Sou. S
166178
This hqak should be returned on or bdore ihc: d, last marked below.
BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FUND MONOGRAPHS
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. II
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
'I HI BAKKR & TAYLOR COMPANY NLW VORK.
THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRFSS
1 ON1X)NT
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
A STATISTICAL STUDY BASED UPON 2,113 BOYS
AND 1,181 GIRLS EXAMINED CONSECUTIVELY AT THE
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE FOR JUVENILE RESEARCH
LUTON ACKERSON
Departments of Psychology, New York University, 7 he College of the
City of New York, and Brooklyn College, Formerly Research
Ps \<holo«ist, Illinois Institute Jut "Juvenile Research
and ttehuiiior Rescanh Fund, Chicago
II
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE ^ND INTERRELATIONS AMONG TRAITS
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS CHICAGO - ILLINOIS
COPYRIGHT 1942 BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PUBLISHED AUGUS | 1942
* I'RINTl-D IN THh USA
FOREWORD
It is a distinct pleasure to be permit- ted to prepare a Foreword to the second volume of Children's Behavior Problems, The author has labored under most difficult circumstances to complete a well-conceived study — one which has utilized a wealth of material accumulated in a child-guidance clinic over a period of many years. This second volume by no means exhausts the possibilities for contribution to the grow- ing understanding of children's problems.
The author is to be congratulated on the completion of these studies of "Relative Impor- tance and Interrelations among Traits" of Chil- dren's Behavior Problems.
Paul L. Schroeder, M.D. April 17, 1942
vii
EDITOR'S PREFACE
In this volume Dr. Luton Ackerson continues his statisti- cal analysis of the data upon children's behavior problems extract- ed from the case records of the Illinois Institute of Juvenile Re- search.
Dr. Ackerson, in truly scientific spirit, stresses the fact that this is an exploratory study undertaken without a con- ceptual framework or hypothesis and with the disinterested objec- *lve of finding how some 125 behavior problems are intercorrelated with one another— a monumental undertaking that would have de- terred a less intrepid and persevering investigator.
The author admits certain difficulties involved in trans- lating case data into statistically manipulable categories that generally lower but may sometimes increase the correlations. These difficulties are: (l) the selective factor Involved in the admis- sion of cases to the Institute, (2) the difficulty of ascertaining in quantitative terms the reliability and objectivity of subjective case-record information, (3) the preconceived notions of parents in making reports and of the staff examiners In diagnosing prob- lems, (4) the lack of completeness of the case studies, (5) the inadequate definition of categories, (6) the use of categorical trait names instead of measured variates, and (7) the inadequate representation of desirable and presumably indifferent traits in the data.
No revolutionary discoveries are reported t?y the writer. The majority of the correlations are low, some moderatly high, and a few quite high. Many of the rather high correlations are evidently due to the fact that what is essentially one characteris- tic appears under two or more different names in the case records.
Mis early research upon the same data was published under the title Behavior Problems of Children; A Statistical Study Baaed upon 5,000 Children Examined Consecutively at the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research, Yol. I: Incidence, Genetic, and Intellectual Factors (Chicago: University of Chi cago Press, 1931).
ix
Certain other correlations are, however, quite revealing. For ex- ample, Dr. Ackerson differentiates between "personality problems" and "conduct problems" and gives each Individual a "personality- total" score and a "conduct-total" score. He then ascertains that, although these two total scores correlate for boys .50 with each other, the "personality-total" score has a correlation of only .19 with stealing, .18 with police arrests, and .09 with gang mem- bership, but that "conduct total" show scores of .55 vlth stealing, .53 with police arrest, and .35 with gang membership. Evidently "stealing" Is not significantly related to personality behavior problems but is associated with other conduct problems.
Prom this study can be drawn two points of value for fu- ture research. First of all, for statistical studies of a high order of determinacy a schedule of problems should be substituted for or be a supplement to the customary case- study recording. It is highly important that the same items be checked uniformly upon a standardized list. In the second place, helpful for further re- search is the series of intercorrelatlons mentioned above, in draw- Ing up a smaller list of "problems" than the 125 problems of this investigation.
ERNEST V. BURGESS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To the late Dr. Herman M. Adler and to Professor L. L. Thurstone the writer is indebted for the preliminary arrangements for a comprehensive statistical study of children's personality and conduct problems based upon the material in a children's be- havior clinic, of which this monograph represents a second volume. Our greatest debt of gratitude is unquestionably due the hundred or more present and former staff members of the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research, who originally gathered this material and who, in addition to their full duties attendant upon the clinic care of cases, have held to the ideal of placing their work as com- pletely as possible in record form suitable for research by others as well as by themselves. The devotion to research as one of the prime obligations of the Institute during the thirteen years of Dr. Adler 's directorship has thus built up, not only a rich accumu- lation of well-kept case data, but also an attitude of encouraging original study continued under his chief- of- staff and successor, Dr. Paul L. Schroeder.
To Mrs. Myrtle Strom Mink the writer is indebted for ad- vice in the interpretation of the social-history material; to Mrs. Muriel Highlander Lyon for varied assistance throughout all por- tions of the work; to Mr. William Melville and Mrs. Bessie Kight for clerical help; to Miss Margaret O'Connor and Miss Reba Gray for the statistical computations; to Mrs. Lilian Davis for criti- cal aid with the manuscript; and to Mr. John C. Weigel for arrange- ing the many affairs of, personnel, equipment, and publication. A .portion of the expense has been borne by the Behavior Research Fund •and by the Work Projects Administration.
L. A.
CONTENTS
Page
List of Figures xvii
List of Tables xix
PART I. INTRODUCTORY Chapter
I. The Purpose 3
II. The Data 8
III. Statistical Methods in Categorical Data 14
JV. The Value of Case-Record Notations as Research
Data 24
V. The Behavior Traits Discussed in This Volume ... 51
VT. The Exploratory and the ad hoc Approaches in
Research 56
VII. Explanation and Interpretation of the Tables ... 63
PART II. THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AMONG TRAITS
VIII. On Criteria of "Seriousness" among Behavior Diffi- culties 81
IX. The Personality- Total Criterion 88
X. The Conduct- Total Criterion 97
XI. The Police-Arrest Criterion 106
XII. Summary and Conclusions to Part II 114
PART III. INTERRELATIONS AMONG TRAITS
Introductory 125
XIII. Chronological Age and Intelligence (IQ) 126
XIV. Depressed Mood or Spells; Unhappy Appearance or
Manner; Crying Spells 135
XV. Sensitiveness and Worrisomeness 150
XVI. Bashfulness and Apprehensiveness 166
XVII. Staff Notations of "Inferiority Feelings" and
"Mental Conflict" 171
XVTII. Psychoneurotlc Trends and "Spoiled Child" .... 181
xiii
CONTENTS
Chapter XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
xu.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLTV.
XLV.
XLVI. XLVII.
XLVIII.
XLIX,
L.
LI.
Complaining of Bad Treatment and Object of Teas- Ing (by Other Children)
Unpopularity and Popularity
Daydreaming and Absent -Mlndedness
Secluslveness and Repressed Manner
Queer Behavior and "Change of Personality" . . . , Changeable Moods and Emotional Instability . . . , Suspected Mental Deficiency ( Hypophrenia ) . . , ,
Slow or Dull Manner; Listlessness; Lack of Ini- tiative
Oversuggestlbllity; Distract Iblllty; Preference for Younger Children as Playmates
"Nervousness"; Restlessness; Irritability . . . , Restlessness in Sleep and Irregular Sleep Habits .
Egocentricity and Selfishness
Excuse- forming Attitude
Staff Notation of "Unfavorable Conduct Prognosis".
Stealing
Truancy from Home and Staying Out Late at Night Truancy from School and Refusal To Attend School .
Disobedience; Incorrlgibillty; Defiance; Stubborn- ness; Contrariness
Lying, Protective and Fantastical
Fighting; Quarrelsomeness; Violence; Threatening .
Destruotlveness
Teasing or "Picking on" Other Children
Temper Tantrums and Temper Display
Swearing and Bad Language
Smoking
Page
190 197 206
Associating with Bad Companions; "Running, with a Gang"; Leading Others into Bad Conduct
Loitering; Laziness; Inefficiency; Irresponsi- bility
Slovenliness and Cleanliness
Lack of Interest or Inattentiveness in School Studies, Employment, etc
Disturbing Influence in School
Rudeness
Sex Notations
Enures la; Nail-biting; Finicky Pood Habits . .
221
251 240
245
256 266 283 291 302 306 311 316 324
332 357 366 384 389 392 404 412
415
427 442
449
464 469 489
xiv
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
LII. Boastful or "Show-Off" Manner 498
LIII. "Bossy"; "Leader"; "Follower" 503
LIV. Sullenness and Sulkiness 514
LV. Hatred or Jealousy for Sibling 521
LVT. School Notations: Poor Work, Retardation, Exclu- sion 525
LVII. Attractive Manner 535
LVIII. Stuttering or Stammering 538
LIX. Miscellaneous Physical and Psychophysical Nota- tions 541
LX. Miscellaneous Home, Familial, Educational, and Vo- cational Notations 551
INDEX
Index 563
xv
LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page
1. Frequency Distribution of Chronological Ages . 10
2. Frequency Distribution of Intelligence Quo- tients 11
3. Percentage Frequency Distribution of Person- ality-Totals 88
4. Percentage Frequency Distribution of Conduot- Totals . . . . 97
xvll
LIST OP TABLES Table Page
1. Traits for Which Correlations with All Traits in Tables
1 and 3 Were Computed 51
2. Traits for Which Only the Correlations with Personality- Total, Conduct -Total, Police Arrest, Chronological Age, and Intelligence Quotient Were Com- puted 54
5. Miscellaneous Traits or Conditions for Which Correla- tions Only with the Items of Table 1 Were Computed . . 55
4. Personality- Total, Conduct -Total, and Police Arrest; Means, Standard Deviations. Ranges, and Intercorrela- tions (Age "Partlaled Out"), N's - 2,115 Boys and 1,181 Girls ~ 85
5* Rank-Order Agreement between the "Outside" Correlation
Coefficients for Each of the Three Criteria 86
The remaining Tables (6-130) bear titles corresponding to the headings of chapters ix-lx, in which they appear.
xix
PART I INTRODUCTORY
CHAPTER I THE PURPOSE
This volume deals with intercorrelations among children's traits, most of which are here grouped as "personality difficul- ties11 and "conduct difficulties." The ultimate aim of our study,, of which this book represents a second volume, Is a quantitative Investigation Into the many causal factors underlying undesirable behavior manifestations In children.
The principle of multiple causality is the basis of our procedure.
It is assumed .... that behavior traits are correlated with a large number of factors either Inherent in the child himself or arising in his environment, and that these correla- tions may vary in magnitude from zero to significantly high values either in a positive or in a negative direction. Thus the individual's behavior pattern is conceived as the resultant of many contributing factors of differing degrees of potency. The labor of this investigation consists in reducing to quan- titative terms the degree of correlation or casual contribu- tion.l
In accordance with such an empirical plan of attack the list of behavior traits studied was chosen on the basis of how fre- quently they were noted among our cases rather than according to any prevalent beliefs concerning their relative importance or seri- ousness. Specifically, all the traits whose Incidences among our 2,113 White boys and 1,181 White girls seemed large enough to jus- tify extensive statistical computations were selected for correla- tional analysis. Among characteristics or conditions other than behavior traits, only a few are discussed in the present inquiry. A more exhuastive examination of these non- behavior factors was not feasible at the present time.
Although our chief objective is the evaluation of causal factors, little will be said in this volume about causation in a
jL. Ackereon, Children's Behavior Problems , Vol. I: Incidence! Genetic and Intellectual Factoris (Uhiveralty of Chicago Preas, 1931 )• Pp. xxi + 268. Hereinafter referred to ae Vol. I.
4 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBI-EMS
strict sense, for the calculation of correlations does not, of course, afford a final description of causality. It can under proper application state the amount of relationship and thus the amount of causation among a set of traits or conditions, this being its exclusive function, but it can never state the direction of causation. For if a correlation is obtained between trait A and B, the meaning may be (1) that trait A is the cause of trait B or (2) that trait B is the cause of trait A or (3) that both traits A and B, singly or jointly, are the effects of a third cause or group of causes, £. A fourth possibility, which is not usually stated specifically by writers on statistical technology but which is the most important one for research workers desiring to elicit unequivocal conclusions from actual data is (4) that a combination of two or more of the aforementioned factors may be present, e.g., traits A and B may react reciprocally upon each other and at the same time be influenced by a third cause or group of causes, £.
A concrete illustration will make Point 4 clear. Between the notations staying out late at night and sex delinquency (co- itus) among our I,l8l girl cases we have found the substantial cor- relation (Pearson!s tetrachorlc r with age partialed out) of .44 ± .04. In this instance the causal interpretation is complex. The fact of staying away from home late at night probably exposes some girls to special temptations or opportunities for sex miscon- duct and may therefore stand as a direct causal influence. At the same time it is probable that girls of whom heterosexual activity has become a characteristic (the "aggressive" sex delinquents) may tend- to stay away from home at night in search of 'conditions or companions peculiarly associated with misconduct of this type, so that the fact of sex delinquency thus may be to this extent the contributing cause. And at the same time both staying out late at night and sex delinquency may be effects of an outside cause or group of causes: e.g., if family control is inadequate and the girl is "allowed to run wild"; if the girl is on terms of hostility with other members of the family (e.g., the step-parent hypothe- sis), and may tend to stay away from home and seek the quasl- frlendship associated with illicit sex relations; If the girl is "infatuated" with some man, i.e., "sexually suggestible by one in- dividual, " as one sociological writer has expressed It, and re- sponds to his requests that she "go out with him"; If the girl
THE PURPOSE 5
"craves excitement" or a "gay life," vhich to her imply such ac- tivities as "booze parties" or "picking up a fellow who has a car" if the girl in "looking for a job" arrives in such predisposing employment as "music shows," night clubs, or "taxi dancing acade- mies"; or if the girl was engaging in prostitution, in which the economic motive may have had some part. Many other outside fac- tors could readily be cited, which in certain instances or under certain conditions may be operative as causes of either "late habits" or sex misconduct.
Thus It becomes apparent that a strict determination of * what is cause and what is effect lies outside ttie scope of corre- lational statistics as they are employed in this study. Therefore, with a view toward simplifying the presentation of dur findings, the material of this volume will be considered only as correlation! or associations between traits. The interpretation of this mate- rial from the standpoint of assigning causal Influences would re- quire additional data bearing perhaps more directly upon questions of causation. Many readers will probably not be content with con- sidering correlations merely as correlations but will desire to make their own interpretation of causal factors implied therein. There is no reason why they should not do so, under the cautions noted above.
The Utility of Correlation Coefficients
If this volume expressly refrains from discussion of causa- tion, in order to avoid at this time the interpretive intricacies involved in assigning cause- and- effect status, and covers only the eliciting of correlations, what is the utility of this lengthy presentation of correlation coefficients?
1. Although correlations cannot by themselves point out what is cause and what is effect, they do serve a useful function in locating where causation of some kind exists. Statistical cor- relation is but the quantification of John Stuart Mill's "method
P
of concomitant variations," which has long been recognized by lo- gicians as an instrument of causal analysis. The approach in our
w. Brown and 0. H. Thomson, The Essentials of Mental Measurement (London: Cambridge University Press, 1921), p. 97.
6 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
study has been largely empirical. In view of the nature of the case material available to us and in viev of the relatively small body of proved research information now existing, upon which one could base the hypotheses necessary for a more refined research investigation In this field, it was felt that a systematic explora- tion of a large number of frequently appearing behavior difficul- ties would be the most efficacious plan of attack. Prom such an empirical analysis it is to be expected that certain relations will be elicited and specific hypotheses suggested, which can be inves- tigated in more crucial studies especially set up for this purpose. In thus circumscribing the field In which causal factors may be looked for, the routine calculation of correlation coefficients contributes directly to the study of causation.
2. The study of causation Is valued not merely as an end In itself but rather as a means toward the ultimate aim of prog- nosis and therapeusis or prophylaxis, to use the medical terms, or the aim of prediction and guidance, to employ the psychologist's words. The usual logic has been that when we have identified the causes of certain conditions we may proceed more intelligently to devise methods of treatment or prevention. Now it has often hap- pened that effective methods of treatment have been discovered more or less by chance, without any complete working-out of the Intermediate implications of causal analysis or etiology. For ex- ample, much of the use of specific drugs In the cure of physical disease has been the result of fortuitous discovery, without any clear understanding of the reason for their efficacy. In reference to our data, then, it Is possible that in many Instances a study of the Intercorrelatlons between behavior traits and related traits or conditions may lead directly to the invention of practical meth- ods of treatment or prevention, although an adequate knowledge of the underlying causal mechanism is lacking.
3. An extensive list of correlation coefficients, It Is hoped, will possess some practical utility both for workers In a clinic and for parents or guardians in the following manner: A high correlation coefficient between two traits means that the two traits tend to be associated in the same individual. Therefore, if the presence of one trait in a given child has been ascertained, high correlation coefficients may often serve as clues to the pres- ence of other traits not so easily ascertalnable. A more detailed
THE PURPOSE 7
discussion of this possibility will be given in chapter vii.
4. A similar possibility is that of prediction. If one of two traits which have been found from previous studies to be sub- stantially intercorrelated is present in a given child, while, the other trait has been ascertained to be absent, the question may well be raised whether the second trait may become present at a later time. Since a time factor is here admitted as a further com- plication, one's estimate of probabilities may be aided by a con- sideration of Volume I, Part III, in which the relation of behavior traits to the age factor was presented. A more complete explana- tion of this possibility of prediction is reserved for chapter vli.
Volume I dealt with the relation of children's behavior difficulties to sex differences, to racial (Negro- White) differ- ences, to the developmental factor as represented by simple chron- ological age, and to the factor of Intelligence as represented by mental age and intelligence quotient as obtained from an individual psychometric examination.
In the present volume, Part II deals with the correlations of 161 frequently noted behavior traits and other case-record no- tations, with three criteria designed to indicate the degree of the child's deviation from the conventional norm of acceptable be- havior: (1) pers onality- 1 otal , i.e., the unweighted summation of all the personality problems reported for a given child, (2) con- duct-total, similarly the unweighted summation of all the conduct problems reported for each child, and (3) arrest by police or ap- pearance in juvenile court for reason of misconduct. A study of these correlations will throw light on the problem of the relative "seriousness" or "omlnousness" of various behavior difficulties and may serve to point out which traits call for special attention.
Part III deals with 122 tables of correlation coefficients classifiable as follows: Tables 9 and 10, chronological age and intelligence quotient (IQ). These two tables cover much of the material of Volume I, Part III, but in the present volume the re- lationships are expressed in terms of correlation coefficients. Tables 11-116, inclusive, frequently appearing behavior traits. Tables 117-30, inclusive, case-record notations in the physical and psychophyslcal, the home and familial, and the educational and vocational fields which would not be considered as "behavior traits . "
CHAPTER II THE DATA
All the correlations reported in the present volume are based upon two groups of cases, 2,113 White "boys and 1,181 White girls, except where otherwise explicitly stated. The boys and girls were never combined. They were children between their sixth and eighteenth birthdays, who were or had been in the regular pub- lic schools and whose intelligence quotients as obtained in the routine clinic examination (usually the 1916 Stanf ord-Binet ) were 50 or more. Negro children, who comprised 408 out of the 5,000 cases originally covered in this investigation, were excluded be- cause it was found that in our population they appeared to show a somewhat different sort of behavior complex than the White chil- dren (see Vol. I, chap. v). Children below 6 years of age and be- low 50 IQ were excluded from the total 5,000 consecutive cases, because it was found that our children below these age and intel- ligence levels manifested so few behavior problems (see Vol. I, Part III) that their inclusion would only inflate the correlation coefficients computed upon them. To "partial out" age and intel- ligence quotient would probably not overcome this difficulty suc- cessfully because of the frequent tendency toward curvi linearity of regression of trait on age or IQ, as shown in £he curves in Vol- ume I. There was excluded also a group of 90 boys and 98 girls of adolescent ages who were referred by "scholarship associations," primarily for advice as to whether their capacities justified the expenditure of the agencies' funds on their further education. The reason for this exclusion was that in the nature of things it was probable that their parents might be tempted to underemphasize any undesirable behavior traits which could militate against their ob- taining scholarship grants. It is probable, moreover, that these children represent a very superior group in respect to personality traits and family morale, since they were planning on a high-school course which, even with the scholarship association's assistance of twenty- five dollars a month or less, would entail a considerable
8
THE DATA 9
financial sacrifice to the family.
While these same factors of heterogeneity in motivation and selection could be urged for excluding some of the remaining oases, it was felt that they were too few In number to warrant their intentional omission.1 And,, furthermore, too great a homoge- neity in the material is not desirable, since a situation of com- plete homogeneity in any factors would render a correlational studj of those factors Impossible.
This arbitrary exclusion of cases described in the preced- ing paragraphs was made for the purpose of decreasing to some ex- tent the divergence between our group of cases and an ideally un- selected group of children of the same ages. That any sort of real approximation to unselected children of these ages has been achieved by these exclusions cannot, of course, be asserted. The many qualifying conditions surrounding the data, as far as the writer can see them, will be explained and discussed in detail in subsequent pages devoted to a description of our data and its source (chap. iv).
An extensive account of the source of our material and the, circumstances under which it was obtained, together with the nu- merous factors influencing its validity, has been given in Volume I. Hence a brief resum.6 will be sufficient for .the present.
All the children of this study have been examined at the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research. A group of 5,000 con- secutive cases who had a complete examination (psychiatric, psy- chological, physical, social, and, when requested, recreational) during the years 1923-27 provided the data.
The 2,113 White boys and I,l8l White girls concerned in this volume, it is well to repeat, were between their sixth and eighteenth birthdays at the time of their first admission, and their intelligence quotients were above 50 (Pigs. 1 and 2).
The reasons for their being referred for examination may be found in Volume I, Tables 1-13. Most of the examinees provided a complex of reasons leading to their examination, so that one must
A description of the group of scholarship children may be found In H. Haymaker (Worthington) , "A Study of High School Scholarship Students/ In- stitution Quarterly, X?I (Springfield, 111. : Department of Public Welfare, 1925), 62-65.
10
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
not fall Into the error of supposing that all In any group of chil- dren were referred specifically because of the trait under discus- sion. For example, our children with a notation of stealing In- clude not only cases in which stealing was a major reason for their appearance in a behavior clinic but also cases in which stealing was only an incidental problem among many others . There appeared to be no practicable means of distinguishing "major" and "minor" reasons within our material.
300
O20O Q>
U./00
Boys, N*ait3
x—
10 if
12
\3 \4>
IS
16 17
at fast birthday
Fig. 1.— Frequency Distribution of Chronological Ages
The character of the material may be roughly described as follows: The largest single group of children was* referred because of behavior difficulties ranging from such relatively minor prob- lems as finicky food habits to such serious problems as suspected insanity. Illegitimate pregnancy, or alleged murder. The majority of these behavior difficulties concern the home, neighborhood, or school milieu. Only a fraction of the 3,294 cases discussed in this volume — about 22 per cent of the boys and 15 per cent of the girls— had a notation of police arrest or juvenile -court appear- ance for reasons of bad conduct, so that this group must not be thought of as "delinquents," a term which is best restricted to children who have been under police detention. That juvenile be- havior difficulties are to a considerable extent prophetic of so- cial or personal maladjustment in later life may be assumed. In
THE DATA
11
fact, the justification of the support by the Illinois State De- partment of Public Welfare of the Instituted clinical and research activities among these younger children lies in the possibility for prevention of such serious manifestations as criminallsm or mental disease in later life which is afforded by this early care and study of childhood conduct and personality trends, .
300
X
c
I
ZOO
lL
IOC
Soys,
w
J S £
Fig. 2.— Frequency Distribution of Intelligence Quotients
The second largest single group of children presented prob- lems of low Intelligence and poor work in their school studies. Since our present group of cases Includes only the children with intelligence quotients above 50, only a few of this group were re- ferred for routine examination for commitment to a state school for mental defectives. Retardation in school (which would probably amount to two yeara or more by the age of 16) was noted In over JfO per cent of our 3,294 cases. In only a minority of instances, however, did Inadequate intelligence or poor school work appear to be a principal reason leading to their being referred for examina- tion.
Another large group presented problems of educational or vocational guidance not necessarily associated with low intelli- gence or general inadequacy in school work.
12 CHILDREN* 3 BEHAVIOR PROBIJSMS
The remainder were referred for miscellaneous reasons, e.g., physical defects vith which may be associated gross behavior difficulties, such as enuresis, convulsions, post-encephalitic con- ditions, endocrine disfunction, and the like, and various problems of foster- home placement and problems of future supervision.
It must be remembered that these descriptions do not rep- resent any discrete or "official" classification of cases, since most of the children could be placed in two or jnore of these broad descriptive classes.
Most of the children live in or near Chicago. Their eco- nomic and cultural status ranged from very poor to very high but, in general, would be considered below average. A substantial frac- tion were of foreign-born parentage. Their intelligence level was generally below average (Pig. 2), although the grossly feeble- minded cases were excluded from our study.
The largest portion of the information was obtained from the child's parents, usually the mother, in a personal interview
conducted by the psychiatric social worker. In the interview a
o social-history outline was followed which "includes all the major
points which should be covered in every case and which allows for expansion here and there according to the individual problems con- sidered." Additional preliminary information was obtained from any social agencies with which the child or family had had a pre- vious contact. In some cases supplementary information was ob- tained from other relatives or "friends of the family," from teachers, club-leaders, employers, etc. The rest of the informa- tion was obtained in the clinical examination itself, to which the psychiatrist was the chief contributor.
The data employed in this study are almost entirely in the form of categorical case notations, only four items — the personal- ity-total, the conduct- total, chronological age (CA), and intelli- gence quotient (IQ) — being in the form of continuous or measured variates. These categorical notations should be strictly Inter- preted as "noted or not noted" rather than as "present or absent."
«. 8. Mink and H. M. Adler, "A Suggested Outline for History-Taking In Cases of Behavior Disorders In Children/ Welfare Magazine. VII (19S6), 5- 22. See also P. L, Schroeder, Child guidance Procedures ; Methods and Tech- niques Bnployed at the Institute for Juvenile Research (Rev York; Appleton- Century, 1937). Pp. viii + 562.
THE DATA 13
This caution Is necessary In view of the fact that we cannot be sure that the absence of a specific notation means that the trait was non-existent in the child, since the amount or Intensity of the interviewing was not necessarily uniform in each case (see pp. 35-38). Furthermore, in many pf the more secretive or subjective behavior traits we cannot rely absolutely on the verity of the in- formant fs observations and interpretations (see pp. 30-31). In the categorical notations as used in this volume no distinction was made between cases In which the grounds for a notation were well established and those in which the grounds were less certain. Our reasons for grouping the questioned and episodical Instances with the unquestioned cases rather than on the "not-noted" side of the dichotomlzation are discussed on pages 31-32.
Our extensive use of these categorical and subjective case notations as research material raises many queries concerning not only the validity of the tetrachorlc and bi-serial correlation methods necessary In treating such data but also the meaning of statistical results based upon such material. The next two chap- ters will attempt to discuss these technical problems in detail.
CHAPTER III STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA
The method of presenting the data of this volume is almost entirely "by the comparison of correlation coefficients. These have been arranged in descending order, as far as possible, to facili- tate comparisons with one another. Boys and girls are kept sepa- rate.
Pearson's Bi- serial and Tetrachoric Correlation Coefficients
Pearsonian correlation was used throughout. For the inter- correlations among the four quantitative variates — personality- total, conduct- total, chronological age, and intelligence quotient —product-moment coefficients were computed. For the correlations of these four quantitative variates with the categorical notations,
Pearson's1 bi- serial r was employed. For the interc or relations
——————
among the categorical notations Pearson's tetrachoric r, together
with Everitt's tables of the tetrachoric functions,-5 was used.
4 Probable errors of bl- serial _r were obtained by Soper's Formula 23
and his tables . Probable errors of tetrachoric r were obtained by
A brief description of this bi-serial method may be found in I, 136. Its original presentation was given by K. Pearson, "On a New Method of Determin- ing Correlation between a Measured Character A, and a Character B, of Which the Percentage of Cases wherein B Exceeds (or Falls Short of) a Given Intensity Is Recorded for Each Grade of Aj" Blometrika, VII (1907), 96-105.
"On the Correlation of Characters Not Quantitatively Measurable/1 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London, CXCV, Ser. A (1900), T^T.
^K. Pearson (ed. ), Tables for Statisticians and Blometricians, Part I (2d ed. ; London: Cambridge University Press, 192*0, PP- 1-lv and Tables XXIX and XXX. Since the time when the tetrachoric coefficients of this study were computed, a very efficient method has been devised for obtaining tetrachoric r's (L. Chesire, M. Saffir, and L. L. Thur stone, Computing Diagrams for the Tetra- ohorlc Correlation Coefficient [University of Chicago Bookstore, 1933] )* which yields coefficients of sufficient accuracy for almost all practical needs.
H. E. Soper, "On the Probable Error of the Bi-serial Expression for t the Correlation Coefficient," Biometrika, X (1914), 384-90.
14
STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA 15
Formula 213 In Kelley's textbookr and by his Table LI. For the coefficients smaller than .20 the computation of probable errors vas omitted, partly because such probable errors would be very large in comparison with their coefficients and partly as a means of indicating that in view of , the many possible distorting influ- ences upon the coefficients (to be described in chap, iv) little interpretation should be made of coefficients below this size.
A brief explanation of these two coefficients may be de- sirable. Bi-serlal _r is computed from a tabulation such as the accompanying table, which shows the relation of depressed spells to chronological age among 2,113 boys, bi- serial _r being .22 ± .03 (Table 9, pp. 128-29).
|
Chronological Age |
||||||||||||
|
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
|
|
Depressed spells noted |
5 82 |
3 119 |
6 170 |
8 181 |
9 200 |
14 215 |
18 225 |
16 223 |
19 234 |
24 161 |
20 99 |
7 55 |
|
Depressed spells not noted |
This procedure assumes rectilinearity of regression in the continuous variate (chronological age) and normality of distribu- tion in the dichotomized variate (depressed spells). The former assumption can be satisfactorily investigated for each tabulation by drawing up incidence curves and observing their form. In the case of chronological age (CA) and intelligence quotient (IQ) it was obvious in Volume I, Part III, that in our data curvilinear! ty is the rule rather than rectilinearity. Our reasons for employing bi- serial r for these variates in spite of its admitted inadequacy are explained on later pages in this chapter.
The use of Pearson's' bi-serial r\ and "coefficient of class
5T. L. Kelley, Statistical Method (New York: Maoaillan, 1923), p. 250. The original presentation was given by K. Pearson, "On the Probable Er- ror of a Coefficient of Correlation as Found from a Fourfold Table," Biomet- rika, IX (1913), 22-2?.
6I, 114-18, and Figs. 15-47 •
•7
K. Pearson, "On a New Method of Determining Correlation When One Var- iable Is Given by Alternative Categories and the Other by Multiple Categories," Biometrika, VII (1910), 248-57-
16 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Q
heterogeneity or divergence" (a two- row contingency coefficient), which make no requirements as to the form of regression in the con- tinuous variates, did not appear serviceable in our material. These coefficients become seriously magnified by cell- frequencies of zero; and it was found after a brief experimentation that the large number of zero cell- frequencies in our data tended to exag- gerate these types of coefficients beyond the limits of credibil- ity.
It appeared best to compute bi-serial _r's routinely for each two- row tabulation and to accompany them with a verbal cau- tion to the reader that these are only an inadequate substitute for the regular n x n-fold scatter diagrams and product- moment co- efficients and correlation ratios, which will not be obtainable until personality and conduct traits can be subjected to a satis- factory quantitative measurement.
There follows a specimen tetrachorlc tabulation of the In- terrelation of stealing and truancy from home among 2,113 boys, x»t being .64 ± .02 (Table 56, p. 312).
|
Stealing Noted |
Stealing Not Noted |
|
|
Truancy from home noted |
375 |
128 |
|
Truancy from hpme not noted. ..... |
440 |
1,170 |
As a means of economizing work in the computation of tet- rachoric j?'s, the following system was observed: The equation was first written out to the second power of rt and solved. If the ob- tained coefficient fell between .30 and ."¥9, the successive two terms up to the fourth power were added; and, for initial values of r^ of .50 or larger, the equatioi) was carried out to the sixth power. It was found empirically that such short cuts seldom left the final r, as far as .01 away from what would have been obtained with full "carrying-out of computations.
Furthermore, in all coefficients in this volume, except
&. Pearson, "On the Coefficient of Class Heterogeneity or Divergence," Ibid., V (1906), 198-203.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA 17
those for chronological age and intelligence quotient (Tables 9 and 10, pp. 128 and 130), chronological age was "partialed out,n^ a process which in general had little effect upon the coefficients, since the correlations of age with the two notations in question were usually negligible. As ,a time-saving device, the partial co- efficients were obtained from tables showing the limits between which the partial j?!s would fall for various correlations with age. This short-cut process could only very seldom yield final coeffi- cients differing as much as .01 from a stricter computation. •
Among our r ' s in Tables 6-130 it is possible, then, that,
^ on account of -the two short cuts just described, a few may differ
as much as .02 from what would have been obtained under the strict- est conditions of calculation; but, in view of the exploratory and tentative character of this research, this slight deviation from strict numerical accuracy is negligible.
Mention should also be made of the fact that the formula for the probable error of tetrachoric T is technically incorrect for our partial coefficients, involving as they do both tetrachoric and bi-serial methods. For such coefficients the probable error formula for tetrachoric £ would give too large a value, while that for bl- serial r would give too small a value. Since the techni- cally correct formula for this purpose has not yet been derived, it seems preferable to overstate rather than to understate the de- gree of unreliability attaching to these coefficients, and there- fore the probable error for tetrachoric _r was employed.
A correlation coefficient, it must be remembered, carries only a part of the Implications of a relationship between traits. Wherever space permits, the tabulation upon which it is based should accompany it. The coefficient by Itself, to be sure, prob- ably represents the most essential element of the relationship. Because of its ease of computation it serves as a convenient meas- ure of the amount of correlation between traits, and because of its compactness and universalized meaning it lends itself to use in comparative studies. .These are the two uses made of it in this volume. But the worker who wishes more precise or complete infor- mation will need to refer to the original tabulations, at times
a
^G. U. Yule and M. G. Kendall, An Introduction to the Theory of Sta- tlstics "(Hth ed.; London: Charles Griffin, 1937), p. 269 (1^.13). "
18 CHILDREN1 S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
even to the original protocols. He may wish to inquire into any irregularities in the relationship, whether it is rectilinear or curvilinear or whether a given population is homogeneous or hetero- geneous, or he may wish to go beyond the abstract correlation co- efficient to some more specific or practical application, such as eliciting clues to the presence of other important characteristics or the possibilities of predicting future behavior (see pp. 69-77 and Vol. I, chap. xil). When the role of the correlation coeffi- cient in the total research process is considered, it is evident that obtaining the coefficient marks only the beginning stage and is not an end unto Itself.
In order that bi- serial T and tetrachoric r may approxi- mate the value of the standard product -moment _r, the requirements underlying the two formulas should be fulfilled. These require- ments are rectilinearlty of regression in the case of quantitative variates and normality of distribution in the case of categorical notations, i.e., both formulas were derived from the product -moment formula on these assumptions. That is, we must assume that, if adequate measurements of the trends underlying the categorical no- tations could be obtained, they would be found to be normally dis- tributed. In the absence of actual graduated measurement of trait notations such as ours, the fact of normality cannot, of course, be proved. The extensive employment of tetrachoric and bi- serial correlation in data of this kind, with its implicit acceptance of normality, is attributable to three lines of reasoning: (1) if many contributing factors of varying degree of potency may be ef- fective in bringing about the presence of a given behavior trait and if this trait may be present in varying degrees of intensity, the resulting distribution of this trait in a population will be of graduated character and will tend toward normality of form; (2) distributions actually obtained on measurable traits similar to ours usually show a symmetrical or bell- shaped form resembling Gaussian distribution, so that in the absence of specific knowl- edge as to the form of distribution, an assumption of normal or Gaussian distribution is better than that of any other one form;
A simple explanation of this point may be found in E. L. Thorndike, Mental and Social Measurements (New York: Teachers College, Columbia Univer- sity, 1912), pp. 80-81*.
nibid., pp. 9^-105.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA 19
and (3) if the form of distribution is not grossly irregular, one may consider that, if an actual measurement device were constructed, it could be arbitrarily "scaled" to yield a normal or Gaussian dis- tribution.
It should be remembered that the value of a bi- serial jr or a tetrachoric _r is not affected in any constant direction by the location of the point of dichotomization. The ideal point of di- chotomization is near the centroid of the distribution. The ef- fect of extreme dichotomies is a reduction in the reliability, which is (theoretically, at least) taken care of by the accompany- ing probable error.
Now a strict mathematical normality cannot be expected in actual research data. The question is whether the state of affairs of a specific research approaches sufficiently to a Gaussian dis- tribution to warrant an acceptable Interpretation of bi- serial and tetrachoric correlations in terms of the standard product -moment coefficient, with which we are more generally familiar. An empir- ical test was obtained by comparing tetrachoric j?'s with product- moment ^r's when both were computed from the same scatter diagrams found in statistical literature. In case of distributions approxi- mating the normal, the two coefficients were generally similar, as one might suppose. But upon scatter diagrams whose varlates showed extreme skewness and with extreme dichotomies, the discrepancy be- tween the product- moment _r and the tetrachoric jr became so great at times that the two types of coefficients bore little resemblance to each other except in sign. It should be remembered, further- more, that, when distortions from a true underlying normality of distribution are present, one cannot know in any instance whether they have the effect of increasing or of decreasing the r. in com- parison with a corresponding product -moment coefficient. It is probable, however, that in our categorical data the departure from strict normality was seldom so great as to invalidate entirely the meaning of our tetrachoric and bi- serial correlations within the latitude of interpretation of this study.
Other Correlation Methods for Categorical Dada
As a means of escaping bothersome questions concerning as- sumptions as to the form of distribution of categorical notations,
20 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
some workers have avoided Pearson's tetrachoric and bi-serial cor- relation coefficients in favor of methods which make no such as- sumptions. Some workers have also preferred procedures less labo- rious of computation, but this can hardly be a worth-while advan- tage in working with material intended for publication, since the availability of simplified methods of calculation described above minimizes this difference in labor of calculation. Some of these methods are coefficiential, such as Yule's coefficient of associa- tion (Q) or his coefficient of colligation (03) or the fourfold con-
-i o
tlngency coefficients, and some are quantitative indices; such
as _P (probability).1^5
While all these methods afford a measure of correlation or association between categorical notations, it must be pointed out that the values obtained by their use bear little or no functional relation to those of the standard product -moment correlation co- efficient but must be interpreted, each within its own system of numerical indices. This lack of standardized or universalized meaning in the Q, CD, and fourfold-CJ coefficients seems to the writer to constitute an Important objection to their use. While there Is an undeniable strength of position in employing techniques requiring no special assumptions in dealing with a categorical and subjective notation when one can neither prove nor disprove the validity of such techniques, it should be remembered, nevertheless, that, while these techniques impose no assumptions, at the same time they tell us little. Even at their poorest, the Pearson tet- rachoric and bi- serial techniques can do as much as the Q, cu, and fourfold-^ coefficients. For if one disregards the assumptions and is willing to consider the coefficients as a unique system without thought of any relation or resemblance to the product- moment family of coefficients, one still has a "coefficient of as- sociation," whose derivation Is equally plausible with Q, CD, or fourfold-C. The raison d'etre for assumption of normality of
i"heBe coefficients are described in Kelley, op. cit., pp. 259-71.
K. Pearson, "On the Criterion that a Given System of Deviations from the Probable in the Case of a Correlated System of Variables Is Such that It Can Be Seasonably Supposed To Have Arisen from Random Sampling," Philosophical Maga- zine, L, Ser. V (London, 1900), 157-75, and "On the Probability that Two Inde- pendent Distributions of Frequency Are Really Samples from the Same Population,11 Blometrlka, VIII (1911), 250-5^; R. A. Fisher, Statistical Methods for Research Workers (7th ed.; Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1938), pp. 81-85.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA 21
distribution is that the coefficients may be understood as an ap- proximation to the values obtained from product -moment correlation, Therefore, the use of Pearson tetrachoric and bl- serial methods af- fords not only the meaning of a "coefficient of association" but gains the additional advantage of a fair likelihood that the coef- ficients may approximate the values of the universalized product- moment correlation.
Yule's Cj> and <u coefficients have been vigorously crltloizec by Heron and by Pearson and Heron on the grounds not only of their incomparabllity with the standard product -moment coefficient but also of their greater instability under changes in the point of dichotomizatlon.
A fourfold mean- square- contingency coefficient, ]2, has sev- eral disadvantages: (1) its values do not approximate product- moment correlation except under special circumstances; (2) its values are without sign, I.e., they measure merely the divergence of a given fourfold table from one which would occur In the com- plete absence of interdependence or association 'between the two traits under discussion and cannot indicate whether the inferen- tial relation or association is "positive" or "negative"; and (3) the maximum value obtainable by a contingency calculation on a 2 x 2-fold table according to Yule and Kendall1^ is .707, so thai very high correlations cannot be adequately measured by a fourfold C.
The methods of expressing the amount of correlation — or, more precisely, n on- independence — between traits in terms of prob- ability indlcear, such as _P (the probability that a distribution as divergent as the obtained one, or more so, could have occurred purely from random sampling in actually uncorrelated material), and the more conventionalized "critical ratio" (the ratio of a dif- ference between percentages to the standard error of that differ- ence) are faultless enough from the standpoint of sheer statisticaj logic. But, from the standpoint of simple Interpretation or under- standing, these probability indices possess marked disadvantages
D. Heron, "The Danger of Certain Foraulae Suggested as Substitutes for the Correlation Coefficient," Biometrika, VIII (1911), 109-22; K, Pearson and D. Heron, "On Theories of Association," Blometrlka, H (1915), 159-315.
150p. cit., pp. 68-69.
22 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
In comparison with correlation coefficients of the product-moment family, such as Pearson's bi- serial _r and tetrachoric T. The lat- ter coefficients may take values ranging from zero to + 1.00, while probability indices may take values ranging from zero to infinity. Because of their compact range of values, the meaning of individual correlation coefficients becomes appreciable upon the briefest ex- perience with them.
A more important drawback of a probability index is that it is a function not only of the underlying differences in the traits of the two groups but also of the number of cases upon which it is computed. In fact, if a true trait- difference exists at all between two groups, whatever its amount, the index may be sys- tematically raised to infinity by the simple expedient of increas- ing the number of cases. In actual practice, then, the probability index or "critical ratio" often becomes more a measure of the num- ber of cases involved than a measure of the true underlying trait- difference. For this reason, such an index must be interpreted only with reference to the number of cases upon which it is based. Therefore, such Indices cannot be used in comparisons unless the experimental populations are of uniform size. For example, in the present volume it would have been Impossible, by the probability methods, to make comparisons between the boys' and the girls' cor- relations, since their populations were 2,115 and I,l8l, respec- tively. The chief utility of these probability methods lies in establishing the degree of assurance that a difference actually exists.
Correlation coefficients, on the other hand, are not func- tionally related in any meaningful extent to the number of cases
upon which they are computed beyond the conventionalized minimum
17 of 20 or 30 cases ' but measure purely the underlying correlation.
This does not mean, of course, that the use of correlation coeffi- cients evades entirely the implications of probability, "the
Fisher, op. cit., pp. 9^-95.
17 Even on smaller samples the systematic distortion in the central or
expected values of product -moment coefficients is for most practical purposes negligible. See H. E. Soper et al., "On the Distribution of the Correlation Co- efficient in Small Samples," Appen. II to the papers of "Student" and R. A. Fisher, in Biometrika, XI (1917) > 328-413, esp. Table A.
STATISTICAL METHODS IN CATEGORICAL DATA 23
18 fundamental problem of practical statistics," since they, like
all other measures of trend or relationship based upon samplings of variate material, must be interpreted vith some regard to their accompanying probable errors. But the correlation coefficient coupled with its probable error forms a compact quantitative ex- pression which varies only within somewhat narrow limits with in- crease in the number of cases. The fact of this comparative sta- bility of bl- serial and tetrachoric _r under varying conditions of mere sampling constitutes an important advantage of these coeffi- cients over the use of probability indices.
Although the tetrachoric coefficient has been in use among the English biometricians since 1900 and is described fully in most of the advanced statistics textbooks, it is only in recent years that more than a limited use has been made of this method of treat- ing categorical data among other workers in the social sciences.
i A K. Pearson, "The Fundamental Problem of Practical Statistics," Bio-
metrika, XIII (1920), 1-16.
CHAPTER IV THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA
The preceding chapter described the statistical methods employed in this 'study and attempted to point out to what extent they conform to the requirements of our case-record data. In this chapter it is desirable to turn to a discussion of this case mate- rial from another standpoint, namely, its validity.
In dealing scientifically with the gross patterns of indi- vidual human behavior, the problem of validity is a more critical matter than in the physical and biological sciences. For in the latter sciences many of the most important basic concepts can be clarified once for all by the simple expedient of an arbitrary def- inition of terms or units of measurement, and the validity or mean- Ing of such terms is automatically established. In human behavior, on the other hand, workers cannot so readily resort to arbitrary definition to clarify concepts. Overt Behavior manifestations are a matter of familiar knowledge, however superficial, to the lay- man and have already acquired firmly established popular names. The social scientist, therefore, has not the same opportunity to define once for all the phenomena with which he works but must fre- quently conform to this established usage of terms, however ambig- uous or misleading it may be. While the question of validity in- volves more than an agreement on the definition of terms, concepts, or units of measurement, the fact remains that much of the problem of validity, as it is encountered in actual researches, would dis- appear if a universalized system of concepts were available.
The evaluation of case-record notations as research data raises the following points of validity, which will be discussed at some length in subsequent pages: the selective factors influ- encing the admission of children to clinic examination; the
A critical discussion of our use of case-record data is given in a review of Vol. I by Ruth E. Arrington, Journal of Criminal Lav and Criminology,
(1932), 515-16.
24
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 25
reliability and objectivity of this sort of data, as psychometrl- clans use these terms; the prejudicial effect upon correlation co- efficients arising from prevalent beliefs or biases on the part of informants or examiners; differential completeness of the case- record information; inadequate defining of terms and ambiguous and overlapping grouping of notations; the use of categorical trait names instead of measured varlates; and the inadequate representa- tion In most case-record data of the desirable or Indifferent traits, as distinguished from undesirable traits, i.e., the under- representatlon of "assets" In the child's behavior makeup and the overrepresentation of "liabilities."
The Selective Factors Influencing the Admission of Children to Clinic Examination
A glance at Figures 1 and 2 (chap. 11 ) indicates that our cases at the outset form a selected group on the basis of age and intelligence level. The age distributions in our material do not show an even distribution of cases at each age level, as one would expect among uns elected children of this age range, but show in- creasing frequencies from 6 years up to about 13 or 14 years and decreasing frequencies beyond these levels through the seventeenth year. In our correlational results, chronological age has been "partialed out," but because of the frequent curvilinearity of re- gression of behavior problem on chronological age (Vol. I, Part III) the selective influence of age is probably not adequately cared for by the simple expedient of partial correlation.
The average intelligence quotient of our cases falls in the eighties. The exact average IQ of unselected children of these ages is still a matter of controversy, but in any event one can be sure that the cases of this study include a disproportionate num- ber of children of below-average intelligence. A further selection enters through the fact that children with IQfs below 50 were arbi- trarily excluded from the present study (see p. 9)— a factor which is probably of little Import to our present problem.
In all probability there has also been a marked selection on the basis of cultural and economic status. These factors ranged from very low to very high among our cases but in the main would be considered well below average. The major portion were born in the Chicago metropolitan area. Over half of the parents were
26 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
foreign born, the largest foreign-born groups coming from "Russia," Poland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Rumania.
Probably the most serious selective factor, in the estima- tion of most readers, arises from the overweighting of cases mani- festing marked personality and conduct difficulties.
There were enough children referred for other reasons than behavior difficulties, however, to prevent our material from being entirely homogeneous — for example, children referred because of difficulty 4,n school studies or for vocational guidance or for ad- vice regarding foster-home placement. But in general the diver- gence between our material and a group Of ideally unselected chil- dren is probably sufficient to alter significantly the values of our correlation coefficients from what would have been obtained upon unselected material if it had been available.
A mitigating circumstance, however, lies in the fact that the selection on the basis of severity of behavior problems is probably a regular one and not an erratic one. The frequency dis- tributions of behavior difficulties (Pigs. 3 and ^) are generally regular and continuous. Therefore, one may hope that our correla- tion coefficients based upon this selected material may bear enough resemblance to the true state of affairs to suggest trends which may at some time be ascertained more precisely upon more represent- ative material. Inasmuch as the effect of selection in our data appears to be a more or less regular "restriction of range," the expected result is a diminution in the size of the obtained corre- lation coefficients. The effect of selective factors alone, then, in contrast to some other influences to be described later, Is an understatement rather than an overstatement of the true prevailing trends .
The problem of avoiding selective influences in the gather- ing of research data is one of the most difficult problems con- fronting the worker in the social sciences. When the material in- volves intimate facts in the behavior of people and their children, no mere matter of diligence, perseverance, or sincerity on the part of the worker will induce most persons to tell openly of such "fam- ily skeletons" as police records, psychoses, pauperism, illegiti- mate pregnancies, and the like, even onder the confidential condi- tions of a psychiatric clinic. It is entirely possible that at some future time people will take a more objective attitude toward
THE VALUE OF CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 27
undesirable or unsanctioned behavior among members of their fami- lies, but for the present the researcher vho desires to study the more intimate and confidential facts of human behavior must con- tent himself with material obtainable from informants vho are will- ing to offer this information in return for the assistance which child guidance and mental- hygiene clinics can give them in their own problems. The task before the researcher, then, is to elicit information of more general applicability from material admittedly subject to selective influences. From such data, trends may be discernible which may be substantiated from other sources.
The Unknown Factors of Reliability and Objectivity
"Reliability" and "objectivity" are used in this chapter in the strict sense as used by psychometricians. "Reliability" is the correlation or agreement between the results of independent ob- servations upon the same phenomena made by the same observer. "Ob- jectivity" is the correlation or agreement between the results of observations upon the same phenomena by different observers. The fact that psychometricians have appropriated these words which are in common use and have restricted them to a very specific statis- tical meaning has aroused considerable objection on the ground that these words have already acquired in popular usage a much broader connotation which commonly includes the idea of dependability, trustworthiness, or truthfulness, to which psychometricians have given the separate technical term, "validity." The psychometri- clan's use of the concepts "reliability" and "objectivity" concern strictly only the consistency of different takings of the measures and not their truthfulness. In deference to this objection against the terms, and as a collective term to include the ideas both of reliability and of objectivity, we shall employ the word "consist- ency" in this discussion to refer jointly to both ideas.
The well-made research based upon variate and "fallible"
data should include the formal presentation of reliability or ob-
p
jectivity coefficients. These serve at least three essential pur- poses.
2
A valuable discussion of this point is given by T. L. Kelley, "The He- liability of Test Scores," Journal of Educational Hesearoh, III (1921), 370-79-
28 CHILDREN1 S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
1. In the case of an obtained zero-relationship between two variates, the researcher cannot know whether the underlying corre- lation is actually negligible, regardless of the adequacy with which the two variates in question have been measured or, on the other hand, whether the present measurement of the two variates was so faulty that they could not yield any outside correlations
of significant size, even though actually the two variates are sub- stantially correlated.
2. In case a consistency correlation is found to be zero, the researcher may either drop the given varlate from further con- sideration or improve Its method of measurement until its consist- ency is large enough to "support" outside correlations.
2. Knowing both the correlation between two variates and the consistency correlations of each variate, the researcher may Infer the theoretical maximum correlation which would be obtained if the two variates were perfectly measured, i.e., the so-called "correction for attenuation"-^ or, similarly, the theoretical cor- relation which would be obtained under given degrees of Improve- ment in the consistency of measurement of the two variates.
It has become evident to the reader that the attitude taken in this discussion toward reliability and objectivity is that these are very definite mathematical indices, to be computed in very spe- cific ways, and not mere impressionistic and categorical expres- sions. The assertion that a certain datum is reliable or not re- liable, or objective or not objective, is next to meaningless, v What we wish to know, rather, is whether its reliability or objec- tivity coefficient is as high as .90, or only .50, or as low as •30. Having this Information, we are enabled to conclude whether the research data in a given instance are suitable for the purpose in view. While the use of "these consistency correlations fits most conveniently into a straightforward coefficiential correlation methodology, it must be remembered that the same factors' of reli- ability and objectivity function just as importantly in other types of correlational research, whether by group differences, probabil- ity Indices, or graphical representation in curves and the like.
*C. Spearman, "Demonstration of Formula for the True Measurement of Correlation," American Journal of Psychology, XVIII (1907), 161-69, and "The Coefficient of Correlation Calculated from Faulty Data," British Journal of Psy- chology. Ill (1910), 271-95.
THE VALUE OF CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 29
In the material of this study, which is composed almost entirely of subjective notations made by parents and examining staff, the lack of consistency correlations is painfully conspic- uous. Prom our case material there appeared to be no feasible method of obtaining these correlations. Ordinarily, there was only one person who served as the source of Information. In the home and developmental history of the child it was possible occasionally to obtain interviews from both parents of the child. A cursory comparison of such paired interviews, one from each parent, dis- closed that in the great majority of instances the two parents agreed substantially in their accounts of the child's behavior. There were a few instances, however, in which the parents gave con- tradictory Information on the same items. The amount of agreement or disagreement between the two parents, however, cannot be taken as an adequate measure of the objectivity of these case notations, since In most instances they have probably been considerably In- fluenced by each other in their attitude toward the child's behav- ior, so that their statements really represent a joint belief or consensus of opinion. To ascertain the amount of agreement between the mother and some Informant outside of the family would not obvi- ate this difficulty. Since the largest part of our data concerns the child fs behavior in the home and neighborhood, other informants are not likely to possess much knowledge beyond that which the child's parents have given them, so that these two sources of information would not be ideally Independent sources. In short, there seemed to be no satisfactory source of parallel information to employ as a measure of the objectivity of the mother's statements.
The other 'principal source of our data was the case nota- tions of the examining staff. It would not be impossible to make a fairly adequate study of the objectivity of this type of data. The difficulties, however, would be large: (l) the expense of provid- ing parallel staff members, (2) the tendency of members of the same clinic to conform to certain schools of thought or modes of prac- tice, and (3) the fact that the child-guidance field is still so largely uncharted and systems of interpretation of human behavior still in such a state of flux that studies of subjective case nota- tions made at this stage may within a few years become obsolescent.
The study by ¥11 lard 0. Olson presents encouraging evidence as to the reliability and objectivity of categorial and semi-
30 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
categorical case notations. He employed a cross-on-a-llne rating scale modified by the Inclusion of five landmarks In each trait, each rating being weighted according to a previously derived cri- terion of relative importance or seriousness. Thirty-five behavior traits were separately rated on 182 school children in Grades I- IV. Repeated ratings were obtained from their teachers. The reliabil- ity or consistency correlations for the 35 separate traits ranged from .33 to .81. The intellectual traits were rated most reliably (average r * .69), followed by social traits (average r « .61), then the physical traits (average _r * .55) and, least reliably, the emotional traits (average T - .51)*
Traits with readily observable trait actions were rated most reliably. Thus for the trait, "Is he slovenly or neat in personal appearance?" (r = .81.) Similarly for the trait, "is he quiet or talkative? (r = .80.) On the other hand, traits that called for more elusive interpretations of behavior were rated less reliably. "Does he lack nerve, or is he coura- geous?" (j? = .33) and "Does he give in or does he assert him- self?" (r « .37) are examples of traits with low reliability.^
These reliability coefficients are not so high as one could wish but are in the main high enough to justify their use in correla- tional studies. While they were obtained under conditions quite different from those of our study, there is no reason to suppose that the consistency of our case notations, if it were obtainable, would be found to be greatly different.
The many ways in which the subjectivity factor may show itself in our case notations scarcely need describing. The inform- ants, usually the child's mother, vary all the way from those pos- sessing a good knowledge and understanding of their children's be- havior and adequate language to express themselves down to mothers unaware of the true state of affairs and ¥ith poor powers of dis- cernment and Interpretation. Parents differ also in their stand- ards of noting a behavior item as important. An overanxious mother will probably remark many more behavior problems in her children than a more easygoing or less protective mother. Therefore, we cannot assume that the line of demarcation between such traits as overintereat in the opposite sex and a merely normal sex interest
Problem Tendencies In Children; A Method for Their Measurement and Description (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1930), pp. 25-32 and Table HVI.
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 21
is uniform for each child in our series. A quarrelsome or scold- ing mother may "by her actions engender or enhance behavior traits in her children, which under more skilful parentcraft might not have emerged to the same conspicuous degree. Thus the notations concerning a child's behavior really measure not only the child's intrinsic personality and conduct but also the attitude or behavior of other persons toward him. In short, the effect of the subjec- tivity factor on the part of informants is to bring about a lack of uniformity in the conditions under which the data are gathered.
Three other problems arise in connection with the subjec- tivity factor: (1) prejudicial attitudes or beliefs on the part of the informant or the examining staff, (2) the varying complete- ness of the case material, and (3) inadequate defining or grouping of terms by the indexers. These are important and distinctive enough to warrant separate discussion in later pages.
There are two elements in the situation, however, which tend to counteract to some extent the lack of uniformity occurring through variability among the informants. One is the fact that the interviews are conducted by experienced psychiatric social workers or by students in training under their supervision. Their aim is to elicit as far as possible the truth underlying the in- formant's statements. The other is the fact that the members of the examining staff are obliged to come to some conclusion and make recommendations concerning the child's future care. For that reason the case record is not considered complete until the staff is satisfied that adequate information covering the child's social, mental, emotional, and physical status has been obtained. There arises the danger that an interviewer, if markedly domineering or biased, may inject an additional element of subjectivity into this sort of data. It seems more probable, however, in view of the un- certain quality of most informants, that case information obtained and recorded by a trained interviewer, such as a psychiatric social worker, will lie closer to the truth than data based upon the un- checked statement of the child's parents.
A further factor in the reliability and objectivity of our case notations concerns the items about which the informant or staff member is uncertain. For example, if the mother suspects that the child steals but has had no convincing evidence, should the child be placed among the "stealing noted" group or among the
32 CHILDREN* 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
"stealing not noted" group, or should he be placed In a separate "question of stealing" group? It was possible to make an empiri- cal test of the matter. For some of the more frequently noted traits, such as stealing, stubbornness, sex delinquency (coitus), or psychoneurotic trends, subclasslfications were made for "ques- tion of" and occasionally for "episode of," Parallel bl-serial and tetrachoric correlation coefficients and also Incidence curves vere computed with the "question of" cases placed first on one side of the dichotomy and then on the other side. It was quickly found that the coefficients and curves obtained from pooling the ques- tioned and episodical cases with the "noted at present" group usu- ally showed a slightly higher correlation than by considering them in the "not noted" side of the dichotomization. This fact was taken as an indication in favor of including them in the "noted as present" group. The diminishing of the size of the correlations consequent upon the other system of grouping was interpreted as due to a neutralizing effect upon the underlying correlation, which would result if a case were placed on the wrong side of the dichot- omization.
A further source of attenuation in the obtained correla- tions arises from the fact that the "not noted" category includes both the cases in which the trait was absent (or present only to an inconsiderable degree) and cases in which the Item was unknown or unrecorded. In the specific list of traits discussed in this volume,^ however, this element of uncertainty is probably not of great importance, since these more frequently appearing traits were fairly diligently inquired into at the time the case infor- mation was obtained. Furthermore, in the present research the aim is exploratory and only marked relationships are sought for. There- fore, any trends which afe so tenuous as to be blurred seriously by these crudities of measurement are too slight to be given attention in this study. In a more conclusive ad hoc investigation of some specific question or hypothesis such a tolerant attitude toward im- perfections in one's data would be quite undesirable and inexcus- able. In anything approaching a refined study based upon case- record notations it would be necessary to distinguish rigidly be- tween "unknown" and "negative" Items.
5Chap. T.
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 33
The effect of a lack of reliability or objectivity in the measures, as described in the preceding paragraphs is an "attenua- tion, or constant tendency toward reduction in the size of cor- relation coefficients based upon such data. The error arising, from this factor alone (in contrast with the effect of certain factors to be discussed in subsequent pages) is fortunately one of under- statement, rather than of overstatement, of existing trends.
While there is no entirely satisfactory substitute for con- sistency correlations as obtained from a routine calculation upon repeated measures, there exists, however, an indirect indicator of the presence of reliability or objectivity which has some degree of utility in actual research situations. If j? , represents the correlation between traits A and B, and if Ha- aT"and Zbibg rePre" sent the consistency correlations of the two traits, Kelley' has shown that the maximum correlation of T . cannot, except as a mat- ter -of chance, exceed v^aiap x -EbVto' "^ any trait> then, mani- fests a tendency toward substantial correlation with other traits, it is highly probable that the trait in question possesses a work- able amount of reliability and objectivity, for, if either consist- ency correlation under the radical were zero, the intercorr elation between these two traits could not be expected to attain a signif- icant size unless some fortuitous combination of subtle factors were present.
While the fact of substantial outside correlations argues in favor of the consistency or stability of the data, the fact of zero outside correlations does not necessarily mean that the reli- ability or objectivity of the data is low. In the latter case the meaning is indeterminate. A zero outside correlation may also mean simply that the two traits are actually uncorrelated, regardless of the adequacy of their measurement. Because of this uncertainty of meaning, little interpretation is made in this volume concerning low and zero correlation coefficients. In view, furthermore, of the large probable errors attaching to these tetrachoric and bi- serial coefficients, we have arbitrarily chosen .20 as the lower
C. Spearman, "The Proof and Measurement of Association between Two Things," American Journal of Psychology, XV (190^), 72-101.
^Loc. cit.
34 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
limit of significance. Coefficients below this size are presented with little comment or interpretation.
Prejudicial Trends in the Data
While the effect of the factors of selection and instabil- ity of measurement on correlations is in general to reduce their magnitude toward zero, as ve have pointed out in the preceding tvo sections, the effect of the two factors to "be described in the next two sections — the factor of prejudices or biases in the data and the factor of varying completeness in the case information — is usu- ally an increase in the size of obtained correlations or, in the case of negative correlations, a swing toward zero or toward the positive direction. Both of these problems arise from the subjec- tivity in the source of information based, as it is, so largely upon the personal beliefs or opinions of parents and examiners.
If there is a widespread belief among parents or staff members that two traits are associated or that one trait is a cause of another, this prejudicial influence may enlarge an obtained cor- relative coefficient between case-record notations of the two traits. For example, we note the relatively substantial correla- tions between enures is and mas t urbat i on of .24 and .19 among boys and girls, respectively (see Table 97). Now it is entirely pos- sible that these two traits are intrinsically correlated, but the possibility also exists that these coefficients also comprise a prejudicial effect arising from the fact that many parents believe, whether correctly or not, that masturbation actually causes bed- wetting, so that such parents of an enuretic child may search more diligently for evidences of masturbation, and, in view of its all- but-universal prevalence" among children, are more likely to obtain these evidences than in the case of children whose parents have no special reason to suspect masturbation.
.Such prejudicial or biased factors probably exist through- out our data. As a further example, one may be suspicious of our high correlations of bad companions (Table 82) with police arrest and the more conspicuous conduct problems, such as stealing, tru- ancy from home, or heterosexual sex misconduct among girls. While clinical studies have indicated certainly that bad companions is an important causal factor in misbehavior, it is also probable that
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 25
our obtained coefficients have been somewhat enlarged by the addi. tional bias arising from the well-known fact that parents tend to blame other people !s children for leading their own children Into trouble .
A further example will show how this prejudicial factor may enter into data obtained from the clinical examination. In our question of encephalitis, less than half of the cases were def- initely so diagnosed, while the majority of cases were "questioned," i.e., the medical history or neurological signs alone were Insuffi- cient to establish the diagnosis. In such instances, then, the ex- amining psychiatrist often makes a tentative diagnosis on the basis of the behavior manifestations themselves. Therefore, in our cor- relations of question of encephalitis (Table 117) with the very be- havior traits commonly thought to arise as a result of this neuro- pathology, such as question of change of personality, emotional instability, "nervous, " or temper, it' is probable that the coeffi- cients have been enlarged or influenced toward the direction of positiveness because of this prejudicial factor.
Let us turn to another defect In typical case-record nota- tions, which tends to enlarge our coefficients or to Influence their magnitude unduly toward the positive direction.
Differential Completeness of the Case-Record Information
While the recorders of the case-record information have made all reasonable effort to obtain Information which would be adequate for the clinical treatment of our cases, one cannot as- sume that the extent of this information is uniform for all the 3,294 children of this study. Some parents are better acquainted with their children's activities than others and consequently pos- sess more information to give to the recorders. Some parents have stricter standards of what constitutes undesirable behavior and are therefore prone to enumerate a longer inventory of personality and conduct problems than are parents with a more liberal and easy- going attitude toward their children's behavior. Of similar effect is the great variation among parents themselves in their actual treatment of their children. It is a matter of frequent observa- tion that some parents actually evoke undesirable behavior reactions
36 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
in their children through unwise management, so that in such in- stances the child's behavior becomes largely an index of his par- ent's attitude and conduct. Furthermore, varying facility in the use of language may work against uniformity in the amount of case data obtained, e.g., a stupid or uneducated Informant or an Immi- grant parent unproflclent in the American language or a parent who is naturally bashful or taciturn, in contrast with university-bred mothers with active interest in child study.
For the sake of completeness, we might mention another pos- sible source of nonuni fortuity in extent of case data, namely, vary- ing willingness of the informants to co-operate in the giving of case Information. This factor is probably not very serious in our material. Usually the parents have themselves been eager to obtain whatever aid the Institute can offer, since the home has been the party most affected. In any instances in which the parents were not frank with the staff, the case was usually discontinued before completion and consequently does not appear in this study.
As a counteracting influence, the history- taker, ordinarily a graduate psychiatric social worker or an apprentice working under her supervision — a person specially trained in the technique of in- terviewing— alms to elicit the essential facts concerning the child's life-history. She is an active getter of information and not a mere passive recorder. An outline is followed in the inter- view which covers the personality and conduct items commonly thought to be Important in the explanation of the child's behavior Among the 162 specific behavior and non- behavior items considered in this volume practically all are expressly called for in this history outline or else are clinical concepts which the examiners are very likely to investigate. For that reason it seems probable to the writer that the correlations covered in the present volume are not seriously distorted by the prejudicial or dilating effect of variability in the extent of data-recording. A comparison of the cases In which extensive social-service care was given with the cases in which only a routine examination was made showed that among the frequently appearing traits which are included in the present study most of the entries were made at the first visit.
1M. S. Mink and H. M. Adler, "A Suggested (Jut line for History-taking In Cases of Behavior Disorders In Children/ Welfare Magazine, XVII (1926), 5-22.
THE VALUE OF CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 37
New data elicited usually concerned such less frequently appearing trait notations as inability to get along with other children, self-indulgent attitude, overdependence on mother, lack of shame or concern over misdeeds, gluttony or overeating, cheating on school work and the like, which are not discussed in this volume. The personality- total and the conduct- total, i.e., the unweighted summation of the total number of personality and conduct problems reported for each child, are the only items in the present volume which would be seriously affected in respect to their correlation coefficients.
Let us Illustrate the statistical mechanism by which the factor of varying fulness in the case-record Information may mag- nify correlation coefficients artificially. Among the traits dis- cussed in this study, seoluslveneas is a more recondite and subjec- tive entity than, for example, truancy from home or finicky food habits . The parent, then, who is discerning enough to mention se- clusiveness is also more likely to be acute enough to note such other traits as daydreaming , sensitiveness , depressed spells, and the like, if they are present. On the other hand, a parent who is unable to think about behavior in fine terms would tend to omit any statement about either seclusiveness or sensitiveness, even if both traits are present in a child. In the one instance, therefore, a child may be noted as both seclusive and sensitive, while a hypo- thetical duplicate of that child may in the other Instance re- ceive neither notation. In a tetrachoric table made up of a group of such cases, therefore, too many individuals tend to be diverted into both the "noted-noted" cell and the "unnoted- unnoted" cell and too few into the other two cells. The effect on the correlation coefficient of this dlstorition in the fourfold table is an unwar- ranted thrust toward the positive direction, i.e., positive coeffi- cients become artificially enlarged and negative coefficients be- come reduced toward zero.
The correlation coefficients in this volume will not be equally influenced by this factor. Some of the traits are rela- tively objective and observable, while others are of a more secre- tive or Interpretive nature. It is probable that the correlation coefficients involving our personality- total and conduct- total were the most seriously Influenced. While the items going to make up these totals were for the most part those which have been most
58 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
diligently Inquired into by the history- taker and the clinic exam- iners, a substantial fraction were rarely appearing items which would be given by unusually well-informed or talkative Informants.
There is, of course, no direct evidence that this factor of varying completeness of the case-record information was opera- tive in our material. On the other hand, however, it seems sig- nificant to the writer that there are too many positive correla- tion coefficients, and too few negative ones.
Inadequate Defining and Ambiguous Grouping of Terms
A prime need Is a terminology of trait names which are ob- jectively definable, elementary, and, where possible, exclusive.
Q
Such an attainment seems to be next to hopeless.^ In this study it was necessary to make a more or less arbitrary grouping of the descriptive terms as found in the case records. The actual state- ments by the informants Include thousands of terms, many of which may be considered as redundant and synonymous. In indexing these many trait names an attempt was made to fix upon a system of nomen- clature which conformed as far as possible to current usage in the literature and in the clinic routine.
The question arose at the outset as to the fineness or coarseness of the grouping of terms. It is necessary, on the one hand, to establish categories sufficiently fine so that the traits Included therein are reasonably homogeneous. On the other hand, the categories should be broad enough to Include all traits which are really homogeneous entitles, regardless of the variation in terminology between different Informants. In this research there was also the practical consideration that one should fix categories sufficiently broad, whenever permissible, to yield groups large enough for adequate statistical treatment. (After all, an original sample of 5>000 cases in this research has proved to be none too large. ) In our inventorying, the aim was to choose as fine a clas- sification as possible, to err on the side of an overfineness of
of the difficulties have been discussed in Vol. I, Part II, and in the author's article, M0n the Feasibility of Inventorying Children's Behavior Traits," Journal of Juvenile Research, XVI (1932), 32-39.
. THE VALUE OF CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 39
grouping rather than an overcoarseness. And in the light of sub- sequent examination of our data, it is probable that our standard of classification has attempted often to make impossibly fine dis- tinctions, i.e., has attempted to place under separate rubrics manj items which scarcely represent actual differences in behavior. In some instances it seemed advisable to regroup some of the finer categories into larger classifications.
The distortion in the bi- serial and tetrachoric correlatior coefficients due to inaccurate defining of terms and to improper grouping of traits is under some conditions an unwarranted diminu- tion of their values and under other circumstances an undue enlarge ment.
Too fine a classification means that what is essentially the same trait is Incorrectly placed under two or more rubrics. In a bi- serial or tetrachoric tabulation, then, we have the anom- alous situation that the same sort of cases are placed on both sides of the dichotomization. The effect will be to neutralize the force of any true underlying correlation, with the result of attenuation in the coefficient, i.e., a reduction toward zero.
If the categories are too coarse, i.e., if a given rubric
is not a homogeneous affair but actually covers two or more dis-
12 similar traits, the effect on the correlation .coefficients may
be either an attenuation or a dilation As an illustration, let us suppose that a too coarse category A comprises two somewhat dis- similar traits a and JD, that is, two traits whose intercorrelation is not high. If trait a is substantially correlated with any out- side trait X> while trait Jb is only negligibly correlated with trait X, the effect of combining a. and b Into trait A is in general a reduction in the correlation coefficient toward zero; i.e., when one throws together two or more groups of somewhat dissimilar cases into a composite and computes correlation coefficients on that com- posite, the usual result is a coefficient whose magnitude is
10Vol. I, Tables 1-13. iaVol. I, Table 1J.
*T?his problem has been discussed by Henry B. Elkind and Carl R. Doer- ing, "The Application of Statistical Method to the Study of Mental Disease," American Journal of Psychiatry, VII (1928), 789-808, under the name of "mixed or hidden classification," which they describe as "the inclusion of known and unknown attributes in our classifications which are mixed in such proportions that they Influence the result in which we are interested."
40 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Intermediate to the coefficients vhich would be obtained by treat- Ing each component trait separately.
In a few Instances, however, the effect of clubbing to- gether two or more groups of cases may be to elicit a higher cor- relation from the composite than from any of its components. Such may be the outcome when both a and JD are substantially correlated with the outside trait X but are intercorrelated either negligibly or negatively with each other.
An empirical estimate of the effect of finer and coarser categories in our data may be made by comparing the correlations for the larger classifications indicated as "grouped, etc.," in the tables discussed in Part III. For example, grouped: depressed, etc. (Table 15) is a composite of depressed (Table 11) and unhappy (Table 12); grouped: dull, slow, etc. (Table 4l), comprises slow, dull (Table 38), listless (Table 39), and lack of initiative (Table 40); grouped: "nervous," etc. (Table 48), comprises "nervous" (Ta- ble ^5 ) > restless ( Table 46 ) , irritable ( Table 47 ) , and changeable moods (Table 35); grouped: disobedient, etc. (Table 66), comprises disobedient (Table 61), Incorrigible (Table 62), defiant (Table 63), stubborn (Table 64), and contrary (Table 65); grouped: fighting, etc. (Table 73), comprises fighting (Table 69), quarrelsome (Table 70)* violence (Table 71), and threatening violence (Table 72); grouped: temper, etc. (Table 78 )> comprises temper tantrums (Table 76), temper display (Table 77), and irritable (Table 47); and grouped: lack of interest in school, etc. (Table 93), comprises lack of Interest in school ( Table 91 ) and Inattentive in school (Table 92). A -comparison of the corresponding correlations in the "grouped" categories with those in the more specialized categories shows that the broader categories as a rule yield coefficients which are either intermediate in size or else slightly larger than those for the component categories. It seems probable to the writer from such a comparison that the classifications of behavior attempted in this study have been too fine rather than too coarse.
In deciding upon how restricted a classification one should employ in studies of this kind, it is probable that we must rely chiefly upon our subjective interpretation of the meanings of these trait names, in spite of our desire for refined objective methods of discrimination.
THE .VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 41
There are, however, two statistical devices which will as- 1st one in making decisions in specific instance.. One method consists of comparing the correlation coefficients of each trait against a 'large number of "outside" traits or conditions. If the two traits are found to show important divergences in their correlation with other traits, then this procedure es- • tablishes the fact with certainty that the two traits in ques- tion should be considered separate entities. On the other hand, if the two traits show generally similar outside correlations, this criterion is not in practice so serviceable. If we could be sure that our outside traits or conditions included all the important ones conceivable, then it would be possible to con- clude that these two traits were for all practical purposes Identical. But the question will always arise whether any se- ries has not failed to Include certain other important traits or facts which would have shown divergent correlations. There- fore, if the purpose is to eliminate a category on the ground that it so closely resembles another accepted category, this procedure does not by Itself constitute a decisive criterion, but it possesses some utility in reinforcing one's- evidence ob- tained from other sources.
Some illustrations from our material will make this method clear. We have set up two similar and overlapping rubrics, temper tantrums and temper display. The question arises whether these are different enough to justify separate treat- ment. Temper tantrums -in their classic" form Involve such bizarre behavior as banging one's head against a wall or floor, biting one's own hands, or running around in circles, while in temper display the behavior usually consists in an excessive emotional discharge such as hitting or swearing, which bears more directly upon the apparent purpose of the child. On the other hand, It can be urged that both are expressions of the same desire, I.e., to coerce others into yielding to the child's wishes and that the overt differences which I have just men- tioned are really superficial. To test this point, the cor- relations of the traits against a list of about 120 other traits or conditions (mental, emotional, physical, educational, familial, and social) were compared. (These coefficients were chiefly Pearson's tetrachoric~_r's with chronological age "par- tialed out.) The product -moment correlation of these coeffi- cients was .66 + .03. Now this intercolumnar correlation is so low in comparison with others in our material that it seems safe to conclude that these two notations should be placed un- der separate categories.
Another example in our material will illustrate the less decisive alternative. The question arose whether the two no- tations bad companions and running with a gang should be con- sidered as separate categories. Running with a gang according to our definition implies bad companions, the main difference being that a ^ang Involves some degree of organization or dur- ation while bad companions may be a more sporadic and transient affair. The intercolumnar correlation was found to be .81 4- .02. In this instance the evidence of such a computation sug- gests that the latter pair, bad companions and running with a gang, are definitely more similar than the former pair, temper tantrums and temper display. Whether this intercolumnar cor- relation of .81 is high enough to warrant one's grouping both notations into one category is another question. If a brief
42 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
list Is desired, the correlation may be considered sufficiently high to justify the elimination of a separate rubric, but in view of the persistent belief that the influence of youthful city gang associations tends to continue beyond the eighteen- year age limit of our group1* it was concluded that important differences may exist which were not adequately represented in our series of 120 outside traits.
The other statistical device consists in comparing the out- side correlations for the traits taken separately with those for a coarser grouping comprising all the similar notations. If the coarser grouping should produce lower correlation co- efficients tijan the more restricted notations considered sep- arately, the coarser grouping should be avoided because such a result probably means that heterogeneous traits have been Included in that coarser grouping. If, on the other hand, the coarser grouping yields generally larger correlation coeffi- cients than the finer grouping, this evidence is to some ex- tent in favor of the coarser grouping. This does not consti- tute a decisive criterion, however, since a compositing of traits in this manner may approximate the outcome of Yulean multiple correlation In which the addition of fresh variables tends to Increase the multiple correlation coefficient and never to decrease It.
An example in our material will illustrate the procedure. Among the five categories disobedience, defiant attitude, in- corrigibllity, contrariness, and stubbornness the question arose whether there may be some redundancy. A broader group- ing was set up to include all cases showing any one of these five traits, and a series of 117 outside coreelatlons were com- puted. The broader grouping, in the main, yielded larger coef- ficients, as one might expect, but there were marked differ- ences among the five traits. The specific notation contrari- ness (or negativism) gave thirty-three coefficients higher than those for the composite category out of a total of 117 coeffi- cients and therefore should be considered as a separate cate- gory- Incorrigibility and stubbornness similarly gave twenty- six and twenty- five coefficients, respectively, higher than those for the composite category, and therefore should be re- tained as separate categories. Disobedience and defiant atti- tude , on the other hand, showed only seventeen coefficients each higher than those for the composite category, and there- fore became candidates for elimination as far as this criterion is concerned. This analysis of this troublesome group of over- lapping notations is, of course, very incomplete. An addi- tional refinement would consist In repeating the process of compositing after eliminating the more obviously independent traits one by one. The possibility of applying some form of the Spearman common- factor techniques to this problem is also suggested. 14
*F. M. Thrasher, The Gang: A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago (Chi- cago: tMvaraity of Chicago Press, 192?). Pp. xxi + 5?1. Ik
Quoted frcm the author's article, "On the Feasibility of Inventory- ing Children's Behavior Traits," op. cit., pp. 32-39.
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 43
An overlapping in the meaning of trait names also presented a difficulty in the original indexing of the case material and a distortion in certain correlation coefficients. For example, we have made separate categories for depressed, discouraged attitude, spells of depression or discouragement, on the one hand, and un- happy or discontented attitude or appearance, on the other. These two traits are very similar and may often be used synonymously in the original data. In cases in which both notations are applicable both should be used. But often it is probable that an explicit mention of the one by the informant tends to exclude mention of the other apparently redundant trait name. Consequently, the tetra- choric tabulation concerning the correlation between two such over- lapping trait notations will have too few entries in the "noted- noted" cell, e.g., in the cell containing the children in whom both "depressed" and "unhappy" should be entered, and as a consequence the- correlation coefficient shows too low a value. In Tables 6-130 there are many instances in which the correlations between similar and probably overlapping trait names are too low to be credible: the correlations between depressed and unhappy (Table 11 or Table 12) were .40 + .05 for boys and .33 + .08 for girls; those between seclusive and repressed (Table 31 or Table 32) were .16 and .40 + .07; those between egocentric and selfish (Table 51 or Table 52) were .21 4- .04 and .45 + .05; those between disobedient and stub- born (Table 61 or Table 64) were .30 + .03 and .37 4- .04; and those between lack of interest in school and inattentiveness in school (Table 91 or Table 92) were .06 and ,28 ± .06. The data for the intercorrelation of temper tantrums and temper display (Table 76 or Table 77) appeared from inspection to be so unsatisfactory that the coefficients were not reproduced here. The correlation coef- ficients between any two such overlapping trait notations as these in our tables, therefore, are probably too low to be representative of the true relationship existing between those traits.
In short, in such material as ours, we do not have unadul- terated or simon-pure, objectively determined categories, so in any series of correlation coefficients we are really obtaining some sort of "team" or "sums-and-differences" correlations in which the intercorrelations and weightings of the component elements are ob- scure. The effect, therefore, of inadequate defining and classlfi-
44 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
cation of trait names upon our correlation coefficients may be In some instances a deceptive diminution, in other instances a decep- tive magnification, and in some instances — let us hope — a negli- gible influence.
The Use of Categorical Trait Names instead of Measured Variates
The discussion of the bi- serial and tetrachoric methods of correlation in chapter ill •** has indicated the inferiority of cate- gorical data in respect to correlational methodology. The next few paragraphs will indicate how this deficiency obscures the interpre- tation of correlation coefficients baaed upon such dichotomized data.
The ideal statistical material should be in measured and continuous or graduated units, since such data permit drawing up a scatter diagram in which one can observe in detail the statis- tical behavior of varlates in whose correlation we are Interested. For example, we may wish to know such factors as normality of dis- tribution, linearity of regression, kurtosis, scedasticity, and whether there are any unusual concentrations or any lacunae in any portions of the distribution. In a bi- serial tabulation one of the traits Is compressed into a "noted" and "not noted" dichotomization and in a tetrachoric tabulation both varlates are so compressed that such refined Information is not ascertainable.
The most complete and meaningful representation of the correlation between two traits is the actual scatter diagram. The product -moment coefficient is a secondary symbol to bring out In a concise and comparative manner the amount of the relationship. Since scatter diagrams are* space-filling affairs, they are seldom presented in publication, but the correlation coefficients are em- ployed to represent in economical fashion the essence of the scat- ter diagram. While the product -moment coefficient is thus a sub- stitute device, the bl-serial and tetrachoric coefficients become in turn only a makeshift for the standard product- moment coeffi- cient. The only justification for the use of such Inadequate methods of correlation in research is the lack of satisfactory
pp.
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 45
quantitative data permitting more complete and precise treatment, and the results obtained from such correlation methods should be regarded as only tentative and exploratory.
The obscurity in the form of correlations obtained from the use of categorical trait names instead of measured variates makes difficult the interpretation of certain apparently incon- sistent correlations which will be noticed in Tables 6-150. These are among the correlations obtained from presumably "opposite" traits, e.g.* unpopular (Table 27) and popular (Table 28), over- suggestible (Table 42) and stubborn (Table 64), slovenly (Table 89) and clean (Table 90), and "leader" (Table 107) and "follower" (Ta- ble 108). Here we occasionally find that both members of a pair of "opposite" traits correlate positively and substantially with the same "outside" trait. For example, "leader" correlates .26 4- .04 with running with a gang among boys (Table 83), while "follower" correlates .21 + .04 with the same notation. Now one explanation may lie in a possible curvllinearlty of regression of running with a gang on the combined trait "leader- follower, " i.e., boys who par- ticipate in gang activities tend to be either leaders or followers (since a gang must have some of each kind in order to maintain its organization), while boys who are neither leaders nor followers do not tend to become implicated in gang activities. Another possible explanation may be that these and other "opposites" are not really the opposite poles of a single underlying trait. It may be that the true antithesis of "leader" is not "follower," but "indiffer- ence," i.e., the incapacity or unwillingness either to lead or to follow. Thus it may be that the same Individuals who under one situation are leaders may under other conditions take the role of follower, while the true "opposite" is represented by the child who neither leads nor follows.
Inadequate Representation of Desirable and Indifferent Traits in Case Data
The examination in typical children's behavior clinics tends to cover the undesirable or "ominous" personality and conduct
xlvl, and 1111.
See I, 134-35 and this volume, final paragraphs of chape, xx, xxv,
46 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
traits with considerable thoroughness. Much less attention is given the desirable and presumably "indifferent" traits. This re- sults In an under- representation of the "assets" in the child's behavior makeup in comparison with the "liabilities."
Among the 96 behavior traits specially studied in this vol- ume, 90 may be considered as unquestionably undesirable, while only 6 desirable or presumably indifferent traits (popular, clean, sex denied entirely , "leader , " "follower , " and attractive manner ) ap- peared to have been Inquired into diligently enough to warrant in- cluaion in our study.
This inadequate representation of the desirable and indif- ferent traits cannot affect the individual correlation coefficients presented in this study. But it precludes the possibility of in- terpreting a series of correlations of one trait with all the other frequently noted traits selected for this study in any comprehen- sive manner. As they stand, the correlations present only one side of the picture — the relation of certain traits to undesirable traits. In an exploratory study such as the present one it would have been very meaningful to have had in one series the correla- tions with all other traits of frequent occurrence, in order to obtain a more comprehensive view of the significance of traits in the light of their correlations with other traits.
Summary and Discussion
The points discussed in this chapter may be summarized as follows :
1. The selective factors operative in the admission of children to clinic examination tend in general toward a restriction of range and therefore ^toward an attenuation in the correlation co- efficients or a reduction toward zero.
2. The factors of unreliability and subjectivity, which are undoubtedly very considerable in our material, tend likewise to re- duce the correlations toward zero. Unfortunately, there appeared to be no feasible method of obtaining a measure of these factors, whereby one could estimate the theoretical correlation which would be found to exist under conditions of perfect reliability or ob- jectivity.
3« The effect of prejudicial or biased trends in the data,
THE VALUE OF CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 47
i.e., the preconceived notions of the parents or staff examiners that certain traits either do or do not occur together, is usually to swing the correlation toward the positive direction. Positive correlations are thus enlarged, negative correlations are reduced, and low negative correlations' may at times be distorted into low positive correlations.
4. The effect of variations in the completeness of the case-record information Is likewise a swing toward the positive direction.
5. The effect of an inadequate defining or ambiguous group- ing of terms upon correlations Is usually an attenuation or reduc- tion toward zero but under some circumstances may be an increase
in the size of the correlation,,
6. The use of categorical trait names instead of measured variates need not distort the value of the correlation coefficient if the distribution of the trait underlying the categorical nota- tion approaches sufficiently to the normal or Gaussian. The ser- ious defect in categorical notations is that the actual form of the distribution is so obscured that one is unable to ascertain Its form.
7. The inadequate representation of desirable and presum- ably Indifferent traits in our case data does not have any effect upon the individual correlation coefficients but precludes the pos- sibility of obtaining a comprehensive view of the meaning of a trait in terms of Its correlations with other traits.
We see, then, that in typical case-record data there are many uncontrolled factors, some of which magnify the obtained cor- relation coefficient, while others diminish it. These factors tend to neutralize to some extent the distorting effect each has upon the other. But one cannot estimate whether the net result still leaves the coefficient too high or too low. For that reason we ^ire allowing a considerable margin of safety in our interpretation of the correlations in this volume by confining the discussion only to coefficients greater than .20. This does not imply that corre- lations below this size are without meaning. Many of the underly- ing relationships between traits which must be taken into consid- eration in the actual care of children presenting behavior diffi- culties are probably no larger than this. If the results of a research are intended to be applied In a practical manner in some
48 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
highly organized or collectivized society in which millions of children would be affected, statistically significant coefficients smaller than .20 would be of definite social importance. But since we cannot be more sure of our data, it is better to jettison this portion of our material and confine our attention to correlations well above zero.
This chapter has been intended as a critique of clinical case records as research material. Workers have long been aware of their many inadequacies, and this chapter has attempted to ana- lyze In greater detail the difficulties and to point out how they function in actual studies.
The shortcomings of such data will be equally operative In other research methodologies, it should be pointed out, and not only in studies employing the method of Pears onian correlation. Such devices as group differences, contingency, the probability methods, or graphical representation require fewer assumptions and make less claim to refinement of procedure, but the same distort- ing Influences are at work. The advantage of refined correlational methods, even though the data are defective, is that the effect of such deficiencies becomes more obvious.
It Is unnecessary and injurious, however, to become so ob- sessed with the presumptive defects of case data as to conclude that they are valueless for research purposes. To the writer the findings obtained from our material have enough plausibility to reassure him that this sort of material has a large field of util- ity for research needs under the proper restrictions of interpre- tation. Greater use should be made of the case-record material which accumulates rapidly in all behavior clinics. Such data do not permit precise, unequivocal, controlled conditions comparable to the classic researches in the older physical and biological sciences. Researchers in the social sciences must necessarily em- ploy to a lesser extent the adequately standardized and objective data because at present few of the complex functions of gross hu- man behavior have been reduced to satisfactory measurement. The social scientist must be ready for the present to work with data admittedly Inadequate and must couch much of his interpretation in terms of trends, probabilities, multiple causal factors, correla- tions, and the like. The correlation coefficients presented in this volume, then, must not be considered as final psychologic,
THE VALUE OP CASE-RECORD NOTATIONS AS RESEARCH DATA 49
soclologlc, or biometric constants but must be regarded as provi- sional, until future studies can be made under Improved conditions of selection and improved methods of gathering and recording such data.
Any betterment in the technique of constructing case rec- ords will necessarily enhance research results obtained therefrom. Improvement may take place In two respects.
1. More complete and more verified Information for case records will meet with the enthusiastic approval of research work- ers. But from the standpoint of clinic routine there are important limitations to the amount of effort and time which can be spent on each case,: first, the available staff personnel in comparison with "case load" and, second, the amount of time which can be required of an informant. A behavior clinic supported from state or munic- ipal funds or by "community chests" is expected to take care of all appropriate cases brought to it, and this demand for service often relegates the purely research aspects to a position of secondary importance. It Is also desirable to complete the interview with a parent within one sitting or with as few subsequent sittings as possible. In clinics endowed for the specific purpose of research or for intensive work upon a relatively small number of cases the possibility of accumulating fuller case data is much greater. Ac- tually there has been a tendency for case records to contain more and more material, owing to the fact that, as our knowledge of children's behavior has Increased, we have realized more and more that the causal factors are numerous and complex.
The use of a formal printed schedule or questionnaire would automatically insure uniformity and a certain degree of complete- ness of information. But the objections are many. They are likely to take away the spontaneity and rapport of the Interviewing proc- ess. They may tend to elicit superficial judgments as to the presence or absence of a trait. They may slur over any special items which are of particular Importance in the individual case. They do not enable the Interviewer to make adequate emphasis of conspicuous elements in the situation. They would be uneconomical of time In actual clinic practice, since large sections of such a universalized schedule would comprise Items not applicable to the individual case. Probably the best use of a formal schedule Is In a special study of a specific problem covering a restricted series
50 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
of cases.
2. The second desideratum is an increase in measurement devices. These, however, accumulate slowly. Many worthy attempts have been made to derive home- rat ing and neighborhood- rating scales, scales for evaluating parental occupation, for evaluating the oc- cupational capacities of children, and for measuring various per- sonality traits. It seems probable to the writer that some of these have been developed well beyond the experimental stage and already deserve inclusion in the clinic routine. As a matter of fact, however, few of them have at the time of writing attained sufficient credence to place them there. In actual practice the preference still remains on the side of subjective estimates, whether rightly or wrongly.
CHAPTER V
THE BEHAVIOR TRAITS DISCUSSED IN THIS VOLUME
As a convenience in listing the items discussed in this volume, a division of them may be made into three groups. In the accompanying tables these items are listed, together with their frequencies among 2,11]5 boys and I,l8l girls. For example (Table 1), police arrest was noted in ^57 cases among 2,113 boys and in 179 cases among I,l8l girls. The wording in which these are given is a concise one intended to save space in the large number of subse- quent tables. A more complete and exact description is given at the head of each section in which are collected the coefficients concerning a given trait or condition.
The 111 items in Table 1 were employed in correlations with all items in Tables 1 and 3. These are chiefly the often noted personality and conduct problems in our case data, together with a few other traits or conditions. These coefficients will be found on later pages in Parts II and III.
TABLE 1
TRAITS FOR WHICH CORRELATIONS WITH ALL TRAITS IN TABLES 1 AND 3 WERE COMPUTED
|
Frequ |
encles |
|
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
(2,113) |
(1,181) |
|
Conduct -total |
(2,113) |
(1,181) |
|
Police arrest |
**57 |
179 |
|
(2,113) |
(1,181) |
|
|
(2,113) |
(1.181) |
|
|
Depressed |
Ik9 |
73 |
|
Unhappy |
95 |
6k |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
219 |
125 |
|
Crying spells |
V?3 |
297 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
163 |
92 |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
322 |
156 |
|
Worry over specific fact |
100 |
ko |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc... |
490 |
255 |
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 1 — Continued
Frequencies
Boys
Girls
Bashful 316
Apprehensive 322
Inferiority feelings 2O2
Mental conflict 1O2
Psychoneurotic 8?
"Spoiled child" 25O
Complaining of bad treatment by other
children 121
Object of teasing 312
Unpopular 11O
Popular 133
Absent-minded 134
Day dreaming 195
Repressed 138
Secluslve 254
Queer 118
Question of change of personality 123
Changeable moods 219
Emotional instability 1O4
Question of hypophrenia 454
Slow, dull 541
Listless 178
Lack of initiative 132
Grouped: dull, slow, etc 704
Over suggestible 354
Distractible 264
Preference for younger children 2.6k
Restless 559
"Nervous" 344
Irritable „ 448
Grouped: "nervous,1" etc 98?
Restless in sleep 324
Irregular sleep habits 123
Egocentric 28?
Selfish 13O
Grouped: egocentric, etc 4O5
Excuse- forming w 237
Conduct prognosis bad 78
Stealing 815
Truancy from home 503
Staying out late at night 319
Truancy from school 675
Refusal to attend school 145
Disobedient 459
Incorrigible 501
Stubborn 420
Contrary 88
Defiant 178
Grouped: disobedient, etc 992
637
218
149
62
45
64
112
91
54
76
62
94
45
106
67
65
144
85
285
285
87
63
364
174
116
78
258
197
175
488
146
64
147
73
211
99
47
271
189
140
143
46
207
212
220
51
95
482
340
THE BEHAVIOR TRAITS DISCUSSED IN THIS VOLUME TABLE 1— Continued
|
Frequencies |
||
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
104 291 292 281 102 644 227 210 221 250 736 137 278 190 370 219 138 Ilk 182 106 118 337 318 279 223 467 348 320 559 70 142 86 |
75 89 186 87 |
|
Fighting |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Threatening violence |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
273 55 |
|
|
Destructive |
||
|
Teasing other children |
||
|
127 93 312 |
||
|
Temper display |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
||
|
Swearing (general) |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
90 |
|
|
Smoking |
||
|
Bad companions |
132 |
|
|
Gang |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
50 61 81 75 70 205 171 107 81 172 89 180 154 218 47 81 175 104 250 246 105 77 86 78 103 97 68 58 474 319 71 165 |
|
|
Loitering |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Clean |
||
|
Lack of interest in school |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus )••• |
||
|
Sex denied entirely «... |
||
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
||
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
||
|
Victim of" HfiY shrine, T T . T r , T T . , , r , T t r , T , , |
||
|
576 300 236 251 112 152 202 243 112 95 878 632 204 307 83 |
||
|
Nail-biting |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
"Leader" , |
||
|
"Follower" |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
RetftT*dftt1 OH 1 I! PChOO] . . t . t . r r r - , , , r . . i . . |
||
|
Poor work In school |
||
|
Attractive manner |
||
|
Stuttering. |
||
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
The 36 Items In Table 2 were employed only In correlations with personality- total, conduct- total, police arrest, chronological age, and Intelligence quotient (Tables 6-10). They are similar In nature to the items In Table 1 but of less frequent occurrence, so that it was felt that extensive statistical analysis was not war- ranted.
TABLE 2
TRAITS FOR WHICH ONLY THE CORRELATIONS WITH
PERSONALITY-TOTAL, CONDUCT -TOTAL, POLICE
ARREST, CHRONOLOGICAL AOE, AND INTEL-
LICENCE QUOTIENT WERE COMPUTED
|
Frequencies |
||
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
50 41 91 62 46 50 69 72 78 50 78 72 58 70 123 57 83 90 75 71 53 U 70 51 68 81 60 69 80 73 49 46 50 58 65 53 |
||
|
Incipient psychosis |
||
|
Psychopathic personality |
il 3^ 25 |
|
|
"Night terrors" |
||
|
Talking to self without apparent reason |
||
|
Lack of affection |
||
|
Tiring easily |
38 |
|
|
"Suuzar hunccer" |
||
|
Resentful attitude |
51 50 48 39 |
|
|
Disturbing influence in home |
||
|
Irregular employment record |
||
|
Rohb1r*g a )wt Idlngj lnnrnnr ^*fcc. ......... r , T ... |
||
|
Truancy fYcnn 1 nntl t-yhl on ,,,,,.., t , , r , . . , . T , . . |
||
|
Swearing at mother, teacher, etc |
||
|
Bad language |
40 |
|
|
Obscene language |
||
|
Bullying |
||
|
Cruelty to -younger children |
||
|
Fire-setting •. |
||
|
Sneaky |
37 |
|
|
BecuzinA |
||
|
Gluttony |
35 |
|
|
Sex attack on opposite sex. . . ... . . |
||
|
"Annoying" girls . ... |
||
|
Mp'tual ma,fl'tnT''bfl,'fc-iQp (flwft R«T) . » , , . T . . , , r T » T T |
||
|
Passive pederasty |
||
|
Exhibitionism |
||
|
Bowel Incontinence |
19 40 45 60 |
|
|
Thumb -fluclrlng. |
||
|
T^}eg"lt4!fla"fc$ parwfcag^. ...................... |
||
|
Tnrrnrvra.1 pi et-ftp ...... T .,..,.....,,..,.,.,,.... |
||
THE BEHAVIOR TRAITS DISCUSSED IN THIS VOLUME 55
The 14 Items In Table 3 were employed only in correlations with the items in Table 1. The coefficients will be found in Ta- bles 6-130. These consist in miscellaneous, frequently noted phys- ical, educational , and familial conditions which would not be con- sidered as behavior problems' or difficulties. They scarcely belong logically with the other traits discussed in these pages but were included in this volume for comparative purposes.
TABLE 3
MISCELLANEOUS TRAITS OR CONDITIONS FOR WHICH
CORRELATIONS ONLY WITH THE ITEMS
OF TABLE 1 WERE COMPUTED
|
Frequencies |
||
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Underweight |
3^9 118 155 191 70 106 180 238 162 110 137 85 107 525 |
193 86 5^ 120 37 86 92 169 102 103 103 68 101 28^ |
|
Headaches |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
||
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Vocational guidance |
||
|
Discord between parents |
||
The 162 traits discussed in this volume were selected from the total number of traits listed in Volume I, Tables 1-13* on the basis of frequency of occurrence among our cases rather than be- cause of any imputed special significance.
CHAPTER VI
THE EXPLORATORY AND THE AD HOC APPROACHES IN RESEARCH
The choice of trait notations indicates the exploratory character of this study. On the basis of sampling, consisting of 5,000 cases, it was found that the 162 notations described in the preceding chapter occurred often enough to warrant a systematic correlational treatment. Only to a slight extent did any a priori considerations of intrinsic importance or interest enter into the selection of these 162 trait notations. If our sampling had con- sisted of 10,000 cases or 25,000 cases instead of 5,000, the num- ber of behavior items studied would have been correspondingly larger.
The reader will note the absence of any specific hypothesis guiding this study, unless we consider the principle of multiple etiology Itself to be a hypothesis, i.e., the principle that the causes of children's behavior problems are numerous and of varying degrees of potency from child to child and in the mass (see pp. 3-^ ) • In planning this research the writer has sought to avoid the espousing of any special theories concerning either interrela- tions or causality, though there would be no lack of excellent theories to choose from if it were so desired. It was felt that the conditions peculiar to this research, i.e., an extensive pro- vision of card- sorting and calculating machinery and clerical as- sistance at the outset of the work enabled one to plan on a compre- hensive factual investigation into many possible components of be- havior traits rather than to set up an intensive examination of any specific question which one might set. To have adopted some defi- nite "working hypothesis" would have restricted unnecessarily the scope of the inquiry, in addition to exposing one to the ever pres- ent danger that such a priori attitudes may interfere with an im- partial and unprejudiced appreciation of the actual facts present in the data.
Another practical reason for adopting an empirical and
56
THE EXPLORATORY AND THE AD HOC APPROACHES IN RESEARCH 57
exploratory approach In this Inquiry Is that the major part of the case data had already been gathered and little additional Informa- tion concerning our children could be obtained except with consid- erable Inconvenience and expense. While the original case material has attempted to be fairly complete, often comprising over a hun- dred typed pages of Information concerning a case, the items cov- ered usually varied from child to child according to the individual requirements for diagnosis and recommendations. For that reason seldom were the data sufficiently uniform or complete over a large series of cases to afford the opportunity of framing a precise cru- cial research concerning a specific relationship.
In the research designed for an intensive or conclusive study of a clear-cut theorem, on the other hand, the worker usually desires to gather his data ad hoc, i.e., for the special purposes of his problem. He typically formulates a working hypothesis and then seeks only the data which presumably are pertinent to that hypothesis and Ignores any data which appear irrelevant. This dis- tinction between the two modes of research, which may be designated as the ad hoc approach and the exploratory or empirical approach, is briefly stated by Wilder D. Bancroft:
The first of the two general methods of research is that in which one first gets one's working hypothesis and then ac- cumulates data to test it. The second general method is that in which one accumulates data until the general theory under- lying them becomes obvious. 1
The slogan of the former is "First get your working hypotheses," he says, the plural being used advisedly because it is always bet- ter to have several working hypotheses if possible. The slogan of the latter is "First get your facts."
The ad hoc study is especially appropriate in the more ma- ture fields of science, as In the physical and medical sciences, where there already exists an abundance of well-established knowl- edge and where there are many ramifications in which the "next step" to be taken is obvious. The desideratum here is a final and unequivocal answer to some well-defined query.
^n an a<3 hoc study the hypothesis varies in specificity. In some instances the researcher may have a "hunch" or supposition that a certain relationship exists. This may at times come a priori
lnThe Methods of Research," Rice Institute Pamphlet, XV (1928), 171-72.
58 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
from speculation or reading but is more likely to be based upon some fragmentary research or upon less formal observation of the phenomena within a field with which the worker is familiar. He then sets up a research or series of researches to test the truth of this thesis. If his hunch is not verified by the test, the worker may feel that his work is "unsuccessful" (though actually it may yield many valuable by-products if he is shrewd enough to see them). Such unitary researches require considerable imagina- tion or "genius" on the part of the worker. If we can credit the many semipopular accounts of what may be termed the "classical" researches in the progress of science, many examples of this pro- cedure will be readily recalled by the reader. In other instances the researcher may allow himself a greater latitude. He may set his research to ascertain the answer to a certain question accord- ing to this formula: Is the given relationship positive, negative, or indifferent, or, to speak in terms of coefflclential correla- tion, what is the sign and amount of this relationship? Regard- less of what the answer turns out to be, the research, if properly planned and carried out, is successful. Examples are numerous, especially in the dissertations of advanced students and in the current scientific journals: What is the effect of adenoids and diseased tonsils on children's Intelligence or Is the "only child" more likely to manifest personality difficulties than the child with siblings? Or In other instances the research may permit of a less strictly defined answer, e.g., how do foundling children turn out? In examples such as this the approach may be considered as either ad hoc or exploratory, and there is no need for attempt- ing to force such a borderline instance into a rigid category.
In the typical exploratory or empirical research the hy- pothesis guiding the Investigation is couched in general, noncom- mittal terms, which may often seem lacking in clarity to the reader. The worker gathers a wide range of material and tries to Include everything which may have a bearing upon his field of study and does not attempt to justify in detail every item in his data sched- ule. He depends chiefly upon his martialing of the data to bring to light any underlying relationships or principles of which he may or may not have been cognizant in advance of actual trial. In other words, he relies more upon his Instruments or research pro- cedures to elicit the truth than upon his own previous insight Into
THE EXPLORATORY AND THE AD HOC APPROACHES IN RESEARCH 59
the problems which he is studying.
An exploratory research is especially appropriate in a rel- atively young field of scientific inquiry, partly because here there is little experimentally determined groundwork upon which to base a more specific hypothesis and partly because in such virgin soil whatever the researcher does is likely to yield valuable new information. Such studies are likely to raise more questions, how- ever, than they answer. It is safe to say that in the early study of anatomy, physiology, and medicine and in the Identification of disease processes, such as "Addison's disease," the approach was exploratory in the main, partly because at that time the techniques of research had not been brought to the more or less formal science which we have at the present day.
For similar reasons an Important new discovery or invention in research methodology will bring about a large amount of empiri- cal Investigation. The query naturally arises as to whether the new techniques are able to throw new light upon the persistent problems within a science. For example, the discovery of serum therapy in medicine initiated a mass of largely exploratory experi- mentation to ascertain its usefulness in almost every important disease. Other examples may be cited: the large amount of sta- tistical Investigation In the social and biological sciences fol- lowing upon Karl Pearson's devising of correlation methods or, at this time of writing, the numerous "common- fact or" studies in psy- chology and education following upon Spearman's and Thurstone's de- vising of new techniques.
The two approaches differ in the location of the "hunch" or "leap of the imagination over gaps in the evidence" to the dis- covery of the generalization underlying the data. In the explor- atory Inquiry this comes late in the process. It ordinarily comes a posteriori as a result of surveying the data and the indications brought out by the manipulations thereof. The worker would prefer an objective procedure in which the conclusions become self-evident, but often the interpretation of the underlying trends is a matter
For an interesting questionnaire study of the circumstances under which the "scientific hunch" occurs, based upon the replies from 232 "scientists of admitted leadership," see Washington Platt and Ross A. Baker, "The Relation of the Scientific 'Hunch1 to Research," Journal of Chemical Education, VIII (1931), 1969-2002.
