narrowl y from only line Accef/led , larch II, N S7. ... Request s .0 1' reprints should lu: .'... more
... These include preoc cupati on with special sa m ples, so rnctirue s in vol ving o nly cli nical populations. and sampling narrowl y from only line Accef/led , larch II, N S7. ... Request s .0 1' reprints should lu: .' ''11 1 10 Jack Block , 1J"I'ar/III"1ll or l'.'l'cho{og l', Tolman Hall . ...
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A prototype-matching approach was employed to assess romantic attachment in young adults. The 48-item Hazan and Shaver’s Experiences in Close Relationships inventory was configured, via prototype definitions, to capture core themes of... more
A prototype-matching approach was employed to assess romantic attachment in young adults. The 48-item Hazan and Shaver’s Experiences in Close Relationships inventory was configured, via prototype definitions, to capture core themes of four romantic attachment patterns: secure, preoccupied, dismissing, and fearful. The personality attributes associated with each attachment pattern were evaluated by referencing both observer evaluations and self-report correlates. The observer evaluations of the individuals matching the secure, preoccupied, and fearful prototypes were mostly congruent with their self-perceptions, whereas somewhat greater discrepancy emerged for individuals matching the dismissing prototype. The discussion focused on differences in the personality functioning associated with different romantic attachment patterns, the prototype-matching method, the importance of including both observer- and self-report data in the validation of self-report measures, and the relative advantages of self-report versus interview methodologies in studying attachment.
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Personality and intelligence associated with depressive symptoms in 23-year-olds were evaluated using prospective data from preschool through adolescence. Gender moderated the prospective relations between personality/intelligence and... more
Personality and intelligence associated with depressive symptoms in 23-year-olds were evaluated using prospective data from preschool through adolescence. Gender moderated the prospective relations between personality/intelligence and age-23 depressive symptoms. Young men with elevated age-23 General Behavior Inventory (GBI) scores manifested as early as in preschool allocentric behaviors: undersocialization and interpersonal antagonism. This pattern remained highly stable over the following 15 years. Prospective correlates of depressive symptoms in young women--not reliably identified until adolescence--were more likely than in young men to express autocentric concerns: oversocialization and introspective concern with self. These gender differences continued to persist but decreased in strength after puberty. Intellectual competence displayed significantly stronger negative correlations with age-23 GBI scores in males than in females. Findings were discussed in terms of gender differences in the development of chronic depressive symptoms, with special emphasis on equifinality in developmental pathways.
Research Interests: Cognitive Science, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Intelligence, Depression, and 15 moreChild Development, Adolescent, Medicine, Gender Identity, Humans, Child, Personality Assessment Inventory, Personality Development, Chronic Disease, Female, Male, Longitudinal Studies, Adult, Depressive Symptoms, and Child preschool
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ABSTRACT Observed parental interactive patterns in the presence (a triadic setting) and in the absence (a dyadic setting) of the spouse in 44 families with 16 female and 28 male early adolescents (approximately 13 yrs old). Findings... more
ABSTRACT Observed parental interactive patterns in the presence (a triadic setting) and in the absence (a dyadic setting) of the spouse in 44 families with 16 female and 28 male early adolescents (approximately 13 yrs old). Findings indicate that in accordance with hypotheses, the presence of the father enhanced the quality of mother–son relations, whereas the presence of the mother reduced the quality of father–son relations. The presence of the spouse influenced the extent to which parents treated girls and boys differently: Mothers differentiated more between girls and boys in the presence of the spouse, whereas fathers differentiated more between girls and boys in the absence of the spouse. Relative to the dyad, parental role differentiation increased in the triad but only in families of boys. In demonstrating interdependencies among family relationships and the responsivity of parental behaviors to the interpersonal structure of interaction settings, the results support a systems model of family processes. Implications for the study of family relations and sex typing at early adolescence are discussed. (60 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Research Interests: Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Personality, and 15 moreDepression, Adolescent, Gender Identity, Internalization, Humans, Personality Development, Female, Male, Gender Difference, Longitudinal Studies, Depressive Symptoms, Externalization, Young Men, Epidemiologic Studies, and Personality Tests
Research Interests: Marketing, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Cognition, Child Development, and 15 moreAdolescent, Early Childhood, Perspective Taking, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Defense Mechanisms, Ego, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Longitudinal Studies, Level, Object Attachment, Child preschool, and Independent set
... on an earlier version of this manuscript Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Per F. Gjerde or Jack Block, Department ... It is also im-portant to recognize that depressive tendencies appear to be continuous... more
... on an earlier version of this manuscript Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Per F. Gjerde or Jack Block, Department ... It is also im-portant to recognize that depressive tendencies appear to be continuous with clinical depression (Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quin ...
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... on an earlier version of this manuscript Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Per F. Gjerde or Jack Block, Department ... It is also im-portant to recognize that depressive tendencies appear to be continuous... more
... on an earlier version of this manuscript Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Per F. Gjerde or Jack Block, Department ... It is also im-portant to recognize that depressive tendencies appear to be continuous with clinical depression (Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quin ...
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The concept of identity as unitary, stable, and context-independent is being replaced by a view of identity as multiple and context-dependent. In light of this shift, I critically examine how to conceptualize and investigate identities in... more
The concept of identity as unitary, stable, and context-independent is being replaced by a view of identity as multiple and context-dependent. In light of this shift, I critically examine how to conceptualize and investigate identities in the age of neoliberalism, in which free-market capitalism accelerates in tandem with numerous social changes, such as increasing privatization, soaring consumerism, outsourcing of jobs, unemployment, escalation of the precariat, as well as the educated underclass. These changes, I argue, have had profound implications for how individuals make sense of their surroundings and themselves. The paper asks how far a nationstate's economic framework can reshape personal subjectivities. I argue that these questions cannot be adequately answered without recognizing that identities and narratives exist within social, political, and economic contexts and without examining 'the victims' of neoliberalism.
The concept of identity as unitary, stable, and context-independent is being replaced by a view of identity as multiple and context-dependent. In light of this shift, I critically examine how to conceptualize and investigate identities in... more
The concept of identity as unitary, stable, and context-independent is being replaced by a view of identity as multiple and context-dependent. In light of this shift, I critically examine how to conceptualize and investigate identities in the age of neoliberalism, in which free-market capitalism accelerates in tandem with numerous social changes, such as increasing privatization, soaring consumerism, outsourcing of jobs, unemployment, escalation of the precariat, as well as the educated underclass. These changes, I argue, have had profound implications for how individuals make sense of their surroundings and themselves. The paper asks how far a nationstate's economic framework can reshape personal subjectivities. I argue that these questions cannot be adequately answered without recognizing that identities and narratives exist within social, political, and economic contexts and without examining 'the victims' of neoliberalism.