60 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
of considerable Insight and scientific Imagination, if the inves- tigator aims at something more than a mere enumeration of research "findings." In the ad hoc procedure, on the other hand, the hunch or "working hypothesis" precedes and determines the program of the study. This hypothesis, as we have said, is probably obtained from a tentative or inadequately supported conclusion from earlier stud- ies made by the worker or by others or may at times appear to be a sort of "happy inspiration" obtained largely from a priori specula- tion.
While this brief chapter has been devoted to a differentia- tion of these two approaches In so far as it may serve to explain the exploratory aims of the present study, a caution is probably necessary lest the contrast be pushed too far. The researcher him- self should, of course, be fully aware of the distinction in plan- ning and carrying out his work and especially In preparing his re- port for publication. But in actual work it is probable that al- most every empirical study has been planned with some anticipation of the sort of outcome which may be expected and that most ad hoc researches have been outlined to permit a degree of flexibility In order to be on the watch for the almost inevitable "unexpected" in research. How would one describe Charles Goring fs classic, The English Convict?^ From the introductory pages one may surmise that much of his original plan was specifically to submit to actual test Lombroso's belief In the existence of a differentiable "criminal type"; but in the body of his report he follows more the form of an exploratory research, with conclusions which would scarcely have been expected in advance of actual analysis of his data.
In a comprehensive research program Involving a laboratory staff of several workers, both approaches have their usefulness, according to which portion of the undertaking each worker is con- cerned with. In such situations the course of a research program is a continuous process. Exploratory or empirical studies are un- dertaken to uncover new leads or clues, which will serve as work- ing hypotheses for the more final and decisive ad hoc studies.
The interdependence of the two modes is thus best explained as a developmental schema. In a relatively new field of study or
The English Convict: A Statistical Study (London: H.M. Stationery
Office, 1913). Pp. if 14-0.
THE EXPLORATORY AND THE AD HOC APPROACHES IN RESEARCH 61
when a new Instrument of research is to be applied, the explora- tory procedure is the favored one. In a more developed field, in which the fundamental principles are pretty well known and the de- sire is to close up certain "loose ends" in our knowledge, the adL hoc procedure is naturally to be preferred. The empirical Inves- tigation is thus a more primitive and contributing project, usually following a somewhat routine course. The ad hoc aims at a final conclusive answer and usually offers a greater opportunity for the researcher's personal insight and resourcefulness. The well- wrought ad hoc research follows as a model the familiar type of theorem in elementary geometry, in which the student demonstrates not only that if the given conditions are fulfilled the proposi- tion is true but also that unless all the essential conditions are present the proposition Is not necessarily true.
Each method is subject to its own misuse. This is, of course, due not so much to any fault in either method as to the limitations of the researcher himself.
The empirical worker may rely too exclusively upon his ob- jective manipulation of the data to elicit automatically any un- forseen generalizations. He may forget that the ultimate inter- pretation of meaning is a subjective process and that his objec- tive methods are after all merely the instrumentation. His report may become a mere fact-finding survey, useful enough in Itself, which misses, however, Its opportunities for original discovery of new principles. It may at times degenerate Into routine pre- senting of an undigested and Indigestible mass of data, from which neither the researcher himself nor the reader may gain much use- ful knowledge .
^ie &fl hoc method, in contrast, is peculiarly liable to the defects of oversubjectlvlty. The worker may so restrict his attention to his guiding query that he may overlook valuable im- plications or by-products of his study. Often the by-product may be more important than the main quest itself. At worst, the ad hoc research may lapse into a strongly prejudicial effort merely to prove one's hypothesis. One must at times marvel at the regu- larity with which the researches undertaken in certain laborato- ries, closely identified with definite beliefs or opinions, all seem to come out with results in conformity with that point of view, even though there may be other equally competent laboratories
62 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
with a contrary point of view, whose researches likewise all seem to eventuate in conformity with the contrary point of view.
To contrast the two approaches from the standpoint of "ef- ficiency" or convenience Is a consideration of secondary Importance, since the choice of method must be guided mainly "by the require- ments of the data and the research situation, as we have attempted to show in the preceding pages. The prime utility of the ad hoc study is in affording the final answer to some specific question, while the utility of the empirical survey lies in, disclosing new facts or queries in a relatively unexplored field. Because of its adaptability to problems of restricted scope, the ad hoc method is greatly favored by students, teachers, and other workers who are limited In time and resources. The exploratory researches usually necessitate a more formidable plan of work and, as a consequence, are likely to be undertaken only in laboratories or institutes able to provide sufficient equipment and personnel.
The foregoing pages have attempted to make clear why the writer has so definitely chosen the exploratory approach instead o of the more conclusive ad hoc approach. The reasons may be sum- marized as follows: (1) Children's behavior problems comprise a field of study almost untouched by formal researches. (2) Conse- quently, there Is not a large amount of experimentally established groundwork upon which to base specific ad hoc researches. (3) The Pearson correlation methods have been utilized to a relatively small degree in this field, which is so well adapted to a system- atic correlational analysis. (4) The data were already gathered, and only to a small extent could they be amplified to satisfy the needs of the more final and crucial ad hoc studies. (5) The orig- inal plans for this research project were sufficiently elaborate to permit a comprehensive exploratory survey of the many factors which are presumably of Importance in the field.
CHAPTER VII EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE TABLES
The remaining chapters of this book are filled with tables of correlation coefficients. For each of the 125 traits listed in Tables 1 and 3 of chapter v there is such a table.
Construction of the Tables
In order to facilitate the reader's comprehension of the trends shown in the 125 tables of correlations, these coefficients have been arranged as far as possible in descending order of mag- nitude or, more strictly, from high positive values through zero to increasingly negative values, according to the boys' correla- tions.
Within each table the correlations for personality-total , conduct- total, and police arrest are placed first because of their peculiar interest in this study.
Under the subheading "Larger Correlations (Positive)" are listed in descending order of magnitude the positive boys' corre- lations down through .20. Since the girls' coefficients do not necessarily follow the boys' ranking, their position Is Indicated by the rank order in parentheses. For example, in Table 6, per- sonality-total (p. 89), the symbol "(!)" after violence means that .6^ + .03 is the largest positive correlation obtained among girls, "(2)" means that .61 + .03 is the second largest positive correla- tion among girls, "(3-^)" means that there were two coefficients of •59 and that these take the third and fourth places in order of de- creasing magnitude, "(16-19)" means that there were four coeffi- cients of .50, and that they fell in the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth places In order of decreasing magnitude, and so on. Following these are listed the girls' coefficients of positive values of .20 or above, for which the corresponding cor- relations for the boys are less than 4- .20.
Under the subheading "Larger Correlations (Negative)" are
63
64 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
placed negative coefficients of -.20 or greater. These are simi- larly arranged In descending order of negatlveness, first, accord- Ing to the boys and, following these, according to the girls.
The "Not Calculable (N.C.)" are placed next, because, in meaning, these correlations belong with the negative. (In these instances the frequency for the "noted-noted" cell of the tetra- chorlc tabulation was 0, and a tetrachoric correlation coefficient on such a tabulation is unobtainable.) For example, in Table 11, depressed (p. 1J56), none of the children noted as depressed had a notation of feeble-minded sibling. The association between these two notations, therefore, would be considered as negative.
Under the subheading "Other Correlations (Positive to Neg- ative)" are placed all other coefficients with values falling be- tween 4-. 19 and -.19. They are arranged according to the boys' cor- relations in descending order from .19 down through 0, and then in Increasing order of negativeness up through -.19.
The "Omitted" correlations are placed at the end of each table. These correlations were not computed, either because for some technical reason such a coefficient would be meaningless (as in Table 13, grouped; depressed, etc, [p. 144], where it would be absurd to correlate a pooled category against the component items of that pool) or because for some reason the Indexing of a certain pair of items is so unsatisfactory that a coefficient would be greatly misleading (as, in Table 76, temper tantrums, probably tended to exclude a notation of temper display).
A blank space In the tables indicates that a coefficient was not computed, usually because of paucity of cases or because the item would not be applicable to both sexes, e.g., "annoying" girls (Tables 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10).
Probable errors," it will be recalled, were not computed for coefficients smaller than .20 or -.20 except for personality- total, conduct- total, and police arrest. In view of the many dis- torting factors in our data, as described in chapter iv, it appears inadvisable to take much notice of correlations below this size, beyond merely reporting them.
1Pp.
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OP THE TABLES 65 The Interpretation of Correlation Coefficients
The substance of this monograph must "be sought in these tables of correlations. Readers who have learned to think In terms of correlation coefficients will welcome this concise method of statement. Altogether there are about seven thousand coefficients for the boys, and a similar number for the girls, so there is no feasible method of presenting this diffuse material except in tab- ular form, Since the tables are so constructed as to be self-ex- planatory, any interpretative or exegetical comment by the writer becomes somewhat superfluous. The reader is invited to make his own interpretation according to his own background or Individual interests. Probably few readers will attempt to read the tables consecutively but will prefer to use them for reference as to some specific relationship or to specific groups of correlations.
How must correlation coefficients be read? Everyone Is familiar with the fact that a coefficient of 0 means that no cor- relation or concomitant variation exists between the traits In question; and that intermediate values between 0 and +1.00 repre- sent a positive correlation, i.e., a high degree of the one trait is accompanied more or less by a high degree of the other trait, and a low degree of one trait by a low degree of the other; and that coefficients between 0 and -1.00 represent negative correla- tion, i.e., high values in one of the traits tend to be associated with low values in the other. Some statisticians have ventured to classify correlation coefficients In the abstract as to whether they are "high, "t "substantial, " "low," or "negligible." Such an evaluation of a correlation without reference to the material on which it is based would seem almost meaningless. A correlation coefficient per se is merely a unit of measurement of relationship analogous to measures of weight, temperature, angular distance, and the like. It would be futile to state whether 10 kilograms Is a large or a small weight, without specifying whether we are dealing with coal or with platinum; with gross body weight or with a tumor.
The fundamental understanding of a correlation coefficient from the mathematical standpoint, of course, Is in terms of alien- ation,2 i.e., the reduction in variability (or) of the "dependent"
2T. L. Kelley, Statistical Method (New York: Macmlllan, 1923), pp. 173-7^.
66 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
or "predicted" variable associated with differing values of the correlation, according to the factor y 1 - j? . Upon our material, however, such an interpretation has little meaning, since only a small part of our correlations exceed .50 and an j? of .50 reduces the variability of the dependent variable only to .866 of the var- iability which would be present in the case of zero correlation — an amount which is scarcely palpable. On the other hand, in com- parison with what clinic workers and social scientists must make use of, relationships as high as .50 represent fairly respectable "findings." It is necessary for them to think in terms of low cor- relations and low probabilities.
With reference to our material, then, correlations greater than .50 are considered "high" on the basis of their rarity. Cor- relations in our study falling between .40 and .49 may similarly be considered "large," those between .30 and .39 "substantial," and those between .20 and .29 "moderate." Correlations smaller than .20 must be considered of little significance because of the many distorting factors at work in our data. Among negative correla- tions, those larger than -.20 occurred so infrequently that they must be considered important.
An individual correlation coefficient represents by a sim- ple quantitative symbol the relation between two traits or condi- tions. It is the mathematical equivalent of the type of statement which one hears commonly among clinical observers, e.g., "Whenever we see a patient with condition A, we may expect the existence also of condition B," or "trait A is usually associated with trait B," or, to Illustrate a negative relationship, "the presence of trait A in a patient usually precludes the likelihood of trait B" or "trait A seldom occurs in combination with trait B." The many cor- 1 relation coefficients in this monograph are intended to serve the same purposes as clinical observations of this type. The advan- tages of a coefficiential expression lie not only in its more pre- cise, quantitative form but also in the fact that in a routine pro- cedure of computing an _r the weight of contrary instances are not so likely to be overlooked as in the subjective observations aris- ing out of clinical experience. The important limitations of cor- relation coefficients, in comparison with clinical observations, is that they are not based similarly upon the recognition of process with temporal sequences and consideration of cause-and-effect
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OP THE TABLES 6?
relationships but merely state the extent of concomitant variation. They are themselves entirely noncommittal as to temporal or causal Implications.^ Their meaning or utility must be supplied by the reader from his own background and for his own purposes.
At this point it may be desirable to discuss briefly the relation of a "control group" to researches of this kind. The for- mal description of a control group belongs rather to a research employing the method of "group differences," I.e., a comparison of two groups equivalent In every respect except in the trait which Is the basis of comparison. In a study employing correlation coef- ficients, the control group Is comprehended In the computation of the coefficient without a formal mention of the fact. In a bi- serlal tabulation for the correlation of depressed spells with chronological age among boys (p. 15) there are 1^9 cases consti- tuting the "marked" group In which depressed spells were not noted. In a -group-differences methodology one would compare such facts as the means, variability, or distribution of ages for each of the two groups. In the tetrachoric tabulation for the correlation of tru- ancy from home with stealing (p. 16) we may consider the 503 boys noted as truant from home as the marked group, the 1,610 boys not noted as truant from home as the control, and compare the Incidence of stealing In each group. Or we may divide these cases into the marked group of 815 boys with a notation of stealing and compare the Incidence of truancy from home in each group. In our data either method would have been applicable. The method of Pearsonlan correlation was chosen because of Its conciseness In presenting a large amount of. material and because of the fact that correlation coefficients represent a more universalized mode of expression of relationships and fluctuate lest* with the number of cases (p. 22). If brevity were not so necessary, the method of group differences would be desirable because it would permit a closer analysis of 'the component parts of a tabulation which a correlation coeffi- cient may obscure.
The question may arise as to whether such a control group is adequate. It may be urged that a proper control group should be obtained entirely outside a clinic population, since the fact of admission to a behavior clinic Implies the presence of selective
5PP- 3-7.
68 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
factors (pp. 25-27). Now the Ideal control group should match the marked group in every respect except the one under study. If the marked group Is a series of clinic cases, the control group likewise should be obtained from the same clinic population, in order that whatever selective factors are present in the one group may also be present in the other.
At face value the tables of correlation coefficients may be considered as an effort to describe children's behavior diffi- culties in terms of correlated behavior problems. The correlations for each of the 111 variates and traits listed in Table 1 have been computed with one another and with the 14 traits or conditions listed in Table J>. A reading of such tables of correlation coef- ficients as though they were cursive bits of descriptive writing will yield a considerable amount of information, which could be obtained otherwise only through extensive personal clinical obser- vation.
This list Is a fairly comprehensive one as far as undesir- able behavior Is concerned, and in actual experience few behavior difficulties will be encountered which are not Included in this list. Unfortunately, the desirable and indifferent behavior traits are seriously underrepresented here because of the prevailing ten- dency of children's behavior child-guidance clinics to concentrate attention upon the manifestly undesirable traits (pp. 45-46). For that reason the tables afford a description of only one side of the story.
In the tables one will note that among the girls' coeffi- cients there is a larger number of high correlations, both positive and negative, than among the boys' coefficients. The writer does not profess to know the reason. On the one hand, the fact that the girls' coefficients are based upon a smaller number of cases (_N « I,l8l) than the boys1 coefficients (J * 2,113) will permit a larger number of extreme values. (It Is a simple fact in statistics not always appreciated by actual researchers that the smaller the num- ber of cases, the more likelihood that occasional high values will arise purely because of this Inadequacy of sampling. ) If one con- siders these correlations In relation to their probable errors, specifically the ratio of coefficient to Its P.E., the difference is not so striking. It is possible also that, among our clinic population, selective factors may have served to introduce a greater
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OP THE TABLES 69
amount of heterogeneity into the girls ! population than Into the boys', so that part of this difference in range of values may be an artifact due to differential selective Influences. On the other hand, it is also possible that actually there is a greater amount of heterogeneity among girls1 on the basis of undesirable behavior than among boys: it may be that girls who become "bad actors" in some respects have a greater tendency to become so in many respects and that therefore the correlation coefficients obtained from such material are enlarged because of the factor of heterogeneity. These are only conjectures. It should be repeated that the writer does not claim to know the reason.
Suggestions, Clues, Predictive Values
But the tables of correlation coefficients in this mono- graph have more than a descriptive utility. Each coefficient rep- resents a relationship between two traits, and many of them indi- cate important concepts. The mere statement of a correlation is, of course, not the final goal of a research procedure but may be considered as a valuable landmark or guldepost. Our ultimate de- sire is to be able to trace the process by which certain inherent tendencies of the individual together with environmental factors acting upon him produce a given type of behavior. Here we cannot expect to Isolate some one unitary or essential cause, as physi- cians do in the case of certain infective bodily diseases, but must be prepared to find that the causal factors are multiplex and of differing degrees of potency. It is in the locating of causal fac- tors and measurement of their potency that correlation coefficients serve their unique purpose. In the total procedure, then, the com- putation of correlations is but a preliminary or exploratory, though useful, step. They Indicate the directions which further research should take and suggest relationships which warrant special inquiry in more completely elaborated ad hoc researches.
In addition to the suggestions for further research to be found in such a collection of correlation coefficients, there are two uses of value in actual clinic practice, that of clues to be- havior trends not readily observable and that of prediction of fu- ture behavior or condition.
As an illustration of the use as clues, let us consider
70 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
the substantial tetrachoric correlation of .64 + .02 (with age "partialed out") between stealing and truancy from home among our 2,113 boys (p. 16 and Table 56, p. 312). Now stealing is likely to take place more or less in secret, so that its presence in an individual child may often not be known except as a result of spe- cial inquiry. Truancy from home, on the other hand, is an overt occurrence well enough known to the child's parents. In view of the high correlation of .64 + .02 in our clinic population, the presence of truancy from home raises the question of the presence of> stealing. A more meaningful interpretation would be obtained directly from the full tetrachoric tabulations, which unfortunately could not be reproduced here in any great number because of lack of space. In this instance, out of 503 home truants, 375, or 75 per cent, had a notation of stealing, while of 1,610 non- truants only 440, or 27 per cent, had a notation of stealing. Thus the "expectancy" for stealing is almost three times as great among home truants as among non-truants within our clinic population. What this expectancy may be among children in general not subjected to the selective factors, whatever these may be, attendant upon exam- ination in a children's behavior clinic, cannot be easily inferred; but this relation is large enough to Imply that the presence of the one trait indicates the advisability of an inquiry into the pres- ence of the other.
A more adequate conjecture or estimate would be obtained
4 by considering the joint evidence of several traits or notations.
We note from Table 56 that stealing among boys correlates substan- tially also with truancy from school ( .62 + .02), lying (.61 + .02), and bad companions (.57 + .02). Obviously, the ascertained pres- ence of several of these traits or notations increases the proba- bility of the presence of stealing. For example, we have noted that, of the boys with a case-record notation of truancy from home, 75 per cent had a notation of stealing. Out of the 324 boys with notations both of truancy from home and truancy from school, 265 boys, or 82 per cent, had a notation of stealing. Out of 182 boys with three notations — truancy from home, truancy from school, and lyinff—87 per cent had a notation of stealing. Out of 76 boys with
i
R. L. Jenkins and Luton Ackerson, "The Study of the Type as a Statis- tical Method," Journal of Juvenile Research, IVTI (1933), 1-9-
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE TABLES 71
the four notations truancy from home, truancy from school, lying, and bad companions, 93 per cent had a notation of stealing.
Another illustration of the use as clues or indicators of the presence of less easily observable traits which may be had from a scrutiny of the tables of correlation coefficients in subsequent pages is in reference to sex delinquency (coitus), which among girls Is an item of information often desired in the examination but relatively difficult to ascertain. The correlation coeffi- cients of sex delinquency (coitus) among the girls (Table 96, p. 470) were as follows: with truancy from home, . 48 + .04; with oversuggestibility, .38 + .04; and with overinterest in opposite sex, .38 + .04. Among 189 girls with a case-record notation of truancy from home 87 girls, or 46 per cent, had a notation of sex delinquency (coitus ) . Out of 67 girls with notations of both tru- ancy from home and staying; out late at night, 51 per cent had no- tations of sex delinquency (coitus). Out of 19 girls with the three notations truancy from home, staying out late at night, and oversuggestibllity, about 58 per cent had also a notation of sex delinquency (coitus). Out of 5 girls with the four notations tru- ancy from home, staying out late at night, oversuggestibllity, and overinterest in opposite sex, 4 girls (80 per cent) had also a no- tation of sex delinquency (coitus).
Within our material, it should be remarked in passing, the probabilities could not be increased indefinitely by this cumula- tive process. As the number of notations increased, the number of cases decreased (as in the example cited in the last paragraph) to the point where mere fluctuations of sampling blurred the trends. The procedure appeared empirically to be satisfactory, up the the accumulation of three notations, but often unsafe if four or more notations were considered. But in an application of this cumula- tive process to actual children, among whom paucity of cases cannot enter as a disturbing statistical factor, there is no reason why the cumulative effect of each added notation, which, as in the pre- ceding illustrations, is highly correlated with the notation under discussion, should not increase the probabilities indefinitely. In practice, however, it is likely that the increment In the probabil- ities to be gained by the addition of fresh notations beyond the first five or six will become almost negligible. The technical reason is that the intercorrelations among the notations themselves
72 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
are usually as high as with the notation under discussion and by analogy with "team correlation," high "outside correlations" can- not be obtained if the intercorrelations are also high.
Although the material in this monograph does not enable the reader to calculate the actual probabilities, as in the two illustrations cited above, an application of the Spearman sums- and- differences formula will enable one to infer whether the ad- dition of further notations to the composite can be depended upon to increase the probabilities that a given trait or condition is present. If we consider the notations to represent actual contin- uous measures and if these are reduced to "standard measures,"' i.e., measures so calibrated that their standard deviation becomes unity, this formula becomes delightfully simplified. For example, the correlation of a trait (l) with the combination of two other traits (2 and 3) becomes
-12 + -11 . ^(ln the case of equal a's) =* '
V2 + 2^23
The correlation of a trait (1) with the combination of three others (2, J, and 4) becomes
—12 + —1^5 "*" —14 the case of equal a's)
V?
The general formula for the correlation of a trait with the combi- nation of any number of traits similarly becomes
the case of
V IJS-l H2( r23+r24+. . . .«2n+254+- • • -tE3n+- • • -^(n-l )n ^
wherein^ denotes the ordinal number of the last notation to be added to the composite.
5C. L. Hull, "The Joint Yield from Teams of Tests," Journal of Educa- tional Psychology, XIV (1923), 396-^-0^, or Aptitude Testing (Yonlcers: World Book Co., 1928), chap. vlii.
C. Spearman, "Correlations of Sums and Differences," British Journal of Psychology. V (1913), 419, or Kelley, op. cit., Formula iVf.
cit., pp. 114-17.
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OP THE TABLES 73
There is no method, of course, of transmuting these corre- lation coefficients into probabilities. Nor should one expect that the results of this sort of formulaic computation "would parallel exactly the probabilities obtained from an actual counting of cases, as in the two illustrations described above. But an empirical com- parison of the results of the sums- and- differences formula showed that, whenever the team correlation increased definitely with the addition of a fresh notation, the probabilities also increased. For example, in the two illustrations cited above, the correlations of stealing among boys with truancy from home and with truancy from school were .64 and .62 respectively, and with the composite of the two the team correlation was .70. When a third notation, lying, was added, the correlation with the three became .76; and, when bad companions was added, the team correlation of stealing with the composite of four notations was .79. In the other illustration the correlations of sex delinquency (coitus) among girls with tru- ancy from home and staying out late at night were .48 and .44 re- spectively, and with the composite of the two the correlation was • 53. When a third notation — oversuggestlbillty — was added, the team correlation was .59; and, when overinterest in opposite sex was added, the correlation of sex delinquency (coitus) with the composite of four notations was .60.
Whenever the addition of a fresh notation brought about a decrease in the sums-and-differences correlation, inferences could not be made as to the effect upon the probabilities. Of the two Instances cited below (pp. 76-77), in which the team cor- relation showed decreases with the addition of certain notations, in one instance (police arrest among boys) the probabilities con- tinued to increase, while in the other (police arrest among girls) the probabilities showed a decrease.
The question arose as to the probable results of re-sorting the cards into fourfold tables for cumulative teams of notations and computing Pearson tetrachoric correlations therefrom. An em- pirical test quickly showed that this method was not feasible. Among the four instances cited (pp. 70-72 and 76-77) > it was found that the tetrachoric coefficient usually increased for the compos- ite of two notations but, beyond this, usually decreased with suc- cessive additions of further notations. At least three factors may co-operate in bringing about this Irregularity. (1) It may be that
74 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
the requirement of normality in tetrachorlc correlation is not ful- filled. As far as one notation is concerned, the assumption of normality of distribution is not implausible (pp. 18-19); but, when several notations are compounded, the form of the distribu- tion may become complex and irregular. (2) Or it may be that in such a combination the point of dichotomizatlon becomes equivocal, so that the resultant grouping of cases may tend to neutralize the effect of the underlying correlation. An analysis of the structure of a tetrachoric ^tabulation will make this clear. On the one side of the dichotomizatlon one would have, for example, the boys with all three notations — truancy from home, truancy from school, and lying — while on the other side of the dlchotomization one would have the boys with any two, one, or none of these notations. Now it is possible that many of the boys with two or even one of these notations differ so slightly from those with all three notations that when they are placed in the opposite dichotomy they will tend to counteract the statistical influence of the other boys with all three notations and thus reduce the correlation coefficient. In addition to this effect, there is often a marked decrease in the number of cases in the marked dichotomy, so that any increase in the value of the correlation coefficient resulting from this re- grouping of cases on this side of the dichotomization may be more than counterbalanced by the increased number of cases on the other. Or, to speak in terms of the actual tetrachoric tabulation (p. 16), the compounding of additional notations may often increase the ra- tio of cases in the upper left quadrant to cases in the lower left quadrant, thereby tending to increase the correlation coefficient as far as the left half of the tabulation alone Is concerned. On the other hand, such a regrouping will also tend to Increase to a small extent the ratio of ca"ses in the upper right quadrant to cases in the lower right quadrant. Even though this increase in ratio In the right half of the tabulation will usually be much less than the increase In the left half, this smaller ratio may nevertheless acquire a predominant influence in the total tabula- tion because of the large shift of cases from the left half to the right half which usually results from such a regrouping. (3) A third probable factor may be the unsatisfactory amount of validity or consistency (pp. 27-33) in the case notations, e.g., it is probable that in many instances where only two of a given set of
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OP THE TABLES 75
notations are present the third should also have been present if the true facts vere known. The effect of this weakness In the data is, of course, ordinarily a reduction in the correlation toward zero. While this possibility of Inadequate validity and consist- ency exists also when we are' dealing with one notation, this "at- tenuation" effect probably becomes multiplied when several nota- tions are Involved.
The use of the Information comprised In the tables of cor- relation coefficients as predictions of future behavior Is of the same nature as their use as clues, but with the time element added. Let us cite two illustrations, police arrest among boys and among girls (Table 8, p. 107). Among boys the correlations with police arrest were as follows: with truancy from home, .68 + .02; with stealing, .63 ± .02; with bad companions, .59 + .02; with truancy from school, .57 + .02; and with staying out late at night, .52 + .03. Out of 503 boys with a notation of truancy from home, 270 boys, or 5^ Per cent, had a notation of police arrest. Now in the case of an individual boy who truants from home but has not yet been under police detention, the probability is greater that at some future time he will have a police arrest than the boy with no such notation in his history. (It should be noted that the his- tories of our children are not yet "completed" in point of time, so that the probabilities as here given are undoubtedly understated as far as our clinic populations are concerned. ) In interpreting these probabilities two cautions are necessary. (l) Our population is unquestionably a selected one on the basis of admission to a be- havior clinic, and it Is impossible to conjecture how closely these percentages correspond to what would be found among unselected chil- dren. Our percentages cannot be applied strictly to any other pop- ulation except that of a behavior clinic with an intake similar to that of this one. (2) Since a time consideration is involved, the question arises as to which behavior trait antedates the other. In the present instance one can readily believe that truancy from home usually occurs prior to police arrest, partly because in many cases the truancy was one of the specific reasons for the police arrest. The data of this monograph do not aid the reader In concluding which comes first. That must be decided from other criteria. Fre- quently either one of two behavior traits may be antecedent and predisposing to the other Interchangeably, e.g., stealing may be
76 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
prophetic of truancy from home, and, vice versa, truancy from home may be prophetic of stealing.
The joint evidence of several notations will, within cer- tain limits, increase the possibility of prediction. Out of 372 boys with notations of both truancy from home and stealing, 227 boys, or 61 per cent, had notations of police arrest. When bad companions was added to the composite, the probability arose to 72 per cent of 157 boys. When truancy from school was added, the probability arose to 73 per cent of 120 boys. When staying out late at night was added, the occurrence of notations of police ar- rest among 54 boys with all five notations arose to 78 per cent.
The use of Spearman sums-and-differences correlations (p. 72 ) upon this series showed irregular results. For the combina- tion of truancy from home and stealing the sums-and-differences correlation with police arrest among boys arose to .72, and when bad companions was added this correlation increased to .75- But with the addition of truancy from school this correlation decreased to .64, and with the addition of staying out late at night this correlation arose again only to .75»
Let us examine another instance, that of police arrest among girls. Among the highest correlations (Table 8, p. 107) were: with sex delinquency (coitus), .76 + .02; with truancy from home, .67 + .03; with oversuggestibility, .57 4- .03; and with stay- ing out late at night, .49 + .04. Out of 218 girls with a notation of sex delinquency (coitus), 126 girls, or 58 per cent, had a nota- tion of police arrest. Out of 87 girls with the two notations — sex delinquency ( coitus ) and truancy from home — 62 girls, or 71 per cent, had a notation of police arrest. When oversuggestibility was added, the probability arose to about 77 per cent of 22 girls. When staying out late at night was added to the composite, the num- ber of cases with all four notations dropped to 11, of whom 7, or about 64 per cent, had a notation of police arrest.
The Spearman sums-and-differences correlations (p. 72) were also irregular. The team correlation of police arrest with
Q
An attempt to indicate which traits are likely to appear at different age levels among children on the basis of incidences is given In Vol. I, Figs. 48 and 52. An excellent study of sequences in offenses among Juvenile delin- quents is reported by Ruth E. Burkey, "A Statistical Study of the Sequence of Successive Delinquencies," Journal of JuTenile Research, IV1 (1932), 133-44.
EXPLANATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE TABLES 77
the composite of two notations was .83; with three notations, .89; and for the composite of four notations the sums-and-dlfferences correlation dropped to .86.
In selecting notations to be added to a composite from which one desires either clues to other traits not so easily ascer* tainable or prediction as to future behavior or condition, these rules should be followed: (1) The notations should be correlated as high as possible with the unascertained trait or condition. (2) The notations should be intercorrelated as low as possible, or even negatively, with the other traits in the composite. (3) Whenever feasible, preference should be given to notations of rel- atively frequent occurrence In order to avoid too great a reduc- tion in the number of cases.
PART II THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AMONG TRAITS
CHAPTER VIII
ON CRITERIA OP "SERIOUSNESS" AMONG BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTIES
In our effort toward a systematic study of children's "be- havior difficulties our first step has "been a canvass of the data for the purpose of obtaining a comprehensive Inventory of the prob- lems actually reported by parents and by examining staff. This in- ventory resulted in an extensive list of about 300 behavior items found to occur oftener than 0.5 per cent among our total 5,000 cases.1 Out of this list, 135 items which are ordinarily desig- nated as "personality" or "conduct" difficulties and 26 miscella- neous traits or conditions, which occurred often enough to warrant separate statistical treatment, were selected for the investigation reported in Part II of this monograph.
The next step is an evaluation of what, for the lack of better terms, may be called the relative "seriousness" or "ominous- ness" among these traits. In clinical work with children and also in planning research projects the question arises as to which of the many behavior problems warrant special attention and which are of negligible Importance. Is a notation of truancy from home more serious than a notation of stealing? Is seclusiveness more serious than disobedience? How much importance should be attached to enu- resis, a frequently noted item in children's behavior clinics?
Ideal criteria of importance or seriousness lie beyond the potentialities of our data. A socially minded worker would wish to estimate seriousness in terms of the social injury resulting from a given pattern of behavior. A more individualistically minded worker would think in terms of the injury or frustration to the child himself. Others would estimate it according to its prognostic implications, i.e., which of two behavior traits augurs
inventory is published in Tables 1-1? of Vol. I. See also the author's "On the Feasibility of Inventorying Children's Behavior Traits," Jour- nal of Juvenile Research, XVI (1932), 32-39.
81
82 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
the less favorable outcome In the future as the child grows to ma- turity? Several researchers have attempted to evaluate relative seriousness by asking authorities in children's work to rate var- ious traits as to their importance, leaving to each rater his own subjective conception of what he considers importance or serious- ness to mean, i.e., the criterion of "consensus of opinion." Our problem was to find some feasible criteria capable of research treatment by quantitative methods.
As objective and measurable criteria of importance or ser- iousness, we have employed three devices — the personality- total, the c onduc t - 1 ot al , and the notation of a police arrest. The per- sonality-total consists of the unweighted enumeration of all the undesirable personality traits noted for each child. For example, if he is noted as seclusive only, his personality- total is 1; if he also daydreams, his total is 2; if he also has inferiority feel- ings, his total is 3; and so on. The conduct- total is similarly constructed. If he steals only, his conduct- total is 1; if he is also truant from home, his total is 2; if he is also noted as quar- relsome, his conduct- total is 5> and so on. A refinement may have been given these totals by weighting the various component traits according to their Importance, for undoubtedly all the components are not of equal importance, e.g., in the conduct sphere, stealing is of greater concern than finicky food habits. There was no fea- sible technique of ascertaining such differential weightings in our data, however, without resorting to subjectivity, which our methods have tried to avoid as far as possible. It is unlikely, moreover, that such a weighting of the component traits would have changed our correlational findings to any considerable extent. The third criterion is the fact of a police arrest or detention by rea- son of misconduct. Among our cases this notation was present among about one- fifth of the boys and about one- seventh of the girls.
The assumption underlying these criteria is that any traits which are highly correlated with the extent of personality or con- duct deviation as measured by the number of reported behavior dif- ficulties or which are highly associated with the fact of a police arrest or juvenile- court appearance are more "serious" or "ominous," whether as causes or merely as symptoms, than traits only negligi- bly correlated with these criteria.
Our grouping of behavior problems into personality and
ON CRITERIA OP "SERIOUSNESS11 AMONG BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTIES 8}
conduct categories does not profess to rest upon any etlological basis but merely follows the customary usage of these terms by child workers. In so far as a distinction can be made, a person- ality problem is commonly thought to be a comparatively Intrinsic trait in an individual, which 'in an overdeveloped or exaggerated form is associated with a diagnosis of psychosis or psychopathy or similar mental disorder. It is not ordinarily considered to be deserving of punishment or amenable to it. A conduct problem, on the other hand, in an extreme form is usually associated with com- mitment to a correctional institution in the case of adults and
with a spanking or other overt disciplinary expedient among younger
p
children. The reader who wishes to learn more exactly our arbi- trary grouping of traits in order to understand the composition of the per s onal ity- 1 ot al and the conduct-total may refer to Volume I, in which the personality problems are listed in Tables 1 and 2 and the conduct problems in Tables 3 and 4.
The question may well be asked concerning the validity of these three criteria, i.e., What is the evidence that they may be accepted as working measures of "seriousness" or "ominousness. "
Among the clinic's staff members who were acquainted with the children of our series in a professional capacity It was ob- served that a child who was commonly considered a "personality case" usually showed a relatively high personality- total, while one considered primarily a "conduct case" usually showed a large conduct- total. Similarly, a child spoken of as "not a behavior problem" usually showed a small inventory of personality and con- duct problems. The formal counting- up of his behavior problems thus gave a result which agreed generally with the opinion of the examiners.
The correlations of these totals with the fact of a police arrest Indicate the same contrasts. For conduct- total these coef- ficients were .53 + .02 and .J51 + . Oj5 for boys and girls respec- tively, while for personality- total these coefficients were only
iTor a further discussion on this point see I, lj-1-^2.
^In this connection It may be appropriate to note that the "boy with the largest conduct -total among our entire 5,000 cases, the 63 Items of which were listed under Case I. P. In Vol. I (pp. 8-10), is at the time of writing (1939) serving his second state penitentiary sentence for serious property offenses, the two incarcerations having been in widely separated states.
84 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
.18 ± .02 and .11 + .05 respectively. The correlations of the two totals with the separate behavior notations in Tables 6 and 7 (pp. 89 and 98) showed similar differences. The high correlations for personality- total were usually with traits commonly described as personality problems, e.g., incipient psychosis (unspecified), di- agnosis or question of dementia praecox, queer behavior, depressed spells, talking to self without apparent reason, and the like; while the high coefficients for the conduct- total were with such conspicuous conduct difficulties as swearing, disturbing Influence in the home, destructiveness , "annoying" girls, truancy from home, disobedience, and stealing. The fact that personality- total is correlated most highly with Incipient psychosis (.76 -f .03 among boys ) and diagnosis or question of dementia praecox ( .60 + .03 among boys) gives strong support to the validity of our personality
total, since the recognized psychoses represent the maximum degree
_
of personality disorder.
The validity of the notation of police arrest Is scarcely open to question. Our Information concerning this Item is complete up to the time of the child's examination at the clinic. It In- cludes only those children who have been under police arrest or detention (whether "booked" on formal complaints or not) for rea- sons of misconduct. It does not include the children brought to the juvenile court by their parents only for advice, unless the child was actually placed under arrest or detention. Its high cor- relations were with such obvious misconduct as stealing an automo- bile, truancy from home, stealing (unspecified), robbing a build- ing, home, etc., bad companions , and the like. An attenuating fac- tor is in all likelihood present In the correlations with police arrest, since our children's histories are uncompleted in point of time and a substantial fraction of these children may be expected to encounter a police arrest In subsequent years. While the "par- tialing out" of chronological age In these coefficients (the cor- relations of police arrest with age being .29 + .02 and .56 + .02 for boys and girls respectively) may tend to standardize their
.
The technical point should be noted here that In the correlations of a given total with a specific behavior notation which it comprises, the specific notation was excluded from that total; e.g., the correlation (bi-eerial r) of personality -total with queer behavior means the correlation of queer behavior with the aggregate number of personality problems other than gueer behavior.
ON CRITERIA OF "SERIOUSNESS" AMONG BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTIES 85
meaning on the basis of "with age constant," it is very probable that they ape definitely reduced in size in comparison with vhat would have been obtained If one could have employed life-histories fully complete in point of time.
The use of three parallel criteria may seem confusing, but there appeared to be no satisfactory basis for combining them into a single criterion measure. A glance at their intercorrelations (Table 4) shows that they are not highly enough intercorrelated to
TABLE 4*
PERSONALITY -TOTAL, CONDUCT -TOTAL, AHD POLICE ARREST
|
Boys |
Personality-Total |
||||
|
Range |
Means |
Stand- ard Devia- tions |
Intercorrelations |
||
|
Pereonallty- |
Conduct - |
Police |
|||
|
Total |
Total |
Arrest |
|||
|
0 to k6 0 to k9 |
6.5 6.0 |
5.2 5.^ |
.50 + .01 .61 + .01 |
.18 + .02 .11 + .03 |
|
|
Girls |
|||||
|
Boys |
|||||
|
Conduct -Total |
|||||
|
0 to 63 0 to 50 |
9A 7.6 |
7.8 7.2 |
.50 + .01 .61 + .01 |
.53 + .02 .31 + .03 |
|
|
Girls |
|||||
|
Boys |
|||||
|
Police Arrest^" |
|||||
|
.18 + .02 .11 I .02 |
.53 + .02 .31 + .03 |
||||
|
Girls |
|||||
Means, standard deviations, ranges, and intercorrelations (age "partialed out"), N's = 2,113 boys and I,l8l girls.
"^Categorical data.
to be considered as duplicating one another. The data of Table 5 show similarly that the three criteria tend to show differing cor- relations with the specific behavior traits covered in this study. The study by E. K. Wickman^ obtained direct ratings of the
Children's Behavior and Teachers' Attitudes (New York: Fund, 1929~T Pp. 2^7.
Commonwealth
86
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 5*
RANK- ORDER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE "OUTSIDE"
CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS FOR EACH
OF THE 'I'HHkiM CRITERIA
|
Boys |
|||
|
Personality- |
Conduct - |
Police |
|
|
Total |
Total |
Arrest |
|
|
• 33 + .05 |
-.05 + .06 |
||
|
• 33 + .05 |
.70 + .03 |
||
|
Police arrest |
-.05 + .06 |
.70 + .05 |
|
|
Girls |
|||
|
Personality-total |
.76 + .03 |
.13 + .06 |
|
|
Conduct-total |
.76 + .03 |
.51 + .05 |
|
|
Police arrest |
.13 + .06 |
.51 + .05 |
••»..«•»•» |
The coefficients given are Spearman rank- differences - squared correlations between the columns of coefficients in Tables 6, lf and 8 in subsequent pages.
relative seriousness of behavior problems among school children in the form of rankings by a group of 5H teachers and a group of 30 mental hygienlsts (8 psychiatrists, 4 psycholpgists, 15 psychiat- ric social workers, and 5 visiting teachers), all "actually and solely engaged in the study and treatment of behavior disorders of children" in child- guidance clinics (p. 121). He found that there was no agreement between the rankings of these traits by the two groups, the rank- order correlation coefficient being -.11 (p. 122). He concludes that "teachers stress the importance of problems re- lating to sex, dishonesty,- disobedience, dis orderliness, and fail- ure to learn Mental hygienlsts, on the other hand, con- sider .... unsocial forms of behavior .... [withdrawing, re- cessive characteristics] most serious and discount the stress which teachers lay on anti-social conduct." A perusal of Wlckman's Charts XVI and XVIII, which list the relative rankings of the se- riousness of traits by teachers and by mental hyglenists respec- tively and a comparison with our own Tables 6 (p. 89) and 7 (p» 98) bring to light the fact that our conduct- total and police- arrest criteria resemble the teachers' rankings, while our personality-
ON CRITERIA OF "SERIOUSNESS" AMONG BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTIES 8?
total criterion corresponds rather with the mental hygienists1 rankings .
A similar distinction between conduct problems and person- ality problems in respect to the differing attitudes of parents or college students, on the one 'hand, and mental hygienists, on the other, was found by R. M. Stogdill in his studies.
At some future time, as our knowledge of behavior diffi- culties increases, it may be possible to construct a single com- prehensive over- all criterion measure; but for the present, in the writer's estimation, the most defensible policy is to treat each criterion as lying in a different plane.
6,, Attitude of Parents, Students, and Mental Hygienists toward Children '£
Behavior," Journal of Social Psychology, IV (1933), ^86-89, and "The Measurement of Attitudes toward Children," Abstracts of Doctors' Dissertations (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1935), XVI, 189-201.
CHAPTER IX THE PERSONALITY- TOTAL CRITERION
The personality-" total is the unweighted sum of all the per- sonality problems ^reported for an Individual child, as we have ex- plained in the preceding chapter. Among our 2,113 White boys the number of personality problems noted per child ranged from 0 to 46, with a mean of 6.5 and a standard deviation of 5.2 (Table 4, p. 85) Among our I,l8l White girls the range was 0-49, "the mean, 6.0, and the standard deviation, 5.4. The distribution of the personality- total is shown in Figure 3»
Number of per<$o notify problems per child
Fig. 3. — Percentage Frequency Distribution of Personality- Totals
In Table 6 it will be noted that the personality- total is strongly correlated with the conduct- total in our data, both among boys and among girls, the product- moment coefficients being .50 + .01 and .61 + .01 respectively. It is probable that in our data these two coefficients are artificially enlarged because of a*
88
THE PERSONALI TY- TOTAL CRITERION
TABLE 6 CORRELATIONS WITH "PERSONALITY -TOTAL"
89
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Conduct -total |
.50 + .01 .18 + .02 |
.61 + .01 .11 + .03 |
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Incipient psychosis |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.76 + .03 |
||
|
Dementia praecox |
.60 + .03 |
|
|
Queer |
.52 + .03 .50 + .02 .47 + .04 |
.61 + .03 (2)* .57 f -05 (6) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
.45 + .03 .45 + .03 .43 + .03 .43 + .02 .43 + .02 .42 + .02 .42 + .03 .42 + .03 .42 + .02 .41 + .03 .41 + .03 .41 + .03 .40 + .03 .39 + .03 .38 + .02 .38 + .03 .37 + .04 |
.38 + .04 (51-52) .53 + .03 (12-13) .45 + .04 (28-30) .59 + .03 (3-4) .50 + .02 (16-19) .56 + .03 (7-8) .50 + .03 (16-19) .55 + .03 (9) .48 + .02 (23-26) .42 + .04 (37-40) .41 + .03 (41-43) .52 + .04 (14-15) .58 + .04 (5) .50 + .04 (16-19) .49 + .03 (20-22) .49 I .04 (20-22) |
|
|
Question of change of personality. ............ |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Disturbing influence in home |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
.37 + .03 |
||
|
"Nervous" |
.37 + .02 .37 4- .03 .36 + .02 .35 + .02 .35 + .03 •35 + .03 .35 + -03 .34 + .03 |
.35 + .03 (55-59) .37 + .04 (52-53) .42 + .02 (37-40) .42 + .04 (37-40) .33 + .05 (65-68) .43 + .04 (33-36) .34 + .05 (60-64) |
|
Teasing other children |
||
|
Tiring easily |
||
|
Mental conflict . . |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
||
|
Secluslve |
.33 + .02 •33 i .03 .33 + .02 .32 + .03 .32 + .02 .32 + .02 .32 + .02 .32 + .02 ,32 + .02 .31 + .03 |
.31 + .03 (71-73) .34 + .03 (60-64) .43 + .03 (33-36) .50 + .03 (16-19) .39 + .03 (47-49) .30 + .03 (74-76) .48 + .04 (23-26) .39 + .03 (47-49) .16 ' .43 j; .04 (33-36) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Bossy |
||
|
Rude ' |
||
|
"Night terrors" |
||
|
Gluttony |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
90
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABI2S 6 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Violence |
.31 + .02 |
64 4- .03 (1) |
|
Overintereet In sex matters |
.31 + .03 |
.35 + .04 (55-29) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.31 + .02 |
.34 + .03 (60-64) |
|
Brant, 1 <-ynal "InptftM llty . |
.31 + .03 |
.45 + 03 (28-30) |
|
Unhappy |
.31 4- .03 |
.33 + .04 (65-68) |
|
Headaches |
.31 + .03 |
.25 + .Ok (83-86) |
|
Grouped: disobedient , etc |
.31 -»- .02 |
.40 + .02 (44-46) |
|
Destructive |
.30 + .02 |
.40 + .04 (44-46) |
|
Failure to adjust In boater-home |
.30 4- .Ok |
514. + .o4 (10-11) |
|
Svear ing ( general ) |
.30 + .03 |
.59 + .04 (3-4) |
|
Thumb- sucking |
.30 4- .04 |
33 4- 04 (65-68) |
|
Absent-minded. |
.30 + .03 |
.18 |
|
Changeable moods |
.30 4- .02 |
.49 ± .03 (20-22) |
|
Psychopathic personality |
.30 4- .03 |
.46 4- .04 (27) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.30 4- .02 |
.48 4- .02 (23-26) |
|
Lazy |
29 + 02 |
17 |
|
Stubborn. |
.29 4- .02 |
36 4- 03 (54) |
|
Sullen. |
.29 4- .02 |
.34 4- .03 (60-64) |
|
Temper tantrums |
.29 4- .02 |
54 4- 03 (10-11) |
|
Irritable |
.29 4- 02 |
27 + 03 (81-82) |
|
Spoiled child |
.29 4- .02 |
.27 4- .03 (81-82) |
|
Bowel incontinence |
.28 4- .04 |
|
|
Cruelty to younger children |
.28 + .03 |
|
|
Nail-biting |
.28 4- .02 |
24 + 03 (87-77) |
|
Resentful attitude , . |
.28 + .03 |
.56 + .04 (7-8) |
|
Abused feeling or manner |
.28 4- .03 |
.48 4- .04 (23-26) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.27 4- .02 |
.44 4- .02 (31-32) |
|
Crying spells |
.2? 4- .02 |
.38 4- 02 (50-51) |
|
Object of teasing |
.27 4- 02 |
30 + 03 (74-76) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.26 4 .02 |
.41 4- .03 (41-43) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.26 + .02 |
.52 + .03 (14-15) |
|
Lack of interest in school |
.26 4- .02 |
.32 + .03 (69-70) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.26 + .02 |
.33 4- .03 (65-68) |
|
Over interest in opposite sex |
.26 4- .03 |
.31 + .03 (71-73) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.26 t .02 |
.35 4- .03 (55-59) |
|
Fire- sett ing |
2*5 + Ok |
|
|
Selfish |
.25 4- .03 |
.14.14. 4. .03 (31-32) |
|
Temper display |
.25 4- .02 |
.16 |
|
Dlstractible |
.25 4 .02 |
.41 4- .03 (41-43) |
|
Restless ."* .. .. |
25 + 02 |
34 + 03 (60-64) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.25 4 .02 |
.39 4- .03 (47-49) |
|
Begging |
.24-4- .03 |
|
|
Disobedient . . . .. |
2k + 02 |
31 4- 03 (71-73) |
|
.24-4 .03 |
.29 + .04 (77-79) |
|
|
lying. |
.24 4- .02 |
.35 + .02 (55-59) |
|
Exhibitionism |
.24 4- .04 |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.23 + .02 |
.35 4- .03 (55-59) |
|
Irregular 'anrployment record. |
.23 + .03 |
.37 4- .04 (52-53) |
|
Loitering |
.23 + .03 |
.06 " |
|
Passive pederasty. |
.23 + .04 |
|
|
Sex attack on opposite sex . . . |
.23 4- .04 |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.23 4- .03 |
.42 4- .04 (37-40) |
THE PERSONALI TY- TOTAL CRITERION TABLE 6 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|||
|
Slovenly |
.22 + . |
09 |
.25 t |
.03 (83-86) |
|
22 + |
0)1 |
|||
|
Bullying |
.21 + . |
01 |
||
|
Gambling |
.21 + . |
0^4 |
||
|
Smoking |
.21 + . |
01 |
||
|
.21 +. |
04 |
.28 + |
.05 (80) |
|
|
Sulky |
.21 t • |
01 |
.29 + |
•Ok (77-79) |
|
.21 + . |
OP |
.18 |
||
|
Defiant |
.20 f . |
01 |
.53 + |
.03 (12-13) |
|
.20 +. |
01 |
.45 + |
.ok (28-30) |
|
|
.20 ± . |
o4 |
.06 |
||
|
.20 ± . |
01 |
|||
|
Stealing an automobile. |
.20 t - |
Oil |
||
|
Fighting |
.18 |
.43 + |
.03 (33-36) |
|
|
Egocentric |
.11 |
.30 ± |
.03 (74-76) |
|
|
Stealing |
.19 |
.29 + |
.03 (77-79) |
|
|
Inattentive In school |
.18 |
.25 + |
.ok (83-86) |
|
|
.13 |
-25 ± |
.03 (83-86) |
||
|
Staying out late at night |
.16 |
.2k ± |
.03 (87-88) |
|
|
.14 |
.22 ± |
.03 (89-91) |
||
|
Truancy from home |
.11 |
.22 ± |
.03 (89-91) |
|
|
.19 |
.22 t |
.05 (89-91) |
||
|
Repressed |
.06 |
.21 ± |
.ok (92) |
|
|
.17 |
.20 + |
.03 (93) |
||
|
Larger C |
orr |
elatlone |
(Negative) |
|
|
Fef*blfi-iT»"l ncJ^d sibling. ........................ |
-.20 + |
01 |
-.12 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Apprehensive, .19 and .16; Listless, .19 and .16; Discord between par- ents, .19 and ,08; Robbing a building, home, etc., .18 (boys); Truancy from in- stitution, .18 (boys); Former convulsions, .18 and .11; Speech defect, .18 and .11; Refusal to attend school, .17 and .08; Truancy from home, .17 and .19; Mu- tual masturbation (same sex), .17 (boys); Homosexual (same age), .16 (boys); "Sugar hunger," .16 (boys); Attractive manner, .16 and .05; Clean, .15 and .14; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .15 and .07; Lack of initiative, .14 and -.03; Bash- ful, .13 and .05; Vicious home conditions, .13 and .06; Preference for younger children, .12 and .13; Follower, .12 and .07; Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Lack of affection, .10 (boys); Stuttering, .10 (boys); Gang, .09 (boys); Under- weight, .09 and .11; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08 and .08; Irregular attendance at school, .07 and -.02; Leader, .05 and .16; Sex denied entirely, .04 and .17; Question of hypophrenla, .04 and -.05; Popular, .03 and .12; Vocational guid- ance, .02 and .02; Oversuggestlble, .01 and .13; Immoral home conditions, .00 and -.03; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.07; Immoral Bister, -.07 and -.06; Lues, -.07 and .06; Brother in penal detention, .08 and .12; Retardation in school, -.12 and .13
92 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
prejudicial effect due to varying completeness in the case-record data. It can be supposed that the informants who tend to give ex- tensive information concerning the child in the personality sphere of his activity also tend to give extensive data in the conduct sphere, and, similarly, informants vho give only a brief account of a child's personality problems are likely to give only limited Information as to his conduct difficulties. The personality- total showed relatively low correlations with police arrest, the bl- serial' correlations being .18 + .02 and .11 + .03 for boys and girls re- spectively.
(In computing the correlations of a specific behavior trait with either the personality- total or the conduct- total of which it would form a component, it was necessary in each instance to ex- clude the specific behavior notation concerned in the correlation in order to avoid a spurious correlation due to Identity of mate- rial if both variates were used in the correlation. For example, such a correlation coefficient as that of queer behavior with per- sonality-total among boys, .52 + .03, means the bi- serial correla- tion of queer behavior with the total number of personality prob- lems noted for each child other than the notation queer behavior Itself. )
The highest correlations (bi- serial j?) among boys with the personality- total criterion of relative seriousness or "ominous- ness" were with the notations staff diagnosis or question of in- cipient psychosis or psychosis not elsewhere specified, .76 jh .03, and staff diagnosis or question of dementia praecox or schizophre- nia (simple, hebephrenic, catatonic, paranoid, or unspecified), .60 + .03; the corresponding coefficients for girls could not be reliably calculated because of the paucity of girls ' cases in our data. Among girls the highest coefficients were for violence, .64 + .03, and queer behavior, .61 + .03, the corresponding coeffi- cients for boys being .31 4- .02 and . 52 + .03 respectively. The "larger grouping," depressed spells or unhappiness (undifferenti- ated), yielded relatively high correlations in the . 50's among both sexes.
Eight notations among girls yielded high correlations in
. iv, pp. 35-38.
THE PERSONALITY-TOTAL CRITERION 93
the .50*3 among girls, and almost equally large coefficients in the ,40's among boys: diagnosis or question of encephalitis, ques- tion of change of personality, disturbing influence in home, de- pressed mood or spells, sensitiveness or "worrisome ness (undiffer- entlated), inferiority feelings, "boastful or "show-off" manner, and inefficiency in work, play, etc. Four "behavior notations among girls yielded high correlations in the ,50's and relatively sub- stantial coefficients in the .30 's among boys: unpopularity , bossy manner, swearing in general, and failure to adjust in foster-home. Among girls four additional behavior problems yielded high corre- lations in the ,50's and among boys moderate correlations in the ,20's: temper tantrums, defiant attitude, resentful attitude, and disturbing influence in school.
Fairly large correlations in the . 40's were found among both sexes for fantastical lying, bad language, hatred or jealousy of sibling, and the "larger grouping," "nervousness" or restless- ness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undlf- ferentiated), and also for the notation talking to self without ap- parent reason, for which only the boys1 coefficient was computed. Contrariness yielded almost equally large correlations of .45 + .03 and .38 4- .04 among boys and girls respectively. Twelve behavior problems among girls yielded fairly large correlations in the . 40's and among boys substantial correlations in the .30's: staff nota- tion or question of psychopathic personality or psychopathic trends, staff notation of psychoneurosls or psychoneurotlc trends (unspec- ified), mental conflict, daydreaming, staff notation of emotional Instability, changeable moods, "night terrors, " teasing other chil- dren, disobedience or incorrlgibility (Including defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentiated), destructlveness , fighting or quarrelsomeness (including violence, undifferentiated), and gluttony or overeating. Eight behavior problems among girls similarly yielded large correlations in the ,40's and moderate co- efficients ranging from .18 to .28 among boys: abused feeling or manner, quarrelsomeness , fighting, selfishness, leading others into bad conduct, distractlbility, Irregular sleep habits, and finicky food habits.
Thirteen miscellaneous notations yielded substantial cor- relations in the ,30's with personality- total among both sexes: "nervousness , " unhappiness , worry over some specific fact or
94 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
episode, sensitiveness in general, sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode, seclusiveness, complaining of bad treatment by other children, rudeness, thumb- sue king, tiring easily, masturba- tion, overinterest in sex matters, and neurological defect (unspec- ified) . Three additional conduct problems for which only the boys' correlations could be reliably computed also yielded substantial correlations in the . ^O's: threatening violence, cruelty to ani- mals, and "annoying" girls. Three miscellaneous notations among boys yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, and low or mod- erate coefficients ranging from .16 to .25 among girls: absent- mindedness , exclusion from school, and headaches . Thirteen miscel- laneous case-record notations among girls yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30's and moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys: restlessness, restlessness in sleep, crying spells, egocen- tricity or selfishness (including self-indulgent attitude [undif- ferentiated] ), disobedience, incorrigibillty, stubbornness, sullen- ness, lying, object of teasing by other children, lack of interest in school, overinterest in the opposite sex, and Irregular employ- ment record.
Seven behavior difficulties among both sexes showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's with the personality- total criterion of seriousness or "omlnousness" : irritable temperament, sulkiness, "spoiled child," sneakiness, slovenliness, irresponsibility, and nail-biting. A large series of thirteen behavior traits for which only the boys' correlations were computed (the girls' cases being too few) also showed moderate coefficients in the .20's: cruelty to younger children, fire-setting, bullying, swearing at mother, teacher, etc . , stealing an automobile or horse, begging on the street, smoking, gambling, obscene language, sex attack or abuse (actual or attempted) upon child of opposite sex, passive peder- asty , exhibitionism or "indecent exposure , " and bowel Incontinence . Five miscellaneous notations among boys showed moderate cocrrela- tlons in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: temper display (other than "tantrums"), laziness, loiter- ing or wandering, poor work in school, and illegitimate parentage. Ten miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correla- tions ranging from .20 to .30, but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: repressed manner, excuse- forming attitude, ego- centricity, stealing, bad companions, truancy from home, staying
THE PERSONALITY- TOTAL CRITERION 95
out late at night, inattentiveness In school, staff notation of un- favorable conduct prognosis, and enuresis (continuing "beyond third birthday ) .
The only negative correlation of moderate size was for feeble- minded sibling among "boys, -.20 ± .03, the corresponding coefficient for girls "being a low negative, -.12.
Among the following notations the correlations with the personality- total were found to be quite negligible (less than t .10): running with a gang, sex delinquency (coitus), slow or dull manner, question of hypophrenia (suspected feeble-mindedness ) , immoral home conditions, immoral sister, and question or diagnosis of lues or former lues.
Among the thirteen sex notations considered in this chapter the highest correlation with the pers onall ty- 1 ot al criterion of seriousness was the substantial one of .37 4 -03 among boys for "annoying" girls. Moderate to substantial coefficients ranging from .26 to .35 among both sexes were found for overlnterest in the opposite sex, overinterest in sex matters, and masturbation. Pour sex notations for which only the boys' correlations were com- puted showed moderate correlations in the . 20's: sex attack or abuse (actual or attempted) upon child of the opposite sex, passive pederasty, exhibitionism or "indecent exposure," and obscene lan- guage . The remaining five sex notations (sex delinquency or coi- tus, mutual masturbation with child of same sex, homosexual prac- tices with child of similar age, victim of sex attack or abuse by older person, and sex misbehavior denied entirely) showed only low or negligible correlations, ranging from .04 to .17.
Among the twelve physical, psychophysical, or "constitu- tional" notations considered in this chapter, the highest correla- tions were with diagnosis or question of encephalitis, with coef- ficients of .41 4- .03 and .52 4 .04 for boys and girls respectively. Neurological defect (unspecified) yielded corresponding substantial coefficients of .32 4 .02 and .39 4- .03. Moderate or substantial corresponding correlations of .31 4 .03 and .25 4- .04 were found for headaches. Enuresis (continuing beyond third birthday) among girls and bowel incontinence (computed for boys only) showed mod- srate correlations in the .20' s. Low or negligible coefficients panging from -.07 to .18 were found for the remaining seven npta- tions in this field: underweight condition (10 per cent or more).
96 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
"sugar hunger , " former convulsions or convulsions In infancy , lues (present or former), speech defect, stuttering, and question of hy- pophrenla (if mental defect may be classifiable as a "constitu- tional" disability).
Among the seven home or familial notations considered in this chapter, only two correlations of moderate size were found, both among boys: .20 + .04 with illegitimate parentage and the curious negative one of -.20 + .03 with f e e'b 1 e-mlnded sibling. Discord between parents among boys showed the low but statistically significant correlation of . 19 + .02. All other coefficients in this field, Including those for vicious home conditlona, immoral home conditions , immoral aiater, and brother with police arrest or under penal detention were low or negligible, ranging from -.12 to
The correlation coefficients for boys and girls in Table 6 were generally similar to each other, the girls f correlations usu- ally averaging somewhat larger. In other words, notations which from a personality standpoint appeared to be important among boys also appeared to be important in this respect among girls, and vice versa. The rank-order correlation ( Spearman !s rank-differences- squared formula) for the boys' and girls1 coefficients was found to be .78 t .02.
CHAPTER X THE CONDUCT- TOTAL CRITERION
The conduct- total is the unweighted sum of all conduct problems reported for an individual child, as we have explained in chapter viii. Among our 2,113 White boys the number of conduct notations ranged from 0 to 63, with a mean of 9.4 and a standard deviation of 7.8 (Table 4, p. 85). Among our 1,181 White girls the range was from 0 to 50, the mean 7.6, and the standard deviation 7.2. The distribution of the conduct- total is shown in Figure 4.
- Boys. N* -- Girls, /V«
2ii3 //a i
?
o
to
1
I
6
Number of conduct problems per child
Jflg. k. — Percentage frequency Distribution of> Conduct -Totals
It will be noted in Table 7 that among boys the conduct- total showed large correlations with the other two criteria, per- sonality-total and police arrest, the coefficients being .50 jh .01 and .53 ± .02 respectively. Among girls the correlations with per- sonality-total were comparatively large (.61 + .01), but they were of lesser magnitude (.31 + -03) with the police-arrest criterion. In other words, the extent of conduct deviation among girls appears
97
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 7 CORRELATIONS WITH "CONDUCT-TOTAL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.50 4- .01 |
.61 + .01 |
|
|
Police arrest |
.53 + .02 |
.31 + .03 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slationa (Positive) |
|
|
.61 i- .02 |
.76 4- .02 (3)* |
|
|
Disturbing influence in home |
.60 4- .03 |
.69 ± .03 (4) |
|
.60 ± .03 |
.61 + .04 (13-14) |
|
|
-59 ± .02 |
.54 + .04 (21-23) |
|
|
"Annoying" girls |
.56 4- .03 |
|
|
.56-1- .02 |
.42 + .03 (49-52) |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient ^ etc |
.56 + .01 |
.64 + .02 (9-11) |
|
.55 + .01 |
.51 4- .02 (27-28) |
|
|
.514. t -03 |
||
|
Violence |
.54 t -02 |
.79 4- .02 (2) |
|
.53 + .02 |
.59 -f .02 (15) |
|
|
Grouped* fighting* etc |
.53 + .02 |
.65 -f .02 (7-8) |
|
.52 + .03 |
.66 ± .04 (6) |
|
|
Obscene language . . . . |
.52 4- .03 |
|
|
.52 t -03 |
||
|
.51 t »o4 |
.62 4- .03 (12) |
|
|
.51 + .02 |
.65 + .03 (7-8) |
|
|
.51 + .02 |
.86 4- .03 (1) |
|
|
.50 t '03 |
||
|
Cruelty to younger children. |
.50 ± .03 |
|
|
.49 ± .02 |
||
|
Unpopular |
.49 ± .03 |
.64 4- .03 (9-11) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.49 + .02 |
.56 + .03 (17-18) |
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
.48 t -02 |
.52 + .03 (25-26) |
|
Contrary. |
.48 ± .03 |
.34 4- .04 (65) |
|
.If 8 t .02 |
.56 4- .02 (17-18) |
|
|
Rude |
.48 + .02 |
.55 4- .02 (19-20) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.48 + .02 |
.51 + .03 (27-28) |
|
.46 + .02 |
.48 + .03 (33-35) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.46 + .03 |
.49 4^ .03 (31-32) |
|
.45 + .04 |
||
|
.45 + .04 |
||
|
Truancy from institution. . .. . |
45 4- .03 |
|
|
.45 4- .02 |
.44 4- .03 (41-43) |
|
|
Homosexual ( same age ) |
.44 J .03 |
|
|
Excuse -forming |
.44 t .02 |
•53 + .03 (24) |
|
Defiant |
.43 + .02 |
.68 4- .03 (5) |
|
Disobedient |
.43 t .02 |
.49 4- .02 (31-32) |
|
Fighting |
.14.3 £ .02 |
• 55 4- .03 (19-20) |
|
.43 t -02 |
.27 + .04 (80-82) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric , etc |
.42 + .02 |
.47 4- .02 (36-38) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
CONDUCT- TOTAL CRITERION TABLE 7— Continued
99
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Teasing other children |
.41 + .02 |
.50 4- .Ok (29-30) |
|
Stealing an automobile |
.41 + .04 |
|
|
Egocentric |
.41 + .02 |
.48 4 .03 (33-35) |
|
Bad companions |
.40 + .02 |
.35 4 .03 (61-64) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.40 + .03 |
.46 4- .04 (39-4o) |
|
Passive pederasty |
.39 + .04 |
|
|
Lack of affection |
.39 + .04 |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.39 4- .02 |
.50 4 .OP (29-30) |
|
Temper tantrums |
.38-1- .02 |
.57 + .03 (16) |
|
Exhibitionism |
.38 + .ok |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.38 4 .03 |
.32 4 .04 (68-71) |
|
Fire-setting |
.37 4- .Ok |
|
|
Gluttony |
.36 + .03 |
.32 4 .05 (68-71) |
|
Incipient psychosis |
.36 4- .Ok |
|
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Gang |
.36 ± .03 .35 + .02 |
.39 + -05 (56-57) |
|
Sullen |
.35 4- .02 |
.33 4- .03 (66-67) |
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc |
.35 4- .02 |
.41 4 .02 (53-54) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.3^ + .02 |
.46 4 .03 (39-40) |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.34 + .03 |
.42 4 .03 (49-52) |
|
Restless |
.34 4- .02 |
.43 4 .02 (44-48) |
|
Robbing a building, home, etc |
.33 4- .03 |
|
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.33 4- .03 |
.47 4 .03 (36-38) |
|
Talking to self without apparent reason |
.33 4- .Ok |
|
|
Masturbation |
.32 4- .02 |
.41 4 .03 (53-54) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.32 4- .03 |
.33 4 .04 (66-67) |
|
.32 + .03 |
.61 4 .04 (13-14) |
|
|
Queer |
.32 + .03 |
.64 4 .03 (9-11) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.32 4- .02 |
.36 4 .03 (59-6o) |
|
Irregular employment record |
.31 4- .03 |
.52 4 .05 (25-26) |
|
Mutual masturbation (same sex) |
.51 4- .03 |
|
|
Sex attack on opposite sex |
.31 4- .04 |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.31 4- .02 |
.38 4- .03 (58) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.30 4- .03 |
.22 4 .04 (88-89) |
|
Resentful attitude |
.30 4- .03 |
.54 4 .04 (21-23) |
|
.30 + .02 |
.30 4 .03 (72-75) |
|
|
Irritable temperament r |
.30 4- .02 |
.29 4 .03 (76) |
|
Bowel incontinence |
.29 + .ok |
|
|
Question of change of personality. |
.29 4- .03 |
.54 4 .03 (21-23) |
|
Mental conflict |
.29 4- .03 |
.40 4 .04 (55) |
|
.29 4- .03 |
.35 + .04 (61-64) |
|
|
Bossy |
.28 4- .03 |
.43 4- .03 (44-48) |
|
Kfrnrrhio-nal Inst^bl lltyr T...TtT..T...,r |
.28 + .03 |
.44 4- .03 (41-43) |
|
.27 4- .03 |
.32 4 .04 (6"8-71) |
|
|
Daydreaming |
.27 4- .02 |
.48 + .03 (33-35) |
|
.26 4- .02 |
.43 4 .03 (44-48) |
|
|
.26 + .04 |
||
|
.26 + .02 |
.22 4- .03 (88-89) |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
.26 4- .02 |
.25 + .04 (84) |
|
Sneaky |
.25 + .03 |
.42 4 .04 (49-52) |
|
.25 4- .02 |
.43 + .02 (44-48) |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.25 4- .02 |
.39 4- .03 (56-57) |
100
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 7 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.2k ± .03 .24 + .03 .2k + .04 .2k I .02 .23 4- .03 |
.35 + .Ok (61-64) .27 + .04 (80-32) .47 + .04 (36-38) .42 + .03 (49-52) |
|
|
Sulky |
||
|
"Night terrors" |
||
|
.23 + .02 .22 + .02 .22 + .03 .22 + .02 .22 + .04 |
.44 + .03 (41-43) .24 ; .04 (85-86) .17 " .30 + .02 (72-75) |
|
|
Selfish |
.21 + .03 .21 + .03 .21 + .Ok .20 + .02 .20 + .04 .17 " .11 .18 .Ik .10 .16 .19 .15 .19 .06 |
.35 + .04 (61-64) .19 " .10 .28 + .03 (77-79) .36 + .04 (59-60) .43 + .03 (44-48) .32 ; .05 (68-71) .30 ± .03 (72-75) .30 ± .03 (72-75) .28 ± .03 (77-79) .28 ± .03 (77-79) .27 ± .03 (80-82) .26 ± .05 (83) .24 + .04 (85-86) .23 + .04 (87) .21 ± .03 (90) |
|
"Nervous" ' |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Nail-biting, .19 and .17; Temper display, .19 and .08; Absent-minded, .18 and .09; Sex delinquency (coitus), .17 and .16; Seclusive, .17 and .17; Former convulsions, .17 and .00; Enuresis, .16 and .18; Irregular attendance at school, .15 and .01; Popular, .13 and .08; Sensitive (general), .12 and .16; Attractive manner, .12 and .08; Vicious home conditions, .12 and .18; Poor work in school, .11 and .08; Preference for younger children, .10 and .15; Brother in penal detention, .10 and -.01; Tiring easily, .09 and .12; Apprehensive, .09 and .16; Listless, .08 and .15; Repressed, .08 and .09; Slow, dull, .07 and -.07; Follower, .07 and .03; Neurological defect, .07 and .12; Clean, 06 and .04; Immoral sister, .04 and .02; Lack of initiative, .02 and -.06; Sex denied entirely, .02 and -.00; Discord between parents, .02 and .16; Immoral home con- ditions, .01 and .10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.02 and -.03; Bashful, -.02 and -.07; Speech defect, -.03 and .00; Lues, -.03 and .12; Question of hypo- phrenia, -.03 and -.03; Underweight, -.04 and -.02; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Retardation in school, -.08 and -.14; Vocational guidance, -.10 and -.17; Feeble- minded sibling, -.15 and -.16
to be more closely related to personality problems than among boys. On the other hand, conduct problems among girls do not seem to be so closely associated with the fact of a police arrest.
THE CONDUCT- TOTAL CRITERION 101
(In computing the correlations of a specific conduct nota- tion with the conduct- total, that specific notation was not counted in the conduct- total. For example, the. correlation of stealing with the conduct-total among boys, .55 + .01, means the bl- serial correlation of stealing with the total number of conduct problems other than the notation of stealing itself. )
The largest correlation with the conduct- total criterion of seriousness or "ominousness" was the extremely high one of .86 + .03 among girls for swearing in general, the corresponding co- efficient among boys (.5! + .02) also being relatively large. (This coefficient of .86 4- .03, it may be remarked in passing, is the largest correlation found among all the 14, 000- odd coefficients computed in this study.) Violence among girls yielded the unusu- ally large correlation of .79 ± .02, the corresponding coefficient among boys being . 54 •+- .02. Staff diagnosis or question of psycho- pathic personality (unspecified) and disturbing influence in school yielded very high correlations in the ,60's among both sexes. Five notations among girls yielded very high correlations in the ,60's and among boys almost equally large coefficients in the . 50! s: leading others into bad conduct, failure to adjust in foster-home, fighting or quarrelsomeness (including violence, undifferentiated), bad language, and disobedience or incorriglbility (including defi- ant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentiated). Unpopularity and defiant attitude among girls similarly yielded high correlations in the ,60's and among boys fairly large coeffi- cients in the ,401s. Queer behavior and abused feeling or manner among girls also yielded very high correlations in the .60's and among boys substantial correlations in the . 30's.
High' correlatioqs in the .50*3 were found among both sexes for three c.onduct difficulties— stealing, incorriglbility, and de- structiveness — and also for six conduct difficulties for which only the boys' coefficients were computed: threatening violence, cru- elty to younger children, cruelty to animals, begging on the street, obscene language, and "annoying" girls. Truancy from home yielded the meaningful correlations of .56 + .02 and .42 + .03 among boys and girls respectively. Eight behavior problems among girls yielded high correlations in the ,50's and among boys almost equally large coefficients in the .40' s: fighting, teasing other children, rudeness, staying out late at night, lying, excuse- forming
102 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
attitude, boastful or "show-off" manner, and exclusion from school Four notations among girls yielded large correlations in the . 50's and among boys fairly substantial coefficients ranging from .29 to .38: temper t ant r urns , resentful attitude, question of change of personality, and irregular employment record.
Fairly large correlations in the ,40's with the conduct- total criterion of seriousness or "omlnousness" were found for six conduct difficulties among both sexes: disobedience, disturbing influence in school, truancy from school, fantastical lying, ego- centricity, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and also for six conduct problems for which only boys' coefficients were computed: stealing an automobile or horse, truancy or running away from an Institution, swearing at mother, teacher, etc., gam- bling, smoking, and homosexual practices (unspecified) with child of similar age. Three conduct problems among boys yielded large correlations in the . 40's and among girls moderate or substantial coefficients ranging from .27 to .35: contrariness , bad compan- ions, and loitering or wandering. Five conduct difficulties among girls yielded large correlations in the ,40's and among boys sub- stantial coefficients in the .^O's: q.uar re 1 s omene s s , restlessness, masturbation, over interest in the opposite sex, and overinterest in sex matters. Ten personality and conduct problems among girls sim- ilarly yielded fairly large correlations in the .40's and among boys low or moderate coefficients raning from .17 to .29: stub- bornness, bossy manner, changeable moods or attitudes, staff nota- tion of emotional instability, depressed mood or spells, daydream- ing, mental .conflict , distractibility, sneakiness, and "night ter- rors. "
Moderate correlations in the ,30's among both boys and girls were found for the following eight behavior problems: sul- lenness, complaining of bad treatment by other children, hatred or jealousy of sibling, "spoiled child," slovenliness, lack of inter- est or inattentiveness in school studies, employment, etc, (undif- ferentiated), Irregular sleep habits , and gluttony or overeating, and also for the following ten behavior problems for which only the boys' correlations were computed: robbing a building, home, etc. , running with a gang, fire-setting, lack of affection for other people, staff diagnosis or question of incipient psychosis or psychosis not elsewhere specified, talking to self without
TBE CONDUCT- TOTAL CRITERION 103
apparent reason, sex attack or abuse on younger person of opposite sex, mutual masturbation with child of same sex, passive pederasty, and exhibitionism or "indecent exposure." Among "boys irritable temperament and refusal to attend school similarly yielded substan- tial correlations in the .^O's and among girls moderate coeffi- cients in the .20's. Among girls seven miscellaneous case-record notations yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and among boys moderate coefficients in the ,20's: selfishness, inefficiency in work, play, etc., irresponsibility, restlessness In sleep, un- happiness, crying spells, and diagnosis or question of encephali- tis . Three additional case-record notations among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but among boys low positive coefficients below .20: worry over some specific fact or episode, object of teasing by other children, and headaches.
Moderate correlations in the . 20's among both boys and girls were found for five behavior problems: sulkiness, inatten- tiveness in school, lack of interest in school, over suggestibility, and inferiority feelings and also for four traits for which only the boys' correlations were computed: bullying, staff diagnosis or question of dementia praecox (unspecified ) , "sugar hunger , " and bowel incontinence and also for the notation victim of sex attack or abuse by older child or person, for which only the girls1 corre- lation was computed. Three miscellaneous notations among boys sim- ilarly showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low coeffi- cients, ranging from .10 to .19, among girls: laziness, "leader, n and illegitimate parentage. Among girls five behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but among boys low posi- tive correlations below .20: "nervousness," sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode, staff diagnosis or question of psy- choneurosis (unspecified) or psychoneurotic trends, finicky food habits, and thumb- sue king.
With the following notations the correlations were found to be quite negligible (less than 4- .10): repressed manner, "fol- lower, " slow or dull manner, lack of initiative, bashful ness, ques- tion of hypophrenla or suspected feeble-mindedness, underweight condition (10 per cent or more), speech defect, stuttering, clean habits, sex misconduct denied entirely, and immoral sister.
Among the thirteen sex notations considered in this chapter the highest correlations with the conduct- total criterion of seri-
104 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
ousness or "ominousness" were found for the tvo conduct difficul- ties for which only the "boys1 coefficients were computed: "annoy- ing" girls, .56 + .03* and obscene language, .52 + .03. Three ad- ditional notations for which only the boys' correlations were com- puted yielded very substantial coefficients ranging from .38 to .44: passive pederasty, homosexual practices (unspecified) with child of similar age, and exhibitionism or "indecent exposure. " Three sex behavior problems among girls yielded relatively large correlations in the ,40's and substantial coefficients in the .30 's among boys: overinterest in the opposite sex, overinterest in sex matters, and masturbation. Two sex difficulties for which only the boys' correlations were computed — sex attack or abuse (actual or attempted) upon younger child of opposite sex and mutual masturba- tion with child of the same sex — yielded respective coefficients of .31 + .04 and .31 ± .03. Victim of sex attack or abuse by older child or person among girls showed the moderate correlation of .21 + .03, the corresponding coefficient for boys not being calculated because of paucity of boys' cases. Sex delinquency (coitus) showed the low but statistically significant correlations of .17 4- .04 and .16 ± .03 among boys and girls respectively. For sex misconduct denied entirely the correlations were quite negligible, .02 and -.00.
Among the twelve physical, psychophysical, or "constitu- tional" factors considered in this chapter, the largest correla- tion with conduct- total was for diagnosis or question of encepha- litis among girls, .36 + .04, the corresponding coefficient among boys being moderate, .20 + .04. Headaches among girls showed the significant correlation of .30 + .03, the corresponding coefficient among boys being low, .14. Two notations for which only the boys' coefficients were computed — bowel incontinence and "sugar hunger" — showed moderate correlations in the ,20's. The remaining eight no- tations in this field — neurological defect (unspecified), lues (present or former), former convulsions or convulsions in Infancy, enures. is (continuing beyond third birthday), underweight condition (10 per cent or more), speech defect, stuttering, and question of hypophrenla (if mental deficiency may be truly classified as a con- stitutional defect) — all showed only low or negligible correla- tions, ranging from -.05 to .18.
Among the seven home or familial case-record notations
THE CONDUCT- TOTAL CRITERION 105
considered in this chapter the only coefficient of moderate size •with conduct -total was for illegitimate parentage among boys, .21 + .04, the corresponding correlation among girls being low, .10. For the remaining six notations in this field — discord between par- ents, vicious home conditions, immoral home conditions, brother with police arrest or in penal detention, immoral sister, and feeble-minded sibling — all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.16 to .18.
The correlation coefficients for boys and girls in Table 7 were generally similar to each other. The rank- order correlation (Spearman's rank- difference 3- squared formula) of the two columns of coefficients in this table was found to be .89 + .01. In other words, the notations which appeared to be Important from a conduct standpoint among one sex also appeared to be similarly important among the other sex.
Among boys the correlations with the conduct- total bore little resemblance to those with the personality- total . The rank- order correlation among the boys1 coefficients for the two criteria was only .^ + .05 (Table 5, p. 86). In other words, a notation which among boys appeared serious from a personality standpoint was not necessarily serious from a conduct standpoint. Among girls the rank order of coefficients was more similar for the two criteria, the intercolumnar correlation of these coefficients being 76 ± ,0~}, that is, notations which among girls appeared to be Important according to the one criterion also appeared to be Important accord- ing to the other criterion.
CHAPTER XI THE POLICE-ARREST CRITERION
The notation of police arrest in a child's case record covered any arrest by police for reason of misconduct, whether the child was formally "booked" on charges or not. In many Instances a commitment to a penal or correctional institution or to a "pa- rental school" resulted, and in other instances the child vas dis- missed. It did not Include cases in which a child was placed in the "detention home" because of inadequate guardianship by parents. Nor did it include a few instances in which an Irresponsible child "wandered away" from his home or his guardians and "became lost" and was taken in charge by police officers for safekeeping until his parents arrived, though some of these Instances bordered closely on "truancy." The behavior implied in a police arrest thus varied in seriousness from patent juvenile criminality down to instances of "pickup" for some minor prank or truancy.
Among our children, aged 6 to 17 years inclusive, this no- tation appeared in 457, or 21.6 per cent, of the 2,113 boys and in 179, or 15.2 per cent, of the I,l8l girls.
Police arrest showed only low correlations with personality- total, the bi- serial j? coefficients being .18 + .02 and .11 ± .03 for boys and girls respectively (Table 8). Among boys the corre- lation with c onduc t- 1 o tal was high, .53 + .02, while among girls the correlation was of less, though substantial, size, .31 + .03.
The largest correlation with police arrest was the unusu- ally high one of .76 + .02 with sex delinquency (coitus) among girls, the corresponding boys' coefficient being low but positive, .18 + .05. Very high correlations In the .60's were found for tru- ancy from home among both sexes and also for the two conduct prob- lems for which only the boys' correlations were computed, stealing an automobile and robbing a building, home, etc. Stealing among boys yielded the very large coefficient of .63 + .02 and among girls the substantial one of .37 + .04. Three conduct problems among boys yielded high correlations in the .50' s and among girls
106
THE POLICE-ARREST CRITERION
TABLE 8 CORRELATIONS WITH "POLICE ARREST"
107
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.18 ± .02 |
.11 ± .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.53 + .02 |
.31 -t .03 |
|
Larger Corr |
elations (Positive) |
|
|
Stealing an automobile |
.69 ± .03 |
|
|
Truancy from home. . . |
68 ± .02 |
.67 4 .03 (2)* |
|
Stealing |
.63 ± .02 |
.37 4 .04 (8) |
|
Robbing a building, home, etc |
.63 ± .ok |
|
|
Bad companions |
•59 ± -02 |
.40 4 .04 (7) |
|
Truancy from school |
.57 + .02 |
.42 4 .04 (6) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.52 + .03 |
.49 4 .04 (4) |
|
Begging |
.46 4 .04 |
|
|
Ganff |
.45 4 .03 |
|
|
Truancy from an institution |
.42 4 .04 |
|
|
Loitering |
.41 4 .03 |
.23 4 .06 (20-21) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.40 4 .04 |
.27 4 .06 (15-17) |
|
Incorrigible |
.38 4- .03 |
.28 4 .04 (12-14) |
|
Passive pederasty , |
.37 4 .05 |
|
|
Psychopathic personality |
.37 -f .04 |
.26 4 .07 (18) |
|
Over suggestible |
.36 4 .03 |
.57 4 .03 (3) |
|
Gambling |
.36-1- .05 |
|
|
Smoking |
.35 + .03 |
|
|
Irregular employment record |
.33 + .05 |
.13 |
|
Sex attack on opposite sex |
.33 4 .05 |
|
|
Exclusion from school |
• 33 4- .03 |
. 22 4 06 (22-26) |
|
Brother in penal detention |
.33 4 .04 |
.00 |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.33 4 .02 |
.27 4 .04 (15-17) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.31 4 .04 |
.22 4 .06 (22-26) |
|
Swearing at mother, teacher, etc |
.31 4 .05 |
|
|
Mutual masturbation ( same sex) |
.31 4 .04 |
|
|
Destructive |
.30 4 .03 |
.15 |
|
.30 4 .04 |
.07 |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.29 4 .03 |
.10 |
|
Violence |
.29 4 .03 |
.18 |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.29 4 .05 |
.47 4 .06 (5) |
|
Bad language |
.28 4 .04 |
.27 4 .07 (15-17) |
|
Obscene language |
.28 4 .04 |
|
|
Overlnterest In opposite sex |
.28 4 .05 |
.18 |
|
Cont-r^vry, ......... * ................. t r - r - - , T ,, |
.27 4 .04 |
-.02 |
|
Overlnterest In sex matters |
.2? 4 .04 |
.28 4 .05 (12-14) |
|
Excuse-forming |
.27 4 .03 |
.22 4 .05 (22-26) |
|
Incipient psychosis |
.27 4 .06 |
|
|
Threatening violence |
.26 4 .04 |
|
|
Ikying |
.25 4 .03 |
.31 4 .04 (10) |
|
Psychoneurotlc |
.24 4 .04 |
-.14 " |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
108
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 8— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.24 ± .Ok .23 t -03 .23 ± .03 .23 + .05 |
.13 -.03 .09 |
|
Sullen |
||
|
"Annoying" girls |
||
|
Exhibit ionlsm |
.23 + .06 |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.23 ± .03 .23 t -03 .22 + .Ok .21 t -03 .20 t -Ok .20 t -03 .20 + .06 |
.08 .18 .19 .18 .14 .22 ± .05 (22-26) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Disobedient |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Fire-setting |
||
|
Sr>Ra,Tfy. ,.,, ,.,,.,1,. ,,.,,,,,,..*,.,-, -r-,,T..rrT |
.20 ± .05 .20 + .05 |
.34 + .0? (9) |
|
Masturbation |
.20 + .03 .20 + .03 .20 + .04 .20 + .04 .18 " -.00 .18 .00 .04 .12 .19 |
.21 + .05 (27-28) .09 " .23 4- .05 (20-21) -.22 + .05 .76 + .02 (1) .30 + .05 (11) .28 + .06 (12-14) .24 i .05 (19) .22 4- .04 (22-26) .21 + .07 (27-28) .20 t -04 (29) |
|
Irregular attendance at school |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
||
|
Immoral home conditions |
||
|
Failure to adjust in foster-home |
||
|
Lues |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Gluttony |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.35 + .03 |
-.34 4- .04 |
|
|
Lazy. |
-.05 -.05 .01 .06 - 04 .07 -.12 -.02 .02 |
-.30 -e .05 -.28 + .04 -.26 + .05 -.26 + .05 -.26 4- .04 -.25 + .04 -.22 + .04 -.21 + -05 -.20 4- .04 |
|
Bashful |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Inattentive in school . . |
||
|
Poor work in school % |
||
|
Enuresls |
||
|
Underweight |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Disturbing influence in home, .19 and .04; Slovenly, .19 and -.02; Victim of sex abuse, .19 (girls); Vicious home conditions, .18 and .15; Swearing (general), .17 and .09; Mental conflict, .16 and .07; Sulky, .16 and .07; Lack of interest in school, .15 and .08; Resentful attitude, .15 and .01; Cruelty to younger children, .14 (boys); Teasing other children, .14 and .04; Apprehensive, .14 and .13; Question of change of personality, .14 and .12; Dementia praecox, .14 (boys); Grouped: egocentric, etc., .14 and .07; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .14 and -.01; Bowel Incontinence, .13 (boys); Crying spells, .13 and .07; Discord between parents, .13 and -.01; Leader, .13 and .07; Bully-
THE POLICE-ARREST CRITERION 109
TABLE 8— -Continued
Ing, .12 (boys); Quarrelsome, .11 and .08; Irresponsible, .10 and .08; Nail- biting, .10 and .06; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .10 and -.11; Clean, .10 and -.03; Popular, .10 and .12; Spoiled child, .09 and .04; Stuttering, .09 (boys); Grouped: temper, etc., .09 'and -.06; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .08 and .00; Stubborn, .08 and .09; Temper tantrums, .08 and .03; Listless, .08 and -.01; Queer, .08 and .19; Follower, .08 and .05; Cruelty to animals, .07 (boys); Daydreaming, .07 and .14; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and .03; Sex denied entirely, .07 and -.16; Former convulsions, .07 and -.19"> Tem- per display, .06 and .06; Restless, .06" and .09; Restless in sleep, .06 and .07; Worry over specific fact, .06 and .00; Immoral sister, .06 and .04; Lack of affection, .05 (boys); Attractive manner, .05 and -.08; Feeble-minded sib- ling, .05 and .09; Inferiority feelings, .04 and -.02; Headaches, .04 and -.07; "Sugar hunger," .03 (boys); Seclusive, .03 and -.03; Unpopular, .03 and .08; Repressed, .03 and -.14; Question of encephalitis, .03 and .07; Bossy, .02 and -.08; Absent-minded, .02 and -.16; Changeable moods, .02 and .03; Object of teasing, .02 and -.10; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .02 and -.02; Talking to self without apparent reason, .01 (boys); Unhappy, .01 and -.02; Abused feeling or manner, .00 and .04; Illegitimate parentage, -.00 and .05; "kM "Night terrors," -.00 and .07; "Nervous," .00 and -.00; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.02 and -.00; Retardation in school, -.03 and -.05; Question of hypo- phrenla, -.03 and -.15; Depressed, -.03 and -.01; Thumb -sucking, -.03 and -.01; Preference for younger children, -.05 and -.14; Distractible, -.05 and .07; Neurological defect, -.06 and -.19; Slow, dull, -.08 and -.16; Speech defect, -.09 and -.08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.12 and -.10; Selfish, -.12 and .15; Tiring easily, -.14 and -.12; Lack of initiative, -.15 and -.12
fairly high coefficients In the ,40's: associating with bad com- panions, staying out late at night, and truancy from school. Over- suggestibility among girls yielded the high correlation of .57 + .03, with a corresponding substantial coefficient among boys of .36 ± .03.
Three conduct problems for which only the boys' correla- tions vere computed — running with a gang, truancy or running away from an institution, and begging — yielded large coefficients in the .40' s. Leading others into bad conduct and loitering or van- dering among boys yielded large correlations in the . 40's but among girls moderate coefficients in the .20' s. Staff notation of un- favorable conduct prognosis among girls yielded the large correla- tion of . 47 + .06 but among boys the moderate coefficient of .29 + .05.
Six conduct problems for which only the boys' correlations were computed yielded substantial coefficients in the .30' s: gam- bling or crap- shoot ing, swearing at mother, teacher, etc., smoking , sex attack or abuse of younger child of opposite sex, passive ped- erasty, and mutual masturbation vith child of same sex. Pour
110 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
"behavior notations among boys yielded substantial correlations in the .20's and among girls moderate coefficients in the .20' s: in- corrigibillty, exclusion from school, fantastical lying, and staff notation of psychopathic personality (unspecified). Pour case- record notations — refusal to attend school, irregular employment record, destructiveness , and brother in penal detention- -yielded substantial correlations in the .?0's among boys but low coeffi- cients below .20 among girls. Lying and sneakiness among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and among boys mod- erate coefficients in the ,20's. For immoral home conditions the respective correlations for girls and boys were .JO + .05 and -.00.
Police arrest showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes for the following six behavior traits: fighting, bad language, excuse- forming attitude, emotional instability, over- interest in sex matters, and masturbation and also for the follow- ing seven, for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated: threatening violence, fire-setting, staff notation of incipient psychosis (unspecified), obscene language, "annoying" girls, exhi- bitionism or indecent exposure, and homosexual practices with child of same age. Thirteen undesirable case-record notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's among boys but low coefficients below .20 among girls: violence, disturbing influence in school, disobedience, defiant attitude, contrariness, sullenness, egocen- triclty, boastful or "show-off" manner, complaining of bad treat- ment by other children, irregular sleep habits, staff notation of psychoneurotic trends (unspecified), overinterest in opposite sex, and irregular attendance at school. Five miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low cor- relations below .20 among boys: irritable temperament, rudeness, failure to adjust in fo§ter-home, gluttony, and lues (present or former).
Among girls there were several significant negative corre- lations ranging from -.20 to -.30: laziness, inattentiveness in school, poor work in school, bashfulness, sensitiveness in general, "nervousness" or restlessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated), finicky food habits, enures is, and underweight condition. The notation "request for vocational guidance" showed correlations in the -.30fs for both sexes.
Among the thirteen sex notations considered in chapters
THE POLICE- ARREST CRITERION 111
ix-xii of this volume there -were many correlations of significant size. The most conspicuous was for sex delinquency (coitus) among girls, .76 + .02. (This is one of the largest correlations found among the approximately fourteen thousand correlation coefficients comprising the data of this volume). This unusually high correla- tion indicates that heterosexual misbehavior is the major cause among girls for referral to a juvenile court and that known sex misconduct among girls is liable to lead to an appearance in the juvenile court. Among boys the corresponding correlation, .18 + .05, was low but positive. Three sex behavior problems among boys — Passlve pederasty, mutual masturbation with child of the same sex, and sex attack or abuse (actual or attempted) upon younger child of opposite sex — yielded substantial coefficients in the .j50's, the corresponding coefficients for girls not being computed because of the paucity of cases. Three sex behavior notations showed moderate correlations ranging from .18 to .28 among both sexes: overinterest in the opposite sex, overinterest in sex mat- ters, and masturbation and also four notations for which only the boys' coefficients were computed: obscene language, exhibit ionism or "indecent exposure," homosexual practices (actual or attempted) with child of similar or younger age, and "annoying" girls. Vic- tim of sex attack or abuse by older child or person (which was cal- culated only for girls, since Lhe boys' cases were too few) showed the low but significant correlation of .19 + .05. For the notation sex misbehavior denied entirely the correlations were low and not significant, . 07 + .04 and -.16 + .06 for boys and girls respec- tively.
Among the twelve physical or psychophysical notations there was only one positive coefficient of moderate size in the ,20's, lues (present or former) among girls, the boys' coefficient being zero. Among our children the lues may be either congenitally ac- quired ("inherited") or acquired through sexual behavior of the patient herself, so that this correlation Includes to a large ex- tent the correlation of police arrest with sex delinquency (coitus), The correlation of lues with sex delinquency (coitus) (Table 96, p. 470) among girls was .23 + .05; if we "partial out" sex delin- quency ( c oitus ) , the resulting correlation of lues with police ar- rest is reduced to the negligible coefficient of -.06. The only additional correlations of significant size in this field were the
112 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR" PROBLEMS
negative ones in the -,20's with enures is and underweight condition among girls, the corresponding coefficients for boys being negli- gible. The remaining eight notations showed only low coefficients ranging from -.19 to .12: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, neurological defect (unspecified), headaches, former convulsions, and speech defect, and the following for which only the boys' cor- relations were computed: stuttering, bowel incontinence, and "sug- ar hunger. " Question of hypophrenia (if it be permissible to In- clude it among psychophysical notations) showed negligible corre- lations of -.05 and -.15 with police arrest for boys and girls re- spectively.
Among the seven notations concerning home or familial con- ditions there were two correlations of substantial size in the .^O's: brother in penal detention among boys and Immoral home con- ditions among girls. Vicious (not "immoral") home conditions showed the low but suggestive correlations of .18 + .05 and .15 + .06 among boys and girls respectively. All other notations in this field ( illegitimate parentage , Immoral sister, feeble-minded sib- ling, and discord between parents) showed negligible correlations ranging from -.01 to .13 with police arrest among both sexes.
The following thirty- one miscellaneous notations showed negligible correlations less than 4- .10 with the police- arrest cri- terion of seriousness or "ominousness" among both boys and girls: stubbornness, temper tantrums, temper display, bossy manner, "ner- vousness, " restlessness, restlessness in sleep, "night terrors," "spoiled child, " inferiority feelings, sensitiveness over some spe- cificfact, worry over some specific fact, depressed mood or spells, unhappiness, changeable moods or attitudes, seclusiveness, abused feeling or manner, unpopularity, inefficiency in work, play, etc., llstlessness , "follower , u distractibility , retardation in school , attractive manner, thumb- sue king, speech defect, question or diag- nosis of encephalitis, headaches, illegitimate parentage, Immoral sister, and feeble-minded sibling and also four additional nota- tions for which only the boys' correlations were computed: cruelty to animal s , lack of affection for others, talking to self without apparent reason, and stuttering.
We may summarize the trends shown by these correlations in this chapter as follows:
1. Behavior notations which constitute specific charges for
THE POLICE-ARREST CRITERION 113
arrest are highly correlated with police arrest, as one would sup- pose, e.g., stealing, truancy, and incorrigiblllty and, among girls, heterosexual misconduct.
2. Traits which are characteristic of aggressive "bad ac- tors" are highly associated with police arrest, e.g., bad compan- ions and running with a gang, staying out late at night, begging, gambling, smoking, irregular employment record, leading others into bad conduct, and psychopathic personality.
3. Heterosexual misconduct among girls appears to be highly associated vith police arrest, but among boys the relation is al- most negligible, except in the Instances vhere the misconduct in- cludes an attempt to make a forced attack upon the opposite sex. Passive pederasty, on the other hand, among boys is perceptibly associated with police arrest. This form of misconduct is not of itself often the specific cause of the police arrest, but probably the trait is symptomatic of a grave degree of behavior deviation
in that the child may have fallen into a form of homosexual pros- titution or may have come under the influence of older aggressive boys or men who have Induced him to submit to passive homosexual practices .
4. Among the several notations implying unfavorable home
or family conditions, the correlations with police arrest are small or negligible, e.g., immoral or vicious home conditions, brother or sister with police arrest or in penal or correctional institu- tion, immoral sister, illegitimate parentage, and discord between parents. Such a finding is contrary to general expectation; and, since our data did not afford an exhaustive investigation into these factors, no discussion will be made of these correlation co- efficients beyond merely reporting them.
The correlation coefficients for the girls bore only a mod- erate resemblance to those for the boys. The rank-order correla- tion of the two columns of coefficients in Table 8 was found to be only .64 + .04.
The correlation coefficients with the police-arrest criter- ion resembled fairly closely those for the conduct- total criterion, the rank- order intercolumnar correlations being .70 + .03 and .51 + .05 for boys and girls respectively. With the correlation coeffi- cients for the personality- total criterion there was no resemblance the intercolumnar correlations being -.05 + .06 and .13 + .06 for "boys and girls respectively.
CHAPTER XII SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS TO PART II
1. The three criteria of importance or seriousness among children's behavior traits employed In this study were accepted because of their objectivity and measurabllity even though they fall short of ideal criteria which could be conceived of if one resorts to subjective and theoretical terms.
2. The personality- total Is the unweighted summation of the specific personality problems noted for each of our 2,113 White boys and I,l8l White girls. The conduct- total is similarly derived from the specific conduct notations. The police-arrest criterion is self-explanatory.
3. Because of the relatively moderate and low Intercorre- lations among these three criteria, it was deemed Inadvisable to combine them Into one criterion measure.
4. The personality- total criterion showed results somewhat similar to the conduct- total as far as the girls1 correlations were concerned, but with only a slight similarity as far as the boys' correlations were concerned. It showed no similarity to the po- lice-arrest criterion among either sex.
5. The conduct- total criterion showed considerable resem- blance to the police- arrest criterion, especially with respect to the boys' correlations.
6. The correlations for the boys were substantially simi- lar to those for the girls in "all three criteria.
7. The notations diagnosis or question of dementia praecox and incipient or undiagnosed psychosis (computed only for boys) showed the relatively high bl- serial correlations of .76 + .03 and .60 + .03 with the personality- total criterion, but low correla- tions with the other two criteria.
8. The notations queer behavior, depressed mood or spells, unhappy appearance or manner, question of change of personality, changeable moods, and mental conflict yielded high correlations with personality- total among both sexes and with c onduc t - 1 ot al
114
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS TO PART II 115
among girls. With police arrest their correlations were negligible or zero.
9. Hatred or jealousy of sibling, inferiority feelings, and daydreaming shoved substantial correlations with per s onality- 1 otal , low correlations with conduct- total, and almost no correlation with police arrest.
10. Sensitiveness, worrisomeness, and diagnosis or question of psychoneurotic trends showed substantial correlations with per- sonality-total, but low or negligible correlations with the other two criteria.
11 . Boast fulness or "show-off" manner and disturbing influ- ence in the home showed substantial correlations with both person- ality-total and conduct- total, but low or zero correlations with the police- arrest criterion.
-1-2 • Violence, fighting, swearing, resentful attitude, and unpopularity showed especially high correlations with both person- ality-total and conduct-total among girls. Among boys these cor- relations were also substantial. Against the police-arrest cri- terion corresponding correlations ranged from moderate down to negligj Jle in size.
13. Diagnosis or question of psychopathic personality (un- specified) showed high correlations with personality- total and con- duct-total and substantial correlations with police arrest. Cu- riously enough, in spite of its name, it appears to be more associ- ated with overt conduct problems than with personality problems.
14. Diagnosis or question of encephalitis (present or for- mer) and inefficiency in work, play, etc., show high correlations with personality- total, moderate correlations with conduct- total, but negligible or zero relationships with police arrest.
15. The following showed high correlations for both c on- due t- total and police arrest, but moderate or low correlations with personality- total : truancy from home, truancy from school, stay- ing out late at night, and (calculated for boys only) stealing an automobile.
16. The following showed high correlations with conduct- total and moderate correlations with personality- total and police arrest among both boys and girls: disobedience, incorrigibility, lying, leading others into bad conduct, diagnosis or question of psychopathic personality, and bad language . Similar correlations
116 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
were shown by the following four notations, which were calculated only for boys: > threatening violence, begging (on the street), "annoying" girls, and obscene language .
17. The following behavior notations showed high or at least substantial correlations with c onduc t- total , moderate to sub- stantial correlations with personality- total , but low or negligible correlations with police arrest for both boys and girls: fighting, s wear i ng , des truest iveness, rudeness, and unpopularity. Similar tendencies were shown by cruelty to younger c nil d.r en and cruelty
to animals, which were calculated for boys only.
18. Egocentricity (in behavior or attitude) showed rela- tively large bi- serial correlations of ,41 + .02 and AS + .0? for boys and girls respectively for conduct- total, but only very mod- erate or negligible correlations with either personality- total or police arrest for either sex. Lack of affection for others (cal- culated for boys only) yielded a moderate correlation with conduct- total, but negligible correlations with the other two criteria.
!9- Gambling, smoking, and swearing at mother, teacher, etc . (calculated for boys only) showed moderately high correlations with c onduc t- 1 otal , moderate correlations with police arrest, but fairly low correlations with personality- total.
20. With the police- arrest criterion of seriousness, among both boys and girls, the conspicuous correlations were for such conduct difficulties as stealing, robbery, burglary, truancy from home or from school, associating with bad companions or running with a gang, and staying out late at night. Among girls, the out- standing correlations were for sex delinquency (coitus) and over-
s ugge s tlbility, both of which showed only low or moderate correla- tions among the boys.
21. The following case notations showed correlations rang- ing from moderate to fairly substantial but not high for both sexes with all three criteria of "seriousness" or "ominous ness" : staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, exclusion from school, contrariness, sneakiness, emotional instability, fantastical lying, irregular sleep habits, masturbation, and overinterest in sex mat- ters . The following five notations (calculated only for boys) showed similar trends: complaining of bad treatment by other chil- dren, fire- setting (arson), sex attack on opposite sex, passive pederasty, and exhibitionism (including "indecent exposure").
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS TO PART II 117
22. The folloving long list of traits shoved correlations for either sex ranging from moderate to fairly substantial with the personality- total and conduct- total but small or negligible with the police- arrest criterion: temper tantrums, hatred or jeal- ousy of sibling, "spoiled child," violence, fighting, quarrelsome- ness, irritable manner, defiant manner, stubbornness, disturbing influence in school, bossy manner, restlessness, restlessness in sleep, egocentric behavior or attitude, selfishness, resentful at-* titude, sullenness, sulkiness, unhappy manner or appearance, cry- ing spells, changeable moods, question of change of personality, mental conflict, queer behavior, daydreaming, "night terrors, M Ir- responsibility, slovenliness, lack of interest in school, inatten- tiveness in school, and thumb- sucking. Among the less frequently occurring notations, which were calculated only for the boys, the following showed similar trends: bullying, teasing other children, talking to self without apparent reason, bowel incontinence, and "sugar hunger . "
25. Traits associated with mental deficiency and those In- dicating an unaggresslve type of personality tended to show a neg- ligible or even slightly negative correlation with all three cri- teria of "seriousness" or "ominousness, " These were: question of hypophrenia (suspected mental deficiency), slow or dull manner, re- tardation in school, preference for younger children as playmates, mentally defective sibling, listlessness, lack of initiative, "fol- lower , " repressed manner , apprehensiveness , and bashfulness . Bash- fulness, in fact, among girls showed a negative tetrachoric corre- lation of -.28 + .04 with the police-arrest criterion, i.e., bash- ful girls tended to have greater immunity from police arrest or de- tention than the nonbashful ones. In a later chapter (Table 10, p. 130) it will be noted that intelligence (IQ) as measured by for- mal psychometrics (usually the Stanford- Binet of 1916) shows only low or negligible correlations with the three over-all criteria, though with certain specific behavior difficulties it will later be shown that the correlations with formal IQ were occasionally of substantial size.
24. In addition, the following personality traits and phys- ical or home- life conditions showed negligible or occasionally even negative correlations with all three criteria: popularity, "lead- er," attractive manner, clean habits, sex misbehavior denied
118 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
entirely, discord between parents, vicious (as distinguished from "immoral") home conditions, immoral sister, irregular attendance at school, former convulsions, enuresis or bed- vetting (present or former), underweight condition, speech defect, and (calculated for boys only) stuttering. The fact that such unfavorable home condi- tions as discord between parents and vicious home conditions in our data showed only low or negligible correlations with our over- all criteria of the extent of personality and conduct deviation among children is contrary to the belief held by many social workers. In view of the many inadequacies in our original data, as described in chapter v, the present writer considers it unwise to press the importance of these findings in this controversial topic but pre- fers to consider them as tentative until more detailed ad hoc stud- ies are available.
25. The case notation brother with police arrest or in pe- nal detention showed among boys the substantial tetrachoric corre- lation of .33 + 04 with the police-arrest criterion, but all other correlations with our three over-all criteria for both sexes were negligible.
26. Exclusion or suspension from school showed moderate to high correlations with all three criteria, especially with conduct- total.
27- lomiQPal (as distinguished from "vicious") home condi- tions among our girls showed the significant tetrachoric correla- tion of .30 4- .05 with police arrest, but only negligible correla- tions with the other two criteria.
28. "Nervousness, " which in our data was a vague and poorly defined term, showed moderate correlations among our girls with all three criteria, but among boys only with the personality- total cri- terion. The boys' correlations with the other two criteria were low or zero.
29, A brief consideration of the "seriousness" of the half- dozen most frequently appearing overt conduct difficulties in our case-record data elicits the following. Stealing among both sexes showed moderate correlations with both conduct- total and police ar- rest, but only low or moderate correlations with personality- total. Lying, fighting, and Incorrigibllity showed high correlations among both sexes with the conduct-total criterion, and moderate or sub- stantial correlations with personality- total and police arrest.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS TO PART II 119
Truancy from home and truancy from school among both sexes shoved generally high correlations with both conduct- total and police ar- rest, but low correlations with personality- total.
30. Sex behavior problems in our material tended in' the main to be intercorrelated with one another to a substantial or high degree, but only to a moderate or negligible extent with non- sex case notations. Sex delinquency (defined strictly as coitus with opposite sex) among girls showed the unusually high tetra- choric correlation of .76 + .02 with police arrest, but all other correlations for either boys or girls with our three criteria of "seriousness" were all but negligible. Sex attack or sex abuse, actual or attempted, upon child of opposite sex and "annoying" girls, i.e., lifting their dresses or requesting sexual intercourse (both calculated only for boys) showed moderate to substantial cor- relations with all three criteria. Masturbation (including ques- tionable and former masturbation), which was noted in about 28 per cent of our 2,113 White boys and in about 13 per cent of our I,l8l White girls, showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .41 with all three criteria, similar correlations being found for mu- tual masturbation with child of same sex and age, which was calcu- lated for boys only. The three sex notations passive pederasty with older person, homosexual activities (unspecified) with child of similar age, and exhibitionism (including "indecent exposure"), which were calculated for boys only, yielded moderate to substan- tial correlations ranging from .16 to .44 with all three criteria. Manifesting a precocious or excessive interest in the opposite sex and manifesting a precocious or excessive interest in sex matters also yielded moderate to substantial correlations ranging from , 18 to .47 with all three criteria of "seriousness" or "omlnousness. "
"31. Among sex notations not considered as personality or conduct difficulties the correlations with our three criteria of "seriousness" generally were of low magnitude. Victim of actual or attempted rape or sex abuse by older person (not a relative), calculated for girls only, yielded a bi- serial correlation of .21 f .03 with the conduct- total and a tetrachoric correlation of .19 jh .05 with police arrest and a negligible correlation with person- ality-total. Staff diagnosis or question of lues among our cases usually denoted a congenital or "innocently acquired" syphilis and its correlations with our three criteria of "seriousness" were very
120 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
negligible for both sexes, except for Its correlation of ."24 4- .05 among girls with police arrest. In this case It Is probable that the Infection was often acquired through "sex delinquency," which in our data was highly correlated with the fact of a police arrest or detention among girls. The correlations for immoral (as distin- guished from "vicious") home conditions were similarly negligible for both sexes except for the tetrachoric correlation of .30 + .05 with police arrest among girls. For the notation immoral sister (or half-alster) all correlations for both boys and girls with our three criteria were practically zero. Among our boys from ille- gitimate parentage, the bl- serial correlations with personality- total and conduct-total were .20 4- .04 and . 21 + .04 respectively, while with police arrest the boys' tetrachoric correlation came out at zero; among our girls, all three correlations were practically zero. The notation sex misbehavior denied entirely among boys yielded approximately zero correlations, while among girls the cor- relations with personality- total and police-arrest criteria were .17 + .04 and -.16 + .06 respectively, while its correlation with conduct- total was zero.
32. Pour other behavior items, which were mentioned fre- quently in the social histories may be briefly noted here. Enure- Q±_Q (bed- wetting continuing beyond the third birthday) among girls yielded the negative tetrachoric correlation of -.25 + .04 with the police- arrest criterion. All other correlations for both sexes with the three criteria were positive but low. Thumb- sue king (In- cluding finger- and knuckle- sucking) and nail-biting both showed moderate correlations with personality- total but low positive cor- relations with conduct- total and negligible correlations with po- lice arrest. Finicky or capricious food habits among girls yielded the fairly substantial bi-serial correlation of .41 + .0} with per- sonality-total and the moderate correlations of .28 ± .03 and .26 4- .05 with the conduct- total and police- arrest criteria respec- tively. Among boys its bi-serial correlation was .26 4- .02 with personality- total, but with the conduct- total and police-arrest criteria its correlations were negligible.
The foregoing several chapters of Part II have attempted to survey the relative "seriousness" or "omlnousness" of typical children's behavior traits as measured by over eight hundred cor- relation coefficients computed with our three criteria. It has
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS TO PART II 121
"been necessary to limit discussion to only the outstanding indica- tions in. this diffuse material. The reader who desires a closer understanding of the importance or significance of specific behav- ior traits is advised to consult the more detailed correlational analyses which are presented and described in Part III, which con- cerns the intercorrelations of over a hundred behavior notations with one another.
PART III INTERRELATIONS AMONG TRAITS
INTRODUCTORY
The essential contribution of Part III consists In a series of one hundred and twenty- five tables of correlation coefficients. These represent the intercorrelations of 111 behavior traits, chiefly personality problems and conduct difficulties, with one another and their correlations with a selection of 14 miscellaneous physical and educational conditions and home- life circumstances. The "meat" of the succeeding chapters lies in these tables, which consist of about 14,000 correlation coefficients. To the reader who has learned to appreciate the conciseness and universality of correlation coefficients as a means of expressing relationships, the writer's Interpretative comments will seem superfluous and rep- etitious .
In chapter v we described the construction of the tables. In chapter vii we attempted to explain how the correlation coeffi- cients in this study may be interpreted in terms of their practical and social significance. As a description of a behavior trait in terms of its correlates, their purpose is obvious. Their use as clinical clues to other behavior traits not so easily ascertalnable or as predictions of expected future behavior was described in con- siderable detail in chapter vli.
It should be recalled that the cases considered in this volume were White children between the ages of 6 and 17, inclusive, and with intelligence quotients ranging from 50 to over 150. The exclusion of the very young and the very mentally defective, to- gether with several small groups of other non- typical cases, as described in chapter 11, was made in an effort to obtain a group of children more representative of "normal" children. Chronologi- cal age was "partlaled out" for all tables except those for chron- ological age and intelligence quotient.
125
CHAPTER XIII CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND INTELLIGENCE (IQ)
The relations of children's behavior problems to the fac- tors of age and of Intelligence as measured by intelligence quo- tient (usually from the Stanford- Blnet of 1916) vere described in Part III of Volume I by means of charts shoving the incidence of a given trait for each age and intelligence level, as veil as oc- casionally by means of correlation coefficients. It seemed appar- ent from those charts that the relationships tended to be curvi- linear rather than rectilinear. Furthermore, the effect of age and intelligence is so intertvined that their correlations vith the de- velopment of behavior difficulties cannot be adequately represented by the usual graphical or coef f iciential methods. Our statement of this apparent relation vas as follovs:
Our hypothesis is that the interaction of ^the age factor and the Intelligence factor produces the resultant effect of Increasing the number of behavior problems vlthin the lover "age and IQ ranges, and of inhibiting them vithin the upper age and IQ ranges vlthin our group "of children belov Ib1 years of age. It is probable also that either the age factor or the intelligence factor alone, if the other factor vere held con- stant, vould likevise produce this "vaxing and vaning" effect. The process, so far as developmental factors are concerned, is probably a matter of learning and "unlearning."!
The reader vho compares the material of this 'chapter vith that of Volume I should bear in mind another qualifying circum- stance. In the correlations discussed in the present chapter chil- dren belov 6 years of age and those vhose IQ fell belov 50 vere ex- cluded, and as a result the correlation coefficients of this chap- ter vill tend to be lover because of the reduction in range or var- iability.
This chapter vlll thus discuss the relation of age and In- telligence quotient to other traits in a briefer manner. The fac- tor of non-curvilinearlty of regression probably must be taken into
^-See I, 25^-55.
126
CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND INTELLIGENCE (IQ) 127
consideration in interpreting all the coefficients in this chapter.
The mean age for our 2,113 boys in the present study was 12.0 years, with a standard deviation of 2.9. For the I,l8l girls the corresponding constants were 12.2 and 3.1 respectively.
The correlation coefficients for chronological age or mat- uration (Table 9) in general were low. The largest was found to be for diagnosis or question of dementia praecox (calculated only for boys) with a substantial bi- serial _r of .40 + .02. Diagnosis or question of incipient psychosis (unspecified), which was calcu- lated only for boys, also showed the moderate correlation of .24 + • 02 . Diagnosis or question of psychopathic personality showed the low but positive correlations of .15 and .18 for boys and girls respectively. For diagnosis or question of psychoneurotic trends, however, our correlations were about zero. In addition to the psy- chiatric notations above, heterosexual behavior items, as one might suppose, tend to become more numerous with increasing age or mat- uration, especially among girls. Sex delinquency (coitus) among girls yielded the relatively high bi- serial r of .52 + .02 and among boys the moderate correlation of .24 + .02. Similar corre- lations of lesser size were found for overlnterest in opposite sex. Among girls several other conduct difficulties frequently associ- ated with heterosexual behavior also show moderate to substantial correlations with age. These were staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, staying out late at night, truancy from home, and associating with bad companions. Masturbation among girls, however, showed a moderate negative correlation of -.21 + .04 and also a negligible negative correlation among boys.
Several behavior notations associated with immaturity showed low to moderate negative correlations with chronological age: speech defect (other than stuttering), enuresis (still con- tinuing), bowel incontinence, thumb- sue king, restlessness, distract- ibility, destructiveness, fire- setting (calculated for boys only), fighting, disturbing influence in school, and apprehensiveness .
Among numerous notations which showed zero relationships with age or maturation were inferiority feelings, mental conflict, hatred or jealousy of sibling, "spoiled child, " daydreaming, queer behavior, sensitiveness (general), boastful or "show-off" manner, staff diagnosis or question of psychoneurotic trends, irritable be- havior, changeable moods, emotional instability, sulkiness,
128
CHILDREN'S .BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 9 CORRELATIONS WITH "CHRONOLOGICAL AGE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.03 ± .01 -.12 + .01 |
.04 ± .02 -.07 ± .02 .56 + .02 |
|
Police arrest |
.29 ± .02 |
|
|
Irregular employment record |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.66 ± ,03 .49 ± .02 .40 t .02 |
.60 + .04 (1)* .53 + .02 (2) |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
||
|
"Annoying" girls |
.34 t .02 |
|
|
.32 ± .04 |
||
|
.24 ± .02 |
||
|
.24 t .02 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .04 |
.52 + .02 (3) .14 " |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Gambling |
||
|
Retardation in school |
.22 t .02 .22 ± .03 .21 ± .03 .20 t .03 |
.28 + .02 (7-8) .23 + .04 (10-11) .35 1 .04 (4) |
|
Depressed , |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
•£ftnr>k1ng. , , |
||
|
Overlnterest in opposite sex. |
.15 .06 .08 .07 .08 .15 .19 |
.31 + .03 (5) .30 + .03 (6) .28 + .03 (7-8) .25 t -04 (9) .23 + .03 (10-11) .20 + -04 (12-13) .20 + .03 (12-13) |
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
Truancy from home |
||
|
Resentful attitude. |
||
|
Bad companions |
||
|
Lazy. |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.25 t .03 -.25 ± .02 -.23 t .02 -.23 t .02 -.21 ± .02 - 14 |
-.18 -.30 t .03 -.30 ± .03 -.25 ± .03 -.23 + .05 -.29 + .06 -.25 + .04 -.24 + .04 -.22 + .03 -.21 + .04 -.20 + .04 |
|
|
Enuresis still continuing |
||
|
Restless Distractible |
||
|
Thumb -sucking. |
||
|
Destructive |
-.17 -.06 -.10 -.06 |
|
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Apprehensive . . |
||
|
Fighting , |
-.14 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lack of initiative, .19 and .01; Robbing a building, home, etc., .19 (boys); Question of change of personality, .16 and .04; Popular, .16 and .0?;
Rank order of girls' correlations.
CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND INTELLIGENCE (IQ) 129 TABLE 9— Continued
Seclusive, .15 and .11; Psychopathic personality, .15 and .18; Gang, .15 (boys); Swearing at mother, teacher, etc., .14 (boye); Preference for younger children, .13 .13 and -.01; Rude, .12 and .Ik; Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .11 and .06; Unhappy, .11 and .15; Question of encephalitis, .11 and -.06; Lack of affection, .11 (boys); Inefficient in work, play, etc., .11 and .16; Inferiority feelings, ,10 end .07; Sensitive over spe- cific fact, .10 and .04; Truancy from institution, .10 (boys); Truancy from school, .09 and .0?; Listless, .09 and .14; Headaches, .09 and .14; Lack of in- terest in school, .08 and .09; Sullen, .08 and .12; Refusal to attend school, .0? and .18; Sex denied entirely, .07 and .01; "Sugar hunger," .07 (boys); Clean, .07 and -.01; Neurological defect, .07 and -.11; Bullying, .06 (boys); Queer, .06 and .04; Abused feeling or manner, .06 and .16; Oversuggestlble, .06 and .16; Poor work in school, .05 and -.00; Stuttering, .05 (boys); Exclusion from school, .05 and -.07; Irregular sleep habits, .05 and .01; Tiring easily, .05 and -.11; Threatening violence, .05 (boys); Loitering, .05 and .05; Bossy, .05 and -.16; Daydreaming, .04 and .08; Sex attack on opposite sex, .04 (boys); Homosexual (same age), .04 (boys); Irresponsible, .04 and .19; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .03 and .01; Attractive manner, .03 and -.10; Im- moral sister, .03 and .05; Former convulsions, .03 and -.08; Sensitive, .03 and .06; Stealing, .03 and .06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .03 and .11; Boastful, "show-off," .02 and -.04; Overinterest in sex matters, .02 and -.09; Psycho- neurotic, .02 and .03; Irritable, .02 and .00; Object of teasing, .01 and -.14; Irregular attendance at school, 1.00 and .08; Disturbing influence in home, -.00 and .12; Defiant, -.01 and .06; Leading others into bad conduct, -.01 and .09; Temper display, -.01 and .18; Swearing (general), -.01 and .06; Sulky, -.01 and .04; Brother in penal detention, -.01 and .05; Leader, -.01 and -.11; Follower, -.01 and -.00; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.01 and .03; Emotional In- stability, -.01 and .06; Obscene language, -.02 (boys); Itflng, -.02 and .12; Absent-minded, -.02 and -.16; Mutual masturbation (same sex) -.02 (boys); Changeable moods, -.02 and .03; Nail-biting, -.03 and -.05; Selfish, -.03 and -.04; Passive pederasty, -.03 (boys); Talking to self without apparent reason, -.03 (boys); Finicky food habits, -.04 and -.12; Contrary, -.04 and .05; Teas- ing other children, -.04 and .11; Exhibitionism, -.04 (boys); Slow, dull, -.04 and .16; "Nervous," -.04 and .15; Gluttony, -.05 and -.17; Egocentric, -.05 and .10; Underweight, -.05 and -.10; Lues, -.05 and -.03; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.05 and .10; Improvement in behavior, -.05 and -.16; Mental conflict, -.05 and -.02; Inattentive in school, -.06 and -.14; Slovenly, -.06 and .13; Stubborn, -.06 and -.06; Excuse-forming, -.06 and .10; Restless in sleep, -.06 and -.15; Question of hypophrenia, -.06 and .03; Grouped: temper, etc., -.06 and .00; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.06 and .04; Bashful, -.07 and -.12; Disobedient, -.08 and -.08; Incorrigible, -.08 and -.07; Hatred or Jeal- ousy of sibling, -.08 and .04; Bad language, -.09 and -.04; Quarrelsome, -.09 and -.04; Crying spells, -.09 and -.11; Spoiled child, -.09 and -.09; "Night terrors," -.10 and -.12; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.10 and .16; Sneaky, -.11 and -.09; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.11 and -.15; Re- pressed, -.11 and -.15; Fantastical lying, -.12 and -.02; Temper tantrums, -.12 and -.12; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.12 and -.07; Failure to adjust in foster- home, -.13 and -.02; Unpopular, -.03 and -.06; Violence, -.14 and -.11; Discord between parents, -.15 and .01; Cruelty to younger children, -.15 (boys); Ille- gitimate parentage, -.16 and -.14; Feeble-minded sibling, -.16 and -.07; Vicious home conditions, -.17 and -.05; Begging, -.17 (boys); Cruelty to animals. -.17 (boys); Immoral hone conditions, -.18 and -.03; Fire-setting, -.19 (boys)
130 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
contrariness, clean habits, attractive manner, "follower," nail- biting, stealing, truancy from school, lack of interest in school, poor work in school, disobedience, defiant attitude, incorriglbil- ity, stubbornness, bad language, swearing ( general ) , quarrelsome- ness, selfishness, egocentric attitude or behavior, loitering, overinterest in sex matters, and the following six sex notations which were calculated for boys only: sex attack or abuse of little girl , exhibitionism (including "indecent exposure"), mutual mas- turbation with same sex, homosexual behavior with child of same age, passive pederasty, and obscene language .
The correlations for girls with the factor of age or mat- uration tended to be of larger size in the notations concerning heterosexual behavior, but in other respects the coefficients for both boys and girls tended to resemble each other.
Intelligence quotient (Table 10) was measured usually by the Stanford- Bine t of 1916, but in certain cases by a Kuhlmann- Blnet or by an Army or Arthur performance test. (In computing IQ
TABLE 10 CORRELATIONS WITH "INTEILIGENCE QUOTIENT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.15 + .01 |
.16 + .02 |
|
Conduct-total |
.13-1- .01 |
.12 4- .02 |
|
Police arrest |
-.02 + .02 |
-.07 + .03 |
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Repressed ., |
.2? + .03 |
.24 4- .Ok (7)* |
|
Attractive manner |
.25 + .02 |
.15 |
|
Hatred or Jeal o-psy of plhl 1P£. ................ |
.2k + .03 |
.23 + .Ok (8-12) |
|
Daydreaming |
.23 + .03 |
.26 + .03 (5) |
|
Bossy |
.23 + .0$ |
.27 + .Ok (k) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.23 + .02 |
.Ik ~ |
|
Mental conflict |
.23 -f- .03 |
.23 + .Ok (8-12) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.22 + .02 |
.18 " |
|
Boastful, n show-off" |
.22 + .02 |
.25 + .Ok (6) |
|
Sex attack on opposite sex |
.21 + .04 |
|
|
Popular |
.21 + .03 |
.11 |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AND INTELLIGENCE (IQ) TABLE 10— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Worry over specific fact , |
.21 + .03 .20 + .03 .18 " .18 .18 .12 .00 .05 .15 .15 |
.11 .16 .32 + .04 (1) .29 ± .03 (2) .28 ± .03 (3) .23 ± .04 (8-12) .23 + .05 (8-12) .23 + .05 (8-12) .22 + .03 (13) .20 + .03 (1*0 |
|
Psychoneurotlc |
||
|
Leader |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Abused feeling or manner |
||
|
Thumb -sucking |
||
|
Sneaky |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
I?pt«.T»fl^t,1 np 1 n School ......................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.70 + .01 -.57 + .02 -.26 + .04 -.16 ~ |
-.70 + .02 -.53 ± .02 -.2k ± .03 -.28 f .03 -.21 ± .02 |
|
|
Question of hypophrenia |
||
|
Slow, dull |
||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
-.19 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Clean, .19 and .16; Lazy, .19 and .09; Sensitive (general), .19 and .13; Sensitive over specific fact, .19 and .16; Discord between parents, .19 and .07; Finicky food habits, .18 and .09; "Sugar hunger," .18 (boys); Defiant, .16 and .19; Unhappy, .16 and .16; Rude, .16 and .13; Masturbation, .16 and .09; Contrary, .15 and .12; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .15 and .07; Lack of affection, .15 (boys); Failure to adjust in foster -home, .Ik and .06; Inat- tentive in school, .14 and .13; Quarrelsome, .14 and .10; Psychopathic person- ality, .14 and .16; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .14 and .14; Grouped: depressed, etc., .14 and .17; Unpopular, .13 and .14; Restless in sleep, .13 and .14; Tir- ing easily, .13 and .14; Stubborn, .13 and .14; Fantastical lying, .12 and .14; Disturbing influence in home, .12 and .04; Immoral home conditions, .12 and .02; Changeable moods, .12 and .18; Overlnterest In sex matters, .12 and .19; Mu- tual masturbation (same sex), .12 (boys); Truancy from institution, .12 (boys); Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .11 and .06; Restless, .11 and .13; "Night terrors," .11 and .17; Teasing other children, .11 and .10; Temper tan- trums, .10 and .08; Itfing, .10 and .12; Resentful attitude, .10 and .16; Irre- sponsible, .10 and .10; Lues, .10 and -.03; Irritable, .10 and .14; Depressed, *10 and .13; Crying spells, .10 and .12; Bad language, .09 and -.09; Cruelty to animals, .09 (boys); Lack of Interest in school, .09 and -.01; Bashful, .09 and .05; "Nervous," .09 and .08; Enuresis, .09 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, .09 and -.04; Destructive, .08 and .13; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .08 and .09; Nail-biting, .08 and .05; Excuse-forming, .08 and .13; Emotional Instabil- ity, .07 and .10; Begging, .07 (boys); Illegitimate parentage, .07 and .16; Grouped: temper, etc., .07 and .10; Sex denied entirely, .07 and .02; Incip- ient psychosis, .06 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), .06 and -.13; Grouped: fighting, etc., .06 and .11; Vocational guidance, .06 and -.02; Slovenly, .06 and -.04; Vicious home conditions, .06 and -.15; Question of change of person- ality, .05 and .02; Absent-minded, .05 and .01; Stealing, .05 and .02; Fire- setting, .05 (boys); Bad companions, .05 and .10; Homosexual (same age), .04
132 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 10— Continued
(boys); Lack of Initiative, .6k and .07; Neurological defect, .ok and .11; Fighting, .Ok and .10; Disobedient, .0*4- and .10; Bullying, .Ok (boys); Queer, .03 and .13; Irregular sleep habits, .03 and .10; Passive pederasty, .03 (boys); Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .03 and -.03; Truancy from home, .02 and -.05; Question of encephalitis, .02 and .05; Secluslve, .02 and .12; Incorrigible, .02 and .03; Grouped: swearing, etc., .02 and -.06; Headaches, .02 and .01; Gluttony, .02 and -.03; Sulky, .01 and .10; Listless, .01 and -.11; Loitering, .01 and -.13; Obscene language, .01 (boys); Gambling, .00 (boys); Swearing at mother, teacher, etc., .00 (boys); Leading others Into bad conduct, -.00 and -.00; Cruelty to younger children, -.00 (boys); Immoral sister, -.01 and -.06; Exhibitionism, -.01 (boys); Sullen, -.01 and .03; Staying out late at night, -.01 and -.05; Smoking, -.01 (boys); Disturbing influence in school, -.01 and .0*4-; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.06; Dementia praecox, -.02 (boys); Violence, -.02 and .0^; Temper display, -.02 and .05; Bowel inconti- nence, -.02 and .02; Gang, -.02 (boys); Stuttering, -.03 (boys); Swearing (gen- eral), -.03 and .0^4-; Refusal to attend school, -.03 and -.08; Distractible, -.0^ and .06; Stealing an automobile, -.04 (boys); Object of teasing, -.05 and -.08; Threatening violence, -.05 (boys); Apprehensive, -.06 and -.01; Under- weight, -.06 and -.07; Poor work in school, -.06 and -.13; Follower, -.07 and -.Ok} Irregular employment record, -.07 and -.04; Truancy from school, -.07 and .02; Former convulsions, -.07 and -.07; Robbing a building, home, etc., -.08 (boys); Irregular attendance at school, -.08 and -.12; Victim of sex abuse, -.09 (girls); Speech defect, -.09 and -.15; Exclusion from school, -.10 and -.03; Talking to self without reason, -.10 (boys); Preference for younger chil- dren, -.12 and -.19; Conduct prognosis bad, -.18 and -.12; Over suggestible, -.19 and -.Ik
among older children the denominator of 16 years' chronological age was used .during the years in which these children were exam- ined. ) As explained in earlier pages, the range of IQ, within this group was from 50 to over 150. The mean IQ of our 2,113 boys was 83.0 and the standard deviation, 17.1. For the I,l8l girls the corresponding constants were 8l.6 and 16.1 respectively. This group thus forms an artificial and truncated distribution with re- spect to intelligence, and it Is probable that the correlations based on it are likely to be reduced in size toward zero because of the effect of these restrictions of range.2
With the personality- total and the conduct -total the prod- uct-moment correlations were all low but positive, indicating that the more intelligent children in our clinic population tended to manifest a slightly larger number of behavior difficulties than the less intelligent. Since these relationships, however, were shown In Part III of Volume I to be of a curvilinear character,
2T. L. Kelley, Statistical Method (New York: Macmlllan, 1923), PP. 31^-16.
CHRONOLOGICAL AOE AND INTELLIGENCE (IQ) 133
they are not adequately measured by the coefficients of the prod- uct-moment family, Including bi- serial j? and tetrachoric T, which presuppose only a rectilinear relationship. The interested reader, therefore, is referred to our previous volume, in which the data were more closely analyzed by separation into more restricted and homogeneous age and intelligence groupings, and wherein the rela- tionships were represented graphically. These qualifications must probably be considered also in Interpreting the remainder of the correlations in Table 10.
With police arrest the coefficients were of negligible size and negative sign.
The correlations (bi-serial _r) of intelligence quotient with the separate behavior and other notations were generally of low magnitude, probably owing in some measure to the technical fac- tors of curvilinearity of regression in these relationships and restriction of range, as described above. Only a few coefficients were larger than + .20.
The highest coefficients were negative: for retardation in school, -.70 + .01 and -.70 + .02, among boys and girls respec- tively, and for question of hypophrenia or suspected mental defi- ciency (not a staff notation), -.57 -f .02 and -.53 + .02. Slow, dull manner also yielded negative correlations of moderate size.
Among the positive correlations the largest were of only moderate size: repressed manner, hatred or jealousy of sibling, daydreaming, bossy manner, mental conflict, and boastful or "show- off" manner. In addition, the following showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's among boys but lesser correlations among girls: attractive manner, sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undlfferentl- ated), inferiority feelings, popularity, psychoneurotic trends, and (calculated among boys only) sex attack or abuse of young girl. The following showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .32 among girls, but lower correlations among boys: "leader, " egocen- tricity, selfishness, abused feeling or manner, sneaklness, " spoiled child, " and thumb- sucking .
Three other behavior notations which are frequently found in the case histories of mental defectives showed low negative cor- relations with IQ among our cases: oversuggestibility, preference for younger children as playmates, and object of teasing by other children. If these correlation coefficients seem lower than might
134 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
be expected, it must be recalled that this group is a somewhat ar- tificial one with restricted range, as explained previously, and our coefficients involving these three notations would probably be much larger if a selection of all IQ ranges were used.
An Interesting comparison may be made between the correla- tions of Table 10 and the corresponding coefficients in Table 37 (p. 24l) for question of hypophrenla (suspected mental deficiency). The latter notation was not made by the professional staff of the clinic, nor was it based directly upon a psychometric score. It was the subjective opinion or conjecture made by a parent, teacher, family friend, or social-agency worker prior to the child's admis- sion to the clinic. Although one series was based upon objective psychometric ratings while the other was a matter of subjective "lay" opinion, it is evident that the corresponding coefficients usually showed similar trends (although the coefficients would be of opposite sign because of the antithetic meaning of the two no- tations). Retardation in school with its very high bi-serial cor- relations of -.70 for both boys and girls curiously enough showed a closer agreement with IQ than with question of hypophrenia, with which its tetrachorlc correlations were . 55 + • 02 and .48-4- .03 for boys and girls respectively.^
^A brief summary and comparison of these two series of correlations may be found In the author's "Behavior Traits of High-Grade Mental Defectives (a Statistical Study)," Proceedings of the Fifty-ninth Annual Session of the American Association on Mental Deficiency, Chicago, XL D.935), 435-43. See also the concluding paragraph of chap. xxv.
CHAPTER XIV
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS; UNHAPPY APPEARANCE OR MANNER; CRYING SPELLS
Depressed or discouraged attitude or spells of depression or discouragement In our study was considered as a more profound emotional state than unhappy or discontented appearance or manner. The notation crying spells or crying easily was used to designate merely an overt behavior pattern without regard to the depth of any underlying emotion. A fundamental difference "between the three notations is In their genetic aspects as shown in our Volume I (Pig. 48, pp. 204-7). Among 2,779 White boys and 1,675 White girls of ages ranging from infancy to 17-9 years of age and of IQ ranges from about 0 to over 150, crying spells or crying easily appeared characteristic during the earlier years of age, unhappiness or dis- content during an older age, and depressed spells during a still later age. All three traits yielded numerous substantial correla- tions with other behavior problems, especially of "personality" type, and should be considered important notations from a clinical standpoint, though of little significance as far as overt juvenile delinquency Is concerned, as one may infer from their lack of cor- relation with police arrest. Our justification for treating de- pressed and unhappy as two separate behavior entities lies in the fact that their correlations with other traits showed many diver- gences and also that the combining of the two groups of cases un- der one rubric (as shown in Table 13 > P- 144) did not appreciably increase the size of the resulting correlation coefficients, which would have occurred if these two notations were really the same entity.1
The notation depressed^ discouraged attitude; spells of depression or discouragement appeared among 149 of our 2,112 White boys, or in 7.1 per cent, and among 73 of our 1,181 White girls,
See chap, iv, pp. 38-44.
135
136
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
or in 6.2 per cent. It was of marked clinical Importance as an in- dicator of personality deviation, its bi-serial correlations vith the personality-total being .42 4- .03 and *55 + .03 among boys and girls respectively. Among girls it was of considerable signifi- cance also as an indicator of conduct difficulties, the correla- tion with the conduct- total being .43 + .03, but among boys its re- lation with the conduct- total was of little importance, the corre- sponding bi-serial correlation being only .17 + .03. It appears to have no relation with our police- arrest criterion of overt ju- venile delinquency, since its tetrachoric correlations among both sexes were practically zero.
Its highest correlation as shown in Table 11 was with changeable moods among girls, .51 + .05, the corresponding corre- lation among boys, .28 + .04, being of moderate size. Six person- ality notations yielded substantial or large correlations ranging
TABLE 11 CORRELATIONS WITH "DEPRESSED"
|
Boye |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total |
.42 + .03 .17 + .03 -.03 + .04 |
.55 4 .43 ; -.01 + |
.03 .03 .06 |
|
Conduct -total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
|||
|
Larger Correlatior |
s ( Positive) |
||
|
.44 + .03 .41 + .Ok .40 + .05 .38 + .06 .36 + .ok .3^ + .03 .31 + .05 .28 + .Ok .28 + .05 .28 + .Ok .27 + .04 .25 + .06 .25 + .05 .24 + .06 .24 J .04 .24 i .04 |
.50 | .04 (2)* .43 fr .08 (6-7) .33 fc .08 (16) .46(j .07 (4) .41 + .05 (8-9) .34 ± .06 (14-15) .47 ± .06 (3) .51 ± .05 (1) .34 t .07 (14-15) .09 .37 ± .05 (11) .23 ± .08 (35-38) .26 ± .04 (32-33) .31 + .08 (17-22) .22 t .06 (39-^2) .36 + .06 (12-13) |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
|||
|
Unhappy. |
|||
|
Psychoneurotlc |
|||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
|||
|
Pftydrefltratnff . ...................... T ........... |
|||
|
Sensitive (g«nei»i^l ) . , TttttttfTTttrrfftTTtTrtT |
|||
|
Changeable tnoodp , r r ,...,.,..,,,,. r , .,,,.-.,,, T |
|||
|
Question of change of personality |
|||
|
"tfervous" |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
UnDODular |
|||
|
Qfroupftfl : "nervous , w et-c ...................... |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
|||
|
Restless |
|||
|
Seoluslve |
|||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS TABLE 11— Continued
137
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
.24 + .05 |
.39 + .08 (10) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.23 t '0° |
.41 + .07 (8-9) |
|
Rude |
.22 + .Ok |
.17 |
|
Listless |
.21-1- .05 |
.23-*- .07 (34-37) |
|
Mental conflict |
.21 ± .06 |
.31 ± .08 (17-22) |
|
JEmnt-1 onal 1 TlB+.aM 1 tt.y ....,..,.. |
.21 ± .06 |
.26 4- .07 (32-33) |
|
Neurological defect |
.21 ± .05 |
.19 |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.20 t »07 |
.08 |
|
Queer . |
.18 |
.44 + .07 (5) |
|
Stubborn |
.14 |
.43 * .05 (6-7) |
|
Defiant |
,13 |
.36 ± .06 (12-13) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.13 |
.31 + .06 (17-22) |
|
Repressed |
.08 |
.31 t -08 (17-22) |
|
Temper tantrums |
,.01 |
.31 ± .06 (17-22) |
|
Bossy |
-.02 |
.31 -i- .07 (17-22) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.12 |
.30 ± .06 (23-24) |
|
Dlstractible |
.04 |
.30 ± .06 (23-24) |
|
Violence |
.09 |
.29 ± .07 (25-28) |
|
Sullen |
.07 |
.29 ± .07 (25-28) |
|
Sulky |
.06 |
.29 ± .07 (25-28) |
|
Selfish |
.19 |
.29 ± .04 (25-28) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.18 |
.28 ± .07 (29) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.17 |
.27 t -06 (30-31) |
|
Contrary |
.09 |
.27 ± .08 (30-31) |
|
Sex denied entirely |
-.02 |
.25 ± .08 (34) |
|
Slovenly. |
-15 |
.23 ± .06 (35-38) |
|
.18 |
.23 t -05 (35-38) |
|
|
Absent-minded |
.12 |
.22 ± .08 (39-42) |
|
Masturbation |
.13 |
.22 ± .06 (39-42) |
|
"Leading ot.hR-pH Into ^f\A conduct . . T ...,,,. T , . . , |
.06 |
.22 4- .08 (39-42) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.17 |
.21 + .07 (43-45) |
|
Lazy |
.14 |
.21 ± .07 (43-45) |
|
Egocentric |
.07 |
.21 + .06 (43-45) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.08 |
.20 4- .08 (46) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
jRet^rdAtl on 1n school . . ,. . t T , , t t T , , t ,,,,,,...., |
-.14 |
-.26 ± .06 |
|
Question of hypophrenia |
-.00 |
-.23 ± .04 |
|
Not Ca |
loulable |
|
|
(n.c.) |
(n.c.) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .19 and .08; Irritable, .18 and .19; Dis- cord between parents, .17 and .01; Overinterest in opposite sex, .17 (girls); Nail-biting, .16 and .17; Sex delinquency (coitus), .16 and .01; Slow, dull,
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 11— Continued
.16 and .01; Grouped: fighting, etc., .16 and .19; Attractive manner, .15 and .05; Disobedient, .Ik and -.03; Refusal to attend school, .Ik and -.13; Finicky food habits, .13 and .17; Smoking, .13 (boys); Lack of interest in school, .12 and .07; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Spoiled child, .12 and .Ik; Im- moral home conditions, .12 and .15; Grouped: swearing, etc., .12 and .07; Swearing (general), .11 (boys); Threatening violence, .11 (boys); Bashful, .11 and .Ik} Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Disturbing influence in school, .10 and .13; Incorrigible, .10 and .15; Object of teasing, .10 and .Ik; Clean, .10 and .15; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .10 and .09; Fighting, .09 and .12; Temper display, .09 and .17; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .09 (boys); Apprehensive, .08 and .09; Headaches, .08 and .09; Irreg- ular attendance at school, .08 and -.03; Vicious home conditions, .08 and -.02; luring, .07 and .Ik; Quarrelsome, .07 and .18; Overinterest in sex matters, .07 and .16; Exclusion from school, .07 and .10; Speech defect, .06 and -.05; Lack of Initiative, .05 and .01; Preference for younger children, .05 and -.05; For- mer convulsions, .05 and .05; Excuse-forming, .0^ and .13; Underweight, .Ok and -.00; Enuresls, .03 and .18; Poor work in school, .03 and .05; Irresponsible, .02 and .18; Loitering, .01 and .01; Conduct prognosis bad, .01 and .12; Stut- tering, .01 (boys); Follower, .01 and -.19; Vocational guidance, .01 and -.00; Destructive, -.02 and .17; Inattentive in school, -.02 and .08; Oversuggestible, -.02 and .08; Popular, -.03 and -.13; Bad companions, -.0^ and .07; Stealing, -.07 and .18; Truancy from school, -.08 and .02; Leader, -.08 and .09; Lues, -.09 and -.01; Gang, -.09 (boys); Staying out late at night, -.11 and .09; Tru- ancy from home, -.11 and .07; Brother in penal detention, -.12 and -.13 Omitted— Grouped: depressed, etc.
from .31 to .47 among both sexes: unhappiness, sensitiveness in general, sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode, worry over some specific fact or episode, daydreaming, and staff nota- tion or question of psychoneurotic trendo. Queer behavior and stubbornness among girls yielded large correlations in the . 40's, but among boys low positive correlations below ,20.
Six personality problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among girls and moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys: crying spells, inferiority feelingb, mental conflict, seclusiveness, question of change of personality, and hatred or jealousy of sibling. An additional five personality and conduct difficulties yielded substantial correlations in the .^O's among girls but low correlations below .20 among boys: repressed man- ner, disobedience or inoorriglbility (including defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentiated), temper tantrums, bossy manner, and dlstractibility.
vi^h depressed mood or spells four personality notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes: emo- tional instability, unpopular! ty , listlessness, and "nervousness"
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS 139
or restlessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated) . Question of encephalitis and neurologi- cal defect (unspecified) showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls. Sixteen miscellaneous behavior notations among girls showed mod- erate correlations in the .20' s, but low coefficients, ranging from -.02 to .19, among boys: sullenness, sulkiness, slovenliness, laziness, ab s en t - mi nde dne s s , fantastical lying, boastful or "show- off" manner, selfishness, egocentric ity, contrariness, leading others into bad conduct, violence, Irregular sleep habits, restless- ness in sleep, masturbation, and sex misbehavior denied entirely.
Two case-record notations showed significant negative cor- relations in the -.20's, both among girls: retardation in school and question of hypophrenia.
The tetrachoric correlation of depressed mood or spells with the notation feeble-minded sibling could not be calculated for either boys or girls because there were no instances in our data in which a child's case record showed both notations.
Among the six sex notations (which are being considered throughout Part III) there were found only two positive correla- tions of moderate size in the ,20's, both among boys — masturbation and sex misbehavior denied entirely — all other correlations in this field being low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only correlations of moderate size in the .20!s were for question of encephalitis and neurological defect (unspecified), both among boys.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with depressed mood or spells were low or negligible.
The notation unhappy or discontented attitude, appearance, or manner appeared in 95 boys' cases, or 4.5 per cent, and among 64 of our girls1 cases, or 5.4 per cent. Its correlations as shown in Table 12 were somewhat similar to those for depressed mood or spells but slightly lower. The most conspicuous difference is that among our boys unhappiness tended to show more significant correla- tions with overt conduct problems than were found for depressed mood or spells.
Among both sexes unhappiness showed fairly substantial
140
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 12 CORRELATIONS WITH "UNHAPPY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.31 + .03 |
.33 4- .04 |
|
Conduct-total |
.29 -i- .03 |
.35 4- .04 |
|
Police arrest |
.01 + .05 |
-.02 4- .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
•slatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
.43 + .05 |
.25 4- .08 (20-23)* |
|
Depressed. ....... |
.40 + .05 |
.33 4- .08 (5-6) |
|
Seclusive |
.38 + .05 |
.28 4- .07 (12-13) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.38 + .ok |
.34 4- .06 (2-4) |
|
Daydreaming |
.36 t -05 |
.36 4- .07 (1) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
. 26 t -04 |
.32 4- .05 (7-9) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.26 + .06 |
.21 4- .07 (27-29) |
|
Nail-biting |
.25 + .05 |
• 07 |
|
Bad companions |
.24 + .05 |
.07 |
|
Sullen |
.24 + .05 |
.31 4- .07 (10) |
|
Discord between parents |
.23 + .04 |
.11 |
|
Incorrigible |
.23 t «04 |
.22 4- .06 (26) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.22 t «OT |
• 13 |
|
Truancy f"r*<">Tn hom^ |
.22 + .04 |
.13 |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.22 + .0? |
.18 |
|
Restless |
.22 + .04 |
.08 |
|
Staying out late at night |
.21 t »05 |
.11 |
|
Lack of interest in school |
.20 ± .05 |
.17 |
|
Lazy |
.20 + .06 |
.16 |
|
Temper display |
.20-1- .04 |
.02 |
|
Question of change of personality |
.20 + .06 |
• 19 |
|
Repressed |
.20 + .06 |
.32 4- .09 (7-9) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.20 ± .05 |
.32 4- .07 (7-9) |
|
KTCVfle-foT'ni'ing. ,,,,,.,,....,..,....... . . |
.05 |
.28 4- 07 (12-13} |
|
Contrary |
.18 |
.34 4- .08 (2*4) |
|
Irresponsible |
• IT |
•34 ± .07 (2-4) |
|
Sulky |
.04 |
.35 4- 08 (5-6) |
|
Queer .. |
- 02 |
30 4- 08 (11^ |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.18 |
.27 4- .07 (14-16) |
|
LeHd"iTTg nt.hers in+-o bad conduct. ...**.*.,*** ^ * » |
.18 |
.27 4- .09 (14-16) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.07 |
.27 4- .07 (14-16) |
|
Bossy |
.16 |
.26 4- 07 (17-19) |
|
Apprehensive |
.10 |
.26 4- .06 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.10 |
.26 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.19 |
.25 4- .05 (20-23) |
|
Mental conflict |
.14 |
.25 4- .09 (20-23) |
|
Changeable moods |
.03 |
.25 4- 06 (20-231 |
|
Rude |
16 |
24 ± 06 (24) |
|
V1 ctlm nf Rf»T abuflf. ...,..., 1 1 *.,.,* A 4, * |
.23 t »07 (25) |
|
|
Violence |
07 |
21 4- 07 (27-29) |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS TABLE 12—Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Defiant |
.16 .15 |
.21 + .07 (27-29) .20 + .06 (30-33) .20 + .06 (30-33) .20 ± .05 (30-33) .20 t .06 (30-33) |
|
Masturbation |
||
|
Crying Bpells |
.17 .12 |
|
|
Underweight |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.15 .12 .17 |
-.25 ± .08 -.25 ± .08 -.22 + .09 |
|
|
Loitering |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lying, .19 and .15; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .18 (boys); Spoiled child, .18 and -.00; Threatening violence, .18 (boys); De- structive, .18 and .11; Disobedient, .17 and .17; Slovenly, .17 and .09; Worry over specific fact, .16 and -.04; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Fantastical lying, .15 and -.16; Irregular sleep habits, .15 and .10; Attractive manner, .15 and .02; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .Ik and .16; Grouped: temper, etc., .14 and .07; Neurological defect, .14 and .12; Poor work in school, .14 and .09; Stealing, .13 and .06; Stubborn, .13 and .07; Listless, .13 and .13; Former convulsions, .13 and -.07; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .13 and .10; Speech de- fect, .12 and -.10; Bashful, .12 and .08; Quarrelsome, .11 and .19; Egocentric, .11 and .17; Immoral home conditions, .11 and .07; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .11 and .01; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .11 and .14; Object of teasing, .10 and .12; "Nervous," .10 and .18; Psychoneurotic, .10 and .04; Smok- ing, .10 (boys); Disturbing influence in school, .10 and .10; Finicky food habits, .10 and .12; Clean, .09 and .09; Sex denied entirely, .09 and .11; Headaches, .09 and .10; Vocational guidance, .08 and .17; Sex delinquency (co- itus), .08 and .01; Preference for younger children, .07 and -.01; Follower, .07 and -.03; Emotional instability, .06 and .16; Conduct prognosis bad, .06 and -.02; Unpopular, .06 and .09; Irritable, .06 and .14; Truancy from school, .05 and .08; Absent-minded, .04 and .07; Teasing other children, .04 (boys); Self- ish, .04 and -.15; Enuresls, .04 and -.01; Slow, dull, .03 and .02; Yicioua home conditions, ,.03 and .13; Lues, .02 and .02; Restless in sleep, .02 and -.01; Gang, .01 (boys); Temper tantrums, .01 and .14; Popular .01 and .05; Fighting, -.01 and .19; Irregular attendance at school, -.01 and -.04; Distractible, -.02 and.. 12; CTVersuggestlble, -.03 and .12; Leader, -.03 and .06; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Brother in penal detention, -.05 and -.03; Exclusion from school, *.08 and .08; Feeble-minded sibling, -.09 and -.08; Inattentive at school, -.10 and -.00; Question of encephalitis, -.10 and .01; Retardation in school, -.11 and -.12; Question of hypophrenia, -.16 and -.03
Omitted— Depressed, etc.
bi- serial correlations ranging from .29 to .35 with personality- total and conduct- total, but its tetrachoric correlations with po- lice arrest were practically zero.
142 CHILDREN'S BEHVIOR PROBLEMS
Its largest correlations (in the ,40's) were with depressed mood or spells and inferiority feelings among boys, the correspond- ing coefficients for girls being of lesser size — .33 + .08 and .25 + .08 respectively.
Three personality problems — sensitiveness over some specif- ic fact or episode, daydreaming, and seclusiveness — yielded sub- stantial correlations ranging from .28 to .38 among both sexes. Among girls three notations — repressed manner, sullenness, and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) — yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and among boys moderate correlations in the .20' s. Among girls an additional four behavior traits yielded substantial correlations in the .30's, but low coefficients below .20 among boys: queer behavior, sulkiness, irresponsibility, and contrariness.
Unhappiness showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs among both sexes with sensitiveness in general and incorrlglbillty. Two notations, for which only the girls' coefficients were computed — overinterest in the opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person — also showed moderate correlations in the .20's. Twelve miscellaneous case-record notations showed moderate corre- lations in the .20's among boys but low positive coefficients be- low .20 among girls: question of change of personality, lack of interest in school, inefficiency in work, play, etc., laziness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, restlessness, temper display, bad companions, staying out late at night, truancy from home, nail- biting, and discord between parents. Fourteen miscellaneous nota- tions showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: crying spells, change- able moods or attitudes, mental conflict, excuse -forming attitude, apprehensiveness , boastful "or "show-off" manner, bossy manner, rude- ness, disobedience or incorrlgibility (including defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentiated), leading others into bad conduct, fighting or quarrelsomeness (including violence, undifferentiated), masturbation, overinterest in sex matters, and underweight condition.
Unhappiness showed three negative correlations of moderate size in the .20' s, all among girls: lack of Initiative, loitering or wandering, and refusal to attend school .
Among the six sex notations unhapplness showed four corre-
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS 143
lations of moderate size in the .20!s, all among girls: masturba- tion, overinterest in sex matters, overinterest in the opposite sex, and victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only correlation of significant size was with underweight condi- tion among girls, .20 + .06.
Among the four home or familial notations the only corre- lation of significant size with unhappiness was for discord between parents among boys, .23 + .04.
When our cases showing a notation of either depressed mood
or spells or unhappiness were grouped together under one rubric or
o combined into a broad grouping, there were 219 such cases, or 10.4
per cent, among our 2,113 White boys and 125 cases, or 10.6 per cent, among our I,l8l White girls. The resulting correlations, as shown in Table 13, were not greatly different from those found when such notation was discussed separately.
Yielding substantial to large correlations ranging from about .20 to .47 for both notations and among both sexes were the following: sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), in- feriority feelings, daydreaming, seclusiveness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, and question of change of personality. Six notations yielded substantial correlations with depressed mood or spells but moderate or low correlations with unhappiness ; psychoneurotic trends, mental conflict, unpopularity, changeable moods or atti- tudes, restlessness, and inefficiency in work, play, etc. On the other hand, four notations showed meaningful correlations with un- happiness but were negligibly associated with depressed mood or spells; repressed manner, sullenness, incorrigibility, and swear- ing or bad language (undifferentiated).
Crying spells or crying easily was found among 473 boys, or 22.4 per cent, and among 297 girls, or 25.1 per cent, and is thus one of the most frequently appearing case-record notations found among the children studied in our clinic, especially among
TPhe reasons for this grouping were given in I, 44 and 86, Table 13, Item J.
3I, 46.
144
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 13 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: DEPRESSED, ETC."
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality- total «... |
.50 4- .02 |
.57 + .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.24 + .02 |
.42 + .03 |
|
Police arrest |
-.02 + .03 |
-.00 -f .05 |
|
Larger Corr< |
3lations (Positive) |
|
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.44 + .03 |
.47 4- .04 (1)* |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.41 4- .03 |
.45 4- .04 (2) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.37 + .04 |
.38 4- .06 (6-7) |
|
Worry over specj fie feet |
.37 4- .05 |
.35 + .07 (9-12) |
|
Daydreaming |
.36 + .05 |
.39 4- .05 (5) |
|
Psy choneurotic |
.34 + .05 |
.35 4- .06 (9-12) |
|
Sensitive (general ) |
.31 + .05 |
.38 + .05 (6-7) |
|
Secluslve |
.30 + .04 |
.37 + .05 (8) |
|
Crying spells |
.2? ± .03 |
.30 4- .04 (8-10) |
|
Restless |
.27 ± .03 |
.19 |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.25 + .0*5 |
.29 f .06 (11-13) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.25 + .05 |
.25 t -07 (19-20) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.25 + .05 |
.29 4- .06 (11-13) |
|
"Nervous" |
.24 + .04 |
.16 |
|
Unpopular |
.25 t «05 |
.22 ± .07 (27-33) |
|
Mental conflict |
.22 ± .05 |
.33 + .07 (13-14) |
|
Changeable moods |
.21 ± .04 |
.44 ± .05 (3-4) |
|
"Diflncrrd between p^vrenhn, ,.Ttt...t.Trt.r,T.TtT.f. |
.21 ± .03 |
.07 |
|
Listless |
.20 + .04 |
.14 |
|
EmrvM <">rm1 1 n«t-ftM 11 ty |
.20 -f- .05 |
.22 4- .06 (27-33) |
|
Queer |
.11 |
.44 + .06 (3-4) |
|
Contrary |
.13 |
.35 + .07 (9-12) |
|
Bos sy... |
.12 |
.35 + .06 (9-12) |
|
Defiant |
.14 |
• 33 ± .06 (13-14) |
|
Sulky |
.08 |
.32 4- 06 (15) |
|
Irresponsible |
.12 |
.31 4- .06 (16-17) |
|
Violence |
.08 |
.31 ± .05 (16-17) |
|
Stubborn |
.15 |
•30 ± .04 (8-10) |
|
Leadling otbTH Intn bad conduct. .............. |
.14 |
.30 + .07 (8-10) |
|
Grouped : fighting, etc 7 |
.15 |
.29 4- .04 (11-13) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.14 |
.27 4- .06 (14-17) |
|
Sullen |
.17 |
.27 4- .06 (14-17) |
|
.16 |
.27 4- .05 (14-17) |
|
|
Repressed |
• 13 |
.27 ± .07 (14-17) |
|
Overlnterest in sex matters |
• 15 |
.26 4- .06 (18) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.14 |
.25 4- .04 (19-20) |
|
Distractible |
-.03 |
.24 4- .05 (21-23) |
|
Excuse-forming |
.05 |
.24 ± .06 (21-23) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.07 |
.24 4- .05 (21-23) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.17 |
.23 ± .06 (24-26) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS TABLE 15— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Rude |
.19 |
.23 ± .05 (24-26) |
|
Temper tantrums |
.02 |
.23 + .05 (24-26) |
|
Vintlim of H^X abuoe .............. r - , T ,,.,. T - - - |
.22 t -06 (27-33) |
|
|
Irritable |
.18 |
,?2 + .05 (27-33) |
|
Slovenly . |
.16 |
.22 + .05 (27-33) |
|
Lazy |
.15 |
.92 4- .06 (27-33) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.15 |
.22 t -04 (27-33) |
|
Incorrigible |
.17 |
.20 ± .05 (34-35) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.16 |
.9Q ± .04 (34-35) |
|
Larger Corr |
elatlons (Negative) |
|
|
-.22 + .05 |
-.25 4- .06 |
|
|
Refusal -to attend school. |
.09 |
-.25 t -07 |
|
-.13 |
-.2? + .04 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Nail-biting, .19 and .15; Complaining of bad treatment by other chil- dren, .19 (boys); Neurological defect, .18 and .17; Overinterest in opposite sex, .18 (girls); Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .17 and .01; Fantastical lying, .17 and .10; Spoiled child, .17 and .10; Irregular sleep habits, .16 and .15; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Lack of interest In school, .16 and .13; Im- moral home condition**, .15 and .14; Question of encephalitis, .15 and .02; Dis- obedient, .15 and .11; Selfish, .15 and .17; Smoking, .15 (boys); Threatening violence, .15 (boys); Attractive manner, .14 and .07; Restless in sleep, .14 and .17; Finicky food habits, .14 and .13; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .14 and .18; lying, .13 and .16; Sex delinquency (coitus), .13 and .03; Bashful, .13 and .12; Object of teasing, .12 and .13; Lack of initiative, .12 and -.08; Slow, dull, .12 and -.01; Temper display, .12 and .14; Speech defect, .12 and -.06; Clean, .10 and .13; Apprehensive, .10 and .18; Teasing other children, .10 (boys); Destructive, .10 and .19; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .10 and .13; Former convulsions, .10 and .07; Disturbing Influence in school, .09 and .13; Egocentric, .08 and .19; Fighting, .08 and .18; Bad companions, .08 and .09; Headaches, .08 and .09; Vicious home conditions, .07 and .07; Un- derweight, .07 and .10; Loitering, .07 and -.07; Poor work in school, .07 and .08; Preference for younger children, .06 and .05; Absent-minded, .06 and .13; Truancy from home, .06 and .10; Staying out late at night, .06 and .13; Enure- sis^ .06 and .13; Irregular attendance at school, .05 and -.04; Conduct prog- nosis bad, .05 and .03; Exclusion from school, .04 and .11; Vocational guidance, .03 and .09; Stealing, .02 and .12; Stuttering, .01 (boys); Sex denied entirely, .01 and .18; Over suggestible, -.00 and .13; Follower, -.00 and -.09; Truancy from school, -.01 and .03; Popular, -.02 and -.05; Lues, -.02 and -.04; Inat- tentive in school, -.05 and .04; Gang, -.06 (boys); Leader, -.06 and .12; Ques- tion of hypophrenia, -.07 and -.13; Brother in penal detention, -.12 and -.06
Omitted — Depressed; Unhappy
146
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
the younger ones. Among girls it showed substantial bi- serial cor- relations in the ,30's with both personality-total and conduct- total, while among boys the corresponding coefficients were of mod- erate size in the .20's (Table 14). With police arrest its tetra- choric coefficients were low.
TABLE Ik CORRELATIONS WITH "CRYING SPELLS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total |
.27 + -02 .22 -f- .02 .13 ± .03 |
.38 + .02 .30 + .02 .07 + .04 |
|
|
Con duct -total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Sensitive (general) |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.43 + .03 .40 + .03 •33 ± .03 .32 + .03 .32 t .02 .30 + .04 .30 + .02 .2? + .04 .27 ± .03 .26 + .05 .25 + .04 .24 + .03 .24 + .04 .23 + .04 .23 + .04 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .22 + .04 .21 + .03 .21 t -04 .21 + .04 .21 ± .03 .20 ± .03 .20 + .04 .20 ± .03 .17 -.02 .18 .16 .05 .16 |
.50 ± .04 (1)* .49 ± .03 (2) .35 ± .04 (9) .30 + .04 (19-20) .47 ± .03 (3) .32 ± .05 (14-16) .38 ± .03 (5-6) .37 ± .05 (7-8) .30 ± .04 (19-20) .32 + .06 (14-16) .38 ± .05 (5-6) •33 ± .04 (12-13) .15 .17 .20 ± .05 (44-48) .43 ± .04 (4) .37 ± .04 (7-8) .23 ± .05 (34-35) .22 + .04 (36-39) .34 + .05 (10-11) .26 + .06 (24-26) .29 + .04 (21) .21 + .04 (40-43) |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or wor Sensitive over specific fa Irritable |
|||
|
ct |
|||
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc. . |
|||
|
Question of change of pers |
onality. |
||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed; etc. . |
|||
|
Question of encephalitis. . |
|||
|
Eirnot- 1 onal 1 n^abl 1 1 t-y ..... |
|||
|
Apprehensive |
|||
|
Sex denied entirely |
|||
|
Bossy |
|||
|
Sulky |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Bashful |
etc |
||
|
Unpopular |
|||
|
Worry over specific fact. . |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc. . . |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Follower , |
|||
|
.19 .34 + .04 (10-11) .33 ± .05 (12-13) .32 + .04 (14-16) .31 ± .03 (17-18) .31 + .05 (17-18) .28 + .05 (22-23) |
|||
|
Temper tantrums |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits.... |
|||
|
Quarrelsome. |
|||
|
Restless. |
|||
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of siblj |
Lnc |
||
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS TABLE 14— Continued
14?
Boys
Girls
Queer „ 18
Daydreaming 16
Inferiority feelings 19
Headaches 17
Restless in sleep 19
Object of teasing. . , 11
Psychoneurotic 16
Leading others into bad conduct 00
Violence 12
Grouped: swearing, etc 08
Conduct prognosis bad 09
Irresponsible 05
Rude 02
Distractible 08
Spoiled child 17
Selfish 15
Disturbing influence in school 09
Finicky food habits Ik
Sullen 11
Unhappy 17
Grouped: egocentric, etc 09
.28 + .26 + .26 ± •25 ± •25 ± •25 + .25 t .24 + .24 + .24 ± •23 ± .22 + .22 + .22 + •21 ± •21 ± .21 * .20 + .20 t .20 + .20 ±
.05 • 05 .05 .05 .04 .05 .05 .06 .05 .05 .06 .05 .04 .04 .04 .04 .05 .05 .05 .05 .04
(22-23) (24-26) (24-26) (27-30) (27-30) (27-30) (27-30) (31-33) (31-33) (31-33) (34-35) (36-39) (36-39) (36-39) (40-43) (40-43) (40-43) (44-48) (44-48) (44-48) (44-48)
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Overinterest in sex matters, .19 and .12; Mental conflict, .18 and .19; Stealing, .16 and .15; Temper display, .16 and .15; Disobedient, .14 and .13; Enuresis, .14 and .17; Swearing -(general), .14 (boys); Neurological defect, .14 and .14; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .14 and .16; Refusal to attend school, .13 and .00; Masturbation, .13 and .15; Former convulsions, .13 and .11; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .13 and .09; Contrary, .12 and .12; Destruc- tive, .12 and .13; Fighting, .12 and .13; Lack of interest in school, .12 and .10; Stubborn, .12 and .15; Absent-minded, .12 and .18; Lues, .12 and .01; In- corrigible, .11 and .10; Stuttering, .11 (boys); Defiant, .10 and .19; Truancy from school, .10 and .07; Preference for younger children, .10 and .16; Poor work in school, .10 and .08; Discord between parents, .10 and -.01; Itflng, .09 and .16; Slovenly, .09 and .11; Excuse-forming, .09 and .19; Seclusive, .09 and .16; Loitering, .08 and -.01; Staying out late at night, .08 and .11; Threatening violence, .08 (boys); Truancy from home, .08 and .03; Listless, .08 and .09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .08 and -.02; Bad companions, .07 and .12; •Inattentive in school, .07 and -.01; Underweight, .07 and .08; Speech defect, .07 and .03; Lazy, .06 and .03; Smoking, .06 (boys); Attractive manner, .06 and .10; Teasing other children, .05 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), .05 and -.05; Slow, dull, .05 and .01; Egocentric, .05 and .19; Lack of initiative, .05 and -.04; Over suggestible, .05 and .15; Repressed, .05 and .15; Popular, .05 and .09; Exclusion from school, .04 and .15; Leader, .04 and .19; Boastful, "show- off," .03 and .17; Clean, .03 and .06; Overinterest in opposite sex, .03 (girls); Gang, -.01 (boys); Retardation in school, -.01 and -.09; Question of hypophrenia, -.04 and .06; Vocational guidance, -.05 and -.08; Immoral home conditions, -.05 and -.06; Irregular attendance at school, -.06 and -.08; Vicious home conditions, -.06 and -.10; Victim of sex abuse, -«06 (girls); Feeble-minded sibling, -.14 and -.13; Brother in penal detention, -.16 and -.18
148 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Its highest correlations were with sensitiveness in gen- eral, the coefficients being .43 ± .03 and .50 4- .04 among boys and girls respectively. Its next highest correlation was with the notation "nervousness" or restlessness (including Irritable tem- perament and changeable moods, undifferentlated) with correspond- ing coefficients of .32 4- .02 and .47 + .03 for boys and girls.
Three additional behavior tracts yielded substantial cor- relations in the ,30's among both sexes: sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode, question of change of personality, and temper tantrums or display (including irritable temperament, un- differentlated). Among girls five notations yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s and among boys moderate coefficients in the .20's: depressed mood or spells, emotional Instability, ap- prehensiveness , unpopularity, and question of encephalitis. An additional four behavior problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30*3 but low coefficients below ,20 among boys: quarrelsomeness, Irregular sleep habits, restlessness, and fantastical lying.
Crying spells showed moderate correlations ranging from .19 to .26 among both sexes for the six behavior notations, worry over some specific fact or episode, sulkiness, Inefficiency in work, play, etc., bashfulness, nail-biting, and "follower" and also for the notation complaining of bad treatment by other children, which was calculated only for boys. Among girls the following twenty- one miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but among boys low positive coefficients below ,20: UP- happiness, Inferiority feelings, staff notation of psyohoneurotlo trends , daydreaming, queer behavior, sullenness, "spoiled child," finicky food habi t s , hatred or jealousy of sibling, object of teas- ing by other children, distractiblllty, irresponsibility, disturb- ing influence in school, rudeness, leading others Into bad conduct, violence, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), egocentriclty or selfishness (undifferentiated), restlessness in sleep, staff no- tation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and headaches .
Among the six sex notations the only significant correla- tion with crying spells was for sex misbehavior denied entirely among boys, .24 + .04.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only significant correlations were with question of encephalitis,
DEPRESSED MOOD OR SPELLS
the respective coefficients for "boys and girls being ,26 + .05 and .32 + .06.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with crying spells were low or negligible.
CHAPTER XV SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS
Sensitiveness or worrisomeness, whether considered as a general habit of mind or as a concern over a specific fact or epi- sode, appeared frequently among our clinical cases. About 23 per cent of our 2,113 White boys and about 22 per cent of our I,l8l White girls were so described. Curiously enough, the trait was remarked slightly more often among boys than among girls. In gen- eral the notations were correlated substantially with personality problems and occasionally also with conduct problems. With police arrest , however, the correlations were substantially zero, except that among girls the specific notation sensitiveness (general) showed a significant negative tetrachoric correlation of -.25 + .05. These case notations should, however, be considered of def- inite clinical Importance, especially from the standpoint of per- sonality deviation. The four tables of this chapter comprise dif- ferent aspects of this general behavior trait.
Sensitiveness as a general trait was noted in about 8 per cent of our children. Its highest correlations (Table 15) were among girls, the tetrachoric coefficients ranging from .43 to .50 for crying spells, depressed mood or spells, and inferiority feel- ings, with substantial correlations also among boys. The highest correlation among boys was also for crying spells ( . 43 + .03).
Among both sexefc the following yielded substantial corre- lations in the . 30's: sensitiveness over specific fact, change- able moods, and finicky or capricious food habits. Other meaning- ful correlations among both sexes were for psychoneurotic trends, seclusiveness, and for "nervousness" or restlessness (undifferen- tlated) with coefficients ranging from .25 to .36. Among girls the following additional notations yielded substantial correlations ranging from .30 to .37, while the boys' correlations were of doubt- ful significance though of positive sign: sulkineas, hatred or jealousy of sibling, boastful or "show-off" manner, and irregular
sleep habits.
150
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS
TABLE 15 CORRELATION WITH "SENSITIVE (GENERAL)"
151
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.33 4 .03 |
.34 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.12 4 .03 |
.16 + .04 |
|
Police arrest |
-.02 + .Ok |
-.21 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corrt |
3lations (Positive) |
|
|
Crying spells |
.43 4 .03 |
.50 + .04 (1)* |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.37 + .04 |
.30 + .05 (13) |
|
Changeable moods |
.33 + .04 |
.35 + .05 (7) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.31 4- .Ok |
.33 + .06 (9) |
|
Depressed |
.31 4 .05 |
.47 + .06 (2) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.31 + .ok |
.38 4- .05 (4) |
|
Seclusive |
.30 + .ok |
.28 + .06 (15-16) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.29 4- .05 |
.28 + .08 (15-16) |
|
Lack of Initiative |
.27 4- .05 |
.18 "" |
|
Psychoneurotic |
.26 + .06 |
.31 4- .07 (10-12) |
|
Unhappy |
.26 + .06 |
.21 4- .07 (25-29) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc «... |
.25 4- .03 |
.36 + .04 (6) |
|
Bos sy |
.25 4- .05 |
.20 4 .07 (30-34) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
,2k + .05 |
.26 + .07 (18-20) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.24 4- .04 |
.43 + .07 (3) |
|
Spoiled child |
.24 + .Ok |
.26 + .06 (18-20) |
|
.23 4 .04 |
.13 |
|
|
Attractive manner |
.22 4- .Ok |
.19 |
|
Speech defect |
.21 4- .05 |
.04 |
|
"Nervous" |
.21 4- .Ok |
.25 4- .04 (21-22) |
|
Clean |
.20 + .Ok |
.29 + .05 (14) |
|
Sulky |
.12 |
.37 + .07 (5) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.19 |
.34 4- .07 (8) |
|
Irregular sleep habits f |
.09 |
.31 4- .07 (10-12) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.16 |
.31 + .07 (10-12) |
|
Excuse -forming |
.03 |
.27 + .06 (17) |
|
Irritable |
• 19 |
.26 4- .05 (18-20) |
|
Repressed |
.16 |
.25 4- .08 (21-22) |
|
Daydreaming |
.19 |
.24 4 .06 (23) |
|
Queer |
.15 |
.23 4- .07 (24) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
• 15 |
.21 4 .05 (25-29) |
|
Egpcentric |
.12 |
.21 + .06 (25-29) |
|
Sullen » |
11 |
21 4 06 (25-29) |
|
.10 |
.21 4- .08 (25-29) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.16 |
.20 4- .07 (30-34) |
|
.02 |
.20 4 .07 (50-34) |
|
|
Bashful |
.19 |
.20 4- .05 (30-34) |
|
.12 |
.20 4- .07 (30-34) |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
152
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 15— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Larger Corr |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
Brother in penal detention |
-.04 |
-.31 + 06 |
|
Truancy from home |
- 0^ |
. p<=) I 0*5 |
o£her Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Object of teasing, .19 and .18; Mental conflict, .19 and .09; Selfish, .18 and .17; Lack of Interest in school, .17 and .02; Temper tantrums, .17 and .15; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .16 (boys); Apprehensive, .15 and .05; Unpopular, .15 and -.01; Grouped: temper, etc., .14 and .18; Ques- tion of change of personality, .14 and .13; Overinterest in sex matters, .14 and .10; Lazy, .13 and .10; Former convulsions, .13 and .09; Neurological defect, .12 and .09; Stuttering, .12 (boys); Disobedient, .11 and .12; Restless, .13 and .13; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .11 and .04; Question of encephalitis, .10 and .15; Quarrelsome, .10 and .18; Smoking, .10 (boys); Enu- resis, .09 and .14; Nail-biting, .09 and .11; Refusal to attend school, .09 and .13; Emotional instability, .09 and .13; Preference for younger children, .09 and .12; Poor work in school, .09 and .09; Vocational guidance, .09 and .10; Headaches, .08 and .12; Masturbation, .08 and .06; Stubborn, .07 and .17; Ir- regular attendance at school, .07 and .04; Immoral home conditions, .07 and -.17; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .06 and .07; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .06 and .10; Discord between parents, .06 and -.02; I^ing, .05 and .01; Sex denied entirely, .05 and .18; Vicious home conditions, .05 and -.07; Grouped: fight- ing, etc., .05 and .14; Defiant, .03 and .13; Disturbing influence in school, .03 and .06; Lues, .03 and -.08; Fighting, .02 and .09; Inattentive in school, .01 and .04; Listless, .01 and .05; Distract ible, .01 and .14; Over suggestible, .01 and .10; Grouped: swearing, etc., .01 and -.09; Gang, .00 (boys); Rude, .00 and .16; Irresponsible, -.00 and .06; Slovenly, -.01 and .04; Teasing other children, -.02 (boys); Stealing, -.02 and -.06; Swearing (general), -.02 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), -.02 and -.18; Slow, dull, -.02 and .02; Follower, -.03 and .03; Violence, -.03 and .05; Threatening violence, -.03 (boys); Loiter- ing, -.03 and -.05; Destructive, -.03 and -.08; Temper display, -.04 and .05; Exclusion from school, -.04 and .02; Question of hypophrenia, -.05 and -.03; Incorrigible, -.06 and -.06; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.06 (girls); Leader, -.07 and .05; Underweight, -.07 and .07; Truancy from school, -.08 and .05; Con- duct prognosis bad, -.10 and -.17j Bad companions, -.10 and .04; Retardation in school, -.12 and -.14; Feeble-minded sibling, -.12 and -.18; Leading others into bad conduct, -.14 and .01; Victim of sex abuse, -.14 (girls); Staying out late at night, -.15 and -.05
Omitted— Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc.
The following shoved moderate correlations of .20 to .29 among both sexes: worry over specific fact or episode, unhappl- ness, bossy manner, inefficiency in vork, play, etc., "spoiled child, " and clean habits or appearance. Four notations showed mod- erate correlations ranging from .20 to .27 among boys, with lesser though positive correlations among girls: lack of initiative,
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS 153
restlessness in sleep, attractive manner, and speech defect (other than stuttering). Among girls there were a dozen correlations ranging from .20 to ,27, the corresponding coefficients for boys ranging only from .02 to .19; these were for irritable manner or disposition, excuse- forming attitude, contrariness, sullenness, egocentricity, queer behavior, fantastical lying, daydreaming, re- pressed manner, bashfulness, absent-mindedness , and popularity.
Only two significant negative correlations with sensitive- ness (general) were found. Among girls the correlations for brother in penal detention was -.31 + .06 and for truancy from home -.25 + .05, the boys' correlations being negligible.
For the six sex notations all coefficients were of almost negligible size. The largest were among girls: a negative corre- lation of -.18 for sex delinquency (coitus) and a positive one of .18 for sex misbehavior denied entirely. Since our cases were too few to establish "statistical significance" in case of tetrachorlc correlations of less than -f .20, one can report these coefficients only as suggesting that sexually abstinent girls tend to be sensi- tive, while sexually delinquent ones tend to be less sensitive in general than others.
Discard between parents and enuresis showed quite negli- gible correlations with sensitiveness (general).
Sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode appeared almost twice as often among our cases as sensitiveness in general. It was noted in 13 per cent of our 2,113 boys and in 13 per cent of our 1,181 girls and was one of the most frequent notations in the personality field.
The usual sources of this specialized sensitiveness were in order of frequency: school problems such as poor work in school, retardation in school, being in "ungraded room" or in room with younger or smaller children, special educational defect, exclusion from school because of poor work in studies, low intelligence, memory defect, etc.; physical deficiencies such as poor physique, short stature, loss of limb, crippled condition, obesity, convul- sive attacks, wearing glasses, deafness or hearing defect, speech defect or stuttering, unattractive personal appearance or poor complexion, enuresis or bowel incontinence, etc.; sex misbehavior such as masturbation, sexual intercourse, homosexual behavior,
154 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Illegitimate pregnancy, and, among girls, menstruation; home or familial conditions such as the fact that relatives do not visit or write to patient or that he has no relatives, death of parent or near- relative, rejection or desertion by both parents or the fact of adoption or other circumstances concerning patient's par- entage, poor clothing, poor financial condition of family or of self or the fact that the family receives aid from charity organi- zations, parent's criminality, immorality, alcoholism, viciousness, venereal disease, etc., and discord between parents or foster-par- ents; and miscellaneous source such as misdeeds in general, unpop- ularity or inability to make friends or sensitiveness over being an object of teasing by other children, race or nativity, and re- ligion.1
Its correlations (Table 16) were very similar to those for sensitiveness in general. Its three highest correlations among both sexes were for inferiority feelings, mental conflict, and de- pressed spells or unhappiness (undif f erentlated) , the tetrachoric coefficients ranging from .41 to .50. Four personality traits showing coefficients ranging from .30 to .41 among both sexes were: unhappiness, sensitiveness in general, crying' spells, and object of teasing »by other children. The notations daydreaming and hatred or jealousy of sibling showed correlations in the .30 's for girls and in the ,20's for boys.
Seven traits showed moderate correlations in the .20's for both sexes: worry over some specific fact or episode, masturba- tion, overinterest in sex matters, psychoneurotic trends, bashful- ness , secluslveness, and probably "spoiled child. " Among boys enu- resis, repressed manner, attractive manner, and clean habits showed correlations ranging from .20 to .23 and lesser though positive correlations among girls. Eighteen notations showed correlations among girls ranging from .20 to .30 but lesser though generally positive coefficients among boys: emotional instability, change- able moods, queer behavior, "nervousness" or restlessness ( undif - f erentlated), unpopularity , preference for younger children as playmates, irresponsibility, lack of interest in school, egocen- tricity, selfishness, bossy manner, stubbornness, defiant attitude,
. I, Tables 1 and 2, Items 62, 72, 86, 88, 99, 104, 118, 120, 122, 125, 126, 131, 132, 133, 138, 139, and Ikk.
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS
TABLE 16 CORRELATION WITH "SENSITIVE OVER SPECIFIC FACT"
155
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.31 + .02 |
.34 + .03 |
|
Con duct -total |
.19 4 .02 |
.27 +• .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.07 + .03 |
.03 4 .05 |
|
Larger Corre |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
.49 + .03 |
.50 4 .05 (1)* |
|
Mental conflict |
.48 + .04 |
.46 -i- .06 (2) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.41 + .03 |
.45 4 .04 (3) |
|
Unhappy. » |
.38 4- .04 |
.34 4 .06 (7) |
|
.37 + ,o4 |
.30 4- .05 (10-11) |
|
|
Depressed |
.36 + .04 |
.41 4 .05 (4-5) |
|
Crying spells |
.33 + .03 |
.35 4 .04 (6) |
|
Object of teasing. |
.30 + .03 |
.41 4 .05 (4-5) |
|
Bashful |
.29 + .03 |
.22 4- .04 (23-25) |
|
Psychoneurotlc |
.27 + .05 |
.20 4 .06 (32-36) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.27 + .05 |
.27 + .07 (12-14) |
|
Spoiled child |
.27 + .03 |
.19 |
|
Seclusive |
.25 + .03 |
.23 4- .05 (18-22) |
|
T)^y AT e*vn1 ng rTtttTrTtTr.mr.TTrt.TT1tt.T-tTT,.T-r_ |
.24 + .04 |
.33 4 .05 (8) |
|
Masturbation |
.23 + .03 |
.27 + .05 (12-14) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.23 + .05 |
.31 4- .06 (9) |
|
Att.r-pctl ye iriaTmeT ... - T ...*.,.. T , ,....,,., r .,,. |
.23 + .03 |
.15 |
|
Enures! s |
.22 + .03 |
.09 |
|
Clean. |
.22 4- .03 |
.12 |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.21 + .05 |
.21 + .06 (26-31) |
|
Repressed |
.20'+ .04 |
.17 |
|
Bossy |
.16 " |
.30 4- .05 (10-11) |
|
Selfish |
.11 |
.27 + .04 (12-14) |
|
Lyinrr. |
.10 |
.26 4- .04 (15-16) |
|
Kftmrvhi nnal "I nptabl] It-y ......................... |
.11 |
.26 + .06 (15-16) |
|
Changeable moods |
.07 |
.24 4- .05 (17) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.03 |
.23 + .04 (18-22) |
|
Neurological defect |
.10 |
.23 + .05 (18-22) |
|
Stealing. |
.11 |
.23 4- .04 (18-22) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.05 |
.23 4- .07 (18-22) |
|
Defiant |
.01 |
.22 4- .05 (23-25) |
|
Irresponsible |
-.04 |
.22 4- .06 (23-25) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.04 |
.21 4- .04 (26-31) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.12 |
.21 4- .04 (26-31) |
|
Queer • |
.11 |
.21 4- .06 (26-31) |
|
Stubborn |
.17 |
.21 + .04 (26-31) |
|
Lack of Interest in school |
.16 |
.21 4- .05 (26-31) |
|
-.00 |
.20 4- .05 (32-56) |
|
|
"Nervous" |
.15 |
.20 4- .05 (32-36) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
156
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 16 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.09 .02 |
.20 t .20 t |
.07 (32-36) .06 (32-36) |
|
|
Retardation in school |
|||
|
Larger Correlations |
(Negative) |
||
|
-.14 |
-.28 + |
.04 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Headaches, .18 and .17; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .18 (boys); Victim of sex abuse, .18 (girls); Question of change of personality, .17 and .19; Irregular sleep habits, .17 and .17; Lack of initiative, .17 and -.19; Speech defect, .17 and .07; Discord between parents, .17 and .07; Lazy, .16 and -.01; Sulky, .16 and .15; Listless, .15 and .01; Inefficient In work, play, etc., .14 and .18; Apprehensive, .Ik and .07; Boastful, "show-off," .13 and .11; Rude, .13 and .01; Staying out late at night, .13 and .03; Sex delin- quency (coitus), .13 and .01; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .13 and .13; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Absent-minded, .12 and .10; Popular, .12 and .00; Underweight, .12 and .10; Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc., .12 and .18; Finicky food habits, .11 and .05; Listless, .11 and .09; Leader, .11 and .11; Nail-biting, .10 and .17; Temper display, .10 and .07; Conduct prognosis bad, .10 and -.08; Stuttering, .10 (boys); Question of encephalitis, .10 and .11; Vocational guidance, .10 and -.10; Sullen, .09 and .17; Temper tantrums, .09 and .16; Gang, .08 (boys); Dlstractlble, .08 and .05; Grouped: temper, etc., .08 and .09; disobedient, .07 and .04; Irritable, .07 and .02] Sex denied en- tirely, .07 and .11; Poor work in school, .07 and .07; Immoral home conditions, .07 and .15; Grouped: swearing, etc., .07 and .15; Bad companions, .06 and .11; Refusal to attend school, .06 and .19; Smoking, .06 (boys); Contrary, .05 and .01; Threatening violence, .05 (boys); Restless in sleep, .05 and .Ik; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .05 and -.05; Overlnterest in opposite sex, .05 (girls); In- corrigible, .04 and .09; Quarrelsome, .0^ and .16; Truancy from home, .Ok and .05; Vicious home conditions, .0*4- and -.00; Swearing (general), .03 (boys); Vi- olence, .02 and .14; Destructive, .01 and .11; Loitering, .01 and -.13; Slovenly, .01 and .06; Truancy from school, .01 and .16; Follower, .01 and .06; Overeug- gestible, .01 and .02; Disturbing influence in school, -.00 and .10; Inatten- tive in school, -.00 and .09; Fantastical lying, -.01 and .12; Excuse -forming, -.01 and .14; Exclusion from school, -.01 and .11; Irregular attendance at school, -.01 and .04; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.02; Lues, -.04 and .02; Fighting, -.05 and .11; Brother In penal detention, -.08 and .04; Feeble-minded sibling, -.13 and -.19; Question of hypophrenia, -.16 and -.08
Omitted — Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc.
fighting, stealing, lying, leading others into bad conduct, and neurological defect (unspecified).
Only one "statistically significant" negative coefficient was found, retardation in school, with values of -.14 and -.28 + .04 for boys and girls respectively.
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS 157
Boys appeared to be somewhat sensitive over enureais (pres- ent or former), the tetrachoric j? being .22 4- .05, "but seemingly do not worry about it. It does not appear to be associated with sensitiveness in general, however. Our girls seemed quite uncon- cerned over bed-wetting, though it was noted among 21 per cent of them.
Among the sex notations, two showed moderate correlations in the .20 '3 among both sexes: masturbation and over interest in sex matters. For victim of sex abuse by older person the correla- tion of .18 (calculated for girls only) may be suggestive but is scarcely "statistically significant" upon our small number of cases. For sex delinquency (coitus), over interest in opposite sex (calcu- lated for girls only), and sex misbehavior denied entirely, the correlations were of negligible size though positive in sign.
Although a great variety of conditions in the child's life served as sources of its concern or sensitiveness ( vide supra ) , in many instances the presence of such conditions seemed only slightly associated with sensitiveness over some specific fact, e.g., poor work in school, exclusion from school, underweight condition, speech defect, stuttering (calculated for boys only), police ar- rest, immoral home conditions, vicious home conditions, brother in penal detention, and discord between parents. Some tendency toward a moderate association was shown by the following potential sources (with their respective coefficients for boys and girls): neurological defect (unspecified) (.10 and .2~5 + .05), misdeeds as measured by conduct- total (.19 ± .02 and .27 + .03), and unpopu- larity (.09 and .20 + .07).
Among boys the significant correlations with sensitiveness over some specific fact or episode were found only in the case of personality difficulties, but among girls there were also a number of moderate correlations with conduct problems as well as with per- sonality problems.
Worry over some specific fact or episode was noted slightly more often among our boys than among the girls, the percentages of incidence being 4.7 and j3»4 respectively. The usual sources of this worrisomeness were, in order of frequency: sex misbehavior (masturbation, homosexual behavior, sexual Intercourse, illegiti- mate pregnancy), physical deficiencies (poor health, short stature,
158 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
etc., unattractive personal appearance and poor complexion), poor health or Insanity of parent, foster- parent, or guardian, race or nativity, religion, low intelligence, memory defect, deafness or
hearing defect, "feelings of guilt," "castration complex," and
o
"stool hypochondriasis. " Like sensitiveness in general and sen- sitiveness over some specific fact, it showed many substantial cor- relations with other personality problems among both sexes and among girls with a number of conduct problems also. It should be considered a significant symptom from a clinical standpoint. With police arrest, however, its associations were practically zero.
The highest correlations for worry over some specific fact or episode (Table 17) were with mental conflict, the coefficients being .49 4- .06 and .50 + .09 for boys and girls respectively. Other substantial correlations ranging from .33 to .44 for either sex were for psychoneurotic trends, depressed spells or unhappi- ness (undif ferentiated), inferiority feelings, and among girls overinterest in sex matters, masturbation, seclusiveness, and clean habits .
Seven notations showing moderate correlations in the .20's for both sexes were sensitiveness (general), sensitiveness over specific fact, crying spells, "nervousness" or restlessness (un- dif ferentiated), irregular sleep habits, daydreaming, and attrac- tive manner. A few notations showed moderate correlations in the .2Q'a for boys but negligible correlations for the girls: appre- hensiveness, bashfulness, object of teasing by other children, vi- cious home conditions, and (calculated for boys only) teasing other children. Seventeen personality and conduct difficulties showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .3^- among our girls but lesser or even negligible correlations among the boys: truancy from school, exclusion from school, associating with bad companions, violence, destructiveness, stubbornness, defiant attitude, leading others into bad conduct, sulk! ness, bossy manner, unpopularity , hatred or jealousy of sibling, changeable moods, question of change of personality, queer behavior, distractibility, and finicky food habits. Similar differences between the boys' and girls' cases were shown for headaches, neurological defect, and question of en- cephalitis . Preference for younger children as playmates showed
. I, Tables 1 and 2, Items 90, 129, 134, 139, and 144.
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS
TABLE 17 CORRELATIONS WITH "WORRY OVER SPECIFIC FACT"
159
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.37 + .03 |
.37 4- .04 |
|
.11 + .03 |
.32 4- .05 |
|
|
Police arrest |
.06 + .04 |
.00 4- .07 |
|
Larger Corr |
elations (Positive) |
|
|
Mental conflict |
.49 + .06 |
.50 4- .09 (1)* |
|
Pay choneur otic |
.44 + .06 |
.37 4- .09 (4-5) |
|
.41 + .05 |
.43 4- .08 (2) |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.37 + .05 |
.35 4- .07 (7) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.35 + .07 |
.33 4- .09 (10-11) |
|
"Nervous" |
.29 + .04 |
.15 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.29 + .05 |
.28 i- .08 (16) |
|
Masturbation |
.28 4- .04 |
.33 + .07 (10-11) |
|
Over Interest in sex matters |
.27 -f .07 |
.40 + .08 (3) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.27 + .05 |
.27 4- .07 (17-21) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.26 4- .07 |
-.17 |
|
Teasing other children |
.25 + .05 |
|
|
Attractive manner |
.25 4- .05 |
.20 4- .07 (36-38) |
|
Seclusive |
.2k 4- .05 |
.37 4- .07 (4-5) |
|
Clean |
.24 ± .05 |
.34 4- .07 (8-9) |
|
Grouped: "nervous > " etc |
.24 4- .04 |
.27 4- .06 (17-21) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.22 + .06 |
.22 4- .09 (27-32) |
|
Crying spells |
.21 4- .04 |
.26 t .06 (22-24) |
|
Apprehensive |
.20 4- .05 |
.09 |
|
Bashful |
20 4- 03 |
-.10 |
|
Daydreaming. |
.20 f '05 |
.22 4- .08 (27-32) |
|
Object of teasing |
.20 4- .04 |
.09 |
|
Headaches , |
.07 |
.36 t .08 (6) |
|
Distract Ible |
.04 |
.34 4- .07 (8-9) |
|
Bos sy |
.14 |
.32 4- .08 (12) |
|
-.11 |
.30 t .10 (13-14) |
|
|
- 01 |
.30 4- 07 (13-14) |
|
|
Restless |
.15 |
.29 4- .06 (15) |
|
Stubborn |
-.04 |
.27 t .06 (17-21) |
|
Truancy from school |
-.13 |
.27 4- .07 (17-21) |
|
Unpopular |
.17 |
.27 4- .10 (17-21) |
|
Neurological defect |
.16 |
.26 4- .08 (22-24) |
|
Exclusion from school |
-.12 |
.26 4- .09 (22-24) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.05 |
.24 ± .10 (25) |
|
Changeable moods |
.07 |
.23 4- .07 (26) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.02 |
.22 + .11 (27-32) |
|
LeacHng rvh)iei»p Intn hafl conflict , T , r , T . .... T ... |
,05 |
.22 t .10 (27-32) |
|
Defiant |
-.04 |
.22 4- .08 (27-32) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.05 |
.21 t .08 (33-35) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.19 |
.21 + .09 (33-35) |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
160
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 17— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Violence |
.04 .04 .Ik |
.21 + .09 (33-35) .20 + .09 (36-38) .20 + .09 (36-38) |
|
Queer |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
Retardation in school |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.36 -i- .04 -.24 + .06 -.23 + .04 -.17 " -.08 .13 .05 |
-.34 + .05 .22 + .08 (27-32) -.10 " -.26 + .08 -.26 + .08 -.25 + .08 -.20 £ .09 |
|
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Question of hypophrenia |
||
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Listless |
||
|
Popular |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
.01 |
(n.c.) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .19 and .11; Egocentric., .19 and .18; Grouped: ego- centric, etc., .19 and .15; Sex delinquency (coitus), .18 and .15; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .18 (boys); Irritable, .17 and .17; Rest- less in sleep, .17 and .12; Discord between parents, .17 and .05; Absent-minded, .16 and .11; Emotional instability, .16 and .14; Spoiled child, .16 and .19; Unhappy, .16 and -.04; Boastful, "show-off," .15 and .11; Lack of initiative, .15 and -.15; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .14 and .16; Selfish, .14 and .12; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .14 and .10; Inattentive in school, .14 and .18; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .13 and -.17; Victim of sex abuse, .13 (girls); Grouped: temper, etc., .12 and .17; Nail-biting, .11 and .16; Refusal to attend school, .10 and .03; Temper display, .10 and .03; Excuse- forming, .10 and .04; Grouped: swearing, etc., .10 and .19; Contrary, .09 and .03; Enuresis, .09 and .09; Quarrelsome, .09 and -.01; Leader, .09 and .05; Im- moral home conditions, .09 and -.05; Overinterest in opposite sex, .09 (girls); Lack of interest in school, .08 and .01; Follower, .07 and -.04; Poor work in school, .07 and -.03; Irregular attendance at school, .07 and .15; Underweight, .06 and .16; lying, .05 and .12; Rude, .05 and .07; Slow, dull, .05 and .07; Repressed, .05 and .18; Former convulsions, .05 and .03; Smoking, .04 (boys); Grouped: fighting, etc., .04 and .07; Disobedient, .03 and .13; Disturbing in- fluence in school, -.00 and .17; Threatening violence, -.00 (boys); Fighting, -.01 and .J.O; Loitering, -.01 and .16; Vocational guidance, -.01 and .13; Steal- ing, -.03 and .10; Sullen, -.03 and -.04; Conduct prognosis bad, -.03 and -.00; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.03 and .10; Incorrigible, -.04 and .03; Sex de- nied entirely, -.04 and -.09; Lues, -.04 and .01; Lazy, -.05 and -.00; Slovenly, -.05 and .02; Over suggestible, -.05 and .15; Temper tantrums, -.07 and .11; Speech defect, -.07 and .09; Gang, -.08 (boye)j Truancy from home, -.10 and -.02; Swearing (general), -.11 (boys); Stuttering, -.15 (boys); Staying out late at night, -.16 and .02
Omitted — Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc.
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS
161
the small positive correlation of .22 + .09 among girls but the negative correlation of -.24 ± .06 among boys.
There were several significant negative correlations. Re- tardationin school among both sexes yielded the substantial neg- ative correlations of -.36 + .04 and -.34 + .05 among boys and girls respectively. Question of hypophrenia showed negative cor- relations of -.23 + .04 and -.10 for boys and girls respectively. The four notations brother in penal detention, feeble-minded sib- ling, listlessness, and popularity showed moderate negative corre- lations ranging from -.20 to -.26 among girls but lesser or negli- gible correlations among boys.
Sex difficulties appear to be slightly associated with worry over some specific fact or episode.
When the children with one or more notations of sensitive- ness (general), sensitiveness over some specific fact, and worry over some specific fact (together with a handful of cases in which the notation of worrisomeness in general occurred too infrequently to justify separate statistical treatment) were combined into one group, there were 490 boys and 255 girls so described. The corre- lations for sensitiveness or worrisomeness (thus undif ferentiated), as shown in Table 18, were usually larger than the corresponding
TABLE 18 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: SENSITIVE OR WORRISOME, ETC."
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.43 + .02 .16 + .02 .02 I .03 |
.50 -I- .02 .28 + .03 -.02 + .04 |
|
Police arrest , |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.52 + .03 .49 + .03 .44 + .03 .44 + .03 .40 + .03 .39 + .04 |
.49 + .05 (3-4)* .50 + .05 (1-2) .50 + .04 (1-2) .4? + .04 (5) .49 + .03 (3-4) .35 + .05 (7) |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Psychoneurotic |
||
Rank order of girle1 correlations.
162
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 18— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.36 + .o4 |
.32 ± .05 (10-13) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.21 t .05 (33-37) |
|
|
.27 + .04 |
.29 + .05 (16-17) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.21 t -04 (33-37) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.31 4- .05 (14) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.37 4- .05 (6) |
|
|
.27 4- .03 |
.28 + .05 (18-20) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.28 t -04 (18-20) |
|
|
.25 4- .02 |
.32 + .03 (10-13) |
|
|
.25 ± .03 |
.28 i .04 (18-20) |
|
|
.25 4- .03 |
.17 |
|
|
.24 + .03 |
.22 4- .04 (28-32) |
|
|
Lack of initiative . |
.24 + .04 |
-.01 |
|
.23 4- .03 |
.33 4- .04 (9) |
|
|
.22 4- .03 |
.19 |
|
|
.21 + .04 |
.21 + .05 (33-37) |
|
|
.20 4- .04 |
.34 4- .05 (8) |
|
|
20 4- 04 |
||
|
.19 |
.32 4- .05 (10-13) |
|
|
.11 |
.32 4- .05 (10-13) |
|
|
.16 |
.30 4- .05 (15) |
|
|
.17 |
.29 ± .10 (16-17) |
|
|
.18 |
.25 + .05 (21-22) |
|
|
.09 |
.25 4- .05 (21-22) |
|
|
.17 |
.24 + .05 (23) |
|
|
.10 |
.23 + .05 (24-27) |
|
|
-.02 |
.23 4- .06 (24-27) |
|
|
.16 |
.23 + .05 (24-27) |
|
|
.14 |
.23 + .05 (24-27) |
|
|
.11 |
.22 4- .04 (28-32) |
|
|
Defiant |
.04 |
.22 t .05 (28-32) |
|
.15 |
.22 + .04 (28-32) |
|
|
.01 |
.22 4- .05 (28-32) |
|
|
.09 |
.21 + .04 (33-37) |
|
|
.17 |
.21 + .04 (33-37) |
|
|
.03 |
.20 4- .04 (38-41) |
|
|
-.05 |
.20 4- .04 (38-41) |
|
|
.02 |
.20 4- .05 (38-41) |
|
|
.15 |
.20 4- .04 (38-41) |
|
|
„ |
Larger Corre |
>latlons (Negatlye) |
|
-.17 |
-.28 4- .03 |
|
|
-.16 |
-.21 ± .05 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Enuresls, .19 and .13; Speech defect, .18 and .11; Apprehensive, .18 and .12; Popular, .18 and .06; Lack of Interest in school, .17 and .16; Irri- table, .16 and .13; Stubborn, .15 and .19; Lazy, .15 and .01; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .14 and .12; Grouped: temper, etc., .14 and .18;
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS 163
TABLE 18—Contirmed
Boastful, "show-off," .Ik and .19; Listless, .13 and -.03; Nail-biting, .13 and .19; Discord between parents, .13 and .05; Absent-minded, .12 and .18; Stutter- ing, .12 (boys); Sex delinquency (cpltus), .11 and -.01; Teasing other chil- dren, .11 (boys); Grouped: disobedient, etc., .11 and .10; Vocational guid- ance, .10 and .03; Question of encephalitis, .10 and .15; Fantastical lying, .10 and .18; Itfing, .10 and .18; Temper tantrums, .10 and .17; Victim of sex abuse, .10 (girls); Dlstractlble, .09 and .15; Quarrelsome, .09 and .1?; Vi- cious home conditions, .08 and -.05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .08 and -.02; Disobedient, .08 and .06; Rude, .08 and .10; Leader, .07 and .10; Follower, .07 and .03; Poor work in school, .07 and .10; Contrary, .06 and .12; Stealing, .06 and .11; Temper display, .06 and .10; Sex denied entirely, .06 and .06; Over- interest in opposite sex, .06 (girls); Conduct prognosis bad, .05 and -.07; Smok- ing, .05 (boys); Immoral home conditions, .05 and .07; Underweight, .Oh and .06; Former convulsions, .Ok and .0^-; Inattentive in school, .0^ and .06; Refusal to attend school, .04 and .15; Grouped: swearing, etc., .03 and .09; Irregular at- tendance at school, .03 and .05; Gang, .02 (boys); Slovenly, .02 and .07; Vio- lence, .02 and .Ik; Over suggestible, .02 and .08; Threatening violence, .01 (boys); Staying out late at night, .01 and .01; Disturbing influence in school, .01 and .17; Lues, .01 and -.01; Bad companions, .00 and .16; Loitering, -.00 and -.Ok; Incorrigible, -.01 and .01; Swearing (general), -.01 (boys); Slow, dull, -.01 and -.01; Destructive, -.02 and .16; Fighting, -.03 and .15; Truancy from home, -.Ok and -.02; Irresponsible, -.05 and .13; Exclusion from school, -.06 and .13; Brother in penal detention, -.1^ and -.06; Question of hypophrenla, -.15 and -.09
Omitted — Sensitive (general); Sensitive over specific fact; Worry over specific fact
correlations for each of the three traits when considered sepa- rately. This fact, together with the tendency for high interrela- tion among these three notations, indicates their close similarity.
The bi-serial correlations with the personality- total for both boys and girls were relatively high, .43 + .02 and .50 j- .02 respectively. For the conduct- total the correlation for girls was substantial, .28 -f .03, but relatively low among the boys, .16 -f
02. Their significance from a clinical standpoint is thus estab- lished, but from the sheer standpoint of "juvenile delinquency" their importance Is slight in view of their generally negligible correlations with police arrest.
The highest correlations for sensitiveness or worrlsomeness (undifferentlated) were for mental conflict, inferiority feelings, depressed spells or unhappiness (undifferentlated), and crying spells, with correlations ranging from .52 + .03 down to .40 4- .03. Psychoneurotic trends yielded substantial correlations of .39 + .04 and .35 ± -05 for boys and girls respectively. The following five personality traits showed correlations ranging from .30 to .37
164 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
among girls, and coefficients in the ,20's for boys: object of teasing by other children, hatred or jealousy of sibling, change- able moods, "nervousness" or vorrisomeness (undlfferentlated), and daydreaming. In addition, three notations, bossy manner, emotional instability, and sulkiness, yielded tetrachoric correlations rang- ing from .30 to .32 among girls but among boys lover correlations ranging from .11 to .19.
The following personality notations shoved moderate corre- lations in the .20's for both boys and girls: masturbation, over- interest in sex matters, seclusiveness, bashfulness, inefficiency in vork, play, etc., clean habits, "spoiled child," and (calculated for boys only) complaining of bad treatment by other children. The three notations flnlcky_food habits, lack of initiative, and at- tractive manner among boys shoved moderate correlations of .22 to .25 but lover or negligible correlations among girls. The follov- ing seventeen personality, conduct, and other notations among our girls shoved moderate correlations in the .20's but lov or negli- gible correlations among the boys: repressed manner, queer behav- ior, sullenness, question of change of personality, egocentricity, selfishness, defiant attitude, fighting or quarrelsomeness (undif- ferentiated), truancy from school, leading others into bad conduct, excuse- forming attitude, restlessness, irregular sleep habits, restlessness in sleep, preference for younger children as play- mates, headaches, and neurological defect (unspecified).
Tvo notations shoved significant negative correlations among girls: retardation in school (-.28 -f .03) and feeble-minded sibling (-.21 Hh .05). the corresponding coefficients for boys also being negative (-.17 and -.16 respectively).
Among the six sex notations studied, only tvo — masturbation and overinterest in sex matters — shoved significant correlations vith sensitiveness or vorrisomeness (undlfferentiated). The cor- relations for sex delinquency (coitus), sex misbehavior denied en- tirely, and the tvo notations vhich vere calculated for girls only — victim of sex abuse and overinterest in opposite sex — shoved neg- ligible correlations of positive sign.
Physical or constitutional defects such as underveight con- dition, speech defect and stuttering, former convulsions, lues, question of encephalitis, and enuresis shoved only moderate or lov positive correlations, vhile neurological defect (unspecified)
SENSITIVENESS AND WORRISOMENESS 165
among girls showed the moderate positive correlation of .23 + .05.
Unfavorable home conditions such as discord between parents, vicious or immoral home conditions, and brother in penal detention shoved negligible association with sensitiveness or worrisomeness ( undif f erentiated ) .
CHAPTER XVI BASHFULNESS AND APPREHENSIVENESS
The case notations of bashfulness and apprehensiveness ap- peared from the data of this chapter to be of quite minor clinical importance as far as our three criteria of "seriousness" are con- cerned. In fact, among girls the negative tetrachorlc correlation of -.28 + .04 indicates that bashful girls are less likely to be involved in "juvenile delinquency" than their less bashful sisters.
Bashfulness, shyness, or becoming embarrassed easily, etc, , was a frequently appearing item among our cases. It was noted among J516 of our 2,113 White boys and among 218 of our I,l8l White girls, the respective percentages being 15.0 and 18.5.
Its highest correlations were of barely substantial size in the . 30's: inferiority feelings and seclusiveness among girls and apprehensiveness among boys, the corresponding coefficients for the other sex being of moderate size in the .20's (Table 19).
TABLE 19 CORRELATIONS WITH "BASHFUL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||||
|
Personality-total .. |
• 15 + |
02 |
.05 |
+ |
.05 |
|
Conduct -total |
-.02 + |
.02 |
-.07 |
•4- |
.05 |
|
Police arrest |
-.05 + |
.05 |
-.28 |
+ |
.Ok |
|
Larger |
Corr |
elatlc |
Dns |
(Positive) |
|
|
ApprehenaiTe |
.50 + |
.05 |
.26 |
+ |
.04 (5)* |
|
Lack of Initiative |
.29 + |
04 |
.19 |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.29 + |
.05 |
.22 |
+ |
.Ok (5-6) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome ^ etc |
.27 + |
.05 |
.21 |
4. |
.Ok (7) |
|
Seclusive |
.25 + |
.05 |
.51 |
4- |
.05 (2) |
|
Follower |
.22 + |
04 |
.25 |
4- |
.05 (k) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
166
BASHFULNESS AND APPREHENSIVENESS TABLE 19— Continued
167
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Inferiority feelings » ; |
.21 + .05 |
.32 + .06 (1) |
|
Listless |
.21 t -O1^ |
.04 |
|
Crying spells |
.21 4- .03 |
.22 + .04 (5-6) |
|
Worry OTer specific fact |
.20-1- .03 |
-.10 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.19 |
.20 4- .05 (8) |
|
Larger Corr |
elationa (Negative) |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
-.20 + .04 |
.06 |
|
"Ear^lupi^Ti from 8Chnr>l, t ....................... |
-.20 + .04 |
-.13 |
|
-.10 |
-.22 + .0? |
|
|
Bade |
-.05 |
-.20 -»- .04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Queer, .19 and .07; Underweight, .19 and .16; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .18 and .14; Preference for younger children, .18 and .08; Vocational guidance, .16 and .09; Spoiled child, .16 and -.05; Unpopular, .16 and -.08; Irritable, .16 and .08; Lazy, .16 and -.07; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .15 and .04; Clean, .15 and .03; Speech defect, .15 and .02; Restless in sleep, .14 and .08; Daydreaming, .14 and .16; Teasing other children, .14 (boys); Re- pressed, .13 and .14; Grouped: depressed, etc., .13 and .12; Unhappy, .12 and .08; Stubborn, .12 and -.03; Feeble-minded sibling, .12 and .02; Selfish, .11 and .11; Depressed, .11 and .14; "Nervous," .11 and .10; Mental conflict, .11 and .06; Poor work in school, .11 and .06; Neurological defect, .11 and .05; Slow, dull, .10 and .07; Lack of interest in school, .09 and .05; Grouped: "nervous,11 etc., .09 and .08; Over suggestible, .08 and .00; Absent-minded, .08 and -.03; Masturbation, .08 and -.07; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .08 and .02; Finicky food habits, .07 and .14; Question of change of personality, .07 and -.03; Distractible, .07 and -.04; Question of hypophrenla, .07 and .10; Headaches, .07 and .02; Discord between parents, .07 and .11; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .06 and .04; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and .00; Im- moral home conditions, .06 and -.04; Stuttering, .06 (boys); Object of teasing, .06 and .07; Sulky, .06 and .06; Enuresis, .05 and .02; Conduct prognosis bad, .05 and -.07; Popular, .05 and .06; Vicious home conditions, .04 and -.05; Changeable moods, .04 and .07; Nail-biting, .04 and .01; Bossy, .04 and -.04; Sullen, .03 and -.05; Leader, .03 and -.08; Irregular attendance at school, .02 and -.06; Lues, .02 and .13; Attractive manner, .02 and .10; Inattentive in school, .02 and -.02; Irresponsible, .01 and -.03; Slovenly, .01 and .03; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .01 and -.03; Psychoneurotic, .00 and .16; Quarrel- some, .00 and -.03; Refusal to attend school, .00 and .00; Temper display, -.00 and .04; Leading others into bad conduct, -.01 and .04; Excuse -forming, -.02 and -.07; Egocentric, -.02 and -.10; Former convulsions, -.03 and .03; Com- plaining of bad treatment by other children, -.03 (boys); Temper tantrums, -.03 and -.12; Fantastical lying, -.03 and -.03; Boastful, "show-off," -.03 and .11; Destructive, -.04 and -.04; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.04 and -.08; Retar- dation in school, -.05 and -.05; Restless, -.05 and -.05; Overinterest in sex matters, -.05 and .07; Threatening violence, -.05 (boys); Victim of sex abuse, -.05 (girls); Contrary, -.05 and -.09; Loitering, -.06 and -.18; Lying, -.06 and -.09; Brother in penal detention, -.06 and .04; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.07 and -.11; Bad companions, -.07 and -.11; Swearing (general), -.08 (boys); Emotional instability, -.08 and -.04; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and -.19;
168 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 19— Continued
Stealing, -.09 and -.13; Defiant , -.09 and .06; Over interest in opposite sex, -.09 (girls); Incorrigible, -.10 and -.17; Staying out late at night, -.10 and -.13; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.10 and -.07; Violence, -.11 and .01; Disturb- ing influence in school, -.12 and -.06; Fighting, -.12 and -.11; Gang, -.12 (boys); Sex denied entirely, -.13 and -.07; Truancy from home, -.13 and .19; Disobedient, -.13 and -.06; Truancy from school, -.14 and -.04; Smoking, -.18 (boys)
The following personality problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes: sensitiveness or worrisomeness (espe- cially sensitiveness over specific fact), "follower, " and crying spells. The three notations lack of initiative, listlessness, and worry over specific fact also showed moderate tetrachoric correla- tions in the .20's among boys but lesser or negligible correlations among girls.
Several minor negative correlations ranging from -.20 to -.22 were found: among boys for irregular sleep habits and exclu- sion from school and among girls for question of encephalitis and rudeness .
Among the six sex correlations the only one of probable significant size was the interesting negative one of -.19 + .04 with sex delinquency (coitus) among girls, all other coefficients in this field being negligible.
It will be noted that whatever correlations existed with bashfulness were almost entirely confined to personality difficul- ties. Conduct problems showed only a negligible relationship.
A similar personality problem, apprehensiveness , which oc- curred in 322 of our boys and in 149 of our girls, showed a ten- dency for slightly larger correlation with other traits. Its high- est correlations, as shown in Table 20, among both boys and girls were with bashfulness, crying spells, and "nervousness. " The fol- lowing nine notations showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .26 among boys but lesser or negligible correlations among girls: psychoneurotic trends, queer behavior, seclualveness, re- pressed manner, worry over some specific fact, oversuggestibllity, sulkiness, headaches, and (computed for boys only) teasing other children. The following behavior difficulties yielded moderate correlations ranging from .30 down to .20 among girls but less than
BASHFULNESS AND APPREHENSIVENESS
TABLE 20 CORRELATIONS WITH "APPREHENSIVE"
169
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.19 + .02 |
.16 ± .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.09 + .02 |
.16 4- .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.14 4- .03 |
.13 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Bashful |
.30 4- .03 |
.26 4- .04 (5-6)* |
|
Sulky |
.26 + .o4 |
-.06 |
|
Psychoneurotlc . ............................... |
.26 + .05 |
.08 |
|
Queer |
.25 + ,o4 |
.13 |
|
Crying spells |
.2k + .03 |
.33 4- .04 (2) |
|
"Nervous" |
.22 + .05 |
.36 4- .04 (1) |
|
Teasing other children |
.21 4- .04 |
|
|
Over suggestible |
.21 + .03 |
.13 |
|
.21 4- .04 |
.14 |
|
|
Repressed |
.21 4- .04 |
.19 |
|
21 4- .04 |
-.14 |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
.20 4- .05 |
.09 |
|
Irregular sleep habits .. |
.01 |
• 30 ± .06 (3) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.11 |
.28 + .06 (4) |
|
Unhappy |
.10 |
.26 4- .06 (5-6) |
|
VI rvh-lTn nf pf*y je\hiiRfi ........................... |
.25 ± .05 (7-8) |
|
|
Restless In sleep |
.13 |
.25 t -05 (7-8) |
|
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc |
.01 |
.22 4- .05 (9) |
|
-.00 |
.21 4- .05 (10) |
|
|
Bossy |
.05 |
.20 4- .06 (11-15) |
|
Unpopular |
.11 |
.20 + .07 (11-15) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.17 |
.20 4- .06 (11-15) |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
.15 |
.20 4- .04 (11-15) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.01 |
.20 t -06 (H-15) |
*Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .18 and .12; Absent-minded, .18 and .05; Overinterest In sex matters, .16 and .03; Refusal to attend school, .16 and .19; Contrary, .15 and .08; Excuse-forming, .15 and .04; Sensitive (gen- eral), .15 and .05; Vocational guidance, .15 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .15 and .03; Former convulsions, .14 and .03; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .14 (boys); Sensitive over specific fact, .14 and .07; Object of teasing, .14 and .14; Lack of initiative, .14 and -.02; Changeable moods, .14 and .17; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .14 and .16; Violence, .14 and .13; Neurological defect, .13 and .14; Question of hypophrenia, .12 and .10; Prefer- ence for younger children, .12 and .04; Listless, .12 and -.10; Bad companions, .11 and .13; Irritable, .11 and -.02; Follower, .11 and .12; Grouped: depressed, etc., .10 and .18; Sex denied entirely,. 10 and -.10; Spoiled child, .10 and .09;
170 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 20— -Continued
Slow, dull, .10 and .08; Finicky food habits, .10 and .11; Nail-biting, .09 and .15; Masturbation, .09 and .10; Conduct prognosis bad, .09 and -.02; Attractive manner, .09 and -.02; Irregular attendance at school, .09 and -.03; Grouped: temper, etc., .09 and .08; Speech defect, .08 and -.06; Emotional instability, .08 and .16; Depressed, .08 and .09; Staying out late at night, .08 and .1?; Destructive, .08 and .09; Daydreaming, .07 and .05; Poor work in school, .07 and .12; Underweight, .07 and .10; Clean, .06 and .11; Temper display, .06 and .02; Swearing (general), .06 (boys); Enuresis, ,06 and .07; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .05 and .12; Irresponsible, .05 and .05; Rude, .05 and .14; Slov- enly, .05 and .08; Truancy from school, .05 and .19; Mental conflict, .05 and .18; Grouped: fighting, etc., .Ok and .10; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .04 and .11; Retardation in school, .Ok 'and -.04; Sullen, .04 and .10; Lazy, .04 and -.02; Inattentive in school, .03 and .13; Gang, .03 (boys); Temper tantrums, .03 and .17; Stuttering, .03 (boys); Loitering, .02 and .06; Boastful, "show- off," .02 and .18; Smoking, .01 (boys); Stubborn, .01 and -.01; Exclusion from school, .01 and .05; Discord between parents, .01 and .03; Vicious home condi- tions, .01 and .19; Popular, .00 and .12; Lues, -.00 and -.10; Restless, -.00 and .14; Overlnterest in opposite sex, -.00 (girls); Fighting, -.01 and .06; ly- ing, -.01 and .12; Immoral home conditions, -.01 and -.06; Stealing, -.02 and .13; Incorrigible, -.02 and .08; Fantastical lying, -.02 and .08; Disturbing influence In school, -.02 and .19; Defiant, -.03 and .19; Threatening violence, -.03 (boys); Question of encephalitis, -.03 and .16; Brother in penal detention, -.03 and -.11; Truancy from home, -.05 and .14; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.05 and -.00; Leading others into bad conduct, -.06 and .14; Disobedient, -.08 and .06; Quarrelsome, -.08 and .08; Distractlble, -.08 and .18; Selfish, -.09 and .09; Egocentric, -.10 and -.05; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.10 and .01; Lead- er, -.11 and -.02; Feeble-minded sibling, -.14 and .11
.20 among boys: question of change of personality, unhappiness, irregular sleep habits, restlessness in sleep, lack of interest or inattentiveness in school (undlf ferentiated) , inferiority feelings, unpopularity, "nervousness" or restlessness (undif ferentiated) , swearing or bad language (undlf ferentiated), bossy manner, and (computed for girls only) victim of sex abuse.
No significant negative correlations were found.
Sex notations, with the lone exception of victim of sex abuse, showed negligible correlations.
Apprehensiveness , like baahfulnesa, we may note In conclu- sion, showed a few moderate correlations with personality problems but almost no association with conduct problems.
CHAPTER
STAFF NOTATIONS OF "INFERIORITY FEELINGS11 AND "MENTAL CONFLICT"
The staff notations of inferiority feelings and mental con- flict were among the most frequent of "diagnostic terms" employed in the clinical examination of our children. Among "boys these two personality problems appeared to be fairly closely associated, as one may infer from their tetrachoric correlation of . 53 + .04; but among girls the association appeared to be only moderate, the cor- relation being .20 ± .09. Both should be considered as relatively serious behavior problems from a clinical standpoint and in view of their substantial to high bi-serlal correlations of .35 to .59 with the personality- total and their lesser though significant cor- relations of .25 to .40 with the conduct-total . From the stand- point of "juvenile delinquency," however, thelr^ importance appeared to be almost negligible, since the tetrachoric coefficients ranged only from -.02 to .16 with the fact of a police arrest or deten- tion.
Staff notation or question of "inferiority" feeling or "complex, " or feeling of inadequacy was found among 202 of our 2,113 White boys and 62 of our I,l8l White girls, the respective percentages being 9.6 and 5.2. Its incidence among boys is thus seen to be definitely larger than among girls.
Its highest correlation (Table 21) was .53 + .0^ among boys with mental conflict, in contrast with its scarcely significant cor- relation of .20 Hh .09 among girls. Its other high correlations were for sensitiveness or worri sameness (undif ferentiated) and for sensitiveness over some specific fact with tetrachoric coefficients of .49 or .50. Unhappy appearance or manner among boys was asso- ciated to the very substantial extent of .43 + .05 with inferiority feelings, but the coefficient of .25 + .08 among girls was of only moderate significance. \
171
172
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 21 CORRELATIONS WITH "INFERIORITY MELINGS"
|
Boys |
G5rls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.43 + 02 |
5Q 4 05 |
|
Conduct -total |
.26 4 02 |
25 4 Ok |
|
Police arrest |
. 04 + . 04 |
- 02 4 06 |
|
Larger Corr |
Blationa (Positive) |
|
|
Mental conflict |
.53 4- Ok |
20 4 OQ (57-4o}* |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.49 +. .03 |
.50 4 .05 (1-2) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.49 + .03 |
.50 4 05 (1-2) |
|
Unhappy |
ii^ 4. 05 |
25 4 08 (21-24) |
|
Object of teasing |
38 4 03 |
50 4 07 (12} |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
37 4 o4 |
58 4 06 ( 7} |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
56 4- os |
k~*> 4 08 ik-*)} |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.35 + 07 |
55 4 OQ (Q] |
|
Daydreaming |
31 4 04 |
57 4 07 f8} |
|
Unpopular . |
PQ Z 05 |
?Q 4- OR ^15-TS^ |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.28 4 .04 |
28 4 08 (16-19) |
|
Queer |
27 4 05 |
28 4 08 (16-19) |
|
Lazy |
27 4 04 |
Ok |
|
Spoiled child |
26 4 ok |
17 |
|
Bossy |
.25 4 05 |
OQ |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.25 4- .05 |
|
|
Sensitive (general) |
.2k 4 Ok |
45 4 07 (4-5} |
|
Psychoneurotic |
2k 4- 06 |
16 |
|
Depressed |
2k 4- 05 |
5Q -4- Ofl (£>} |
|
Masturbation |
2k 4- 03 |
H |
|
Rude |
23 4- Ok |
17 |
|
Secluslve |
23 4- Ok |
48 4 06 (3) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.22 4- 05 |
16 |
|
Bashful |
21 4 05 |
32 4 06 (10-11) |
|
Temper display |
20 4 Ok |
OQ |
|
Swearing (general) |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
20 4 Ok |
21 4- Ofi ( 54-56^ |
|
loring |
20 4 03 |
20 4 05 (57-4O} |
|
"Nervous" |
17 |
32 4 06 ( 10-11) |
|
Fighting -. |
.11 |
2Q 4 04 (15-15} |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
05 |
2Q 4 Ofi (15-15} |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc . |
19 |
P8 4 O5 (16-1Q} |
|
Restless in sleep |
07 |
28 4 06 ( 16-19 ) |
|
Crying spells |
.19 |
26 4 05 (20) |
|
Defiant |
10 |
P5 4 O7 (P1-P4} |
|
Irritable |
12 |
PS 4- O6 (PI -PM |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.17 |
P5 4 O5 (Pl-Pk} |
|
Restless |
16 |
?4 -4- O^ /P5-Pft} |
|
Changeable moods |
11 |
2k 4- Ofi (PS-Pft} |
|
Absent-minded |
.19 |
24 4 08 (25-28) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.08 |
24 4 08 (25-28) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
STAFF NOTATIONS OF "INFERIORITY FEELINGS" TABLE 21— Continued
173
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Poor work In school f |
.17 .18 .06 .16 • 15 .12 .17 .17 .11 |
.23 ± .05 (29) .22 ± .05 (30-33) .22 ± .07 (30-33) .22 + .07 (30-33) .22 + .08 (30-33) .21 ± .07 (3^-36) .21 ± .09 (3^-36) .20 + .06 (37-^0) .20 ± .07 (37-^0) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Distract Ible |
||
|
Overinterest In nft-y -rriat.t.ft-rn ...... t ... T .., T T t T T , |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Repressed |
||
|
Apprehensive |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.09 .05 .01 -.11 |
-.33 ± .07 -.27 ± .08 -.24 ± .08 -.21 t .05 |
|
|
Vicious home conditions |
||
|
Loitering |
||
|
Retardation in school |
||
|
Contrary |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
(n.c.) |
.23 ± .05 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .19 and .00; Disturbing influence in school, .19 and .18; Lack of interest in school, .18 and .11; Nail-biting, .18 and .13; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .18 and .11; Grouped: swearing, etc., .17 and -.04; Egocentric, .16 and .18; Stuttering, .16 (boys); Underweight, .15 and .09; Lack of initiative, .15 and .11; Sex delinquency (coitus), .15 and -.09; Enuresis, .15 and .10; Conduct prognosis bad, .Ik and -.07; Clean, .14 and .10; Grouped: lack of interest In school, etc., .Ik and .13; Threatening violence, .13 (boys); Selfish, .13 and .17; Leading others into bad conduct, .13 and .17; Destructive, .13 and .17; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Emotional instability, .12 and .17; Attractive manner, .12 and .10; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .12 and .08; Disobedient, .10 and .04; Stealing, .10 and .07; Stubborn, .10 and .07; Exclu- sion from school, .10 and .08; Speech defect, .09 and .02; Excuse -forming, .09 and .17; Temper tantrums, .09 and .17; Sullen, .09 and -.13; Incorrigible, .09 and .06; Inattentive in school, .08 and .15; Preference for younger children, 4.08 and .05; Discord between parents, .08 and .08; Smoking, .07 (boys); Staying out late at night, .06 and .12; Over suggestible, .05 and .09; Sulky, .05 and .09; Bad companions, .Ok and -.01; Irresponsible, .04 and .13; Slovenly, .Ok and .07; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .03 and .05; Truancy from home, .03 and .02; Refusal to attend school, .02 and .18; Listless, .02 and .02; Immoral home conditions, .02 and -.01; Irregular attendance at school, .01 and -.01; Head- aches, .01 and -.19; Question of encephalitis, .00 and .01; Leader, -.01 and .06; Follower, -.02 and .08; Truancy from school, -.02 and .06; Slow, dull, -.03 and -.01; Brother in penal detention, -.03 and -.Ik; Popular, -.04 and -.06; Sex de- nied entirely, -.04 and .Ok; Vocational guidance, -.06 and .15; Question of hy- pophrenia, -.06 and -.07; Gang, -.07 (boys); Former convulsions, -.08 and .08; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.11 (girls); Victim of sex abuse, -.15 (girls); Lues, -.16 and .08
174 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
The following five personality difficulties among both sexes yielded substantial coefficients in the ,30fs: hatred or jealousy of sibling, depressed spells or unhappiness (undifferen- tlated), vorrj over some specific fact, daydreaming, and object of teasing by other children. Four personality traits yielded sub- stantial correlations ranging from .43 down to .32 among girls but moderate coefficients in the ,20's for boys: sensitiveness in gen- eral , depressed spells, seclusiveness, and bashfulness.
Five behavior problems yielded moderate correlations rang- ing from .20 to .29 among both sexes: unpopularity, queer behav- ior, boastful or "show-off" manner, quarrelsomeness, and lying. The following ten notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's among boys but lesser though positive ones among girls: la- ziness, "spoiled child, " complaining of bad treatment by other children, psychoneurotic trends, bossy manner, rudeness, masturba- tion, temper display, question of change of personality, and (com- puted for boys only) swearing (general). A large list of twenty behavior and other notations showed moderate or substantial corre- lations ranging from .32 down to .20 among girls but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: "nervousness, " irregular sleep habits, restlessness in sleep, irritable manner or disposition, restlessness (in general), changeable moods, fighting, defiant at- titude, temper tantrums or temper display (undif ferentiated) , vi- olence, crying spells, absent-mindedness , repressed manner, inef- ficiency in work, play, etc., distractibility, poor work in school, apprehensiveness , overinterest in sex matters, finicky food habits, and neurological defect (unspecified). The trait contrariness among girls showed the moderate correlation of .23 + .05, but among our 2,113 boys there were no instances whatever in which a "con- trary" child also showed~"inferiority feelings," and therefore a tetrachoric coefficient could not be calculated.
Four case-record notations showed negative correlations ranging from -.33 to -.21 among girls but negligible correlations among boys: feeble-minded sibling, vicious home conditions, loi- tering (including wandering or "bumming" on streetcars, etc., or loafing in poolrooms, dance halls, etc.), and retardation in school.
Among the six sex notations there were only two instances in which inferiority feelings showed statistically significant cor- relations in our data. These were for masturbation among boys
STAFF NOTATIONS OF "INFERIORITY FEELINGS" 175
(.24 + .03) and for overinterest in sex matters among girls (.22 + .08).
Among physical and psychophyslcal deficiencies in our data, non- significant correlations were found for enuresis, underweight condition, and lues among both sexes. Neurological defect (unspec- ified) among girls yielded the moderate correlation of .22 jh .07. Speech defect and stuttering (undif ferentiated) likewise appeared to be unassociated with inferiority feelings. These findings are contrary to general belief among clinic workers. Again we must point out that because of the paucity of data our results are pre- sented as suggestive rather than as conclusive.
Question of hypophrenla (or suspected mental deficiency) and slow or dull manner yielded negligible negative correlations, but it will be recalled that intelligence quotient (IQ) yielded positive bi- serial correlations of . 22 -f .02 and , 18 among boys and girls respectively (see Table 10, p. 130). It appears, then, that intelligent children do not seem to suffer from inferiority feelings, while the less intelligent ones, whom one might suppose to be especially warranted in being so affected, actually seem no more affected than others. Poor work in school showed a moderate positive association, especially among girls, but retardation in school (defined to mean at least a prospective two years of re- tardation by the age of fourteen) showed an equally moderate nega- tive relationship. Exclusion or suspension from school for any cause showed a negligible relationship. We may conclude that chil- dren in general do not develop an "inferiority" when their intel- ligence is low or their school achievement poor.
Unpopularity seemed to be a moderate cause of an "inferi- ority." Popularity showed corresponding correlations of negative sign.
/ Among home conditions which would presumably give rise to "inferiorities" the only significant indication was the negative coefficient of -.27 -f .08 among girls for vicious home conditions. The three notations discord between parents, immoral home condi- jbions, and brother in penal detention were quite unassociated with "Inferiorities."
Inferiority feelings are hardly productive of an excuse- forming attitude, since the low positive correlations of .09 and .17 can scarcely be considered as significant.
176 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Staff notation of mental or emotional conflict or "complex" or marked emotional disturbance concerning certain subjects was em- ployed as a diagnostic term in 102 of our boys and 45 of our girls, the respective percentages of incidence being 4.8 and 3.8.
Its highest correlations (Table 22) was vith inferiority feelings, the^ tetrachoric coefficients for boys and girls, respec- tively, being .53 + .04 and .20 4* .09. In its correlations with
TABLE 22 CORRELATIONS WITH "MENTAL CONFLICT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.35 + .03 .29 + .03 .16 + .04 |
.43 + .04 .40 + .04 .07 ± .07 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.53 + .04 .52 + .03 .49 ± .06 .48 ± .04 .39 ± .06 .28 ± .06 .26 ± .06 .25 ± .06 .24 t .04 .22 ± .05 .22 ± .05 .22 £ .0? |
.20 + .09 (40-44) .49 ± .05 (2) .50 ± .09 (1) .46 + .06 (3) .19 " .30 + .08 (16-18) .32 ± .09 (12) .30 ± .09 (16-18) .27 ± .07 (21-24) .01 .24 ± .08 (31) |
|
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Psychoneurotic |
||
|
Bossy |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Absent-minded |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Seclusive |
||
|
Stuttering |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.22 ± .05 .21 ± .07 .21 ± .06 .21 ± .06 .21 ± .06 .20 t .05 .20 ± .07 .20 t .07 .05 .03 .01 .13 .12 .07 .18 .03 |
.33 ± .07 (8-11) .27 ± .09 (21-24) .29 ± .09 (19) .31 ± .08 (13-15) .21 ± .10 (36-39) .11 .42 + .08 (4) .23 + .06 (32-33) .36 + .09 (5) .35 + .08 (6) .34 + .08 (7) .33 + .08 (8-11) .33 ± .09 (8-11) .33 ± .08 (8-11) .31 ± .08 (13-15) .31 ± .06 (13-15) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Repressed , |
||
|
Lack of Interest In school. . . T |
||
|
Overlnterest in sex matters |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus )..... |
||
|
Trading of-h^rp int-n bad f.npduct ............... |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Head^f-h^R ..................................... |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
TPey dre«™1 ng . r ................................. |
||
|
Enure sis |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
STAFF NOTATIONS OF "INFERIORITY FEELINGS" TABLE 22— Continued
177
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Temper tantrums |
.12 .12 -.03 .16 .18 .18 .Ik .11 .09 .10 .15 -.00 .16 .05 |
.30 ± .07 (16-18) .28 ± .08 (20) .2? + .07 (21-2*0 .26 ± .08 (25) .25 + .08 (26-30) .25 ± .06 (26-30) .25 ± .09 (26-30) .25 ± .08 (26-30) .25 + .08 (26-30) .23 ± .10 (32-33) .22 ± .06 (34-35) .22 + .06 (34-35) .21 ± .Ok (36-39) .21 ± .06 (36-39) .21 ± .08 (36-39) .20 ± .07 (40-44) .20 ± .10 (40-44) .20 ± .09 (40-44) .20 ± .06 (40-44) |
|
Inattentive In school |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Emotional instability |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Victim of sex abuse |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc. .... |
.19 .17 .16 .03 |
|
|
Stealing |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
||
|
Popular |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.24 t .06 -.09 -.13 .00 |
.01 -.36 ± .05 -.29 ± .08 -.26 ± .08 |
|
|
Retardation in school |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Temper display |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
.02 |
(n.c.) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Sensitive (general), .19 and .09; Irresponsible, .18 and .03; Crying spells, .18 and .19; Swearing (general), .17 (boys); Irregular sleep habits, .17 and -.04; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .17 and .19; Lazy, .16 and -.00; Gang, .16 (boys); Lack of initiative, .16 and -.04; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .16 and .07; Quarrelsome, .15 and .18; Selfish, .15 and .02; "Nervous," .15 and .13; Disturbing influence in school, .14 and .10; Slovenly, .Ik and .15; Truancy from home, .Ik and -.06; Excuse- forming, .Ik and -.05; Listless, .Ik and .05; Dis- cord between parents, .14 and .10; Irritable, .13 and .06; Sex denied entirely, .13 and -.11; Contrary, .12 and .01; Sullen, .12 and .13; Egocentric, .12 and .19; Bad companions, .11 and .06; Rude, .11 and .12; Bashful, .11 and .06; Poor work in school, .11 and .06; Clean, .11 and .10; Grouped: temper, etc., .11 and .09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .10 and -.12; Overinterest in opposite sex, .10 (girls); Threatening violence, .09 (boys); Vicious home conditions, .09 and -.06; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .08 (boys); Follower, .08 and .12; Attractive manner, .08 and -.01; Neurological defect, .08 and .17; Voca- tional guidance, .07 and -.07; Incorrigible, .07 and -.00; Refusal to attend school, .07 and .13; Sulky, .07 and .17; Immoral home conditions, .07 and -.06;
178 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 22— Continued
Nail-biting, .05 and .06; Teasing other children, .05 (boys); Apprehensive, .05 and .18; Leader, .05 and .08; Lues, .Ok and .11; Truancy from school, .03 and .12; Speech defect, .03 and .03; Finicky food habits, .02 and -.07; Slow, dull, .02 and -.10; Defiant, .01 and .14; Staying out late at night, .01 and .13; Restless in sleep, .01 and .19; Underweight, .01 and .17; Oversuggestible, -.00 and .02; Smoking, -.01 (boys); Changeable moods, -.01 and .15; Distractible, -.05 and .09; Former convulsions, -.05 and .08; Question of encephalitis, -.09 and .18; Question of hypophrenia, -.10 and -.18; Irregular attendance at school, -.15 and -.15; Loitering, -.17 and -.17; Brother in penal detention, -.17 and -.15
other traits mental conflict shoved many similarities to inferi- ority feelings.
Mental conflict yielded its highest tetrachoric correla- tions with sensitiveness or vorrisomeness (undlfferentiated) , worry over specific fact, and sensitiveness over specific fact, the co- efficients ranging from .46 to .52. Staff notation of psychoneu- rotic trends yielded the meaningful correlation of .39 ± • °6 among boys and a low correlation of .19 among girls. Among girls the following five behavior problems showed substantial correlations ranging from ,30 to .42 but among boys only moderate correlations In the .20Ts: overinterest in sex matters, depressed spells, queer behavior, absent-mindedness , and bossy manner. The following nine notations also showed substantial correlations in the . 30's for girls but negligible correlations below .20 for boys: daydreaming, preference for younger children as playmates, destructlveness, vio- lence, temper tantrums, leading others Into bad conduct, exclusion from school, enuresls , and headaches .
The following six behavior difficulties showed moderate correlations in the . 20's for both sexes: question of change of personality, repressed manner, secluslveness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, masturbation, and sex delinquency (coitus ) . Stutter- Ing (computed for boys only) showed a moderate correlation of .22 + .07. Two behavior problems among boys — boastfulness or "show- off" manner and lack of Interest in school— shoved correlations of .22 Hh .05 and .20 + .05 respectively but negligible correlations among girls. A large list of fifteen case notations showed moder- ate correlations In the .20 'a among the girls but low or negligible correlations among the boys: emotional Instability, restlessness, unhapplness,, "spoiled child, " unpopularity, object of teasing by
STAFF NOTATIONS OF "INFERIORITY FEELINGS" 179 other children, inattentiveness In school, inefficiency In work, play, etc., stealing, fantastical lying, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), fighting, disobedience, stubbornness, and vic- tim of sex abuse by older child or person,
Four significant negative correlations were found. Popu- larity among boys yielded the significant negative correlation of -.24 4- .06 with mental conflict but only .01 among girls. Retar- at ion in school, feeble-minded sibling, and temper display among girls yielded negative correlations ranging from -.26 to -.36, the corresponding correlations for boys being zero or a negligible neg- ative.
The staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis showed a zero correlation among boys, while among our I,l8l girls a tetra- choric correlation was not calculable since there were no instances in which a girl with mental conflict was so described.
Sex problems tended to be more significantly associated with mental conflict than with inferiority feelings. Among girls the tetrachoric correlation for overinterest in sex matters was very substantial, .42 -f .08, the corresponding correlation for boys being only .20 ± .07. Sex delinquency (coitus), masturbation, and (calculated only for girls) victim of sex abuse showed moderate correlations in the . 20!s. Sex misbehavior denied entirely (for both boys and girls) and overinterest in opposite sex (calculated for girls only) showed quite negligible correlations.
Enuresis, which showed no correlation with inferiority feelings, was correlated to the significant extent of .31 + .06 among girls with mental conflict, though the corresponding coeffi- cient for boys was practically zero. Underweight condition, speech defect, neurological defect, and lues were only negligibly corre- lated with mental conflict. Question of hypophrenia and retarda- tion in school tended to be negatively associated with mental con- flict, but Intelligence quotient (IQ), as we have seen in Table 10 (p. 130), showed the moderate positive correlation of .23 for both sexes with mental conflict.
The four undesirable home conditions — discord between par- ents, vie ious home c ondi tions , immoral home conditions, and brother in pena l_de t en t i on — were negligibly correlated with mental conflict.
180 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
We may conclude this chapter by noting that such person- ality problems as sensitiveness or worrlsomeness, depressed or un- happy moods, queer, secluslve or absent-minded behavior, daydream- Ing, psychoneurotic trends, hatred or jealousy of sibling, object of teasing by other children and unpopularity and masturbation tended to be associated with both inferiority feelings and mental conflict but that children so affected do not assume a boastful or "show-off" manner as a compensatory mechanism. Among boys the pos- itive correlations appeared to be almost entirely with personality problems, while among the girls there were many moderate correla- tions also with conduct problems.
A more extensive discussion of the correlations with staff notation of inferiority feelings (Table 21) may be found in the author's article "Inferlorit; Attitudes and Their Correlations among Children Examined in a Behavior Clinic," accepted for publication (19^1) by the Journal of Genetic Psychology.
CHAPTER XVIII PSYCHONEUROTIC TRENDS AND "SPOILED CHILD"
In spite of their supposed interdependence, psychoneurotic trends and "spoiled child" do not appear to be very closely related since the tetrachorlc correlations between these traits were only .29 + .05 and .08 among boys and girls respectively. Their corre- lations with other behavior problems appeared in some cases to be similar but in other cases to be quite unlike.
Staff diagnosis or question of psychoneurosis or psycho- neurotic or neurotic trends (unspecified), hysteria, neurasthenia, psychasthenia, etc., was noted in 87 of our 2,113 White boys and in 64 of our 1,181 White girls, the percentages of incidence being 4.1 and 5.4 respectively. It was one of the most frequently em- ployed diagnostic terms found in the case records during the years in which these children were examined. This notation as used in the present chapter varied all the way from an unqualified psychi- atric diagnosis down to a clinical description of a relatively mi- nor personality trait. It was substantially correlated with per- sonality-total but only moderately and Irregularly associated with conduct- total or police arrest (Table 23).
The highest correlation with psychoneurotic trends was for emotional instability among girls , .47 + .06, the corresponding coefficient for boys being also substantial, .29 + .07.
The three personality problems — depressed spells , sensi- tiveness or worrlsomeness (undifferentiated) , and worry over some specific fact — yielded substantial to high correlations ranging from .35 to .46 among both sexes. Mental conflict among boys showed a very substantial correlation of .39 + .06, but among girls the coefficient was only .19. The vague notation "nervousness" showed substantial correlations of .33 to .35 among both sexes.
Three Important personality difficulties yielded substan- tial correlations ranging from .38 down to .32 among girls but mod- erate coefficients in the ,20's for the boys: question of change
181
182
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 23 CORRELATIONS WITH "PSYCHONEUROTIC"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-tot, al |
.38 + .03 |
.14.9 + ,o4 |
|
Conduct -total |
.06 4- .03 |
.23 + .o4 |
|
Police arrest |
.24 4- .04 |
-.Ik + .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
Worry over specific Tact |
.44 + .06 |
.37 + .09 (4)* |
|
Mental conflict |
.39 + .06 |
.19 |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.39 4- .04 |
.35 -i- .05 (5-9) |
|
Depressed |
.38 + .06 |
.46 + .07 (2) |
|
Grouped : depressed, etc |
.34 + .05 |
.35 4- .06 (5-9) |
|
"Nervous" |
.33 + .05 |
.35 4- .06 (5-9) |
|
Stuttering |
.29 + .07 |
|
|
Emotional instability |
.29 + .0? |
.47 4- .06 (1) |
|
Spoiled child |
.29 + .05 |
.08 |
|
Queer |
.28 + .06 |
.23 4- .08 (19-22) |
|
Seclusive |
.28 + .05 |
.10 |
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc |
.27 + .Ok |
.38 4- .05 (3) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.27 + .05 |
.20 4- .06 (26-27) |
|
,26 + .05 |
.08 ~ |
|
|
Sensitive (general) |
.2.6 + .06 |
.31 4- .07 (13-14) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.24 + .06 |
.35 4- .08 (5-9) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.2k + .06 |
.16 " |
|
Irritable |
.23 + .05 |
.11 |
|
Changeable moods |
.22 4- .05 |
.35 4- .06 (5-9) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.21 + .05 |
.19 |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.21 + 07 |
.08 |
|
Egocentric |
.17 |
.32 4- .06 (10-12) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.12 |
.32 + .08 (10-12) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.12 |
.32 + .05 (10-12) |
|
Selfish |
.03 |
.31 + .04 (13-14) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.Ok |
.30 4- .07 (15) |
|
Temper tantrums |
.13 |
.27 4- .06 (16) |
|
Crying spells |
.16 |
.25 4- .05 (17) |
|
Unpopular |
.02 |
.24 + .08 (18) |
|
Neurological defect "". |
.10 |
.23 4- .07 (19-22) |
|
Masturbation |
.15 |
.23 4- .06 (19-22) |
|
Bossy |
.02 |
25 4- .07 (19-22) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
-.08 |
.22 4- .09 (23) |
|
Restless |
.Ik |
.21 4- .05 (24-25) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.13 |
.21 4- .07 (24-25) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.18 |
.20 4- .05 (26-27) |
|
Larger Corre |
>lations (Negative) |
|
|
Question of hypophrenia |
-.29 + .o4 |
-.21 4- .05 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
PSYCHONEUROTIC TRENDS AND "SPOILED CHILD" TABLE 23— Continued
183
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
-.26 ± .0? -.25 ± .04 -.22 + .06 -.16 " .03 |
-.19 -.26 + .05 -.34 ± -07 -.2? + .07 -.21 + .07 |
|
|
Retardation in school |
||
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
.19 |
(n.c.) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Headaches, .19 and .16; Immoral home conditions, .19 and .02; Overin- terest in opposite sex, .19 (girls); Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .18 and .18; Sex delinquency (coitus), .17 and -.05; Listless, .17 and .15; Disobedient, .15 and .16; Grouped: fighting, etc., .1*4- and .08; Refusal to attend school, .14 and .04; Daydreaming, .12 and .13; Quarrelsome, .11 and .14; Object of teasing, .11 and .05; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .10 and .12; Unhappy, .10 and .04; Nail-biting, .10 and -.01; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .09 (boys); Sex denied entirely, .08 and -.05; Enuresis, .07 and -.07; Question of encephalitis, .07 and .18; Violence, .06 and .19; Staying out late at night, .06 and -.03; Rude, .06 and .13; Victim of sex abuse, .06 (girls); Conduct prog- nosis bad, .05 and .18; Clean, .Ok and .06; Defiant, .03 and .09; Former con- vulsions, .03 and .07; Vicious home conditions, .03 and -.05; Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc., .02 and .02; Exclusion from school, .02 and .12; Tem- per display, .02 and -.00; Slovenly, .02 and .05; Inattentive in school, .02 and -.02; Destructive, .02 and .08; Contrary, .02 and .09; Swearing (general), .01 (boys); Preference for younger children, .01 and -.08; Excuse- forming, .01 and .03; Bashful, .00 and .16; Fighting, .00 and -.04; Stubborn, -.00 and .16; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.01 and .10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.01 and -.16; Underweight, -.01 and .05; Threatening violence, -.01 (boys); Lack of In- terest in school, -.01 and .05; Fantastical lying, -.01 and .19; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.02 and .10; Lazy, -.02 and -.02; Teasing other children, -.02 (boys); Absent-minded, -.02 and .05; Discord between parents, -.03 and .04; Popular, -.03 and .15; Sulky, -.03 and .08; Irresponsible, -.04 and .13; Voca- tional guidance, -.04 and .02; Leader, -.05 and -.01; Bad companions, -.05 and .03; Smoking, -.06 (boys); Sullen, -.06 and .08; Loitering, -.08 and -.02; Ly- ing, -.08 and .04; Truancy from home, -.08 and .05; Repressed, -.08 and -.18; Poor work in school, -.08 and -.01; Stealing, -.09 and .03; Incorrigible, -.10 and .02; Gang, -.10 (boys); Truancy from school, -.11 and -.03; Follower, -.12 and -.08; Attractive manner, -.12 and -.11; Irregular attendance at school, -.12 and .02; Over suggestible, -.13 and .19; Distractible, -.14 and .12; Dis- turbing influence in school, -.16 and -.04; Slow, dull, -.19 and -.12
of personality, changeable moods, and sensitiveness In general. Four additional behavior problems showed substantial correlations of .30-. 32 among girls but low positive coefficients of less than .20 among boys: egocentric ity, selfishness, boastful or "show-off"
184 CHILDREN1 S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
manner, and irregular sleep habits.
Queer behavior (among both sexes) and stuttering (calcu- lated for boys only) showed correlations in the .20's. Seven per- sonality problems shoved moderate correlations in the . 20!s among boys but lesser though positive correlations below .20 among girls: "spoiled chi Id , " inferiority feelings, seclusiveness, apprehensive- ness, irritable temperament, restlessness in sleep, and over inter- est in sex matters. The following nine behavior and other nota- . tions showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls but low or negligible ones among boys: temper tantrums, crying spells, unpopularity , leading others into bad conduct, bossy manner, rest- lessness, finicky food habits, masturbation, and neurological de- fect (unspecified).
Several negative correlations of significant size were found. Brother in penal detention among our girls showed the sub- stantial negative association of -.34 + .07 with psychoneurotic trends, the corresponding coefficient for our boys of -.22 + .06 also being of significant size. Feeble-minded sibling showed sim- ilar negative association though of lesser size, the coefficient for girls being -.23 + .07 and for boys -.16. Among our cases, then, children who have a delinquent brother or a mentally defec- tive sibling appeared to be less psychoneurotic than were the chil- dren with more normal siblings. Question of hypophrenia and re- tardation in school showed similarly negative tetrachoric correla- tions ranging from -.21 to -.29 among both sexes. With intelli- gence as measured by intelligence quotient (IQ), it will be re- called from our Table 10 (p. 130) that there were slight positive bi- serial correlations of .20 + .03 and .16 among boys and girls respectively. Lues yielded negative coefficients of -.26 + .07 and -.19 for boys and girls respectively. Speech defect (other than stuttering) showed a moderate negative correlation of -.21 + .07 among our girls but practically zero correlation among boys.
Among girls the tetrachoric correlation of lack of initia- tive with psychoneurotic trends was not calculable because there were no Instances in which these two notations were made in the 3ase of the same girl. Among boys the correlation was .19.
Among our six sex notations there were only two Instances Df statistically significant correlations with psychoneurotic trends: among boys the correlation for overinterest in sex matters
PSYCHONEUROTIC TRENDS AND "SPOILED CHILD" 185
was .21 + .07, the corresponding coefficient for girls being quite negligible; and among girls the correlation for masturbation was .23 + .06, the corresponding coefficient for boys being only .15. Sex delinquency (coitus) among boys showed the low positive corre- lation of .17, while the girls1 coefficient was quite negligible. Qverlnterest in opposite sex, which was calculated for girls only, yielded the low correlation of .19. Victim of sex abuse and sex misbehavior denied entirely yielded practically zero correlations.
Neurological defect among girls showed the moderate corre- lation of . 23 + .07. Stuttering among boys showed the moderate correlation of .29 + .07, the corresponding coefficient for girls being omitted because of paucity of cases. Lues among boys and speech defect (other than stuttering) among girls showed moderate negative correlations in the . 20's. Enuresis, underweight condi- tion, and question of encephalitis showed negligible correlations below .20 among both sexes.
Discord between parents and vicious home conditions among both sexes and immoral home conditions among girls showed practi- cally zero correlations with psychoneurotic trends . Among boys the correlation for immoral home conditions was slightly positive, .19. Brother in penal detention, however, showed moderate to sub- stantial negative coefficients, as noted above.
Question of "spoiled" or overindulged child was noted in 250 (or 11,8 per cent) of our boys and in 112 (or 9.5 per cent) of our girls. It was correlated to a substantial but not high extent with the personality- total and the conduct- total but negligibly with police arrest.
Its highest correlation (Table 24) was among girls, .42 + .06, with violence, the correlation among boys being only .16. The next highest correlation was for boastful or "show-off" manner, .32 + .04 and .38 + .06 among boys and girls respectively. Fan- tastical lying yielded correlations of .31 ± .05 and .30 4- .06 for boys and girls respectively. Among girls three behavior problems yielded substantial correlations ranging from .30 to .38, while among boys the coefficients were of moderate size in the ,20's: "nervousness" or restlessness (undlfferentlated), bossy manner, and temper tantrums. Six additional behavior traits also showed substantial correlations in the .30' s for girls but low positive
186
CHILDREN !S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 24 CORRELATIONS WITH "SPOILED CHILD"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.29 4- .02 |
.27 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.31 + .02 |
.38 4- .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.09 + .03 |
.04 + .05 |
|
Larger Corre |
slatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.32 + .o4 |
.38 ± .06 (2-3)* |
|
Fantastical lying |
.31 + .05 |
.30 ± .06 (13-14) |
|
Psychoneurotic. |
.29 + .05 |
.08 |
|
Secluelve |
.29 + .04 |
.09 |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.28 + .05 |
.19 |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
.28 + .03 |
.31 4- .04 (11-12) |
|
Bossy |
.27 4- .05 |
.38 4- .06 (2-3) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.27 + .04 |
.27 4- .06 (16-24) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.27 4- .03 |
.19 - |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.27 t »03 |
.28 4- .04 (15) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.27 ± .03 |
.21 4- .05 (35-37) |
|
Teasing other children |
.26 t »04 |
|
|
"Nervous" |
.26 4- .03 |
.35 4- .05 (5) |
|
Inferiority feelings. |
.26 4- .04 |
.17 |
|
Rude |
25 + 04 |
27 -f 05 (16-24) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.24 4- .04 |
.26 + .06 (25-27) |
|
Contrary |
.23 + .05 |
.15 |
|
Stubborn |
23 4- 03 |
20 4- 0*5 (38-3Q} |
|
.23 -- .04 |
20 + 05 (38-39) |
|
|
Popular .. |
.22 4- OQ |
07 |
|
Destructive |
21 4- 04 |
10 |
|
Irritable |
.21 4- .03 |
.26 4- .05 (25-27) |
|
Distractible |
.21 4- .04 |
27 + 06 (16-24) |
|
Object of teasing. . |
21 4- 03 |
19 |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.21 4- .03 |
.27 t -04 (16-24) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.20 4- .03 |
26 4- 06 ( 25-271 |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.20 t .05 |
.18 |
|
Loitering |
.20 t -04 |
.01 |
|
Temper tantrums , |
.20 4- .04 |
.34 4- .05 (6) |
|
Irregular sleep habits "". |
.20 4- .05 |
.25 t -07 (28-29) |
|
16 |
.42 4- .06 (1) |
|
|
Selfish |
13 |
36 + 04 (4Y |
|
Defiant |
.17 |
.33 4- .06 (7-9) |
|
Question of encephalitis . . |
.06 |
.33 4- 08 (7-9) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.19 |
.33 + .06 (7-9) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.08 |
.32 4- .05 (10) |
|
Sullen |
.16 |
31 4- 06 (11-12) |
|
Emotional Instability* 4 , 4 |
.10 |
30 + 06 (13-14) |
|
Mental conflict , |
-.03 |
.27 4- .07 (16-24) |
|
T)i?^r4re«IBl ng .....*..*. .tJ**.j* |
.18 |
.27 4- .06 (16-24) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
PSYCHONEUROTIC TRENDS AND "SPOILED CHILD" TABLE 2k— -Continued
187
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Changeable moods |
.18 |
.27 + .05 (16-24) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct. |
.07 |
.27 t .07 (16-24) |
|
.16 |
.27 ± .05 (16-24) |
|
|
Egocentric |
.014- |
.25 ± .05 (28-29) |
|
.13 |
.24 ± .07 (30-31) |
|
|
.17 |
.24 t .08 (30-31) |
|
|
Neurological defect |
.10 |
.23 ± .06 (32) |
|
.19 |
.22 t »06 (33-34) |
|
|
Absent-minded . |
.17 |
.22 ± .07 (33-34) |
|
.14 |
.21 t '05 (35-37) |
|
|
Crying spells |
.17 |
.21 t -04 (35-37) |
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Negative) |
|
|
-.27 + .05 |
-.05 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.17 ~ |
-.45 f .05 |
|
-.11 |
-.36 t -05 |
|
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
.01 |
-.29 ± .04 |
|
Retardation in school |
-.14 |
-.24 ± .04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Restless, .19 and .19; Itfing, .18 and .17; Unhappy, .18 and -.00; In- corrigible, .17 and .19; Sulky, .17 and .10; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .17 and .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .17 and .10; Lazy, .16 and .11; Bashful, .16 and -.05; Queer, .16 and .10; Unpopular, .16 and .17; Wor- ry over specific fact, .16 and .19; Gang, .15 (boys); Threatening violence, .15 (boys); Masturbation, .15 and .01; Lack of initiative, .15 and .00; Poor work in school, .15 and .10; Excuse-forming, .19 and -.01; Bad companions, .13 and .14; Enuresis, .13 and .10; Stealing, .13 and .05; Restless in sleep, .13 and .17; Grouped: swearing, etc., .13 and .02; Nail-biting, .12 and .13; Irregu- lar attendance at school, .12 and .01; Depressed, .12 and .14; Discord between parents, .12 and .02; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .12 (boys); Sex denied entirely, .12 and .17; Lack of interest in school, .11 and .13; Slovenly, .11 and -.03; Staying out late at night, .11 and .19; Leader, .11 and .12; Quarrelsome, .10 and .12; Apprehensive, .10 and .09; OverBUggest- ible, .10 and .03; Truancy from school, .09 and .16; Headaches, .09 and .04; Fighting, .08 and .18; Smoking, .08 (boys); Swearing (general), .08 (boys); Listless, .08 and -.01; Truancy from home, .07 and .07; Conduct prognosis bad, .07 and .12; Temper display, .06 and .09; Repressed, .06 and .04; Preference for younger children, .06 and .09; Clean, .06 and .06; Vocational guidance, .06 and .13; Former convulsions, .05 and .08; Stuttering, .04 (boys); Underweight, .04 and .14; Exclusion from school, .03 and .09; Overinterest in sex matters, .02 and .17; Overinterest in opposite sex, .02 (girls); Follower, .01 and .01; STictini of sex abuse, .01 (girls); Question of hypophrenla, -.01 and -.08; Speech iefect, -.03 and .06; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.06 and -.08; Vicious home con- iltlons, -.07 and -.19; Slow, dull, -.08 and .08; Immoral home conditions, -.08 and -.18
188 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
correlations below .20 for the boys: selfishness, defiant atti- tude , sullenness, question of encephalitis, question of change of personality, and emotional instability,
The following ten notations showed moderate correlations in the .20 's for both boys and girls: sensitiveness or worrisome- ness (undifferentiated), irritable temperament, irregular sleep habits, distractibility, disobedience or incorrigibility (includ- ing stubbornness, contrariness, and defiant attitude [undifferen- tiated]), rudeness, disturbing influence in school, finicky food habits, attractive manner, and (calculated for boys only) teasing other children. Ten traits showed moderate correlations with "spoiled child" in the . 20's for the boys but low positive corre- lations below .20 for the girls: psychoneurotic trends, inferior- ity feelings, sensitiveness over specific fact, seclusiveness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, object of teasing by other children, inefficiency in work, play, etc., destructiveness, loitering or loafing, and popularity. A group of eleven notations showed mod- erate correlations ranging from .27 down to .21 among the girls but negligible or low positive correlations below .20 for the boys: mental conflict, daydreaming, absent-mindedness , inattentativeness in school, changeable moods, crying spells', irresponsibility, lead- Ing others into bad conduct, refusal to attend school, fighting or quar re 1 s omene s s- (undifferentiated), and neurological defect (un- specified).
Several negative correlations of significant size were found, the highest being for girls, -.45 4- .05 for feeble-minded s ibling , while the corresponding boys' correlation was only -.17. The next highest negative correlation, also among the girls, was -.36 + .05 for brother^ in penal detention, the corresponding cor- relation for boys being -.11. (These correlations are Indeed cu- rious and again raise the question of the validity of much of our case-record data. One can see no reason a priori why families with a mentally deficient child ^r a delinquent son appear to be more free of "spoiled children" than the remainder of the families in- cluded In our data or why any tendency toward this immunity seems to be so much greater in the case of daughters than in the case of sons.) Girls showed similar negative correlations of -.24 + .04 and -.29 + ,04 with retardation in school and with dull, slow, listless, or unambitious manner (undifferentiated) respectively,
PSYCHONEUROTIC TRENDS AND "SPOILED CHILD" 189
the corresponding coefficients for boys being of lesser size. Another curious negative correlation is that for lues among boys, -.27 + .05, the corresponding coefficient for girls being quite negligible, -.05.
Among the six sex notations all correlations with "spoiled child" were low but positive, ranging from .01 to .17, the highest correlations, oddly enough, being for sex misbehavior denied en- tirely.
Underweight condition, enure sis, and speech defect (other than stuttering) also showed low or negligible correlations.
Among our four undesirable home conditions — discord between parents, vicious and immoral home conditions, and brother in penal detention — all correlations were low or negligible, except for brother in penal detention among girls with its substantial nega- tive coefficient of -.36 + .05.
CHAPTER XIX
COMPLAINING OF BAD TREATMENT AND OBJECT OP TEASING (BY OTHER CHILDREN)
Complaining of bad treatment by other children (which was calculated for boys only because of the paucity of girls' cases) was correlated more substantially with object of teasing by other children than with any other of the 111 behavior traits considered in this study, the tetrachoric _r being . k~5 + .Ok (Table 25). Their correlations with other traits showed many similarities. Complain- ing of bad treatment by other children appears to be of substantial
TABLE 25
CORRELATIONS WITH "COMPLAINING OF BAD TREATMENT
BY OTHER CHILDREN"
(Boys Only)
Personality -total 35 ± .03
Conduct -total $6 ± .03
Police arrest 22 4- .0^-
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Object of teasing 42 + .0*4-
Unpopular 38 + .06
Question of change of personality 29 + .06
Seclusive 29 4- .05
Changeable moods 26 + .05
Queer 26 4- .06
Disturbing influence in school 25 + .Ok
Inferiority feelings 25 + .05
Exclusion from school 25 4- .05
Grouped: disobedient, etc 25 4- .Ok
Contrary 2^ f .06
Fantastical lying 2k + .03
Fighting 2*4- + .OU
Itf-lng 2k ± .Ok
Truancy from home 2k + .Ok
Headaches 2k + .06
Quarrelsome 23 + .Ok
Violence 23 + .05
"Nervous" 23 + .0*4-
Question of encephalitis 23 + .07
Grouped: swearing, etc 23 + ,05
Disobedient 22 ± .Ok
190
COMPLAINING OF BAD TREATMENT 191
TABLE 25— Continued
Slovenly 22 + .0*4-
Emotional instability 22 + .06
Grouped: fighting, etc 22 ± .06
Incorrigible 21 f .Ok
Irregular sleep habits 21 + .06
Destructive 20 ± .05
Rude 20 + .0^
Temper tantrums 20 t .05
Threatening violence 20 + -06
Crying spells 20 + .0^
Grouped: "nervous," etc 20 t -0^
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc 20 ± .Ok
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lack of interest in school, .19; Refusal to attend school, .19; Truancy from school, .19; Masturbation, .19; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .19* Grouped: lack of in- terest in school, etc., .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .19; Boastful, "show-off," .18; Teasing other children, .18; Staying out late at night, .18; Distractible, .18; Sensi- tive over specific fact, .18; Worry over specific fact, .18; Unhappy, .18; Inattentive in school, .18; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .17; Stealing, .17; Grouped: temper, etc., .17; Swearing (general), .16; Daydreaming, .16; Sen- sitive (general), .16; Bossy, .15; Sulky, .15; Excuse- forming, .15; Egocentric, .15; Vicious home conditions, .15; Apprehensive, .1^; Conduct prognosis bad, .Ik; Poor work in school, .1^; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .1^; Lazy, .13; Nail-biting, .13; Stubborn, .13; Irritable, .13; For- mer convulsions, .13; Defiant, .12; Leading others into bad conduct, .12; Overlnterest in sex matters, .12; Spoiled child, .12; Clean, .12; Irresponsible, .11; Question of hy- pophrenla, .11; Stuttering, .11; Bad companions, .10; Loi- tering, .10; Restless in sleep, .10; Irregular attendance at school, .10; Sullen, .09; Temper display, .09; Depressed, *09; Psychoneurotlc, .09; Over suggestible, .08; Mental con- flict, ,X)8; Attractive manner; Restless, .07; Speech defect, .07; Brother In penal detention, .07; Follower, .07; Dis- cord between parents, .07; Smoking, .07; Sex denied en- tirely, .06; Selfish, .05; Slow, dull, .0^; Leader, .0^; Neurological defect, .0*4-; Finicky food habits, .03; Enure- sis, .03; Gang, .01; Listless, .01; Preference for younger children, .01; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .01; Retardation in school, .00; Repressed, -.01; Absent-minded, -.02; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.03; Bashful, -.03; Lack of Initia- tive, -.03; Lues, -.05; Underweight, -.07; Vocational guid- ance, -.07; Immoral home conditions, -.07; Feeble-minded sibling, -.11; Popular, -.Ik
or at least moderate importance as a clinical notation, as may be inferred from its correlations with pers onality- total , c onduc t- total, and police arrest, with correlation coefficients ranging from .36 down to .22. It was noted among 121 of our 2,113 White
192 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
boys, i.e., In 5. 7 per cent of cases.
Another correlation of substantial size was vith unpopu- • larity (.38 4- .06). There were about thirty notations showing correlations ranging from .29 down to .20, the more meaningful among the personality problems being for question of change of personality, seclusiveness, changeable moods, queer behavior, in- feriority feelings, emotional instability, and "nervousness" and among conduct problems such aggressive behavior difficulties as disturbing influence in school, disobedience (together with incor- rigibility and contrariness ), fighting and quarrelsomeness , vio- lence and destructiveness, temper tantrums, swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentiated), truancy from home, and lying.
Among the four sex notations studied among the boys, mas- turbation showed a low positive tetrachoric _r of .19, the other coefficients being of negligible size.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations, ques- tion of encephalitis showed the moderate correlation of . 23 * .07, all other correlations in this field being of negligible size.
The tetrachoric correlation of complaining of bad treat- ment by other children with teasing other children was .18 (calcu- lated for boys only). This suggests a trend toward a compensatory relation between the two, i.e., boys who tease others may tend to complain that others mistreat them.
Object of teasing or of unpleasant nicknaming by other children was noted among 312 instances, or 14.8 per cent, of our boys and among 91 instances, or 7.7 per cent, of the girls and was one of the most frequent of personality problems in our data. It was especially characteristic of younger children, as one may sup- pose. It was particularly characteristic of less Intelligent
p
children, especially among those of adolescent age. It was mod- erately correlated with the personality- total among both sexes and among girls also with the conduct- total, with bl-serial coefficients ranging from .27 to .30. There was almost no correlation with po- lice arrest.
1I, 151, Fig. 27, and 205, Fig. 48, and this volume, Table 9 (p. 128). 2I, 151, Fig. 27, and this volume, Table 10 (p. 130).
COMPLAINING OP BAD TREATMENT
193
Among boys its highest correlation was with complaining of bad treatment by other children, .42 + .04 (Table 26). Among girl! the highest correlations were with disturbing influence in school
TABLE 26 CORRELATIONS WITH "OBJECT OF TEASING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.2? + .02 |
.30 -i- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.18 4- .02 |
.30 T .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.02 i .03 |
-.10 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corrt |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Complaining of" bad treatment by other oblldren |
.42 -f .04 |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
.38 + .03 |
.30 4- .07 (12)* |
|
Queer |
.30 + .04 |
.35 + .07 (6) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.30 + .03 |
.41 + .05 (3) |
|
Unpopular |
•30 ± .04 |
•33 + .07 (9-10) |
|
Masturbation |
.29 + .03 |
.09 |
|
Emnti on^l 1 tiptnb'l 1 1 t.y |
.27 + .04 |
.11 |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.2? + .03 |
.37 + .05 (4) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.26-1- .05 |
.30 4- .08 (13-14) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.26 ± .04 |
.25 4- .07 (21-23) |
|
Pay dT»ftftni"l Tig r .................................. |
.24 t »04 |
.04 |
|
Temper display |
.21 ± .04 |
.19 |
|
Violence |
.21 ± .03 |
.36 4- .06 (5) |
|
"Nervous" |
.21 -I- .03 |
.15 |
|
Spoiled child |
.21 t -03 |
.19 |
|
Hea.Aftnbftpi ..................................... |
.20 ± .04 |
.12 |
|
Preference for younger children |
.20 ± .04 |
.22 4- .07 (26-28) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.20 ± .04 |
.09 |
|
Fighting |
20 4- 03 |
.43 4- .03 (2) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.18 " |
.45 ± .06 (l) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.17 |
.34 + .07 (7-8) |
|
Bossy. |
.10 |
.34 ± .06 (7-8) |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
• 13 |
.33 4- .04 (9-10) |
|
Distract ible |
12 |
.31 4- .06 (11) |
|
Grouped: f ighting, etc |
.14 |
.30 4- .05 (13-14) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc. .... |
• 09 |
.29 4- .05 (15) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.06 |
.28 ± .07 (16-17) |
|
Restless , |
05 |
.28 4- .05 (16-17) |
|
Neurological defect |
• 19 |
.27 4- .06 (18) |
|
Defiant |
.04 |
.26 4- .06 (19-20) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc ' |
• 17 |
.?6 4- .06 (19-20) |
|
Mental conflict |
.09 |
.25 4- 08 (21-2*>\ |
|
Crying spells |
.11 |
.25 4- .05 (21-23) |
|
Repressed |
.14 |
.23 4- .08 (24-25) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
194
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 26 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.09 |
.23 ± .04 (24-25) |
|
|
Lues |
-.06 |
.22 t -07 (26-28) |
|
.08 |
.22 + .06 (26-28) |
|
|
Contrary |
.16 |
.21 ± .08 (29-31) |
|
.05 |
.21 + .08 (29-31) |
|
|
Speech defect |
.15 |
.21 ± .06 (29-31) |
|
Changeable moods |
.09 |
.20 + .06 (32-36) |
|
Sullen |
.08 |
.20 ± .06 (32-36) |
|
Sulky |
.10 |
.20 + .0? (32-36) |
|
Incorrigible |
.00 |
.20 ± .05 (32-36) |
|
.12 |
.20 t .0? (32-36) |
|
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
Immoral hom<=» e-on<31 1-1 one |
-.16 |
-.23 + .06 |
|
Vocational guidance |
-.05 |
-.22 + .05 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Sensitive (general), .19 and .18; Poor work in school, .19 and .14; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .18 and .13; Question of hypophrenia, .17 and .18; Stuttering, .16 (boys); Seclusive, .16 and .01; Threatening violence, .16 (boys); Destructive, .16 and .06; Boastful, "show-off," .16 and .13; Grouped: temper, etc., .14 and .18; Lack of initiative, .14 and -.11; Apprehensive, .14 and .14; Swearing (general), .14 (boys); Inefficient in work, play, etc., .13 and .08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .15 and .05; Grouped: depressed, etc., .12 and .13; Lazy, .12 and .07; Disobedient, .11 and .17; Irresponsible, .11 and .15; Refusal to attend school, .11 and -.01; Stubborn, .11 and .12; Slow, dull, .11 and .06; Psychoneurotic, .11 and .05; Irregular sleep habits, .11 and .14; Restless in sleep, .11 and .17; Unhappy, .10 and .12; Conduct prognosis bad, .10 and .08; Oversuggestible, .10 and -.04; Depressed, .10 and .14; Absent- minded, .10 and -.01; Quarrelsome, .10 and .13; Itflng, .09 and .18; Teasing other children, .09 (boys); Slovenly, .09 and .09; Temper tantrums, .09 and .05; Overinterest in opposite sex, .09 (girls); Enuresis, .08 and .14; Leading others into bad conduct, .07 and .08; Nail-biting, .07 and .19; Staying out late at night, .07 and .14; Excuse-forming, .07 and .16; Irritable, .06 and .15; Bash- ful, .06 and .07; Loitering, .06 and -.04; Finicky food habits, .05 and .14; Rude, .05 and .10; Listless, .05 and -.01; Egocentric, .04 and -.07; Truancy from school, .03 and .17; Overinterest in sex matters, .03 and .03; Vicious home conditions, .03 and -.07; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .03 and -.10; Sex denied entirely, .02 and -.13; Underweight, .02 and .07; Stealing, .02 and .19; Bad companions, .02 and .14; Retardation in school, .01 and .05; Irregular attend- ance at school, .01 and .06; Smoking, -.00 (boys); Follower, -.00 and .13$ At- tractive manner, -.00 and .08; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.01 and -.08; Selfish, -.02 and .06; Clean, -.02 and -.09; Truancy from home, -.03 and .15; Discord between parents, -.07 and -.06; Feeble-minded sibling, -.07 and .00; Brother in penal detention, -.07 and .07; Popular, -.07 and .10; Victim of aex abuse, -.07 (girls); Gang, -.08 (boys); Leader, -.09 and -.19
COMPLAINING OP BAD TREATMENT 195
( . 45 + . 06 ) , fighting ( . 43 + . 03 ) , and sensitiveness over some spe- cific fact (.41 + .05), the corresponding coefficients for boys be- ing .18, .20 ± .03, and .30 + .03 respectively.
Among both sexes three personality difficulties yielded substantial tetrachoric correlations ranging from .30 to .38: in- feriority feelings, queer behavior, and unpopularity. Among girls three notations yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's with corresponding moderate coefficients for boys in the ,20's: sensi- tiveness or vorrisomeness (undifferentiated), violence, and q.ues- tion of encephalitis. The following five notations also showed substantial correlations in the .30 's for girls but low coeffi- cients ranging from .10 to .18 among boys: exclusion from school, bossy manner, fighting or quarrelsomeness (undifferentiated), "ner- vousness" or restlessness (undifferentiated), and distractibility.
Two personality problems showed moderate correlations in the .20's for both boys and girls — question of change of personal- ity and preference for younger children as playmates. The follow- ing seven notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's for boys but low positive correlations below .20 for girls: masturba- tion , emotional instability , daydreaming , "nervousness , tf "spoiled child, " temper display other than "tantrums," and headaches. The following sixteen case notations showed moderate coefficients among the girls, ranging from .29 down to -.20, but low or negligible co- efficients below .20 among boys: inattentiveness j.n school, lack of interest in school studies or employment, restlessness, crying spells, mental conflict, repressed manner, changeable moods, swear- ing or bad language (undifferentiated), disobedience (including in- corrigibility, defiant manner, and contrariness ), sulkiness, sul- lenness, fantastical lying, speech defect (other than stuttering), neurological defect (unspecified), former convulsions, and lues.
Only two case notations showed significant negative corre- lations, both among girls: immoral (other than vicious) home con- ditions, -.23 + -06, and vocational or educational guidance, -.22 + .05, the corresponding coefficients among boys being also nega- tive or of small size.
Among the six sex notations the only significant correla- tion with object of teasing by other children was masturbation among boys, .29 ± .03, the other correlations being quite negli- gible.
196 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Among physical defects, substantial correlations were found for question or diagnosis of encephalitis (present or former), the coefficients for girls and boys respectively being .26 + .05 and .30 + .08, for neurological defect (unspecified) with the respec- tive coefficients of .19 and .27 4- .06, for lues with respective coefficients of -.06 and .22 + .07, and for speech defect (other than stuttering) with respective coefficients of .15 and .21 4- .06. Low or negligible correlations were found for underweight condi- tion, enuresia (present or former), and, oddly enough, for stutter- Ing (which was calculated for boys only).
Among unfavorable home conditions there were the Interest- ing negative coefficients of -.16 and -.23 + .06 with immoral home conditions for boys and girls respectively, but for vicious home conditions, brother In penal detention, and discord between par- ents the correlations were negligible.
Our boys who are themselves object of teasing by other children apparently do not tend to "compensate" therefor by teas- Ing other children, as we may infer from the quite negligible tet- rachoric correlation of -.06 between these notations. (This cor- relation unfortunately could not be calculated for girls because of the paucity of cases.)
CHAPTER XX UNPOPULARITY AND POPULARITY
Unpopularity among schoolmates or playmates., or marked lack of popularity appears to be among the more meaningful behavior problems from a clinical standpoint, as indicated by its very sub- stantial or high bi- serial correlations ranging from . j59 to .64 with both personality- total and conduc t- total . It is curious, how- ever, that in view of its negligible tetrachorlc correlations with police arrest it appears to be of no significance as far as overt "juvenile delinquency" is concerned. It was noted among 110 of our 2,113 White boys (5.2 per cent) and among 54 of our I,l8l White girls (4.6 per cent).
Its highest correlations (Table 27) were among girls, the coefficients ranging from .54 down to .49 for the five conduct dif- ficulties, bossy manner, lying, boastful or "show-off" manner, and
TABLE 27 CORRELATIONS WITH "UNPOPULAR"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
XO + O5 |
«5O 4- O4 |
|
Conduct -total |
ilQ 4. QX |
6L. 4. o*. |
|
Police arrest |
.03 4- 04 |
08 4- 06 |
|
Larger Corre |
aations (Positive) |
|
|
Disturbing influence in school |
42 4- 04 |
4Q 4- O6 f5.fi V» |
|
Fighting |
XQ + ok |
pft 4- nit /^s."*^ |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
•38 + .06 |
t«fo j- .u*«- \yj-yO) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
*7 + oft |
RX 4. 0s! (P\ |
|
Quarrelsome |
356 + Ok |
«5P 4. o"? (1\ |
|
Bossy |
56 + 06 |
«k 4. O6 / 1 \ |
|
• ^l- Z »UO (J.) |
||
|
Lying |
*>k 4. o4 |
sn j. ns ^k^ |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
"V> 4- 04 |
.pu ± .up {•*) 4Q 4- O7 ^S-^»\ |
|
•*7 X »U( V-? °/ |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
197
198
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 27— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
.32 -f .06 .31 + .06 .31 ± .05 .30 + .04 .30 + .ok .30 t -0^ .29 + .06 |
.38 + .07 (12-15) .33 ± .08 (25-28) .42 + .07 (9) .33 ± .06 (25-28) .37 + .05 (16-18) .33 ± .07 (25-28) |
|
|
Inefficient in work, play, |
etc |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc. , |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
|||
|
Threatening violence |
|||
|
Violence |
.29 t -05 .29 ± .05 .29 + .05 .29 ± .05 .27 4- .06 .27 ± .05 .27 4- .05 |
.40 + .07 (10) .24 + .07 (44-45) .38 + .06 (12-15) .29 4- .08 (32-34) .13 " .17 |
|
|
Excuse- forming |
|||
|
Egocentric |
|||
|
Inferiority feelings |
|||
|
Destructive |
|||
|
Smoking. |
|||
|
Queer |
.27 ± .06 .26 4- .04 .26 t -06 .26 + .05 .26 + -05 .26 4- .06 |
.35 ± .08 (21-22) .23 + .06 (46-49) .08 " .26 + .07 (40-42) .35 ± .07 (21-22) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest Irregular sleep habits |
in school, etc |
||
|
Pn.y dreaming, ............... |
|||
|
Temper tantrums |
|||
|
Swearing (general) |
|||
|
Disobedient |
.26 4- .04 .25 + .05 .25 ± .06 .25 + .05 .25 4- .04 .23 ± .06 .23 ± .05 .23 ± .04 .23 ± .05 .22 + .05 .22 4- .06 .22 + -05 .22 + .06 .22 + -06 .22 + .03 .21 t -05 .21 t -05 .21 + .04 .21 ± .05 .20 ± .04 .20 ± .04 .20 t -05 .19 .18 .15 .16 |
.36 4- .06 (19-20) .09 " .23 + .08 (46-49) .14 .38 ± .05 (12-15) .25 + .04 (43) .14 " .38 ± .05 (12-15) .22 + .07 (50-54) .26 + .07 (40-42) .43 ± .08 (7-8) .30 + ,06 (30-31) .43 ± .08 (7-8) .13 .22 4- .08 (50-54) .14 " .29 ± .08 (32-34) .34 t .05 (23-24) .15 .05 .19 .20 t .07 (55-58) .39 ± .06 (11) .37 ± .05 (16-18) .37 + .08 (16-18) .36 + .06 (19-20) .34 ± .06 (23-24) .33 ± .06 (25-28) .32 ± .07 (29) .30 ± .06 (30-31) .29 ± .07 (32-34) .28 + .06 (35-36) |
|
|
Loitering |
|||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
Sullen |
|||
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc... |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. . . |
|||
|
Distract ible |
|||
|
Question of change of perse Rude |
nality |
||
|
Leading others into bad cor Irresponsible |
iduct |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school. |
|||
|
Lazy |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Seclusive |
^ |
||
|
Oversuggestible |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Staying out late at night . . |
|||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Stealing |
|||
|
Exclusion from school |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Overinterest in opposite se Restless |
x. |
||
|
.16 .10 .18 |
|||
|
Emotional Instability |
|||
|
Restless in sleep |
|||
|
Defiant |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
.18 |
||
UNPOPULARITY AND POPULARITY TABLE 27 — Continued
199
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Leader |
.12 .17 .16 .16 .02 .06 .10 .08 .05 .09 .11 .09 .19 |
.27 ± .08 (37-39) .27 t .10 (37-39) .27 ± .06 (37-39) .26 t -09 (40-42) .2k ± .08 (4M*5) .23 + .08 (1*6-49) .23 ± .10 (46-49) .22 + .06 (50-510 .22 t -08 (50-5*0 .22 + .10 (50-5^) .20 ± .07 (50-5*0 .20 ± .07 (50-5^) .20 ± .06 (50-54) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad . |
||
|
Psychoneurotic |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Mental conflict * |
||
|
fjJp'UT'e^l p,.t,,.,,.,..,.....,,,-Tf»T.T,,TTI.,Tt. |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
Question of encephalitis . , |
||
|
Apprehensive |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Poor work in school |
||
|
Attractive Tttf!,nn^r , t . T ,,,,.,.., t , ... T , T . , , , , * , t |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.02 -.01 |
-.23 ± .06 -.22 t .09 |
|
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Popular |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
(n.c.) (n.c.) |
(n.c.) .11 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling. |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Overinterest in sex matters, .18 and .18; Masturbation., .17 and .18; Spoiled child, .16 and .17; Bashful, .16 and -.08; Temper display, .16 and .10; Absent-minded, .15 and -.09; Sensitive (general), .15 and -.01; Refusal to at- tend school, .Ik and -.00; Slovenly, .13 and .15; Truancy from home, .13 and .16; Stuttering, .13 (boys); Discord between parents, .13 and -.00; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .12 and .17; Clean, .12 and -.08; Truancy from school, .12 and .17; Neurological defect, .11 and .15; Underweight, .08 and .13; Unhappy, .06 and .09; Former convulsions, .06 and .01*-; Bad companions, .04 and .10; Sex denied entirely, .03 and .08; Question of hypophrenia, .02 and .11; Finicky food habits, .02 and .11; Follower, .01 and -.11; Headaches, .01 and .01; Speech defect, .01 and .13; Vicious home conditions, .01 and .06; Ha- tred or Jealousy of sibling, -.01 and .16; Brother in penal detention, -.04 and -.Ok; Irregular attendance at school, -.05 and .07; Slow, dull, -.05 and -.02; Victim of sex abuse, -.05 (girls); Vocational guidance, -.06 and -.17; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.08 and -.02; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .18; List- less, -.09 and .17; Repressed, -.10 and .09; Retardation In school, -.10 and -.05; Gang, -.11 (boys); Immoral home conditions, -.16 and -.11
disturbing influence in school. Swearing or bad language (undlf- ferentiated) also yielded substantial coefficients of .42 4. ,07 for girls and .31 ± .05 for boys. Three other behavior traits
200 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
yielded substantial coefficients in the .40 fs for the girls but moderate correlations in the ,20's for the boys: violence, lead- ing others into bad conduct, and question of change of personality.
Five behavior traits yielded substantial correlations in the .jJO's for both boys and girls: fantastical lying, egocentric- ity or selfishness (undifferentiated), inefficiency in work, play, etc . , disobedience or incorrigibility (Including stubbornness, con- trariness, and defiant attitude, undifferentiated), and object of teasing by other children. Two notations which were calculated for boys only — teasing other children and complaining of bad treat- ment by other children — also yielded substantial coefficients in the .^O's. Fighting yielded a substantial correlation of .39 + .04 among boys and a moderate correlation of .28 ± .04 among girls. The following five behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's but among boys moderate coefficients in the .20's: queer behavior, rudeness, "nervousness" or restless- ness (undifferentiated), crying spells, and temper tantrums. The following seven notations among girls yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30 's but low positive correlations below .20 for the boys: Incorrigibility, stealing, exclusion from school, restless- ness, restlessness in sleep, changeable moods, and emotional in- stability. Overinterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlation was computed, yielded a substantial coefficient of .34 + .06.
The following nine behavior traits showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20fs for both sexes: inferiority feelings, de- pressed spells, daydreaming, inattentlveness in school, distracfc- ibility, excuse- forming attitude, laziness, selfishness, and stay- ing out late at night . Three conduct difficulties for which only the boys' coefficients were computed — threatening violence, swear- Ing (general), and smoking — also showed moderate correlations in the .20' s.
The following eleven conduct and personality difficulties showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys but low posi- tive correlations below .20 among the girls: contrariness, de- structivenesa, "nervousness, " irritable temperament, irregular sleep habits, loitering or loafing, sullenness, lack of Interest in school work, irresponsibility, seclusiveness, and over suggest- ibility. The following fifteen notations among girls showed mod-
UNPOPULARITY AND POPULARITY 201
erate correlations in the . 20's, but low coefficients below .20 for the boys: defiant attitude, stubbornness, sulkiness, psycho- neurotic trends, mental conflict, worry over specific fact, sensi- tiveness over some specific fact, apprehensiveness , preference for younger children as playmates, poor work in school, enuresis, nail- biting, staff diagnosis of unfavorable conduct prognosis, "leader, " and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Two negative coefficients of significant magnitude were found among the girls1 correlations: attractive manner, -.23 + .06, and lack of Initiative, -.22 4- ,09, the corresponding boys' correlations being negligible.
Among the six sex notations there was only one coefficient of significant size, overinterest in opposite sex (calculated for girls only), .34 ± .06.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations there were among the girls two correlations of moderate size: enuresis, .22 + .06, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis, .22 ± .10. The boys' coefficients for these two notations and all coefficients for underweight condition, neurological defect (unspecified), head- aches, speech defect, and (calculated for boys only) stuttering were positive but of negligible size, ranging from .01 to .15.
For the four undesirable home or familial conditions the coefficients were of negligible size.
In order that comparisons could be made with the usual "be- havior difficulties," the notation popularity among schoolmates or playmates or "patient is well liked" is included as one of the fre- quently appearing behavior traits not considered as undesirable. It was noted among 138 of our boys and 76 of our girls k Its cor- relations with our three criteria of "seriousness" or "ominousness" were all of nonsignificant size, ranging from .03 to .13 (Table 28). It yielded only a few correlations of significant size. Its highest correlations among both sexes were with the "desirable" traits, attractive manner and "leader, " the coefficients ranging from .32 to .40. Another substantial correlation was the negative one of -.39 + .04 with daydreaming among boys, the girls' coeffi- cient being negligible, .06. Apparently children who are popular, especially boys, do not need to resort to daydreaming. (With un- popularity the correlations with daydreaming were positive,
202
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 28 CORRELATIONS WITH "POPULAR"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.03 ± .03 .13 ± .03 .10 + .04 |
.12 ± -04 .08 + .04 .12 + .06 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest . . |
||
|
Attractive manner |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.36 ± .ok .32 ± .05 .25 ± .05 .22 + .09 .17 " .12 |
.36 ± .05 (2)* .40 + .0? (1) .02 .07 .25 ± .06 (3) .20 ± .07 (4) |
|
|
Flniclsy food habits |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Clean |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Daydreaming |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.59 + ,o4 -.25 + .12 -.24 + .06 -.05 -.09 .05 |
.06 .06 .01 -.29 ± .07 -.27 ± .08 -.20 + .09 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Vicious home conditions |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
Unpopular |
(n.c.) (n.c.) .13 |
(n.c.) .02 (n.c.) |
|
Lues |
||
|
Loitering |
||
*fcank order of girls* correlationa.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Sex delinquency (coitus), .18 and -.01; Grouped: sensitive or worri- some, etc., .18 and .06; Defiant, .17 and .12; Smoking, .17 (boys); Staying out late at night, .17 and .04; Boastful, "show-off," .16 and .18; Refusal to at- tend school, .16 and .18; Sulky, .16 and .17; Irresponsible, .15 and .02; Mas- turbation, .13 and .01; Irregular sleep habits, .13 and .15; Question of en- cephalitis, .13 and .14; Vocational guidance, .13 and .06; Teasing other chil- dren, .12 (boys); Overinterest in sex matters, .12 and .04; Restless in sleep, .12 and .03; Sensitive over specific fact, .12 and .00; Fighting, .11 and .12; Stealing, .11 and -.01; Destructive, .09 and -.02; Incorrigible, .09 and .05; Slovenly, .09 and -.01; Lack of initiative, .09 and -.07; Exclusion from school, .09 and .03; Truancy fraa. home, .09 and .03; Stuttering, .09 (boys); Inattentive in school, .08 and .05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .08 and -.00; Lying, .08 and .02; Slow, dull, .08 and -.13; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .08 and .07;
UNPOPULARITY AND POPULARITY 203
TABLE 28— Continued
Bad companions, .07 and .10; Disobedient, .07 and .05; Gang, .07 (boys); Tem- per tantrums, .07 and .16; Stubborn, .07 and .02; Absent-minded, .07 and -.05; Changeable moods, .07 and .03; Irritable, .07 and .13; Question of change of personality, .06 and .19; Listless, .06 and -.10; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and .12; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .06 and .03; Lazy, .05 and -.02; Sullen, .05 and .03; Truancy from school, .05 and -.12; Hatred or Jeal- ousy of sibling, .05 and .08; Bashful, .05 and .06; Crying spells, .05 and .09; Restless, .05 and .03; Repressed, .05 and -.08; Nail-biting, .0*4- and -.07; Rude, .04 and .04; Sex denied entirely, .04 and .13; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .04 and .07; Grouped: fighting, etc., .Ok and .03; Fantastical lying, .03 and .01; Swearing (general), .03 (boys); Violence, .03 and .11; Disturbing influence in school, .02 and .12; Enuresis, .02 and -.03; "Nervous," .02 and .06; Poor work in school, .02 and -.01; Quarrelsome, .01 and -.09; Unhappy, .01 and .05; Ap- prehensive, .00 and .12; Excuse -forming, .00 and .14; Over suggestible, .00 and -.01; Neurological defect, .00 and .02; Headaches, -.00 and .11; Speech defect, -.00 and -.03; Piscord between parents, -.00 and -.10; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.00 and .01; Lack of interest in school, -.01 and -.04; Immoral home condi- tions, -.01 and -.19; Dlstractlble, -.02 and .18; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.02 and -.05; Leading others into bad conduct, -.03 and .17; Depressed, -.03 and -.13; Psychoneurotic, -.03 and .15; Emotional instability, -.03 and .11; Overlnterest in opposite sex, -.03 (girls); Temper display, -.04 and -.06; In- feriority feelings, -.04 and -.06; Preference for younger children, -.04 and -.06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.04 and -.09; Selfish, -.05 and .07; Ego- centric, -.06 and .19; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.06 and .15; Contrary, -.07 and .11; Threatening violence, -.07 (boys); Object of teasing, -.07 and .10; Underweight, -.07 and -.10; Question of hypophrenla, -.08 and -.14; Follower, -.08 and .10; Victim of sex abuse, -.08 (girls); Queer, -.11 and .04; Former convulsions, -.13 and .04; Bossy, -.14 and .12; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.14 (boys); Irregular attendance at school, -.14 and -.07; Brother in penal detention, -.14 and -.19; Retardation in school, -.18 and -M2; Seclusive, -.19 and -.14
.26 + .05 and .26 + .07 for boys and girls respectively.)
Popularity showed some statistically significant positive correlations in the . 20's with three undesirable behavior traits: finicky food habits and "spoiled child" among boys, and sensitive- ness in general among girls, the corresponding coefficients for the other sex being low but positive. With the notation clean, neat habits or appearance the correlations were .17 and .25 + .06 for boys and girls respectively.
Additional meaningful correlations of negative sign for boys and girls, respectively, were for mental conflict, -.24 + .06 and .01, for worry over specific fact, .05 and -.20 + .09, and for staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, -.09 and -.27 + .08.
Among the six sex notations the correlations with popular- ity were of negligible size, unless one considers that the positive
204 CHILDREN ' 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
correlation of .18 for sex delinquency (coitus) among boys Is mean- ingful. Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations all correlations were negligible. Among the four undesirable home or familial notations (discord between parents , vicious and immoral home conditions, and brother in penal detention) the only signifi- cant coefficient was with vicious home conditions among girls, -.29
t -°7-
A comparison of the corresponding coefficients in Tables 27 and 28 for the presumably antithetical notations unpopularity and popularity brings to light the curious statistical phenomenon which has been previously mentioned, I.e., the fact that many of the corresponding correlations for such antithetical pairs of traits as unpopularity- popular! ty , slovenliness- cleanliness , and "leader"- "follower" were not of opposite sign and of similar mag- nitude, as would be supposed if strictly objectively measurable traits were being used but were often of the same sign (though of different magnitude). Among the 116 pairs of corresponding coef- ficients for the boys in Table 27 (unpopularity) and Table 28 (pop- ularity) there were 80 of like sign and only J>6 of unlike sign. Among 113 pairs of girls ' coefficients there were 77 of like sign and only ?6 of unlike sign. The inter columnar correlations (Pear- son's product-moment) were -.08 + .06 for the boys and .14 + .06 for the girls. Now, if these two notations, unpopularity and pop- ularity, were truly antithetical in meaning and could be consid- ered as opposite ends of tjie same scale, just as "long" and "short" are the opposite ends on a scale of stature, and if the correla- tions between the putative trait unpopularity- popularity with other traits are based upon rectilinearlty of regression, we should ex- pect the corresponding correlations in Tables 27 and 28 to be of unlike sign and of substantially the same magnitude, and intercol- umnar correlations based upon these coefficients should approach a negative unity.
In our previous discussion of this phenomenon of incon- sistency between the correlation of coefficients of presumably an- tagonistic traits two possible theories were suggested — one a pos- sible non- rectilinearlty of specific notations on the trait unpop-
See I, 13^-35 and 2^9-50, and this volume, p.
UNPOPULARITY AND POPULARITY 205
ularity- popularity and the other that the traits unpopularity and popularity may not be truly opposite poles of a single underlying trait. It may be that the true "opposite" of unpopularity is "in- difference." A third possibility is that this lack of negative- ness in correlation described in the preceding paragraph may be due to the existence of unmeasured prejudicial factors in the data as discussed in chapter iv.
CHAPTER XXI DAYDREAMING AND ABSENT-MINDEDNESS
Daydreaming and absent-mindedness do not appear to be fun- damentally similar traits in spite of their apparent, superficial resemblance. Their intercorrelations for boys and girls respec- tively were only .29 + .05 and .33 + .07. Their correlations with several other traits or notations were higher than with each other.
Daydreaming or fantasy ing was of substantial but not ser- ious importance clinically, as may be Inferred from its bl serial correlations with the personality- and the conduct- total , which range from .27 to .49 (Table 29). With police arrest ("juvenile delinquency") its relations were non-signlf leant . It was noted among 195 of our 2,113 White boys (9.2 per cent) and among 94 of our 1,181 White girls (8.0 per cent).
Daydreaming yielded its largest correlations (tetrachoric r) among girls, .42 + .06 with Inefficiency in work, play, etc., and .42 + .06 for boastful or "show-off" manner, the corresponding co- efficients for boys being .26 + .05 and .18 respectively. Other substantial correlations In the .30 fs for both boys and girls were for depressed spells, unhappy appearance or manner, inferiority feelings , queer behavior, and fantastical lying. Among boys mas- turbation yielded a correlation of .37 + -03 with a corresponding correlation among girls ^of .25 + .05. Hatred or .jealousy of sib- ling among boys showed a correlation of .30 + .05., but its coeffi- cient among girls was negligible, .07. Among girls the following five personality difficulties yielded substantial correlations in the .30's with moderate coefficients in the ,20's for boys: sen- sitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated) and sensitiveness over specific fact, seclusiveness , changeable moods, and absent- mindedness. Another seven behavior problems also showed substan- tial correlations in the . 30's among girls but negligible coeffi- cients ranging from .18 down to -.00 among boys: violence, rude- ness , defiant attitude, disturbing influence in school, emotional
206
DAYDREAMING AND ABSENT-MINDEDNESS
TABLE 29 CORRELATIONS WITH "DAYDREAMING"
207
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.38 + .02 |
.49 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.2? + .02 |
.48 + .03 |
|
.07 4- .04 |
.14 4- .05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
.37 + .03 |
.25 + .05 (31-33)* |
|
|
.36 + ,o4 |
.39 + .05 (3-4) |
|
|
Unhappy |
.36 + .05 |
.36 + .07 (10) |
|
Depressed |
.34 4 .03 |
.34 + .06 (11-12) |
|
.32 -f .05 |
.30 4 .07 (20) |
|
|
Queer „. |
.31 + .05 |
.39 + .06 (3-4) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.31 + .04 |
.37 4- .07 (6-9) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.30 + .05 |
.07 |
|
Absent-minded |
.29 + .05 |
.33 4- .07 (13-16) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.2? + .03 |
.31 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.26 + .05 |
.42 4- .06 (1-2) |
|
Irresponsible |
.26 + .05 |
• 09 |
|
.26 4 .04 |
.37 + .05 (6-9) |
|
|
Listless |
.26 + .04 |
.20 4- .06 (55-58) |
|
Unpopular |
.26 + .05 |
.26 + .07 (27-30) |
|
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc |
.26 -f .03 |
.16 |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.25 + .03 |
.28 4- .04 (22-24) |
|
Seclusive |
.25 + .04 |
.37 4- .06 (6-9) |
|
Lack of initiative |
.25 + .05 |
.21 4- .07 (46-54) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.24 4- .03 |
.03 |
|
Object of teasing |
.24 4- .04 |
.04 |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.24 + .04 |
.33 4- .05 (13-16) |
|
"Nervous" |
.23 4- 04 |
.22 4- .05 (40-45) |
|
Distract ible |
2^5 + 05 |
.16 |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ).. |
22 4- 06 |
-.01 |
|
Bepressed |
.22 4- .05 |
.21 4- .08 (46-54) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.21 4- .04 |
26 + .05 C 27-30) |
|
Contrary |
20 4- 06 |
20 4- 08 (55-58} |
|
20 4- 04 |
P** 4- 05 (^6-^Q} |
|
|
.20 4" .05 |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
.20 4- 05 |
22 4- 08 (40-45) |
|
..Clean |
.20 4- .04 |
.01 |
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
18 |
42 4- 06 (1-2) |
|
Violence |
.03 |
.38 + 06 (5) |
|
Rude |
.02 |
37 + 05 (6-Q) |
|
IfCniotioni] instability , ........................ |
04 |
314. + 06 (11-12) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
-.00 |
.33 4- .06 (13-16} |
|
Defiant |
.08 |
*>"*> + 06 (11-~\6} |
|
Mental conflict |
.18 |
.31 4- .08 (17-19) |
|
Lying. |
.12 |
51 + 04 ( 17-10 ^ |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
208
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 29— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
-.02 .05 .15 .18 .14 .16 .19 .10 .16 .19 .05 .13 .14 .12 .09 -.02 .07 .07 .05 .12 .06 .10 .17 .12 .12 .17 .14 |
.29 ± .08 (21) .28 ± .05 (22-24) .28 ± .06 (22-24) .27 t .06 (25-26) .27 ± .04 (25-26) .26 ± .05 (27-30) .26 ± .07 (27-30) .25 ± .05 (31-33) .25 ± .05 (31-33) .24 ± .06 (34-35) .24 ± .05 (34-35) .23 ± .05 (36-39) .23 ± .07 (36-39) .23 ± .05 (36-39) .22 ± .06 (40-45) .22 ± .07 (40-45) .22 + .06 (40-45) .22 ± .06 (40-45) .21 ± .05 (46-54) .21 i- .05 (46-54) .21 ± .06 (46-54) .21 f .07 (46-54) .21 + .07 (46-54) .21 ± .05 (46-54) .21 + .05 (46-54) .20 ± .05 (55-58) .20 ± .06 (55-58) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Finicky food habits . . , |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
||
|
Crying spells |
||
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Enuresis |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc, |
||
|
Leader |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Excuse -forming |
||
|
Slovenly . |
||
|
Stealing * |
||
|
Truancy from school |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Headaches ; |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Attractive manner |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
Popular |
-.39 ± .04 -.22 ± .05 -.21 ± .03 -.09 |
.06 -.32 ± .06 -.21 ± .04 -.21 ± .04 |
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Retardation in school |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lack of interest in school, .19 and .19; Lazy, .19 and .09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .18 and .14; Poor work in school, .18 and .06; Preference for younger children, .18 and .03; Nail-biting, .17 and .08; Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Refusal to attend school, .16 and .12; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .16 (boys); Neurological defect, .15 and .11; Bashful, .14 and .16; Overinterest in opposite sex, .14 (girls); Vicious home conditions, .13 and .02; Bossy, .13 and .16; Selfish, .12 and .09; Staying out late at night, .12 and .18; Psychoneurotlc, .12 and .13; Immoral home conditions, .11 and .18; Temper tantrums, .11 and .19; Underweight, .10 and .06; Speech defect, .09 and -.14; Destructive, .09 and .11; Bad companions, .09 and .05; Victim of sex abuse, .09 (girls); Exclusion from school, .08 and .17; Apprehensive, .07 and .05; Swearing (general), .07 (boys); Sulfcy, .07 and .18; Smoking, .07 (boye); Loitering, .07 and -.05; Temper display, .06 and .14; Slow, dull, .06 and -.01; Conduct prognosis bad, .05 and .11; Oversuggestible, .05 and .08; Truancy from
DAYDREAMING AND ABSENT-MINDEDNESS 209
TABLE 29— Continued
home, .Ok and .15; Former convulsions, .04 and .0^; Follower, .04 and -.01; Dls- ©rd between parents, .03 and .16; Vocational guidance, .03 and -.04; Leading others into bad conduct, .03 and .16; Fighting, .02 and .16; Disobedient, .02 and .13; Stuttering, .01 (boys); Gang, -.05 (boys); Lues, -.05 and .11; Irreg- ular attendance at school, -.06 and -.00; Question of hypophrenia, -.11 and -.15; Sex denied entirely, -.16 and .13
instability, mental conflict, and lying.
Nine behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's for both sexes: "nervousness, " restlessness in sleep, llst- lessness, lack of initiative or ambition, unpopularity , worry over some specific fact or episode, repressed manner, contrariness, stubbornness, and also one calculated for boys only, threatening violence. Another six notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's for boys but low coefficients ranging from -.01 to .16 among girls : irresponsibility, inattentiveness in school, distract ibility, object of teasing by other children, sex delinquency (co- itus), and clean habits. Among girls the following twenty- four no- tations showed moderate correlations in the .20's, with lesser co- efficients ranging from -.02 to .19 among the boys: sensitiveness in general, incorrigibility , quarrelsomeness, swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentiated), excuse- forming attitude, stealing, tru- ancy from school, temper display or temper tantrums (undifferenti- ated), egocentricity , irritable manner or disposition, sullenness, slovenliness, restlessness, irregular sleep habits, "spoiled child, crying spells, question of change of personality, overinterest in sex matters, enuresis , finicky food habits, headaches, question or diagnosis of encephalitis, attractive manner, and "leader. "
The largest negative correlations with daydreaming were as follows: popularity among boys, -.39-1- .04, with a corresponding coefficient for girls of .06, and brother in penal detention, with moderate or substantial negative correlations of -.22 + .05 and -,32 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Retardation in school showed moderate correlations of -.21 for both sexes. The notation, feeble-minded sibling, among girls showed the moderate correlation of -.21 4- .04 and a corresponding coefficient of -.09 among boys.
Sex notations showed several significant correlations with daydreaming. Masturbation among boys showed the substantial coef- ficient of .37 + .03 and a moderate coefficient of .25 + .05 among
210 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
girls. Sex delinquency (coitus) among boys showed the moderate correlations of .22 + .06, but its correlation among girls was practically zero (-.01). Overinterest in sex matters among girls showed the moderate correlation of .26 + .07 and among boys the scarcely significant coefficient of .19. Sex misbehavior denied entirely shoved the interesting but statistically non- significant coefficients of -.16 and .13 for boys and girls respectively. Overinterest in opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person, which were calculated for girls only, showed and the negligible coefficients of .14 and .09 respectively.
Among our physical or psychophysical notations, only two coefficients were of significant size, both among girls, »23 + .05 for enures! s (present or former) and .29 + .08 for question or di- agnosis of encephalitis. All other coefficients in this field, Including those for underweight condition, lues , neurological de- fect (unspecified), speech defect, and stuttering, were low or negligible in size. Brother in penal detention, as we have seen, yielded moderate or substantial negative correlations, while the other familial notations — discord between parents and vicious and immoral home conditions — showed negligible correlations.
Absent-mindedness , f orgetf ulness , or poor memory appear to be of relatively little Importance clinically, unless possibly in the case of the boys, in which one finds the fairly substantial bl- serial correlation of .30 4- .03 with personality- total (Table. 30). All other criteria of "importance or seriousness" showed low correlations falling between -.16 and .18. It was noted among 134 boys, or 6.3 per cent, and among 62 girls, or 5.2 per cent.
Its highest correlation was with inefficiency in work, play, etc. , with tetrachorlc correlations of .47 + .05 and .42 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Distractibility among boys yielded the fairly high correlation of .40 + .04 and among girls the substantial correlation of .35 + .07. Queer behavior and head- aches also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among boys and moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls. Listless- ness and irresponsibility also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30fs among boys but low coefficients below ,20 for girls. Among the girls four notations — daydreaming, mental conflict, "ner- vousness," and question or diagnosis of encephalitis — yielded
DAYDREAMING AND ABSENT-MINDEDNESS
TABLE 30 CORRELATIONS WITH "ABSENT -MENDED"
211
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.30 -i- .03 |
.18 ± .04 |
|
|
Conduct-total |
.18 + .03 |
.09 4- .04 |
|
.02 + .0*4- |
-.16 ± .06 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.47 t .05 |
.42 4- .06 (1)* |
|
.40 + .04 |
.35 + .07 (11) |
|
|
.37 + .05 |
.29 4- .08 (7-8) |
|
|
.32 + .05 |
.24 4- .07 (12-14) |
|
|
.32 + .03 |
.19 |
|
|
Listless . . |
.31 4- .05 |
.05 |
|
.30 + .05 |
.17 |
|
|
Question of change of personality. |
.29 + .05 |
.26 + .08 (9-10) |
|
.29 -f .05 |
.33 + .07 (3) |
|
|
.29 4- .Ok |
.10 |
|
|
.29 + .04 |
-.13 |
|
|
Poor work in school |
.27 4- .Ok |
.21 4- .05 (20-21) |
|
Mental conflict |
.25 + .06 |
.30 + .09 (6) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.25 4- .02 |
.31 4- .09 (4-5) |
|
Lack of initiative |
.2k + .05 |
.22 + .08 (16-19) |
|
Lazy |
.22 4- .05 |
-.04 |
|
Slow, dull |
.22 4- .04 |
.29 t ^05 (7-8) |
|
"Nervous" |
.22 4- .04 |
.35 + .06 (2) |
|
Emotional instability |
.22 + .06 |
.18 |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
.22 + .03 |
.26 4- .05 (9-10) |
|
Contrary |
.21 4- .06 |
-.06 |
|
Neurological defect |
.21 4- .05 |
.09 |
|
Attractive manner |
.20 4- .04 |
-.00 |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.20 4- .04 |
.02 |
|
Restless in sleep |
.13 |
.31 4- .06 (4-5) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.19 |
.24 t .08 (12-14) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.13 |
.24 4- .08 (12-14) |
|
Former convulsions |
.01 |
.23 4- .09 (15) |
|
Depressed |
.12 |
.22 4- .08 (16-19) |
|
Spoiled child |
.17 |
.22 4- .07 (16-19) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.00 |
.22 + .08 (16-19) |
|
05 |
.21 + 06 (20-21) |
|
|
Sullen |
.01 |
.20 + .07 (22-23) |
|
.02 |
.20 4- .07 (22-23) |
|
|
Larger Corre |
»lations (Negative) |
|
|
.02 |
-.20 4- .05 |
|
|
Not C |
alculable |
|
|
Lefl41"ng rrhiiffrs into bad conduct. .............. |
.04 |
(n.c.) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
212 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 30— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Slovenly, .19 and -.03; Stubborn, .19 and .09; Temper display, .19 and -.09; Teasing other children, .18 (boys); Apprehensive, .18 and .05; Changeable moods, .18 and .02; Irritable, .18 and .06; Follower, .18 and .03; Loitering, ,17,and -.10; Sulky, .1? and .14; Worry over specific fact, .16 and .11; Unpop- ular, .15 and -.09; Question of hypophrenla, .15 and .08; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .15 and .06; Inattentive in school, .13 and .17; Underweight, .13 and .08; Boastful, "show-off," .12 and .16; Refusal to attend school, .12 and .16; Mas- turbation, .12 and .15; Crying spells, .12 and .18; Sensitive over specific fact, .12 and .10; Speech defect, .12 and .08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .12 and .18; Disobedient, .11 and .05; Fantastical lying, .11 and .16; Vo- cational guidance, .11 and -.08; Object of teasing, .10 and -.01; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .10 and .15; Destructive, .09 and .17; Swearing (general), .09 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, .09 (girls); Conduct prog- nosis bad, .09 and .11; Victim of sex abuse, .09 (girls); Finicky food habits, .08 and -.04; Nail-biting, .08 and .08; Selfish, .08 and .12; Bashful, .08 and -.03; Lues, .08 and .03; Lying, .07 and .14; Violence, .07 and .01; Stuttering, .07 (boys); Popular, .07 and -.05; Staying out late at night, .06 and -.18; Tru- ancy from school, .06 and .03; Overinterest in sex matters, .06 and .13; Excuse- forming, .06 and -.12; Irregular attendance at school, .06 and -.00; Grouped: swearing, etc., .06 and .04; Grouped: depressed, etc., .06 and .13; Stealing, .05 and .13; Enuresis, .04 and .14; Incorrigible, .04 and .12; Truancy from home, .04 and .06; Unhappy, .04 and .07; Bossy, .03 and -.13; Disturbing influence in school, .03 and .08; Rude, .03 and .08; Vicious home conditions, .03 and -.13; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .03 and .10; Lack of interest in school, .02 and .08; Clean, .02 and .16; Repressed, .01 and .18; Leader, .01 and -.09; Immoral home conditions, .01 and -.07; Temper tantrums, .00 and .04; Sex denied entirely, .00 and -.18; Quarrelsome, -.01 and -.09; Egocentric, -.02 and .03; Psychneu- rotic, -.02 and .05; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.02 (boys); Gang, -.04 (boys); Grouped: fighting, etc., -.04 and .01; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.04 and .19; Brother in penal detention, -.05 and -.07; Irregular habits, -.06 and -.02; Defiant, -.06 and .01; Bad companions, -.08 and -.00; Fighting, -.08 and .17; Feeble-minded sibling, -.08 and -.09; Retardation in school, -.09 and .08; Smoking, -.10 (boys); Threatening violence, -.11 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), -.16 and -.03
substantial correlations in the .3Q's and among boys moderate cor- relations in the ,20's. ^Restlessness in sleep also yielded a sub- stantial correlation of .31 + .06 among girls but a low coefficient of .13 among boys.
Four behavior notations showed moderate correlations in the .20*3 with absent-mindedness among both sexes: question of change of personality, poor work in school, slow or dull manner, and lack of initiative or ambition. Eight notations showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20's for boys but low coefficients below .20 for girls: seclusiveness, laziness, restlessness, emotional instabil- ity, temper tantrums or display (including irritable temperament, undlfferentiated), contrariness, neurological defect (unspecified),
DAYDREAMING AND ABSENT-MINDEDNESS 213
and attractive manner. Nine additional notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's for girls but low positive coefficients below ,20 for boys: inferiority feelings, depressed spells, "spoiled child, " sensitiveness in general, preference for younger children as playmates, over suggestibility, sullenness, exclusion from school, and f orme r c on vul s i on s .
The only considerable negative correlation with absent- mindedness was among girls, -.20 + .05 for discord between parents, the boys' coefficient being about zero.
Our six sex items showed only negligible relationships with absent-mindedness , the coefficients falling between -.18 and .15.
Among our seven physical or psychophysical notations, ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis showed the suggestive correlations of .25 4- .02 and .31 4- .09 for boys and girls respectively. Neu- rological defect (unspecified) among boys also yielded a moderate correlation of .21 4- .05. All other coefficients in this field were low or negligible.
Among our four home or familial notations only one was of statistically significant size, the negative coefficient of -.20 + .05 among girls for discord between parents.
CHAPTER XXII SECLUSIVENESS AND REPRESSED MANNER
The notations seclusiveness and repressed manner among girls indicate a somewhat similar behavior in view of their very substantial inter* correlation of . 40 + .07 (Table 31), but among boys this correlation was low, .16.
TABLE 31 CORRELATION WITH "SECLUSIVE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
33 + .02 |
31 ± 03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.17 + 02 |
17 ± O3 |
|
03 + 03 |
||
|
Larger Corre |
Jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Queer |
.39V + .04 |
.25 + 07 (14)* |
|
Unhappy |
558 4. 05 |
28 + o? ?io-TS^ |
|
Listless |
.34 + .04 |
ki + 06 (2) |
|
Sensitive ( general ) |
.30 ± .04 |
28 4- 06 (10-13) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
•30 ± .04 |
57 4- 05 (4-6} |
|
Absent-minded |
PQ 4. o4 |
-15 |
|
Spoiled child |
pq 4. o4 |
OQ |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.29 + .05 |
|
|
Psychoneurotic |
28 ± 05 |
10 |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.27 ± .03 |
28 4- 05 flO-151 |
|
Contrary |
26 4- O5 |
Pfi 4- D7 Mn~15^ |
|
Selfish T. . . |
PR 4. Q5 |
1Q |
|
Bashful |
p«5 + Q5 |
51 4- O5 (Q^ |
|
.ps + .o4 |
57 4- O^ /k_6^ |
|
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.2*5 4- 05 |
P5 4- O5 M7^ |
|
Depressed |
.24 + 04 |
56 4- O6 (7 \ |
|
Worry over specific fact |
ok 1 o*5 |
57 4- O7 (k-6^ |
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
ok + o^ |
5k 4. ' o4 (R\ |
|
Question of change of personality |
.23 t -05 |
.20 4- O7 (lQ-22^ |
|
Lack of initiative |
.25 4- 05 |
18 |
|
Inferiority feelings |
px 4. ok |
kft j. fi6 M ^ |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.22 4- .0*5 |
17 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
214
SECLUSIVENESS AND REPRESSED MANNER TABLE 31— Continued
215
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.22 + .05 |
.24 t .08 (15-16) |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.21 ± .05 |
.13 |
|
Apprehensive |
.21 t .04 |
.14 |
|
Unpopular |
.21 + .05 |
.15 |
|
Repressed |
.16 |
.40 t .07 (3) |
|
Lazy |
.19 |
.24 t .06 (15-16) |
|
Sullen |
.18 |
.22 + .06 (18) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.02 |
.20 + .06 (19-22) |
|
Irregular sleep habits . . „ |
.16 |
.20 t .0? (19-22) |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
.13 |
.20 + .04 (19-22) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
Leader |
-.19 |
-.20 t .07 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Headaches, .19 and -.01; Stubborn, .17 and ,17; Dlstractible, .17 and .16; Irresponsible, .16 and .01; Lack of Interest in school, .16 and .12; Loi- tering, .16 and -.03; Irritable, .16 and .11; Object of teasing, .16 and .01; Poor work in school, .16 and .19; Preference for younger children, .15 and -.04; Vocational guidance, .15 and .12; Refusal to attend school, .14 and .18; Quar- relsome, 114 and .03; Irregular attendance at school, .14 and .06; Grouped: lack of interest in school, .14 and .15; Defiant, .13 and .19; Underweight, .13 and .11; Speech defect, .13 and .11; Discord between parents, .13 and .19; In- attentive in school, .12 and .11; "Nervous," .12 and .05; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .12 and .11; Slovenly, .11 and .09; Sulky, .11 and .08; Threatening vi- olence, .11 (boys); Violence, .11 and .15; Slow, dull, .11 and .18; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .11 and .08; Leading others into bad conduct, .10 and .03; Smoking, .10 (boys); Clean, .10 and .08; Neurological defect, .10 and .12; Vi- cious home conditions, .10 and -.11; Grouped: fighting, etc., .10 and .03; Nail- biting, .09 and -.04; Overinterest in sex matters, .09 and .14; Changeable moods, .09 and .16; Crying spells, .09 and .16; Feeble-minded sibling, .09 and -.04; Grouped: temper, etc., .09 and .03; Sex denied entirely, .09 and .14; Fantasti- cal lying, .08 and -.03; Temper display, .08 and -.07; Truancy from home, .08 and .01; Restless, .08 and .17; Question of hypophrenla, .07 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, .07 (girls); Boastful, "show-off," .06 and .08; Disobedient, .06 and -.08; Teasing other children, .06 (boys); Rude, .06 and .05; Restless In sleep, .06 and .01; Emotional instability, .06 and .11; Grouped: swearing, etc., .06 and .10; Ikying, .05 and .05; Masturbation, .05 and .02; Bossy, .03 and .10; Bn- uresis, .03 and .05; Incorrigible, .03 and .02; Gang, .03 (boys); Destructive, .02 and .03; Staying out late at night, .02 and -.03; Truancy from school, .02 and .05; Excuse-forming, .02 and .04; Egocentric, .02 and .09; Attractive man- ner, .02 and -.09; Temper tantrums, .01 and -.00; Brother in penal detention, .01 and -.04; Immoral home conditions, .01 and -.04; Exclusion from school, -.00 and .15; Bad companions, -.01 and .00; Conduct prognosis bad, -.01 and .06; Stealing, -.02 and .06; Over suggestible, -.02 and .17; Disturbing influence in school, -.03 and -.01; Swearing (general), -.03 (boys); Stuttering, -.03 (boys); Former convulsions, -.03 and -.04; Question of encephalitis, -.03 and .06; Lues, -.03 and -.07; Retardation in school, -.06 and -.07; Follower, -.06 and -,01; Fighting, -.07 and -.11; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and -.04; Overintereet in opposite sex, -.13 (girls); Popular, -.19 and -.14
216 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
The notation a e c lus 1 ven ess, unresponslveness , ("patient prefers to play alone or be by himself") appears to be of substan- tial importance from the standpoint of personality deviation but of almost negligible interest in the conduct sphere. It was noted among 254 of our 2,113 White boys, or 12.0 per cent, and among 106 of our 1,181 White girls, or 9.0 per cent. It was of relatively frequent occurrence among our clinic cases.
Its highest correlation was among girls, .48 + .06 with in- feriority feelings, the corresponding coefficient among boys being only moderate, .23 + .05. Two other notations also yielded fairly high correlations among girls, .41 + .06 for listlessness and .40 + .07 for repressed manner, the corresponding coefficients among boys being .34 + .04 and .16 respectively. Among boys the highest correlations were for queer behavior, .39 -f .04, and for unhappy appearance or manner, .38 + .05, the corresponding correlations for girls being of moderate size, .25 4- .07 and .28 -f .07 respectively. Sensitiveness in general yielded the substantial correlations of •50 4- .04 among boys and .28 + .06 among girls. The following five personality problems showed substantial correlations with seclu- siveness in the .30's among girls and moderate correlations in the . 20's among boys: daydreaming , depressed spells, worry over some specific fact, bashfulness, and dull or slow manner (including listlessness and lack of initiative, undlfferentiated) .
Pour behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the . 20's for both sexes: sensitiveness over some specific fact, men- tal conflict, question of change of personality, and contrariness. Ten behavior traits showed moderate correlations in the ,20's for boys but low or negligible coefficients falling between -.13 and .19 for girls: psychoneurotlc trends , apprehenslveness, "spoiled child, " hatred or jealousy of sibling, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , absent-mindedness , lack of initiative, selfishness, unpopu- larity . and (calculated for boys only) complaining of bad treatment by other children. Five behavior notations showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20»s for girls but low positive correlations below .20 for boys: laziness, sullenneas, finicky food habits, "nervous- ness" or restlessness (undifferentiated), and irregular sleep habits.
The only negative correlations of statistically significant size were for "leader" with coefficients of -.19 and -.20 + .07
SECLUSIVENESS AND REPRESSED MANNER
21?
among boys and girls respectively.
Among the sex notations, physical and psychophyslcal nota- tions, and home or familial conditions all coefficients, 31 in num. ber, were too low to be of ( "statistical significance" within our data.
Staff notation or question of repressed or suppressed man- ner appeared to be of negligible significance as far as its corre- lations with out three criteria of "importance or seriousness" are concerned. It was noted among 138 of our boys, or 6.5 P©** cent, and among only 45 of our girls, or 3.8 per cent.
Its highest correlation was found among girls, .40 + .07 with seclusiveness, the corresponding coefficient for boys being only .16 (Table 32). Among girls the three personality problems,
TABLE 32 CORRELATIONS WITH "REPRESSED"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total. ............................ |
.06 t .08 ± .03 ± |
.03 .03 .04 |
.21 ± .04 .09 t .05 -.14 t .07 |
|
Conduct -total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Daydroainl ng . .................................. |
|||
|
Larger |
Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.22 ± .21 ± • 21 ± .21 + .20 t .20 + .16 .08 .18 .05 .17 .04 .13 .16 .15 -.02 -.02 |
.05 .05 .04 .06 .06 .04 |
.21 t .08 (14-18)* .20 t -08 (19) .19 .21 + .10 (14-18) .32 + .09 (2) .17 .40 + .07 (1) .31 ± .08 (3) .30 + .09 (4) .29 t .07 (5-7) .29 ± .10 (5-7) .29 ± .06 (5-7) .27 ± .07 (8) .25 ± .08 (9) .24 + .08 (10) .23 ± .04 (11-13) .23 ± .08 (11-13) .23 ± .09 (11-13) |
|
|
Sullen |
|||
|
Apprehensive |
|||
|
Mental conflict |
|||
|
UnhaDDV |
|||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
|||
|
Secluslve |
|||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Contrary |
|||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
|||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
|||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
|||
|
Sensitive (general) |
|||
|
Listless |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Object of teasing |
|||
|
Queer . |
|||
Hank order of girls' correlations.
218
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 32— Continued
|
• |
Boys |
Girls |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.18 |
.21 ± .09 (14-18) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.17 |
.21 ± .09 (14-18) |
|
Clean |
.10 |
.21 ± .08 (14-18) |
|
Destructive |
.02 |
.20 + .08 (19-20) |
|
Larger Corr< |
alatione (Negative) |
|
|
Kjnotl orial 1r> stability. .,.,.......,..,......,.. |
-.26 t «o6 |
06 |
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.10 |
- 30 ± .08 |
|
Speech defect |
.05 |
-.30 + .08 |
|
Follower |
.Ok |
-.29 + .08 |
|
Temper display |
-.11 |
-.24-1- .08 |
|
Leader |
-.02 |
-.24 + .08 |
|
-.12 |
- 22 ± 06 |
|
|
Selfish |
04 |
- 21 i 04 |
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
(n.c.) |
.08 |
|
Loitering |
-.01 |
(n.c ) |
|
- 09 |
(n c ) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Masturbation, .19 and .04; Lazy, .15 and .10; Question of change of personality, .14 and .12; Sulky, .14 and .11; Lying, .13 and .05; Bashful, .13 .14; Immoral home conditions, .13 and .17; Preference for younger children, .12 and .00; Refusal to attend school, .10 and -.08; iantastical lying, .10 and -.08; Teasing other children, .09 (boys); Rude, .09 and .03; Stealing, .09 and .03; Overinterest in sex matters, .09 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, .08 (girls); Bad companions, .07 and -.03; Finicky food habits, .07 and .15; Enuresis, .07 and .12; Changeable moods, .07 and .03; Restless in sleep, .07 and .09; Sex de- nied entirely, .07 and .12; Lues, .07 and .11; Discord between parents; .06 and .16; Spoiled child, .06 and .04; Oversuggestible, .06 and -.00; Temper tantrums, .06 and .18; Stubborn, .06 and ,02; Slovenly, .06 and -.01; Quarrelsome, .05 and .08; Violence, .05 and -.04; Sex delinquency (coitus), .05 and -.08; Crying spells, .05 and .15; Worry over specific fact, .05 and .18; Popular, .05 and -.08; Vicious home conditions, .04 and -.06; Neurological defect, .04 and .06; Attractive manner, .04 and .03; Lack of initiative, .04 and .13; Slow, dull, .04 and .18; Nail-biting, .04 and .06; Irresponsible, .04 and -.17; Bossy, .03 and .15; Inattentive In school, .03 and .16; Gang, .03 (boys); Stuttering, .03 (boys); Grouped: swearing, etc., .03 and .10; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .02 and .17; Grouped: fighting, etc., .02 and .11; Poor work in school, .02 and .09; Overinterest in opposite sex, .02 (girls); Defiant, .01 and .04; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .01 and .11; Lack of interest in school, .01 and .12; Smoking, .01 (boys); Truancy from home, .01 and -.01; Ab- sent-minded, .01 and .18; Irregular sleep habits, .01 and .05; "Nervous," .01 and .15; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .01 and .09; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .01 and .05; Brother in penal detention, .00 and -.15; Truancy from school, .00 and .09; Leading others into bad conduct, .00 and .12; Excuse-forming, -.00 and
SECLUSIVENESS AND REPRESSED MANNER 219
TABLE 32-— Continued
.09; Headaches, -.01 and .07; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.01 (boys); Egocentric, -.02 and .13; Vocational guidance, -.02 and .01; Ir- regular attendance at school, -.02 and .14; Swearing (general), -.03 (boys); Disobedient, -.03 and .04; Incorrigible, -.04 and -.00; Restless, -.04 and -.00; Grouped: disobedient, etc.. , -.04 and .04; Underweight, -.05 and .14; Former convulsions, -.06 and -.13; Threatening violence, -.06 (boys); Irritable, -.0? and .06; Distractlble, -.07 and .05; Exclusion from school, -.07 and .03; Grouped: temper, etc., -.07 and .07; Psychoneurotic, -.08 and -.18; Staying out late at night, -.08 and -.19; Disturbing influence in school, -.08 and .01; Retardation in school, -.10 and -.13; Unpopular, -.10 and .09
unhappiness , depressed spells, and contrariness, yielded substan- tial correlations ranging from .30 to .32, while among boys the corresponding correlations ranged from .08 to .20.
Three personality notations — daydreaming, mental conflict, and sullenness — showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .22 among both sexes. Apprehensiveness and sensitiveness over some specific fact showed moderate correlations of .21 + .04 and .20 + .04 among boys and slightly lower correlations of .19 and .17 among girls. Eleven notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's among girls but low correlations ranging from -.02 to .18 among boys : sensitiveness in general, inferiority feelings, queer behav- ior , hatred or jealousy of sibling, dull or slow manner (undiffer- entlated), listlessness, object of teasing by other children, fight ing, destructiveness , boastful or "show-off" manner, and clean habits or appearance.
With repressed manner eight case notations showed negative correlations larger than -.20. For emotional instability the coef- ficients were -.26 + .06 and .06 for boys and girls respectively. Among girls both notations speech defect and feeble- minded s ibllng yielded correlations of -.30, with negligible coefficients for boys The following fiv.e behavior traits yielded negative coefficients among girls ranging from -.21 to -.29 with negligible coefficients among boys: temper display, selfishness, question of hypophrenia, "leader," and "follower."
In three Instances a tetrachoric r could not be calculated: there were no Instances in which repressed children also were thought to have suffered from encephalitis or noted as given to loitering or wandering, or considered by the examining staff to man- ifest an unfavorable conduct prognosis.
220 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
All six sex notations showed negligible correlations with repressed manner. Among physical or psychophysical notations speech defect among girls yielded a negative correlation of -.30 + .08, the other coefficients being negligible. Among home or fa- milial conditions there were no significant relationships discov- ered.
CHAPTER XXIII QUEER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE OF PERSONALITY"
The two closely interrelated notations "queerneas lt—- »patlent considered by others as mentally peculiar , very erratic , or "crazy"*— etc . , and question of change of personality., mental status,, or be- havior dating from some specific time or episode, which were of very frequent occurrence among our cases, appear to be of major seriousness from a clinical standpoint, especially in the sphere of personality deviation. In the conduct sphere their importance is also substantial, though not as an indicator of "juvenile de- linquency" in the strict sense. Both notations were more charac- teristic of the older children among our group, especially question of change of personality. Their correlations with chronological, age, however, and with intelligence quotient (IQ), though positive, were low.
Queer behavior was noted among 118, or 5.6 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 67, or 5.7 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls.
Among boys its bi- serial correlation of .52 + .03 with the personality- total was the highest of the 160 coefficients computed with this criterion, being exceeded only by the correlations with the notations staff diagnosis or question of incipient psychosis (unspecified) and staff diagnosis or question of dementia praecox, which were of definitely pathological nature (Table 33). Among girls its bi- serial r of .61 + .03 was the second highest coeffi- cient, being exceeded by only one other coefficient among the 134 computed with this criterion. With the conduct- total criterion the boys' bi- serial r of .32 + .03 Indicated a mediocre association, but among girls its correlation of .64 + .03 indicated a very mean- ingful relationship, being exceeded by only 8 of the 134 coeffi-
1I, 205-6, Fig. 48.
tables 9 (p. 128) and 10 (p. 130). 5Table 6 (p. 89).
221
222
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 33 CORRELATIONS WITH "QUEER"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality -total |
.52 ± .03 .32 ± .03 .08 ± .Ok |
.61 + .03 .64 ± .03 .19 t .06 |
|
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Question of change of pers Seclusive |
Dnality |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.ko ± .05 .39 ± .Ok .37 ± .05 .32 ± .ok .31 ± .05 .30 ± .06 .30 ± .10 .30 t .04 .30 + .06 .29 ± .06 .28 ± .06 .28 ± .06 .28 4- .05 .27 ± .06 .27 ± .05 .26 ± -04 .26 ± .04 .26 ± .06 .26 + .06 .26 ± .05 .26 t .06 |
.53 ± .06 (1)* .25 + .07 (47-48) .29 ± .08 (34-38) .35 + .05 (18-23) .39 ± .06 (10-12) .29 + .07 (34-38) .29 ± .09 (34-38) .35 ± .07 (18-23) .21 ± .08 (54-59) .29 t .08 (34-38) .34 4- .07 (24-26) .23 ± .08 (49-53) .11 .35 ± .08 (18-23) .28 4- .08 (39-42) .21 ± .05 (54-59) .37 ± .05 (13-15) |
||
|
Absent-minded |
|||
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Question of encephalitis.. |
etc |
||
|
Object of teasing |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of slbl: Contrary , |
Liur. |
||
|
32mnt, j nnal J nfltn/bl T 1 ty , . , . . |
|||
|
Psychoneurotlc * |
|||
|
Refusal to attend school. . |
|||
|
Unpopular. |
|||
|
Inferiority feelings |
|||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
|||
|
Grouped * "nervous , " et c |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Mental conflict r |
|||
|
.32 ± .09 (29-32) .18 |
|||
|
Listless |
|||
|
Threatening violence |
|||
|
Stubborn |
.26 t .ok .25 ± .Ok .25 ± .05 .25 t .Ok .2k ± .Ok .2k ± .Ok .2k ± .06 .2k ± .06 |
.25 ± .06 (47-48) .13 .43 t .06 (5) .09 .33 t .06 (27-28) .36 t .05 (16-17) .18 |
|
|
Apprehensive |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Quarrel Br>me ..,..,..,.,...» |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc.... |
|||
|
He^Clfl,rOT?fl .................. |
|||
|
Swearing (general) |
|||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc.... |
» |
.21 ± .05 .21 t .04 .20 t .05 .20 t .04 .11 .18 -.02 .16 .16 .18 .00 |
.33 ± .07 (27-28) .09 .46 t ,.06 (2) •39 ± .06 (10-12) .44 t .06 (3-4) •44 t .07 (3-4) .41 ± .08 (6) .40 t -07 (7-9) .40 + .07 (7-9) .40 + .04 (7-9) .39 + .06 (10-12) |
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc.. |
|||
|
Violence |
|||
|
Restless in sleep |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc... |
|||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Leading others into bad cor Boastful, "show-off" |
iduct |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. |
|||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
QUEER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE OF PERSONALITY TABLE 33 — Continued
223
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.37 ± .06 (13-15) .37 ± .06 (13-15) .36 ± .08 (16-17) .35 t .07 (18-23) .35 ± .07 (18-23) .35 + .04 (18-23) .34 ± .05 (24-26) .34 ± .05 (24-26) .32 + .06 (29-32) .32 + .07 (29-32) .32 + .06 (29-32) .30 ± .08 (33) .29 ± .05 (34-38) .28 + .07 (39-42) .28 ± .05 (39-42) .28 ± .06 (39-42) .27 ± .06 (43-44) .27 + .06 (43-44) .26 4- .06 (45-46) .26 + .07 (45-46) .23 i .06 (49-53) .23 ± .07 (49-53) .23 ± .09 (49-53) .23 ± .05 (49-53) .21 + .06 (54-59) .21 ± .07 (54-59) .21 ± .06 (54-59) .21 ± .07 (54-59) .20 ± .06 (60-65) .20 ± .07 (60-65) .20 t .09 (60-65) .20 t -07 (60-65) .20 ± .08 (60-65) .20 ± .08 (60-65) |
||
|
.19 .19 .13 .18 .13 .11 .10 • 15 -.01 .19 -.02 .07 .18 .18 .15 .07 -.09 .19 .06 .07 .15 -.02 .10 -.00 |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Lying |
||
|
Dietractible |
||
|
Sulky » |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
UnhaDTDV |
||
|
Crying spells ,. |
||
|
Sloyenly |
||
|
Over suggestible |
||
|
Masturbation |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
- 05 |
||
|
.11 .16 .13 .04 .04 .19 .13 . -1^ |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric , etc >.,... |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
||
|
Loitering |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.29 t .05 |
.03 -.04 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling. . „ |
-.23 i .06 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Bashful, .19 and .07; Tictim of sex abuse, .19 (girls); Temper display, .18 and -.14; Underweight, .16 and .00; Spoiled child, .16 and .10; Truancy from home, .16 and .19; Lazy, .16 and .17; Inattentive in school, .15 and -.04; Ego- centric, .15 and .18; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .15 and .15; Nail-biting, .14 and .18; Finicky food habits, .13 and .04; Staying out late at night, .13 and .19; Slow, dull, .13 and -.01; Lack of Initiative, .!> and .19; Immoral home conditions, .12 and -.04; Former convulsions, .12 and -.00; Teas- ing other children, .11 (boys); Sullen, .11 and .18; Stuttering, .10 (boya); Lack of interest in school, .10 and .18; Preference for younger children, .09
224 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 33—Continued
and -.09; Question of hypophrenla, .09 and .02; Selfish, .08 and .19; Attrac- tlye manner, .07 and -.05; Vocational guidance, .07 and .03; Poor work in school, .06 and .08; Sex denied entirely, .06 and .10; Conduct prognosis bad, .06 and .09; Enuresis, .05 and .08; Smoking, .05 (boys); Sex delinquency (coi- tus), .04 and .17; Discord between parents, .03 and .11; Vicious home condi- tions, .02 and .16; Truancy from school, .02 and .13; Lues, .00 and .10; Ir- regular attendance at school, -.03 and -.09; Follower, -.06 and -.10; Brother In penal detention, -.06 and -.10; Retardation in school, -.08 and -.18; Gang, -.09 (boys); Clean, -.09 and .07; Popular, -.11 and .04
4 clents calculated with this criterion of seriousness. For police
arrest the tetrachorlc correlations of .08 + .04 and .19 + .06 among boys and girls respectively indicated a low or negligible degree of relationship.
Among the separate notations its highest correlations among both boys and girls were .40 + .05 and .53 + .06 respectively with question of change of personality. Among girls there were seven additional high coefficients ranging from .40 to .46: violence, leading others into bad conduct, boastful or "show- off1' manner, disobedience or incorrigibllity (undifferentiated), irregular sleei habits, depressed spells, and changeable moods or attitudes, the corresponding correlations for boys ranging from -.02 to .25.
Three personality difficulties yielded substantial corre- lations ranging from .30 to .39 among both sexes: daydreaming, "nervousness, " and object of teasing by other children. Over-in- terest in opposite sex (calculated for girls only) also yielded the substantial coefficient of .37 + .06. Five notations yielded substantial coefficients ranging from .30 to .39 among boys and moderate coefficients in the ,20's for girls: seclusiveness, ab- sent-mindedness , inefficiency in work, play, etc . , hatred or jeal- ousy of sibling, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis. Six behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but moderate correlations in the ,20!s among boys: unpopu- larity, mental conflict, emotional instability, restlessness in sleep, Quarrelsomeness, and swearing or bad language (undifferen- tiated). The following twelve conduct and personality difficulties yielded substantial correlations in the ,30!s among girls but low correlations below .20 for the boys: defiant attitude, temper
Stable 7 (p. 98).
QUEER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE OP PERSONALITY 225
tantrums , destructiveness , fight ing , disturbing influence In school, stealing, lying, fantastical lying, rudeness, sulkiness, distraot- ibility, and unhapplness.
The following five be,havior traits showed moderate corre- lations in the . 20fs for both sexes: psychoneurotic trends , in- ferlority feelings, contrariness, stubbornness, and temper tantrums or display (undifferentiated). Complaining of bad treatment by other children and threatening violence, for which only the boys » coefficients were computed, also showed moderate correlations in the .20fs. Six behavior notations among boys also showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive correlations ranging from .09 to .18 among girls: refusal to attend school, irritable temperament or disposition, apprehensiveness , listlessness, dull or slow manner (undifferentiated) and headaches. A large group of twenty- one miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's among girls but low or negligible correlations below .20 for the boys : restlessness, incorrigibllity, disobedience, exclu- sion from school, bad companions, excuse- forming attitude, egocen- triolty or selfishness (undifferentiated), bossy manner, crying spells, sensitiveness in general, sensitiveness over some specific fact, worry over some specific fact, oversuggestibility, slovenli- ness, irresponsibility, loitering or wandering, repressed manner, masturbation, overinterest in sex matters, neurological defect (un- specified), and speech defect (other than stuttering).
Only two statistically significant negative correlations were found with queer behavior, both among boys: -,29 4 .05 for "leader" and -.23 + .06 for feeble-minded sibling. The correspond- ing coefficients for girls were negligible.
Among the six sex notations, overinterest in opposite sex (calculated for girls only) yielded the substantial correlation of %.37 + »06 with queer behavior. Among girls overinterest in sex matters and masturbation also showed the moderate correlations of .20 + .07 and .26 + .06 respectively. The other notations in this field—sex delinquency (coitus), sex misbehavior denied entirely, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse — showed low co- efficients ranging from .04 to .19.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there were three instances in which correlations of moderate size were found. Question or diagnosis of encephalitis yielded correlations
226
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
of .30-1- .10 and .29 + .09 for boys and girls respectively. Among girls neurological defect (unspecified ) and speech defect (other than stuttering) showed moderate correlations of .21 4- .07 and .20 + .07 respectively. The other notations in this field — enuresis, underweight condition, lues, and stuttering (calculated for boys only) — showed low positive coefficients ranging from .00 to .16.
The four home or familial notations — discord between par- ents , vicious and immoral home conditions, and brother in penal detention — showed only non- significant correlations ranging from -.10 to .16.
Question of change of personality was noted in 123 cases, or 5.8 per cent of our boys, and among 65 cases, or 5.5 per cent of our girls. With personality- total its bi- serial correlations of .45 + .03 and .53 4- .03 for boys and girls respectively Indi- cate a high degree of clinical importance. Among girls its corre- lation with conduct-total was also high, .54 + .03, but among boys only moderate, .29 4- .03. With the police-arrest criterion of "juvenile delinquency11 its tetrachoric correlations were low and of little meaning.
Its highest correlations were with question or diagnosis of encephalitis for both boys and girls, the tetrachoric coeffi- cients being .65 + -05 and .66 + .07 respectively (Table 34).
TABLE 31* CORRELATIONS WITH "QUESTION OJ CHANGE OF PERSONALITY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total . , 7 |
L.5 + o^ |
53 4. O3 |
|
Conduct -total |
.29 + .03 |
Sk 4. 03 |
|
14 £ o4 |
12 + 06 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlatione (Positive) |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
65 + 05 |
66 4- 07 (l)* |
|
62 ± ok |
36 I 06 fi^-ift^ |
|
|
Queer |
ko 4- 05 |
5^ X n£ (9\ |
|
Neurological defect |
^6 4- 05 |
k2 + 06 (4) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
QUEER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE OF PERSONALITY TABLE 34— Continued
22?
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.34 -f .05 |
.35 4- .08 (19-21) |
|
|
.33 +• .Ok |
.38 ± .01 (9-11) |
|
|
Irritable |
.53 4- .04 |
.26 4- .06 (43-45) |
|
.32 4- .06 |
.15 |
|
|
T¬ 1 or)fi,l 1 nntn/hl 1 1 ty rt.Ttr,TTr,r».t.TTT...tTT |
.31 4- .06 |
.kl 4- .07 (5) |
|
.30 + .ok |
.32 4- .05 (28-31) |
|
|
Ah Piant. --minded. TTTT,r»..,rTTf...rTr.TT.ffT....t. |
.29 4- .05 |
.26 4- .08 (43-45) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.29 4- .06 |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.29 4- .03 |
.36 4- .05 (16-18) |
|
Depressed , |
.28 4- .05 |
.3*4- 4- .07 (22-23) |
|
Object of teasing |
.26 4- .04 |
.25 4- .07 (46-48) |
|
Headaches , |
.26 + .06 |
.29 4- .07 (34-37) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.25 4- .05 |
.29 4- .06 (3^-37) |
|
Disobedient |
.2k ± .Ok |
.32 4- .05 (28-31) |
|
.2k 4- .05 |
||
|
.2k 4- .06 |
.35 + .08 (19-21) |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.2k 4- .Ok |
.36 4- .06 (16-18) |
|
Secluslve |
.23 ± .05 |
.20 4- .07 (59) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.22 4- .05 |
.09 |
|
Listless |
.22 4- .05 |
.15 |
|
Unpopular |
.22 4- .06 |
.43 + .08 (3) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.22 + .05 |
.16 |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.22 4- .Ok |
.37 4- .05 (12-15) |
|
Mental conflict |
.21 + .06 |
.29 4- .09 04-37) |
|
Restless |
.21 + .04 |
.27 4- .05 (40-42) |
|
"Nervous" |
.21 + .04 |
.32 4- .06 (28-31) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.20 4- .05 |
.23 ± .09 (50-52) |
|
.20 4- .06 |
.19 |
|
|
Temper* t«.nt-ri,iTr)H t T r , , ,..,...,, , . , ... , . , . . |
.19 |
.l+O 4- .06 (6) |
|
Lack of interest in school. |
• 17 |
.39 4- .06 (7-8) |
|
Distractible |
.05 |
.39 4- .06 (7-8) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.04 |
•38 t .07 (9-11) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.03 |
.38 ± .08 (9-11) |
|
Incorrigible |
.18 |
.37 4- .05 (12-15) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.13 |
.37 4- ;06 (12-15) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.19 |
.37 4- .07 (12-15) |
|
Violence .. |
.09 |
.35 4- .07 (19-21) |
|
Truancy from home |
.13 |
.34 4- .04 (22-23) |
|
Spoiled child |
.19 |
.33 4- .06 (24-27) |
|
Destructive |
11 |
•33 + .08 (24-27) |
|
Disturbing influence In school |
.08 |
•33 ± .07 (24-27) |
|
Fantastical lying. |
.06 |
•33 + -07 (24-27) |
|
Defiant |
19 |
52 + 07 ( 28-51 \ |
|
Staying out late at night |
• 03 |
.30 4- .06 (32-33) |
|
Fighting |
.05 |
50 4- 05 (52-55) |
|
Loitering. . |
18 |
PO -4- 08 (54-57) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
• 07 |
28 4- 09 (58-5Q) |
|
.11 |
.28 4- .06 (38-39) |
|
|
Inefficient In work, play, etc |
.08 |
.27 ± .07 (40-42) |
|
Rude |
.10 |
27 t 06 (40-42) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.15 |
.26 4- .05 (45-45) |
|
Lying. |
' o4 |
.25 4- 05 (46-48) |
228
CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 34— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.18 .16 |
.25 ± .05 (46-48) .24 ± .04 (49) .23 ± .06 (50-52) .23 ± .07 (50-52) .22 ± .06 (53-54) .22 ± .06 (53-54) .21 ± .08 (55-58) .21 ± .05 (55-58) .21 ± .09 (55-58) .21 ± .06 (55-58) |
|
Selfish |
||
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
||
|
Daydreflinl ng . .................... t ............ r |
.14 .16 .16 .16 .11 .19 .09 |
|
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Truancy from school |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.22 ± .06 -.21 ± .05 .03 .11 |
.06 .06 -.24 ± .07 -.20 t .07 |
|
|
Follower |
||
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Lues |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Teasing other children, .19 (boys); Sensitive over specific fact, .17 and .19; Masturbation, .17 and .17; Sullen, .17 and .19; Quarrlesome, .17 and .16; Temper display, .15 and .09; Swearing (general), .14 (boys); Sensitive (general) .14 and .13; Repressed, .14 and .12; Victim of sex abuse, .14 (girls); Attractive manner, .14 and .06; Irregular attendance at school, .14 and .06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .13 and .04; Speech defect, .13 and .13; Threaten- ing violence, .13 (boys); Nail-biting, .12 and .13; Gang, .12 (boys); Sulky, .12 and .17; Discord between parents, .11 and -.02; Slovenly, .10 and .15; Poor work in school, .09 and .06; Preference for younger children, .09 and .14; Boastful, "show-off/ .08 and .14; Egocentric, .08 and .13; Underweight, .07 and -.02; Lack of initiative, .07 and -.12; Bashful, .07 and -.03; Popular, .06 and .19; Clean, .05 and .02; Excuse -forming, .05 and .15; Bossy, .04 and .19; Sex denied entirely, .03 and .17; Sex delinquency (coitus), .03 and .13; Bad companions, .02 and .19; Slow, dull, .02 and -.02; Question of hypophrenia, .02 and .15; Inattentive in school, .01 and .08; Former convulsions, .00 and .07; Overinterest in sex matters, -.00 and .13; Vicious home conditions, -.02 and .17; Lazy, -.02 and .09; Enuresis, -.04 and .07; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Voca- tional guidance, -.05 and .00; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.06 and .12; Over- suggestible, -.08 and .16; Leader, -.09 and .07; Immoral home conditions, -.13 and .06; Retardation in school, -.15 and -.10
These correlations (vhich Incidentally are also the highest coef- ficients found for question or diagnosis of encephalitis, as will be noted later in Table 117 fp« 5^2]) establish Its importance as a clinical item, since it Is an outstanding symptom of encephalitis
QUEER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE OP PERSONALITY 229
or encephalitlc residual. Changeable moods also showed the very high correlation of .62 + .04 among boys and a substantial corre- lation among girls of .36 + .06.
Queer behavior among; girls yielded the high correlation of .53 -i- .06 and among boys a very substantial correlation of .40 + .05. Neurological defect (unspecified) and emotional instability among girls also yielded fairly high correlations of .42 + .06 and .41 + .07 respectively, with corresponding substantial correlations among boys of .36-1- .05 and .31 + .06. Unpopularity and temper tantrums among girls also yielded fairly high correlations of .43 + .08 and , 40 + .06 respectively, with lower corresponding coeffi- cients of .22 + .06 and .19 among boys.
Irregular sleep habits and crying spells yielded substan- tial correlations in the ,30's for both sexes with question of change of personality. Irritable temperament and contrariness among boys also yielded substantial correlations in the .30 »s but somewhat lower corresponding coefficients for girls (.26 4- .06 and .15). Five personality and conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's for girls and moderate coefficients in the ,20's for boys: psychoneurotic trends, "nervousness," rest- lessness in sleep, depressed mood or spells, and disobedience. Fifteen additional conduct and personality problems yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's for girls but low positive co- efficients ranging from .03 to .19 among boys: distractibility. lack of interest in school, exclusion from school, disturbing in- fluence in school, leading others into bad conduct, incorrigibility, destructiveness , violence, fighting, defiant attitude, truancy from home, staying out late at night, swearing or bad language (undif- ferentiated), fantastical lying, and "spoiled child."
The following seven notations showed correlations in the ,20's with question of change of personality for both sexes: ab- sent-mindedness, mental conflict, seclusiveness, object of teasing by other children, restlessness, refusal to attend school, and headaches. The two notations which were calculated for boys only, smoking and complaining of bad treatment by other children, and one calculated for girls only, overinterest in the opposite sex, also
L. Jenkins and Luton Ackereon, "The Behavior of Enoephalltlc Children," American Journal of Orthopeychiatry, IV (1934), 499-507.
230 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
shoved moderate coefficients in the . 20's. The following four be- havior difficulties among "boys showed moderate correlations in the .20 's but low positive coefficients below .20 for the girls: in- feriority feelings, unhappiness, listlessness, and finicky food habits. The following fourteen behavior problems among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive corre- lations below .20 for boys: sensitiveness or worrisomeness (un- differentlated), worry over specific fact, daydreaming, apprefren- siveness, loitering or wandering, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , irresponsibility, rudeness, selfishness, stubbornness, truancy from school, stealing, lying, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among four notations there were negative correlations of moderate size with question of change of personality, ranging from -.20 to -.24: feeble-minded sibling and "follower" among boys and brother in penal detention and lues among girls, the corresponding coefficients for the other sex being low, ranging from .03 to .11.
Among our six sex notations the only significant negative correlation was the moderate one of . 23 4- .06 with overinterest in opposite sex, which was calculated for girls only.
Among the physical or psychophysical notations there were three instances of meaningful correlation. Question or diagnosis of encephalitis, as we have seen, yielded the remarkably high tet- rachorlc coefficients of .65 + .05 and .66-1- .07 for boys and girls respectively. Neurological defect (unspecified) yielded the very significant correlations of .36 + .05 and .42 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. These two neurological notations, it will be recalled, also showed meaningful correlations with queer behavior. as well as with question of change of personality. Diagnosis or question of lues among girls showed the barely significant negative correlation of -.20 + .07, this coefficient being not quite thrice its probable error. For enuresis. underweight condition, speech defect, and stuttering (calculated for boys only), the correlations were low for both sexes, ranging from -.05 to .13.
Among home and familial conditions the only correlation of significant size was the negative coefficient among girls of -.24 4- .07 for brother in penal detention.
CHAPTER XXIV CHANGEABLE MOODS AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY"
Changeable , excitable moods and attitudes In our study was a case notation based upon a statement of the parent or other lay informant, while staff notation or question of emotional instabil- ity was a formal statement resulting from the clinical examination and was usually made by the psychiatrist. These two notations showed substantial to fairly high correlations ranging from .26 to .49 with both personality- total and conduct- total and are thus of some importance as clinical indications. With the police-arrest criterion the correlations with changeable moods were negligible, but those with emotional instability were of moderate size in the .20's.
Among our 2,113 White boys changeable moods was noted in 219 instances, or 10.4 per cent. Among our I,l8l White girls it was noted in 144 cases, or 12.2 per cent.
Its highest correlation was among boys, .62 + .04 with question of change of personality, the girls' coefficient also be- ing substantial, .36 + .06 (Table 35). Its next highest coefficient
TABLE 35 CORRELATIONS WITH "CHANGEABLE MOODS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.30 + .02 |
.49 ± .03 |
|
.26 + .02 |
.43 + .03 |
|
|
Police arrest |
.02 ± 03 |
.05 + .05 |
|
Larger Corr< |
alations (Positive) |
|
|
Question of change of personality |
.62 + .04 |
.36 f .06 (14-17)* |
|
Irritable |
.43 + .03 |
.35 + .04 (18-21) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
231
232
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 35— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.39 ± .03 .34 ± .03 .33 ± .04 .30 ± .03 .28 + ..04 .27 + .04 .27 + .04 .27 + .05 |
.43 ± .04 (3-6) .40 t -04 (9) .35 ± .05 (18-21) .43 ± .04 (3-6) •51 ± .05 (1) .54 ± ,o4 (22) .27 + .06 (41-44) |
||
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Restless |
|||
|
Rude |
|||
|
Temper display |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc.... |
.27 ± .03 .26 + .04 .26 ± .05 .25 ± .05 .25 + .05 .25 + .04 .24 + .04 .24 + .04 .23 ± .05 .23 + .04 .23 ± .03 .23 -f .04 .23 ± .03 .22 -i- .03 .22 + .03 .22 ± .05 .21 + .04 .21 t .03 .21 + .04 .20 ± .04 .20 + .04 • 15 • 09 .16 .16 .12 .10 .19 .13 .12 .17 .16 .18 .07 .07 .12 .09 |
.28 ± .04 (36-40) .37 ± .05 (13) |
|
|
JifjydT'ft/^.m'l Tl/T |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Contrary , |
|||
|
.36 + .06 (14-17) .43 + .06 (3-6) .33 ± .05 (23-26) .12 .39 ± .05 (10-11) .31 ± .06 (29-30) .31 ± .06 (29-30) .43 ± .04 (3-6) .27 + .05 (41-44) .33 ± .04 (23-26) .42 ± .05 (7-8) .20 ± .05 (60-64) .35 ± .06 (18-21) .26 + .04 (45) .23 ± .04 (53-57) .44 ± .05 (2) .25 ± .05 (46-49) .33 ± .05 (23-26) .42 ± .05 (7-8) .39 ± .07 (10-11) .38 ± .05 (12) .36 + .06 (14-17) .36 * .04 (14-17) .35 + .05 (18-21) .33 ± .06 (23-26) .32 ± -04 (27-28) .32 -i- .06 (27-28) .30 ± .06 (31-32) .30 i .04 (31-32) .29 ± .06 (33-35) •29 ± .07 (33-35) .29 ± .06 (33-35) .28 ± .05 (36-40) .28 ± .05 (36-40) .28 ± .05 (36-40) .28 ± .05 (36-40) •27 t *05 (41-44) .27 ± .05 (41-44) .25 ± .04 (46-49) .25 ± .07 (46-49) .25 ± .06 (46-49) |
|||
|
Queer* |
|||
|
Restless in sleep |
|||
|
Finicky food habits |
|||
|
Temper taTnt-runiB ........... |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Violence |
©•to |
||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Ibrnui?<*- forming. ........... , |
|||
|
Grouped: s ens 1 tire or won Fantastical lying |
*leoime, etc. ........ |
||
|
Masturbation. |
|||
|
Psychoneurotlc. «... |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc Grouped: depressed, etc. . . |
|||
|
Quarrel SCRIM? . ............... |
|||
|
Neurological defect |
|||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
|||
|
Question of encephalitis. . . |
|||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc. ... |
|||
|
Unpopular |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
Bossy |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc. . |
|||
|
IPmnt.innal instability, , . |
|||
|
Sulky |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Leading others into bad cor Exclusion from school Ai tt |
iduct |
||
|
Distractible |
|||
|
Egocentric |
|||
|
Overinterest in opposite se |
x |
||
|
.05 .16 .18 .15 .12 .03 |
|||
|
Defiant |
|||
|
Spoiled child |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Unhappy |
|||
CHANGEABLE MOODS AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY TABLE 35— Continued
235
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
HefltrLacVheisi ................,,.......'......,..... |
.17 |
.2k- ± .06 (50-52) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.11 |
.24 t .06 (50-52) |
|
Sensitive over specif Ic fact |
.0? |
.24 t *05 (50-52) |
|
Incorrigible . . . . |
.11 |
.23 ± .04 (53-57) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.12 |
.25 ± .06 (53-57) |
|
Leader |
.12 |
.23 ± .06 (53-57) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.07 |
.23 ± .07 (53-57) |
|
- 13 |
.21 + .07 (58-59) |
|
|
Clean |
.07 |
.21 ± .05 (58-59) |
|
Object of teasing |
.09 |
.20 ± .06 (60-64) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.06 |
.20 ± .07 (60-64) |
|
Lack of Interest In scliool. ................... |
.02 |
.20 ± .05 (60-64) |
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
.16 |
.20 ± .06 (60-64) |
|
Larger Corr€ |
jlatlons (Negative) |
|
|
Brother In penal detention |
-.12 |
-.25 t '05 |
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
(n.c.) |
-.07 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Absent-minded, .18 and .02; Follower, .17 and .04; Irresponsible, .16 and .08; Teasing other children, .16 (boys); Slovenly, .16 and .08; Smoking, .16 (boys); Former convulsions, .16 and -.02; Inattentive in school, .15 and .09; Over interest in sex matters, .15 and .03; Speech defect, .15 and .07; Swearing (general), .14 (boys); Apprehensive, .14 and .17; Disobedient, .13 and .12; I<y- ing, .12 and .18; Stealing, .12 and .18; Enuresls, .11 and .01; Repressed, .07 and .03; Popular, .07 and .03; Gang, .06 (boys); Underweight, .06 and -.01; Lack of Initiative, .05 and .05; Vicious home conditions, .05 and -.14; Bashful, .04 and .07; Befusal to attend school, .11 and -.03; Over suggestible, .11 and .07; Listless, .09 and .07; Seclusive, .09 and .16; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .09 and .18; Discord between parents, .08 and .04; Attractive man- mer, .04 and .02; Lazy, .03 and .01; Truancy from home, .03 and .17; Victim of sex abuse, .03 (girls); Poor work in school, .03 and .04; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .02 and -.04; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.00 and .03; Bad companions, -.01 and .07; Staying out late at night, -.01 and .18; Mental conflict, -.01 and .15; Loitering, -.02 and .09; Truancy from school, -.02 and -.01; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.05; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Vocational guidance, -.07 and -.01; Immoral home conditions, -.09 and -.02; Question of hypophrenia, -.10 and -.05; Lues, -.12 and .01; Retardation in school, -.13 and -.13; Irregular attendance at school, -.14 and -.01
Omitted — Grouped: "nervous," etc.
234 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
was among girls, .5! 4- .05, with depressed spells, the correspond- ing coefficient for boys, .28 + .04, being only moderate. Pour be- havior difficulties yielded substantial to fairly high correlations ranging from .30 to .43 among both sexes: irritable temperament, "nervousness," restlessness, and sensitiveness in general. The following thirteen case notations yielded substantial correlations ranging from .30 to .43 among girls and moderate correlations in the .20' s for boys: daydreaming, gueer behavior, inefficiency in work, play, etc. .^ psychoneurotic trends, fantastical lying, rest- less in sleep, sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), crying spells, contrariness, rudeness, violence, temper tantrums, and neurological defect (unspecified). Ten case notations showed substantial correlations ranging from .30 to .42 among girls but low positive coefficients ranging from .09 to .19 among boys: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, boastful, or "show-off" man- ner, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), bossy manner, fighting, selfishness, unpopularity, sulkiness, emotional instabil- ity, and irregular sleep habits.
Changeable moods showed moderate correlations in the .20's among both sexes for the following six behavior problems : temper display, q.ua r r e 1 s ome ne s a , disobedience or incorrigibility (undif- ferentiated), excuse- forming attitude, nail-biting, and masturba- tion. Also overinterest in the opposite sex (computed for girls only) and two other notations, threatening violence and complaining of bad treatment by other children (calculated for boys only), showed moderate correlations in the ,20's. Finicky food habits among boys showed the moderate correlation of .24 + .04 but among girls the low correlation of .12. Among girls a large group of twenty- four case notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients ranging from -.13 to .18 among boys: destructiveness. defiant attitude, stubbornness, incorrigibility. sullenness, leading others into bad conduct, exclusion from school, disturbing Influence in school, lack of interest in school, dis- tractibility, egocentricity. hatred or jealousy of sibling, "spoilec child, " unhappinsss t inferiority feelings, sensitiveness over spe- cific fact, worry over specific fact, preference for younger chil- dren as playmates, object of teasing by other children, sex misbe- havior denied entirely, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prog- nosis, headaches, "leader," and clean habits.
CHANGEABLE MOODS AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY 235
The only considerable negative correlation with changeable moods was the moderate one of -.25 + .05 among girls with brother In penal detention, the corresponding boys' coefficient being -.12.
Among the sex notations masturbation showed moderate corre- lations in the .20 's for both sexes. Overinterest in opposite sex, which was calculated for girls only, yielded a moderate correlation of .28 + .05. Sex misbehavior denied entirely among girls showed the moderate correlation of .21 4 .07, while among boys the corre- lation was negative, -.13. Sex delinquency ( coitus ) , overinterest in sex matters, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse yielded only negligible correlations.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal case notations the only significant indications were for question or diagnosis of encephalitis, which yielded the coefficients of .39 + .07 among girls with a negligible coefficient of .09 among boys, and for neu- rological defect (unspecified), which yielded coefficients of .20 4- .04 and . 33 + -05 for boys and girls respectively.
Among home or familial notations the only correlation of significant size with changeable moods was the negative one of -.25 -I- .05 among girls for brother in penal detention.
Staff notation or question of emotional instability or emo- tional lability yielded correlations bearing considerable similar- ity to those for changeable moods, one point of difference, how- ever, being that emotional Instability among both sexes showed mod- erate correlations In the ,20's with the police-arrest criterion, while changeable moods indicated an essentially zero relationship. Emotional Instability was noted among 104, or 4.9 per cent, of our boys and among 85, or 7.2 per cent, of our girls.
Its highest correlation among both sexes was with question or diagnosis of encephalitis, the tetrachoric coefficients being .46 4 .06 and .48 + .08 (Table 36). Staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among boys also yielded the fairly high correla- tion of .40 4- .06 with the substantial correlation of .32 4- .07 among girls. Three personality notations also yielded similar cor- relations ranging from .47 down to .41 among girls: psychoneurotic trends , question of change of personality, and restlessness, the corresponding coefficients for boys ranging from .31 down to .21. Violence and "nervousness" or restlessness (including Irritable
236
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 36 CORRELATIONS WITH "EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
•31 ± .03 .28 + .03 .20 + .04 |
.45 ± .03 .44 -f .03 .23 + .05 |
||
|
Conduct -"total. |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Question of encephalitis. . |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.46 + .06 .40 ± .06 .36 + .04 .35 ± .04 .32 ± .05 .31 ± .06 .29 ± .07 .29 ± .05 .28 ± .06 .28 -f .05 .27 + .04 .27 + .04 .25 + .04 .25 ± .05 .24 + .05 .23 + .04 .23 + .04 .22 ± .06 .22 + .06 .22 ± .05 .21 + .03 .21 ± .06 .21 + .05 .21 ± .05 .21 + .04 .21 + .07 |
.48 + .08 (1)* .32 + .07 (12-16) .28 -f .05 (24-25) .32 + -04 (12-16) .30 + .06 (20-22) .41 + .07 (3-4) .47 -i- .06 (2) .25 ± .06 (34-38) .34 ± .07 (9-11) .12 .26 ± .05 (28-33) .11 .38 ± .05 (5-6) .08 .27 ± .05 (26-27) .00 .29 ± .05 (23) |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
|||
|
Group ed : " nervous , " et c . . |
|||
|
Violence. |
|||
|
Question of change of pers Psychoneurotic |
Dnality |
||
|
Neurological defect |
|||
|
Queer |
|||
|
Staying out late at night. |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Object of teasing |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Loitering. |
|||
|
Quarrelsome |
|||
|
Temper display |
|||
|
Incorrigible. * . |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Absent-mi Tifl^A. ............ r |
|||
|
.18 .25 ± .07 (34-38) .31 ± .07 (17-19) .36 + .07 (7-8) .34 + .06 (9-11) .25 ± .04 (34-38) .41 ± .05 (3-4) -.20 + .07 |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Inefficient in vork, play, Twnpwr tantrums ,...,,,.,., |
etc |
||
|
"Nervous" : |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc... |
.21 ± .06 .21 ± .06 .20 ± .05 .20 ± .04 .20 ± .05 .18 .04 .11 .10 .12 .05 .11 .10 .17 |
•24 + .05 (39-41) .26 + .07 (28-33) .22 t -06 (43-45) .17 .38 t -07 (5-6) .36 ± .07 (7-8) .34 + -06 (9-11) .32 + .05 (12-16) .32 ± .07 (12-16) .32 ± .06 (12-16) .31 ± .07 (17-19) .31 ± .08 (17-19) .30 ± .06 (20-22) •30 t -07 (20-22) |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc.., |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc Exclusion from school |
„ |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off " |
|||
|
Grouped: sensitive or won Unpopular |
*isome, etc |
||
|
Destructive |
|||
|
Leading others into bad cor Spoiled child |
iduct |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
CHANGEABLE MOODS AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY TABLE 36 — Continued
237
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.05 |
.28 -I- .07 (24-25) |
|
|
.08 |
.27 t -07 (26-27) |
|
|
Grouped: swearing; etc |
.11 |
.26 t -07 (28-33) |
|
Mental conflict |
.16 |
.26 t -08 (28-33) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.11 |
.26 ± .06 (28-33) |
|
Rude |
.06 |
.26 4- .05 (28-33) |
|
.13 |
.25 + .07 (34-38) |
|
|
Distractlble |
.16 |
.25 t «06 (34-38) |
|
Egocentric |
.18 |
,2k ± .06 (39-41) |
|
Lying „ |
.13 |
.24 t «05 (39-41) |
|
Overintereet in opposite sex |
.23 t -05 (^2) |
|
|
Bhrrvusfj- frrnning. ............................... |
.08 |
.22 + .06 f 43-45} |
|
Bossy |
.0? |
.22 + 07 (45-4*5} |
|
Larger Corrc |
)lat 1 ons ( Negat 1 ve ) |
|
|
Repressed |
-.26 + .06 |
.06 |
|
Lack of initiative |
.06 " |
-.30 t -07 |
|
" |
Not |
Calculable |
|
Brother in penal detention |
(n.c.) |
-.06 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Stealing, .18 and .09; Refusal to attend school, .17 and .04; Worry over specific fact, .16 and .14; Contrary, .16 and .08; Bad companions, .15 and .17; Slovenly, .15 and .07; Irregular attendance at school, .14 and -.01; Mas- turbation, .14 and .16; Defiant, .14 and .18; Speech defect, .13 and .07; In- feriority feelings, .12 and .17; Overlnterest in sex matters, .12 and .13; Rest- less in sleep, .11 and -.02; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .11 and .17; Stutter- ing, .10 (boys); Sulky, .10 and .14; Stubborn, .10 and .15; Gang, .10 (boys); Finicky food habits, .10 and .06; Truancy from home, .09 and .18; Sensitive (general), .09 and .13; Leader, .08 and .11; Apprehensive, .08 and .16; Threat- ening violence, .08 (boys); Swearing (general), .08 (boys); Disobedient, .08 and .19; Sullen, .07 and .17; Lues, .07 and -.01; Immoral home conditions, .07 and -.01; Unhappy, .06 and .16; Seclusive, .06 and .11; Lack of Interest in school, k05 and .08; Truancy from school, .05 and .13; Over suggestible, .05 and .06; Discord between parents, .05 and .01; Former convulsions, .04 and -.05; Sex delinquency (coitus), .04 and .17; Lazy, .03 and .09; Follower, .03 and -.06; Grouped: lack of interest In school, etc., .03 and .07; Smoking, .02 (boys); Enuresie, .02 and .08; Listless, .01 and -.02; Question of hypophrenia, .01 and -.07; Poor work in school, -.01 and -.02; Attractive manner, -.02 and .10; Inat- tentive in school, -.03 and -.04; Popular, -.03 and .11; Victim of sex abuse, -.03 (girls); Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.04 and .15; Underweight, -.04 and .10; Nail-biting, -.06 and .13; Feeble-minded sibling, -.07 and .15; Prefer- ence for younger children, -.07 and .06; Bashful, -.08 and -.04; Vocational guidance, -.08 and -.04; Clean, -.10 and .07; Retardation In school, -.10 and -.17; Selfish, -.11 and .08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.13 and -.16; Teasing other children, -.13 (boys); Slow, dull, -.17 and -.15; Sex denied entirely, -.18 and -.03
238 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
temperament and changeable moods . undifferentiated) yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's for both boys and girls. The following six notations among girls yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30's, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the, .20 fs for boys: crying spells, temper tantrums, queer behav- ior , fantastical lying, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , and ex- clusion from school. The following nine behavior problems also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's for girls but low positive coefficients below .20 for boys: changeable moods, "spoiled child," boastful or "show- off" manner, daydreaming, sen- sitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), unpopula r i ty , de- structiveness , leading others into bad conduct, and irregular sleep habits.
The following seven case notations showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20's with emotional instability for both sexes: irritable temperament, "nervousness, " quarrelsomeness, fighting, incorrigibillty, depressed spells, and neurological defect (unspec- ified), and also complaining of bad treatment by other children, which was computed for boys only. The following six notations among boys also showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 for the girls: temper display , staying out late at night, loitering or wandering, absent-mindedness , object of teasing by other children, and vicious home conditions. The following twelve notations among girls also showed moderate corre- lations below .20 for the boys: mental conflict, sensitiveness over specific fact, excuse forming attitude, irresponsibility, ego- centricity, bossy manner, rudeness, distractibility, lying, swear- ing or bad language (undifferentiated), disturbing influence in s chool , and headaches . Overlnterest in opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlation was computed, also showed a moderate correlation of .23 + .05.
There were three negative correlations of significant size with emotional instability; among boys repressed manner showed the moderate coefficient of -.26 4- .06, the corresponding correlation among girls being only .06. Lack of initiative or ambition among girls yielded a correlation of -.30 + .07, while among boys its correlation was .06. Vicious home conditions showed a curious di- vergence in its correlations, the coefficient for girls being a negative -.20 + .07, while among boys it was a positive .21-1- .07.
CHANGEABLE MOODS AND EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY 239
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of sig- nificant size was .23 + .05 for overlnterest in opposite sex (cal- culated for girls only). For masturbation the two coefficients of .14 and .16 may be suggestive £ut were below the conventional stand- ard of "statistical significance."
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations we have already noted the striking correlations of .46 + .06 and .43 + .08 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis and also the mod- erate correlations of .29 4- .05 and .25 + .06 with neurological defect ( unspecified ) . The other five notations in this field ( enu~ resis, underweight condition, diagnosis or question of lues, speech defect, and stuttering) showed only negligible correlations with emo ti ona 1 instability.
Among the four home or familial notations the only coeffi- cients of significant size were the two seemingly contradictory correlations with vicious home conditions (.21 + .07 and -.20 4 .07 for boys and girls respectively).
CHAPTER XXV SUSPECTED MENTAL DEFICIENCY ( HYPOPHRENIA )
Question of mental deficiency, hypophrenia, or inadequate Intelligence In the present data Is not a staff notation "but Indi- cates the "lay" opinion expressed by a parent, friend, teacher, employer, or a social agency not equipped with psychological or psychiatric service sufficient to render a formal diagnosis. This notation does not always indicate a patent mental deficiency but may occasionally mean an intellectual capacity too low for the given school studies or employment of the patient at the time of examination. For example, a fourth-year high- school student may be handicapped by "inadequate intelligence" and still be far from "mentally deficient." (In fact, among the 3,294 boys and girls considered in the present volume, 23 with IQ's of 100 or more were so noted, one of whom achieved a Stanford- Bine t IQ above 125, ) The coefficients in Table 37 should therefore be carefully contrasted with those for Intelligence quotient (IQ).
Question of hypophrenia was noted among 454 of our 2,113 White boys, or 21.5 P©r cent, and among 283 of our 1,181 White girls, or 24.0 per cent, and was one of the most frequent reasons for which children were referred for examination in this clinic.2
The correlations of question of hypophrenia with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominousness" ( personality- total, con- duct-total, and police arrest) were very low, ranging from -.15 to .04 (Table 37). In this connection it should be pointed out that question of hypophrenia was not counted in the personality- total because Its inclusion would probably have weighted the personallty- total too much In the direction of low intelligence, especially since another similar notation, slow or dull manner, was already included in the personality- total . Following the conventional
10, p. 130.
iS.. M. Adler, Eleventh Annual Report of the Crimlnologist, 1927-1928 (Springfield, 111.: Department of Public Welfare, 1928), p. 83, Table V.
240
SUSPECTED MENTAL DEFICIENCY (HYPOPHRENIA )
TABLE 37 CORRELATIONS WITH "QUESTION OF EfPOPHRENIA"
241
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total |
.Ok ± -.03 ± |
.02 .02 |
-.05 ± .03 -.03 ± .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
|||
|
Retardation in school |
|||
|
Larger |
Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
• 55 ± .29 ± .26 ± • 23 ± .22 ± .20* .20 ± .18 .15 .ok .16 |
.02 .03 • 05 .03 .Ok .ok .06 |
.48 t .03 (1)* .2k ± .Ok (6) .Ok .20 ± .03 (9) .15 .27 ± .05 (3) .23 ± .03 (7) .32 ± .05 (2) •26 ± .05 (k) .25 ± .Ok (5) .22 ± .05 (8) |
|
|
Slow, dull |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
|||
|
Speech defect |
|||
|
Feoble-7nirK?**d sibling. ........................ |
|||
|
Poor work in school |
|||
|
Preference for younger children. |
|||
|
UTduel on from school ......................... |
|||
|
Underweight |
|||
|
Lues • |
|||
|
Larger |
Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.29 + |
.Ok |
-.21 + .05 |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
-.23 ± - 17 |
.Ok |
-.10 -.28 ± .04 -.24 t .05 -.23 ± .Ok -.23 t -04 -.22 ± .06 -.22 ± .05 -.22 ± .04 -.21 ± .06 -.21 ± .04 |
|
Iiflmoral bnnw* conditions ................ a ...... |
-.19 -.00 -.10 -.12 -.01 - 06 |
||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Vo^atl OTX^I gul dance ........*...........*,,, ^ * * |
|||
|
Repressed |
|||
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
ffatTefl °r Jealousy of sibling. .....,..,*, ^ * ^ * A |
-.10 -.19 |
||
|
Egocentric |
|||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Object of teasing, .17 and .18; Absent-minded, .15 and .08; Irregular attendance at school, .14 and -.08; Former convulsions, .14 and -.10; Overeug- gestlble, .14 and .02; Dlstractible, .14 and .18; Threatening violence, .14 (boys); Violence, .13 and .11; Headaches, .12 and -.05; Apprehensive, .12 and .10; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .11 (boys); Loitering, .10 and .15; Swearing (-general), .09 (boys); Lack of Initiative, .09 and .10; Queer, .09 and .02; Question of encephalitis, .09 and .08; Incorrigible, .07 and .07; Temper display, .07 and -.06; Bashful, .07 and .10; Seclusive, .07 and .06; Bn- uresie, .05 and .16; Fantastical lying, .05 and -.02; Follower, .05 and .09; Brother In penal detention, .04 and -.10; Restless In sleep, .04 and .02; Sulky,
242 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 37— Continued
.04 and .01; Grouped: fighting, etc., .03 and .02; Neurological defect, .03 and .09; Leading others into bad conduct, .03 and .14; Teasing other children, .02 (boys); Question of change of personality, .02 and .15; "Nervous," .02 and .01; Stuttering, .02 (boys); Grouped: temper, etc., .02 and .02; Emotional in- stability, .01 and -.07; Slovenly, .01 and .08; Disobedient, .01 and .04; De- structive, .00 and .11; Temper tantrums, .00 and .02; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.00 and .04; Refusal to attend school, -.00 and -.07; Sullen, -.00 and .05; Listless, -.00 and .08; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.01 and .03; Vicious home conditions, -.01 and .16; Spoiled child, -.01 and -.08; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.01 and -.08; Staying out late at night, -.01 and -.04; Disturbing influence in school, -.01 and .12; Contrary, -.02 and -.01; Fighting, -.02 and -.06; Lack of interest in school, -.02 and .04; Irregular sleep habits, -.02 and .06; Unpopular, -.02 and .11; Masturbation, -.03 and .00; Truancy from school, -.03 and -.06; Truancy from home, -.03 and -.05; Quarrelsome, -.03 and .06; Nail-biting, -.03 and .06; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.03 (girls); Cry- ing spells, -.04 and .06; Irritable, -.04 and -.04; Attractive manner, -.04 and -.18; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.04 and .04; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., -.05 and -.03; Sensitive (general), -.05 and -.08; Restless, -.05 and .05; Finicky food habits, -.06 and -.15; Itflng, -.06 and -.08; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.06 and -.01; Inferiority feelings, -.06 'and -.07; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.07 and -.13; Stubborn, -.07 and -.08; Gang, -.07 (boys); In- attentive in school, -.07 and -.15; Bad companions, -.07 and -.16; Boastful, "show-off," -.08 and -.05; Rude, -.08 and -.12; Stealing, -.08 and -.08; Popu- lar, -.08 and -.14; Victjju of sex abuse, -.09 (girls); Mental conflict, -.10 and -.18; Changeable moods, -.10 and -.05; Lazy, -.10 and .06; Irresponsible, -.10 and .01; Bossy, -.11 and -.05; Daydreaming, -.11 and -.15; Excuse-forming, -.11 and -.05; Sex denied entirely, -.11 and -.01; Leader, -.11 and .19; Dis- cord between parents, -.11 and -.11; Clean, -.12 and -.17; Smoking, -.13 (boys); Defiant, -.19 and -.11; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.15 and -.09; Unhappy, -.16 and -.03; Sensitive over specific fact, -.16 and -.08
beliefs, we have listed it as "physical or constitutional defect" in our indexing of the original case-record material.^
The highest correlations with question of hypophrenia among both sexes were with intelligence quotient (IQ), which yielded the negative bi- serial r of -.57 + .02 and -.53 + .02 as noted in chap- ter xlii. The next highest correlations were the positive tetra- chorlc r's of .55 + -02 and .48 + .03 for boys and girls respec- tively with retardation in school.
With the specific behavior and other notations there were relatively few correlations of statistically significant size. The coefficients were about equally divided between positive and nega- tive signs. The following three notations among both sexes yielded moderate positive coefficients ranging from .20 to .29: slow or
5I, 73-76, Table 6.
SUSPECTED MENTAL DEFICIENCY (HYTOPHRENIA ) 243
dull manner, poor work in school, and feeble-minded sibling. Mod- erate negative correlations of -.29 4- .04 and -.21 4- .05 were found for psychoneurotic trends among boys and girls respectively.
Speech defect and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among boys showed moderate positive correlations in the ,20's but corresponding low correlations below .20 among girls. Vorry over some specific fact or episode among boys showed the mod- erate negative correlation of -.23 + .04 and among girls the low negative coefficient of -.10. The following four notations among girls showed moderate positive correlations ranging from .22 to .32 but low positive correlations below .20 for boys: preference for younger children as playmates, exclusion from school, under- weight condition, and lues. The following eight notations showed moderate negative tetrachoric correlations in the -.20's among girls, the corresponding coefficients for boys being negative and low, ranging from -.01 to -.19: selfishness, egocentricity, hatred or jealousy of sibling, depressed spells, repressed manner, over- interest in sex matters, immoral home conditions, and "request for vocational guidance. "
Among our six sex notations the only correlation of signif- icant size with question of hypophrenia was the negative of -.22 4- .05 among girls with overinterest in sex matters. All the other correlations in this field were a low negative, ranging from .00 to -.11.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal traits there were three instances in which the correlations were of statisti- cally significant size. Among girls underweight condition and lues showed moderate correlations of .25 4- .04 and .22 + .05 respective- ly. Speech defect (other than stuttering) showed the moderate cor- relation of .22 4- .04 for boys. The remaining coefficients in this field were low, ranging from .02 to .16.
Among the four home or familial notations there was only one coefficient of significant size, -.24 4- .05 among girls for im- moral home conditions, the other correlations in this field rang- ing from -.19 to .16.
Since question of hypophrenia is the "opposite" of intelli- gence quotient (IQ), a comparison of the coefficients (chiefly tet- rachoric r1s) in Table 37 with those for IQ (chiefly bi- serial r's)
244 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Is Interesting. The Inter columnar product- moment correlations were -.81 + .02 and -.57 + »04 for boys and girls respectively. Among the 120 pairs of "boys1 coefficients, 8j5 pairs were .of unlike sign and only 27 were of like sign. Among 115 pairs of coefficients among girls, 69 were of unlike sign, and 46 were of like sign. If both measures were truly valid measures of intelligence (or lack of intelligence), the intercolumnar correlations should approach a negative unity. In view of the inadequacies in both measures, especially those due to the subjectivity of the "lay" notation of question of mental deficiency or inadequate intelligence, these Intercolumnar correlations are probably as satisfactory as may be expected. (This phenomenon of inconsistency in the correlations of antithetical traits has been discussed in I, 154-35 and 249-50, and this volume, pp. 45 and 204-5.)
CHAPTER XXVI
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNESS; LACK OP INITIATIVE
The three generally similar personality problems — slow or dull manner, listlesaness or Indifferent attitude, and lack of In- itiative or ambition — showed a moderate degree of Intercorrelatlon with one another and also general similarity in their correlations with "outside" traits. All three appear to be of little importance as far as their correlations with our three criteria of "serious- ness" indicate, the correlation coefficients ranging from-. 16 to • 19.'
Slow or dull manner was noted among 5^1 of our 2,113 White boys, or 25.6 per cent, and 285 of our I,l8l White girls, or 24.1 per cent. It was one of the most often noted of behavior traits among our case records. It was significantly correlated with low Intelligence, the correlation with intelligence quotient for boys and girls being, respectively, -.26 + .04 and -.24 -f .03 (Table 10, P. 130). !
Of the many correlations computed, only a comparative few were of statistically significant size. Its largest correlations were for llstlessness among both boys and girls, the respective co- efficients being .31 4- .03 and .28 4- .05, and for retardation in school with corresponding correlations of .24 + .03 and .30 + .03 (Table 38). Other correlations of moderate size in the ,20fs among both sexes were for question of hypophrenia, dlstractibility, and absent-mindedness . Poor work in school and speech defect among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's, with corresponding low correlations below .20 among girls. Pour notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs, the corresponding coef- ficients for boys ranging from .07 to .18: lack of initiative,
''"See also I, 151-52, 194, Table 36, and 199, Table 48.
245
246
CHILDREN* 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 38 CORRELATIONS WITH "SLOW, DULL"
|
Boye |
Girls |
|
|
Conduct -total „ |
.0? ± .02 - 08 + .03 |
-.07 ± .03 - 16 t «04 |
|
Listless |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.31 ± .05 .29 ± .03 .26 t .03 .24 + .03 .24 ± .03 .22 + .04 .21 ± -03 .18 .07 .13 .18 |
.28 ± .05 (3-4)* .24 + .04 (6) .11 .30 ± .03 (1) .20 ± .05 (9) .29 ± .05 (2) .17 .28 + .05 (3-4) .26 ± .05 (5) .23 ± .05 (7-8) .23 ± .05 (7-8) |
|
|
Question of hypophrenla. .....* |
||
|
Retardation in school |
||
|
Distract ible |
||
|
Absent-minded |
||
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lazy, .18 and .14; Depressed, .13 and .01; Queer, .13 and -.01; Grouped: depressed, etc., .12 and -.01; Follower, .11 and .12; Seclusive, ,11 and .18; Oversuggestible, .11 and .10; Object of teasing, .11 and .06; Apprehensive, .10 and .08; Bashful, .10 and .07; Question of encephalitis, .10 and -.07; Slovenly, .09 and .08; Popular, .08 and -.13; Neurological defect, .08 and .02; Sullen, .07 and .08; Irresponsible, .07 and -.03; Daydreaming, .06 and -.01; Sex denied entirely, .06 and -.19; Headaches, .06 and -.08; Former convulsions, .06 and .15; Underweight, .06 and .06; Vicious home conditions, .05 and .03; Worry over specific fact, .05 and .07; Crying spells, .05 and .01; Stubborn, .05 and -.04; Repressed, .04 and .18; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .04 (boys); Vocational guidance, .0^ and -.01; Lues, .03 and .02; Unhappy, .03 and .02; Restless in sleep, .03 and .06; Restless, .03 and .11; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .03 and .18; Enuresis, .03 and .05; Question of change of person- ality, .02 and -.02; Sulky, .02 and .03; Mental conflict, .02 and -.10; Stutter- ing, .02 (boys); Discord between parents, .01 and -.01; Brother In penal deten- tion, .01 and -.07; Excuse -forming, .01 and .00; Truancy from school, .01 and -.13; Swearing (general), .01 (boys); Refusal to attend school, .01 and -.07; Inattentive in school, .01 and -.08; Threatening violence, .00 (boys); Irregu- lar attendance at school, .00 and .03; Grouped: lack of Interest In school, etc., .00 and .03; Irregular sleep habits, -.00 and .09; Loitering, -.00 and .01; Teasing other children, -.01 (boys); Conduct prognosis bad, -.01 and .06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.01 and -.01; Immoral home conditions, -.02 and -.01; Attractive manner, -.02 and -.11; Sensitive (general), -.02 and .02; Stealing, -.02 and -.11; Selfish, -.02 and -.09; Lack of interest In school, -.02 and .13; loring, -.03 and -.05; "Nervous," -.03 and -.01; Inferiority feel-
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNESS; LACK OP INITIATIVE 247 TABLE 38— Continued
Ings, -.03 and -.01; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.03 and -.02; Sensitive over specific fact, -.04 and -.02; Changeable moods, -.Ok and -.05; Masturbation, -.04 and -.05; Staying out late at, night, -.04 and -.13; Leading others into bad conduct, -.04 and -.04; Fantastical lying, -.04 and -.03; Defiant, -.04 and -.06; Bossy, -.04 and .01; Smoking, -.05 (boys); Irritable, -.05 and -.01; Un- popular, -.05 and -.02; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.05 and -.06; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.06 and .03; Overlnterest in sex matters, -.06 and -.14; Tem- per display, -.06 and .07; Disobedient, -.06 and -.13; Destructive, -.0? and .00; Nail-biting, -.07 and -.08; Quarrelsome, -.07 and .03; Grouped: disobedi- ent, etc., -.07 and -.03; Grouped: temper, etc., -.07 and .06; Grouped: fight- ing, etc., -.08 and .03; Exclusion from school, -.08 and -.06; Spoiled child, -.08 and .08; Fighting, -.08 and .05; Bad companions, -.08 and -.15; Finicky food habits, -.09 and -.12; Rude, -.09 and -.12; Truancy from home, -.09 and -.04; Egocentric, -.09 and -.10; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .01; Con- trary, -.10 and -.07; Disturbing Influence in school, -.11 and .05; Tlolence, -.11 and .09; Clean, -.11 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, -.11 (girls); Overin- terest in opposite sex, -.11 (girls); Gang, -.12 (boys); Incorrigible, -.12 and -.10; Temper tantrums, -.14 and .05; Leader, -.17 and -.14; Emotional instabil- ity, -.17 and -.15; Boastful, "show-off," -.17 and -.03; Psychoneurotlc, -.19 and -r.12
Omitted— Grouped: dull, slow, etc.
inefficiency in work, play, etc. , preference for younger children as playmates, and feeble-minded sibling.
Among the seventeen notations given special -discussion (sex, physical or psychophysical, and home or familial) only one notation shoved a meaningful correlation — speech defect (other than stuttering), the coefficients for boys and girls being .21 + . Oj5 and .17 respectively.
Listlessness or attitude of Indifference was noted among 178 boys, or 8.4 per cent, and among 87 girls, or 7.4 per cent.
Its highest correlation was among girls, .41 + .06 with se- clusiveness, the corresponding coefficients for boys also being substantial, .34 + .04 (Table 39). Laziness among boys yielded the substantial coefficient of .36 + .04, the corresponding coefficient among girls, .24 4- .07, being moderate. Two personality notations showed substantial correlations of .31 each among boys, slow or dull manner and absent-mindedness , the corresponding coefficients for girls being .28 + .05 and .05 respectively. Two additional substantial correlations in the ,30's were found among girls, Con- trariness and leading others into bad conduct, the boys' correla- tions being negligible, .08 and -.07 respectively.
Six notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's
248
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 39 CORRELATIONS WITH "LISTLESS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality- "total. |
.19 t .03 .08 t .03 .08 ± .Ok |
.16 t -04 .15 ± .04 -.01 + .06 |
|
Conduct -"total |
||
|
Polio© arrest |
||
|
LaZV. ......................................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.36 t -oi* .34 ± .04 .31 ± .05 .31 ± .03 .28 ± .05 .27 ± .05 .27 ••• .06 .26 t .05 .26 t .04 .22 t -05 .21 ± .Ok .21 ± .05 .21 + .Ok .21 ± .03 .20 t >0k .20 + .03 .20 f .05 .20 t -05 .08 -.07 .Ok .15 .18 .13 .07 .17 .16 .09 |
.24 t .07 (7-12)* .41 t -06 (1) .05 .28 t -05 (4-5) .28 ± .07 (4-5) .24 + .07 (7-12) .03 .18 .20 ± .06 (17-19) • 15 .04 .23 ± .07 (13) .24 i .06 (7-12) .24 ± .05 (7-12) .14 .02 .12 -.16 .36 t -07 (2) .30 ± .08 (3) .25 ± .07 (6) .24 t .08 (7-12) .24 t -07 (7-12) .22 + .05 (14) .21 ± .08 (15-16) .21 -1- .05 (15-16) .20 i .06 (17-19) .20 t -07 (17-19) |
|
|
Slow, dull |
||
|
Inefficient In work, play, etc |
||
|
Lack of Initiative. ........................... |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Pay clr earning . .................................. |
||
|
Question of change In personality. |
||
|
Bashful |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Distractible |
||
|
Poor work In school |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, w etc |
||
|
Headaches ........................... 4 . , , * ., |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Contrary. ......................... * * ,. .. |
||
|
Leading others Into bad conduct |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Slovenly. |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Attract t v^ manner ..*«....... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.06 .13 |
-.34 t -05 -.25 ± .08 |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
Bank order of girls1 correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Psychoneurotic, .17 and .15; Irritable, .15 and -.11; Sensitive over specific fact, .15 and .01; Mental conflict, .14 and .05; Restless in sleep, .14 and .06; Refusal to attend school, .14 and -.06; Lack of Interest in school,
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNESS; LACK OF INITIATIVE 249 TABLE 59— Continued
.Ik and .16; Restless, .13 and .17; Unhappy, .13 and .13; Stuttering, .13 (boys); Speech defect, .13 and .15; Discord between parents, .13 and -.08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .13 and -.03; Underweight, .12 and -.06; Appre- hensive, .12 and -.10; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Finicky food habits, .12 and .10; Enuresis, .11 and .18; Masturbation, .11 and .00; Overinterest in opposite sex, .11 (girls); Grouped: temper, etc., .10 and -.00; Changeable moods, .09 and .07; "Nervous," .09 and -.04; ^polled child, .08 and -.01; Cry- ing spells, .08 and .09; Smoking, .08 (boys); Sulky, .07 and .09; Sullen, .07 and .15; Irregular sleep habits, .07 and -.04; Immoral home conditions, .07 and .02; Popular, .06 and -.10; Loitering, .05 and .02; Object of teasing, .05 and -.01; Over suggestible, .05 and .19; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .04 and .11; Grouped: fighting, etc., .04 and .05; Egocentric, .04 and .03; Threatening vi- olence, .04 (boys); Nail-biting, .04 and -.17; Defiant, .04 and .11; Fighting, .03 and .16; Quarrelsome, .03 and .01; Overinterest in sex matters, .03 and -.10; Vocational guidance, .03 and .07; Inferiority feelings, .02 and .02; For- mer convulsions, .02 and -.12; Sex delinquency (coitus), .02 and .01; Rude, .02 and .05; Sensitive (general), .01 and .05; Emotional instability, .01 and -.02; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .01 (boys); Brother in penal detention, .01 and .05; Feeble-minded sibling, .01 and .13; Stealing, .00 and .08; .Selfish, .00 and .11; Destructive, .00 and .09; Excuse-forming, -.00 and -.03; Victim of sex abuse, -.00 (girls); Question of hypophrenia, -.00 and .08; Follower, -.00 and .05; Temper display, -.01 and -.07; Stubborn, -.01 and .17; Fantastical lying, -.01 and .02; Disturbing influence in school, -.02 and .10; Staying out late at night, -.02 and -.09; Swearing (general), -.02 (boys); Ex- clusion from school, -.02 and .05; Retardation in school, -.02 and -.01; Clean, -.02 and .13; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.02 and .05; Vicious home conditions, -.03 and -.00; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.03 and .04, Boastful, "show- off," -.03 and .14; Bad companions, -.04 and -.13; Temper tantrums, -.04 and .07; Sex denied entirely, -.05 and .15; Truancy from home, -.05 and -.10; Itflng, -.07 and .02; Disobedient, -.07 and .03; Incorrigible, -.08 and -.03; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.08 and .16; Irregular attendance at school, -.09 and -.07; Unpopular, -.09 and .17; Gang, -.09 (boys); Truancy from school, -.10 and -.09; Lues, -.14 and -.02; Leader, -.15 and -.14; Bossy, -.16 and -.10 Omitted — Grouped: dull, slow, etc.
with listlessneas for both sexes : inefficiency in work, play, etc* lack of initiative, daydreaming, poor work in school, diatractl- billty, and depressed spells. Seven notations showed moderate cor- relations in the .20!s for the boys but low correlations ranging from -.16 to .18 among girls: question or diagnosis of encephali- tis, queer behavior, question of change of personality, bashful- neaa, irresponsibility, "nervousness" or restlessness (undifferen- tiated), and headaches. Seven notations among girls showed moder- ate correlations in the .20fs, with low positive correlations be- low .20 for the boys: inattentlveness in school, slovenliness, repressed manner, preference for younger children as playmates, violence, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and neurological defect (unspecified),
There were two negative correlations of significant size,
250 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
both among girls, at t ra c 1 1 ve ma nne r , -.34 + .05, and worry over some specific fact, -.25 + .08, the corresponding coefficients for boys being low, .06 and .13 respectively.
Among the sex notations and also among the home or famil- ial conditions there were no coefficients of significant size.
Among physical notations ve have noted the moderate corre- lations of .27 4- .06 for question or diagnosis of encephalitis among boys and .20 + .06 with neurological defect (unspecified) among girls.
Lack of initiative or ambition l"patient is unaggresslve, lacks energy" ) was noted among 132 boys, or 6.2 per cent, and among 63 girls, or 5.3 per cent.
Its highest correlation was noted among boys, .39 + .04, with inattentlveness in school, the corresponding coefficient among girls being negligible (Table 40).
TABLE 40 CORRELATIONS WITH "LACK OF INITIATIVE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.14 4- 03 |
. nx + ok |
|
Conduct-total |
.02 4- 03 |
-.06 4- .04 |
|
Police arrest |
-.15 ± .04 |
-.12 + .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
5lations (Positive) |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
XO + 04 |
OQ |
|
Bashful |
pa 4. o4 |
1Q |
|
.27 + 05 |
18 |
|
|
Listless „ A |
.27 + .05 |
.24 + .07 (5)* |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.26 t 06 |
.11 |
|
Daydreaming |
25 -4- 05 |
pi 4. 07 (Q.\ |
|
Grouped: sensitive or Worrisome, etc |
.24 ± .04 |
- 01 |
|
Absent-minded |
.24 + 05 |
22 4- 08 (&~7} |
|
Lazy |
OX 4. A«5 |
P7 4. Oli (9\ |
|
Selfish |
px + r\£ |
• c- ( X • U*+ \c.) 01 |
|
ox 4. ns |
18 |
|
|
Poor work in school |
.23 t 04 |
22 4- 05 (6-7} |
|
.23 + .05 |
14 |
|
|
Slow, dull |
18 |
Pft 4- O'S f 1 ^ |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNESS; LACK OF INITIATIVE 251 TABLE 40— Continued
|
Boys |
Girla |
|
|
Follower • . . • |
.16 |
.25 t «OT (3-4) |
|
Irregular aleep habits |
.00 |
.25 ± .08 (3-4) |
|
Larger Corr |
alatlone (Negative) |
|
|
Swearing ( general ) |
-.29 ± .03 |
|
|
Disturbing influence in school Bex delinquency (coitus) |
-.25 ± .04 -.20 t .0? |
-.04 -.03 |
|
Emotional instability |
.06 |
-.30 t «07 |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
-.13 |
-.29 ± .07 |
|
Unhappy |
.15 |
-.25 t «08 |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
-.23 + .06 |
|
|
Bossy |
.09 |
-.22 + .07 |
|
-.01 |
- 22 + OQ |
|
|
Crrnijpftfl : t-flmp«r , «t-c ......................... |
.09 |
-.20 t -05 |
|
- 09 |
-.20 + OQ |
|
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Psychoneurotlc .. . |
19 |
(n c } |
|
Sex denied entirely |
.05 |
(n.c.) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.01 |
(n.c.) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
-.05 |
(n.c.) |
|
Destructive |
-•15 |
(n.c ) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irresponsible, .19 and .08; Clean, .18 and .06; Lack of interest in school, .17 and .06; Sensitive over specific fact, .17 and -.19; Preference for younger children, .17 and .10; Stuttering, .17 (boys); Grouped: "nervous," etc., .16 and .00; Neurological defect, .16 and -.12; Mental conflict, .16 and -.04; Worry over specific fact, .15 and -.15; Inferiority feelings, .15 and .11; Spoiled child, .15 and .00; Discord between parents, .14 and .09; Object of teasing, .14 and -.11; Apprehensive, .14 and -.03; Irritable, .13 and -.12; Dietractible, .13 and .04; Oversuggeetible, .13 and .17; Queer, .13 and .19; Grouped: lack of Interest In school, etc., .13 and .03; Grouped: depreaeed, etc., .12 and -.08; Speech defect, .12 and .01; Slovenly, .12 and .12; Stub- born, .11 and -.02; Violence, .09 and -.18; Question of hypophrenia, .09 and *.10; Popular, .09 and -.07; Attractive manner, .08 and .04; Finicky food habits, .08 and .11; Enuresis, .08 and .05; Question of change of personality, .07 and -.12; Reatless, .06 and .01; Loitering, .05 and -.11; Refusal to at- tend school, .05 and -.18; Temper tantrums, .05 and -.13; Changeable moodfl, .05 and .05; Crying spells, .05 and -.04; Irregular attendance at school, .05 and -.02; Depressed, .05 and .01; Repressed, .04 and .13; Staying out late at night, .04 and -.06; "Nervous," .03 and -.05; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .02 and .13; Nail-biting, .02 and .03; Headaches, .01 and -.10; Former convul- aiona, .01 and -.06; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .01 and -.07; Reatleae In eleep, .00 and .11; Masturbation, .00 and -.13; Sulky, .00 and -.04; Threatening vio- lence, -.00 (boys); Feeble-minded sibling, -.00 and .03; Grouped: diaobedlent, etc., -.01 and -.03; Leader, -.01 and -.11; Contrary, -.02 and .03; Sullen, -.02 and -.13; Temper display, -.02 and -.12; Truancy from school, -.02 and -.11;
252 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE UO— Continued
Immoral home conditions, -.03 and .07; Underweight, -.03 and -.11; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.03 (boys); Victim of sex abuse, -.03 (girls); Lues, -.05 and -.03; Excuse-forming, -.05 and -.01; Teasing other chil- dren, -.05 (boys); Fighting, -.05 and .02; Defiant, -.05 and .05; Itfing, -.06 and -.02; Quarrelsome, -.06 and -.06; Truancy from home, -.06 and -.03; Retar- dation in school, -.06 and -.06; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.07 and -.07; Over- interest in sex matters, -.07 and -.17; Rude, -.07 and -.13; Egocentric, -.08 and .12; Leading others into bad conduct, -.09 and -.06; Incorrigible, -.09 and -.14; Fantastical lying, -.09 and .11; Bad companions, -.10 and -.15; Disobe- dient, -.10 and -.06; Gang, -.11 (boys); Stealing, -.12 and -.01; Brother in penal detention, -.13 and .03; Smoking, -.1^ (boys); Exclusion from school, -.16 and .07; Vicious home conditions, -.17 and -.13 Omitted — Grouped: dull, slow, etc.
Five behavior traits showed moderate correlations in the ,20's for both sexes: listlessness, laziness, absent-mindedness , daydreaming , and poor work in school. Six notations showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's among boys but low correlations rang- ing from -.01 to .19 among girls: inefficiency In work, play, etc. , bashful ness, secluslveness, sensitiveness in general, self- ishness , and "request for vocational guidance. " Three notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low pos- itive correlations below . 18 for boys: slow or dull manner, irreg- ular sleep habits, and "follower. "
There was a large group of behavior notations showing mod- erate negative correlations ranging from -.20 to -.30 with lack of initiative. Among boys these were disturbing influence in school, sex delinquency (coitus ), and (calculated for boys only) swearing (general). Among girls similar negative coefficients were found for emotional instability, unhappiness, unpopularity, bossy manner, temper tantrums or display (undifferentlated), swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentlated), staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and (calculated for girls only) overlnterest in opposite sex.
There were five notations for which .tetrachorlc correla- tions could not be computed among girls because there were no in- stances in which girls noted as lacking initiative had a notation in the following items: pay choneur otic trends, boastful or "show- off" manner, de s true 1 1 vene s s , sex misbehavior denied entirely, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Among the six sex notations there were two Instances in
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNES3; LACK OP INITIATIVE
which significant correlations were found, both being negative: for sex delinquency (coitus) among boys, -.20 + .07, and for over- interest in opposite sex, which was calculated only among the girls, -.23 + .06.
Among the physical, pay chophys leal, and home or familial notations there were no correlations of significant size.
When the cases falling under the rubrics slow or dull man- ner, listlessnesa, and lack of initiative or ambition were combined into one large grouping, there were 704 boys, or 33 .3 P©r cent, and 364 girls, or 30.8 per cent, so noted. The correlation coeffi- cients based upon this broader grouping, as shown in Table 41, are generally similar to those previously presented in Table 38 (slow
TABLE 41 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: DOLL, SLOW, ETC."
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.15 + .02 |
.07 + .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
-.02 + .02 |
-.03 4- .03 |
|
Police arrest |
-.12 + .03 |
-.10 4- .04 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
Absent-minded |
.32 4- .03 |
.19 v |
|
Poor work In school |
.29 + .02 |
.21 4- .03 (8)* |
|
Lazy |
.28 -f .03 |
.18 |
|
Distractible |
.27 + .03 |
.22 4- .04 (7) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.26 + .04 |
.30 4- .05 (2) |
|
Seclusive |
.24 t -03 |
.34 + .04 (1) |
|
Question of hypophrenia |
.23 4- .03 |
.20 4- .03 (9) |
|
Queer , |
.21 t .04 |
.09 |
|
Speech defect |
.21 + .03 |
.11 |
|
Repressed |
.04 |
.29 4- .06 (3) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.16 |
.27 4- .05 (4) |
|
l?aeble-inlnd$d sibling. ........................ |
04 |
25 4- 04 (5) |
|
RetarderM OT\ 1n school. ........................ |
.17 |
.24 4- .03 (6) |
|
Larger Corre |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.01 |
-.29 4- .04 |
|
Overintwraa't In s^T Tn^t.toro ................... |
-.06 |
- 22 4- .05 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
254 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE in— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Depressed, .19 and .08; Bashful, .18 and .14; Daydreaming, .18 and .14; Grouped: depressed, etc., .1? and .01; Apprehensive, .15 and .03; Irresponsi- ble, .15 and -.03; Worry over specific fact, .13 and -.17; Object of teasing, ,13 and .05; Question of change of personality, .13 and .04; Slovenly, .13 and .15; Question of encephalitis, .13 and -.08; Headaches, .12 and -.02; yellower, .12 and .15; Over suggestible, .12 and .15; Unhappy, .11 and .01; Neurological defect, .11 and .01; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .10 and .10; Mental conflict, .10 and -.12; Lack of interest in school, .09 and .17; Voca- tional guidance, .09 and .08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .08 and -.02; Disobedient, .08 and -.14; Crying spells, .08 and -.02; Restless in sleep } .07 and .09; Stubborn^ .07 and -.02; Inattentive in school, .07 and .03; Enure- sis, .07 and .04; Discord between parents, .06 and -.01; Underweight, .06 and -.02; Sensitive (general), .06 and .07; Sex denied entirely, .06 and -.07; Sen- sitive over specific fact, .05 and -.05; Temper display, .05 and .03; Refusal to attend school, .05 and -.12; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .04 and .01; Self- ish, .04 and -.07; Sullen, .04 and .07; Irregular sleep habits, .04 and .07; Inferiority feelings, .03 and .05; Excuse -forming, .03 and .02; Threatening violence, .03 (boys); Teasing other children, .03 (boys); Former convulsions, .03 and -.15; Irregular attendance at school, .02 and -.01; Finicky food habits } .02 and -.02; Sulky, .02 and .06; Changeable moods, .02 and -.04; Irritable, .02 and -.04; Attractive manner, .02 and -.11; Stuttering, .01 (boys); Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .01 (boys); Loitering, .01 and .00; Vicious home conditions, .01 and -.00; Immoral home conditions, .00 and -.02; Brother in penal detention, .00 and .01; Truancy from school, .00 and -.09; Restless, -.00 and .11; Conduct prognosis bad, -.00 and .16; Lues, -.00 and .03; "Ner- vous," -.01 and -.02; Grouped: temper, etc., -.01 and -.00; Psychoneurotic, -.01 and -.16; Swearing (general), -.01 (boys); Masturbation, -.01 and -.12; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.01 and -.09; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.02 and -.03; Bossy, -.02 and -.07; Clean, -.03 and .07; Stealing, -.03 and -.02; Fantastical lying, -.03 and -.01; Leading others into bad conduct, -.04 and -.05; Staying out late at night, -.04 and -.12; Popular, -.04 and -.09; Nail- biting, -.05 and -.07; Defiant, -.05 and -.01; Contrary, -.05 and .06; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.06 and .01; Itflng, -.02; Smoking, -.06 (boys); Egocentric, -.06 and -.06; Temper tantrums, -.07 and -.00; Rude, -.07 and -.08; Fighting, -.07 and .12; Destructive, -.07 and -.00; Bad companions, -.07 and -.16; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.07 and .05; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.07 (girls); Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.08 and -.00; Quarrelsome, -.08 and .04; Violence, -.08 and .08; Truancy from home, -.08 and -.05; Unpopular, .-. 08 and -.02; Exclusion from school, -.09 and .01; Boastful, "show-off," -.10 and -.01; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.ll and -.15; Disturbing influence in school, -.11 and .04; Gang, -.11 (boys); Victim of sex abuse, -.11 (girls); Incorrigible, -.13 and -.08; Emotional instability, -.13 and -.16; Leader, -.17 and -.17
Quitted— Slow, dull; Listless; Lack of initiative
or dull manner) for the simple reason that over three-quarters of the cases appearing in the broader grouping, dull or slov manner
(Including listlessness and lack of initiative, undlfferentiated),
p were also placed under the specific group of slov or dull manner,
The reasons for this broader grouping were given in I, 44, and 86, Table 13, Item D.
SLOW OR DULL MANNER; LISTLESSNESS; LACK OP INITIATIVE 255
and the material of the tvo tables (38 and 4l) is, therefore, largely identical. The marked similarity of the correlation co- efficients in these two tables Indicates that a separate consider- ation of the larger- category grouping was of little utility.
Relatively few correlations based upon the broader group- ing in Table 41 were of statistically significant size of .20 or above. Only three were of substantial size, ranging from .30 to .34: absent-mindedness among boys and seclusiveness and ineffi- ciency in work, play, etc., among girls, the corresponding coeffi- cients for the other sex being of moderate size, ranging from .19 to .26. Three notations showed moderate correlations In the . 20's for both sexes: poor work in school, d 1 s t ra c t lb.il 1 t y , and question of hypophrenia. Three behavior traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's, with low positive coefficients below .20 for girls: laziness, queer behavior, and speech defect (other than stuttering) . Pour notations among girls showed moderate correla- tions in the .20 's, with low positive coefficients below .20 for boys : repressed manner, preference for younger children as play- mates, feeble-minded sibling, and re ta r da 1 1 on in s choo 1 .
Two significant negative correlations were found, both among girls, -.29 + .04 for "spoiled child" and -.22 + .05 for overlnterest in sex matters, the corresponding coefficients for boys being negligible.
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of sta- tistically significant size was the negative one of -.22 + .05 among girls for overinterest in sex matters. In general, It may be noted that sex problems tended to be negatively or negligibly cor- related with all three notations — slow or dull manner, listlessness , and lack of initiative or ambition.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations only one meaningful correlation was found — the moderate one of .21 + .03 with speech defect (other than stuttering) among boys. In general, it may be concluded that these physical conditions tended to show a low positive correlation with the three notations discussed in this chapter.
Among our four home or familial conditions there were no correlations of material size, all thirty- two coefficients pre- sented in this chapter falling between -.17 and .14.
CHAPTER XXVII
OVERSUGGESTIBILITY; DISTRACTIBILITY;
PREFERENCE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN
AS PLAYMATES
The three personality traits oversuggestlblllty, distract- ibility, and preference for younger children as playmates may be conveniently considered together In this chapter as frequently r\oted concomitants of mental deficiency. (In the data of this vol- ume this relation for distractlbility is obscured by the fact that our 2,113 boys and I,l8l girls do not include the very young chil- dren below 6 years of age and below 50 in intelligence quotient, among whom distractibllity is especially frequent. ) That these three tralta are not similar is shown by the non- significance of their intercorrelatlons, which range from -.06 to .20.
The notation oversuggestiblllty ( "patient too easily influ- enced by others") was found among 35^ boys, or 16.8 per cent, and among 174 girls, or 14.7 per cent, and was one of the more frequent behavior notations among our clinic cases. It appeared to be of negligible importance from a personality standpoint, probably of moderate Importance from the standpoint of conduct deviation, but or substantial importance as an indicator of "juvenile delinquency," especially among girls, for whom one notes the high tetrachoric cor- relation of .57 + .03 with police arrest (Table 42).
Among both sexes the highest correlation was with bad com- panions , the coefficients being .43 + .03 and .40 + .04 for boys and girls respectively. Stealing among boys also showed the sub- stantial correlation of .38 + .02 with a corresponding low coeffi- cient of .13 among girls. Running with a gang (calculated for boys only) also showed the substantial correlation of .31 + .03. Sex delinquency ( coitus ) among girls showed the substantial correlation of .38 + .04, with a corresponding low coefficient of .11 among boys. Loitering or wandering among girls showed the similarly sub- stantial correlation of .32 + .06, with a corresponding moderate
256
OVERSUGGESTIBILITY
TABLE 42 CORRELATIONS WITH "OYBRSUQCSESTIBLE"
257
|
Boys |
Girle |
|
|
Personality -total |
.01 ± .02 |
.13 ± .03 |
|
Conduct-total |
.26 ± .02 |
.22 + .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.36 ± .03 |
.57 ± .03 |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Positive) |
|
|
Bad companions |
.43 f .03 |
.4o ± .ok (i)* |
|
Stealing |
.38 t -02 |
.13 |
|
Gang. |
.31 ± .03 |
|
|
Follower |
.29 + ,o4 |
.18 |
|
Truancy from school |
.28-1- .03 |
• 09 |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.28 + .05 |
.21 + .07 (5-8) |
|
Excuse -forming. |
.23 t .03 |
.13 |
|
lying |
.21 + .03 |
.12 |
|
Staying out late at night |
.21 t »03 |
.21 * .05 (5-8) |
|
Apprehensive |
.21 + .03 |
.13 |
|
Loitering |
.20 t -04 |
.32 + .06 (3) |
|
Unpopular |
.20 t -04 |
.05 |
|
Sex delinquency (coitus ). |
.11 |
.38 -t .04 (2) |
|
Queer |
-.09 |
.27 -t .06 (4) |
|
Violence |
.10 |
.21 + .05 (5-8) |
|
Abflarrh-.TTH'l nflftfl I.,,,.,,.,..,.........,..... , , . , . |
• 05 |
.21 ± .06 (5-8) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .19 and .13; Teasing other children, .19 (boys); Truancy from home, .19 and .17; Overlntereet In opposite sex, .18 (girle); Mas- turbation, .16 and .11; Betardation in school, .16 and .04; Irregular attend- ance at school, .16 and -.09; Brother in penal detention, .16 and .06; Disturb- ing Influence in school, .15 and .04; Refusal to attend school, .15 and -.07; Exclusion from school, .15 and .14; Question of hypophrenia, .14 and .02; In- corrigible, .13 and .09; Swearing (general), .13 (boys); Lack: of initiative, .13 and .17; Restless, .13 and .17; Poor work in school, .13 and .06; (Jrouped: dis- obedient, etc., .13 and .16; Enuresis, .12 and -.03; Leading others into bad conduct, .12 and .05; Smoking, .12 (boys); Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .12 and .15; Grouped: swearing, etc., .12 and .07; Boastful, "show-off," .11 and .15; Destructive, .11 and .07; Changeable moods, .11 and .07; Slow, dull, .11 and .10; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .11 and .10; Object of teasing, .10 and -.04; Restless in sleep, .10 and .05; Spoiled child, .10 and .03; Stubborn, .09 and .02; Speech defect, .09 and .16; Victim of sex abuse, .09 (girls); Fighting, .08 and .03; Inefficient In work, play, etc., .08 and .13; Irresponsible, .08 and .18; Temper display, .08 and -.02; Bashful, .08 and .00; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .08 (boys); Lack of Interest in school, .07 and .08; Slovenly, .07 and .18; Irregular sleep habits, .07 and .14; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .07 and .04; Repressed, .06 and -.00; Neurological
258 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 42— Continued
defect, .06 and .04; Sulky, .0? and .11; Overinterest In sex matters, .05 and .17; Crying spells, .05 and .15; Daydreaming, .05 and .08; Listless, .05 and .19; Inferiority feelings, .05 and .09; Emotional instability, .05 and .06; Preference for younger children, .05 and .07; Stuttering, .05 (boys); Former convulsions, .04 and .02; Discord between parents, .04 and .03; Grouped: tem- per, etc., .04 and -.04; Disobedient, .04 and .08; Nail-biting, .03 and .05; Irritable, .03 and -.08; Grouped: fighting, etc., .03 and .12; Threatening violence, .02 (boys); "Nervous," .02 and .03; Sex denied entirely, .02 and -.04; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .02 and .08; Temper tantrums, .01 and .02; Sensitive (general), .01 and .10; Leader, .01 and -.09; Clean, .01 and -.02; Headaches, .01 and -.10; Vicious home conditions, .01 and .11; Inattentive In school, .00 and .02; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .00 and -.06; Sensitive over specific fact, .00 and .02; Popular, .00 and -.01; Selfish, -.00 and .12; Mental conflict, -.00 and .02; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.00 and .13; Rude, -.01 and -.03; Sullen, -.01 and -.00; Lues, -.01 and .03; Contrary, -.02 and -.11; Depressed, -.02 and .08; Seclusive, -.02 and .17; Lazy, -.03 and .03; Un- happy, -.05 and .12; Attractive manner, -.03 and .06; Finicky food habits, -.04 and .12; Defiant, -.04 and .06; Underweight, -.04 and -.02; Worry over specific fact, -.05 and .15; Quarrelsome, -.06 and .10; Distractlble, -.06 and .11; Ques- tion of change of personality, -.08 and .16; Question of encephalitis, -.08 and -.14; Feeble-minded sibling, -.08 and -.07; Bossy, -.09 and .11; Immoral home conditions, -.09 and .11; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.10 and .08; Psychoneu- rotic, -.13 and .19; Egocentric, -.14 and -.04; Vocational guidance, -.17 and -.08
correlation of .20 + .04 among boys.
Two notations — staying out late at night and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis — shoved moderate correlations in the .20*3 for both sexes. Six behavior traits showed moderate cor- relations ranging from .20 to .29 among boys but low positive cor- relations below .20 for girls: "follower, " truancy from school, excuse- forming attitude, apprehenslveness , lying, and unpopularity. Three behavior notations among girls similarly showed moderate cor- relations in the ,20's with negligible coefficients ranging from -.09 to .10 among boys: queer behavior, absent-mindedness, and violence.
Among the six sex notations all correlations with once ex- ception were low or negligible, falling below .20. For sex delin- quency (coitus) among girls, however, there was a substantial cor- relation of .38 + .04 with oversuffgestibllity. Since sex miscon- duct and the fact of a juvenile- court arrest or commitment among girls are so substantially correlated with the notation over sug- gestibility, one wonders to what extent this relation represents the true state of affairs and to what extent it may be due to an overprotective attitude on the part of the parent or friend, who
OVERSUGGESTIBILITY 259
desired to minimize a patient's conduct troubles by blaming them upon other children. "She is a good girl around home but is too easily influenced by other people."
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations and among the four home or familial notations there were found no cor- relation coefficients of significant size.
Distractibllity or lack of concentration was noted among 264 boys, or 12.5 per cent, and among 116 girls, or 9.8 per cent. It was especially characteristic of our youngest children.
Among girls its bi- serial correlations with both the per- sonality- total and the conduct- total were fairly high, .41 -f .03 and .44 + .03 respectively, but among boys these coefficients were of only moderate size in the . 20's (Table 43). With the police- arrest criterion of importance or "seriousness" .its correlations were very negligible.
Its highest correlations among girls were with restless- ness, . 56 + .04, and with disturbing Influence in school, .46 + .05. Among boys the two corresponding correlations were also mean- ingful, .39 + .03 and .24 4- .03 respectively. Among girls question or diagnosis of encephalitis yielded the very substantial correla- tion coefficient of .44 + .07, the corresponding coefficient for boys being low, .17. Two behavior notations among girls each yielded a correlation of .40 — "nervousness" and violence — the cor- responding coefficients for boys being .26 + .03 and .11. Among boys the only correlation as large as .40 + .04 was with absent- mindedness. Among boys inefficiency in work, play, etc. , yielded the substantial correlation of .36-1- .05, with a similar correla- tion among girls of .29-1- .06. Among girls two additional nota- tions showed substantial correlations in the ,30's, with corre- sponding moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys: poor work in school and bossy manner. There were thirteen notations among girls showing substantial correlations in the ,30's but low pos- tive correlations below .20 for boys: question of change of per- sonality, restlessness in sleep, queer behavior, worry over some specific fact, boastful or "show-off" manner, object of teasing by other children, quarrelsomeness , temper tantrums, stubbornness,
I, 204, Table 48.
260
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 43 CORRELATIONS WITH "DISTRACTIBLE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.25 ± .02 |
.41 + .03 |
|
.23 + .02 |
.44 + .03 |
|
|
Police arrest |
-.05 + .03 |
.07 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
Absent, -minded |
.40 4- .04 |
.25 4- .07 (36-40)* |
|
Restless |
• 39 ± .03 |
.56 4- .04 (1) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.37 + .03 |
.55 -i- .03 (2) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.36 + .05 |
.29 + .06 (24-26) |
|
Poor work In echooj |
.28 + .03 |
.34 4- .04 (10-13) |
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
.27-1- .03 |
.22 4- .04 (48-52) |
|
"Nervous" |
.26 + .03 |
4o + o4 (5-6) |
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
.24 + .03 |
.46 4- .05 (3) |
|
Slow, dull |
.24 + .03 |
.20 + .05 ( 56-57) |
|
Irresponsible |
.23 + .05 |
.24 4- 06 (41-45) |
|
Paych^ewnl r>g t * ..................... . .... t , t |
.25 + 05 |
16 |
|
.22 + .05 |
.32 4- .06 (17-19) |
|
|
Lazy |
.22 4- 04 |
06 |
|
UiYDODular . |
22 + 05 |
,P6 + 07 ^4-^5) |
|
Listless |
.21 + .04 |
24 4- 06 (41-45) |
|
Spoiled child |
.21 i 04 |
27 4- 06 fPQ-3^) |
|
Loitering. |
20 + 04 |
18 |
|
Teasing other children |
.20 t .04 |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
.17 |
.44 4- .07 (4) |
|
Violence |
11 |
40 4- 06 (5-6) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.05 |
39 4- 06 (7) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school |
.13 |
.38 4- .05 (8) |
|
.03 |
.36 + .06 (9) |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.15 |
34 + n4 ( 10-15) |
|
Inattentive in school |
12 |
54 -4- 06 MO-T5) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.04 |
54 4- 07 ^1O-15) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.18 |
55 4- 06 fl4-l6) |
|
.07 |
55 4- 05 n4-lfi) |
|
|
Restless in sleep * |
.14 |
.55 4- 05 (14-16) |
|
.15 |
32 4- 06 (16-18) |
|
|
Object of teasing |
.12 |
51 2 06 no) |
|
T^Mjp^r t«nt.TumB |
.06 |
50 4- 05 (PO-P5) |
|
.04 |
50 4 06 fPO-95) |
|
|
.18 |
50 4- 05 ^PO-P5) |
|
|
15 |
5O 4- O7 fPfWP^) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.16 |
.29 ± 06 (24-26) |
|
.18 |
po j. 05 ^Pli.?6) |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.19 |
28 ± 04 (27-28) |
|
Changeable moods |
.12 |
Pfi 4- O5 fP7-PA) |
|
Lack of interest in school |
12 |
P7 4- Ofi ^PQ-^^) |
|
,£.\ •* ,uo \c:y-U) |
Rank 'order of girls' correlations.
OVERSUGGESTIBILITY TABLE 43—Contlnued
261
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Sullen |
.11 |
.27 ± .06 (29-35) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad '. |
.19 |
.27 ± .07 (29-33) |
|
.15 |
.27 + .04 (29-33) |
|
|
.13 |
.26 ± .05 (34-35) |
|
|
.25 t -05 (36-40) |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.01 |
.25 ± .07 (36-40) |
|
Emoti onui 1 nstftbt 1 1 ty ,,»,.»,,.. ,,,,,T.t,.,TT,t(, |
.16 |
.25 t »06 (36-40) |
|
.13 |
.25 t .06 (36-40) |
|
|
-.03 |
.2k t .05 (41-45) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.14 |
.24 ± .05 (41-45) |
|
Defiant .- |
-.05 |
.24 ± .06 (41-45) |
|
Incorrigible |
.15 |
.23 ± .05 (46-47) |
|
Overlnterest in sex matters |
.06 |
.23 ± .06 (46-47) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.16 |
.22 ± .07 (48-52) |
|
Crying spells |
.08 |
.22 ± .04 (48-52) |
|
Stealing |
.06 |
.22 ± .05 (48-52) |
|
Fighting |
.01 |
.22 ± .04 (48-52) |
|
Lying |
.12 |
.21 + .04 (53-55) |
|
Truancy from home |
.01 |
.21 + .05 (53-55) |
|
Excuse- forming |
.09 |
.21 ± .06 (53-55) |
|
Preference for younger children. |
.15 |
.20 ± .06 (56-57) |
|
Larger Corrc |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
Vicious home conditions |
.0? |
-.21 ± .07 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Contrary, .19 and .00; Overinterest in opposite sex, .19 (girls); Com- plaining of bad treatment by other children, .18 (boys); Selfish, .17 and .10; Secluslve, .17 and .16; Temper display, .15 and -.03; Irritable, .15 and .19; Leading others into bad conduct, .14 and .18; Swearing (general), .14 (boys); Question of hypophrenla, .14 and .18; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .13 and .16; Lack of initiative, .13 and .04; Speech defect, .13 and .19; Slovenly, .12 and .16; Sulky, .12 and .14; Follower, .12 and .16; Headaches, .12 and .18; Dis- cord between parents, .12 and -.10; Masturbation, .11 and .14; Finicky food habits, .10 and .13; Threatening violence, .10 (boys); Irregular attendance at school, .10 and -.13; Enuresis, .09 and .18; Smoking, .09 (boys); Underweight, .09 and .06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .09 and .16; Nail-biting, .08 and .19; Sensitive over specific fact, .08 and .05; Stuttering, .08 (boys); Hefusal to attend school, .07 and .08; Bashful, .07 and -.04; Former convulsions, .07 and .01; Attractive manner, .07 and .08; Hude, .06 and .11; Gang, .06 (boys); Hetardation in school, .05 and .14; Leader, .05 and .12; Victim of sex abuse, .05 (girls); Feeble-minded sibling, .03 and .01; Bad companions, .03 and .09; Sensi- tive (general), .01 and .14; Staying out late at night, -.01 and .12; Unhappy, -.02 and .12; Sex denied entirely, -.02 and .07; Popular, -.02 and .18; Truancy from school, -.03 and .07; Immoral home conditions, -.03 and .00; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.04 and .05; Lues, -.04 and .17; Brother In penal detention, -.04 and -.14; Mental conflict, -.05 and .09; Clean, -.05 and .09; Over suggestible, -.06 and .11; Bepressed, -.07 and .05; Apprehensive, -.08 and .18; Vocational guid- ance, -.08 and .00; Psychoneurotic, -.14 and .12
262 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
destructiveness , distractibility, inattentiveness in school, and
exclusion from school.
Five personality difficulties showing moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes with distractibility were slow or dull manner, listlessness, irresponsibility, "spoiled child, " and unpopularity and also the notation teasing other children, which was computed for boys only. Three behavior notations among boys also showed moderate correlations in the .20fs but low positive correlations below .20 for the girls: daydreaming, laziness, and loitering or wandering. A large group of twenty- one notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's among girls but low cor- relations ranging from -.05 to .19 among boys: changeable moods and attitudes, emotional instability, crying spells, irregular sleep habits, inferiority feelings, excuse- forming attitude, ego- centricity, sullenness, incorrigibility, disobedience, defiant at- titude, fighting, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), ly- ing, fantastical lying, stealing, truancy from home, preference for younger children as playmates, overinterest in sex matters, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and neurological defect (unspecified) .
One notation showed a negative correlation of moderate size among girls, vicious home conditions, -.21 4- .07, with a negligible coefficient of .07 among boys.
Among the six sex notations distractibility showed only one coefficient of moderate size — ,23 + .06 for overinterest in sex matters among girls, the boys1 coefficient of .06 being negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations there were two correlations of statistical significance, both for girls, the very substantial one of .44 + .07 for question or diagnosis of encephalitis and .29 + .05 with neurological defect (unspecified), the corresponding coefficients for boys being .17 and .18 respec- tively.
Among the four home or familial correlations there was only one of significant size, the negative coefficient of -.21 + .07 for vicious home conditions among girls.
Preference for younger children as playmates in our data appeared to be of little importance, since its correlations with our three criteria of "seriousness" were low, ranging from -.14 to
OVERSTJGGESTIBILITY" 263
.15 (Table 44). It was noted among only 7 or 8 per cent of the children discussed In this volume.
The three highest correlations, ranging from .32 to .36, were among girls, the corresponding coefficients among boys being low, falling between .13 and .18: "nervousness" or restlessness
TABLE 44 CORRELATIONS WITH "PREFERENCE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.12 + .03 |
.13 ± .04 |
|
Conduct -total |
.10 t «03 |
.15 t .04 |
|
-.05 + .04 |
-.14 + .06 |
|
|
Larger Corr |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
Restless In sleep |
.27 t .o4 |
.20 + .06 (22-28) |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.24 -f .06 |
.15 |
|
Speech defect |
.22 4- .05 |
.15 |
|
Poor work in school |
.21 -f .03 |
.23 + .05 (10-16) |
|
Selfish |
.20 t .05 |
.19 |
|
Object of teasing |
.20 i .04 |
,22 + .0? (17-20) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.15 |
.36 + .04 (1) |
|
Mental conflict |
.13 |
.33 + .08 (2) |
|
Question of hypophrenla |
.18 |
.32 + .05 (3) |
|
Inattentive In school |
.12 |
.29 + .07 (4) |
|
Grouped: Lack of Interest In school, etc |
.15 |
.28 + .06 (5) |
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
.16 |
.27 + .05 (6-8) |
|
Restless |
.16 |
.27 + .05 (6-8) |
|
Bossy |
19 |
.27 + .07 (6-8) |
|
A^HfiTTt-Tnl nriftd , w ,,,,..,...,,,....,,.,.. , . 4 M t . t . |
.13 |
.24-»- .08 (9) |
|
Destructive . . . . |
06 |
23 + 07 (10-16) |
|
Enuresis |
15 |
25 + 0*5 ( 10-16) |
|
Fiffhtlnc |
- 05 |
23 ± 04 (10-16) |
|
Changeable moods |
.12 |
.23 + .06 (10-16) |
|
Slow, dull* |
13 |
.25 + 05 (10-16} |
|
Unpopular |
.06 |
.23 + .08 (10-16) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.01 |
.22 t .05 (17-20) |
|
Retardation in school |
.18 |
.22 -f .05 (17-20) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
-.24 + .06 |
.22 + .09 (17-20) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.09 |
21 + 0*5 f2l} |
|
Exclusion from school |
.05 |
.20 t -0? (22-28) |
|
Sensitive over specif ic fact |
.02 |
20 ± 06 (22-28) |
|
Distractible |
.15 |
.20 4- .06 (22-?8) |
|
Listless |
.09 |
.20 t »07 (22-28) |
|
Nail-biting |
.14 |
.20 -f- .05 (22-28) |
|
Lazy |
19 |
20 ± 07 (22-28) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
264 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 44—Contlnued
|
Boys |
Glrle |
|
|
Larger Corr€ |
jlations (Negative) |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.27 + .05 |
-.08 |
|
.02 |
-.25 ± .08 |
|
|
.16 |
-.20 t .Ok |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Neurological defect, .19 and .10; Question of encephalitis, .19 and .19; Daydreaming, .18 and .03; Bashful, .18 and .08; Lack of interest in school, .18 and .17; Irresponsible, .1? and .07; Lack of Initiative, .1? and .10; Fan- tastical lying, .16 and .10; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .15 and .18; Tem- per tantrums, .15 and .15; Seclusive, .15 and -.04; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .15 and .09; Disobedient, .13 and .01; "Nervous," .13 and .19; Repressed, .12 and .00; Apprehensive, .12 and .OU; Sulky, .12 and .08; Quarrelsome, .11 and .12; Slovenly, .11 and .06; Stubborn, .11 and -.04; Threatening violence, .'11 (boys); Grouped; fighting, etc., .11 and .16; Crying spells, .10 and .16; Vio- lence, .10 and .13; Question of change of personality, .09 and .14; Irritable, .09 and .19; Queer, .09 and -.09; Sensitive (general), .09 and .12; Follower, .08 and .09; Inferiority feelings, .08 and .05; Egocentric, .08 and .15; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08 and -.13; Stealing, .08 and .18; Leading others Into bad conduct, .08 and -.11; Boastful, "show-off," .08 and -.06; I^lng, .07 and .16; Teasing other children, .07 (boys); Masturbation, .07 and .16; Unhappy, .07 and -.01; Leader, .07 and .06; Grouped: depressed, etc., .06 and .05; Spoiled child, .06 and .08; Finicky food habits, .05 and .04; Depressed, .05 and -.05; Over suggestible, .05 and .07; Stuttering, .05 (boys); Irregular at- tendance at school, .05 and .01; Grouped: swearing, etc., .o4 and .12; Ticious home conditions, .04 and -.03; Headaches, .04 and .17; Irregular sleep habits, .04 and -.08; Disturbing influence in school, .04 and .16; Loitering, .03 and -.00; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .03 and .16; Bad companions, .02 and .12; Swearing (general), .01 (boys); Psychoneurotic, .01 and -.08; Conduct prognosis bad, .01 and .14; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .01 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, .01 (girls); Truancy from home, .00 and -.01; Ha- tred or Jealousy of sibling, -.00 and .01; Excuse-forming, -.01 and .02; Truancy from school, -.01 and .11; Rude, -.01 and .00; Refusal to attend school, -.01 and .07; Vocational guidance, -.03 and .07; Staying out late at night, -.03 and -.04; Smoking, -.04 (boys); Temper display, -.04 and .18; Popular, -.04 and -.06j Clean, -.04 and .07; Attractive manner, -.04 and .09; Incorrigible, -.05 and .l4j Immoral home conditions, -.06 and -.13; Sex denied entirely, -.06 and .06; Sul- len, -.06 and .10; Emotional Instability, -.07 and .06; Lues, -.07 and -.15; Dis- cord between parents, -.07 and -.06; Victim of sex abuse, -.08 (girls); De/lant, -.09 and .11; Underweight, -.09 and .13; Gang, -.12 (boys); Brother in penal de- tention, -.14 and -.03
(Including Irritable temperament and changeable moods or attitudes, undifferentlated), mental conflict, and question of hypophrenla.
Three notations shoved moderate correlations in the ,20's for both sexes : restlessness in sleep, object of teasing by other children, and poor v prk In s cho o.l . Three additional notations
OVERSUGGESTIBILITY 265
yielded moderate correlations In the ,20's for "boys but low corre- lations £>elow .20 for girls: selfishness , overlnterest in sex mat- ters , and speech defect (other than stuttering) . A large list of eighteen miscellaneous problems among girls yielded moderate cor- relations in the . 20's, with low corresponding coefficients rang- ing from -.03 to .19 among boys: inattentiveness in school, rest- lessness, absent-mindedness , slow or dull manner , dlstractibillty, llstlessness, laziness, changeable moods or attitudes, bossy man- ner, fighting, destructlveness , unpopularity, temper tantrums or display (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over specific fact, enu- re sis, nail-biting, retardation in school, and exclusion from s chop 1 . Worry overcome specific fact, curiously, yielded a mod- erate positive correlation of .22 + .09 among girls and a signifi- cant negative coefficient of -.24 + .06 among boys.
In addition to worry over some specific fact there were three negative coefficients of statistically significant size with preference for younger children as playmates ; among boys -.27 + .05 for feeble-minded sibling, and among girls -.25 + .08 and -.20 + .04 for contrariness and former convulsions respectively.
Among the six sex notations the only considerable correla- tion with preference for younger children as playmates was for overlnterest- in sex matters among boys, .24 + .06, with the corre- sponding coefficient for girls of .15.
Among our seven physical or psychophyslcal notations there were two coefficients of unquestionably significant size, .25 + .05 for enures is among girls and .22 + .05 for speech defect (other than stuttering) among boys. The correlation of .19 among both boys and girls for question or diagnosis of encephalitis is also suggestive but because of the paucity of cases was scarcely of statistical significance.
None of the four home or familial conditions showed mean- ingful correlations with preference for younger children as play- mates, the coefficients ranging from -.14 to .04.
CHAPTER XXVIII "NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY
The three personality problems — "nervousness , " restless- ness, and irritate temperament — were among the most frequent of behavior traits noted in our case material. Occasionally they ap- peared to be the chief reason for the child's being referred to the clinic of the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research, but more commonly they were elicited In the actual interview by the psychiatric social worker with the parent, teacher, or other in- formant. Collectively they are of moderate to substantial impor- tance clinically but of little moment as Indicators of "juvenile delinquency." Their very substantial Intercorrelations, ranging from .26 to .51, indicate their essential similarity.
"Nervousness" in our data was a poorly defined term of vague meaning, hence our persistent use of quotation marks when- ever It Is mentioned In this study. It showed substantial bi- serial correlations In the .30's with personality- total among both sexes and moderate correlations of . 19 + .02 and .24 + .04 with the con- duct-total for boys and girls respectively (Table 4-5). With the police-arrest criterion the correlation for both sexes was zero. "Nervousness" was noted among 3^4, or 16.3 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and 197, or 16. 7 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls.
The highest correlations among both sexes were with rest- lessness, .42-1- .03 and .3*! + .03 among boys and girls respectively. Among girls there were in addition three very substantial correla- tions ranging from .40 to .47, with substantial correlations 'among boys ranging from .30 to .3^: changeable moods or attitudes, rest- lessness in sleep, and neurological defect (unspecified). Question or diagnosis of encephalitis and dlstractlbl.il. t.y similarly yielded fairly high correlations in the .40's among girls but lesser coef- ficients of .14 and .26 + .03 respectively among boys.
Pour behavior notations yielded substantial correlations In the .30 's for both sexes: psychoneurotlc trends, queer behavior,
266
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY
TABLE 45 CORRELATIONS WITH "NERVOUS"
267
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.37 + .02 |
.35 £ .03 |
|
Conduct -"total |
.19 4- .02 |
.24 4- .04 |
|
.00 t »03 |
-.00 4- .04 |
|
|
Larger Corr< |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
Restless |
.k2 + .03 |
.51 4- .03 (1)* |
|
Changeable moods |
.34 + .03 |
fkO + .04 (4-6) |
|
Psychoneurotic |
.33 + .05 |
.35 4- .06 (10-13) |
|
Irritable |
.33 + -03 |
.36 4- .04 (8-9) |
|
Queer |
.32-1- .Ok |
.35 + .05 (10-13) |
|
Neurological defect |
.31 + .Ok |
tkk 4- .04 (3) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.30 4- .03 |
.47 + .04 (2) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.30 + .03 |
.34 + .04 (14) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.29 4- .04 |
.15 |
|
Depressed. |
.28 + .04 |
.09 |
|
Nail-biting |
26 4- .03 |
.29 + .04 (21) |
|
Distractible |
.26 + .03 |
.40 4- .04 (4-6) |
|
Spoiled child |
.26 + .03 |
.35 + .05 (10-13) |
|
Bossy |
.25 + .04 |
.24 4- .05 (27-30) |
|
Unpopular |
25 + Ok |
14 |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc. |
.25 4- .03 |
.28 + .04 (22) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc • |
.2k 4- .04 |
.16 |
|
Crying spells |
25 + 03 |
37 4- 04 (7) |
|
Daydreaming .. |
23 4- Ok |
22 4- 0*5 ( 55} |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.23 4- .04 |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.23 4- .Ok |
.31 4- .05 (19-20) |
|
Absei"Lt-Tniri<?«d . ...................... ,*, * * * ^ 4 |
22 4- .02 |
35 4- 06 (10-13) |
|
Apprehensive |
.22 + .05 |
.36 4- .04 (8-9) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.21 t »04 |
.32 4- .06 (15-18) |
|
Object of teasing |
21 4- 05 |
1*5 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
21 ± Ok |
25 4- 04 (24-26) |
|
TGmrvM o-n<l 1 nf?tab1 11 t.y ................. 4 |
21 4- 05 |
25 + 04 (24-26) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.20 4- .03 |
18 |
|
Teasing other children |
.20 t .04 |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.20 t «04 |
.24 4- .06 (27-30) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.14 |
,kO ± 06 (4-6) |
|
^Disturbing influence in school |
.10 |
32 4- 0*5 ?lB»-lfl} |
|
Temper tantnwiH ..................... .,....,.. « |
11 |
52 4- 05 f!5-lft) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
• 17 |
.32 4- .06 (15-18) |
|
Fighting |
07 |
51 4- O4 (lQ-?fn |
|
Violence |
1Q |
Pfi 4- O5 fP5^ |
|
Destructive |
.15 |
25 ± 06 (24-26) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.14 |
pk 4. o4 fP7-5O} |
|
Exclusion from school |
08 |
P4 4- O6 /P7-5O^ |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.18 |
25 4- 06 ( 51-52^ |
Hank order of girls' correlations.
268
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 45—Contlnued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
HeftdflOheS ............................. t r ..... t |
.19 .14 .19 ."15 |
.23 ± .05 (31-32) .21 ± .04 (34-35) .21 ± .06 (34-35) .20 ± .05 (36) |
|
Quarrelsome |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling. ....................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.28 ± .04 -.20 t -04 -.03 |
-.15 -.30 ± .05 -.24 ± .04 -.21 ± .04 |
|
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Vocational guidance |
-.03 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Masturbation, .19 and .19; Underweight, .19 and .13; Contrary, .18 and .17; Temper display, .18 and .03; Swearing (general), .18 (boys); Boastful, "show-off," .16 and .15; Stubborn, .16 and .13; Rude, .15 and .05; Mental con- flict, .15 and .13; Clean, .15 and .01; Selfish, .14 and .12; Leader, .14 and .12; Preference for younger children, .13 and .19; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .13 and .17; Disobedient, .12 and .19; Lack of interest in school, .12 and .12; Secluslve, .12 and .05; Conduct prognosis bad, .12 and -.01; Stuttering, .12 (boys); Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .12 and .15; Enuresls, .11 and .19; Bashful, .11 and .10; Speech defect, .11 and .17; Grouped: swearing, etc., .11 and .07; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .10 and .18; Sulky, .10 and -.04; Unhappy, .10 and .18; Excuse -forming, .09 and .05; Listless, .09 and -.04; Smoking, .08 (girls); Incorrigible, .07 and .14; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .07 and .14; Inattentive in school, .06 and .19; Irresponsible, .06 and .14; luring, .06 and .19; Egocentric, .06 and .15; Bad companions, .06 and -.02; Re- fusal to attend school, .05 and -.10; Poor work in school, .05 and .14; Overin- terest in sex matters, .04 and .07; Follower, .04 and .02; Loitering, .03 and -.04; Sullen, .03 and .04; Lack of Initiative, .03 and -.05; Attractive manner, .03 and .07; Leading others Into bad conduct, .02 and .10; Stealing, .02 and .07; Over suggestible, .02 and .03; Question of hypophrenia, .02 and .01; Popu- lar, .02 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, .02 (girls); Gang, .01 (boys); Truancy from school, .01 and .04; Repressed, .01 and .15; Vicious home conditions, .00 and -.15; Discord between parents, -.00 and -.11; Defiant, -.01 and .15; Slov- enly, -.01 and .00; Grouped: *dull, slow, etc., -.01 and -.02; Threatening vio- lence, -.01 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, -.01 (girls); Lazy, -.02 and -.01; Truancy from home, -.02 and .12; Sex denied entirely, -.02 and .14; Irreg- ular attendance at school, -.02 and -.08; Staying out late at night, -.03 and .06; Slow, dull, -.03 and -.01; Lues, -.04 and .04; Retardation in school, -.07 and -.14; Immoral home conditions, -.14 and .12
Ctaitted — Grouped: "nervous," etc.
Irritable temperament, and temper tantrums or display (undifferen- tiated). Six behavior notations yielded substantial correlations in the ,30fs among girls and moderate coefficients in the ,20fs for boys: crying spells , apprehensiveness . question of change of per-
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY 269
sonality, "spoiled child, " absent-mindedness , and finicky, food habits. Pour behavior difficulties among girls similarly yielded substantial correlations in the .30!s but lov positive correlations below .20 for boys: temper tantrums, fighting, disturbing influ- ence in school, and inferiority feelings.
Six personality and conduct problems showed moderate cor- relations in the .20*3 among both sexes: emotional instability, irregular sleep Jiabits, nail-biting, bossy manner, sensitivenss in general, daydreaming ; and also two which were calculated for boys only, teasing other children and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Among boys there were five behavior notations showing moderate correlations in the .20's but low positive corre- lations below .20 for girls: worry over some specific fact, de- pressed spells, unpopularity , object of teasing by other children, and fantastical lying. Among girls there were eight notations showing moderate coefficients in the ,20's, the corresponding cor- relations for the boys ranging from .08 to .19: violence, destruc- tiveness, quarrelsomeness, exclusion from school, sensitiveness over some specific fact, hatred or jealousy of sibling, headaches, and former convulsions.
There were several negative coefficients of significant magnitude with "nervousness. " Brother in penal detention yielded tetrachoric correlations of -.20 + .04 and -.30 + .05 among boys and girls respectively. Among boys feeble-minded sibling yielded the correlation of -.28 + .04. Among girls sex delinquency (co- itus ) and the notation "request for vocational guidance" showed negative correlations of moderate size in the ~.20fs.
Among sex notations we have noted the significant negative correlation of -.24 4- .04 for sex delinquency (coitus) among girls, the corresponding boys1 coefficient being negligible. Among both sexes masturbation showed a correlation of .19* which, though sug- gestive, is not of marked significance. The other sex notations — overinterest in sex matters, sex misbehavior denied entirely, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in opposite sex and vic- tim of sex abuse — showed negligible correlations with "nervous- ness. "
Among the physical or psychophysical notations neurological defect (unspecified) showed the meaningful coefficients of .31 + .04 and .44 4- .04 among boys and girls respectively. Question or
270
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
diagnosis of encephalitis among girls similarly yielded the fairly high correlation of .40 + .06, with a corresponding low correla- tion among boys of .14. Among the other five notations in this field — underweight condition, enures is, lues, speech defect, and stuttering — the coefficients were low, ranging from -.04 to .19. Brother in penal detention, as we have noted, showed the curious negative correlations of -.20 + .04 and -.30 + .05 among boys and girls respectively. The other three notations concerning home or familial conditions — discord between parents and vicious or immoral home conditions — showed low correlations ranging from -.13 to .12.
Restlessness, overactivity, hyperkinesls, "patient has too much energy, " showed moderate to substantial correlations ranging from .25 to .43 with the personality- total and the conduct-total but negligible relations with police arrest. It was noted among 559, or 26.5 per cent, of our boys and among 258, or 21.8 per cent, of our girls and is one of the most frequently noted behavior prob- lems among our children. Its highest correlations among both sexes were for "nervousness" and distractibility, with coefficients among girls of .51 + .03 and .56 + .04 respectively and among boys of .43 + .03 and .39 + .03 respectively (Table 46). Changeable moods.
TABLE 46 CORRELATIONS WITH "RESTLESS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
25 4- OP |
xk 4. n^ |
|
|
Conduct-total ^. |
•34 + .02 |
liX 4. QP |
|
Police arrest |
.06 + o^ |
OQ 4- Ok |
|
Larger Corre: |
Latlons (Posit Ire) |
|
|
kX 4. f)X |
«sT 4. (\3t /OW |
|
|
Distractible |
XQ 4. ft* |
O-L J •U2 \e-t* K£ , f\\, /-t\ |
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
.57 a. (V5 |
OO + .LMf (JL) P7 4- OS ^P-X*S^ |
|
Xf) 4. ft* |
• c.( j ,u^ \y<. ~yj\ kX a. nk ^7^ |
|
|
Rude |
• JV J .U^ xr\ 4. nx |
• **•-> x • U4 \ (} P9 a. nk f kA RT ^ |
|
PQ 4- Ok |
in |
|
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY TABLE 46— Continued
271
|
Boys |
Girle |
|
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
.28 4- .03 |
.33 ± .05 (15-18) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.28 t .02 |
.37 ± .05 (13) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.28 4- .03 |
.36 4- .04 (14) |
|
Teasing other children |
.27 4- .03 |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
.27 + .05 |
.45 4- .06 (4-5) |
|
.27 4- .02 |
.31 4- .03 (20-23) |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.27 4- .00 |
,.40 4- .03 (9) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.27 4- .03 |
.38 + .04 (12) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.27 + .03 |
.19 |
|
Disobedient |
.26 4- .03 |
.23 4- .04 (43-47) |
|
Irritable |
.26 4- .03 |
.32 4- .04 (19) |
|
Incorrigible |
.25 4- .03 |
.31 4- .04 (20-23) |
|
Nail-biting |
.25 + .03 |
.27 4- .04 (32-35) |
|
Bossy .... |
24 4- .04 |
26 4- 05 ( 56-39) |
|
Destructive |
.24 Hr .06 |
.29 4- .06 (25-27) |
|
Depressed |
.24 + .04 |
.22 4- .06 (48-51) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.23 + .03 |
.26 4- .05 (36-39) |
|
Slovenly |
.23 + 03 |
.19 |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.23 4- .04 |
.28 4- .06 (28-31) |
|
.22 t .04 |
.11 |
|
|
Tjnhappv |
22 + 04 |
08 |
|
Selfish |
.21 + .04 |
• 15 |
|
Question of change of personality |
.21 + .04 |
.27 t -05 (32-35) |
|
Hftmio-h-i r>p*\i 1 net-ability .,,.„..,,,*.,,,, .. * ^ * * * * * |
.21 + .04 |
.41 4- .05 (8) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.21 + .03 |
.24 4- .04 (40-42) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.20 4- .03 |
.26 t .05 (36-39) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.20 4- .04 |
.16 |
|
Neurological defect |
20 + .03 |
23 4- 04 (28-31) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.20 t «03 |
|
|
Leader |
.20 ± .04 |
23 + 05 (43-47) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.18 |
.46 4- 03 (3) |
|
Violence |
15 |
45 4- 04 (4-5} |
|
Fighting |
15 |
44 4- 03 (6) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.18 |
.39 4- .05 (10-11) |
|
16 |
39 4- 04 ( 10-11} |
|
|
Unpopular |
16 |
35 4- 06 (15-18} |
|
Excuse-forming |
17 |
33 4- 05 (15-18} |
|
Quarrelsome. |
13 |
55 4- Ok (15-18} |
|
Crying spells |
.16 |
31 4- .03 (20-23) |
|
Lack of Interest in school |
17 |
30 4- 05 (24} |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.15 |
.29 + .06 (25-27) |
|
Queer . . .. |
07 |
po 4. O5 (P5-P7} |
|
• 17 |
28 4- 03 ( 28-31} |
|
|
Object of teasing |
- 05 |
28 ± 05 (28-31) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.16 |
.27 4- .05 (32-35) |
|
Egocentric . |
18 |
f>& 4- OU f^fi-^Q} |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.09 |
24 4; 06 (40-42) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.16 |
24 t 06 (40-42) |
|
.14 |
23 4- 05 T 43-47} |
|
|
.12 |
25 4- O5 fk^.li/?} |
|
|
Defiant |
17 |
P3 4- 05 ^45-14.7} |
|
Mental conflict |
.15 |
22 4- .06 (48-51} |
272
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 46— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc. |
.15 |
.22 + .Ok (48-51) |
|
.14 |
.21 + .05 (52-55) |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.Ik |
.21 -f .06 (52-55) |
|
Masturbation. |
.Ik |
.21-1- .04 (52-55) |
|
Enures! B ».. |
.07 |
.21 t .04 (52-55) |
|
Stubborn |
.16 |
.20 ± .04 (56-58) |
|
Sullen |
.11 |
.20 + .05 (56-58) |
|
Truancy from home |
.12 |
.20 + .04 (56-58) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Spoiled child, .19 and .19; Loitering, .18 and .14; Threatening vio- lence, .18 (boys); Irregular sleep habits, .18 and .19; Irresponsible, .17 and .16; Swearing (general), .17 (boys); Overlnterest in opposite sex, .17 (girls); Stealing, .15 and .19; Sulky, .15 and .14; Smoking, .14 (boys); Temper display, .14 and .13; Victim of sex abuse, .14 (girls); Staying out late at night, .13 and .15; Listless, .13 and .17; Over suggestible, .13 and .17; Follower, .13 and .13; Overlnterest in sex matters, .12 and .18; Sensitive (general), .11 and .13; Sensitive over specific fact, .11 and .09; Poor work in school, .11 and .14; Un- derweight, .11 and .10; Bad companions, .10 and .17; Former convulsions, .10 and .11; Refusal to attend school, .09 and .02; Truancy from school, .06 and .17; Lazy, .08 and .08; Gang, .08 (boys); Seclusive, .08 and .17; Discord between parents, .08 and -.05; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .07 (boys); Lack of initiative, .06 and .01; Attractive manner, .06 and .05; Popu- lar, .05 and .03; Clean, .05 and .03; Irregular attendance at school, .05 and -.12; Speech defect, .05 and .15; Vocational guidance, .04 and .02; Slow, dull, .03 and .11; Sex denied entirely, .01 and .09; Apprehensive, -.00 and .14; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.00 and .11; Repressed, -.04 and -.00; Stuttering, -.04 (boys); Bashful, -.05 and -.05; Question of hypophrenla, -.05 and .05; Im- moral home conditions, -.08 and -.01; Vicious home conditions, -.08 and -.10; Retardation in school, -.08 and -.02; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .09; Lues, -.10 and -.03; Brother in penal detention, -.11 and .18; Feeble-minded sibling, -.11 and -.13
Omitted— -Grouped: "nervous," etc.
emotional instability, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls yielded very" substantial correlations in the . 40!s, and moderate coefficients ranging from .21 to .30 among boys. Among girls fighting and violence also yielded the fairly substan- tial correlations of .44 + .Oj5 and .45-1- .04 respectively, the boys' coefficients being low, .15 for each trait.
Disturbing influence in school and rudeness among boys yielded substantial correlations in the .j50fs and moderate coeffi- cients in the .201B among girls. Five behavior traits among girls showed substantial correlations in the .30's with corresponding moderate coefficients in the ,20's for boys: restlessness in sleep,
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY" 273
irritable temperament, boastful or "show-off" manner, inattentive-* ness In school, and incorrigibility. Seven additional notations yielded substantial correlations in the ,30!s for girls but low positive coefficients below .20 for boys: temper tantrums, quar- relsomeness, crying spells, unpopularity, excuse- forming attitude, lack of interest in school, and exclusion from school.
Restlessness showed moderate correlations in the . 20's for both sexes with the following eleven notations: nail-biting, fin- icky food habits, disobedience, de s t rue t 1 vene s j , staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, question of change of personality, de pr e s s e d s pe lls, fantastical lying, bossy manner, "leader, " neu- rological defect (unspecified); and also two which were calculated for boys only, teasing other children and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated). Six behavior traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 for girls: absent-mindedness , slovenliness, inefficiency In work, play, etc. , unhappiness, selfishness, and contrariness. A large list of twenty behavior and other notations showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20fs for girls but low coefficients ranging from -.03 to .18 for boys: sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferen- tiated), worry over some specific fact, inferiority feelings, men- tal conflict, psychoneurotic trends, queer behavior, hatred or jealousy of sibling, egocentricity, defiant attitude, stubbornness, leading others into bad conduct, truancy from home, sullenness, ly- ing, daydreaming, object of teasing by other children, preference for younger children as playmates, masturbation, headaches , and en- uresis .
Among the six sex notations restlessness showed only one coefficient of significant size, .21 + .04 for masturbation among girls.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there were several meaningful correlations. Question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis showed tetrachoric r's of . 27 + .05 and .45 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Neurological defect (unspecified) showed the respective moderate coefficients of .20 -f .03 and .28 + .04. Among girls enure sis showed a correlation of .21 + .04, the corresponding boys' coefficient being negligible, .07.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low, ranging from -.11 to .18.
274 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Irritable temperament, "patient high-strung or impatient" was noted among 448, or 21.2 per cent, of our boys and among 175, or 14.8 per cent, of our girls. Its bi- serial correlations with our criteria of personality and conduct deviation generally were of moderate size, ranging from .27 to .30. With the police-arrest criterion the girls' correlation was .22 + .04, but among boys the correlation was negligible, .04 + .03 (Table 47).
TABLE 47 CORRELATIONS WITH "IRRITABLE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.29 + .02 |
.27 t -03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.30 + .02 |
.29 + .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.04 + .03 |
.22 4- .04 |
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Changeable moods |
.43 ± .03 |
.35 ± .04 (7-10)* |
|
Threatening violence |
.34 t .04 |
|
|
Violence |
.34 t .03 |
.30 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.33 4- .04 |
.26 t .06 (23-28) |
|
"Nervous" |
.33 + .03 |
.36 4- .04 (5-6) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.32 + .03 |
.44 + .04 (1) |
|
Crying spells |
.32 + .03 |
.30 4- .04 (17-19) |
|
Temper tantrums |
•32 ± .03 |
.43 t .04 (2) |
|
Question of encephalitis ...». |
• 30 ± -05 |
.31 4- .07 (16) |
|
Tamper display. |
.30 ± .03 |
.42 t .05 (3-4) |
|
Contrary. |
.29 + .04 |
.33 4- .06 (12-14) |
|
Selfish |
.29 4- .04 |
.35 + .04 (7-10) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.28 t -03 |
.23 4- .05 (33-35) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.27 -i- .02 |
.34 t .04 (11) |
|
Emotl onal 1 rmtaM 11 ty , |
.27 t -04 |
.26 t -05 (23-28) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.27 ± .04 |
.28 4- .06 (21) |
|
Bossy |
.26 t .04 - |
.25 4- .05 (29-32) |
|
Restless ? |
26 4- .03 |
.32 4- .04 (15) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.25 4- .03 |
.29 4- .04 (20) |
|
Queer |
25 4- .04 |
09 |
|
Ha^rad nr Joalousjy of fllb] Ing. ................ |
.24 ± .04 |
.22 t .06 (36-37) |
|
SveftTTl ng (genpTftX )............................ |
.24 t .04 |
|
|
.24 + .03 |
• 19 |
|
|
Smoking |
24 + .04 |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.24 t .03 |
.26 t .06 (23-28) |
|
Psychoneuro'tlc |
.23 + .05 |
.11 |
|
Restless in sleep |
22 4- 0^5 |
** 4. o4 (1P-14) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.22 t .03 |
35 4- .04 (7-10) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY TABLE 4?— Continued
275
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.22 ± .03 .21 + .03 .21 ± .03 .21 ± .03 .20 ± .Ok .20 ± .03 .12 .16 .05 .19 .12 .12 .16 .18 .10 .18 .17 .16 .19 .08 |
.k2± .05 (3-4) .35 ± .04 (7-10) •33 ± .04 (12-14) .26 ± .05 (23-28) .19 .26 ± .05 (23-28) .36 ± .05 (5-6) .30 ± .04 (17-19) .27 ± .04 (22) .26 ± .05 (23-28) .25 ± .05 (29-52) .25 ± .06 (29-32) .25 ± .05 (29-32) .23 ± .05 (33-35) .23 ± .06 (33-35) .22 ± .05 (36-37) .21 ± .05 (38) .20 ± .04 (39-41) .20 t .05 (39-41) .20 ± .05 (39-41) |
|
Fighting .' |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Leader • |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Enuresis |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Paydrefiirvi T\Q .................. , ................ |
||
|
Headaches |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off11 |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Immoral home conditions |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.19 .06 -.04 |
-.26 ± .05 -.24 ± .06 -.24 t .04 -.22 ± .05 -.20 ± .05 |
|
|
Vicious home conditions |
||
|
-.00 |
||
|
Victim of sex abuse |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irresponsible, .19 and .16; Sulky, .19 and .19; Depressed, .18 and .19; Absent-minded, .18 and .06; Excuse- forming, .17 and .10; Worry over specific fact, .17 and .17; Conduct prognosis bad, .17 and -.04; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .16 and .13; Seclusive, .16 and .11; Bashful, .16 and .08; I$r- ing, .16 and .11; Disturbing influence in school, .16 and .19; Destructive, .16 and .10; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Listless, .15 and -.11; Distract- ible, .15 and .19; Refusal to attend school, .14 and .09; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .13 and .18; Lack of interest in school, .13 and .14; Overinterest In sex matters, .13 and .10; Lack of initiative, .13 and -.12; Mental conflict, .13 and .06; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .13 (boys); For- mer convulsions, .13 and .07; Speech defect, .12 and -.04; Nail-biting, .12 and .16; Lazy, .11 and .11; Masturbation, .11 and -.01; Apprehensive, .11 and -.02; Overintereet in opposite sex, .11 (girls); Lues, .10 and -.05; Exclusion from school, .10 and .04; Truancy from home, .10 and -.11; Stealing, .10 and ,01; Gtang, .09 (boys); Slovenly, .09 and -.01; Preference for younger children, .09 and .19; Poor work in school, .09 and .06; Follower, .09 and -.00; Clean, .09 and .07; Loitering, .07 and .06; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and .02$ Popular, .07 and .15; Unhappy, .06 and .14; Object of teasing, .06 and .15; Tru- ancy frcm school, .06 and .08; Leading others into bad conduct, .06 and .13; Discord between parents, .04 and .11; Bad companions, .03 and -.03; Overeuggeet-
2?6 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 47— Continued
ible, .03 and -.08; Stuttering, .03 (boys); Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .02 and -.04; Underweight, .02 and .17; Staying out late at night, .00 and .11; Inat- tentive in Bohool, -.00 and .18; Vocational guidance, -.02 and .00; Attractive manner, -.04 and .02; Question of hypophrenia, -.04 and -.04; Slow, dull, -.05 and -.01; Irregular attendance at school, -.06 and .04; Repressed, -.07 and .06; Retardation in school, -.11 and -.11; Feeble-minded sibling, -.14 and -.08; Sex denied entirely, -.17 and .03
Omitted — Grouped: "nervous," etc.; Grouped: temper, etc.
Its highest correlations, ranging from .30 to .44 among both sexes, were for "nervousness, " fighting or quarrelsomeness (undifferentiated), violence, threatening violence (calculated for boys only), temper tantrums, changeable moods or attitudes, crying spells, temper display, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis. Question of change of personality among boys also yielded the sub- stantial correlation of .33 + .04 and among girls the moderate cor- relation of .26 + .06. Among girls there were nine behavior dif- ficulties yielding similar substantial correlations, ranging from .30 to .42, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the ,20's for boys: restlessness, restlessness in sleep, disobedience or incorrigibility (undifferentiated), contrariness , fighting, quar- relsomeness, rudene s s , selfishness, and finicky food habits. In- corrigibility and "leader" also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's for girls but low coefficients below .20 for boys.
Eight behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes: emotional instability, irregular sleep habits, bossy manner, hatred or jealousy of sibling, sullenness, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), "spoiled child, " and fantastical lying and also smoking (calculated for boys only). Pour others showed moderate correlations in the . 20's for boys but low positive coefficients below .20 for girls: stubbornness, queer behavior, psychoneurotic trends, and unpopularity. Among girls there were twelve additional notations with moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive correlations below .20 for boys: boastful or "show-off" manner, disobedience, defiant attitude, ego- centriclty, sensitiveness in general, inferiority feelings, day- dreaming, depressed spells or unhappineas (undifferentiated), lack of interest or inattentivenesa in school studies or employment (un- differentiated), enure si s, headaches, and neurological defect (un- specified).
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY
277
There vere five significant negative correlations with ir- ritable temperament , ranging from -.20 to -.26, all among girls: sex delinquency (coitus), victim of sex abuse by older child or person (calculated for girls only), immoral and vicious home con- ditions, and brother in penal detention.
Among the sex notations there were two coefficients of sig- nificant size, both of negative sign, sex delinquency ( coitus ) among girls, -.24 + .04, and victim of sex abuse by older child or person (calculated for girls only), -.20 + .05.
Among physical or psychophyslcal notations there were sev- eral correlations of significant size. Question or diagnosis of encephalitis yielded the substantial correlations of .30 + .05 and .31 4- .07 for boys and girls respectively. Neurological defect (unspecified) and enuresis among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20' s.
Among home or familial conditions irritable temperament showed three correlations of moderate size in the .20's, all nega- tive in sign and all among girls : vicious and immoral home condi- tions and brother in penal detention.
When the three personality problems, "nervousness, " rest- lessness, and irritable temperament, together with changeable moods or attitudes (Table 35, p. 231), are combined under one rubric, we have the correlation coefficients shown in Table 48. Under this
TABLE 48 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: NERVOUS, ETC/
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.42 t «02 |
.48 t .02 |
|
Conduct-total |
.35 + .02 |
.41 4- .02 |
|
Police arrest |
.02 + .03 |
-.20 + .04 |
|
Larger Corrc |
»lations (Positive ) |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.38 t «02 |
.47 * .03 (7-8)* |
|
Distractlble |
.37 + .03 |
.55 + .03 (3) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.35 + .04 |
.48 + .05 (6) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
278
CHILDREN »S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 48— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.35 ± .04 .34 ± .03 .33 t -02 .33 i .03 .32 + .02 .32 + .03 .32 ± .03 .32 + .02 •31 ± .03 .30 + .04 .29 ± .03 .29-1- .03 |
.32 ± .04 (31-34) .56 t -03 (1-2) .53 ± .03 (4) .46 ± .04 (9) .36 t .03 (21-25) .24 t .04 (55-56) .52 ± .03 (5) .47 ± .03 (7-8) .45 + .04 (10) •25 ± .05 (53-54) .39 ± .04 (18-20) |
||
|
Restless in sleep |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
|||
|
Violence. |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc.. |
|||
|
Rude |
|||
|
Twnpor tantrnme •••••••••«••• |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Flniclty food habits |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in scho Teasing other children. ..... |
ol |
||
|
Question of change of person) Quarrel some |
ality |
.29 ± .03 .28 + .03 .28 + .03 .28 + .02 .27 + .04 .26 + .04 .26 + .03 .26 + .04 .26 + .03 .25 ± .03 .25 + .02 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .05 .25 + .04 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .03 .25 + .02 .24 + .03 .24 + .02 .24 + 03 |
.36 ± .05 (21-25) .42 ± .03 (11) .31 ± .04 (35-36) .30 + .04 (37-41) .38 + .05 (14-17) .38 ± .04 (14-17) .35 ± .04 (26-27) .38 -f .05 (18-20) .23 ± .04 (57-58) .38 t .04 (14-17) •31 ± .03 (35-36) .37 ± .03 (18-20) .30 t .04 (37-41) .28 ± .04 (43-46) .26 t .04 (49-52) .34 ± .05 (28) .36 + .04 (21-25) .41 + .04 (12) .32 + .03 (31-34) .56 + -04 (1-2) .40 + .04 (13) |
|
Spoiled child |
|||
|
Grouped: lack of interest 1] Psych oneurotic. |
n, school, etc |
||
|
Bossy |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
Queer |
|||
|
Grouped; p wiring, etc. . . . . |
|||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
|||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
|||
|
Temper display |
|||
|
Pnyrlrflftirtng. |
|||
|
Depressed. |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
Sensitive (general) |
|||
|
Neurological defect |
|||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrii Fighting |
3ome, etc |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
|||
|
Swearing (general) |
|||
|
Threatening violence |
.24 f .04 |
||
|
Worry over specific fact .... |
.24 + .04 .24 + .03 .23 ± .04 .23 + .04 .23 ± .03 .22 ± .02 .22 ± .04 .22 ± .03 .22 ± .04 .21 ± .03 .21 ± .03 .21 ± .02 .21 ± .03 .20 t .04 .20 ± .03 .20 ± .04 .20* .03 |
.27 ± .06 (47-48) .30 t .03 (37-41) .26 ± .04 (49-5fi) .38 ± .05 (14-17) .30 ± .03 (37-^1) .28 t .03 (43-46) .27 ± .0$ (47-48) .26 t .05 (49-52) .01 .36 ± .05 (21-25) .18 .22 t .04 (59-61) .24 ± .04 (55-56) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc... |
|||
|
Stubborn. |
|||
|
Disobedient |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school. . |
|||
|
Egocentric |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment Listless |
by other children |
||
|
.02 .30 ± .05 (37-41) .10 |
|||
|
pn1*yt ,,,..,. ai |
|||
"NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY TABLE 48~Continued
279
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.15 |
.36 ± .Ok (21-25) |
|
|
.15 |
.35 ± .05 (26-27) |
|
|
Object of teasing |
.13 |
.33 ± .04 (29-30) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.04 |
• 33 ± .07 (29-30) |
|
Defiant |
.16 |
.32 t .04 (31-34) |
|
Enures is ....* |
.11 |
.32 ± .03 (31-34) |
|
Ikying |
.17 |
.28 ± .03 (43-46) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.19 |
.28 t .05 (43-46) |
|
Leader |
.1? |
.28 + .05 (43-46) |
|
Sullen |
.14 |
.26 + .04 (49-52) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.14 |
.25 ± .04 (53-54) |
|
.07 |
.25 ± .05 (57-58) |
|
|
Speech defect |
.Ik |
.22 ± .04 (59-61) |
|
.18 |
.22 t .04 (59-61) |
|
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.12 |
.21 ± .04 (62-64) |
|
Stealing |
.Ik |
.21 ± .03 (62-64) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.18 |
.21 ± .05 (62-64) |
|
Apprehensive |
.15 |
.20 ± .04 (65-66) |
|
Seclusive |
.13 |
.20 ± .04 (65-66) |
|
Larger Corr< |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
- 2k ± Ok |
- 11 |
|
|
Brother in penal detention |
-.Ik |
-.27 ± .04 |
|
Vocational guidance |
-.01 |
-.27 t «04 |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
-.00 |
-.25 ± .03 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Former convulsions, .18 and .09; Mental conflict, .17 and .19; Follower j .16 and .09; Lack of initiative, .16 and .00; Smoking, .16 (boys); Irresponsible; .16 and .19; Overinterest in opposite sex, .15 (girls); Unhappy, .14 and .16; Over interest in sex matters, .13 and .17; Poor work in school, .12 and .11; Lazyj .12 and .09; Loitering, .11 and .11; Over suggestible, .11 and .10; Clean, .10 and .08; Refusal to attend school, .10 and -.03; Underweight, .10 and .18; Gang, .09 (boys); Truancy from school, .09 and .10; Bashful, .09 and .08; Discord be- tween parents, .08 and .02; Truancy from home, .08 and .11; Stuttering, .08 (boys); Bad companions, .07 and .09; Staying out late at night, .05 and .05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .04 and .01; Popular, .04 and .07; Attractive man- ner, .02 and .08; Repressed, .01 and .09; Lues, -.03 and -.03; Irregular attend- ance at school, -.03 and -.17; Slow, dull, -.03 and -.03; Question of hypophre- nla, -.04 and .04; Vicious home conditions, -.05 and -.12; Victim of sex abuse, -.05 (girls); Sex denied entirely, -.08 and .14; Retardation in school, -.11 and -.16; Immoral home conditions, -.15 and -.10
Omitted — Changeable moodsj Irritable; Restless; "Nervous"
"broader grouping fall 987, or 46.7 P®** cent, of our boys and 488, or 41.3 per cent, of our girls. Almost a half of our clinic popu- lation thus manifests one or more of these personality problems.
280 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
This combined "broader grouping" showed very substantial correla- tions ranging from .35 to .48 vlth personality- total and conduct- total but only a minor relation to the police-arrest criterion of overt Juvenile delinquency, unless one considers the negative tetra- chorlc correlation of -.20 + .04 among girls as meaningful.
Three personality notations — distractibility, restlessness in sleep , and temper tantrums — among girls yielded high correla- tions in the . 50's, with substantial correlations among boys in the .30fs. Fighting among girls also yielded a high correlation of .56-1- .04, with a moderate coefficient among boys of .24 + .03* Pour notations among girls yielded very substantial correlations in the ,40's and substantial coefficients in the .^O's for boys: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, violence, crying spells, and finicky food habits. Three additional notations among girls yielded very substantial correlations in the . 40's, with correspond- ing moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys: quarrelsome- ness, inattentiveness in school, and neurological defect (unspeci- fied ) . Among both sexes substantial correlations in the .j50's were found for emotional instability and disobedience or incorrigibility (undifferentiated). Rudeness and contrariness among boys also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, with corresponding moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls. Seventeen behav- ior difficulties among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: question of change of personality, psychoneurotic trends, "spoiled child, " queer behavior, irregular sleep habits, sensitiveness in general, unpopularity , bossy manner, stubbornness, incorrigibility, destructiveness , temper display, disturbing influence in school, selfishness, sulkiness, boastful or "show-off" manner, and nail- biting. Six additional notations among girls also showed substan- tial correlations in the .30's but low positive correlatiops below .20 for boys: defiant attitude, fantastical lying, exclusion from school, object of teasing by other children, preference for younger children as playmates, and enuresis.
Ten miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes with the larger grouping "nervous- ness" or restlessness (undifferentiated): daydreaming, depressed spells, absent-mindedness , worry over some specific fact, egocen- tricity, hatred or jealousy of sibling, disobedience, swearing or
''NERVOUSNESS"; RESTLESSNESS; IRRITABILITY 28l
bad language (undifferentiated), masturbation, headaches ; and the following three notations which were calculated for boys only: threatening violence, teasing other children, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Pour notations among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20fs, with low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: listlesaneaa, slovenliness , lack of inter- est in school, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Among girls there were twelve behavior traits showing moderate cor- relations in the .20 'a, with low positive coefficients below .20 for the boys : apprehensiveneas , inferiority feelings, sensitive- ness over some specific fact, seclusivenesa, sullenness, ineffi- ciency in work, play, etc., excuse-forming attitude, stealing, ly- ing, leading others into bad conduct, "leader, " and speech defect.
There were four negative coefficients of moderate size in the *-.20's: among boys for feeble-minded sibling1, and among girls for sex delinquency (coitus), brother in penal detention, and "re- quest for vocational guidance. "
Regarding the sex notations, the physical and psychophysi- cal notations, and the home and familial notations, we may summa- rize the data of Tables 45, 46, 4?, 48, and Table 35 (changeable moods or attitudes) considered in this chapter as follows. Among girls sex delinquency (coitus) showed moderate negative correla- tions in the .20 's with "nervousness" and irritable temperament, the boys' correlations being negligible. Masturbation among both sexes showed moderate or low positive correlations with "nervous- ness, " restlessness, and changeable moods or attitudes. The re- maining four sex notations showed only occasional moderate corre- lations in this field.
Question or diagnosis of encephalitis and neurological de- fect (unspecified) consistently showed substantial correlations, several of which were in the .40fs, with all five notations "ner- vousness, " restlessness, irritable temperament, changeable moods or 'attitudes, and the broader grouping of "nervousness" or rest- lessness (undifferentiated). Enures is among girls showed moderate correlations ranging from .19 to ,27 with "nervousness, " restless- ness, and irritable temperament, the corresponding coefficients among boys, ranging from .05 to .11, being low and positive. Speech defect (other than stuttering) among girls showed the moderate tetrachoric r of .22 + .04 with the combined grouping "nervousness"
282 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
or restlessness (undifferentiated) as shown in Table ^8, but all other correlations were below .20. Stuttering, underweight condi- tions and lues (diagnosed or questioned) showed only low or negli- gible correlations with all five personality traits discussed in this chapter.
Among the four home or familial notations, brother in pe- nal detention showed generally negative correlations of moderate size ranging from .18 to -.30 among girls for all five notations considered in thi« chapter. Among girls irritable temperament showed moderate negative correlations of -.24 ± .06 and -.26 -f .05 with vicious and immoral home conditions respectively.
In brief, the trends appearing among the correlations dis- cussed in this chapter for the interrelated personality notations "nervousness, " restlessness, irritable temperament, together with changeable moods or attitudes (Table 35, p. 231) is summarized in this paragraph. The neuropsychiatric notations, question or diag- nosis of encephalitis and neurological defect (unspecified), which in our data overlap to a considerable extent, showed very meaning- ful correlations. Behavior problems showing substantial to high relationships were distractibility. temper tantrums, and, to a lesser extent, temper display, crying spells or crying easily, fighting (especially among girls), violence, restlessness in sleep, queer behavior, and question of change of personality.
Additional personality and conduct difficulties showing consistent moderate correlations in this field were staff notation of emotional instability, staff notation of psychoneurotic trends, "spoiled child." boastful or "show-off" manner, fantastical lying, bossy manner, rudeness, unpopularity, inferiority feelings or at- titudes (especially among girls), depressed moods or spells, sen- sitiveness in general, quarrelsomeness . disturbing influence in school, finicky food habits, and nail-biting.
Masturbation among both sexes showed several moderate posi- tive correlations, while sex delinquency (coitus) among girls showed several negative correlations of moderate size.
Among girls, brother in penal detention showed moderate negative correlations in the -.20 !s.
CHAPTER XXIX
RESTLESSNESS IN SLEEP AND IRREGULAR SLEEP HABITS
The two notations restlessness in sleep and irregular sleep habits or insomnia could not always be readily distinguished in the case records, but the difference is clear enough. Restlessness in sleep implies tossing, grinding of teeth, crying out, or "night- mares," after the child has fallen asleep, while irregular sleep habits implies wakefulness at a time when children are normally asleep, which may be due to Insomnia, to faulty family training in bedtime hours, or to "reversal of sleep" occasionally occurring as a psychiatric symptom. Their intercorrelations were moderate to substantial, the tetrachoric coefficients for boys and girls being .28 + .04 and .37 + .06 respectively. Both showed moderate to sub- stantial bi- serial r's, ranging from .23 to .42 with the personal- ity- and conduct- totals . With the police-arrest criterion of ju- venile delinquency the tetrachoric correlations with restlessness in sleep were negligible, while those with irregular sleep habits were of significant size though moderate, the coefficients being .24 + .04 among boys and .31 + .06 among girls.
Restlessness in sleep was one of the most frequently noted behavior traits in our data, appearing in 324 casea, or 15.3 per cent, of our 2,113 boys and in 146 cases, or 12.4 per cent, of our 1,181 girls.
Its highest correlation (.56 + .03) was among girls for the broader grouping "nervousness" or restlessness (Including ir- ritable temperament and changeable moods or attitudes, undlf feren- tiated), the boys' correlation of .34 + ,03 also being substantial (Table 49). Among girls two other notations yielded fairly high correlations in the . 40's — "nervousness" and nail-biting — with cor- responding meaningful coefficients of .30 4- .03 and .27 4- .03 among boys. Headaches among boys yielded the fairly high correlation of .42 4- .04, the corresponding coefficient among girls being .28 4- .06.
283
284
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 49 CORRELATIONS WITH "RESTLESS IN SLEEP"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.26 + .02 |
.35 + .03 |
|
|
Conduct-total |
.25 + .02 |
.39 + .03 |
|
06 + 03 |
||
|
Larger Corrc |
Nations (Positive) |
|
|
Headaches |
.42 + .Ok |
.28 -f- .06 (26-29)* |
|
.34 + .03 |
56 + .03 (1) |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.34 + .03 |
.38 4- .05 (5) |
|
"Nervous" |
.30-1- .03 |
.47 4- .04 (2) |
|
Former convulsions |
.29 + ,o4 |
.26 + .07 (34-39) |
|
Neurological defect |
.28 4- .04 |
.32 + .05 (17-18) |
|
Restless • |
.28 + .03 |
.36 4- .04 (9-11) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.28 -4- .04 |
.37 4- .06 (6-8) |
|
Nail-biting |
.27 + .03 |
.40 4- .04 (3) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.27 + .o4 |
20 4- .06 (46-48) |
|
Enures is . |
26 + 05 |
*>! Z 04 ?lQ-22^ |
|
Changeable moods |
.25 + .o4 |
.33 4- .05 fl4-l6) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.24-1- .04 |
.36 4- .06 (9-11) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
25 i 04 |
13 |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.22 + .03 |
.37 4- .04 (6-8) |
|
Irritable |
22 + 03 |
33 4- 04 (14-16) |
|
Teasing other children |
.21 + .04 |
|
|
.21 ± .04 |
26 + .0*5 (54-^Q^ |
|
|
Psychoneurotlc |
.21 4- .05 |
19 |
|
Discord between parents |
.20 + .03 |
-.04 |
|
Queer. |
20 + 04 |
XQ j_ O6 (4^ |
|
Smoking |
.20 + .04 |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.10 |
57 4- 04 (6-8) |
|
Question of encephalitis . |
15 |
56 4- O7 (Q-11 \ |
|
.11 |
55 4- 05 (12} |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.12 |
54 4- 06 (15^ |
|
Distractible |
14 |
55 4- 05 n4-l6^ |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.07 |
52 4- 05 (17-18^ |
|
Defiant v |
06 |
51 4- O5 /IQ-PP^ |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
• 19 |
51 4- O6 ^1Q-PP^ |
|
Absent-mi nclefl ................ *»44it4. |
15 |
51 4- 06 HO-PP^ |
|
.18 |
30 4* • 06 (23-24) |
|
|
07 |
5O Z O4 fP5-P4^ |
|
|
• 15 |
29 4- 04 f25) |
|
|
Leader |
10 |
28 ± 06 (26-29) |
|
• 07 |
28 ± 06 (26-29) |
|
|
18 |
Pfi 4- O5 fP6-PQ^ |
|
|
16 |
P7 4- O^ MO-^3^ |
|
|
14 |
.c.( -T .uo \^w-p^/ P7 4- O5 ( 50-^5 ^ |
|
|
• 17 |
27 4- 05 ( 50-55 ^ |
|
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
RESTLESSNESS IN SLEEP TABLE 49- -Continued
285
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.17 .12 .17 .07 .03 .13 .19 .13 .13 .11 .08 .15 .08 |
.27 + -06 (30-33) .26 t .06 (34-39) .26 ± .06 (34-39) .26 + .06 (34-39) .26 + .04 (34-39) .25 ± .05 (4o-4l) .25 + .04 (40-41) .24 + .07 (42) .23 + .04 (43-44) .23 + .04 (43-44) .22 ± .04 (45) .20 + .04 (46-48) .20 t -05 (46-48) |
|
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Temper display |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Apprehensive |
||
|
Crying spells |
||
|
Destructive . . . . , |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc •. . . |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.01 |
-.23 + .04 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Boastful, "show-off," .19 and .13; Sulky, .19 and .14; Worry over spe- cific fact, .17 and .12; Stubborn, .15 and .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .14 and .17; Listless, .14 and .06; Bashful, .14 and .08; Overinterest in sex mat- ters, .14 and .16; Rude, .14 and .14; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .14 and .14; Contrary, .13 and .11; Threatening violence, .13 (boys); Spoiled child, .13 and .17; Follower, .13 and .06; Irregular attendance at school, .13 and -.04; Vicious home conditions, .13 and -.19; Popular, .12 and .03; Stuttering, .12 (boys); Swearing (general), .12 (boys); Leading others into bad conduct, .12 and .05; Object of teasing, .11 and .17; Emotional instability, .11 and -.02; Underweight, .11 and .04; Speech defect, .11 and .14; Complaining of bad treat- ment by other children, .10 (boys); Over suggestible, .10 and .05; Egocentric, .09 and .18; Truancy from home, .08 and .16; Bad companions, .07 and .09; Ir- responsible, .07 and .11; Gang, .07 (boys); Excuse- forming, .07 and .16; Re- pressed, .07 and .09; Exclusion from school, .07 and .16; Lues, .07 and -.02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .07 and .09; Grouped: lack of interest In school, etc., .07 and .17; Attractive manner, .06 and .03; Seclusive, .06 and .01; Lazy, .06 and .04; Incorrigible, .06 and -.00; Lack of interest in school, .05 and .08; Slovenly, .05 and .14; Sensitive over specific fact, .05 and .14; Poor work in school, .05 and .02; Clean, .05 and .08; Immoral home conditions, .04 and -.07; Question of hypophrenia, .04 and .02; Loitering, .04 and .18; Victim of sex abuse, .04 (girls); Refusal to attend school, .03 and .09; Sullen, .03 and .12; Slow, dull, .03 and .06; Sex denied entirely, .02 and *05; Unhappy, .02 and -.01; Overlntereet in opposite sex, .02 (glrle); Mental conflict, .01 and .19; Lack of initiative, .00 and .11; Truancy frcan school, -.00 and .10; Stay- Ing out late at night, -.02 and .18; Retardation in school, -.04 and -.11; Con- duct prognosis bad, -.06 and .11; Brother in penal detention, -.14 and -.17; Feeble-minded sibling, -.14 and -.15; Vocational guidance, -.17 and -.10
286 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Finicky food habits among both sexes yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's. Nine notations among girls yielded sub- stantial correlations with restlessness in sleep in the .^O's and moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: irregular sleep habits, restlessness, changeable moods or attitudes, irritable tem- perament, temper tantrums or display (undifferentiated), question of change of personality, queer behavior, neurological defect (un- specified), and enuresis . Ten additional notations also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among girls but low positive coefficients below .20 for boys: dlstractibility, absent-minded- ness, violence, defiant attitude, disturbing influence in school, hatred or jealousy of sibling, unpopularity, fantastical lying, stealing, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Three notations — daydreaming, preference for younger chil- dren as playmates, and former convulsions — showed moderate corre- lations in the . 20fs for both sexes. Teasing other children and smoking among boys also showed moderate correlations in the . 20's, the coefficients for girls not being computed because of the pau- city of girls' cases. Three additional notations among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low or negligible coeffi- cients below .20 among girls: psychoneurotic trends, sensitiveness in general, and discord between parents. Eighteen personality and conduct traits among girls also showed moderate correlations in the ,20's, the correlations for boys being low and positive (below .20): apprehenslveness , temper tantrums, temper display, fighting, quarrelsomeness, bossy manner, destructiveness , selfishness, lying, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), disobedience, inatten- tiveness in school, inferiority feelings, sensitiveness or worri- someneas (undifferentiated), depressed moods or spells, crying g pells, masturbation, and "leader. "
The only negative correlation of significant si.ze with restlessness in sleep was among girls for sex delinquency (coitus), -.23 + .04, the boys' coefficient being negligible (-.01).
Among the six sex notations masturbation among girls yielded a positive correlation of .28 4- .05 and aex delinquency (coitus) among girls a negative coefficient of -.23 + .04, all other coefficients in this field being low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations neu- rological defect (unspecified) showed substantial correlations of
RESTLESSNESS IN SLEEP 287
.28 + .04 and .32 + .05 among boys and girls respectively. Ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis shoved corresponding coefficients of .15 and .36 + .07. Enure sis (continuing beyond third birthday) shoved moderate to substantial correlations of .26 -f .03 and .31 + .04 for boys and girls respectively. The correlations for under - weight condition, lues, speech defect, and stuttering were low or negligible.
Among the four home or familial notations the only corre- lation of significant size with restlessness in sleep was with dis- cord between parents among boys, .20 + .03, all other correlations in this field ranging between -.19 and .13.
Irregular sleep habits or insomnia was noted among 123 boys, or 5.8 per cent, and among 64 girls, or 5-4 per cent.
Its highest correlations were among girls with question or diagnosis of encephalitis, .44 + .09, and with queer behavior, .40 + .07, the corresponding coefficients for boys being .30 + .07 and .16 (Table 50). Question of change of personality and finicky food habits yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's for both sexes. Fantastical lying among boys yielded the substantial cor- relation of .30-h .06 but a negligible correlation (-.01) among girls. Three behavior difficulties among girls showed substantial correlations in the ,30's, with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: restlessness in sleep, "nervousness" or restless (un- differentlated), and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) . Eight additional notations among girls also showed substantial cor- relations in the .JO's, with low or negligible coefficients below .20 among boys: changeable moods or attitudes, emotional instabil- ity, sensitiveness in general, crying spells, apprehensiveneas , staff notation of psychoneurotic trends (unspecified), irregular attendance at school, and neurological defect (unspecified).
Twelve personality and conduct problems showed moderate correlations with irregular sleep habits In the .20's for both sexes : irritable temperament, "nervousness, " temper tant-rums, boastful or "show-off" manner, violence, fighting or quarrelsome- ness (undifferentiated), disobedience, incorriglbllity, staying out late at night, refusal to attend school, "spoiled child, " and worry over some specific fact. Four notations (which were not computed for girls because of paucity of cases) also showed moderate
288
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 50 CORRELATIONS WITH "IRREGULAR SLEEP HABITS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.23 + .03 |
.42 4- .04 |
|
Con duct -total |
.38-1- .03 |
.32 4- .04 |
|
Police arrest |
.24 + .Ok |
.31 4- .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
Question of change of personality . |
.34 4- .05 |
.35 4- .08 (5-6)* |
|
Grouped: disobedient |
.34 + .03 |
.28 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Finicky food habits , |
.33 4- .05 |
.30 4- .07 (13-15) |
|
30 + .06 |
- 01 |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
.30 + .07 |
.44 4- .09 (1) |
|
Smoking |
.29 + .05 |
|
|
Staying out late at night |
.29 + .Ok |
.24 4- .06 (28-36) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.29 + .06 |
.13 |
|
Restless in sleep |
.28 4- .04 |
.37 4- .06 (3) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.27 + .05 |
.24 4- .09 (28-36) |
|
Irritable v. . |
.27 4- .04 |
.28 4- .06 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.27 4- .o4 |
.21 4- 05 (42-44) |
|
Disobedient |
.26 4- .04 |
.23 4- .06 (37-39) |
|
Unpopular |
.26 + .06 |
.08 |
|
Incorrigible |
.25 I 04 |
22 4- 06 (40-41) |
|
Threatening violence |
.25 4- .06 |
|
|
Truancy from home |
.25 + .04 |
.02 |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.25 4- .04 |
.34 4- .05 (7-8) |
|
Grouped: svearing, etc |
.25 4- .04 |
.35 4- .07 (5-6) |
|
Teasing other children |
.24 4- .05 |
|
|
Rude |
24 4- 04 |
15 |
|
Stubborn |
24 + 04 |
06 |
|
Fighting |
22 + 04 |
11 |
|
Slovenly |
.22 + .04 |
.13 |
|
Teraper tantrums »,.*,* * ,* |
22 + 05 |
24 + 07 (28-36) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.22 4- .06 |
22 4- 09 (40-41) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.21 + .06 |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
20 4- 05 |
25 4- 08 (57-59) |
|
Violence |
20 + 05 |
26 4- 07 (21-22) |
|
"Nervous" .* |
.20 4- .04 |
24 4- .06 (28-36) |
|
Spoiled child |
20 4- 05 |
25 + 07 (P5-P7) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.20 4- .04 |
.25 4- .05 (23-27) |
|
.16 |
40 4- 07 (2) |
|
|
Neurological defect |
.15 |
56 + 06 (4) |
|
Irregular attendance at school |
.14 |
• 34 4- .07 (7-8) |
|
Changeable moods |
1Q |
^ 4. 06 (Q-in^ |
|
-.02 |
^5 4- 05 (Q-1O) |
|
|
Pay choneur otic |
12 |
32 4- 08 (11) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.09 |
51 + 07 ?1P^ |
|
Emotional 1 notability |
.17 |
^0 4- O7 n^-15) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
RESTLESSNESS IN SLEEP TABLE 50— Continued
289
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Apprehensive |
.01 |
.30 + .06 (13-15) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.05 |
.29 + .08 (16) |
|
Sex denied entirely |
13 |
28 4- 06 (17-19) |
|
Former convulsions |
15 |
.27 + 08 (20) |
|
Lazy |
10 |
26 ± 07 (21-22) |
|
Distractible |
01 |
25 + 07 (23-27) |
|
Lack of Initiative |
00 |
25 4- Oft (P1~P7\ |
|
Clean |
01 |
o*=; 4. of, fp^-p7^ |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
17 |
2k 4 05 (Pft-V}\ |
|
Selfish ^ |
- 10 |
2^4- + Ok (28-36) |
|
Quarrelsome |
10 |
2k + 06 (28-36) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.18 |
2k ± 08 (28-36) |
|
Defiant |
11 |
2k 4- 07 (28-36) |
|
Nail-biting |
- 05 |
23 + 06 (^7-^Q) |
|
Loitering |
10 |
21 4; 08 (^4-2-44) |
|
Daydreaming |
10 |
PI 4- O7 flip ..kk ^ |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
01 |
PO 4- 06 fkR.kQ) |
|
Seclusive |
15 |
PO 4- (Y7 fk^-kQ^ |
|
Depressed |
08 |
20 4- Oft (kS-kQ) |
|
Truancy from school |
17 |
PO 4- 06 fkS-kcA |
|
Destructive |
.19 |
20 4- Oft fk'S-kcA |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
- 23 4- 06 |
0*> |
|
|
Bashful |
- 20 4- Ok |
06 |
|
Sulky |
02 |
- ?7 4- Oft |
|
Brother in penal detention |
OQ |
„ px 4. r\7 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Bad companions, .18 and .17; Sullen, .18 and -.07; lying, .18 and .16; Restless, .18 and .19; Stealing, .17 and .11; Sensitive over specific fact, .17 and .17; Mental conflict, .17 and -.Ok; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Head- aches, .16 and .16; Discord between parents, .16 and .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .16 and .15; Contrary, .15 and .16; Unhappy, .15 and .10; Leading others into bad conduct, .Ik and .10; Conduct prognosis bad, .Ik and -.05; Disturbing influence in school, .13 and .16; Irresponsible, .13 and .17; Popular, .13 and .15; Attractive manner, .13 and .07; Lack of interest in school, .12 and .17; Gang, .11 (boys); Object of teasing, .11 and .1^; Masturbation, .10 and .03; Grouped: lack of interest In school, .10 and .17; Leader, .09 and -.01; Over- interest in sex matters, .08 and .03; Temper display, .07 and .05; Listless, .07 and -.Ok; Over suggestible, .07 and .Ik; Stuttering, .06 (boys); Bossy, .05 and .02; Exclusion from school, .05 and .12; Overinterest in opposite eex, .05 (girls); Inattentive In school, .Ok and .03; Sex delinquency (coitus), .Ok and -.15; Preference for younger children, .Ok and -.08; Poor work In school, .Ok and .Ok; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .Ok and .07; Enuresis, .03 and .11; Excuee- formlng, .03 and .19; Underweight, .03 and .10; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .02 and .06; Egocentric, .02 and .19; Follower, .01 and -.08; Repressed, .01 and .05; Speech defect, .00 and -.05; Slow, dull, -.00 and .09; Vocational guidance,
290 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 50— Continued
-.00 and .10; Question of hypophrenia, -.02 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, -.03 (girls) j Immoral home conditions, ~.0k and .07; Feeble-minded sibling, -.05 and -.08; Absent-minded, -.06 and -.02; Retardation in school, -.12 and -.14
correlations in the .20's for boys: smoking, threatening violence, teasing other children, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Seven notations among boys also showed moderate corre- lations in the . 20's, with low coefficients below .20 for girls: truancy from home, fighting, stubbornness, rudeness, slovenliness, unpopularity, and vicious home conditions. A large list of eight- een miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correla- tions In the . 20's, with corresponding low coefficients ranging from -.10 to .19 among boys: dlstractlblllty, Inefficiency in work, play, etc. , lack of Initiative, laziness, loitering or wan- dering, nail-biting, destructlveness , quarrelsomeness, defiant at- titude, truancy from school, selfishness, Inferiority feelings, depressed mood or spells, daydreaming, secluslveness, clean habits, former convulsions, and sex misbehavior denied entirely.
Pour negative correlations of moderate size ranging from -.20 to -.27 were found with Irregular sleep habits : among boys, bashfulness and lues and among girls sulklness and brother In penal detention.
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of sig- nificant size with Irregular sleep habits was for sex misbehavior denied entirely among girls, .28 + .06.
Among our seven physical or psychophyslcal notations there were the substantial correlations of .30 4- .07 and .44-1- .09 for boys and girls respectively with question or diagnosis of encepha- litis. Among girls neurological defect (unspecified) also showed a substantial correlation, .36 + .06. Lues among boys showed the moderate negative correlation of -.23 + .06.
Among home or familial notations there were two correla- tions of moderate size with Irregular sleep habits, the positive correlation of .29 + .06 among boys with vicious home conditions and the negative coefficient of -.23 + .07 among girls with brother in penal detention.
CHAPTER XXX EGOCENTRICITY AND SELFISHNESS
Staff notation of egocentric or self -centered attitude in our data was a formal notation made by the clinic's staff, usually by the psychiatrist, after examination of the patient, while self- ishness was an informal descriptive term used by the "lay" inform- ant. Egocentricity is an appraisal of a deep-lying personality trait, while selfishness is a mere description of overt behavior. Their intercorrelation among boys was only moderate, .21 + .04; but among girls it was represented by one of the highest coeffi- cients found for both of these notations, .45 + .05. The fact that among girls these "undesirable" traits showed moderate correlations in the .20's with intelligence quotient (IQ) is interesting, the corresponding boys' correlations being positive but low (Table 10, p. 130).
Staff notation of egocentric or self-centered attitude was noted among 287, or 13 . 6 per cent, of our 2, "113 White boys and among l4y, or 12.4 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls and was one of the most frequent of the formal staff notations employed in the clinic of the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Research during the years in which these children were examined. Its bi-serlal corre- lations with the conduct-total were fairly high, .41 + .02 for boys and .48 + .03 for girls (Table 51). With the personality-total its correlation among girls was substantial, .30 + .03, but low among boys, .11 + .02. With the police-arrest criterion of juvenile de- linquency its tetrachoric correlation among boys was only moderate, .20 HP .03, and among girls negligible, .09 + .05.
Its highest correlations were found among girls. Boastful or "show-off" manner and excuse- forming attitude among girls yielded fairly high coefficients in the .40fs with corresponding substantial coefficients among boys in the .30 fs. Selfishness, quarrelsomeness, and temper tantrums among girls also yielded large coefficients In the .40's, with moderate coefficients In the .20 !s among boys. Rudeness and bossy manner yielded substantial correla- tions in the ,30fs for both sexea, with a similar coefficient for
291
292
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 51 CORRELATIONS WITH "EGOCENTRIC"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.11 + .02 |
.30 4- .03 |
|
|
.41 4- .02 |
.48 4- .03 |
|
|
.20 + .03 |
.09 4- .05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.39 + .03 |
.45 + .05 (1-2)* |
|
.35 + .03 |
.35 + .04 (11-14) |
|
|
.32 + .o4 |
.41 + .05 (4) |
|
|
.31 + .05 |
.24 4- .07 (35-37) |
|
|
Rude |
.31 + .03 |
.37 + .04 (10) |
|
.31 + .05 |
||
|
Bossy |
.30 + .04 |
.35 4- .05 (11-14) |
|
.30 + .03 |
.38 4- .04 (6-9) |
|
|
Def iant |
.29 + .04 |
.38 4- .05 (6-9) |
|
Disobedient |
.29 + .03 |
.35 4- .04 (11-14) |
|
.29 + .05 |
.38 + .06 (6-9) |
|
|
Fighting |
.28 4- .03 |
.23 + .04 (3$) |
|
Lylnff |
.2? 4- .03 |
.31 4- .04 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.27 4- .03 |
.31 4- .04 (17-19) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.26 4- .03 |
.^2 4- .05 (39-41) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.26 4- .05 |
.38 t .06 (6-9) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.25 + .03 |
.30 4- .06 (20-22) |
|
Incorrigible |
.25 4- .03 |
.32 + .04 (15-16) |
|
Disturbing influence in school. |
.2k 4- .03 |
.28 4- .06 (24-27) |
|
Violence |
.24 4- .03 |
.35 4- .05 (11-14) |
|
.23 4- .03 |
.42 4- .04 (3) |
|
|
Sullen |
.23 4- .04 |
.30 4- .05 (20-22) |
|
TnrnpftT* tfl.irt-rvnnp .,,,,.. T ,.,...,,,,,,..,..,,,.,. |
.23 4- .08 |
.40 4- .05 (5) |
|
Grouped: svearing, etc |
.23 + .04 |
.20 4- .06 (47-51) |
|
Destructive • |
.22 + .04 |
.22 4- .07 (39-41) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.22 4- .05 |
.28 4- .07 (24-27) |
|
Selfish |
.21 + .04 |
.45 4- .05 (1-2) |
|
Truancy from school |
.21 4- .03 |
• 15 |
|
Grouped : "nervous, " etc * |
.21 4- .03 |
.24 t .04 (35-37) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.20 t .04 |
.28 t .07 (24-27) |
|
Garuz |
.20 4- .04 |
|
|
Grouped; lack of interest in school, etc |
.20 4- .03 |
.11 |
|
Psychoneurotic |
.17 |
.32 4- .06 (15-16) |
|
OTr^pttitareBt lr» B$T mat-tore* ................... |
.14 |
.31 4- .06 (17-19) |
|
Stubborn. |
.14 |
30 ± 04 (20-22) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.12 |
.29 4- .05 (23) |
|
.09 |
.28 t .05 (24-27) |
|
|
Restless , .. |
,18 |
26 ± 04 (28-29) |
|
Leader |
.17 |
.26 ± .06 (28-29) |
|
Spoiled child |
.04 |
2*5 4- 05 (^Q-^k\ |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
EGOCENTRICITY AND SELFISHNESS TABLE 31— Continued
293
|
Boys |
Olrls |
|
|
-.00 |
.25 + .05 (50-34) |
|
|
.25 ± .05 (30-34) |
||
|
Sulky |
.05 |
.25 ± .06 (30-3*0 |
|
Stealing |
.17 |
.25 i .04 (30-34) |
|
"Emo-M <">m1 1 nfltftM 1 1 t-y ...... |
.18 |
.24 ± .06 (35-37) |
|
Daydreaming |
• 07 |
.22 ± .06 (39-41) |
|
• 09 |
.21 ± .04 (42-46) |
|
|
Question of encephalitis ..........*... |
-.11 |
.21 ± .08 (42-46) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.12 |
.21 ± .06 (42-46) |
|
Depressed - |
.07 |
.21 t .06 (42-46) |
|
Slovenly |
.15 |
.21 ± .05 (42-46) |
|
Bad companions |
• 15 |
.20 + .05 (47-51) |
|
Irritable |
• 19 |
.20 t «05 (47-51) |
|
PO 4- OS (kJ-^l } |
||
|
Larger Corr< |
Nations (Negative) |
|
|
Vicious home conditions |
-.08 |
-•33 ± .05 |
|
- Ik |
- 26 + 06 |
|
|
Question of hypophrenia |
-•19 |
-.21 i .04 |
|
Retardation in school |
-.17 |
-.21 -f- .04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Truancy from home, .19 and .13; Worry over specific fact, .19 and .18; Lack of interest in school, .18 and .06; Teasing other children, .18 (boys); Temper display, .18 and .07; Exclusion from school, .18 and .13; Loitering, .16 and -.02; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Inferiority feelings, .16 and .18; Smoking, .15 (boys); Queer, .15 and .18; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .15 (boys); Inattentive in school, .14 and .13; Nail-biting, .12 and .04; Mental conflict, .12 and .19; Refusal to attend school, .11 and .09; Un- happy, .11 and .17; Irresponsible, .10 and .15; Lues, »10 and .01; Masturbation, .09 and .14; Restless in sleep, .09 and .18; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .08 and .09; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08 and .07; Question of change of per- sonality, .08 and .13; Preference for younger children, .08 and .15; Clean, .08 and .03; Grouped: depressed, etc., .08 and .19; Lazy, .06 and .05; "Nervous, " .06 and .15; Crying spells, .05 and .19; Brother in penal detention, .05 and .08; Enuresis, .04 and .08; Listless, .04 and .03; Object of teasing, .04 and -.10; Former convulsions, .03 and .05; Victim of sex abuse, .03 (girls); Irreg- ular sleep habits, .02 and .19; Seclusive, .02 and .09; Disoord between parents, .00 and .01; Irregular attendance at school, -.00 and .01; Follower, -.01 and .06; Absent-minded, -.02 and .03; Bashful, -.02 and -.10; Repressed, -.02 and .13; Sex denied entirely, -.02 and .05; Neurological defect, -.03 and .16; Vo- cational guidance, -.05 and .02; Poor work In school, -.06 and .04; Stuttering, -.06 (boys); Popular, -.06 and .19; Grouped: dull, slow, -.06 and -.06; Lack of initiative, -.08 and .12; Slow, dull, -.09 and -.10; Attractive manner, -.09 and -.01; Immoral home conditions, -.09 and -.02; Apprehensive, -.10 and -.05; Feeble-minded sibling, -.10 and -.14; Headaches, -.11 and .07; Over suggestible, -.14 and -.04; Underweight, -.14 and -.05
Ctoitted— Grouped: egocentric, etc.
294 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
threatening violence , which was computed for boys only. Contrari- ness showed correlations of .31 + .05 for boys and . 24 + .07 for girls. Nine behavior difficulties among girls also yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's, with moderate correlations in the .20 's among boys: disobedience, defiant manner, incorrigibil- ity, violence, sullenness, lying, fantastical lying, hatred or jealousy of sibling, and unpopularity. Three additional behavior problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's but low positive coefficients ranging from .14 to .17 among boys: stubbornness, staff notation of psychoneurotic trends (unspecified), and overinterest in sex matters.
Seven conduct notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's with egocentricity among both sexes: fighting, destructive- ness, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), disturbing in- fluence in school, staying out late at night, leading others into bad conduct, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis and also with running with a gang which was calculated for boys only. Truancy from school and lack of interest or inattentiveness in school studies or employment (undifferentiated) also showed mod- erate correlations in the ,20's among boys, but low correlations of .15 and .11 respectively among girls. A large group of seventeen miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate coefficients in the . 20's, the boys' coefficients being low or negligible: "leader, " restlessness, irritable temperament, changeable moods or attitudes, emotional instability, distractlbility, "spoiled child," stealing, bad companions, slovenliness, sulkiness, sensitiveness in general, sensitive over some specific fact, depressed mood or spells, daydreaming, finicky food habits, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis and also^one calculated for girls only—- overinter- est in the opposite sex.
Pour notations showed negative correlations of moderate size ranging from -.20 to -.33 with egocentricity, all among girls: question of hypophrenia, retardation in school, speech defect (other than stuttering), and vicious (not "immoral") hbme condi- tions, the boys' correlations being also negative but low, ranging from -.08 to -.19.
Among the six sex notations, overinterest in sex matters among girls yielded the substantial correlation of .31 + .06, the boys' correlation being low, .14. Overinterest in the opposite
EGOCENTRICITY" AND SELFISHNESS 295
sex, which was calculated for girls only because of the paucity of boys1 cases, showed a moderate correlation of ,25 4- .05. The cor- relations for sex delinquency ( coitus ) , masturbation, sex misbe- havior denied entirely, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person showed low coefficients ranging .from -.02 to .14.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there were two significant correlations of moderate size in the . 20's, both among girls: the positive coefficient of ,21 + .08 with ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis, and the negative coefficient of -.26 4 .06 with speech defect (other than stuttering).
Among the four home or familial notations egocentricity showed only one correlation of significant size, the negative one of -.33 + .05 with vicious home conditions among girls.
Selfishness was noted among 130 boys and 73 girls, the in- cidence for each sex being 6.2 per cent. Among girls its correla- tions with personality- total and conduct-total were meaningful, ,44 4- .03 and .35 + «°^ respectively (Table 52). Among boys the corresponding coefficients were moderate, .25 4 .03 and .21 + .03 respectively. With police arrest ("juvenile delinquency") the re- spective correlations for boys and girls were low, -.12 + .04 and .15 4 .06.
Its highest correlations were among girls: egocentricity, .45 4 .05; defiant attitude, .41 + .06; fighting or quarrelsome- ness (undifferentiated), .40 4 .05; and finicky food habits, .40 4- ,06. The corresponding correlations for boys were .21 4- .04, ,21 + .05, .22 4 .04, -and .13. Its correlation among boys with contrariness was .31 4 .06, the girls' coefficient being negligi- ble, -.01. Irritable temperament and boastful or "show-off" manner among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys. Seven behavior problems among girls also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low coefficients below .20 among boys: quarrel- someness, temper tantrums, s tubb ornne s s , changeable moods or atti- tudes, "spoiled child," irresponsibility, and psychoneurotic trends.
Selfishness among both sexes showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs with the five traits, bossy manner, temper display, disobedience, hatred or jealousy of sibling, and unpopularity.
296
CHILDREN fS BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 52 CORRELATIONS WITH "SELFISH"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.25 ± .03 .21 4- .03 -.12 + .04 |
.44 4- .03 .35 ± .04 .15 4- .06 |
|
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.31 + .03 .31 + .06 .29 t -06 .29 ± .04 .27 + .06 .27 ± .05 .27 4- .04 .26 + -04 .26 4- .03 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .03 .23 4- .05 |
.39 ± .05 (5-6)* -.01 .27 4- .04 (22-24) .35 ± -04 (12-13) .29 4- .07 (17-19) -.05 .11 .32 4- .07 (15) .35 + .04 (12-13) .19 .38 + -04 (7-9) |
|
|
Contyftry , .,,,.,,.,..,.., T..tt,,rtrTr-,. T,,-T--- |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Bossy |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Boastful., " show-off" |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Se elusive , |
||
|
Grouped* disobedient^ etr ,tj.,,,t,,.. .*,,»,,, |
||
|
Temper dl splay ................................ |
.23 ± .05 .23 ± .06 .23 ± .06 .22 ± .04 .21 4- .04 .21 + .05 .21 + .04 .21 + .04 .20 + .05 .20 + .07 .13 .13 .14 .12 .12 .13 .19 .03 .19 .19 .17 .11 .19 .10 .19 .16 .18 -.10 |
.28 4- .04 (20-21) .01 " .25 4- .04 (25-26) .40 ± .05 (3-4) .29 ± .05 (17-19) .41 4- .06 (2) .45 ± .05 (1) .15 .19 .02 .40 + .06 (3-4) •39 ± .05 (5-6) •38 ± .05 (7-9) .38 ± .06 (7-9) .36 + .04 (10-11) .36 + .04 (10-11) .33 ± .07 (14) .31 ± .04 (16) .29 ± .04 (17-19) .28 t .04 (20-21) .27 ± .07 (22-24) .27 4- .04 (22-24) .25 ± .05 (25-26) .24 4- .08 (27-32) .24 t .07 (27-32) .24 t -04 (27-32) .24 ± .04 (27-32) .24 t .04 (27-32) |
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Grouped: fighting |
||
|
Dl eobedl ent ................................... |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Quarr^T fiionw ........................... ^ ....... |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Temper tantrums |
||
|
Changeable moods |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Psychoneurotic r * |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Violence. . .. . ,.. |
||
|
jfyurh^Btlcal lying. ............. .x ..,., **,,*,.«, |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Itf-ing |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Excuse- forming. |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations .
EGOCENTRIC ITY AND SELFISHNESS TABLE 52— Continued
297
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Neurological defect r |
.07 -.05 |
.24 + .04 (27-52) .25 ± .08 (55) .22 + .04 (54-55) .22 ± .04 (54-55) .21 + .04 (56-58) .21 + .04 (56-58) .21 ± .04 (56-58) |
|
Fighting |
.14 .08 .17 .11 .15 |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Crying spells |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
- 20 + 05 |
||
|
Irregular attendance at school |
.02 -.15 -.06 .04 |
-.26 + .04 -.26 ± .04 -.22 t .04 -.21 + .04 |
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Question of hypophrenia |
||
|
Repressed |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Sullen, .19 and .16; Smoking, .18 (boys); Sulky, .18 and -.02; Sensi- tive (general), .18 and .17; Distractible, .17 and .10; Nail-biting, .16 and .17; Truancy from home, .15 and .02; Mental conflict, .15 and .02; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .15 and .17; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .14 and .19; "Ner- vous," .14 and .12; Worry over specific fact, .14 and .12; Lack of interest in school, .14 and .14; Disturbing influence in school, .13 and .15; Incorrigible, .13 and .18; Slovenly, .13 and .06; Sex delinquency (coitus), .13 and -.13; In- feriority feelings, .13 and .17; Stealing, .12 and .11; Swearing (general), .12 (boys); Threatening violence, .12 (boys); Daydreaming, .12 and .09; Discord be- tween parents, .12 and .11; Bashful, .11 and .11; Leader, .11 and .15; Attrac- tive manner, .11 and .02; Masturbation, .09 and .18; Follower, .09 and .10; Lack of interest in school, .08 and .01; Refusal to attend school, .08 and .01; Ab- sent-minded, .08 and .12; Queer, .08 and .19; Stuttering, .08 (boys); Clean, .08 and .12; Speech defect, .07 and .14; Truancy from school, .06 and .00; Victim of sex abuse, .06 (girls); Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .05 (boys); Poor work in school, .05 and -.02; Unhappy, .04 and -.15; Immoral home conditions, .04 and -.12; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .04 and -.07; Overinter- est in sex matters, .03 and .09; Headaches, .02 and .08; Lues, .02 and -.07; Overinterest in opposite sex, .02 (girls); Loitering, .01 and .01; Exclusion from school, .01 and .08; Listless, .00 and .11; Over suggestible, -.00 and .12; Vicious home conditions, -.02 and -.17; Question of encephalitis, -.02 and .14; Object of teasing, -.02 and .06; Slow, -.02 and -.09; Bad companions, -.03 and .11; Underweight, -.04 and -.03; Vocational guidance, -.05 and .01; Former con- vulsions, -.05 and .04; Popular, -.05 and .07; Sex denied entirely, -.06 and .08; Enuresis, -.06 and .12; Staying out late at night, -.07 and .12; Apprehen- sive, -.09 and .09; Emotional instability, -.11 and .08; Retardation in school, -.13 and -.19; Brother in penal detention, -.13 and -.18
Teasing other children, vhlch was calculated for boys only, shoved a moderate correlation of .23 + .05. Seven behavior notations among boys shoved moderate correlations in- the . 20's but lov posi-
298 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
tive correlations below .20 among girls: rudeness , laziness , lack of initiative or ambition, restlessness, preference for younger children as playmates, secluslveness, and staff notation of unfa- vorable conduct prognosis. Seventeen notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low or negligible correla- tions below .20 among boys: violence, fighting, destructiveness , swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), leading others into bad conduct, excuse- forming attitude, lying, fantastical lying, restlessness in sleep, irregular sleep habits, inattentiveness in school, question of change of personality, sensitiveness or worri- somenesa (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, depressed mood or spells, crying spells, and neurological defect ( unspecified ) .
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of prob- able statistical significant size was with masturbation among girls, .18, all other coefficients being negligible and falling between -.13 and .15.
Neurological defect (unspecified) among girls showed the moderate correlation of .24 + . 0^, all our other correlations in the physical or psychophysical field being low or negligible.
Among the home or familial notations all correlations with selfishness were low or negligible.
When children noted as either "egocentric" by the clinic staff or "selfish" by the "lay" informant and also a handful of children manifesting a self-indulgent attitude were grouped under one rubric, egocentricity or selfishness (undifferentiated), the resulting frequencies were 405 boys, or 19.2 per cent, and 211 girls, or 1T»9 P©1* cent. The correlation coefficients tended to resemble those of egocentricity (Table 51) more closely than those of selfishness (Table 52) — probably because the children noted as egocentric were more than twice as numerous in the composite group as those noted as selfish — but tended to be slightly larger than the corresponding correlations for either of the component nota- tions. This fact indicates that the "broader grouping" in this in- stance tended to enhance the homogeneity of the dichotomies and was a justifiable procedure.
Since the coefficients in Table 53 add little new informatioi
"4, 50, Item 70. 2I, M*, and this volume, pp.
EGOCENTRIC ITY AND SELFISHNESS
TABLE 53 COHRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: EGOCENTRIC, ETC.1
299
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.25 + .02 |
.39 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.42 + .02 |
.47 t .02 |
|
.14 + .03 |
.07 4- .04 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
dations (Positive) |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.38 4- .03 |
.44 t .05 (2)* |
|
.36 + .02 |
.40 4- .03 (4-6) |
|
|
Contrary |
.35 + .04 |
.15 |
|
Rude |
.35 + .03 |
.34 4- .04 (11-13) |
|
Defiant |
.32 + .04 |
.40 + .05 (4-6) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.32 + ,o4 |
.32 + .06 (16-19) |
|
"F.yniiFie-fryrmlng, .,„,,,., ..,.....,,,,,...,. |
.32 4- .03 |
.38 + .05 (7) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.31 + .03 |
.40 t .04 (4-6) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.30 4- .03 |
.36 + .04 (8-10) |
|
Disobedient |
.30 4- .03 |
.34 + .04 (11-13) |
|
.30 4- .04 |
.33 + .06 (14-15) |
|
|
Threaten^ ng violence |
.29 4- .04 |
|
|
Lying |
.29 4- .03 |
.33 4- .04 (14-15) |
|
Fantastical lying. |
.28 + .03 |
.29 4- .05 (24-25) |
|
Sullen ; |
.27 + .03 |
.27 4- .06 (27-29) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.27 4- .03 |
.20 f .05 (45-51) |
|
Bossy |
.26 + .04 |
.31 4- .05 (20-21) |
|
Incorrigible ,.... |
.26 4- .03 |
.30 + .04 (22-23) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.25 4- .05 |
.24 4- .06 (33-37) |
|
Irritable |
.25 4- .03 |
.29 4- .04 (24-25) |
|
Fighting |
.25 4- .03 |
.27 4- .04 (27-29) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.24 + .03 |
.30 4- .03 (22-23} |
|
Violence |
.24 4- .03 |
.31 t '05 (20-21) |
|
Truancy from home |
.23 + .03 |
.14 |
|
.23 4- .04 |
||
|
.23 4- .03 |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.23 + .03 |
.18 |
|
Q^fl.TT*«lHnmft. .............. ...,.,.4.l,,illivii |
.22 4- 03 |
4«5 + o4 (1} |
|
.21 4- .03 |
.24 4- .04 (33-37) |
|
|
Irresponsible |
21 4- 04 |
36 + 05 (8-10) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.21 + .03 |
14 |
|
Inattentive in school |
.20 4- .03 |
.18 |
|
Staying out late at night |
20 ± 03 |
24 4- 04 f 33-37^ |
|
Stealing |
20 + 0*5 |
26 4- 04 ( 30-31^ |
|
Temper display |
.20 4- .03 |
19 |
|
Temp«T t^T)t-nmfl < |
19 |
41 4- 04 (1) |
|
Finicky food habits |
12 |
36 4- 04 (8-10) |
|
.15 |
34 a. ,o4 (11-13} |
|
|
Changeable moods |
• 13 |
.32 + .04 (16-19) |
|
Pay choneur otic |
12 |
32 4- 0*5 (16-10} |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
3500
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 53— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.08 |
.32 ± .05 (16-19) .28 t -04 (26) .27 ± .05 (27-29) .26 + .06 (30-31) .25 ± .06 (32) .2k ± .05 (33-37) .2k ± .05 (33-37) .23 ± .05 (38-39) .23 ± .Ok (38-39) .22 t -Ok (kO) .21 + .Ok (41-44) .21 ± .05 (41-44) .21 ± .05 (4i-44) .21 ± .06 (4i-44) .20 t -05 (45-51) .20 ± .05 (^5-51) .20 + .04 (45-51) .20 + .06 (45-51) .20 ± .06 (45-51) .20 ± .05 (45-51) |
|
.19 .19 .18 .15 .14 .18 .19 .11 .Ok .15 .12 .09 .12 .09 .09 .01 .13 .08 |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
||
|
Dlstractible |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc. |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Vicious home conditions |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
..03 -.17 -.14 -.07 |
-.29 ± .05 -.28 ± .04 -.24 + .04 -.20 ± .05 |
|
|
"Rftt-ar^atl <~m in *?ch^^i |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Truancy from school, .19 and .16; Worry over specific fact, .19 and .15; Exclusion from school, .18 and .09; Inferiority feelings, .18 and .11; Lack of interest in school, .18 and .12; Mental conflict, .16 and .08; Nail- biting, .16 and .10; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Gang, .16 (boys); Lazy, .16 and .09; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .14 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), .14 and ^.03; Loitering, .14 and .06; Grouped: depressed, etc., .14 and .18; Sulky, .13 and .19; Masturbation, .13 and .18; Unhappy, .13 and .10; Seclusive, .12 and .11; Refusal to attend school, .12 and .11; Emotional instability, .11 and .17; "Nervous," .07 and .14; Clean, .07 and .05; Irregular attendance at school, .06 and -.02; Discord between parents, .05 and .05; Fol- lower, .04 and .09; Listless, .04 and .11; Former convulsions, .04 and -.02; Neurological defect, .03 and .14; Enuresis, .03 and .03; Absent-minded, .03 and .10; Object of teasing, .03 and -.10; Preference for younger children, .03 and .16; Victim of sex abuse, .03 (girls); Attractive manner, .02 and -.02; Brother In penal detention, .02 and .01; Bashful, .01 and -.03; Lack of initiative, .01 and -.07; Repressed, .01 and .05; Sex denied entirely, -.00 and .02; Poor work In school, -.01 and .02; Stuttering, -.02 (boys); Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.02 and -.03; Question of encephalitis, -.03 and .18; Blow, dull, -.05 and -.06; Speech defect, -.05 and -.12; Vocational guidance, -.05 and .03; Immoral home conditions, -.06 and -.00; Popular, -.06 and .15; Lues, -.08 and -.06; Headaches, -.08 and .08; Underweight, -.10 and -.09; Apprehensive, -.10 and .01; Over sug- gestible, -.10 and .08
Omitted — Selfish; Egocentric
EGOCENTRICITY AND SELFISHNESS 301
beyond that afforded in Tables 51 and 52, a brief summary of the trends will be sufficient. Consistent correlations of fairly sub- stantial size among both sexes and with both egocentricity and selfishness were found for boastful or "show-off" manner, bossy manner, defiant attitude, disobedience, hatred or jealousy for sib- ling, and unpopularity . Among boys contrariness and rudeness showed consistently substantial correlations, the girls' coeffi- cients being variable or low. Among the girls, ten behavior dif- ficulties showed consistent substantial correlations with both ego- centricity and selfishness, the corresponding boys1 coefficients being variable: quarrelsomeness, stubbornness, temper tantrums, excuse- forming attitude, lying, fantastical lying, "spoiled child," staff notation of psychoneurotic trends (unspecified), changeable moods or attitudes, and finicky food habits. Among the seventeen sex, physical, psychophysical, home, and familial notations con- sidered in the present volume there were a few moderate correla- tions in the .20 's with one of the two traits egocentricity and selfishness; but none of these seventeen notations showed signifi- cant correlations of .20 or more with both egocentricity and self- ishness.
CHAPTER XXXI EXCUSE- FORMING ATTITUDE
Excuse- forming attitude ( "patient always blames others for hia difficulties" ) was noted among 237, or 11.2 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 99, or 8.4 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. It showed large correlations of .44-1- .02 and . 53 4- .03 with conduct-total for boys and girls respectively (Table 54). With police arrest among both sexes and personality- total among girls the coefficients were of moderate size, ranging from .22 to .27, while among boys the correlation with personality- total was low, .13 + .02.
Its highest correlations were among girls. Egocentrlcity and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) among girls yielded large tetrachoric correlations In the .40's and substantial corre- lations In the .30 's among boys. Fighting, quarrelsomeness, and disobedience or Incorriglbillty (undifferentiated) among girls also yielded large correlations In the ,40's with corresponding moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys.
Stealing and lying among both sexes yielded substantial correlations In the ,30fs. Threatening violence, which was calcu- lated for boys only, also yielded a substantial correlation of .35 + .05. Five behavior problems among girls yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30*8 with corresponding moderate correlations in the .20 's among boys: .boastful or "show-off" manner, temper tan- trums^ or display (undifferentiated), inoorrlglbllltj. disturbing Influence In school, and truancy from home. Six additional behav- ior problems also showed substantial correlations in the .30»s among girls but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: temper tantrums, restlessness, Inattentlveness In school, Ineffi- ciency In work, play, etc. , rudeness, and sulkiness.
Seven personality and conduct problems showed moderate cor- relations in the .20's among both boys and girls: violence, stay- Ing out late at night, bad companions, slovenliness, changeable moods or attitudes, unpopularity, and overlntereat In sex matters.
302
EXCUSE- FORMING ATTITUDE
TABLE 54 CORRELATIONS WITH "EXCUSE -FORMING"
303
|
.Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.13 ± .02 .44 4- .02 .27 ± .03 |
.25 ± .03 .53 t .03 .22 4- .05 |
||
|
Conduct -"total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Stealing |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.37 t -03 .35 4- .05 |
.30 ± .05 (19-20)* |
||
|
Threatening violence |
|||
|
Defiant |
,32 4- .04 .32 + .04 •32 + -03 .30 4- .04 .30 ± .03 .30 4- .04 .29 + .04 .29 ± .05 .29 ± .03 .28 4- .04 .28 ± .05 .27 t •<* .26 4- .04 |
.24 t .06 (33-36) .41 + .05 (5-6) .38 ± .05 (7-8) .27 ± .07 (27-30) .36 + .04 (11-12) .41 i .06 (5-6) .10 " .24 ± .07 (33-36) .45 + .04 (1) .33 ± .06 (13-15) .15 .05 |
|
|
Egocentric |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric., etc Destructive |
|||
|
Lyinfit |
|||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc.. |
|||
|
Leading others into bad c Unpopular |
onduct |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc.. |
|||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sib Sullen. . . « |
ling |
||
|
Swearing (general) |
|||
|
Follower |
.25 + .04 .25 ± .03 .24 + .03 .24 t .04 .24 4- .04 |
-.02 .30 + .04 (19-20) .32 + .06 (16-17) .43 ± .05 (3-4) |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc.... |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in s Quarrelsome |
chool |
||
|
Smoking |
|||
|
Violence |
.24 4- .04 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .04 .23 + .04 |
.28 ± .06 (23-25) .26 ± .06 (31-32) .^3 ± .03 (3-4) |
|
|
Bad cnrnpaTOl <~>ne ........... |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Teasing other children. . . |
|||
|
Truancy from school |
.23 ± .03 .23 4- .04 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .22 ± .03 .21 4- .03 .21 t -03 .21 f .05 .20 4- .04 .20 + .04 .20 + .04 .05 .19 .18 .08 .17 |
.15 .27 ± .05 (27-30) .13 .44 t .04 (2) .17 .37 ± .05 (9-10) .31 ± .05 (18) .29 + .06 (21-22) .28 ± .05 (23-26) .29 + .05 (21-22) .16 " .28 t .07 (23-26) .38 t .05 (7-8) .37 t .05 (9-10) .36 ± .06 (11-12) .33 ± .05 (13-15) |
|
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Oversuggestible |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, et Fantastical lying |
c |
||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Truancy from home |
|||
|
Qverinterest in sex matte Slovenly |
rs |
||
|
Staying out late at night Exclusion from school. . . . |
|||
|
Unhauov |
|||
|
Temper t^ntrwns . n ........ |
|||
|
Rude |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play |
9 etc |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
304
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 54— Continued
|
Boye |
Girls . |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
.18 |
.33 + .06 (13-15) |
|
Sulky |
.07 |
.32 + .07 (16-17) |
|
Disobedient ,,.,.. , |
.18 |
.28 + .05 (23-26) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.17 |
.27 + .05 (27-30) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.03 |
.27 + .06 (27-30) |
|
Stubborn |
.11 |
.26 + .05 (31-32) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.05 |
,2k + .06 (33-36) |
|
Selfish |
.18 |
.2k ± .Ok (33-36) |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.23 + .05 (37) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.18 |
.22 + .Ok (38-41) |
|
Emrvtl ntia,T 1nflta,M 1 1 t-y |
.08 |
.22 + .06 (38-41) |
|
Day dreaming |
.07 |
.22 ± .06 (38-41) |
|
Contrary |
.12 |
.22 t 08 ( 38-41) |
|
Bossy |
.17 |
.21 t .06 (42-45) |
|
Temper display |
.12 |
.21 + 06 (42-45) |
|
Distractible |
.09 |
.21 + .06 (42-45) |
|
Queer . |
-.05 |
21 + 07 ( 42-45 \ |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.02 |
.20 ± .05 (46) |
|
Larger Corre |
>lations (Negative) |
|
|
- 20 t 06 |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irresponsible, .17 and .18; Irritable, .17 and .10; Brother in penal detention, .16 and .05; Apprehensive, .15 and .0^; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .15 (boys); Mental conflict, .14 and -.05; Spoiled child, .14 and -.01; Refusal to attend school, .12 and .05; Gang, .12 (boys); Conduct prognosis bad, ,11 and .03; Enuresle, .10 and .13; Lack of interest in school, .10 and .17; Masturbation, .10 and .11; Worry over specific fact, .10 and .04; Attractive manner, .10 and .05; Vicious home conditions, .10 and .01; Loiter- ing, .09 and .13; Nail-biting, .09 and .04; Crying spells, .09 and .19; "Ner- vous," .09 and .05; Inferiority feelings, .09 and .17; Discord between parents, .09 and .10; Lazy, .08 and .14; Leader, .08 and .18; Object of teasing, .07 and .16; Restless in sleep, .07^ and .16; Absent-minded, .06 and -.12; Former con- vulsions, .06 and -.08; Question of change of personality, .05 and .15; Poor work in school, .05 and .16; Depressed, .04 and .13; Victim of sex abuse, .04 (girls); Irregular sleep habits, .03 and .19; Clean, .03 and .06; -Neurological defect, .03 and .15; Irregular attendance at school, .03 and .05; Speech de- fect, .03 and -.05; Immoral home conditions, .03 and -.06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .03 and .02; Finicky food habits, .12 and .14; Seclusive, .02 and .04; Sex denied entirely, .02 and .00; Slow, dull, .01 and .00; Psychoneurotic, .01 and .03; Popular, .00 and .14; Repressed, -.00 and .09; Listless, -.00 and -.03; Sensitive over specific fact, -.01 and -.14; Preference for younger children, -.01 and .02; Vocational guidance, -.01 and .04; Bashful, -.02 and -.07; Sex de- linquency (coitus), -.04 and .09; Question of encephalitis, -.04 and .19; Lack of initiative, -.05 and -.01; Retardation in school, -.05 and -.10; Luee, -.05 and -.05; Underweight, -.06 and -.10; Stuttering, -.07 (boys); headaches, -.08 and .07; Question of hypophrenia, -.11 and -.05
EXCUSE-FORMING ATTITUDE 305
Smoking and teasing other children, which were calculated for boys only, and overintereat In the opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlations were computed, also showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's. Eight "behavior traits among boys showed mod- erate correlations in the .20's but low positive correlations be- low .20 for girls: fantastical lying, oversuggestibility, "fol- lower, " sullenness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, truancy from school, leading others into bad conduct, and exclusion from school. Twelve behavior traits among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20!s but low coefficients below .20 for boys: disobedience, stubbornness , contrariness, bossy manner, selfishness, temper dis- play, emotional instability, distractibility, sensitiveness in general, unhappiness, daydreaming, and queer behavior.
Only one notation yielded a negative correlation of prob- able statistical significance, feeble-minded sibling among girls, -.20 + .06.
Among the six sex notations, moderate positive correlations in the .20's were found for overinterest in sex matters among both sexes ,and for overinterest in the opposite sex, which was calcu- lated for girls only.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations and the four home or familial notations all obtained coefficients were low, falling between -.10 and .19.
CHAPTER XXXII
STAFF NOTATION OF "UNFAVORABLE CONDUCT PROGNOSIS"
Staff notation of "unfavorable conduct prognosis" or simi- lar notation by another clinic was a very important notation, since It embodies a formal composite staff prognosis of the child1 s fu- ture conduct after the clinical examination is completed. (It should be noted that no follow-up is involved in the present study to ascertain whether these prognoses were correct. ) It was not frequently employed, appearing in only 78 cases, or 5.7 per cent, of our 2,115 White boys and in only 47 cases, or 4.0 .per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. It was used to designate overt conduct dif- ficulties rather than such "personality problems" as would not re- sult in patent antisocial behavior. This notation was made typi- cally among the older or adolescent children and among children of lower intelligence (IQ), Its correlations with IQ for boys and girls were -.18 and -.12 respectively (Table 10, p. 130).
With conduct- total its correlations for both boys and girls were large, the bl- serial correlations being .40 + .05 and .46 + .04 respectively (Table 55). With the police-arrest criterion of "juvenile delinquency" its tetrachoric correlation among girls, .47 + .06, was large, but among boys the corresponding coefficient was moderate, . 29 + .05. With personality- total the correlations were quite moderate, .19.+ .05 and .22 + .05.
Among four behavior notations fairly large coefficients were found. The highest was for sex delinquency ( coitua ) among girls, .48 + .05, the boys1 coefficient also being substantial, •52 + .08. Overlnterest in the opposite sex among girls similarly yielded the large correlation of .45 + .05; a corresponding coeffi- cient for the boys was not computed because of the paucity of cases. Among boys the largest coefficients were .40 for both emotional
•4, 207, Fig. 48.
2I, 195, Table 40; 199, Table 48; 211, Fig. 50; 214, Fig. 51, and 238.
506
STAFF NOTATION OF "UNFAVORABLE CONDUCT PROGNOSIS"
TABLE 55 CORRELATIONS WITH "CONDUCT PROGNOSIS BAD"
50?
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.19 + .03 |
.22 + .05 |
|
|
Conduct/ -"total |
.4o + .03 |
.k6 + .Ok |
|
.29 4- .05 |
.kl + .06 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
alatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.40 4- .Ok |
.20 4 .06 (33-35)* |
|
TSnKvM onal Inp^aM1 1 ty ......................... |
.40 + .06 |
32 + .08 (7-8) |
|
Violence |
.33 + .05 |
.25 + .08 (17-22) |
|
Overi nter«pt "in *?«T matters. |
-33 + .07 |
.15 |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus) |
.32 4- .08 |
.48 4- .05 (1) |
|
EY^iuetfin "fr<Tm s^-h^ol. ,.,..*.*l...,.,..i4.»i« |
.30 4- .06 |
•35 + .08 (4-5) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.30 + .ok |
.17 |
|
Loitering |
.29 4- .06 |
11 |
|
Stealing |
.28 4- .04 |
.22 4- .06 (27) |
|
Threatening violence |
.28 + 07 |
|
|
Oversuggest ible |
.28 4- .05 |
.21 + .07 (28-32) |
|
.28 4- .07 |
||
|
Gang |
.27 + .05 |
|
|
Question of hypophrenia |
.26 4- .05 |
.04 |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.26 4- .05 |
31 + .08 (9) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc . |
25 + ok |
^2 4- 06 ^7-8} |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.25 4- .05 |
.24 4- .06 (23-24) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.2k 4 .05 |
.23 + .07 (25-26) |
|
Sullen |
.23 4- 05 |
34 + 07 (6} |
|
Restless . , |
23 4- 04 |
28 4- 06 (10-12) |
|
Fighting |
22 + 05 |
17 |
|
Egocentric » |
22 + 05 |
28 ± 07 (10-12) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.22 4 .04 |
.01 |
|
Bad companions |
.21 + 05 |
17 |
|
.21 ± .06 |
||
|
.20 4j 07 |
- 02 |
|
|
Lying |
20 4- Ok |
24 4- 06 (23-24) |
|
Selfish |
.20 + .07 |
.02 |
|
Former convulsions ....... |
.20 + .06 |
02 |
|
Over Interest in opposite sex |
14.35 4. 0*1 (2} |
|
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.08 |
38 + 09 ( 5) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
13 |
*«5 4. if) fk.Rl |
|
Question of change of personality |
.07 |
28 ± 09 (10-12) |
|
Distractlble |
1Q |
P7 4- fl7 fl^-lk^ |
|
Temper tfljit-rumfi ..,..,....,,,,,,,, t , |
Ik |
P7 4- O7 fTUl4^ |
|
Ik |
?6 4- OA /l6}-"!^ |
|
|
.16 |
26 4- OQ ^1*5-16^ |
|
|
12 |
P'S 4- O7 ^17-PPS |
|
|
.14 |
2*5 4- 07 (17-29} |
|
|
Irresponsible |
.12 |
PS i O6 ^^7-PP^ |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
308
CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 55— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.08 .17 .09 |
.25 ± .08 (17-22) .25 ± .08 (17-22) .23 ± ,06 (25-26) .21 ± .08 (28-32) .21 ± .08 (28-32) .21 ± .08 (28-32) .21 ± .08 (28-32) .20 + .08 (33-35) .20 ± .06 (33-35) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Listless |
.07 .Ik .19 -.02 .13 |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Popular |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.09 -.04 .02 -.09 |
-.27 + .08 -.21 ± .08 -.20 ± .10 -.20 -I- .09 |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Sex denied entirely |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
(n.c.) .02 -.09 |
.11 (n.c.) (n.c.) |
|
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Repressed , |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Swearing (general), .18 (boys); Irritable, .17 and -.04; Headaches, .17 and .11; Masturbation, .16 and .17; Neurological defect, .16 and .11; Grouped: temper, etc., .16 and .10; Rude, .14 and .13; Irregular sleep habits, .Ik and -.05; Inferiority feelings, .Ik and -.07; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .Ik (boys); Enuresis, .13 and .00; Sulky, .13 and .01; Tem- per display, .13 and -.05; Truancy from school, .13 and .12; Feeble-minded sib- ling, .13 and .15; "Nervous," .12 and -.01; Stubborn, .11 and .10; Truancy from home, .11 and .16; Excuse-forming, .11 and .03; Poor work in school, .11 and .01; Object of teasing, .10 and .08; Sensitive over specific fact, .10 and -.08; Absent-minded, .09 and .11; Ajprehenslve, .09 and -.02; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .08 and -.05; Spoiled child, .07 and .12; Lues, .07 and .05; Speech defect, .07 and -.08; Nail-biting, .06 and .06; Queer, .06 and .09; Unhappy,' .06 and -.02; Defiant, .05 and .16; Slovenly, .05 and .09; Bashful, .05 and -.07; Daydreaming, .05 and .11; Psychoneurotic, .05 and .18; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .05 and -.07; Grouped: depressed, etc., .05 and .03; Retarda- tion in school, .Ok and .06; Brother in penal detention, .Ok and .19; Under- weight, .Ok and -.15; Discord between parents, .Ok and .05; Vicious home condi- tions, .03 and -.06; Leader, .02 and -.06; Depressed, .01 and .12; Preference for younger children, .01 and .Ik} Bossy, .00 and .02; Lack of interest in school, .00 and .16; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.00 and .16; Slow, dull, -.01 and .06; Seclueive, -.01 and .06; Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc., -.01 and .08; Lazy, -.02 and .01; Worry over specific fact, -.03 and -.00; Clean, -.03 and -.04; Attractive manner, -.04 and -.10; Irregular attendance at school, -.04 and -.03; Follower, -.05 and .05; Restless in sleep, -.06 and .11; Smoking, -.08 (boys); Vocational guidance, -.08 and -.17; Sensitive (general), -.10 and -.17; Immoral home conditions, -.11 and .01
STAFF NOTATION OF "UNFAVORABLE CONDUCT PROGNOSIS" 509
instability and inoorrifiibility, the corresponding coefficients for girls "being .32 + .08 and .20 + .06 respectively,
Exclusion from school among both sexes yielded substantial correlations in the .20' s. Among boys violence and over interest in sex jnatters likewise yielded substantial correlations in thet .^O1 s, with lesser corresponding correlations of .25 4- .08 and .15 among girls. Among girls three conduct notations yielded substan- tial correlations in the ,30's, with corresponding moderate coef- ficients in the ,20's among boys: aullenness, fighting or quarrel- someness (including violence, undifferentlated), and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) . Leading others into bad conduct and question or diagnosis of encephalitis also yielded substantial correlations in the .^O's among girls but low positive correlations of .08 and .13 respectively among boys.
Six conduct and personality problems showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20's for both sexes: stealing, staying out late at night , lying, egocentricity, restlessness, and oversuggestibility. Victim of sex attack or abuse by older child or person among girls showed the moderate correlation of .21 + .08, the corresponding co- efficient for boys not being calculated because of paucity of boys1 cases. Four similar moderate correlations in the ,20's were found among boys for threatening violence, teasing other children, run- ning with a gang, and stuttering, the coefficients for girls not being computed because of a paucity of girls1 cases. Seven addi- tional case-record notations among boys showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's but low correlations below .20 among girls: bad companions, loitering or wandering, fighting, contrariness, self- ishness, question of hypophrenia, and former convulsions . Sixteen notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20fs but low correlations below .20 among boys: disturbing influence in school, quarrels omenes s , temper tantrums, des truct ivenes s , disobe- dience , fantastical lying, boastful or "show-off" manner, ineffi- ciency in work, play, etc. , irresponsibility, distractibility, listlessness, unpopularity, question of change of personality, changeable moods or attitudes, crying spells, and finicky food habits .
Four negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20's were found among girls, the boys' coefficients being negligible: lack of initiative or ambition, inattentiveness in school, refusal
310 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
to attend school , and popularity. In three notations the tetra- chorlc r's vere not calculable because there were no Instances in which both notations were made: sex misbehavior denied en tire l*y among boys and mental conflict and repressed manner among girls . The corresponding coefficients for the other sex were low or neg- ligible.
Among the six sex notations there were several coefficients of substantial or large size. Among girls we have noted that the highest correlation in Table 55 was with sex delinquency (coitus), .48 + .05, with the corresponding coefficient of .32 + .08 among boys. For overinterest in the opposite sex, which was calculated for girls only, we noted the large correlation of .43 + .05. With overinterest in sex matters the boys' correlation of .33 •*• .07 was substantial, the girls' coefficient being low, .15. With victim of sex abuse by older child or person, which was calculated for girls only, we noted the moderate correlation of .21 + .08.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations, ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls yielded the substan- tial correlation of .35 + .10, the boys' coefficient being low, .13. For stuttering, which was calculated for boys only, there was an interesting correlation of moderate size, .28 + .07.
Among the four home or familial notations (discord between parents, brother in penal detention, and vicious and immoral home conditions ) the correlations with staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis were all low, ranging from -.11 to .19.
CHAPTER XXXIII STEALING
Stealing was the most frequent of overt conduct difficul- ties noted among our cases, Its incidence being 815, or 38,6 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and 271, or 22,9 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Among boys its tetrachoric correlation with police arrest ("juvenile delinquency") was high, .63 + .02, its correlation among girls also being substantial, .37 + .04 (Table 56). Among both sexes its bi- serial correlations of . 55 + .01 and . 51 + .02 with conduct-total were also high. With personality- total its correlations were low to moderate, the coefficients for girls and boys being . 19 + .02 and . 29 + .03 respectively. As an indicator of conduct deviation the Importance of stealing is un- questioned, but its relation to personality problems appears to be relatively minor.
Lying among both sexes yielded very high tetrachoric corre- lations in the , 60fs. Among boys truancy from home and truancy from school also yielded very high correlations in the .60* a, the corresponding coefficients for girls also being large or high, .54 + .03 and .39 + .04.
Among boys, staying out late at night, associating with bad companions, and running with a gang yielded high correlations in the .50*3. Among girls the coefficients for staying out late at night and bad companions were .39 + .04 and . 25 + .04 respec- tively. For running with a gang the coefficients for girls were not calculated because of the paucity of cases. Defiant attitude among girls also yielded a high correlation of .5! + .04, the boys' coefficient being substantial, .32-1- .03.
Incorriglbility and destructiveness among boys yielded large correlations in the .40's, with corresponding substantial co- efficients in the .30fs among girls. Smoking (calculated for boys only) yielded the large correlation of .43 + .03. Leading others into bad conduct among boys yielded the large coefficient of .46 + .03 but among girls the low coefficient of .16. Among girls
311
312
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 56 CORRELATIONS WITH "STEALING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|||
|
.19 + |
.02 |
.29 + |
.03 |
|
|
• 55 + |
.01 |
.51 + |
.02 |
|
|
.63 + |
.02 |
.37 + |
.04 |
|
|
Larger |
Corre |
Nations |
3 (Positive) |
|
|
.64 + |
.02 |
.54 + |
.03 (2)* |
|
|
.62 + |
.02 |
.39 + |
.04 (8-11) |
|
|
.61 + |
.02 |
.68 + |
.02 (1) |
|
|
.57 + |
.02 |
.25 + |
.04 (33-35) |
|
|
.54 + |
.02 |
|||
|
.50 + |
.02 |
• 39 + |
.04 (8-11) |
|
|
.46 + |
.03 |
.16 " |
||
|
.43 + |
.03 |
|||
|
.41 + |
.03 |
• 35 + |
.05 (16-17) |
|
|
.41 + |
.02 |
.44 ; |
.03 (4-6) |
|
|
.40 + |
.02 |
.39 + |
.04 (8-11) |
|
|
.39 + |
.03 |
• 35 + |
.05 (16-17) |
|
|
.38 + |
.02 |
.13 |
||
|
.37 + |
.03 |
.30 + |
.05 (21-23) |
|
|
.33 + |
.03 |
.44 + |
.04 (4-6) |
|
|
.33 + |
.03 |
|||
|
.33 + |
o4 |
-37 + |
.05 (13-15) |
|
|
Defiant |
-32 + |
.03 |
.51 + |
.04 (3) |
|
Masturbation |
• 32 + |
.02 |
.44 t |
.04 (4-6) |
|
Boastful, "shov-off " |
.30 ± |
.03 |
.24 ± |
.05 (36-40) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc. ...; |
.29 + |
.02 |
.38 + |
.03 (12) |
|
.28 t |
.03 |
.02 |
||
|
.28 + |
,04 |
.22 + |
.06 (43-44) |
|
|
Fighting |
.28 ± |
.03 |
.40 + |
.03 (7) |
|
Exclusion from school. ......I.,..,,...,,..,.., |
.27 + |
.03 |
-37 + |
.05 (13-15) |
|
Violence. |
.26 t |
.03 |
.39 + |
.05 (8-11) |
|
Sullen |
.26 t |
.03 |
.30 + |
.05 (21-23) |
|
Slovenly. |
.26 t |
.03 |
.31 + |
.04 (19-20) |
|
Disobedient ....c ^ |
.26 + |
.02 |
.26 + |
.04 (28-32) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.25 t |
.03 |
.28 + |
.05 (25-26) |
|
Irresponsible |
.25 + |
04 |
.24 + |
.05 (36-40) |
|
.24 + |
04 |
|||
|
Refusal to attend school. |
.24 + |
.03 |
.13 |
|
|
Rude |
.23 + |
.03 |
.29 + |
.04 (24) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.21 t |
.02 |
.12 |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.21 t |
.03 |
.24 ± |
.04 (36-40) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.20 t |
.03 |
.26 + |
.04 (28-32) |
|
.18 |
-37 ± |
.05 (13-15) |
||
|
Queer |
.11 |
.34 + |
.05 (18) |
|
|
.31 + |
.04 (19-20) |
|||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
STEALING
TABLE 56— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.07 |
• 30 t -O1* (21-23) |
|
.13 |
.28 ± .05 (25-26) |
|
|
Contrary. |
.19 |
.27 ± .06 (27) |
|
Question of encephalitis «... |
.08 |
.26 + .06 (28-32) |
|
.11 |
.26 ± .04 (28-32) |
|
|
Nail-biting |
.16 |
.26 t -04 (28-32) |
|
Bossy manner. |
.Ik |
.25 + .05 (33-35) |
|
Egocentric |
.17 |
.25 ± .04 (33-35) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.17 |
.24 t .05 (36-40) |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus) |
.16 |
.24 t .04 (36-40) |
|
Quarrelsome » |
.15 |
.23 i .04 (41-42) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.11 |
.23 + .04 (41-42) |
|
DIstractible |
.06 |
.22 ± .05 (43-44) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.18 |
.21 ± .05 (45-52) |
|
.14 |
.21 t .05 (45-52) |
|
|
Temper tantrum** ................... . ........... |
.17 |
.21 ± .04 (45-52) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.11 |
.21 + .05 (45-52) |
|
Daydr earning |
.12 |
.21 + .05 (45-52) |
|
Leader |
.12 |
.21 + .05 (45-52) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.14 |
.21-4- .03 (45-52) |
|
Lack of interest in school |
• 17 |
.21 t «05 (45-52) |
|
Mental conflict , |
.17 |
.20 i- .10 (53) |
|
Larger Corrc |
»lations (Negative) |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
-.22-1- .02 |
-.31 + .04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Discord between parents, .18 and .12; Emotional instability, .18 and .09; Enuresis, .18 and .19; Victim of sex abuse, .18 (girls); Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Irregular sleep habits, .17 and .11; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .17 (boys); Crying spells, .16 and .15; Restless, .15 and .19; Irregular attendance at school, .14 and -.04; Spoiled child, .13 and .05; Unhappy, .13 and .06; Changeable moods, .12 and .18; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .12 and .10; Temper display, .12 and .13; Selfish, .12 and .11; Pop- ular, .11 and -.01; Follower, .11 and -.03; Sex denied entirely, .10 and .10; Inferiority feelings, .10 and .07; Irritable, .10 and .01; Sulky, .10 and .14; Bashful, .09 and -.13; Repressed, .09 and .03; Preference for younger children, .08 and .18; Depressed, .07 and .18; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .0< and .11; Clean, .06 and -.11; Absent-minded, .05 and .13; Grouped: depressed, etc., .02 and .12; Immoral home conditions, .02 and .11; Former convulsions, ,0< and -.06; Object of teasing, .02 and .19; "Nervous," .02 and .07; Lazy, .01 and .11; Lues, .00 and -.02; Attractive manner, .00 and -.01; Listless, .00 and .08j Poor work in school, -.01 and -.05; Retardation in school, -.01 and -.04; Sens!- tive (general), -.02 and .06; Secluslve, -.02 and -.06; Slow, dull, -.02 and -.11; Apprehensive, -.02 and .13; Worry over specific fact, -.03 and .10; Head- aches, -.03 and .10; Feeble-minded sibling, -.03 and -.10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.03 and -.02; Neurological defect, -.04 and -.09; Finicky food habits, -.04 and .06; Question of hypophrenia, -.08 and -.08; Psychoneurotlc, -.09 and .03; Speech defect, -.09 and -.05; Stuttering, -.10 (boys); Underweight, -.10 ar -.02; Lack of Initiative, -.12 and -.01
314 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) and masturbation yielded large correlations in the .40 fs, with corresponding substantial correlations in the ,30's for boys. Fighting among girls also yielded the large correlation of .40 + .03, the boys' coefficient being of moderate size, .28 + .03.
Three conduct difficulties yielded substantial correlations in the .30's for both sexes: loitering or wandering, excuse- form- ing attitude, and f an ta s 1 1 ca 1 lying . Qverinterest in the opposite sex among girls similarly yielded the substantial correlation of ,31 + .04, the boys' coefficient not being computed because of a paucity of cases. Boastful or "show-off*1 manner and overs uggesti- bility among boys yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, the girls' correlations being somewhat lower, .24 4- .05 and .13 re- spectively. Pour additional notations among girls also yielded substantial correlations in the .30 's, with moderate coefficients in the ,20fs among boys: violence, sullenness, slovenliness, and exclusion from school. Three personality problems among girls yielded similarly substantial correlations in the ,30's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: restlessness in sleep, queer behavior, and unpopularity.
Five notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's with stealing among both sexes : disobedience, disturbing influence in school, rudeness, irresponsibility, and staff notation of unfa- vorable conduct prognosis. Among boys threatening violence also showed a moderate correlation of .24 + .04, the girls' coefficient not being computed because of the fewness of cases. Three nota- tions among boys similarly showed moderate correlations in the .20' s, with low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: tem- per tantrums or display (undifferentiated), refusal to attend school, and brother in penal detention. Among girls there was a large list of twenty miscellaneous case notations showing moder- ate correlations in the ,20's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: contrariness, stubbornness, egocentriclty, quar- relsomeness, bossy manner, temper tantrums, "nervousness" or rest- lessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods or attitudes, undifferentiated), nail-biting, diatractibility, day- dreaming, sensitiveness over some specific fact, question of change of. personality, inattentiveness in school, lack of interest in school, inefficiency in work, play, etc., sex delinquency (coitus),
STEALING 315
overinterest In sex matters, "leader," question or diagnosis of encephalitis, and vicious home conditions. (The coefficient of .20-1- .10 among girls for mental conflict is of doubtful reliabil- ity because of its large probable error. )
The only significant negative correlations were found with the notation "request for vocational guidance," -.22 + .02 and -.^l "I" .04 among boys and girls respectively.
Among the six sex notations several positive correlations of moderate and substantial size with stealing were found. Mas- turbation showed the considerable coefficients of .32 + .02 and .44 + .04 for boys and girls respectively. Among girls there were moderate correlations in the ,20's for aex delinquency (coitus) and overinterest in sex matters. The substantial correlation of .31 + .04 with overinterest in the opposite sex was found among girls, the boys1 correlation not being computed because of paucity of cases.
Among the seven physical or pjsychophysical notations the only statistically significant correlation was .26 4- .06 with ques« tion or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls. The correlations of .18 and .19 with enures is may also be considered as suggestive.
Among the four home or familial notations there, were two correlations of moderate size with stealing: among boys for brother in penal detention, .28 4- ,03, and among girls for vicious home conditions, .24 + .05.
CHAPTER XXXIV
TRUANCY PROM HOME AND STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT
The fact that truancy from home and staying out late at night are very similar notations is shown by the fact of their high intercorrelation, the tetrachoric coefficients being .62 + .02 and .53 + .04 for boys and girls respectively (Table 57 )» and by the general similarity of their "outside correlations" with numer- ous other notations. Prom the standpoint both of juvenile delin- quency and of undesirable conduct manifestation they are of grave Importance, the bi- serial and tetrachoric i^'s ranging from .42 to .68. With personality deviations as measured by personality- total their importance is relatively minor, the bi-serial coefficients ranging from .16 to .24.
Truancy from home was noted among 503 cases, or 23.8 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 189, or 16.0 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. It was one of the most frequently occur- ring conduct problems in our data.
Its highest correlations among both sexes were with steal- Ing and staying out late at night, the boys ' correlations being .64 + ,02 and .62 4; .02 respectively and the girls' correlations being ,54 + .03 and .53 + .04 respectively. Truancy from school among boys also yielded the^ very high correlation of .61 + .02, the girls' coefficient also being large, .48 + .04. Loitering or wandering among boys yielded the high correlation of .53 + .03, with a moderate correlation of .25 + .06 among girls. Lying and Incorrigibllity among both sexes yielded fairly high correlations in the .40' s. Smoking yielded a large correlation of .42 + .03 among boys, the coefficients for the girls not being computed be- cause of fewness of cases. Bad companions among boys yielded a similarly large correlation of .47 + .02, the girls' coefficient being moderate, .21 4- .05. Fantastical lying yielded very sub- stantial correlations of .38 + ,04 and .40 4; .05 for boys and girls
316
TRUANCY PROM HOME AND STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT
TABLE 57 CORRELATIONS WITH "TRUANCY FROM HOME"
317
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total. |
.17 ± .02 .56 + .02 .68 ± .02 |
.19 ± .03 .42 ± .03 .67 ± .03 |
|
|
Conduct -total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Stealing. ............ . . |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.6k ± .02 .62 t .02 .61 + .02 .53 ± .03 .47 ± .02 .k6 + .02 .45 ± -02 .4? ± .03 |
.54 ± .03 (1)* .53 ± .Ok (2) .48 ± .Ok (3-5) .25 ± .06 (18-19) .21 ± .05 (22-28) .kQ± .03 (3-5) .kk ± .Ok (6) |
||
|
Staying out late at night . . . |
|||
|
Trufln^y frnm school. ........ |
|||
|
Loitering |
|||
|
Bad. companions |
|||
|
Ikying. |
|||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Smoking |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. . |
.42 + .02 .38 t -04 .37 + .03 |
.k2 ± .03 (7) .ko ± .05 (8) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Disobedient |
.32 + .03 .31 ± .03 .31 ± .Ok .29 + .ok |
.19 -.16 .21 ± .06 (22-28) |
|
|
Destructive |
|||
|
Leading others into bad condi |
ict |
||
|
Refusal to attend school. . . . |
.28 + .Ok .2? ± .03 .26 t -03 .25 + .ok .25 ± .03 .25 ± .Ok .2k + .Ok .23 ± .03 .23 t .03 .23 t .04 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .Ok •23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .22 ± .Ok .21 ± .03 .21 ± .03 .20 ± .03 .20 ± .03 .16 .19 .13 |
.31 ± .06 (13-15) .16 .25 ± .06 (18-19) .02 .2k ± .05 (20-21) .02 |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
|||
|
Fxclupl <">n from school , * * * |
|||
|
Violence |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
Complaining of bad treatment Defiant |
by other children |
||
|
.27 ± .05 (17) .31 + .ok (13-15) .16 .21 ± .Ok (22-28) .07 .Ik •33 ± .05 (1^-12) .13 .10 .31 t .05 (13-15) .20 ± .Ok (29-31) .11 .kQ ± .ok (3-5) .35 ± .Ok (9) •31* ± .04 (10) •33 ± .04 (11-12) .28 ± .05 (16) .24 ± .07 (20-21) |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Irresponsible |
|||
|
Slovenly |
|||
|
Brother in penal detention. . |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc. . . |
|||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
|||
|
Unhappy |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in schoc Excuse-forming. . * * a |
xL |
||
|
Sullen |
|||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) . . . . |
|||
|
Question of change of person* Overinterest in opposite sex VI otlm of sex abuse |
ility |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
.02 |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
318
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 57— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.18 |
.21 t -06 (22-28) |
|
|
Distractible .' |
.01 |
.21 ± .05 (22-28) |
|
Stubborn |
.16 |
.21 ± .Ok (22-28) |
|
Boastful, M show-off" |
• 17 |
.21 t .06 (22-28) |
|
Temper display |
.10 |
.20 + .05 (29-31) |
|
Restless |
.12 |
.20 ± .04 (29-31) |
|
Larger Corr€ |
slations (Negative) |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
-.16 |
-.29 + .04 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
-.05 |
-.25 + .04 |
|
Sex denied entirely |
.09 |
-.24 + .06 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Oversuggestible, .19 and .17; Egocentric, .19 and .13; Irregular at- tendance at school, .18 and -.13; Temper tantrums, .17 and .16; Grouped: tem- per, etc., .17 and .11; Queer, .16 and .19; Lack of interest in school, .15 and .11; Selfish, .15 and .02; Sulky, .15 and .14; Threatening violence, .15 (boys); Grouped: lack of interest in school, .15 and .11; Nail-biting, .14 and .16; Mental conflict, .14 and -.05; Discord between parents, .14 and .10; Enuresis, .13 and -.00; Unpopular, .13 and .16; Feeble-minded sibling, .13 and -.12; Teas- ing other children, .12 (boys); Quarrelsome, .12 and .08; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .12 and .09; Leader, .12 and -.07; Conduct prognosis bad, .11 and .16; Former convulsions, .11 and -.07; Bossy, .10 and .05; Inattentive in school, .10 and .07; Irritable, .10 and -.11; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .09 and .13; Emotional Instability, .09 and .18; Popular, .09 and .03; Restless in sleep, .08 and .16; Lazy, .08 and -.05; Seclusive, .08 and .01; Crying spells, .08 and .03; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .08 and .11; Spoiled child, .07 and .07; Headaches, .07 and .11; Grouped: depressed, etc., .06 and .10; Absent-minded, .04 and .06; Daydreaming, .04 and .15; Overinterest in sex matters, .04 and .10; Sensitive over specific fact, .04 and .05; Finicky food habits, .03 and .02; Changeable moods, .03 and .17; Inferiority feelings, .03 and .02; Attractive manner, .01 and -.08; Repressed, .01 and -.01; Preference for younger children, .00 and -.01; Poor work in school, -.00 and -.09; Follower, -.01 and -.01; "Nervous," -.02 and .12; Clean, -.02 and -.16; Underweight, -.02 and -.06; Object of teas- ing, -.03 and .15; Question of hypophrenia, -.03 and -.05; Retardation In school, -.03 and -.05; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.04 and -.02; Apprehen- sive, -.05 and .14; Listless, -.05 and -.10; Neurological defect, -.05 and .01; Lues, -.05 and .16; Lack of initiative, -.06 and -.03; Speech defect, -.06 and -.14; Immoral home conditions, -.07 and .11; Psychoneurotic, -.08 and .05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.08 and -.05; Slow, dun, -.09 and -.04; Stutter- ing, -.09 (boys); Worry over specific fact, -.10 and -.02; Depressed, -.11 and .07; Bashful, -.13 and -.19
respectively. Sex delinquency (coitus) among girls likewise yielded the important correlation of .48 + .04 with t rua ncy from home , but among boys this relationship was low, .16.
TRUANCY PROM HOME AND STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT 519
Running with a gang, vhich was computed for boys only, and overinterest in the opposite sex, which was computed for girls only, yielded substantial correlations in the .20's. Leading others into bad conduct and Disobedience among boys similarly yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, with only moderate correlations of .21 + .06 and .19 respectively among girls. De- structiveness showed an interesting divergence in its correlations, the boys' correlation being .31 + .03, while the corresponding girls' coefficient was negative, -.16. Pour conduct problems among girls yielded .substantial correlations in the ,20's, with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: refusal to attend school, excuse- forming attitude, fighting, and swearing or bad language ( undif f erentiated ) .
Five notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's for both sexes : defiant attitude, violence, rudeness, slovenli- ness, and exclusion from school. Complaining of bad treatment by other children, which was calculated for boys only, and victim of sex abuse by older child or person, which was calculated for girls only, showed moderate correlations in the ,20's. Eight notations among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low posi- tive correlations below .20 among girls: irregular sleep habits, contrariness, sullenness, Irresponsibility, disturbing influence in school, egocentricity or selfishness ( undif f erentiated), unhap- piness, and brother in penal detention. Seven miscellaneous nota- tions among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: stubbornness, temper display, boastful or "show- off" manner, distractibility, restlessness, question or diagnosis of encephalitis, and vicious home c ondi t i on a .
With truancy from home there were three negative correla- tions, of moderate size in the -,20's, all among girls: sensitive- ness in general, sex misbehavior denied entirely, and "request for vocational guidance. "
Among the six sex notations there were several correlations of significant size, all among girls, the corresponding boys' coef- ficients ranging from .04 to .19: for sex delinquency (coitus) the large correlation of .48 + .04, for masturbation the substantial correlation of .35 + .04, for overinterest in the opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person the very substantial
520 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
coefficients of .33 + .04 and .28 + .05 respectively, the corre- sponding coefficients for boys "being omitted because of paucity of cases, and for sex misbehavior denied entirely the negative co- efficient of -.24 4 .06,
The correlations for the seven physical or psychophysical notations vere all low or negligible, except for question or diag- nosis of encephalitis among girls, which showed a moderate corre- lation of .24 4 .07.
Among the four home or familial notations there were two coefficients of moderate size, brother in penal detention among boys, .25 + .04, and vicious home conditions among girls, .21 + .06.
Staying out late at night was noted among 319, or 15.1 per cent, of our boys and among 140, or 11.9 P©r cent, of our girls.
Its highest correlation was with truancy from home among boys, ,62 4 .02, with a similarly high correlation among girls, • 53 + .04 (Table 58). Truancy from school also showed high coef- ficients in the .50's for both sexes. Overinterest in the oppo- site sex, which was computed for girls only, likewise yielded the high correlation of .50 4- .04. Bad companions among girls yielded the high correlation of .59 4 .04, with a corresponding large co- efficient of .44 4 .03 among boys. Stealing among boys yielded the high correlation of .50 + ,02, with a corresponding substan- tial coefficient of .39 4- .04 among girls.
Incorrigibility and loitering or wandering among both sexes yielded large correlations ranging from .46 to .49. Swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated) yielded substantial or large cor- relations of .31 + .03 and .48 + .05 for boys and girls respec- tively. Among girls sex delinquency ( coitus ) and vicious home conditions likewise yielded high correlations in the ,40!s but low coefficients of .10 and .14 respectively among boys.
Substantial correlations in the .30' s among both sexes were found for disobedience, leading others into bad conduct, and lying and also for two conduct difficulties which were computed only for boys, running with a gang and smoking. Irresponsibility among boys yielded the substantial correlation of .33 4 .04 but a low correlation of .13 among girls. Defiant attitude yielded the moderate or substantial correlations of .27 4 .04 and .35 4 .05 among boys and girls respectively. Among girls three behavior
TRUANCY PROM HOME AND STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT
TABLE 58 CORRELATIONS WITH "STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality-total |
.16 ± M± •52 t |
.02 .02 .03 |
.2k t .03 •51 ± .03 .1*9 t .04 |
|
Conduct -"total |
|||
|
pr>ii ee j^YT^gt' ............... % ..... ........... |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.62 ± .50 ± • 50 ± .kl± .47 ± .46 + .44 + .35 + |
.02 .02 .02 .03 .02 .03 .03 .03 |
.53 t .Ok (3)* .39 + .Ok (11-12) .54 ± .04 (2) .46 t -04 (7) .44 4- .04 (8-9) .49 ± .06 (5) .59 ± .04 (l) |
|
|
Stealing |
|||
|
Trw^'n^y fVctn sclhooi ,.,...»..,.,.,..,,......., |
|||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
|||
|
Loitering |
|||
|
Bad companions |
|||
|
Gang |
|||
|
Disobedient |
• 34; •34 + .34 4- |
.03 .Ok Oil |
.37 + .04 (13-14) •39 ± .06 (11-12) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
|||
|
Smoking |
|||
|
TrTe^pnnBl "bio |
•33 ± •31 t .31 + .29 ± .28 + .27 ± •27 ± .26 ± •25 ± .25 4- |
.04 .03 .03 .Ok .05 .Ok .03 .03 .03 .05 |
.13 .31 ± .04 (17) .48 t .05 (6) .24 4- .06 (24-28) .12 .35 ± .05 (15) .28 4- .05 (21-22) .22 t -05 (32) .24 t .06 (24-28) |
|
Lyinfir . m . |
|||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
EmrrhK oriftl Instability ................... *.*,.** |
|||
|
Defiant |
|||
|
Rude |
|||
|
Egocentric |
|||
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Threat fining violence .............. ...i*.,**^.,, * |
|||
|
Refusal to attend school |
.24 t .2k ± .2k ± .?*> + |
.Ok .03 • 05 ok |
.28 ± .07 (21-22) .14 .23 ± .07 (29-31) |
|
Slovenly |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Boastful, "show-off " |
I 4-1 4-1 4-1 +i 4-1 4-1 4-i 4-1 4-1 'CVICVJCUCUCVJCVJCVJCVJGJ |
.Ok .Ok .03 .05 .Ok .03 .03 .Ok .05 |
.04 .23 ± .07 (29-31) .21 t .05 (33-34) .11 .03 .14 .24 t -04 (24-28) .29 ± .05 (19-20) .20 ± .07 (35-37) .50 t .04 (4) .44 t .04 (8-9) .41 t .06 (10) • 37 ± .05 (13-UO .34 ± .04 (16) .30 ± .06 (18) .29 ± .04 (19-20) .25 ± .05 (23) |
|
Destructive |
|||
|
Over suggestible |
|||
|
Unhappy . |
|||
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
|||
|
Excuse-forming |
|||
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
|||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus) |
.10 .Ik .18 .07 .03 .19 .11 |
||
|
Vicious home conditions |
|||
|
Poor work in school |
|||
|
Question of change of personality |
|||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school |
|||
Bank order of girls1 correlations.
322
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 58— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Grouped: lack or Interest In school, etc |
.15 |
,2k + .05 (24-28) |
|
Stubborn |
.13 |
.24 + .Ok (24-28) |
|
.16 |
.23 + .05 (29-31) |
|
|
.02 |
.21 + .08 (33-3*0 |
|
|
.05 |
.20 + .06 (35-37) |
|
|
.10 |
.20 t .04 (35-37) |
|
|
Larger Corre |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
Vocational guidance. |
-.08 |
-.23 + ,o4 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Inefficient in work, play, etc., .19 and .08; Complaining of bad treat- ment by other children, .18 (boys); Disturbing influence in school, .17 and .06; Popular, .17 and .04; Exclusion from school, .16 and .08; Sullen, .15 and .13; Sex denied entirely, .15 and .02; Teasing other children, .Ik (boys); Sulky, .14 and .03; Masturbation, .14 and .11; Contrary, .13 and .11; Queer, .13 and .19; Restless, .13 and .15; Sensitive over specific fact, .13 and .03; Discord be- tween parents, .13 and .16; Inattentive In school, .12 and .18; Daydreaming, .12 and .18; Brother in penal detention, .12 and -.05; Quarrelsome, .11 and .15; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .11 and .08; Spoiled child, .11 and .19; Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Overinterest In sex matters, .08 and .01; Apprehen- sive, .08 and .17; Crying spells, .08 and .11; Bossy, .07 and .11; Finicky food habits, .07 and .13; Enuresis, .07 and .15; Object of teasing, .07 and .14; Ir- regular attendance at school, .07 and .05; Nail-biting, .06 and .07; Absent- minded, .06 and -.18; Psychoneurotic, .06 and -.03; Inferiority feelings, .06 and .12; Grouped: depressed, etc., .06 and .13; Grouped: "nervous,11 etc., .05 and .05; Lack of Initiative, .04 and -.06; Former convulsions, .04 and .01; Speech defect, .04 and -.17; Immoral home conditions, .04 and .14; Lazy, .02 and .05; Seclusive, .02 and -.03; Attractive manner, .02 and .02; Mental conflict, .01 and .13; Retardation in school, .01 and -.09; Stuttering, .01 (boys); Fol- lower, .01 and .01; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .01 and .01; Irri- table, .00 and .11; Underweight, .00 and .02; Clean, -.01 and -.07; Question of hypophrenia, -.01 and -.04; Dlstractible, -.01 and .12; Changeable moods, -.01 and .17; Restless in sleep, -«£>2 and .18; Listless, -.02 and -.09; Preference for younger children, -.03 and -.04; "Nervous," -.03 and .06; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.13; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.04 and -.12; Headaches, -.05 and -.05; Feeble-minded sibling, -.06 and -.11; Selfish, -.07 and .12; Repressed, -.08 and -.19; Lues, -.08 and .09; Neurological defect, -.09 and .09; Bashful, -.10 and -.13; Depressed, -.11 and .09; Sensitive (general), -.15 and -.05; Worry over specific fact, -.16 and .02
problems similarly yielded substantial correlations in the .J50fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: violence, question of change of personality, and poor work in school.
Ten behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the .20fs with staying out late at ni^ht among both sexes: irregular
TRUANCY PROM HOME AND STAYING OUT LATE AT NIGHT 323
sleep habits, refusal to attend school, oversuggestibility, excuse- forming attitude, fantastical lying, egocentricity, rudeness, de- structiveness, unpopularity, and staff notation of unfavorable con- duct prognosis. Threatening violence (calculated only for boys) also showed the moderate correlation of .25 + .05. Six behavior traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20* s but low coefficients below .20 among girls: fighting, boastful or "show-off" manner, unhappiness, emotional instability, slovenli- ness, and "leader. " Among girls five notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's, the coefficients for boys being below .20: lack of interest in school, stubbornness, temper tantrums , temper display, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
The notation "request for vocational guidance" showed the moderate negative correlation of -.23 + .04 among girls with stay- ing out late at night.
Among the six sex notations two very significant correla- tions, both among girls, were with sex delinquency (coitus), .44 + .04, and overinterest in the opposite sex, .50 + .04 (calculated for girls only). The remaining coefficients in this field were positive but low, ranging from .02 to .15.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations, the only statistically significant coefficient was the moderate one of . 21 + .08 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls
Among the four home or familial notations the only signif- icant correlation with staying out late at night was the very sub- stantial one of .41 4- .06 with vicious home conditions among girls,
(Since the correlations discussed in this chapter tended to be similar to those for truancy from school and refusal to at- tend school, a further summary will be found at the end of the next chapter. )
CHAPTER XXXV
TRUANCY FROM SCHOOL AND REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL
Truancy from school was so highly intercorrelated vlth tru- ancy from home and staying out late at night (the tetrachoric jr's ranging from .48 to .61) and other "outside correlations" with other notations were so similar that all three conduct problems must be considered to be closely interrelated (Table 59). It was a grave indicator of conduct disorder, its correlations with con- duct- total and police arrest ranging from .42 to .57, but of minor importance as to personality deviation. It was one of the most frequent of the conduct problems among our clinic cases, occurring among 675 (or 31.9 per cent) of our 2,113 White boys and among 143 (or 12.1 per cent) of our I,l8l White girls.
The highest correlations for truancy from school were among boys, the tetrachoric r!s with stealing and truancy from home be- ing .62 + .02 and .61 + .02 respectively. Among girls the corre- sponding coefficients of .39-1- .04 and .48 4- .04 were also very substantial. For girls the highest correlations were with staying out late at night (.54 + .04) and refusal to attend school (.54 + .06), the corresponding coefficients of .50 + .02 and .44 + .03 for boys also being large or high.
Bad companions and lying yielded large correlations in the ,40!s among both sexes. Running with a gang and smoking, which were computed only for boys, and overinterest in the opposite sex, which was computed only for girls, also yielded large correlations in the ,40's. Two additional conduct problems yielded correlations almost as large: loitering or wandering, with Its coefficients of . 49 + .03 and .39 + .06 for boys and girls respectively, and incor- rigibillty, with corresponding correlations of .37 + .02 and .42
t -°^-
Four conduct traits among boys yielded substantial corre- lations in the ,30's, the girls1 coefficients being of moderate size in the .20* s: irregular attendance at school, leading others
324
TRUANCY FROM SCHOOL AND REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL
TABLE 59 CORRELATIONS WITH "TRUANCY FROM SCHOOL"
325
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -"total |
.11 4- .02 |
.22 4- .03 |
|
.45 4- .02 |
,i|.l* + .03 |
|
|
.57 4- .02 |
.42 + .04 |
|
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Stealing .' |
.62 4- .02 |
.39 + .04 (8-9)* |
|
Truancy from h^me |
.61 + .02 |
.48 4- .04 (3-4) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.50 + .02 |
.54 4- .04 (1-2) |
|
Loitering |
.14-9 ± .03 |
.39 4- .06 (8-9) |
|
Bad companions |
.48 4- .02 |
.43 4- .05 (5) |
|
(Jang |
.46 + .03 |
|
|
Refusal to attend school |
.44 + .03 |
.54 4- .06 (1-2) |
|
luring |
.42 4- .02 |
.48 I .04 (3-4) |
|
Smoking |
,4o + .03 |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.38 + .02 |
.36 4- .04 (11-12) |
|
Incorrigible |
.37 4 .02 |
.42 4- .04 (6-7) |
|
Irregular attendance at school |
• 35 4- .03 |
.26 4- .05 (26) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.35 4- .03 |
.29 + .07 (17-18) |
|
Brother in penal detention |
.32 4- .03 |
.18 "" |
|
Disobedient |
.31 4- .03 |
.28 4- .04 (19-20) |
|
Fighting |
.31 4- .03 |
.27 4- .04 (21-25) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.30 4- .03 |
.27 4- .05 (21-25) |
|
Lack of Interest in school ... |
29 4- 03 |
28 4- 05 (19-20) |
|
fantastical lying |
.29 4- .04 |
.33 4- .06 (14) |
|
Oversuggestible |
.28 t »°3 |
.09 |
|
Slovenly. |
26 4- 03 |
27 4. o4 f 21-25 ^ |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.26 t .03 |
.314. + .05 (13) |
|
Destructive |
.25 + .03 |
.25-4- 07 (27-2Q^ |
|
Excuse -forming |
.25 4- .03 |
.15 |
|
Swearing (general) |
.22 4- .04 |
|
|
Sullen ... |
.22 4- 03 |
27 4- 05 ( 21-25^ |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.21 4- .03 |
.24 4- .06 (30) |
|
.21 4- .05 |
25 + 05 ?27-2Q^ |
|
|
.21 t .03 |
.15 |
|
|
Sex denied entirely |
.21 t 04 |
01 |
|
Exclusion from school |
21 4- 03 |
22 4- 06 f^l-32^ |
|
Defiant |
.20 ± .03 |
.38 4- .05 (10) |
|
.42 4- .04 (6-7) |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
• 03 |
.36 + .04 (11-12) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.19 |
.32 + 05 (15-16) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.18 |
.32 4- .06 (15-16) |
|
Violence |
13 |
2Q Z 06 ?17-lfl^ |
|
Worry over specific fact |
-.13 |
.27 4- .07 ( 21-2*5^ |
|
Temper tantrums ., . |
08 |
.25 4- 05 ^P7-PO^ |
|
Question of change of personality |
.16 |
.22 4- .06 Ml-^2) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
326
CHILDREN »S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 59— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
DoydTvwMntng. .................................. |
.06 .1? .05 -.05 |
.21 t -06 (33) .20 t -06 (3^-36) .20 ± .06 (3^-36) .20 ± .Ok (3^-36) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
TmrnoT'aT home cond1t1o7ipm t , , , . . T . t , r , ..... , , , . , |
||
|
Vocational guidance |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.02 |
-.25 ± .05 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Contrary, .19 and -.01; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .19 (boys); Grouped: fighting, etc., .19 and .18; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .19 and .16; Inattentive in school, .18 and .16; Nail-biting, .17 and .17; Threatening violence, .17 (boys); Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .17 and .Ok; Enuresls, .15 and .12; Irresponsible, .14 and .Ok; Leader, .Ik and .Ik; Discord between parents, .13 and .10; Conduct prognosis bad, .13 and .12; Masturbation, .13 and .19; Inefficient in work, play, etc.; .12 and .02; Sulky, .12 and .15; Unpopular, .12 and .17; Grouped: temper, etc., .11 and .15; Temper display, .11 and .09; Stubborn, .11 and .18; Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Crying spells, .10 and .07; Retardation in school, .10 and -.03; Follower, .10 and -.01; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .09 and .10; Former convulsions, .09 and -.06; Spoiled child, .09 and .16; Lazy, .09 and .06; Bossy, .06 and .Ik; Selfish, .06 and .00; Restless, .06 and .17; Absent-minded, .06 and .03; Irritable, .06 and .08; Question of encephalitis, .06 and .09; Headaches, .05 and .05; Popular, .05 and -.12; Poor work in school, .05 and .06; Unhappy, .05 and .08; Emotional instability, .05 and .13; Apprehensive, .05 and .19; Quarrelsome, .Ok and .01; Lues, .03 and .10; Clean, .03 and -.16; Mental conflict, .03 and .12; Object of teasing, .03 and .17; Queer, .02 and .13; Seclusive, .02 and .05; Attractive manner, .02 and .12; Sensitive over specific fact, .01 and .16; "Nervous," .01 and .Ok; Slow, dull, .01 and -.13; Overinterest in sex matters, .01 and .19; Teasing other children, .01 (boys); Finicky food habits, .00 and .11; Repressed, .00 and .09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .00 and -.09; Restless in sleep, -.00 and .10; Preference for younger children, -.01 and .11; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.01 and .03; Lack of initiative, -.02 and -.11; Speech defect, -.02 and -.05; Underweight, -.02 and -..00; Inferiority feelings, -.02 and .06; Changeable moods, -.02 and -.01; Distractible, -.03 and .07; Question of hypophrenia, -.03 and -.06; Feeble-minded sibling, -.06 and .01; Depressed, -.08 and .02; Sensi- tive (general), -.08 and .05; Stuttering, -.10 (boys); Listless, -.10 and -.09; Peychoneurotic, -.11 and -.03; Neurological defect, -.13 and -.Ok; Bashful, -,1k and -.04
into bad conduct, disobedience, and fighting. Brother In penal detention among boys yielded likewise a substantial correlation of .32 + .03, the girls1 coefficient being comparatively low, .18. Among girls defiant attitude, swearing or bad language (undiffer- entiated), and fantastical lying yielded substantial correlations
TRUANCY FROM SCHOOL AND REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL 32?
in the .30fs with moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys. Among girls sex delinquency (coitus), disturbing influence in school, and vicious home conditions also yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30's but low positive coefficients below .20 for boys .
Seven notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's with truancy from school among both sexes : exclusion from school, lack of Interest In school, sullenness, rudeness, boastful or "show-off" manner, slovenliness, and destructlveness . Four nota- tions among boys showed moderate correlations in the . 20's but low coefficients below .20 among girls: egocentricity, excuse- forming attitude, oversuggestibillty, and sex misbehavior denied entirely. Eight miscellaneous notations among girls similarly showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 among boys : violence, temper tantrums, question of change of personal- ity, daydreaming, sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), worry over some specific fact, Irregular sleep habits, and immoral home conditions.
The only negative correlation of moderate size was for "request for vocational guidance" among girls, -.25 + .05.
Among the six sex notations substantial correlations with truancy from school were found among girls for sex delinquency ( coitus ), .36 + .04, and for overinteregt in the opposite sex, .42 + . 04 . Among boys sex misbehavior denied entirely showed the mod- erate correlation of . 21 + .04. All other correlations in this field were positive but low, ranging from .01 to .19.
All correlations in the physical or psychophysical field were low or negligible, ranging from -.13 to .15.
Among the four home or familial notations, truancy from school yielded substantial correlations in the . 30!s for brother in penal detention among boys and vicious home conditions among girls and a moderate coefficient of .20 + .06 for immoral home con- ditions among girls. All other correlations in this field were positive and low, ranging from .05 to ,18.
Refusal or marked unwillingness to attend school was fairly highly correlated with truancy from school, the tetrachorio r!s for boys and girls being .44 4- .03 and .54 + ,06 respectively (Table 60). It was noted among 145 boys, or 6.9 per cent, and among 46
328
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 60 CORRELATIONS WITH "REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|||
|
Personal "i "ty-total ,t,»,.,,^.,,,tT,Ttt,»t»t,tTTT |
.17 ± |
.03 |
.08 + |
.04 |
|
.30 ± |
.03 |
.22 + |
.04 |
|
|
Poll c<? arrest ................................ t |
• 30 ± |
.04 |
.07 + |
.07 |
|
Larger |
Corre |
Jlations |
(Positive) |
|
|
Truancy from school. |
.44 + |
.03 |
.54 + |
.06 (1)* |
|
Loitering j |
.36 + |
.05 |
• 13 |
|
|
Irregular attendance at school |
.34 + |
.05 |
.32 + |
.07 (2) |
|
Truancy from home. ............................ |
.28 + |
04 |
.31 4- |
.06 (3-4) |
|
Queer |
.28 + |
.05 |
.11 |
|
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.27 + |
.05 |
.24 + |
.09 (10-12) |
|
Incorrigible. |
.25 + |
.04 |
.21 4- |
.06 (15-16) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.25 -f |
.05 |
.17 |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient , etc |
.25 4- |
.03 |
.27 ± |
.05 (8) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.24 + |
04 |
.28,± |
.07 (7) |
|
Stealing |
.24 + |
.03 |
.13 |
|
|
Svearing (general) |
.24 + |
• 05 |
||
|
Fighting |
.23 + |
04 |
.19 |
|
|
Gan« |
23 4- |
.05 |
||
|
Violence |
.23 + |
.04 |
.18 |
|
|
Smoking |
.22 + |
.05 |
||
|
Stubborn |
22 4- |
04 |
19 |
|
|
Exclusion from school |
.21 4- |
• 05 |
.03 |
|
|
Contrary |
21 + |
06 |
18 |
|
|
Question of change of personality |
.20 + |
.05 |
.23 ± |
.09 (13-14) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.10 |
.31 *f- |
.07 (3-4) |
|
|
Defiant |
.19 |
.30 + |
.08 (5-6) |
|
|
Lack of interest in school |
.18 |
.30 + |
.07 (5-6) |
|
|
Sullen |
18 |
25 + |
08 (9) |
|
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.17 |
.24 4- |
.08 (10-12) |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.17 |
.24 4- |
.08 (10-12) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school,, etc |
.16 |
.23 4- |
.07 (13-14) |
|
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
21 4- |
07 (15-16) |
||
|
Clean |
• 13 |
.20 + |
.07 (17-18) |
|
|
Vocational guidance "*. |
.03 |
.20 4- |
.07 (17-18) |
|
|
Larger |
Corre |
latlons |
(Negative) |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.28 ± |
.06 |
- 06 |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
• 09 |
- 25 4- |
.07 |
|
|
17 |
- PP 4- |
OQ |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
02 |
- 20 4- |
10 |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
TRUANCY PROM SCHOOL AND REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL 329
TABLE 60— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Disturbing influence in school, .19 and .08; Temper tantrums, .19 and .17; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .17 (boys); Grouped: fight- ing, etc., .19 and .06; Irresponsible, .18 and -.01; Destructive, .17 and .13; Disobedient, .17 and .12; Sulky, .17 and .10; Emotional instability, .17 and .04; Temper display, .16 and. 05; Apprehensive, .16 and. 19; Daydreaming, .16 and .12; Popular, .16 and .18; Brother in penal detention, .16 and .16; Rude, .15 and .13; Threatening violence, .15 (boys); Over suggestible, .15 and -.07; Grouped: temper, etc., .15 and .08; Bad companions, .Ik and .Ik; Overinterest in sex matters, .Ik and .14; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .Ik and .Ik; Depressed, .Ik and -.13; Listless, .Ik and -.06; Psychoneurotic, .Ik and .Ok; Irritable, .Ik and .09; Se- clusive, .Ik and .18; Unpopular, .Ik and -.00; Poor work in school, .Ik and .16; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .13 and -.03; Crying spells, .13 and .00; Fol- lower, .13 and .00; Itflng, .12 and .16; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Ab- sent-minded, .12 and .16; Excuse- forming, .12 and .05; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .12 and .11; Changeable moods, .11 and -.03; Egocentric, .11 and .09; Ob- ject of teasing, .11 and -.01; Worry over specific fact, .10 and .05; Repressed, .10 and -.08; Question of encephalitis, .10 and .19; Discord between parents, .10 and .06; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .10 and -.03; Slovenly, .09 and -.07; Restless, .09 and .02; Sensitive (general), .09 and .13; Leader, .09 and .15; Headaches, .09 and .Ik; Boastful, "show-off," .08 and .00; Inattentive In school, .08 and -.08; Selfish, .08 and .01; Former convulsions, .08 and .01; Fantastical lying, .07 and .Ik; Dlstractlble, .07 and .08; Mental conflict, .07 and .13; Masturbation, .06 and .02; Sensitive over specific fact, .06 and .19; Sex denied entirely, .06 and .19; Lazy, .05 and .Ok; Nail-biting, .05 and -.06; Lack of in- itiative, .05 and -.18; "Nervous," etc., .05 and -.10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .05 and -.12; Sex delinquency (coitus), .05 and -.01; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .Ok and .15; Restless In sleep, .03 and .09; Lues, .03 and .10; Immoral home conditions, .03 and .00; Inferiority feelings, .02 and .18; ' Stuttering, .02 (boys); Attractive manner, .02 and -.11; Neurological defect, .02 and -.18; Quarrelsome, .02 arid .03; Slow, dull, .01 and -.07; Bashful, .00 and .00; Question of hypophrenia, -.00 and -.07; Preference for younger chil- dren, -.01 and .07; Victim of sex abuse, -.02 (girls); Vicious home conditions, -.02 and -.06; Retardation in school, -.03 and -.09; Speech defect, -.Ok and -.10; Bossy, -.06 and -.09; Enuresis, -.07 and .12; Underweight, -.08 and .11
girls, or 3.9 per cent. In contrast with truancy from home or from school, Its importance as an indicator either of conduct dis- order or of overt juvenile delinquency was only moderate, the cor- relations ranging from .07 to .30. As a correlate of personality deviation its importance was very minor, the bi- serial £'s for boys and girls being only .17 4- .03 and . 08 4- .04.
Its highest correlations were with truancy from school, with coefficients of .44 + .05 and .54 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Irregular attendance at school yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs for both sexes. Loitering or wandering yielded the substantial correlation of .36 + .05 among boys but a low coefficient of . 13 among girls . Truancy from home among girls
320 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
yielded the substantial correlation of .31 + .06, the correspond- ing coefficient among boys being practically as large, .28 + ,04. Three behavior problems among girls — lack of interest in school, defiant attitude, and finicky food habits — similarly yielded sub- stantial correlations In the ,30's but low coefficients below .20 for boys.
Among both sexes refusal to attend school showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs with four behavior difficulties: stay- In^ out late at night, Incorrlglbillty, Irregular sleep habits, and question of change of personality. Three conduct problems, for which only the boys1 correlations were computed because of the pau- city of girls' cases: running with a gang, swearing In general, and smoking, and one computed only for girls, overinterest In the opposite sex, also showed moderate correlations In the .20* s. Eight notations among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20 's but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: exclu- sion from school, stealing, fighting, stubbornness, contrariness, violence , leading others into bad conduct, and queer behavior. Five notations among girls similarly showed moderate correlations In the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: sullenness, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), "spoiled child," clean habits, and "request for vocational guidance."
Negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20fs were found among boys for feeble-minded sibling and among girls for un- happlness and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among the six sex notations in our data the only coeffi- cient with a claim to statistical significance was for overinter- est In the opposite sex (calculated for girls only), .21 + .07.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations and among the four home or familial notations all twenty- two correla- tions with refusal to attend school were low or negligible, rang- ing from -.18 to .19.
Since the four conduct traits discussed in chapters xxxiv and xxxv — truancy from home, staying out late at night, truancy from school, and refusal to attend school — appear to form a fairly closely interrelated group, we may summarize certain trends among the correlations. The following six behavior traits showed, in the main, substantial to high correlations with all four notations,
TRUANCY PROM SCHOOL AND REFUSAL TO ATTEND SCHOOL 331
ranging from the . 20fs to the .60' s, among both sexes: stealing, loitering or wandering, incorrigibility, and swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentiated) and also running with a gang and smoking, for which only the boys' correlations were computed. The four conduct problems, leading others into bad conduct, fighting, vio- lence, and defiant attitude, tended to yield moderate to substan- tial correlations in the . 20fs and ,30!s for all four notations among both sexes and among boys also sullenness and irregular sleep habits.
With the three notations, truancy from home and from school, and staying out late at night, two conduct problems, associating with bad companions and lying, tended tcr yield substantial to large correlations, ranging from the .20fs to the . 50's. Disobedience, fantastical lying, and excuse- forming attitude similarly tended to yield moderate to substantial correlations In the . 20's and ,30fs with these three notations. Among girls, sex delinquency (coitus) and overinterest la the opposite sex ( computed only for girls ) yielded substantial to large correlations ranging from .33 to ,50 with all three notations. With these three notations vicious home conditions among girls yielded moderate to substantial correlations ranging from .21 to .41. Vicious home conditions among boys and Immoral home conditions among both sexes tended to show low or neg- ligible correlations ranging from -.07 to .20.
CHAPTER XXXVI
DISOBEDIENCE; INCORRIGIBILITY"; DEFIANCE; STUBBORNNESS; AND CONTRARINESS
That the five conduct problems discussed In this chapter — disobedience, incorrigibility, defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness — are closely Interrelated is indicated by the fact of their generally large inter correlation and also by the fact of the similarity of their "out3ide correlations" with other traits. The first three of these traits — disobedience, incorrigl- bility, and defiant attitude — are especially closely intercorre- lated, the tetrachorlc r^'s ranging from .41 to .52. Stubbornness and contrariness are less closely intercorrelated with the other three traits, their coefficients ranging from .16 to .44. In view of their frequency of occurrence and their relatively high Importance as indicators of behavior deviation, it seemed advis- able to consider each of the five notations separately as well as under one rubric, disobedience or incorriglbllity (undlf ferentl- ated).
All five notations were notably important as Indicators of conduct difficulties, their bi-serlal ^r's with conduct- total ranging from .25 to .68. As indicators of overt juvenile delin- quency or of undesirable personality traits their importance is not so great, their correlations with police arrest and personal- ity-total ranging from .08 to .5"}.
Disobedience was noted among 459 of our 2,113 White boys (21.7 per cent) and among 207 of OUT 1,181 White girls (17.5 per cent ) .
Its highest correlations among both sexes were with Incor- rigibility, rudeness, defiant attitude, disturbing influence in school, and fighting or quarrelsomeness (including violence, un- dlf ferentiated), the boys1 coefficients ranging from .36 to .48 and the girls1 from .44 to .52 (Table 61). Lying, destructivenesa , violence among girls also yielded large correlations in the
332
DISOBEDIENCE
TABLE 61 CORRELATIONS WITH "DISOBEDIENT"
333
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -"total |
.24 t .02 .43 + .02 .21 4- .03 |
.31 t .03 .49 4- .02 .18 t .04 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Incorrigible |
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|
|
.48 4- .02 .46 I .03 .41 ± .03 .36 ± .03 .36 t -02 .34 4- .03 .34 ± .03 .32 ± .03 31 4- .03 |
.52 4- .03 (1-2)* .52 4- .04 (1-2) • Vf ± .04 (3) .45 4- .05 (4) • ^ ± -03 (5) .37 + .04 (10-11) .36 + .05 (12-14) .19 |
|
|
Rude |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Disturbing influence In school |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Staying out late at nigiht • |
||
|
Grnupfifl ; swearing, $t-c ........................ |
||
|
Truancy from home |
||
|
Truancy from s chool |
.31 ± .03 •31 ± .03 .31 ± .03 .30 4- .03 .30 + .03 .30 ± .03 .29 ± .03 .29 ± .03 .29 ± .03 .29 + .04 .29 + .03 .29 ± .03 .28 + .03 .28 4- .03 .27 + .04 .26 + .02 .26 4- .03 .26 4- .04 |
.28 + .04 (31-32) .29 4- .04 (26-30) .43 ± .03 (6) .20 + .05 (47-51) .37 + .04 (10-11) .34 + .04 (18) .41 + .05 (7-8) .35 + .05 (15-17) .30 4- .05 (23-25) .30 + .06 (23-25) .41 + .05 (7-8) .35 + .04 (15-17) .38 4- .04 (9) .36 4- .05 (12-14) .16 " .26 + .04 (34-36) .32 + .05 (19-22) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
luring |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Destructive . . |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Contrary |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Swearing (general) |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.26 + .04 .26 t .04 .26 + .04 .25 f .03 |
.23 ± .06 (40-43) .23 + .04 (40-43) .36 + .06 (12-14) |
|
Restless |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Teasing other children |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.25 ± .03 .25 ± .04 .24 4- .04 .23 ± .04 .23 ± .03 .22 t .04 22 4- 05 |
.32 + .04 (19-22) .24 ± .05 (38-39) .32 4- .05 (19-22) .07 .35 ± .04 (15-17) .25 ± .06 (37) |
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Loitering |
||
|
Temper tantrums |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Gang |
||
|
Sulky |
.22 ± .04 .22 ± .04 |
.18 |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
334
CHILDREN !S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 61— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.22 ± .02 |
.29 + .03 (26-30) |
|
Lack of Interest in school |
.21 + .03 |
.20 + .05 (4-7-51) |
|
Selfish |
,21 + .04 |
.29 ± .05 (26-30) |
|
Lazy |
.20 + .Ok |
.09 |
|
Threatening violence |
.20 + .04 |
|
|
Over Interest in opposite sex |
.32 + .04 (19-22) |
|
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.09 |
.30 + .05 (23-25) |
|
Bossy |
.11 |
.29-1- .05 (26-30) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.15 |
.29 + .07 (26-30) |
|
Excuse- forming |
.18 |
.28 + .05 (31-32) |
|
Spoiled child |
.16 |
.27-1- .05 (33) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.11 |
.26-1- .05 (34-36) |
|
Distractible , |
.13 |
.26 + .05 (34-36) |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
-.03 |
.24 + .04 (38-39) |
|
Bestless in sleep |
.13 |
.23 + .04 (40-43) |
|
Queer |
.07 |
.23 + .06 (40-43) |
|
Slovenly. |
16 |
22 + .04 (44-45) |
|
Masturbation |
.06 |
22 + 04 (44-45) |
|
Mental conflict |
.05 |
.21 ± 06 (46) |
|
Bad companions |
.19 |
.20 + .05 (47-51) |
|
Irritable |
16 |
PO + 04 ( 47-51 } |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.13 |
.20 + .06 (47-51) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Temper display, .19 and .19; Leader, .18 and .15; Refusal to attend school, .17 and .12; Unhappy, .17 and .17; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .15 and .11; Psychoneurotic, .15 and .16; Grouped: depressed, etc., .15 and .11; Inefficient In work, play, etc., .14 and .13; Crying spells, .14 and .13; De- pressed, .14 and -.03; Changeable moods, .13 and .12; Preference for younger children, .13 and .01; Victim of sex abuse, .12 (girls); "Nervous," .12 and .19; Brother in penal detention, .12 and -.02; Enuresls, .11 and .12; Absent-minded, .11 and .05; Object of teasing, .11 and .17; Sensitive (general), .11 and .02; Former convulsions, .11 and .02; Inferiority feelings, .10 and .04; Poor work In school, .10 and .16; Nail-biting, .09 and .07; Discord between parents, .09 and .19; Emotional Instability, .08 and .19; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .08 and -.14; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, .08 and .06; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and .04; Sex denied entirely, .07 and -.05; Popular, .07 and .05; At- tractive manner, .07 and .04; Seclusive, .06 and -.08; Over suggestible, .04 and .08; Retardation In school, .04 and -.06; Neurological defect, .04 and -.03; Worry over specific fact, .03 and .13; Follower, .03 and .00; Daydreaming, .02 and .13; Stuttering, .02 (boys); Underweight, .02 and ,03; Question of hypo- phrenia, .01 and .04; Headaches, .00 and .10; Irregular attendance at school, -.01 and -.16; Immoral home conditions, -.03 and -.02; Speech defect, -.03 and -.07; Repressed, -.03 and .04; Vocational guidance, -.05 and -.15; Clean, -.05 and -.06; Slow, dull, -.06 and -.13; Listless, -.07 and .03; Vicious home con- ditions, -.08 and .13; Apprehensive, -.08 and .06; Lack of Initiative, -.10 and -.06; Bashful, -.13 and -.06; Lues, -.14 and .02; Feeble-minded sibling, -.18 and -.14
ftaitted— -Grouped: disobedient, etc.
DISOBEDIENCE 335
. 40's, with substantial coefficients among boys ranging from .29 to .31.
Three conduct problems — stubbornness, staying out late at light, and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) — yielded substantial correlations in the .30 's for both sexes. Smoking , for "which only the boys' c-orrelation was calculated, and overin- berest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' coefficient fas computed, also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's. \mong boys boastful or "show-off" manner and truancy from home yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and lesser coeffi- cients of .20 + .05 and ,19 respectively among girls. Among girls ten notations yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys: sul- lenness, temper tantrums , leading others into bad conduct, fight- Ing, quarrelsomeness , egocentricity, question of change of person- ality, inattentiveness in school, exclusion from school, and un- popularity. Overinterest in sex matters among girls also yielded the substantial correlation of .30 + .05 but a corresponding low correlation of .09 among boys.
Disobedience showed moderate correlations in the ,20's imong both sexes for seven behavior traits: stealing, selfishness, Irresponsibility, fantastical lying, restlessness, irregular sleep aabits, and lack of interest in school. Five behavior problems, for which only the boys' correlations were calculated, also showed noderate correlations in the ,20's: swearing in general, running rflth a gang, threatening violence, teasing other children, and com- plaining of bad treatment by other children. Pour conduct nota- tions among boys similarly showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low positive correlations below .20 among girls: con- trariness, laziness, loitering or wandering, and sulkiness . Among jirls a large list of fifteen miscellaneous notations showed mod- erate correlations in the ,20fs, but low or negligible correlations panging from -.03 to .19 among boys: sex delinquency (coitus), oasturbation, excuse- forming attitude, bad companions, "spoiled shild," irr i tab le temperament , bossy manner, distractibllity, slov- snlineas. restlessness in sleep, finicky food habits, mental con- flict, queer behavior, question or diagnosis of encephalitis, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
No negative correlations of statistically significant size
336 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
were found with disobedience.
Among the six sex notations moderate to substantial corre- lations in the . 20's to ,30's were found among girls for sex delin- quen cy ( c oi t us ) , overinterest in sex matters , masturbation, and overinterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only). All the boys' correlations in this field were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only significant correlation was with question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis among girls, .29 + .07, all the other coefficients in this field being low or negligible.
Among the four home or familial notations (discord between parents, vicious or immoral home conditions, and brother in penal detention) all coefficients were low or negligible, ranging from -.08 to .19.
Incorrigibility was noted among 501, or 23.7 per cent, of our boys and among 212, or 18.0 per cent, of our girls. In compar- ison with the other five conduct problems in this chapter, its cor- relations with conduct- total were unusually high, the coefficients for boys and girls respectively being .52 £ .02 and .59 4; .02 (Ta- ble 62), With the personality- total and police-arrest criteria its correlations were moderate or substantial, ranging from .23 to .38.
Its highest correlations were in the . 50fs among girls for disobedience and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), the corresponding boys1 coefficients In the . 40's also being large. The six conduct disorders — defiant attitude, rudeness, truancy from home, staying out late at night, fighting, and stealing — yielded large correlations ranging from .39 to .49 among both sexes. Overinterest in the opposite sex (computed for girls only) also yielded the large correlation of .42 + .04. Deatructlveneaa and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among boys yielded similarly large correlations in the .40 ?s, the girls1 co- efficients being lower, .33 + -06 and .20 + .06 respectively. Among girls, five conduct problems similarly yielded large corre- lations in the 40 's with corresponding substantial coefficients in the ,30fs among boys: disturbing Influence In school, truancy from school, violence, quarrel a omeneaa, and temper tantruma.
Six notations consistently yielded aubstantial correlations
DISOBEDIENCE
TABLE 62 CORRELATIONS WITH "INCORRIGIBLE"
337
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.23 ± .02 .52 £ .02 .38 + .03 |
•35 ± .03 .59 -i- .02 .28 i .04 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Defiant ; |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.48 + .03 .48 + .02 .47 + .03 .45 + .02 .Mi + .03 .43 + .02 .41 ± .03 .40 ± .03 .40 + .04 .40 + .02 .40 + .03 .39 + .04 .39 ± .03 .37 ± .03 .37 + .02 .36 + .04 |
.1^9 + ,o4 (4)* .52 + .03 (1-2) .46 ± .04 (8-9) .44 -i- .04 (11) .47 ± .04 (5-7) .51 ± .02 (3) .33 + .06 (25-26) .46 ± .03 (8-9) .20 4- .06 (52-54) •39 + .04 (16-18) .52 + .04 (1-2) .21 4- .06 (50-51) .47 ± .05 (5-7) .40 + .05 (15) .42 + -04 (12-14) |
|
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
Truancy from home |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Grouped : fighting, etc |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Fighting., |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Contrary |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Truancy from school |
||
|
Swearing (general) |
||
|
Threatening violence |
.36 4- .04 |
|
|
Leading others Into bad conduct |
.34 4- .04 .34 + .03 |
.34 + .06 (22-24) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.34 t .03 .32 + .02 .32 ± .03 .30 ± .03 .30 t -03 .29 + .03 |
.42 4- .04 (12-14) .37 ± .03 (19-21) .39 ± .05 (16-18) .26 + .05 (40) .47 ± .04 (5-7) |
|
lying |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Bad companions |
||
|
Temper tantrums |
||
|
Smoking |
||
|
Loitering. |
.28 + .03 .28 t .03 .28 t -03 .27 ± .03 .27 ± .02 .26 t .03 .26 i .03 .25 ± .04 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .04 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .02 .23 ± .03 |
.34 ± .05 (22-24) .27 ± .04 (37-39) .27 ± .05 (37-39) •30 ± .05 (31-33) .45 + .03 (10) .27 + .05 (37-39) .30 t .04 (31-33) .21 + .06 (50-51) .32 + .04 (27) .22 + .06 (46-49) .31 + .04 (28-30) .31 t -03 (28-30) |
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Grouped: temper , etc |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric > etc |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous,, " etc |
||
|
Teasing other children |
||
|
Bnotlonal instability |
.23 ± .04 .23 ± .04 |
•39 ± .05 (34-35) .22 + .06 (46-49) |
|
Unhappy |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
338
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 62— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Stubborn |
.21 + .03 |
. .34 t -04 (22-2*4-) |
|
Excuse-forming |
.21 t .03 |
•37 ± -05 (19-21) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.21 + .04 |
|
|
.42 + .Ok (12-14) |
||
|
.19 |
.39 4- .06 (16-18) |
|
|
.18 |
.37 + .05 (19-21) |
|
|
Temper display |
.16 |
.33 + .05 (25-26) |
|
.10 |
.31 t .07 (28-30) |
|
|
Irritable |
.16 |
.30 ± .04 (31-33) |
|
Finicky food habits |
• 05 |
.29 + .05 (34-35) |
|
Queer |
• 15 |
.28 + .06 (36) |
|
Irresponsible |
• 17 |
.24 + .06 (41-42) |
|
Daydreaming |
• 05 |
.24 + .05 (41-42) |
|
Masturbation |
.Ik |
.23 t «04 (43-45) |
|
Changeable moods |
.11 |
.23 t .04 (43-45) |
|
Dlstractible |
• 15 |
.23 t -05 (43-45) |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
• 09 |
.22 + .04 (46-49) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
• 19 |
.22 + .04 (46-49) |
|
Object of teasing |
.00 |
.20 + .05 (52-54) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.17 |
.20-»- .05 (52-54) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
-.17 |
-.21 t '04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Inattentive in school, .19 and .19; Discord between parents, .18 and .03; Spoiled child, .17 and .19; Selfish, .13 and .18; Oversuggestible, .13 and .09; Lack of Interest in school, .12 and .14; Overinterest In sex matters, .12 and .12; Enuresis, .11 and .17; Nail-biting, .11 and .18; Sulky, .11 and .14; Crying spells, .11 and .10; Depressed, .10 and .15; Bossy, .09 and .19; Ineffi- cient in work, play, etc., .09 and .14; Inferiority feelings, .09 and .06; Popu- lar, .09 and .05; Brother in penal detention, .09 and -.07; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .08 and -.01; Sex denied entirely, .08 and -.06; Irregular attend- ance at school, .08 and -,12j Victim of sex abuse, .08 (girls); "Nervous,11 ,07 and .14; Mental conflict, .07 and -.00; Question of hypophrenia, .07 and .07; Restless In sleep, .06 and -.00; Poor work in school, .06 and .08; Leader, .06 and .17; Former convulsions, .05 and .04; Lazy, .04 and .08; Absent-minded, .04 and .12; Sensitive over specific fact, .04 and .09; Retardation in school, .04 and -.01; Headaches, .04 and .14; Attractive manner, .04 and -.04; Secluaive, .03 and .02; Clean, -.00 and -.07; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.01 and .01; Vicious home conditions, -.01 and .07; Pay choneur otic, -.01 and .02; Apprehensive, -.02 and .08; Worry over specific fact, -.04 and .03; Repressed, -.04 and -.00; Neurological defect, -.05 and -.03; Preference for younger chil- dren, -.05 and .14; Follower, -.06 and -.08; Sensitive (general), -.06 and -.06; Stuttering, -.07 (boya); Speech defect, -.08 and -.10; Itoderwelght, -.08 and .03; Listless, -.08 and -.03; Lack of initiative, -.09 and -.14; Bashful, -.10 and -.17; Immoral home conditions, -.11 and -.01; Slow, dull, -.12 and -.10; Feeble- minded sibling, -.13 and -.15; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.13 and -.08; Lues, -.15 and .14
Omitted— Grouped: disobedient, etc.
DISOBEDIENCE 339
in the .30f a: leading others Into bad conduct f lying, exclusion from school , and the three for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated-— running with a gang, threatening violence, and swearing in general. Contrariness and bad companions among boys similarly yielded substantial coefficients in the .30 !s, with mod- erate coefficients in the .20fs among girls. Seven conduct and personality difficulties among girls similarly yielded substantial correlations in the .30's, with moderate coefficients in the ,20fs among boys : stubbornness, egocentricity, boastful or "show-off" manner, excuse.- forming attitude, loitering or wandering, restless- ness, and emotional instability. An additional five notations also yielded substantial correlations in the .30*3 among girls but low coefficients below .20 among boys: temper display, irritable temperament, question of change of personality, unpopularity, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Nine behavior traits uniformly showed moderate correla- tions with incorrlglbility in the .20' a: sullenness, refusal to attend school, fantastical lying, irregular sleep habits, sloven- liness, unhappiness, and the three behavior problems for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated — smoking, teasing other children, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Ten personality and conduct problems among girls showed moderate cor- relations in the .20 's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: sex delinquency ( coitus ) , masturbation, irresponsi- bility, distractibility, changeable moods or attitudes, lack of interest or inattentiveness in school studies or employment (un- differentiated), daydreaming, queer behavior, finicky food habits, and object of teasing by other children.
The only negative correlation of significant size was with the routine notation "request for vocational guidance" among girls, -.21 + .04.
Among the six sex notations there were three statistically significant correlations with incorrigibility, all among girls: the large tetrachoric r of .42 + .04 with overinterest in the op- posite sex (calculated for girls only), and the moderate coeffi- cients of .22 + .04 with sex delinquency (coitus) and .23 + .04 with masturbation. All other correlations in this field were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the
340 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
only meaningful correlation was the substantial coefficient of .31 + -07 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls, all other coefficients in this field being low or negligible.
Among the four home or familial conditions all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.11 to ,18.
Defiant attitude toward parents, teachers, etc, was noted among 178, or 8.4 per cent, of the boys and among 95, or 8.0 per cent, of the girls. Its bi-serial correlations with the conduct- total, .43 + .02 and .68 + .03 for boys and girls respectively, and also with the personality- total for girls, . 53 + .03, were high, while its tetrachoric correlations with police arrest and the boys' bi-serlal correlation with the personality- total were only moderate or low, ranging from .14 to .20 (Table 63). Its cor- relations with disobedience, Incorrlgibllity, and stubbornness were large, ranging from .41 to .49, and its correlation with contrari- ness substantial, the coefficients being .33 and .34,
Its highest correlations were with rudeness, the coeffi- cients being .49 + .03 and .54 + .04 for boys and girls respec- tively. Stealing and temper tantrums among girls also yielded high coefficients in the . 50's, with substantial correlations in the .30's among boys. Its correlations with sullenness were also large, .41 + .04 and .44 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Violence and egocentrlclty or selfishness (undifferentlated) among girls yielded large correlations in the .40's with substantial co- efficients in the ,30's among boys. Four undesirable behavior traits similarly yielded large correlations in the ,40's for girls and moderate correlations In the ,20's for boys: disturbing in- fluence In school, fighting, lying, and selfishness.
Pour conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the .30!s for both sexes: contrariness, quarrelsomeness , destruc- tiveness, and swearing or bad language (undifferentiated). Excuse- forming attitude and exclusion from school among boys similarly yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's, with moderate cor- relations In the .20's among girls. Among girls there were five undesirable behavior traits showing substantial correlations in the .30!s and moderate correlations in the .20's among boys: lead- ing others into bad conduct, staying out late at night, truancy from school, egocentricity, and boastful or "show-off" manner.
DISOBEDIENCE
TABLE 63 CORRELATIONS WITH "DEFIANT11
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.20-4- .03 |
.53 + .03 |
|
|
Conduct -"total «... |
.43 + .02 |
.68 + .03 |
|
.20 4- .04 |
.14 4- .05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
Rude |
.14.9 + .03 |
.54 + .04 (1)* |
|
Incorrigible |
.48 ± .03 |
.49 + ,o4 (4) |
|
Stubborn |
.42 + .03 |
.44 4- .04 (10-13) |
|
Disobedient |
.41 + .03 |
.47 4- .04 (6-7) |
|
Sullen |
.41 + .0*4- |
.44 + .06 (10-13) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.36 + .04 |
.34 4- .06 (24-25) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.35 + .03 |
.48 + .04 (5) |
|
Contrary |
•33 4- .05 |
.34 4- .07 (24-25) |
|
Grouped : temper, etc |
.33 + .03 |
.l<4 + ,o4 (10-13) |
|
Stealing |
.32 4- .03 |
.51 4- .04 (3) |
|
Temper tantrums |
• 32 ± .04 |
.52 4 .05 (2) |
|
Excuse -forming |
-.32 t .04 |
.24 4- .06 (49-52) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.32 t .04 |
.14.0 + .05 (15) |
|
Destructive |
.31 ± .04 |
.31 4- .07 (33-34) |
|
Violence « |
.31 f .04 |
.47 4- .06 (6-7) |
|
Quarrelsome |
•30 ± .04 |
.36 4- .05 (19-21) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.30 4- .04 |
.21 t «07 (60-63) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.29 ± .04 |
.32 4- .06 (29-32) |
|
Swearing (general ) |
.29 4- .05 |
|
|
Egocentric |
.29 ± 04 |
.38 4- .05 (17-18) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.28 ± .04 |
.46 + .06 (8) |
|
Ikying |
.28 4 .03 |
.44 + o4 (10-13) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.27 + .04 |
.35 ± .05 (22-23) |
|
Gang |
.26 + .04 |
|
|
Sulky |
.26 4- 05 |
.28 4- 07 (5Q-41) |
|
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc |
.26 4- .04 |
.26 t .05 (44-46) |
|
Fighting |
.25 + .04 |
.If5 + .06 (9) |
|
.25 4- .05 |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
.24 4- .04 |
• IT |
|
Truancy from home |
.23 4- 04 |
27 + 05 flip-45} |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.23 4- .05 (53-54) |
|
|
.22 4- .04 |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
21 + 05 |
52 -i- 07 (PQ-5P} |
|
Selfish |
.21 4- .05 |
.41 4- .06 (14) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.21 4- 06 |
16 |
|
Truancy from school |
.20 4- .03 |
.38 4 .05 (17-18) |
|
.00 |
59 + 06 (16} |
|
|
.13 |
56 4- 06 (IQ-PI^ |
|
|
Finiciy food habits |
.09 |
.36 4 06 (19-21) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
-.06 |
.35 4- .06 (22-25) |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
342
CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 63 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Daydreaming |
.08 .17 .Ik .19 .16 .06 .19 .17 .00 -.01 .09 .18 .16 .16 .Ok .10 .15 .12 .11 -.05 .17 .11 .10 .01 -.04 .Ok .17 .17 .16 .13 |
.33-1- .06 (26-28) .33 ± .06 (26-28) .33 + .06 (26-28) .32 + .07 (29-32) .32 t -04 (29-32) .31 ± .05 (33-34) .30 + .08 (35) .29 ± .06 (36-38) .29 ± ,05 (36-38) .29 ± .07 (36-38) .28 + .06 (39-M) .28 ± .07 (39-^1) .27 ± .05 (42-43) .26 ± .05 (44-46) .26 ± .06 (44-46) .25-1- .07 (47-48) .25 + .08 (47-48) .24 ± .07 (49-52) .24 ± .07 (49-52) .24 + .06 (49-52) .23 ± .05 (53-54) .22 t .07 (55-59) .22 ± .07 (55-59) .22 ± .05 (55-59) .22 ± .08 (55-59) .22 ± .05 (55-59) .21 + .06 (60-63) .21 ± .05 (60-63) .21 ± .07 (60-63) .20 + .07 (64) |
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Grouped* "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Restless in sleep |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
T$mpftr display. ............................... |
||
|
Masturbation |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Bad companions |
||
|
Leader. |
||
|
Changeable moods |
||
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Dlstractible |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Loitering ... |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
||
|
Lack of interest in school |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Unhappy |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.19 -.12 |
-.32 + .06 -.25 ± .06 |
|
|
Follower |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Nail-biting, .18 and .15; Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Popular, .17 and .12; Bossy, .16 and .19; Former convulsions, .15 and .08; Emotional in- stability, .14 and .18; Seclusive, .13 and .19; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .12 (boys); Victim of sex abuse, .12 (girls); Attractive manner, .11 and .07; Crying spells, .10 and .19; Discord between parents, .07 and .06; Clean, .06 and -.02; Conduct prognosis bad, .05 and .16; Listless, .04 and .11; Enuresls, .03 and .16; Overinterest in sex matters, .03 and .16; Psychoneurotic, .03 and .09; Sensitive (general), .03 and .13; Sex delinquency (coitus), .01 and .07; Mental conflict, .01 and .14; Repressed, .01 and .04; Sex denied entirely, .00 and .07; Poor work in school, -.00 and -.01; "Nervous," -.01 and .15; Voca- tional guidance, -.02 and .01; Immoral home conditions, -.03 and -.04; Apprehen- sive, -.03 and .19; Brother in penal detention, -.04 and -.09; Over suggestible, -.04 and .06; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.05 and
DISOBEDIENCE 3^3
TABLE 63— Continued
-.01; lack of initiative, -.05 and .05; Lues, -.06 and .0^; Neurological defect, -.06 and .08; Absent-minded, -.06 and .01; Stuttering, -.08 (boys); Vicious home conditions, -.09 and .11; Speech defect, -.09 and .04; Irregular attendance at school, -.09 and -.13; Headaches, -.09 and .11; Preference for younger children, -.09 and .11; Bashful, -.09 and .06; Underweight, -.13 and -.01; Question of hy- pophrenia, -.14 and -.11; Betardatlon in school, -.17 and -.17 Omitted — Grouped: disobedient, etc.
Nine additional behavior problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's, but lo¥ correlations below .20 among boys : refusal to attend school, "spoiled child, " finicky food habits, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , restlessness in sleep, question of change of personality, depressed mood or spells, day- dreaming, and queer behavior.
Sulkiness, truancy from home, and lack of interest or in- attentiveness in school studies or employment (undlfferentiated) shoved moderate correlations in the . 20's among both sexes with defiant attitude. Three behavior problems, for which only the boys1 correlations were calculated, also showed only moderate cor- relations in the ,20's: running with a gang, threatening violence, and smoking. Overlnterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only) similarly showed the moderate correlation of .23 + .05. Hatred or jealousy of sibling among boys showed the moderate cor- relation of .21 + .06 but a corresponding low coefficient of .16 among girls. A large list of twenty- three miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low co- efficients ranging from -,0f> to ,19 among boys: bad companions, temper display, irritable temperament , loitering or wandering, fantastical lying, laziness, slovenliness, lack of interest in school, irresponsibility, restlessness, distractibility, irregular sleep habits, changeable moods or attitudes, sensitiveness or vor- risomeness (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, worry over some specific fact, inferiority feelings, unhap~ pinesa, unpopularity, object of teasing by other children, mastur- bation, "leader, " and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Two notations showed negative correlations among both sexes, -.32 + .06 for feeble-minded sibling and -.25 + .06 for "follower" among girls, the corresponding boys1 coefficients being low, -.19 and -.12 respectively.
344 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Among the six sex notations defiant attitude showed moder- ate correlations among the girls with masturbation, .29 + .05, and with overlnterest in the opposite sex, .23 + .05 (calculated for girls only). All other correlations in this field were negliblble.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only significant correlation was the moderate one of . 25 + .08 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls. All other correlations in this field were low or negligible.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were negligible, ranging from -.09 to .11.
Stubbornness was noted among 420 boys, or 19 • 9 Per cent, and among 220 girls, or 18.6 per cent. Its bl- serial correlations with conduct- total and personality- total were generally substan- tial, the coefficients ranging from .25 to .43 (Table 64). Its correlations of .08 and .09 with the police-arrest criterion of "juvenile delinquency" were quite negligible. Its correlations with defiant attitude were fairly large, .42 + .03 and .44 + .04, while its correlations with disobedience, incorri^ibility, and contrariness were. only moderate or substantial, ranging from .21 to .37.
Its largest correlations among both sexes thus were with defiant attitude. Among girls large correlations in the ,40's were found for temper tantrums and depressed mood or spells, the cor- responding boys1 coefficients being definitely lower, .23 + .03 and .14 respectively.
The three conduct problems — disobedience, sullen ness, and (calculated for boys only) smoking — yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30 s. Contrariness among boys yielded the substan- tial correlation of .33 + .04, with a corresponding moderate cor- relation of .22 + .06 among girls. Six conduct problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30*3, with moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys: incorrigibility, disturb- ing influence in school, violence, temper display, rudeness, and "nervous ness" or restlessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods or attitudes, undlfferentiated). In addition, five undesirable behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: selfishness, egocentricity, lying, hatred or jealousy
DISOBEDIENCE
TABLE 64 CORRELATIONS WITH "STUBBORN"
345
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.29 t -02 .25 t -02 .08 t -03 |
.36 ± .03 .43 + .02 .09 + .04 |
|
Conduct-total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.42 + .03 •35 ± .03 •34 ± .03 |
.44 ± .04 (1)* .31 ± .05 (15-17) |
|
|
Sullen. |
||
|
Smoking |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.3^ ± .03 .33 ± .04 .30 + .03 .29 ± .03 .26 t .03 .26 t .04 .25 ± .03 .24 ± .03 .24 ± .04 .24 t .04 .24 t .04 .24 -f .03 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .22 + .04 .21 ± .03 .21 t -03 .21 ± .04 .21 t -03 .20 t .03 .20 + .04 |
.40 ± .03 00 .22 + .06 (47-49) .37 t .04 (6) .32 + .04 (14) .3k ± .04 (8-11) .25-1- .06 (32-36) •3^ ± .05 (8-11) .27 + .04 (24-27) .25 ± .05 (32-36) .24 + .06 (37-^0) .06 " .19 •30 ± .03 (18-20) .20 ± .05 (52-53) .36 ± .05 (7) .43 t -OU (2-3) .19 .25 ± .05 (32-36) .34 t -04 (8-11) .23 ± .05 (41-46) .29 ± .04 (21-22) .31 ± .05 (15-17) |
|
Contrary |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Grouped: f ighting, etc |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Temper display |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
||
|
Bossy |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
TTT*egn1 ftT 8] f»pp h^bl^-B ........................ |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc. |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Temper tantrums |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Swearing (general ) |
||
|
Daydreaml ng . . .. |
.20 ± .04 .14 .14 .15 .18 .07 .16 • 15 .14 |
.23 ± .05 (41-46) A3 ± .05 (2-3) •38 t -05 (5) .54 ± ,o4 (8-11) .33 t .03 (12-13) .33 ± .05 (12-13) .31 ± .06 (15-17) .30 ± .04 (18-20) .30-1- .04 (18-20) .29 ± .04 (21-22) .28 ± .05 (23) .27 ± .06 (24-27) .27 ± .06 (24-27) •27 ± .05 (24-27) |
|
Depressed |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
luring |
||
|
Distractible |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. ................ |
||
|
Grouped': depressed, etc |
||
|
Overintoreert In opposite sex. |
||
|
Inattentive in school. , |
.16 .16 -.04 .10 |
|
|
Unpopular. |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
346
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 64— Continued
|
Boys |
airls |
|
|
.11 |
.26 ± .05 (28-31) |
|
|
.08 |
.26 + .04 (28-31) |
|
|
Stealing |
.11 |
.26-1- .04 (28-31) |
|
.08 |
.26 t .06 (28-31) |
|
|
LaZv |
.18 |
.25 ± .06 (32-36) |
|
.15 |
.25 ± .04 (32-36) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of Interest In school, etc |
.14 |
.24 f .04 (37-40) |
|
.13 |
.24 ± .04 (37-40) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.13 |
.24 + .05 (37-40) |
|
Boast ful, " show-off" |
.19 |
.23 + .05 (41-46) |
|
Finicky food habits * |
.14 |
.23 ± .05 (41-46) |
|
Destructive |
.13 |
.23 ± .06 (41-46) |
|
Enures is |
.10 |
.23 + .04 (41-46) |
|
Mental conflict |
-.00 |
.22 t .06 (47-49) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.16 |
.22 + .06 (47-49) |
|
Truancy from home |
.16 |
.21 + .04 (50-51) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.17 |
.21 ± .04 (50-51) |
|
Bestless |
.16 |
.20 ± .0^ (52-53) |
|
Larger Corr< |
slations (Negative) |
|
|
- 15 |
-.24 -f- .05 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Absent-minded, .19 and .09; Threatening violence, .18 (boys); Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Seclusive, .17 and .17; "Nervous," .16 and .13; Leader, .15 and .12; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .15 and .19; Rest- less in sleep, .15 and .19; Victim of sex abuse, .15 (girls); Slovenly, .14 and .17; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .13 (boys); Unhappy, .13 and .07; Headaches, .13 and .01; Discord between parents, .12 and .08; Crying spells, .12 and .15; Bashful, .12 and -.03; Truancy from school, .11 and .18; Lack of initiative, .11 and -.02; Object of teasing, .11 and .12; Conduct prog- nosis bad, .11 and .10; Preference for younger children, .11 and -.04; Question of encephalitis, .10 and .13; Former convulsions, .10 and -.06; Emotional in- stability, .10 and .15; Inferiority feelings, .10 and .07; Nail-biting, .10 and .09; Attractive manner, .09 and -.09; Loitering, .09 and .02; Over suggestible, .09 and .02; Neurological defect, .08 and .09; Lack of interest in school, .08 and .16; Gang, .07 (boys); Sensitive (general), .07 and .17; Popular, .07 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .07 and -.02; Vocational guidance, .06 and .11; Hepreesed, .06 and .02; Bad companions, .05 and .18; Irresponsible, .05 and .12; Blow, dull, .05 and -.04; Clean, .04 and .12; Follower, .04 and -.11; Immoral home conditions, .03 and .10; Apprehensive, .01 and -.01; Sex denied entirely, .01 and .11; Poor work In school, .01 and -.06; Psychoneurotic, -.00 and .16; Listless, -.01 and .17; Speech defect, -.02 and -.06; Brother in penal detention, -.03 and -.18; Lues, -.07 and -.00; Underweight, -.07 and -.01; Stuttering, -.07 (boys); Question of hypophrenia, -.07 and -.08; Overinterest In sex matters, -.07 and .19; Irregular attendance at school, -.08 and -.08; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .12; Retardation in school, -.11 and -.06; Vicious home con- ditions, -.11 and .11
Otaitted— Grouped: disobedient, etc.
DISOBEDIENCE 34?
of sibling, and distractlbility.
Nine behavior traits showed correlations in the .20*8 with stubbornness among both sexes : fighting, quarre Is omenes s , swear- in p; or bad language (undifferentiated), bossy manner , sulkinesa, "spoiled child," queer behavior, inefficiency in work, play, etc., and daydreaming. Over interest in the, opposite sex, which was cal- culated for girls only, also showed a moderate correlation of .29 + .04. Three additional traits — refusal to attend school, Irri- table temperament , and irregular sleep habits — among boys yielded moderate correlations in the .20fs but low positive correlations below .20 for girls. A large list of twenty-one miscellaneous no- tations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low correlations below .20 for the boys: stealing, truancy from home, staying out late at night, leading others into bad conduct, excuse- forming attitude, fantastical lying, boastful or "show- off" manner, destructiveness, laziness, restlessness, mental conflict, question of change of personality, changeable moods or attitudes, sensitiveness over some specific fact, worry over some specific fact, unpopularity, inattentiveness in school, exclusion from school, masturbation, finicky food habits, and enuresis.
Feeble-minded sibling showed low or moderate negative cor- relations of -.15 and -.24 + .05 among boys and girls respectively.
Among the six sex notations there were two coefficients of moderate size, both among girls: masturbation, .26 -f .04, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in the opposite sex, .29 + .04, the other coefficients in this field being low or negligi- ble.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there was one coefficient of moderate size, enuresis among girls, ,23 + .04, the remaining coefficients in this field being negligible, ranging from -.07 to .13.
The four home or familial notations showed only low or neg- ligible correlations with stubbornness .
The notation contrariness, negativism, reslstiveness, an- tagonistic attitude, etc., was noted among 4.2 per cent of our boys and among 4.3 per cent of our girls. Its correlations with the personality- total and conduct- total were large (especially among boys), its bi-serial correlations ranging from .34 to ,48 (Table 65
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 65 CORRELATIONS WITH "CONTRARY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -"total |
A5 t -03 .1*8 + .03 .27 t 'Ok |
.38 t .ok .3!* ± .Ok -.02 t .07 |
|
Conduct-total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.1*2 ± .Ok .39 + .01* .38 ± .05 .37 ± .Ok .37 ± .06 .37 ± .05 .35 ± .Ok .33 ± .05 .33 ± .ok .32 t .06 .32 + .01* .31 ± .05 .31 ± .06 .31 ± .05 .30 + .ok .29 ± .05 .29 t -05 .29 t .oU .29 t .06 .29 + .07 |
.32 4- .06 (13-11*)* .21 t -06 (32-35) .33 ± .07 (10-12) .46 4- .08 (1) .01* " .32 ± .07 (13-1^) .29 + .06 (16-19) .3^ ± .07 (8-9) .22 t .06 (29-31) .15 .38 ± .05 (3) .19 -.01 .2k + .07 (25-27) .25 ± .05 (23-21*) .29 ± .08 (16-19) .23 4- .08 (28) .33 t .06 (10-12) .29 4- .08 (16-19) -.09 |
|
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Sullen. ........................ .,,..,,..... * * * |
||
|
Destructive , |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of* sibling |
||
|
Grouped : swearing, etc |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Grouped : temper , etc |
||
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Queer . |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
.28 4- .07 .28 t .Ok .27 ± .01* .27 ± .06 .27 ± .05 .26 + .05 .26 + .06 |
.11 .33 4- .08 (10-12) .16 " .13 .13 .11* |
|
Violence |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Unpopular , . . . |
||
|
Exclusion from school . |
||
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Smoking |
||
|
Seclusive |
.26 t .05 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .Ok .25 ± .05 .24 + .06 .23 + .05 |
.28 + .07 (20) .21* 4- .08 (25-27) .29 ± .07 (16-19) .02 .36 ± .06 (i*-6) |
|
Temper display |
||
|
Temper tantrums |
||
|
TViiar^y f rnrm hoiTlf ....... ........... * 4 , * * * * * |
||
|
Changeable moods |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
.23 ± .05 •23 ± .05 .23 + .07 |
(n.c.) .15 |
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Threatening violence |
||
|
Restless |
.22 ± .01* .21 + .06 .21 + .05 |
.11 .18 .17 |
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Quarrelsome |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
DISOBEDIENCE TABLE 63— Continued
349
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.21 ± .06 |
-.06 .21 ± .06 (32-35) .36 ± .08 (4-6) |
|
|
Sulky |
.20 t .07 .20 + .06 |
|
|
"nayd-rftfyriing, ....„.,..., ........... T ........... |
.20 ± .06 .20 ± .0? .08 .08 .13 .18 .18 .19 .09 .08 .19 .12 .18 .16 .10 .ok |
.20 ± .08 (36-37) -.02 .41 ± .09 (2) .36 ± .07 (4-6) .35 ± .07 (7) .3^ t .08 (8-9) .30 ± .09 (15) .27 t .06 (21-22) .27 + .06 (21-22) .25 ± .07 (23-24) .24 ± .07 (25-27) .22 ± .08 (29-31) .22 ± .06 (29-31) .21 ± .08 (32-35) .21 t -08 (32-35) .20 ± .08 (36-37) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
||
|
Repressed |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Lack of interest in school |
||
|
Excuse- forming. |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc..... |
||
|
Object- of teasing |
||
|
Sensitive (general) i |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.22 ± 06 |
.06 -.25 ± .08 |
|
|
Preference for younger children |
.02 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
.19 and .11; Truancy from school, .19 and -.01; Distractlble, .19 and .00; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .18 and .05; "Nervous,11 .18 and .17; Nail-biting, .17 and -.09; Irresponsible, .16 and .13; Emotional instabil- ity, .16 and .08; Irregular attendance at school, .16 and -.02; Neurological defect, .16 and .09; Over Interest in sex matters, .15 and -.13; Apprehensive, .15 and .08; Irregular sleep habits, .15 and .16; Bossy, .Ik and .18; Staying out late at night, .13 and .11; Restless in sleep, .13 and .11; Attractive man- ner, .13 and .Ok; Masturbation, .12 and .10; Crying spells, .12 and .12; Mental conflict, .12 and .01; Teasing other children, .11 (boys); Enuresis, .10 and -.03; Inattentive in school, .09 and .03; Worry over specific fact, .09 and .03; -Poor work in school, .09 and .01; Leader, .09 and .Ok; Sex denied entirely, .08 and .09; Headaches, .08 and .08; Discord between parents, .08 and -.07; Loiter- ing, .06 and .10; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .06 and .12; Sensitive over specific fact, .05 and .01; Clean, .04 and .10; Underweight, .03 and -.09; Bad companions, .03 and .01; Psychoneurotic, .02 and .09; Vicious home condi- tions, .02 and .00; Sex delinquency (coitus), .00 and .07; Former convulsions, -.02 and -.03; Question of hypophrenla, -.02 and -.01; Over suggestible, -.02 and -.11; Lack of initiative, -.02 and .03; Brother in penal detention, -.03 and -.09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.05 and .06; Follower, -.05 and -.18; Bash- ful, -.05 and -.09; Vocational guidance, -.07 and -.04; Popular, -.07 and .11; Slow, dull, -.10 and -.07; Stuttering, -.11 (boys); Retardation in school, -.13 and -.13; Lues, -.16 and .13; Victim of sex abuse, -.18 (girls); Immoral home conditions, -.18 and -.02; Feeble-minded sibling, -.18 and -.09 Omitted — Grouped: disobedient, etc.
350 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Its tetrachoric correlations with police arrest among boys was mod- erate, .27 + .04, but negligible among girls. Its correlations with the other four similar traits — disobedience, incorrigibility, defiant attitude, and stubbornness — were generally substantial, ranging from .16 to .39.
The highest correlations were in the ,40's. Rudeness yielded correlations of .42 4- .04 and .32 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Destructiveness yielded corresponding correlations of .37 + .04 and .46 + .08. Leading others into bad conduct among girls yielded the large correlation of .41 + .09 but a correspond- ing low coefficient of .08 among boys.
Pour conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s for both sexes: sullenness, swearing or bad language (undlfferentlated), defiant attitude, and temper tantrums or dis- play (undifferentiated). Pour undesirable behavior traits among boys yielded substantial correlations in the .30 !s, with corre- sponding moderate coefficients in the ,20's among girls: stubborn- ness , egocentricity, incorrigibility, and "nervousness" or rest- lessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods or attitudes, undifferentiated). Pour additional behavior traits among boys similarly yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's but low coefficients below .20 among girls: selfishness, disturb- ing influence in school, hatred or jealousy of sibling, and ques- tion of change of personality. Among girls four behavior traits yielded substantial correlations in the .30 »s, with moderate co- efficients in the .20's among boys: sulkiness, changeable moods or attitudes, irritable temperament, and violence. Three addi- tional behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30!s but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: unhappiness, listlessnesa, and repressed manner.
Seven conduct and personality traits showed moderate cor- relations in the ,20fs with contrariness among both sexes: temper tantrums, temper display, fighting, boastful or "show-off" manner, queer behavior, seclusiveness, and daydreaming . Five behavior traits, for which only the boys' correlations were computed because of the paucity of girls1 cases, also showed moderate correlations in the .20' s: running with a gang, threatening violence, swearing in general, smoking, and complaining of bad treatment by other children . Overinterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls
DISOBEDIENCE 351
only) likevlse showed the moderate correlation of .21 + .06. Thir- teen miscellaneous notations among boys shoved moderate correla- tions in the . 20's but low coefficients below .20 among girls: disobedience, refusal to attend school, "spoiled child, " truancy from home, quarrelsomeness , fantastical lying, exclusion from school, unp opula r i ty , restlessness, slovenliness, absent-mindedness , staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis. Eight behavior problems among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coeffi- cients below .20 among boys: stealing, laziness, ex cus e- f orming attitude, lack of interest in school, finicky food habits, sensi- tiveness in general, depressed mood or spells, and object of teas- ing by other children.
Contrariness showed two negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's: speech defect among boys and preference for younger children as playmates among girls, the other two coeffi- cients being quite negligible in size.
Among the six sex notations the only coefficient of moder- ate size was with overinterest in the opposite sex, .21 + .06 among girls, the boys' coefficient not being computed because of paucity of cases.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there were two correlations of moderate size both among boys: .29 + .07 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis and the negative coeffi- cient of -.22 + .06 with speech defect (other than stuttering).
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with contrariness were low or negligible.
When the cases falling under the five rubrics, disobedi- ence, incorr igibilit y , defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contra- riness, were combined into one broad grouping, •*• there were 992 such cases, or 46.9 per cent, among our 2,113 White boys and 482 cases, or 40,8 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. These conduct prob- lems thus provided the most frequently appearing behavior nota- tions among our clinic cases The resulting correlation coeffi- cients (Table 66) were so similar to those for the five component
T?he reasons for this broader grouping were given in I, 44; see 86, Table 13, Item B.
552
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 66 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: DISOBEDIENT, ETC."
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.31 ± .02 .56 4- .01 .33 t .02 |
.40 4- .02 .64 + .02 .27 + .04 |
|
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.54 + .02 .4? ± .02 ,4p 4- .02 .44 t .03 .42 + .03 .42 + .02 .41 + .02 .41 + .02 .41 4 .03 .39 ± .03 .38 t -03 .38 + .03 .38 4- .02 .37 ± 03 .36 4- .02 .36 t -02 .36 4- .04 |
.60 + .03 (D* .44 + .04 (11-13) .52 + -03 (5-6) .41 4- .04 (16) .56 + .04 (2) .42 t .03 (15) .44 + .03 (11-13) .45 + .04 (9-10) .46 + .04 (8) .43 ± -03 (14) .35 ± .05 (29-30) .40 4- .05 (17-20) .36 + .04 (25-28) .37 ± .04 (22-24) .40 + .03 (17-20) .53 ± .03 (3-4) |
|
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
||
|
Truancy from school |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
||
|
Threatening violence |
||
|
Lying |
.36 4- .02 .36 ± .03 .35 ± .03 .35 4- .03 |
•53 t -03 (5-4) .34 + .04 (31-32) •^5 t -03 (9-10) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
QuiTrelsnm'? ....................... ^ * ,. * ....... |
||
|
Smoking |
||
|
Sulky .. . |
.35 ± .03 .35 ± .03 .34 t -03 .34 + .03 |
.33 ± .05 (55-5^) .35 ± .04 (29-30) .28 t .05 (43-44) |
|
Egocentr i c |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Swearing (general ) |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.32 4- .02 •32 + .03 .32 4- .03 |
.36 t .03 (25-28) •52 + -03 (5-6) |
|
Tfflffper t'flurtnnnfl ... . . |
||
|
Inattentive in school ...;.-» |
.30 ± .03 .30 ± .04 .30 4- .04 .28 ± .03 .28 + .04 .26 + .03 .28 4- .03 .27 ± .03 .27 4- .02 .27 ± .02 .27 ± .03 .26 t -03 |
•33 t .04 (33-34) •37 ± .05 (22-24) .17 .29 4- .04 (41-42) .32 ± .04 (35) •31 t -03 (36-38) .49 ± .04 (7) .28 + .04 (43-44) .31 ± .03 (36-38) .34 ± .04 (31-32) .36 t -05* (25-28) |
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Bad ocmpantons ...................n*,.,*^,,,** |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Tamper display. .,........•.,....•.*** 4 . » ^ * * |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Teasing other children |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
DISOBEDIENCE TABLE 66 — Continued
353
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.25 ± .03 |
.27-1- .05 (45-48) |
|
|
Selfish |
.25 + .03 |
.38 + .04 (21) |
|
Complaining of* bad treatment by other children |
.25 + .ok |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.23 + .o4 |
.20 4- .05 (58-62) |
|
.23 4- .03 |
.Ifif + ,o4 (11-13) |
|
|
Question of change of personality |
.22 + .01* |
•37 ± .05 (22-24) |
|
Changeable moods |
.21 ± .03 |
.23 4- .04 (53-57) |
|
Emotional instability |
.20 t .04 |
.17 |
|
.18 |
.40 4- .04 (17-20) |
|
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.40-1- .03 (17-20) |
|
|
Irresponsible , |
.18 |
.36 t -05 (25-28) |
|
.13 |
.31 4- .06 (36-38) |
|
|
Lazy |
.19 |
.30 t »04 (39-40) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc..... |
.15 |
.30 -H .04 (39-4o) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.14 |
.29 ± .04 (41-42) |
|
.10 |
.27 4- .03 (45-48) |
|
|
TJoyd-refljrtf rig , ,,,»,..,,.,,,,,..,,....,.„........ |
.14 |
.27 t «04 (45-48) |
|
Distractible |
.15 |
.27 £ .04 (45-48) |
|
Masturbation. |
.14 |
.26 + .04 (49) |
|
Unhappy |
.19 |
.25 f .05 (50) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.18 |
.24 + .05 (51-52) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.14 |
.24 4- .06 (51-52) |
|
Bossy |
.17 |
.25 4- .04 (tt-'yf} |
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.10 |
.23 4- .05 (53-57) |
|
Object of teasing |
.09 |
.23 4- .04 (53-57) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.11 |
.23 4- .04 (53-57) |
|
Enuresis |
.14 |
.20 t .03 (58-62) |
|
Mental conflict , . |
•03 |
.20 4- .06 (58-62) |
|
Lack of interest in school |
.19 |
.20 t «04 (58-62) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. •...,. |
.16 |
.20 4- .04 (58-62) |
|
Larger Corr< |
jlatlons (Negative) |
|
|
FeehT <?-iTj1nA«d sibling . .................. (J.. ( 4 |
-.20 ± 04 |
-.27 4- 04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Leader, .19 and .14; Preference for younger children, .15 and .09; Ab- sent-minded, .15 and .06; Victim of sex abuse, .15 (girls); Crying spells, .14 and .16; Former convulsions, .13 and -.03; Sensitive over specific fact, .13 and .13; Oversuggestible, .13 and .16; "Nervous," .13 and .17; Nail-biting, .13 and .11; Inferiority feelings, .12 and .08; Poor work In school, .12 and .07; Dis- cord between parents, .11 and .12; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .11 and .10; Seclueive, .11 and .08; Psychoneurotic, .10 and .12; Popular, .08 and .07; Sensitive (general), .06 and .10; Headaches, .06 and .06"; Brother In penal detention, .06 and -.07; Attractive manner, .05 and -.05; Apprehensive, .04 and .11; Follower, .03 and .08; Clean, .01 and ,00; Speech defect, .01 and -.05; Ir- regular attendance at school, -.00 and -.11; Lack of Initiative, -.01 and -.03; Neurological defect, -.03 and .05; Worry over specific fact, -.03 and .10; Sex denied entirely, r.03 and -.03; Stuttering, -.04 (boys); Hepressed, -.04 and .04; Bashful, -.04 and -.08; Vicious home conditions, -.05 and .15; Betardatlon
354 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 66 — Continued
in school, -.05 and -.03; Question of hypophrenia, -.06 and -.01; Slow, dull, -.0? and -.03; Listless, -.08 and .16; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.08 and -.00; Vocational guidance, -.09 and -.15; Immoral home conditions, -.11 and .05; Underweight, -.15 and -.03; Lues, -.18 and .04
Omitted — Contrary; Defiant; Disobedient; Stubborn; Incorrigible
notations, though generally slightly larger, that only a brief sum- mary is necessary.
The following nine conduct problems consistently yielded large or high correlations with the larger grouping disobedience or incorrigibility (including defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentlated), ranging from the ,40's to the ,60's: rudeness, violence, staying out late at night, sullenness, disturbing influence in school, swearing or bad language (undif- ferentiated), truancy from home, stealing, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in the opposite sex. Seven additional conduct notations among girls yielded large correlations ranging from .40 to .53, with moderate to substantial coefficients rang- ing from .23 to .39 for boys: lying, fighting, quarrelsomeness, temper tantrums, temper display, leading others into bad conduct, and excuse- forming attitude. A large list of twenty-five behavior notations showed moderate to substantial correlations ranging from .17 to .40 among both sexes: bad companions, running with a gang (calculated for boys only), refusal to attend school, threatening violence (calculated for boys only), des tructiveness , boastful or "show-off" manner, truancy from school, exclusion from school, smoking (calculated for boys only), "spoiled child," hatred or jealousy of sibling, egocentricity , selfishness, irritable temper- ament, sulkiness, loitering or wandering, 1 r r e a pons ibi 1 1 ty , inef- ficiency in work, play, etc., restlessness, queer behavior, change- able moods or attitudes, question of change of personality, unpopu- larity, unhappineas, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among the six sex notations the following four showed co- efficients of significant size, all among girls: overintereat in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only), .40 + .03, sex de- linquency (coitus), .27 + .03, overinterest in sex matters, .23 + .05, and masturbation, .26 + .04,
Among the seven physical or psyche-physical notations there
DISOBEDIENCE 555
were two correlations of moderate size In the .20* s, both among girls: enures is and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Among the home or familial notations all correlations were low, ranging from -.11 to . 15,«
We may summarize the more interesting correlations for all five notations, disobedience, incorrigibility, defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness (Tables 61-65, Inclusive), as fol- lows. The largest correlations, ranging from ,20!s to the .50* s, were found for the following thirteen behavior notations: rude- ness, sullenness, violence, disturbing influence in school, fight- ing, swearing or bad language (undifferentlated), threatening vio- lence (calculated for boys only), stealing, overlnterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only), temper tantrums, smoking (calculated for boys only), egocentricity, and boastful or "show- off" manner. Another group of fifteen notations showed many sub- stantial or large correlations but not uniformly for all five traits or for both sexes: staying out late at night, leading others into bad conduct, running with a gang (calculated for boys only), truancy from home, quarrelsomeness , irr 1 tab le t empe rament , lying, selfishness, "spoiled child," finicky food habits, queer be- havior, question of change of personality, unpopularity , exclusion from school, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Among the six sex notations all five traits considered in this chapter showed moderate or substantial correlations, ranging from .21 to .42, with overlnterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls1 correlations were calculated. Masturbation among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's for all these no- tations except contrariness. Sex delinquency ( coitus ) among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20' s with disobedience and in- corrigibility. The remaining correlations for girls and all coef- ficients for boys in the sex sphere were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls showed moderate cor- relations, ranging from .25 to .31* with disobedience, Incorrigi- bility, and defiant attitude and among boys with contrariness. Among boys enures is showed moderate correlations of .23 + .04 with stubbornness. Speech defect (other than stuttering) among boys showed the moderate negative coefficient of -.22 + .06 with contra-
356 CHILDREN fS BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
riness. The remaining coefficients in this field were low or neg- ligible.
Among the four home or familial notations all the forty correlation coefficients were low or negligible.
CHAPTER XXXVII' LYING, PROTECTIVE AND FANTASTICAL
Lying or marked untruthfulness (generally "protective11 In purpose) was noted among 657 cases, or 30.1 per cent, of our 2,lf3 White boys and -among 340 cases, or 28.8 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls and was thus one of the most frequently occurring con- duct problems in our data. Its bi-serial correlations of .48 4- .02 and .56 + .02 with the conduct- total among boys and girls respec- tively indicates a high relationship with behavior problems in the conduct sphere (Talple 67). With police arrest and personality- total its correlations were of substantial size in the ,30fs among girls and of moderate size in the ,20's among boys. Its correla- tions with Intelligence quotient (IQ) in the data of the present volume were negligible (Table 10, p. 130) but among younger or pre-
adolescent children its correlations with IQ were of moderate size,
p .24 4- .02 and .27-1- .03 for boys and girls respectively.
Among both sexes its highest correlations were with steal- ing and fantastical lying, the tetrachorlc correlations ranging from .56 to .68. Among girls the two notations, unpopularity and disobedience or incorrigibility (undifferentiated), also yielded large coefficients in the . 50's, with corresponding coefficients among boys of substantial size in the .30's.
Pour conduct problems yielded large correlations in the . 40's: truancy from home and truancy from school, among both sexes, and smoking (calculated for boys only) and over interest in
In the original indexing of 5>000 oases, separate categories vere In- cluded for question of making false accusations (I, 6l, Table 3* Item 222); ques- tion of pathological lying, i.e., derogatory to self (Ibid., Item 252); lying to police or school official, etc., re identity, address, etc., or assuming false name, address, disguise, etc, (ibid., Item 264); question of pathological accusation, i.e., inculpating self (ibid., Item 289); and lying concerning age to person vith vhorn patient was sexually delinquent or to whom patient was en- gaged (ibid., Item 300) » but these interesting notations vere of too infrequent incidence to warrant separate correlational analysis.
2I, 175-77.
558
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 67 CORRELATIONS WITH "LYING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.2k + .02 |
.35 + .02 |
|
|
Conduct -total. |
.48 + .02 |
.56 4- .02 |
|
.25 + .03 |
.31 + .04 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
Jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Stealing. |
.61 + .02 |
.68 4- .02 (1)* |
|
Fantastical lying. |
.56 4- .03 |
.61 4- .04 (2) |
|
.46 + .02 |
.48 + .03 (5-6) |
|
|
Truancy from school ........................... |
.42 + .02 |
.48 4- .04 (5-6) |
|
Smoking |
.40 4- .03 |
|
|
Swearing (general) |
.37 + .03 |
|
|
Grouped . ft] flo|-)fifl1 $Tyh } etr*. ...,....,...,...,,,. |
.36 + .02 |
.53 4- .03 (3) |
|
Bad companions |
•35 + .03 |
.32 + 04 (30) |
|
Masturbation |
.35 + .02 |
.39 4- .04 (18) |
|
Unpopular |
.34 4- .04 |
50 4- .05 (4) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.33 + .03 |
.31 4- .07 (31-35) |
|
Destructive |
.33 4- .03 |
.35 4 05 ( 23-24) |
|
Incorrigible |
.32 4 .02 |
37 4- 03 (19) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.32 4 .03 |
.31 4- .05 (51-55) |
|
Loitering |
32 + 03 |
55 + 05 (P5-P4) |
|
Disobedient |
51 + 05 |
43 4- 03 (10-11 ) |
|
Fighting |
.31 4- .03 |
42 + 05 (12-15^ |
|
Staying out late at night |
.31 4- 03 |
51 4- 04 (51-55} |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.31 4 .03 |
.41 + .04 (14-15) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.30 4- .03 |
.40 4- .04 (16-17) |
|
Excuse -forming |
.30 4- .03 |
36 4- 04 (20-22) |
|
Rude |
2Q I 05 |
36 4- 04 (20-22) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.29 4- .03 |
.33 + .04 (27-29) |
|
Defiant |
28 4- 03 |
lik 4. 04 (CA |
|
.27 4- .03 |
51 4- 04 (51-55} |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.26 4- .02 |
46 + 05 (7-8) |
|
.25 + .03 |
||
|
Gang |
.25 4- .03 |
|
|
Overlnterest in sex matters .7 |
.2k ± .04 |
43 4- 04 (10-11) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
,2k 4- .04 |
|
|
Exclusion from school |
.24 4- 03 |
4P + 05 (1P-15) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc. . |
24 4- 02 |
P7 4. 05 (kp_k6} |
|
Sullen |
.22 4- .03 |
P5 4- 05 (57) |
|
Inattentive in school |
21 4* 02 |
£>4 4- 0*5 (^1~*S6) |
|
Irresponsible |
.21 + .04 |
46 4- 04 (7-8) |
|
Threatening violence |
.21 4- .04 |
|
|
.21 4- 05 |
pk 4. 04 (51-561 |
|
|
.21 4- 05 |
4l 4- 04 (14-15) |
|
|
Over suggestible |
21 4- 03 |
12 |
|
Mental conflict |
.21 + .04 |
.27 4- 06 (42-46) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
LYING, PROTECTIVE AND FANTASTICAL
TABLE 67— Continued
359
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.20 + .04 |
.27 + .05 (42-46) |
|
|
Slovenly |
.20 t .03 |
.25 + .04 (48-50) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.20 + .03 |
.20 ± .05 (59) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.20 4- .04 |
.24 t .06 (51-56) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.20 + .03 |
.29 + .04 (36-38) |
|
Overlnterest in opposite sex |
.40 t -04 (16-17) |
|
|
Quarrelsome |
.18 |
.36 ± .04 (20-22) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.15 |
.34 -i- .05 (25-26) |
|
Queer |
.10 |
.31 ± .05 (25-26) |
|
Stubborn , |
.18 |
.33 ± .03 (27-29) |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus) |
.15 |
.33 ± .03 (27-29) |
|
Payflr fawning, .................. r .,,....... |
.12 |
.31 + .04 (31-35) |
|
Victim of" B$T abuse ........................... |
.29 t .04 (36-38) |
|
|
Restless In sleep |
.15 |
.29 4- .04 (36-38) |
|
Lack of Interest In school |
.12 |
.28 4- .04 (39-41) |
|
Restless |
• IT |
.28 + .03 (39-41) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.17 |
.28 4- .03 (39-41) |
|
Temper display |
.18 |
.27 4- .05 (42-46) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
-.10 |
.27 4- .06 (42-46) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact. |
.10 |
.26 ± .04 (47) |
|
Selfish |
.19 |
.25 t -05 (48-50) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.01* |
.25 t .05 (48-50) |
|
Sulky |
•13 |
.24 ± .05 (51-56) |
|
Fmotl nji^l 1 nstabl 11 ty ......,...,.,...,....,.., |
.13 |
.24 4- .05 (51-56) |
|
Leader |
.19 |
.24 t .05 (51-56) |
|
Distractlble |
.12 |
21 4- .04 (58) |
|
Larger Corrc |
Jlations (Negative) |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
-.13 |
-.31 t »04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Contrary, .19 and .11; Nail-biting, .19 and .18; Unhappy, .19 and .15; Lazy, .18 and .13; Irregular sleep habits, .18 and .16; Spoiled child, .18 and .17; Irregular attendance at school, .18 and .07; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .17 and .15; Irritable, .16 and .11; Former convulsions, .15 and -.08; Vicious home conditions, .14 and .17; Enuresls, .13 and .19; Repressed, .13 and .05; Brother in penal detention, ,13 and -.03; Discord between parents, .13 and .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .13 and .16; Refusal to attend school, .12 and .16; Follower, .11 and .08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .10 and .18; Cry- ing spells, .09 and .16; Object of teasing, .09 and .18; Popular, .08 and .02; Absent-minded, .07 and .14; Depressed, .07 and .14; Preference for younger chil- dren, .07 and .16; Attractive manner, .07 and .13; "Nervous/ .06 and .19; Head- aches, .06 and .19; Immoral home conditions, .06 and .13; Finicky good habits, .05 and .12; Seclueive, .05 and .05; Sensitive (general), .05 and .01; Worry over specific fact, .05 and .12; Poor work in school, .04 and .04; Sex denied entirely, ,02 and .07; Clean, -.00 and -.00; Apprehensive, -.01 and .12; Lues, -.02 and .02; Speech defect, -.03 and -.10; Slow, dull, -.03 and -.05; Neuro- logical defect, -.04 and .09; Grouped: dull, alow, etc., -.06 and -.02; Under-
560 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 67— Continued
weight, -.06 and -.02; Stuttering, -.06 (boys); Question of hypophrenia, -.06 and -.08; Lack of initiative, -.06 and -.02; Bashful, -.06 and -.09; Listless, -.0? and .02; Retardation in school, -.08 and -.11; Psychoneurotlc, -.08 and .0^; Changeable moods, -.12 and .18; Feeble-minded sibling, -.18 and -.11
the opposite sex (calculated for girls only). Among girls four conduct problems similarly yielded large correlations in the .40' s, with substantial coefficients of .30 or .31 among boys: disobedi- ence, disturbing influence in school, fighting, and swearing or bad language (undifferentlated) . Five additional behavior nota- tions among girls similarly yielded large correlations in the ,40fs but moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: defiant attitude, violence, irresponsibility, exclusion from school, and overinterest in sex matters.
Eleven undesirable behavior manifestations yielded substan- tial correlations, ranging from .27 to .39, among both sexes: boastful or "show-off" manner, excuse- forming attitude, egocentric- ity, rudeness, incorrigibility, staying out late at night, loiter- ing or wandering, bad companions, leading others into bad conduct, destructiveness, arid masturbation. Among girls six additional traits yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low posi- tive coefficients below .20 among boys: stubbornness, quarrelsome- ness, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , queer behavior, daydream- ing, and sex delinquency (coitus).
Lying yielded moderate correlations in the ,20fs with thir- teen behavior problems: aullennesa, boasy manner, temper tantrums, slovenliness, inattentiveneas in school, mental conflict, inferi- ority feelings, staff natation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and the four flotations for which only the boys f correlations were computed — running with a gang, threatening violence, teasing other children, complaining of bad treatment by other children, and vio- tim of sex abuse by older child or person, which was computed for girls only. Oversuggestibllity similarly showed the moderate cor- relation of .21 + .03 among boys but a low correlation of .12 among girls. Twelve behavior problems among girls showed moderate cor- relations in the .20fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: selfishness, sulkiness. temper display, restlessness, restlessness in sleep, dis tract ibility, staff notation of emotional instability,
LYING, PROTECTIVE AND FANTASTICAL 361
lack of interest in school, sensitiveness over some specific fact, question of change of personality, "leader, " and question or diag- nosis of encephalitis.
The only negative correlation of significant size was with "request for vocational guidance" among girls, -.31 + .04.
Among the six sex problems there was a tendency toward substantial correlations with lying among both sexes. Masturbation yielded coefficients of .35 + • 02 and .39 + .04 for boys and girls respectively. Overinterest in sex matters among girls yielded the fairly large correlation of .43 + .04, with a moderate correlation of .24-1- .04 among boys. Sex delinquency (coitus) among girls yielded the substantial correlation of .33 + .03 and a low positive coefficient of .15 among boys. Among girls overinterest in the op- posite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person yielded the substantial correlations of .40 4- .04 and .29 + .04 respective- ly, the boys' coefficients not being computed because of paucity of cases. Sex misbehavior denied entirely showed the negligible coefficients of ,02 and .07.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations all correlations were low or negligible, except two coefficients among girls, .27 + .06 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis and .19 with enuresis (continued beyond third birthday).
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations ¥itn lying tended to be positive but low, ranging from -.03 to .19.
Fantastical lying in our data was rigidly defined as the telling of imaginative false stories for the purpose of either glorifying the narrator or of attracting the favorable attention of the listener. It did not include "pathological lying and accu- sation," which in our data was defined to include only cases in which the apparent purpose of the child's false assertions seemed to bte derogatory to himself. Fantastical lying was noted among 104, or 4.9 per cent, of our boys and among 75, or 6.4 per cent, of our girls. Its large bi- serial correlations in the .40fs with the conduct -total indicate its meaningful relation with conduct disorders (Table 68), and its almost equally large correlations with the personality- total suggests that fantastical lying is a greater indicator of personality deviation than "protective" lying, In which we have previously noted that the correlations were only
362
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 68 CORRELATIONS WITH "FANTASTICAL LYING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality- total |
.41 + .03 |
.41 4- .03 |
|
.46 + .03 |
.49 4- .03 |
|
|
Police arrest |
.31 + .04 |
.22 + .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
lying |
.56 -i- .03 |
.61 4- .04 (I)* |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.52 + .03 |
•37 + .07 (6-7) |
|
Loitering |
.38 + .05 |
.21 4- .08 (52-57) |
|
Truancy from home . |
.38 + .o4 |
.40 4- .05 (3-4) |
|
Stealing |
.33 + .Ok |
.37 + .05 (6-7) |
|
Dey dr^ainl ng . .................................. |
.32 4- .05 |
.30 4- .07 (23-25) |
|
.32 + .06 |
.38 4- .07 (5) |
|
|
Destructive |
.31 4- .05 |
.24 4- .08 (43-47) |
|
Spoiled child |
.31 + .05 |
.30 + .06 (23-25) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.30 4- ,o4 |
.32 4- .07 (17-19) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.30 + .06 |
-.01 |
|
Truancy from school |
.29 4- .04 |
.55 + .06 (15-16) |
|
Overlnterest in sex matters |
.29 + .07 |
.35 + .07 (8-9) |
|
Contrary . |
.28 4- .07 |
.11 |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.28 + .Ok |
.32 4- .04 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: egocentric* |
.28 + .03 |
.29 4- .05 (26-29) |
|
Incorrigible |
.26 + .05 |
27 4- 0*5 (54-5*5^ |
|
.25 4- .03 |
.24 4- .05 (45-47) |
|
|
Staying out late at night |
.25 4- .03 |
.24 4- 06 (45-47) |
|
.25 t »03 |
• 15 |
|
|
.25 4- .03 |
.50 4- .06 (25-25) |
|
|
Irritable |
24 4- 05 |
26 4- 06 (^6-^Q} |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.24 + .03 |
|
|
.25 + .06 |
.28 4- 07 (^Q-tt} |
|
|
.23 ± .03 |
.21 + .07 (52-57) |
|
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.23 ± .03 |
.34 + .08 (10-12) |
|
Bude |
.23 4- .03 |
.29 4- 06 ?26-PQ^ |
|
.23 t .03 |
.26 4- .05 (56-59) |
|
|
2*5 4- 0^5 |
28 4- 0*5 ^O-^'O |
|
|
Changeable moods |
.22 + .03 |
.42 4- O5 (2^ |
|
Eroup^-formlTug ,*. ,*.*,J*,,t * * * |
.22 ± .03 |
17 |
|
Nail-biting |
.21 t .03 |
.16 |
|
.21 + .05 |
.21 4- 07 (^P-^} |
|
|
Emotional instability |
.21 + .03 |
.51 + .07 (20-22) |
|
Grouped: svearing, etc |
.21 4- .05 |
.52 4- 07 Tl7-lQ^ |
|
Fighting |
20 t .03 |
24 4- O7 fk^»ii7^ |
|
.20 ± .03 |
||
|
.20 i 03 |
18 |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.16 |
4o 4- O7 M-4^ |
Hank order of girls1 correlations.
LYING, PROTECTIVE AND FANTASTICAL
TABLE 66— Continued
563
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Queer |
.18 |
.35 ± .07 (8-9) •34 ± .05 (10-12) .34 ± .06 (10-12) .33 ± .07 (13-16) •33 ± .07 (13-16) .33 ± .07 (13-16) •31 ± .05 (20-22) .31 + .07 (20-22) .29 ± .07 (26-29) .29 ± .06 (26-29) .28 t -05 (30-33) .28 ± .05 (30-33) .27 ± .07 (34-35) .26 ± .06 (36-39) .26 + .05 (36-39) .25 ± .07 (40-42) .25 + .08 (40-42) .25 + .06 (40-42) .24 + .05 (43-47) .23 ± .07 (48) .22 ± .07 (49-51) .22 ± .07 (49-51) .22 + .07 (49-51) .21 + .06 (52-57) .21 ± .07 (52-57) .21 ± .08 (52-57) .20 + .07 (58-60) .20 ± .07 (58-60) .20 ± .07 (58-60) |
|
Overinterest In opposite sex. |
||
|
Restless in sleep , |
.12 .16 .06 .04 .05 .18 .14 .16 .15 .19 .17 .18 .17 .16 .18 .15 .13 .17 .11 .06 -.02 .17 .17 .14 .12 .16 .17 |
|
|
Violence |
||
|
QMftpttnn of changft of personality. ,,,,,.,,,,., |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Crying spells |
||
|
Leader |
||
|
Dlstractible |
||
|
Quarrelsome. |
||
|
Grouped: f ighting, etc |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Bad companions |
||
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Stubborn. |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Temper display |
||
|
Headaches |
||
|
Temper tantrums ............................... |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Vocational guidance |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.17 .11 |
-.44 ± .05 -.27 ± .06 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Teasing other children, .19 (boys); Threatening violence, .19 (boys); Over suggestible, .19 and .13; Worry over specific fact, .19 and .11; Inferiority feelings, .19 and .00; Discord between parents, .19 and .04; Victim of sex abuse, .19 (girls); Clean, .18 and .06; Immoral home conditions, .18 and .06; Vicious home conditions, .18 and -.02; Grouped: depressed, etc., .17 and .10; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Attractive manner, .16 and .12; Preference for younger children, .16 and .10; Unhappy, .15 and -.16; Former convulsions, .15 and .04; Lack of interest in school, .14 and .15; Irregular attendance at school, .13 and .10; Sex delinquency (coitus), .12 and .01; Enuresis, .11 and .15; Absent-minded, .11 and .16; Poor work in school, .11 and .11; Repressed, .10 and -.08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, .10 and .18; Lazy, .08 and .09; Seclusive, .08 and -.03; Refusal to attend school, .07 and .14; Neurological defect, .07 and .11; Stutter- ing, .06 (boys); Speech defect, .06 and -.10; Question of hypophrenia, .05 and -.02; Question of encephalitis, .04 and .14; Popular, .03 and .01; Finicky food
364 CHILDREN fS BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 68— Continued
habits, .01 and .19; Brother In penal detention, .01 and -.13; Sensitive over specific fact, -.01 and .12; Peychoneurotlc, -.01 and .19; Listless, -.01 and .02; Apprehensive, -.02 and .08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.03 and -.01; Bashful, -.03 and -.05; Slov, dull, -.04 and -.03; Underweight, -.07 and .02; Follower, -.09 and -.03; Lack of initiative, -.09 and .11; Retardation In school, -.09 and -.10; Lues, -.13 and .07; Sex denied entirely, -.19 and -.00
moderate to substantial. Its moderate tetrachorlc correlations of .31 + .04 and .22 + .06 among boys and girls respectively with police arrest were of about the same magnitude as those for "pro- tective" lying. In general, lying and fantastical lying showed similar correlations with other notations with, however, a few ex- ceptions .
The highest correlations for fantastical lying were with (protective) lying, the coefficients being .56 + .03 and .61 + ,04. Among boys boastful or "show-off" manner yielded the high correla- tion of . 52 + .03, with a substantial coefficient of .37 + .07 among girls. Truancy from home yielded large correlations of .38 -I- .04 among boys and .40 + .05 among girls. Among girls change- able moods or attitudes and hatred or jealousy of sibling also yielded large correlations in the .40 's, with moderate or low co- efficients of ,22 + .03 and ,16 respectively for the boys.
Seven conduct and personality difficulties yielded substan- tial correlations ranging from .29 to .39 with fantastical lying among both sexes: daydreaming, "spoiled child," unpopularity , stealing, truancy from school, disturbing Influence in school, overlnterest in sex matters, and also one calculated for girls only, overlnterest in the opposite sex. Among boys loitering or wandering and irregular^ sleep habits also yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30's, with lesser coefficients of .21 4- .08 and -.01 among girls. Among girls six behavior problems yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys: egocentricity, emtoional instability, swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated), truancy from school, leading others into bad conduct, and overinterest in sex matters. An additional six traits among girls also yielded substantial correlations in the .30's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: queer behavior, question of change of per- sonality, crying spells, restlessness in sleep, violence, and
LYING, PROTECTIVE AND FANTASTICAL 565
With fantaatlcal lying there were fourteen behavior prob- lems showing moderate correlations In the ,20's: bossy manner. Irritable temperament, temper tantrums or display (undlfferentl- ated), fighting, sullenness, restlessness, rudeness, irresponsi- bility, disobedience, incorrlgibility, staying out late at night, and the three behavior problems for which only the boys ' correla- tions were calculated— running with a gang, smoking, and complain- ing of bad treatment by other children. Among boys five behavior problems showed moderate correlations In the .20 !s but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: excuse- forming attitude, con- trariness, "nervousness, " nail-biting, and masturbation. A large list of nineteen miscellaneous notations among girls showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 for boys : selfishness, defiant attitude, stubbornness, sulkiness, slovenliness, dlstractlbility, inefficiency in work, play, etc., inattentiveness in school, exclusion from school, quarrelsomeness , temper display, temper tantrums, bad companions, mental conflict, sensitiveness in general, depressed moods or apella, object of teasing by other children, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and headaches.
Two negative correlations of significant size were found, both among girls: -.27 4- .06 with feeble-minded sibling and -.44 + .05 with "request for vocational guidance."
Among the six sex notations moderate to substantial corre- lations ranging from .25 to .35 were found for overlnterest in sex matters among boys and girls, masturbation among boys, and overln- terest in the opposite sex (calculated only for girls).
In the fields of physical disabilities and home or familial handicaps all correlations with fantastical lying were low or neg- ligible.
CHAPTER XXXVIII FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING
The four similar conduct problems — fighting, quarrelsome- ness , violence, and threatening violence — in our data were distin- guished briefly as follows. Fighting implies physical combat with one or more adversaries of similar or equal prowess. Quarrelsome- ness implies verbal rather than physical conflict. Violence in- cludes striking, kicking, or otherwise Injuring another person without regard for any ethical formalities which more or less sur- round fighting. That these three are closely related is shown by the fact that their intercorrelations tend to be higher than their correlations with other traits, the boys1 Intercorrelations ranging from .41 to .45 and the girls1 intercorrelations from .49 to .61. Their bi-serial correlations with conduct- total, ranging from .34 to .54 among boys and from .46 to .79 among girls, shows their im- portance as indicators of conduct disorder. With overt juvenile delinquency their importance was only moderate, the tetrachorlc correlations with police arrest ranging from .08 to .29. Among girls their correlations with pers ona 11 ty- 1 ota 1 were large or high, the bi-serial r's ranging from .43 to .64; but among boys this re- lation was moderate, the coefficients ranging from .18 to .31.
Fighting was noted among 291 of our 2,113 White boys, or 13-8 per cent, and among 89 of our 1,181 White girls, or 7.5 per cent. It was more rarely noted among girls, but its presence among girls Indicated a more serious extent of deviation in both the con- duct and the personality fields.
Its largest correlations were with violence, the tetra- choric r's for boys and girls being .43 + .03 and .61 + .05 respec- tively (Table 69). Among girls swearing or bad language (undiffer- entiated) and "nervousness" or restlessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated) yielded high correlations of .54 4- .03 and .56 + .04 respectively, with the considerable coefficients among boys of .35 + .03 and .24 + .03.
366
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING
TABLE 69 CORRELATIONS WITH "FIGHTING11
367
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.18 + .02 |
.^3 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.43 + .02 |
.55 4- .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.20 + .03 |
.22 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corre |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
\Tiolence |
.43 4- .03 |
.61 4- .05 (l)* |
|
Quarrelsome |
.ill + 03 |
.k9 4- .03 (k) |
|
Incorrigible ... . . |
4o + 03 |
k6 4- 03 (6) |
|
[Tnpnpu] ar ........................... 4 ... t ... * i |
.39 + ,o4 |
.28 4- .0^ (5k) |
|
Jrouped: disobedient, etc |
.39 + .03 |
.U3 4- .03 (13-16) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.38 4- .03 |
.^3 4- .06 (13-16) |
|
3-rouped: temper, etc |
.36 + .03 |
.kQ 4- 03 (5) |
|
Jrouped: swearing, etc |
.35 + .03 |
.5^ 4- .03 (3) |
|
Destructive |
.3^ + .0^ |
.14.5 4\ .07 (7-9) |
|
Temper A1 flpl ay ...... I..........*.*...,, »t.**»* |
.314. + 03 |
.^04- Ok ^Q-^l^ |
|
Swearing (general ) |
.32 -i- ,o4 |
|
|
Ly ins |
31 + 03 |
kp 4- O'S (17) |
|
=tude |
• 31 4- .03 |
.kk 4- .03 (10-12) |
|
Temper tantrums |
31 4- 0^- |
h.5 2 n^ (7-Q) |
|
Fruancy from school |
• 31 4- .03 |
.21 + .Ok ( 35-38) |
|
3oastful, " show-off" |
•30 + 03 |
.23 4- 07 (^-48) |
|
.29 + .05 |
.23 + .08 (^4-^8) |
|
|
Disobedient |
.29 4- 05 |
^55 Z 05 fPP-9_M |
|
.29 4- .05 |
||
|
.28 4- .03 |
.40 4- 03 (18) |
|
|
.28 4- 03 |
23 4- 04 (44-48) |
|
|
Exclusion from school |
.28 4- .0^ |
. kif + 03 (10-12) |
|
S-ang |
.26 4- ,OU |
|
|
)efiant |
.25 4- .Ok |
.45 4- 06 (7-Q) |
|
Srouped: egocentric, etc |
.25 4- 0*5 |
P7 4- O4 ^5-^1 |
|
Jomplaining of bad treatment by other children |
.2^ 4- .Ok |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.24 4- .03 |
.56 4- 04 f2) |
|
tefviffftjl to attend school. ..,.,»iJ,ii*4, |
.23 4- Ok |
.1Q |
|
.23 4- 03 |
^1 4- O4 ^P7-Pfl) |
|
|
• <-s T • ^J .23 ± .ok |
^'i 4- 0^5 ^l^-l^i |
|
|
.22 4- 0^ |
11 |
|
|
Imotlonal instability |
22 I 05 |
25 4. 04 (40-42) |
|
Jonduct prognosis bad |
22 4- 05 |
17 |
|
on J rj5 |
^ft 4. n/^ ^^Q-p^^ |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
21 4- Ok |
1Q |
|
21 4- 04 |
02 |
|
|
.21 i 0^ |
PQ 4- O4 r^P-.'S^^ |
|
|
irritable |
PI 4- 0^ |
"i5 4- flit /PP-Pll^ |
Rank order of girls' correlations .
368
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 69— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.20 + .03 |
.24 + .07 (1*3) |
|
|
.20 + .04 |
.36 + .Ok (21) |
|
|
.20 + .03 |
.14 " |
|
|
.20 4- .03 |
.43 + .03 (13-16) |
|
|
Grouped* lack of Interest in school, etc. .... |
.20 + .03 |
.33 + .04 (26) |
|
.15 |
.44 + .03 (10-12) |
|
|
.10 |
.38 + .04 (19-20) |
|
|
.13 |
.35 + .04 (22-24) |
|
|
-.06 |
.34 + .04 (25) |
|
|
"Nervous" |
.0? |
.31 + .04 (27-28) |
|
.16 |
.30 + .04 (29-31) |
|
|
.05 |
.30 t .04 (29-31) |
|
|
.11 |
.29 + .04 (32-33) |
|
|
.16 |
.27 + .04 (35-38) |
|
|
.09 |
.27 -i- .04 (35-38) |
|
|
.03 |
.26 + .04 (39) |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.04 |
.24 + .06 (40-42) |
|
Sullen . . |
.17 |
.25 t .04 (40-42) |
|
-.02 |
.23 + .04 (44-48) |
|
|
-.03 |
.23 ± .04 (44-48) |
|
|
Selfish |
.14 |
.22 + .04 (49-51) |
|
.22 f .04 (49-51) |
||
|
Distractible |
.01 |
.22 + .04 (49-51) |
|
Mental conflict |
.16 |
.21 + .04 (52-53) |
|
Speech defect |
-.02 |
.21 + .04 (52-53) |
|
Nail-biting |
.06 |
.20 + .04 (54) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Bad companions j .19 and .17; Slovenly, .18 and .17; Sulky, .17 and .09; Enuresis, .13 and .19; Leader, .13 and -.07; Discord between parents, .13 and .09; Crying spells, .12 and .13; Former convulsions, .12 and .04; Hatred or Jeal- ousy of sibling, .11 and .18; Popular, .11 and .12; Lazy, .10 and .09; Depressed, .09 and .12; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08 and .09; Brother in penal detention, .08 and -.03; Absent-minded, .08 and .17; Over suggestible, .08 and .03; Spoiled child, .08 and .18; Grouped; depressed, etc., .08 and .18; Overinterest in sex matters, .07 and .14; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .06 and .09; Poor .work in school, .06 and .06; Headaches, .05 and .09; Sex denied entirely, .04 and .09; Listless, .03 and .16; Daydreaming, .02 and .16; Sensitive (general), .02 and .09; Retardation in school, .01 and -.05; Psychoneurotic, .00 and -.04; Feeble- minded sibling, -.00 and -.09; Follower, -.00 and -.07; Victim of aex abuse, -.01 (girls); Worry over specific fact, -.01 and .10; -Unhappy, -.01 and .19; Ap- prehensive., -.01 and .06; Neurological defect, -.02 and .04; Question of hypo- phrenia, -.02 and -.06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.03 and .15; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Sensitive over specific fact, -.05 and .11; Lack of in- itiative, -.05 and .02; Vocational guidance, -.06 and -.04; Lues, -.06 and .10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and .12; Attractive manner, -.07 and .02; Se- cluslve, -.07 and -.11; Underweight, -.08 and -.03; Clean, -.08 and .12; Slow, dull, -.08 and .05; Irregular attendance at school, -.09 and .03; Bashful, -.12 and -.11; Vicious home conditions, -.13 and -.01; Immoral home conditions, -.17 and .12
Quitted— Grouped: fighting, etc.
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING 369
Qua r r e 1 s ome ne s s and Incorrigibillty yielded large correlations in the .40' s among both sexes. Five conduct problems among girls yielded large correlations in the .40's, with corresponding sub- stantial coefficients in the .30fs among boys: temper tantrums, destructiveness , disturbing Influence In school, rudeness, and ly- Ing. Six additional notations among girls yielded large correla- tions in the . 40's, the boys1 coefficients being moderate, ranging from .15 to .28: defiant attitude, object of teasing by other children, excuse- forming attitude, restlessness, stealing, and ex- clusion from school.
Temper display yielded the substantial correlations of .34 + .03 and .30 4; .04 with fighting among boys and girls respectively, Three behavior problems — boastful or "show- off" manner, truancy from school, and unpopularity — among boys yielded substantial cor- relations In the ,30fs, with moderate coefficients in the .20's among girls. Five undesirable behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s, with corresponding moderate coefficients in the . 20's among boys: Irritable temperament, bossy manner, leading others Into bad conduct, disobedience, and truancy from home. Six behavior difficulties among girls yielded substan- tial correlations In the .30!s but low coefficients below ,20 among boys: "nervousness, " changeable moods or attitudes, question of change of personality, Irresponsibility, queer behavior, and lack of Interest In school.
Fighting showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs for five behavior traits — egocentrlcity, contrariness, stubbornness, fantas- frical lying, and emotional instability — among both sexes and also for the five conduct problems for which only the boys1 correlations were computed: threatening violence, running with a gang, smoking, teasing other children, and complaining of bad treatment by other children and also for overinterest In the opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlations were computed. Six undesirable traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the . 20!s but low posi- tive correlations below .20 among girls: refusal to attend school, staying out late at night, loitering or wandering, Inattentlveneas in school, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and Ir- regular sleep habits. Thirteen miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations In the ,20's but low correlations be- low .20 among boys: sullenness, repressed manner, mental conflict ,
370 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
inferiority feelings , restlessness in sleep, nail-biting, finicky food habits, distractibility, selfishness, preference for younger children as playmates, masturbation, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis, and speech defect (other than stuttering).
Among the six sex notations two moderate correlations in the .20fs were found: masturbation among girls and over interest in the opposite sex ( calculated only for girls ) .
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations there were two correlations of moderate size in the . 20!s, both among girls, question or diagnosis of encephalitis and speech defect (other than stuttering) .
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations fighting were low, ranging from -.17 to .15.
Qua r re 1 s omene s s was noted among 292, or 13.8 per cent, of the boys and among 186, or 15 • 7 P©** cent, of the girls. Its high- est correlations among both sexes were with violence, the respec- tive correlations for boys and girls being .45 4- .03 and .50 4- .04 (Table 70). Its next highest correlation was among girls for un- popularity with a correlation of .52 + .05, the boys' coefficient also being substantial, .36 + .04. Fighting yielded large corre- lations in the ,40's for both sexes. Boastful or "show-off" man- ner among boys yielded a large correlation of ,41 + .03, the girls' coefficient being moderate, .27 + .05. Among girls six undesirable behavior traits also yielded large correlations in the ,40's, with moderate or substantial coefficients ranging from .22 to .34 among boys: incorrigibility, egocentricity, rudenes s , excuse- forming at- titude, swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated), and n nervous - ness" or restlessness (including irritable temperament and change- able moods, undifferentiated).
Pour conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's with quarrelsomeness among both sexes: bossy manner , temper tantrums, disturbing influence in school, defiant attitude, and also one calculated for boys only, teasing other children. Among girls seven undesirable behavior traits yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs, with moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys : temper display, irritable temperament , sullenness , disobedience, de s t r uo t i vene s a , hatred or jealousy of sibling, and queer behavior. Among girls an additional five behavior difficul-
FIQHTINO; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING
TABLE 70 CORRELATIONS WITH "QUARREISOME"
571
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.27 -f .02 |
.44 4- .02 |
|
Conduct-total |
.34 + .02 |
.46 + .03 |
|
Pol Ice RTTSflt ,T,.tttrt,T»t,r,TT.T.rT...t.f.T... |
.11 + .03 |
.08 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corre |
slations (Positive) |
|
|
Violence |
.1*5 + .03 |
.54 4- .04 (1)* |
|
Boastful, "ehow-off " |
.41 + .03 |
.27 4- .05 (34-37) |
|
Fighting |
.41 + .03 |
.49 + .03 (3) |
|
Unpopular |
.36 + .o4 |
.52 + .05 (2) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.35 -f .03 |
.45 4- .03 (6-7) |
|
Incorrigible |
.34 + .03 |
.42 4- .04 (10-12) |
|
Bossy |
.33 + .ok |
• 37 4- .05 (16) |
|
Teasing other children |
.33 4- .04 |
|
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.33 + .03 |
.43 4- .05 (8-9) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.32 + .03 |
.48 4- .03 (4) |
|
Tamper t apt rump .............................. * |
.31 + ,o4 |
.38 4- .04 (14-15) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.31 + .03 |
.36 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Defiant |
.30 + .04 |
.36 4- .05 (17-19) |
|
Disobedient |
.28 4- 03 |
38 4- 04 (14-15) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.28 -f .03 |
.42 4- .03 (10-12) |
|
Temper display |
.26 + .04 |
.31 4- .05 (25) |
|
.26 + .02 |
||
|
Exclusion from, school |
.26 4- 04 |
29 4- 06 (2Q-^l) |
|
.25 + .ok |
||
|
Stubborn |
.2k + .03 |
.27 4- .04 (54-37) |
|
Excuse- forming |
.2k + Ok |
43 + 05 (8-9) |
|
Queer |
2k + Ok |
*X 4- 06 (Pl-P^ |
|
Emotional instability |
.2k + 05 |
.27 4- 05 (34-37) |
|
Sullen |
23 4- Ok |
30 4- 05 (26-28) |
|
Egocentric |
.23 4- .03 |
.42 4- 04 (10-12) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.23 4- .04 |
|
|
Destructive |
.22 + 04 |
30 4- 06 (26-28) |
|
Eude |
22 4- 03 |
47 i o4 (**} |
|
.22 + .03 |
5*5 4- 04 (PO) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.22 + 05 |
45 + o4 (6-7) |
|
Contrary |
21 4- 05 |
17 |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.21 4- .05 |
35 4- 06 (21-25) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.20 4- .05 |
.23 4- .06 (46-47) |
|
Changeable moods |
.20 4- .04 |
25 + 0*5 ( 58-41) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
20 4- 04 |
21 4- 06 (49-51) |
|
Selfish |
!*> |
5Q j. n^ M ^ |
|
lying . |
18 |
*>& -4- f}4 M7-1Q^ |
|
.13 |
55 4- 04 ^P1-P5) |
|
|
.18 |
52 4- 04 (24) |
|
|
Distractible |
.18 |
30 4- 05 (26-28) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
372
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE TO — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Finicky food habits . |
.12 |
.29 4- .05 (29-31) |
|
.10 |
.29 4- .06 (29-31) |
|
|
Fantastical lying. |
.15 |
.28 + .05 (32-33) |
|
Slovenly |
.14 |
.28 + .04 (32-33) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.14 |
.27 + .05 (34-37) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad , |
.14 |
.25 + .07 (38-41) |
|
Daydreaming |
.10 |
.?5 + .05 (38-41) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.18 |
.25 4- .05 (38-41) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.16 |
.24 + .06 (42-45) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.10 |
.24 4- .06 (42-45) |
|
Grouped: lack or interest in school, etc |
.19 |
.24 + .04 (42-45) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. |
.07 |
.24 ± .05 (42-45) |
|
Stealing „ |
.15 |
.23 4- .04 (46-47) |
|
Eriuresis |
.18 |
.22 + .04 (48) |
|
Sulky |
07 |
.21 + 06 f 40-51 ^ |
|
"Nervous" |
.14 |
.21 4- .04 (49-51) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Question of encephalitis, .19 and .14; Bad companions, .18 and .09; Lazy, .17 and .14; Overinterest in sex matters, .17 and .15; Question of change of personality, .17 and .16; Lack of interest in school, .16" and .14; Loitering, .16 and .07; Mental conflict, .15 and .18; Seclusive, .14 and .03; Overinterest in opposite sex, .13 (girls); Smoking, .12 (boys); Truancy from home, .12 and .03; Neurological defect, .12 and .00; Victim of sex abuse, .12 (girls); Stay- ing out late at night, .11 and .15; Masturbation, .11 and .18; Psychoneurotic, .11 and .14; Preference for younger children, .11 and .12; Unhappy, .11 and .19; Vocational guidance, .11 and -.08; Object of teasing, .10 and .13; Sensitive (general), .10 and .18; Spoiled child, .10 and .12; Worry over specific fact, .09 and -.01; Leader, .09 and .05; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .09 and .17; Nail-biting, .08 and .16; Poor work in school, .08 and .05; Depressed, .07 and .18; Discord between parents, ,07 and .15; Repressed, .05 and .08; Speech defect, .05 and -.01; Truancy from school, .04 and .01; Sensitive over specific fact, .04 and .16; Gang, .03 (boys); Listless, .03 and .01; Hefusal to attend school, .02 and .03; Sex denied entirely, .02 and .16; Popular, .01 and -.09; Vicious home conditions, .01 and -.02; Bashful, .00 and -.03; Headaches, -.01 and .04; Attractive manner, -.01 and -.08; Absent-minded, -.01 and -.09; Immoral home conditions, -.02 and -.02; Irregular attendance at school, -.02 and -.07; Former convulsions, -.02 and .11; Question of hypophrenia, -.03 and .06; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.03 and -.01; Clean, -.04 and -.03; Underweight, -.05 and .04; Over suggestible, -.06 and .10; Lack of Initiative, -.06 and -.06; Slow, dull, -.07 and .03; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.08 and .04; Retardation in school, -.08 and -.09; Apprehensive, -.08 and .08; Feeble-minded sibling, -.09 and -.07; Follower, -.09 and .06; Stuttering, -.09 (boys); Lues, -.11 and .01; Brother in penal detention, -.11 and .14
Omitted— Grouped: fighting, etc.
ties yielded substantial correlations in the .30«s but low posi- tive correlations ranging from .15 to .18 among boys: selfishness, lying, crying spells, restlessness, and distractibility.
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING 373
Six behavior difficulties showed moderate correlations in the .20 'a with quarrelsomeness among both sexes: stubbornness , emotional instability, inferiority feelings, changeable moods or attitudes, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , exclusion from school, and the three notations for which only the boys' correlations were calculated — threatening violence, swearing in general, and complain- ing of bad treatment by other children. Contrariness showed the low or moderate correlations of .21 + .05 and .17 for boys and girls respectively. Fifteen behavior traits among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: sulkiness, stealing, leading others into bad conduct, fantastical lying, slovenliness, irresponsibility, inattentiveneas in school, daydreaming, "nervousness, " restless- ness in sleep, Irregular sleep habits, finicky food habits, de- pressed spells or unhappiness (undifferentiated), enures is, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among the sex notations, the physical or psychophysical disabilities, and the home or familial notations, the only statis- tically significant coefficient was for enures! s among girls, .22 + .04.
Violence (actual or attempted) was noted among 28l, or 13.3 per cent, of our boys and among 87, or 7.4 per cent, of our girls. Among girls violence was a very grave indicator of behavior maladjustment in both the personality and the conduct categories. Its bl-serial correlation of .79 + .02 was the largest but one of all the correlations with conduct- total (Table 7, p. 98), while its correlation of .64 + . 03 with personality- total was the larg- est of all correlations found among girls with personality- total (Table 6, p. 89). Among boys the correlation with conduct- total was high, .54 + .02, and with the personality- total somewhat sub- stantial, .31 + .02 (Table 71)- Its tetrachorlc correlations with the police-arrest criterion of "juvenile delinquency" was only mod- erate, the respective coefficients for boys and girls being .29 + .03 and .18 + .05.
Among girls the three notations, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), temper tantrums, and fighting, yielded very high correlations ranging from .61 to .64 with violence, the cor- responding coefficients among boys being almost as large, .44 + .03,
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 71 CORRELATIONS WITH "VIOLENCE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.31 4- .02 |
.64 4- .03 |
|
|
.54 + .02 |
.79 + .02 |
|
|
.29 + .03 |
.18 4- .05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
Oat Ions (Positive) |
|
|
.54 + .03 |
.61 + .04 (2-3)* |
|
|
514. + ,o4 |
||
|
.52 + .02 |
.57 + .04 (4) |
|
|
.45 + .03 |
.54 4- .04 (6) |
|
|
.44 + .03 |
.64 + .05 (1) |
|
|
.4)4. + .03 |
.44 + .07 (15-16) |
|
|
Fighting |
.43 + .03 |
.61 + .05 (2-3) |
|
.42 4- .03 |
.56 + .04 (5) |
|
|
,4o + .ok |
||
|
.39 + .03 |
.47 + .05 (8-10) |
|
|
.39 + .03 |
.26 + .06 (54-57) |
|
|
.38 + .o4 |
||
|
.36 + .03 |
.47 4- .06 (8-10) |
|
|
.36 4- .03 |
.39 + .05 (23-24) |
|
|
ExfO "U si on from nchool . . r |
.36 + .o4 |
.49 + .06 (7) |
|
Irritable |
.34 + .03 |
.30 4- .05 (44-45) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.33 + .05 |
.25 4- .08 (58-61) |
|
.33 + .03 |
.lj.6 + .04 (11-13) |
|
|
Emotional instability |
.32 + .05 |
.30 4- .06 (44-45) |
|
Defiant |
.31 4- .04 |
.47 4- .06 (8-10) |
|
Disobedient |
.29 4- .03 |
.41 + .05 (18-19) |
|
.29 + .05 |
.40 4- .07 (20-22) |
|
|
.28 4- .04 |
.33 + .08 (34-36) |
|
|
26 + .03 |
.39 + .05 (23-24) |
|
|
Sullen. |
.25 + .04 |
.27 4- .06 (52-53) |
|
.25 4- .03 |
.24 4- .05 (62-64) |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.25 4- .05 |
.14 |
|
.24 4- .03 |
.31 4- .05 (37-43) |
|
|
Egocentric ^ |
.24 4- .03 |
.36 4- .05 (27-29) |
|
Excuse -forming |
.24 t .04 |
.28 + .06 (48-51) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.23 4- .04 |
.18 |
|
.23 t .03 |
.36 4- .05 (27-29) |
|
|
Changeable moods |
.23 4- .04 |
.31 4- .06 (37-43) |
|
C crop Twining nf bad t-r^at-m^nt- by nth^r fihilflT»fvn |
.23 + .05 |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.22 4- .04 |
.40 f .06 (20-22) |
|
Lying |
.21 + .03 |
.41 4- .04 (18-19) |
|
Sulky |
.21 4- .05 |
.17 |
|
Object of teasing |
.21 4- .03 |
.36 4- .06 (27-29) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.20 t »05 |
.26 4- .07 (54-57) |
|
Queer |
.20 4- .05 |
.46 + .06 (11-13) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING
TABLE 71 —Continued
575
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.19 |
.46 + .06 (11-13) |
|
|
.15 |
.45 t .04 (14) |
|
|
.08 |
.44 4- .07 (15-16) |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.16 |
.42 + .06 (17) |
|
.11 |
.40 + .06 (20-22) |
|
|
.03 |
.38 + .06 (25) |
|
|
.18 |
.37 + .05 (26) |
|
|
.11 |
.35 + .05 (30-32) |
|
|
.09 |
•35 ± -07 (30-32) |
|
|
.14 |
.35 + .06 (30-32) |
|
|
.34 + .05 (33) |
||
|
.07 |
.33 + .08 (34-36) |
|
|
.16 |
.33 4- .07 (34-36) |
|
|
.08 |
.31 t .06 (37-43) |
|
|
.11 |
•31 t .06 (37-43) |
|
|
.18 |
.31 ± .07 (37-43) |
|
|
.17 |
.31 + .05 (37-43) |
|
|
.09 |
.29 ± .07 (46-47) |
|
|
.13 |
.29 4- .06 (46-47) |
|
|
.10 |
.28 ± .05 (48-51) |
|
|
Selfish |
.19 |
.28 + .04 (48-51) |
|
.13 |
.28 4- .06 (48-51) |
|
|
.17 |
.27 ± .09 (52-53) |
|
|
"Nervous" |
.19 |
.26 ± .05 (54-57) |
|
.09 |
.26 4- .06 (54-57) |
|
|
Grouped' lack of interest in school, etc |
.16 |
.25 4- .05 (58-61) |
|
.04 |
.25 + .07 (58-61) |
|
|
.14 |
.25 t .06 (58-61) |
|
|
.18 |
.24 t .07 (62-64) |
|
|
.12 |
.24 4- .05 (62-64) |
|
|
.14 |
.23 4- .07 (65) |
|
|
.07 |
.21 + .07 (66-69) |
|
|
.12 |
.21 4- .07 (66-69) |
|
|
.04 |
.21 t *09 (66-69) |
|
|
.10 |
.21 4- .05 (66-69) |
|
|
Nail-biting |
.15 |
.20 t .05 (70-71) |
|
-.00 |
.20 4- .07 (70-71) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Former convulsions, .17 and -.00; Smoking, .16 (boys); Apprehensive, .14 and .13; Gang, .14 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), .13 and .14; Question of hypophrenia, .13 and .11; Sedusive, .11 and .15; Lazy, .11 and .12; Bad com- panions, .11 and .09; Preference for younger children, .10 and .13; Lack of in- itiative, .09 and -.18; Inattentive in school, .09 and .18; Retardation in school, .08 and -.02; Discord between parents, .07 and .14; Absent-minded, .07 and .01; Irresponsible, .06 and .19; Psychoneurotic, .06 and .19; Repressed, .05 and -.04; Leader, .04 and .12; Irregular attendance at school, .04 and .06; Speech defect, .04 and .17; Popular, .03 and .11; Stuttering, .03 (boys); Sen- sitive over specific fact, .02 and .14; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .02 and .14; Victim of sex abuse, .02 (girls); Poor work in school, .01 and .01; Clean, .01 and .06; Vicious home conditions, -.02 and .09; Sensitive (general),
376 CHILDREN !S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 71-— Continued
-.03 and .05; Underweight, -.03 and .03; Follower, -.04 and -.11; Immoral home conditions, -.05 and -.16; Brother in penal detention, -.06 and -.02; Sex de- nied entirely, -.08 and .09; Attractive manner, -.08 and .09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.08 and .08; Bashful, -.11 and .01; Slow, dull, -.11 and .09; Vo- cational guidance, -.12 and -.13; Feeble-minded sibling, -.12 and -.12 Omitted— -Grouped: fighting, etc.
.54 + .03, and .43 + .03 respectively. Threatening violence among boys yielded a similarly high correlation of .54 + .04, the cor- responding coefficient for the girls not being calculated because of the paucity of cases. With quarrelsomeness and the larger grouping disobedience or incorrigibility (Including defiant atti- tude , stubbornness, and contrariness, undlfferentlated), the girls1 correlations In the ,50's also were high, with the boys' coeffi- cients in the . 40's almost as large.
Destructiveness yielded large correlations of .44 among both sexes. Among girls five behavior problems yielded large cor- relations in the ,40's, with substantial corresponding correlations in the .jJO's among boys: incorriglbillty, defiant attitude, dis- turbing influence in school, exclusion from school, and the larger grouping, "nervousness" or restlessness (including irritable tem- perament and changeable moods, undifferentiated). Five undesir- able conduct and personality traits among girls yielded similarly large correlations in the .40fs, with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: disobedience, boastful or "show-off" manner, lying, unpopularity, and queer behavior. Five additional behavior problems among girls yielded large correlations in the ,40!s, but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: bossy manner, leading others into bad, conduct, "spoiled child, " restlessness, and diatractibility.
Three behavior problems — irritable temperament, rudeness , and emotional Instability — together with teasing other children (calculated for boys only) and overinterest in the opposite aex (calculated for girls only) yielded uniformly substantial correla- tions in the .30fs with violence. Among boys temper display and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis yielded substan- tial correlations In the ,30!s, with moderate coefficients in the ,20!s among girls. Among girls six behavior problems yielded sub- stantial correlations in the .jSO's, with moderate coefficients In
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING 377
the ,20's among boys: object of teasing by other children, stub- bornness, contrariness, egocentriclty, changeable moods and atti- tudes, and stealing. Ten additional miscellaneous notations among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s, but low posi- tive correlations below .20 among boys: staying out late at night, fantastical lying, restlessness in sleep, question of change of personality, finicky food habits, men ta 1 c onf li c t , daydreaming, slovenliness, overinterest in sex matters, and headaches.
Pour behavior problems — sullenness, truancy from home, ex- cuse-forming attitude, and irregular sleep habits — together with complaining of bad treatment by other children (calculated for boys only), showed moderate correlations in the ,20's with violence. Three additional conduct problems — hatred or jealousy of sibling, refusal to attend school, and sulkiness — among boys showed moder- ate correlations in the .20's, with low positive correlations below .20 among girls. A large list of nineteen miscellaneous notations among girls similarly showed moderate correlations in the .20fs but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: selfishness, tru- ancy from school, "nervousness, " depressed mood or spells, unhap- piness , crying spells, inferiority feelings, worry over some spe- cific fact, listlessness, lack of interest in school, inefficiency in work, play, etc., loitering or wandering, oversuggestibility, enuresis, nail-biting, masturbation, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis, neurological defect (unspecified), and lues .
Among the six sex notations there were three coefficients of moderate or substantial size ranging from .28 to .34, all among girls: masturbation, overinterest in sex matters, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in the opposite sex.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities there were three moderate correlations in the .20* s, all among girls: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, neurological defect (unspecified), and enuresis.
Among the four home or familial notations all coefficients were low or negligible, ranging from -,16 to .14.
Threatening violence or to kill someone was noted among 102, or 4.8 per cent, of our White boys. It occurred so rarely among girls that correlation coefficients were not practicable because of the paucity of girls1 cases, and all the coefficients reported In
378 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Table 72 were among boys only. Its bi-serial correlation with the conduct- total was high, ,52 + .03. With the personality-total Its bi-serial r was substantial, .34 + .03. With police arrest its tetrachoric r was moderate, .26 + .04.
High correlations in the ,50's were found for violence and temper tantrums and large correlations in the . 40's for swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) and destructiveness .
Substantial correlations in the .30 rs were found for the six behavior traits incorrlgibility, irritable temperament, ego- centricity, sullenness, swearing in general, and excus e- forming attitude.
Moderate correlations in the ,20's were found for a large list of twenty-eight miscellaneous notations: fighting, quarrel- someness, temper display, teasing other children, boastful or "show-off" manner, bossy manner, disobedience, defiant attitude, contrariness, disturbing influence in school, exclusion from school, complaining of bad treatment by other children, unpopular- ity, hatred or jealousy of sibling, rudeness, leading others into bad conduct, stealing, staying out late at night, irregular sleep habits, lying, lack of interest in school, "nervous ness" or rest- lessness (undifferentiated), changeable moods or attitudes, queer behavior, daydreaming, question or diagnosis of encephalitis, head- aches, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
The only negative correlation of probable statistical sig- nificance was with underweight condition, -.20 + .05.
Among the sex notations, the physical or psychophysical disabilities, and the home or familial notations the only correla- tions of probable statistical significance were with question or diagnosis of encephalitis, .22 + .07, and the negative correlation with underweight condition, -.20 + .05. All the other twelve coef- ficients in these fields were low or negligible, ranging from -.07 to .13.
When the cases falling under the four rubrics, fighting, quarrelsomeness, violence, and threatening violence were combined into a broad grouping, there were 644 such cases, or 30.5 per
"TThe reasons for this broader grouping were given In I, 44; see 86, Table 1J, Item 1.
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING TABLE 72
CORRELATIONS WITH "THREATENING VIOLENCE" (Boys Only)
Personality-total . .< 3^ ± -03
Conduct -total 52 + .03
Police arrest 26 f .04
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Grouped: temper, etc 57 ± .03
Violence 54 + .04
Temper tantrums 53 ± .04
Grouped: swearing, etc 43 ± .04
Destructive 42 ± .05
Incorrigible 36 ± .04
Grouped: disobedient, etc 36 t »04
Excuse-forming 35 ± .05
Irritable 34 ± .04
Sullen 32 ± .05
Swearing (general) 32 ± .06
Egocentric 31 ± .05
Fighting 29 ± .05
Unpopular 29 + .06
Grouped: egocentric, etc 29 ± .04
Temper display 28 + .05
Conduct prognosis bad 28 t .07
Changeable moods 27 + .05
Quarrelsome 26 t .02
Queer 26 -I- .06
Boastful, "show-off" 25 ± .05
Defiant 25 + .05
Eude > . .25 + .05
Staying out late at night 25 + .05
Irregular sleep habits 25 + .06
Leading others into bad conduct 24 + .06
Exclusion from school 24 t .05
Grouped: "nervous," etc 24 + .04
Stealing 24 + .04
Contrary 23 + .07
Disturbing influence in school 22 + .05
Teasing other children 22 + .05
Question of encephalitis 22 ± .07
Lying 21 t «04
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling 21 t .07
Headaches 21 t -06
Bossy 20 t .06
Disobedient 20 ± .04
Lack of interest in school 20 t .05
Daydreaming 20 t «°5
Complaining of bad treatment by other children .20 ± .06
Larger Correlations (Negative) Underweight -.20 t «05
579
580 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 72— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .19; Smoking, .19; Stubborn, .18; Restless, .18; Unhappy, .18; Truancy fron school, .17; Object of teasing, .16; Refusal to attend school, .15; Tru- ancy fron horns, .15; Spoiled child, .15; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .15; -Sulky, .14; Masturbation, .14; Question of hypophrenia, .14; Nail-biting, .13; Overinterest in sex matters, .13; Question of change of personality, .13; Rest- less in sleep, .13; Inferiority feelings, .13; Selfish, .12; Depressed, .11; Seclusive, .11; Preference for younger chil- dren, .11; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .11; Stuttering, .10; Diatractible, .10; Irresponsible, .09; Enu- resis, .09; Mental conflict, .09; Finicky food habits, .08; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08; Crying spells, .08; Emotional instability, .08; Lues, .03; Bad companions, .07; Ineffi- cient in work, play, etc., .07; Discord between parents, .06; Sensitive over specific fact, .05; Retardation in school, .05; Speech defect, .05; Listless, .04; Grouped: dull, slow, etc,, .03; Slovenly, .02; Overauggestible, .02; Poor «/ork in school, .02; Leader, .02; Former convulsions, .02; Neurologi- cal defect, .01; Attractive manner, .01; Brother in penal de- tention, .01; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., ,01; Slow, dull, .00; Lack of initiative, -.00; Worry over spe- cific fact, -.00; Feeble-minded sibling, -.00; Immoral home conditions, -.00; Loitering, -.01; Psychoneurotic, -.01; "Nervous," -.01; Lazy, -.02; Apprehensive, -.03; Sensitive (general), -.03; Clean, -.03; Gang, -.04; Inattentive in school, -.05; Bashful, -.05; Repressed, -.06; Vicious homo conditions, -.06; Sex denied entirely, -.07; Popular, -.07; Vocational guidance, -.07; Follower, -.08; Absent-minded, -.11; Irregular attendance at school, -.11
Omitted — Grouped: fighting, etc.
cent, of the 2,115 White boys and 275, or 25.1 per cent, of the I,l8l White girls. These afforded some of the most numerous of the behavior difficulties or reasons for referring children for examination to the clinic in which this study was made. The fact that the resulting correlations as shown in Table 75 are generally similar to those of the four component notations but somewhat larger indicates the general similarity of these conduct notations. Large or high coefficients in the ,40's to ,60's among both sexes were found for temper tantrums, swearing or bad language (un- differentiated), incorrigibility, and destructiveness . Additional behavior notations yielding substantial to high correlations from the .50' s to the 50 fs among both sexes were temper display, unpopu- larity, disturbing influence in school, disobedience, defiant atti- tude, rudeness, exclusion from school, "nervousness" or restlessness
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING
TABLE 73 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: FIGHTING, ETC."
581
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
•30 + .02 |
.48 + |
.02 |
|
|
Conduct-total .......................... t ...... |
•53 + .02 |
.65 + |
.02 |
|
Police arrest , |
.23 + .03 |
.08 + |
.04 |
|
Larger Corre |
jlationi |
3 (Positive) |
|
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.50 + .02 |
.58 + |
.03 (2)* |
|
Temper tantrums |
.49 + .03 |
.54 + |
.04 (3) |
|
.47 + .03 |
.60 + |
.04 (1) |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.43 + .02 |
.51 + |
.03 (7) |
|
Temper display |
.42 t .03 |
.35 + |
.05 (27) |
|
Destructive |
.41 f .03 |
.47 + |
.05 (10) |
|
Svoarl ng (general )... |
.41 + .03 |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.39 ± .03 |
.44 + |
.04 (14-16) |
|
Unpopular. .................................... |
.37 ^ .08 |
• 53 + |
.05 (4-5) |
|
Teasing other children |
.36 t .03 |
||
|
Disobedient |
.36 + 02 |
.44 + |
03 (14-16) |
|
Contrary |
•35 t .04 |
.29 + |
.06 (37-43) |
|
Defiant |
.35 + .04 |
.48 + |
.04 (9) |
|
Rude |
.35 + .03 |
.49 + |
.03 (8) |
|
Exclusl on from school |
.34 + .03 |
.38 + |
.05 (21-24) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, n etc |
.33 + .02 |
.53 + |
.03 (4-5) |
|
Bossy |
.32 ± .04 |
.43 + |
04 (17) |
|
Irritable |
.52 + 03 |
44 + |
04 (14-16) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.31 + .03 |
.40 + |
.04 (18-20) |
|
Egocentric . . |
30 + 03 |
.38 + |
04 (21-24) |
|
Stealing. . . . f . |
29 + .02 |
58 + |
05 ( 21-24^ |
|
Stubborn |
.29 + .03 |
.52 + |
.04 (50-55) |
|
Excus** -formlnpr. ................... . , |
PQ + 05 |
45 + |
04 (151 |
|
Sullen |
.28 + .03 |
.54 + |
.05 (28-29) |
|
Boastful, " ehov-of f n |
.28 t .03 |
.29 + |
05 (57-45) |
|
Truancy from home |
.27 + .03 |
• c-y x .16 |
|
|
Changeable moods |
.27 + .03 |
.28 + |
.04 (44-47) |
|
Irregular ele«p habits ..................... 1 4 , |
.27 + .04 |
.21 + |
05 (60-6l) |
|
.26 + .02 |
• CJ. •£ .46 + |
.03 (11-12) |
|
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.25 + .04 |
52 + |
06 (50-55} |
|
«Queer • |
.24 + 04 |
• jc. x 56 + |
05 (26} |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.23 + .05 |
• ;?u x .29 4- |
06 (57-45) |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.22 + .06 |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.22 + .04 |
50 + |
05 (54-56) |
|
Selfish |
.22 ± 04 |
4o 4- |
05 (18-20) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.22 t .03 |
.32 + |
.04 (50-55) |
|
Crying spells |
.21 ± 03 |
£>Q 4. |
ok fyz-liM |
|
Etoot-lonal Instability A t ... |
.21 t 06 |
•*-? X 24 + |
05 (C56-C57) |
|
.18 |
.46 + |
.05 (11-12) |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
382
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 73— Continued
Boys
Girls
Leading others Into bad conduct 16
Finicky food habits 16
Restless In Bleep . 10
Dletractible 15
Irresponsible 07
Object of teasing 14
Nail-biting .13
Grouped: depressed, etc 15
Inattentive in school 18
Staying out late at night .19
Daydreaming 05
Fantastical lying. 19
Enuresis 13
Slovenly . 17
Sulky 17
Masturbation 15
Unhappy 10
Question of change of personality 15
Lack of interest in school 18
Inferiority feelings 17
Mental conflict. 18
"Nervous" Ik
Loitering 19
Sensitive over specific fact 03
Spoiled child Ik
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc 03
.40 ± .05 .38 ± .Ok •37 t -04 .34+ ' .32 + .30 ± .30 t .29 ± .29 ± .29 ± .28 t .28 + .28 i .27 ± .27 ± .27 + .26 +
26 t .25 ±
25 ±
25 ±
.24 + •23 ± • 23 ± .21 ± .20 ±
.04 .05 .05 .04 .04 .05 .04 .05 .05 .04 .04 .05 .04 .05 .05 .05 .05 .06
.04 .05 .04 .05 .04
(18-20)
(21-24)
(25)
(28-29.)
(30-33)
(34-36)
(3^-36)
(37-43)
(37-43)
(37-^3)
(44-47)
(44-47)
(44-47)
(48-50)
(48-50)
(48-50)
(51-52)
(51-52)
(53-55)
(53-55)
(53-55)
(56-57)
(58-59)
(58-59)
(60-61)
(62)
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Refusal to attend school, .19 and .06; Truancy from school, .19 and .18; Lazy, .18 and .09; Over interest in opposite sex, .18 (girls); Sex delinquency (coitus), .17 and .09; Overinterest in sex matters, .17 and .18; Gang, .17 (boys); Inefficient in woj-k, play, etc., .17 and .13; Bad companions, .16 and .12; Depressed, .16 and .19; Psychoneurotic, .14 and .08; Leader, .11 and .10; Neurological defect, .11 and .11; Preference for younger children, .11 and .16; Seclusive, .10 and ,03; Former convulsion, .09 and .09; Discord between par- ents, .08 and .16; Sensitive (general), .05 and .14; Poor work in school, .05 and -.01; Popular, .04 and .03; Listless, .04 and .05; Worry over specific fact, .04 and .07; Apprehensive, .04 and .10; Headaches, ,03 and .11; Over suggestible, .03 and .12; Question of hypophrenia, .03 and .02; Repressed, .02 and .11; Vic- tim of sex abuse, .01 (girls); Retardation in school, -.02 and -.07; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and .12; Absent-minded, -.04 and .01; Attractive manner, -.04 and -.02; Clean, -.04 and .05; Speech defect, -.05 and .09; Stuttering, -.05 (boys); Follower, -.06 and .04; Lues, -.06 and .04; Underweight, -.06 and .07; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and .05; Vicious home conditions, -.07 and .09; Irregular attendance at school, -.07 and -.03; Lack of initiative, -.07 and -.07; Sex denied entirely, -.07 and .09; Slo*, dull, -.08 and .03; Feeble-minded sibling, -.08 and -.07; Vocational guidance, -.08 and -.16; Immoral home condi- tions, -.10 and .03; Bashful, -.10 and -.07
Omitted— Fighting; Quarrelsome; Threatening violence; Violence
FIGHTING; QUARRELSOMENESS; VIOLENCE; THREATENING ?8j
(undifferentlated), irritable temperament, bossy manner, egocen- tricity, and (computed for boys only) teasing other children.
The following additional nineteen notations yielded moder- ate to large correlations from the . 20's to the . 40's among both sex sexes: contrariness, stubbornness, boastful or "show- off" manner, stealing, excuse- forming attitude, sullenness, lying, hatred or jealousy of sibling, selfishness, lack of interest or inattentive- ness in school studies or employment (undifferentiated), queer be- havior, emo t i ona 1 i ns tab i 1 i ty , changeable moods or attitudes, cry- ing spells, complaining of bad treatment by other children (calcu- lated for boys only), Irregular sleep habits, smoking (calculated for boys only), question or diagnosis of encephalitis, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Among girls the fol- lowing eight behavior difficulties yielded substantial or large correlations ranging from .30 to .46 but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: leading others into bad conduct, object of teasing by other children, restlessness, restlessness in sleep, distractibility, irresponsibility, finicky food habits, and nail- biting.
Truancy from home among boys showed the moderate correla- tion of .27 + .03 but a low coefficient of .16 among girls. The following fifteen personality and conduct problems among girls yielded moderate correlations in the . 20's but low positive corre- lations below .20 among boys: staying out late at night, depressed spells or unhappiness (undifferentiated), fantastical lying, aulk- iness, slovenliness, loitering or wandering, "spoiled child," men- tal conflict, inf e ri o r i t y fee li ngs , daydreaming, question of change of personality, sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, ma s t urba t i on , and enuresis.
Among the six sex notations the larger grouping, fighting .or quar re 1 sameness (undifferentiated), showed only one statisti- cally significant correlation, .27 + .04, with masturbation among girls.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations, mod- erate correlations in the ,20fs were found for question or diagno- sis of encephalitis among both sexes and for enuresis among girls.
Among the home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
CHAPTER XXXIX DESTRUCTIVENESS
Destructiveness (breaking toys, windows, etc., or tearing "books , clothing, etc. ) was noted among 227, or 10.7 P©** cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 55, or 4.7 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls. It appeared more frequently among the younger chil- dren, especially among the girls1 cases. Its bi-serial correla- tions in the . 50's with conduct- total indicated its seriousness as a symptom of conduct deviation (Table 74). With the personality- total its correlations of .350 + .02 among boys and .40 + .04 among girls were substantial but not large. With the police-arrest cri- terion of "juvenile delinquency" its tetrachoric correlation among boys, .30-1- .03, was similarly substantial but not large, while among girls the correlation was low, . 15 + .06.
Its highest correlations were in the ,40's among both sexes temper tantrums, violence, swearing or bad language (undifferen- tiated), and (calculated for ooys only) threatening violence. In- oorrigibility and stealing among boys yielded large correlations in the ,40's with moderate correlations in the .30fs among girls. Among girls five notations similarly yielded large correlations in the .40 's, with substantial coefficients ranging from ,29 to ,39 among boys : contrariness, fighting, disobedience, leading others into bad conduct . and exclusion from school.
Three behavior problems yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30fs among both a exes : disturbing influence In school, defiant attitude, and lying . Teasing other children (calculated for boys only) and overinterest in the opposite a ex (calculated for girls only) also yielded substantial correlations In the .30 'a. Among boys four undesirable behavior traits yielded substantial correlations In the .30*3 with moderate correlations in the .20' a among girls: rudeness, hatred or .lealouay of sibling, fantastical lying, and excuse-* forming attitude. Truancy
I, 216, Jig. 52.
384
DESTRUCTIVENESS
TABU) 74 CORRELATIONS WITH "DESTRUCTIVE"
385
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.30 + .02 |
.40 ± .04 |
|
.59 + .02 |
.54 4- .04 |
|
|
POT 1 f?e a,Fr«Ht ...................... t .... r T , r t r |
.30 + .03 |
.15 ± .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
alatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Tewrper tantr\}ni(3 . .............................. |
.46 + .04 |
.45 ± .06 (4-5)* |
|
Violence |
.144 4. .03 |
.44 ± .07 (6-7) |
|
.43 + .03 |
.44 + .07 (6-7) |
|
|
Tfa^eatenl ng vl<~>l «T\O^ .. r . T ..................... |
,U2 + .05 |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.41 + .03 |
.33 4- .06 (16-19) |
|
Stealing |
.41 + .03 |
.35 + .05 (13-15) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.41 + .03 |
.47 + .05 (1-2) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.38 i .03 |
.35 + .05 (13-15) |
|
Rude |
.38 4- .03 |
.22 + .06 (45-47) |
|
Contrary. ..................................... |
.37 + .04 |
.46 + .08 (3) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.36 + .03 |
• 32 4- .07 (20-21) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. ................ |
.35 + .05 |
.29 4- .08 (27-30) |
|
Fighting |
.34 + .ok |
.45 4- .07 (4-5) |
|
Teasing other children |
.34 + .04 |
|
|
Exclusl on from school |
.34 4- .04 |
.40 4- .07 (9) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.34 + .03 |
.36 + .05 (10-12) |
|
I^lng |
.33 + .03 |
.35 + .05 (13-15) |
|
Defiant |
.31 4- .04 |
.31 + .07- (22-25) |
|
Fantastical lying |
•31 ± .05 |
.24 4- .08 (36-38) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.31 4- .04 |
.47 J .08 (1-2) |
|
Truancy frcin home. ................ |
.31 + .03 |
-.16 |
|
IlTQPSe- fO;HHtPg. ............................... |
.30 4- 04 |
.27 4- .07 (51) |
|
Disobedient |
.29 4- .03 |
.41 HH .05 (8) |
|
Masturbation. ................................. |
.29 4> .05 |
.29 4- .06 (27-50) |
|
Unpopular |
.27 ± .05 |
.17 |
|
Bossy |
.26 4- .05 |
.12 |
|
Swearing (general )............................ |
.26 4- .05 |
|
|
Truancy from school |
.25 4- 05 |
.25 4- .07 (54-5*5} |
|
Inattentive in school |
.25 4- .04 |
.23 4- .07 (59*44) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.25 4- .04 |
.19 |
|
Restless , |
.24 i 05 |
.2Q 4- O6 ( 27-501 |
|
Slovenly. ,,.....,.........,.. |
.23 + .04 |
.17 |
|
Quarrelsome. |
.22 ± 04 |
30 4- 06 (24-26) |
|
Egocentric *•.. |
.22 ± .04 |
.22 i 07 (45-47) |
|
Irresponsible |
.22 4- O*5 |
.10 |
|
Sullen. |
.22 4- 04 |
- O7 |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc » |
.pi j. nx |
56 4- O*5 (1O-1P1 |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.21 4- .05 |
.25 * .06 (59-44) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.21 ± .04 |
.23 4- .07 (59-44) |
Bank order of girls1 correlations.
586
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 74— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Spoiled child. |
.21 + .04 .20 t .05 .19 .12 .11 .05 |
.10 |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
||
|
.36 + .08 (10-12) .33 ± .09 (16-19) •33 i .08 (16-19) .33 ± .10 (16-19) .32 + .06 (20-21) .31 + .07 (22-23) .30 + .07 (24-26) .30 -I- .10 (24-26) .29 ± .06 (27-30) .26 ± .06 (32-33) .26 ± .08 (32-33) .25 ± .06 (34-35) .24 ± .07 (36-38) .24 ± .08 (36-38) .23 ± .07 (39-44) .23 ± .06 (39-44) .23 ± .07 (39-44) .22 ± .07 (45-47) .20 + .08 (48-51) .20 ± -06 (48-51) .20 t ^06 (48-51) .20 ± .08 (48-51) |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
||
|
fUmryhi onal InstaM 11 ty .t,,tttr,t,T,,..»rtt.t.Tr. |
.05 .15 -.11 .18 .19 .14 .15 .13 .10 .19 .13 .06 .17 .19 .14 .12 .02 |
|
|
Changeable moods |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
||
|
"Nervous" |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Tcnipw display. ............................... |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Bad companions ................................ |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits ........................ |
||
|
Nail-biting |
||
|
Discord between parents |
||
|
Repressed |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.14 -.29 ± .07 -.26 ± .08 -.24 t .07 |
||
|
Victim of sex abuse |
||
|
Vicious home condltl ons. |
.10 .06 |
|
|
Lazy. |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
-.15 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Enures is, .19 and .09; Loitering, .18 and .16; Unhappy, .18 and .11; Finicky food habits, .17 and .12; Refusal to attend school, .17 and .13; Over- interest In aex matters, .17 and .05; Sulky, .16 and .18; Irritable, .16 and .10; Object of teasing, .16 and .06; Inferiority feelings, .13 and .17; Lack of in- terest In school, .12 and .12; Crying epelle, .12 and .13; Over suggestible, .11 and .07; Grouped: depressed, etc., .10 and .19; Absent-minded, .09 and .17; Daydreaming, .09 and .11; Popular, .09 and -.02; Apprehensive, .08 and .09; In- efficient in work, play, etc., .08 and .19; Sacking, .08 (boys); Headaches, .07 and .15; Neurological defect, .06 and .12; Leader, .05 and -.01; Attractive man- ner, .05 and -.06; Clean, .04 and -.04; Irregular attendance at school, ,03 and .03; Secluslve, .02 and .03; Psychoneurotlo, .02 and .08; follower, ,02 and ,06;_ Lues, .02 and .11; Bensltive over specific fact, .01 and .11; Poor nark In school,
DESTRUCTIVENESS 387
TABLE ?4— Continued
.01 and .00; Underweight , .01 and .01; Brother in penal detention, .01 and .01; Listless, .00 and .09; Question of hypophrenia, .00 and .11; Immoral home con- ditions, -.00 and -.0^; Retardation In school, -.01 and -.05; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.03 and .16; Depressed, -.02 and .17; Speech defect, -.03 and .18; Former convulsions, -.03 and .02; Sensitive (general), -.03 and -.08; Bashful, -.04 and -.04; Sex denied entirely, -.05 and -.02; Sex delinquency (co- itus), -.06 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and -.00; Slow, dull, -.07 and .00; Vocational guidance, -.09 and -.13; Stuttering, -.10 (boys)
from home among boys similarly yielded the substantial correlation of .31 + .03 but a negative coefficient of -.16 among girls. Among girls eight additional notations yielded substantial correlations in the .30!s but low or negligible coefficients ranging between -.11 to .22 among boys: quarrelsomeness, emotional instability, dlstractlbility. question of change of personality, queer behavior, mental conflict, vorry over some specific fact, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Six behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the .20 's with destructiveness among both sexes: restlessness, e go- cent ri city, truancy from school, inattentiveness in school, stay- ing out late at night, and masturbation, and the three notations for which only the boys ' correlations were computed — swearing in general, running with a gang, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Seven undesirable behavior traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the . 20's but low coefficients be- low ,20 among girls: bossy manner, boastful or "show-off" manner, sullenness, slovenliness , irresponsibility, "spoiled child, " and unpopularity. Among girls thirteen miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: temper display, selfishness, stubbornness, bad companions, preference for younger children as playmates, "ner- vousness," nail-biting, restlessness in sleep, irregular sleep habits, changeable moods or attitudes, repressed manner, staff no- tation of unfavorable conduct prognosis , and discord between par- ents.
There were four negative correlations with destructiveness , all of moderate size in the -.20's: laziness and vicious home con- ditions among girls, victim of sex abuse by older child or person (calculated for girls only), and feeble-minded sibling an^ng boys.
Among girls the correlation of destructiveness with lack of
388 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
initiative could not be calculated because there were no instances in which the same girls were noted as manifesting both problems.
Among the six sex notations there were several correlations of statistically significant size: overinterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only), .32 + .06; masturbation, .29 + .03 among boys and .29 + .06 among girls; and victim of sex abuse by older child or person, -.29 4- .07 (computed for girls only). The other correlations in this field were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only noteworthy correlation was the substantial coefficient of .33 + .10 for question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations there were two correlations of moderate size with destructiveness , both among girls: .20 + .06 with discord between parents and the curious neg- ative correlation of -.26 + .08 with vicious home conditions.
•CHAPTER XL TEASING OR "PICKING ON" OTHER CHILDREN
Teasing or "picking on" other children in our data ranged all the way from bullying or cruelty down to merely annoying or "pestering" other children. It was noted among 210 of 2,113 White boys, or 9.9 per cent. It was noted so seldom among the girls' cases that reliable correlation coefficients could not be computed for them.
Its bi- serial correlations with the personality- total and and conduct- total, .35 + .02 and .41 + .02 respectively, were sub- stantial, but its tetrachoric correlation with police arrest was low, .14 + .03 (Table 75).
TABLE 75
CORRELATIONS WITH "TEIASIHG OTHER (-IH 1 TifW^ff** (Boys Only)
Personality-total 35 ± .02
Conduct -total 4l ± .02
Police arrest 14 t .03
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Disturbing Influence in school 45 ± .03
Violence 38 ± .Ok
Grouped: fighting, etc -36 ± .03
Unpopular -35 ± -05
Boastful, "show-off" .34 ± .04
Destructive 34 ± .04
Quarrelsome 33 ± .04
Rude 30 ± .04
Grouped: "nervous," etc 29 ± .03
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc 28 ± .03
Restless 27 ± .03
Grouped: disobedient, etc. ., 27 ± .03
Grouped: swearing, etc 27 ± .04
Bossy 26 t -05
Inattentive in school 26 t «03
Swearing (general) 26 t -05
Spoiled child 26 ± .Ok
Disobedient 25 ± .03
Itfing 25 ± .03
Worry over specific fact 25 t .05
389
390 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABUE 75— Continued
Exclusion from school 25 ± .04
Irregular sleep habits 24 ± ,O5
Incorrigible 23 ± .03
Fighting 23 ± .05
Selfish 23 ± .05
Excuse -forming 23 ± .Ok
Grouped: temper, etc 23 + .03
Grouped: egocentric, etc . 23 + .03
Leading others Into bad conduct 22 4- .05
Threatening violence 22 t -05
Smoking 21 t -04
Temper tantrums 21 + .04
Masturbation . .21 + .03
Apprehensive 21 +. O4
Restless In sleep 21 + .Ok
Conduct prognosis bad , 21 £ -°6
Slovenly 20 ± .04
Distractlble 2O + .Ok
"Nervous" 20 + .Ok
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .19; Overinterest In sex matters, .19; Question of change of personality, .19; Hatred or Jeal- ousy of sibling, .18; Absent-minded, .18; Egocentric, .18; Overeuggestlble, .18; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .18; Former convulsions, .18; Defiant, .17; Enure- sis, .17; Inefficient In work, play, etc., .17; Stealing, .17; Stubborn, .17; Daydreaming, .17; Poor work in school, .17; Lack of interest in school, .16; Nail-biting, .16; Changeable moods, .16; Bad companions, .15; Irresponsible, .15; Lazy, .15; Sulky, .15; Temper display, .15; Irritable, .15; Vicious home conditions, .15; Staying out late at night, .14; Bashful, .14; Loitering, .13; Sullen, .13; Re- fusal to attend school, .12; Truancy from home, .12; De- pressed, .12; Listless, .12; Sensitive over specific fact, .12; Inferiority feelings, .12; Popular, .12; Attractive manner, .12; Neurological defect, .12; Contrary, .11; Queer, .11; Headaches, .11; Discord between parents, .11; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .11; Finicky food habits, .10; Grouped: depressed, etc., .10; Object of teasing, .09; Re- pressed, .09; Clean, .09; Preference for younger children, .07; Follower, .07; Leader, .07; Seclusive, .06; Sex denied entirely, .06; Crying spells, .05; Mental conflict, .05; Underweight, .05; Vocational guidance, .05; Unhappy, .04; Stuttering, .03; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .03; Question of hypophrenia, .02; Truancy from school, .01; Sex delin- quency (coitus), .01; Irregular attendance at school, -.00; Speech defect, -.01; Slow, dull, -.01; Sensitive (general), -.02; Psychoneurotic, -.02; Brother In penal detention, -.04; Question of encephalitis, -.04; Feeble-minded sibling, -.05; Lack of initiative, -.05; Immoral home conditions, -.07; Gang, -.08; Retardation in school, -.09; Emotional , instabil- ity, -.13; Lues, -.14
TEASING OR "PICKING ON11 OTHER CHILDREN 391
Its "highest correlation was with disturbing Influence in school, .45 + .03. Six correlations of substantial size in the ,30!s were found for violence, destructiveness , unpopula r 1 ty , boastful or "show-off" manner, quarrelsomeness , and rudeness. A large list of twenty- five notations showed moderate correlations in the .20' s: fighting, threatening violence, bossy manner, swear ing in general, selfishness, incorriglbility, disobedience, temper tantrums, "spoiled child," restlessness, restlessness in sleep, "nervousness, " irregular sleep habits, distractibility, apprehen- siveness, leading others into bad conduct, smoking, ex cuse- forming attitude, exclusion from school, lying , worry over some specific fact, Inattentlvenesa in school, slovenliness, masturbation, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among the four sex notations for which boys1 correlations were calculated there were only two coefficients worthy of note, for ma s t urba 1 1 on , .21 + .03, and for overinterest in sex matters,
.19-
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations and the four home or familial notations, all coefficients were low or negligible, ranging from -.14 to .15.
CHAPTER XLI TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY
Since the rubric temper tantrums automatically includes temper display, it was not legitimate to calculate their intercor- relations. "Tantrums" characteristically applies to such bizarre behavior as throwing one's self on the floor, striking or biting one's self, or pounding one's head against the wall or floor. A comparison of their correlations with "outside" traits, as shown in the two tables in this chapter, indicates a considerable extent of similarity, but not enough to render unnecessary the separate statistical treatment of the two rubrics.
Both notations appeared with almost equal frequency among our cases. Of the two, temper tantrums appeared to be of greater "seriousness" or "ominousness. "
Temper tantrums was noted among 221, or 10.5 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 127, °r 10.8 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Among girls its bi-serlal correlations with the per- sonality- total and conduct -total were both high, . 54 + .03 and •57 i «03 respectively, while among boys these coefficients were substantial, the respective coefficients being .29 + .02 and .38 + .02 (Table 76). Its tetrachoric correlations with police arrest, however, were quite negligible.
Its highest correlations were with violence, the respective coefficients for boys an~d girls being .54 + .03 and .61 + .04, and with threatening violence, with a coefficient of .53 + .04 among boys, the girls* correlation being omitted because of paucity of cases. Among girls defiant attitude and "nervousness" or restless- ness (undifferentiated) also yielded high correlations in the .50*8, with substantial coefficients in the ,30's among boys.
Deatructiveness and swearing or bad language (undifferen- tiated) yielded large correlations in the . 40fs for both sexes. Among girls four notations yielded large correlations In the .40»s, with substantial coefficients in the ,30's among boys: irritable
392
TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY
TABLE 76 CORRELATIONS WITH "TEMPER TAKTRUMB"
393
|
Boys |
air Is |
|
|
.29 + .02 |
.54 + .03 |
|
|
.38 4- .02 |
.57 + .03 |
|
|
.08 + .03 |
.03 + .05 |
|
|
Larger Corrc |
Nations (PositiTe) |
|
|
.54 + .03 |
.61 + .04 (1)* |
|
|
.49 + .03 |
.54 + .04 (2) |
|
|
.46 + .04 |
.45 I .06 (7-8) |
|
|
A3 + .03 |
.42 + .05 (11) |
|
|
.42 + .04 |
||
|
.32 + .03 |
.52 -i- .03 (3-5) |
|
|
•32 ± .03 |
.52 + .03 (3-5) |
|
|
Irritable |
.32 4- .03 |
.43 ± .04 (9-10) |
|
Defiant |
.32 ± .04 |
.52 + .05 (3-5) |
|
.31 4- .04 |
.38 4- .04 (22-24) |
|
|
Fighting |
.31 + .04 |
.45 I .03 (7-8) |
|
.30 + .03 |
.47 +• .04 (6) |
|
|
.30 ± .04 |
.40 + .04 (14-19) |
|
|
.26 ± .04 |
.37 ± .06 (25-26) |
|
|
.26 + .05 |
-35 + .07 (28-29) |
|
|
.25 + .05 |
.29 + .07 (40) |
|
|
.25 ± .05 |
.24 4- .06 (48-50) |
|
|
.24 + .04 |
.29 t -05 (20-21) |
|
|
.23 ± .03 |
.43 t -04 (9-10) |
|
|
.23 + .05 |
.16 |
|
|
.23 t .03 |
.35 4- .04 (28-29) |
|
|
.23 ± .08 |
.40 ± .05 (14-19) |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.22 t 'O1* |
.31 ± .05 (35-36) |
|
.22 t .05 |
.24 ± .07 (48-50) |
|
|
.21 ± .03 |
.24 4- .04 (48-50) |
|
|
Emotional Infltablil ity T ^ . t r T -..., , |
.21 ± .05 |
.34 ± .06 (30-33) |
|
Boastful. w shov-off " ».«•• |
.20 ± .04 |
.40 ± .06 (14-19) |
|
.20 ± .03 |
.27 ± .04 (42-45) |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.20 ± .04 |
.34 4- .05 (30-33) |
|
Cfwml ftl Til no n"f ^\nA ^T^ftftlTflftTTt" V>v o"fcViftT* olrt 1 Arftn |
2O 4- 0*5 |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc. |
.19 |
.41 ± .04 (12-13) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.19 |
.41 t -05 (12-13) |
|
Leading others Into bad conduct .trTT....t |
.12 |
.40 * .07 (14-19) |
|
.19 |
.40 ± .06 (14-19) |
|
|
.04 |
.40 ± .07 (14-19) |
|
|
.16 |
.39 ± .04 (20-21) |
|
|
Selfish |
.12 |
.38 ± .06 (22-24) |
|
.19 |
.38 t -05 (22-24) |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
CHILDREN »S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABIB 76— Continued
|
Boys |
Gijrls |
|
|
Queer • |
.19 |
•37 ± .06 (25-26) |
|
Sulky |
.15 |
.36 t .06 (27) |
|
SllllWl, ............. t ......'. r .,..,., t , r r t r '. r |
.09 |
.5k + .05 (30-33) |
|
Crying spells |
.17 |
.314. + ,o4 (30-33) |
|
"Nervous" |
.11 |
.32 •»• .05 (3*0 |
|
Depressed . |
.01 |
.31 t .06 (35-36) |
|
•30 ± .05 (37-39) |
||
|
Distraotible |
.06 |
.30 + .05 (37-39) |
|
Mental conflict |
.12 |
.30 + .07 (37-39) |
|
Masturbation |
.16 |
.28 * .05 (4l) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad. ........................ |
.14 |
•27 ± .07 (42-45) |
|
Restless In sleep |
• 17 |
.27 + .05 (42-45) |
|
Psychoneurotic |
• 13 |
.27 + .06 (42-45) |
|
Grouped: lack of Interest In school, etc |
.08 |
.26 f .05 (46) |
|
Truancy from school |
.08 |
.25 + .05 (47) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.02 |
.23 + .05 (51-52) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.16 |
.23 + .05 (51-52) |
|
Inattentive In school |
.03 |
.22 + .06 (53) |
|
Neurological defect |
• 03 |
.21 t .05 (5^-59) |
|
Stealing. |
.17 |
.21 + .04 (54-59) |
|
Slovenly |
.08 |
.21 t .05 (54-59) |
|
Lack of Interest In school |
• 09 |
.21 + .06 (54-59) |
|
Irresponsible |
.01 |
21 4- 06 ^54-*5Q^ |
|
UPantftatl cal lying ............................. |
• 17 |
.21 + .06 (54-59) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
B^«bl«-m1ndecl sibling |
-.27 + 05 |
- 14 |
|
Brother in p*T\al detention. |
-.26 t .05 |
-.17 |
|
Immoral home conditions |
-.22 ± -05 |
-.03 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Refusal to attend school, .19 and .17; Truancy from home, .17 and .16; Sensitive (general), .17 and .15; Former convulsions, .17 and -.09; Preference for younger children, .15 and ,15; Nail-biting, .13 and .13; Loitering, .12 and .09; Stocking, .12 (boys); Daydreaming, .11 and .19; Grouped: sensitive or wor- risome, etc., .10 and .17; Over interest in sex matters, .10 and .10; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .09 and .15; Object of teasing, .09 and .05; Sensitive over specific fact, .09 and .16; Inferiority feelings, .09 and .17; Popular, .07 and .16; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .06 and .18; Repressed, .06 and .18; Gang, .06 (boys); Lack of initiative, .05 and -.13; Leader, .05 and .10; Bad compan- ions, .04 and .09; Lazy, .04 and .00; Speech defect, .04 and .01; Discord be- tween parents, .04 and .03} Apprehensive, .03 and .17; Oversuggestible, .01 and ,02; Seclufllve, .01 and -.00; Etohappy, .01 and .14; Absent-minded, .00 and .04; Question of hypophrenia, .00 and .02; Clean, -.00 and .10; Victim of sex abuse, -.02 (gtrle); Underweight, -.02 and -.09$ Vocational guidance, -.03 and .02; Lues, -.03 and .05; Attractive manner, -.03 and -.07; Bashful, -.03 and -.12; Irregular attendianoe at school, -.04 and -.02; Listless, -.04 and .07; Stutter- ing, -.05 (boys); Retardation in school, -.06 and -.03; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.06 and .08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and -.00; Follower, -.07 and -.17;
TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY 395
TABLE 76— Continued
Worry over specific fact, -.07 and .11; Vicious home conditions, -.08 and .13; Sex denied entirely, -.08 and .13; Poor work in school, -.09 and .05; Slow, dull, -.Ik and .05
Omitted — Grouped: temper, etc.; Temper display
temperament, fighting, incorrigibility, and rudeness. Among girls three additional notations yielded large correlations in the .^O's, with moderate correlations in the ,20!s among boys: stubbornness, egocentriclty, and boastful or "show-off" manner. Pour additional notations among girls similarly yielded large correlations in the .40!s but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: disturb- ing Influence in school, leading others into bad conduct, question of change of personality, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Temper tantrums yielded substantial correlations in the .30 's with quarrelsomeness among both sexes and with overinterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlation was cal- culated. Seven notations yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s among girls with moderate coefficients in the .20fs among b°ys: changeable moods or attitudes, emotional instability, "spoiled child," disobedience, finicky food habits, unpopularity, and exclusion from school. Among girls an additional eleven per- sonality and conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: restlessness, "nervousness." distractibility, crying spells, men- tal conflict, selfishness, excuse- forming attitude, sulkiness, sullenness, queer behavior, and depressed mood or spells.
Five behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20!s with temper tantrums among both sexes: bossy manner, con- trariness, lying, irregular sleep habits , and enuresis -and also two conduct problems for which only the boys ' coefficients were calcu- , lated, teasing other children and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Headaches among boys showed the moderate correla- tion of .23 HH .05 but a low positive coefficient of .16 among girls. Among girls thirteen additional miscellaneous notations showed mod- erate correlations in the .20 'a but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: restlessness in sleep, paychoneurotic trends > fan- tastical lying, irresponsibility, inattentivenesa in school, lack of interest in school, slovenliness, truancy from school, stealing.
396 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
fltayln|c out late at night, masturbation, staff notation of unfavor- ab la c onduc t pr ogno sis, and neurological defect (unspecified),
Three negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's were found among the boys; feeble-minded sibling, brother in penal detention, and immoral home conditions.
Among the six sex notations temper tantrums showed moderate correlations of .28 + .05 with masturbation among girls and .30 + .05 with over interest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only ) .
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities, question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls yielded the large correlation of .40 4- .07 and neurological defect (unspecified) among girls the moderate correlation of .21 -f .05. Enures is showed moderate correlations of .20 + .03 and .27 + .04 among boys and girls respectively*
Among the four home or familial notations there were nega- tive coefficients of moderate size in the -,20's among boys for immoral home conditions and brother in penal detention.
Temper display (not "tantrums") was noted among 250, or 11.8 per cent, of our boys and among 93 , or 7.9 per cent, of our girls. Among boys its bi-serial correlation with the personality- total, was of moderate size, .25 + .02, but all other correlations among both sexes with the personality- total, conduct-total, and police arrest were low, ranging from .06 to .19 (Table 77). One may conclude that temper display is of minor importance as an In- dicator of behavior difficulties.
Its highest correlations (in the ,40's) were found among girls for disobedience or incorrigibility (including defiant atti- tude , stubbornness, and contrariness, undifferentiated), and ir- ritable temperament, the boys' coefficients also being substantial, .28 + .03 and .30 + .03 respectively.
Fighting yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among both sexes. Violence yielded the substantial correlation of •39 t .03 among boys, and a moderate coefficient of .26 -f .06 among girls. Among girls four conduct problems yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30' s, with moderate coefficients in the ,20»s among boys ; quarrelsomeness, stubbornness, bossy manner, and .swearing or bad language (undifferentiated). Among girls an
TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY
TABLE 77 CORRELATIONS WITH "TEMPER DISPLAY"
397
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.25 + .02 |
.16 4- .04 |
|
.19 + .02 |
.08 4- .04 |
|
|
.06 + .03 |
.06 4- .05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
datlons (Positive) |
|
|
.42 4- .03 |
•35 + .05 (5-6)* |
|
|
Violence »,... |
.39 + .03 |
.26 + .06 (20-21) |
|
Fighting |
.34-4- .03 |
.30 4 .04 (11-13) |
|
Irritable |
.30 + .03 |
.42 4- .05 (2) |
|
Threatening violence |
.28 + .05 |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. |
.28 -I- .03 |
.IfO + ,o4 (1) |
|
CJh/«T£je«.b]l ft Tn<">n<lfg .............................. |
.27 + .04 |
.27 4- .06 (18-19) |
|
Quarrelsome .................I...*.*.. * . A .. * . |
.26 4- .04 |
.31 4- .05 (10) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.25 + .03 |
.30 4- .04 (11-13) |
|
Stubborn |
.25 + .03 |
.34 4- .05 (7) |
|
CoTTtr'JiT'y ................................. a . a . |
.25 + .05 |
.24 4- .08 (22) |
|
Rmot 1 onnT 1 nf?tn.h1 1 1 ty ......................... |
.23 4- .04 |
.00 |
|
Selfish |
.23 4- .05 |
.28 4- .04 (17) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.22 4- .04 |
.37 4 .06 (4) |
|
Bossy. |
.22 4- .05 |
.30 4- .06 (11-13) |
|
Object of teasing |
.21 4- .04 |
• 19 |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.20 4 .03 |
.19 |
|
Former convulsions <>».. |
.20 4- .04 |
.10 |
|
Unhappy • |
.20 + .05 |
.02 |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.20 4- .04 |
.09 |
|
Swearing ( general) |
.20 4- .05 |
|
|
Sulky |
.20 4- .05 |
.29 4- .07 (14-16) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling.' |
.15 |
.39 + .07 (3) |
|
Lazy |
.11 |
.35 4- .06 (5-6) |
|
Rude |
.17 |
.33 4- .05 (8-9) |
|
Incorrigible |
.16 |
.33 4- .05 (8-9) |
|
Defiant |
17 |
.29 4- .06 (14-16) |
|
Irresponsible |
-.02 |
.29 t -07 (14-16) |
|
Lyina |
.18 |
.27 4- .05 (18-19) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.17 |
.26 t -06 (20-21) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.18 |
.23 + 06 (23-24) |
|
Destructive |
• 19 |
.23 i .07 (23-24) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.06 |
.22 4- .07 (25) |
|
.15 |
.21 t .06 (26-27) |
|
|
Excuse- forming |
.12 |
.21 4; .06 (26-27) |
|
Truancy from home |
.10 |
.20 4- .05 (28-29) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.05 |
.20 ± .06 (28-29) |
|
Larger Corre |
lationa (Negative) |
|
|
Fe«M«-m1nded sibling. ........................ |
.02 |
-.31 ± .06 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
398
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 77— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Mental conflict |
.00 |
-.26 + .08 |
|
-.11 |
-.24 + .08 |
|
|
Vocational guidance |
-.06 |
-.22 + .05 |
|
Question of" encephalitis |
.Ik |
-.21 + .09 |
|
-.21 + ,06 |
||
|
Hot |
Calculable |
|
|
Vicious home conditions |
• 05 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Disobedient, .19 and .19; Absent-minded, .19 and -.09; Queer, .18 and -.14; "Nervous," .18 and .03; Egocentric, .18 and .07; Boastful, "show-off," .17 and .08; Disturbing influence in school, .17 and .12; Refusal to attend school, .16 and .05; Crying spells, .16 and .15; Unpopular, .16 and .10; Headaches, .15 and .02; Distractible, .15 and -.03; Question of change of personality, .15 and .09; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Enuresis, .15 and .10; Restless, .Ik and .13; Conduct prognosis bad, .13 and -.05; Nail-biting, .12 and .11; Steal- ing, .12 and .13; Grouped: depressed, etc., .12 and .Ik; Truancy from school, .11 and .09; Slovenly, .10 and .Ok; Smoking, .10 (boys); Sensitive over specific fact, .10 and .07; Worry over specific fact, .10 and .03; Discord between par- ents, .10 and .11; Leader, .10 and .Ik; Exclusion from school, .10 and .03; Com- plaining of bad treatment by other children, .09 (boys); Depressed, .09 and .17; Inattentive in school, .09 and .01; Over suggestible, .08 and -.02; Seclusive, .08 and -.07; Clean, .08 and .06; Speech defect, .07 and .02; Neurological de- fect, .07 and .Ok; Question of hypophrenia, .07 and -.06; Spoiled child, .07 and .09; Irregular sleep habits, .07 and .05; Loitering, .07 and .15; Bad compan- ions, .06 and .03; Masturbation, .06 and -.07; Apprehensive, .06 and .02; Day- dreaming, .06 and .Ik; Poor work In school, .06 and -.04; Lues, .06 and -.08; Brother in penal detention, .06 and -.08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .06 and .10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .05 and .03; Under weight, .05 and -.09; Retardation in school, .Ok and -.04; Immoral home conditions, .03 and -.08; Ir- regular attendance at school, .03 and .09; Grouped: lack of interest In school, etc., .03 and .01; Follower, .03 and .10; Psychoneurotic, .02 and -.00; Stutter- ing, .02 (boys); Attractive manner, .01 and .02; Gang, .01 (boys); Bashful, -.00 and .Ok; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.00 and -.09; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.01 (girls); Lack of interest In school, -.01 and .00; Listless, -.01 and -.07; Lack of initiative, -.02 and -.12; Overinterest in sex matters, -.03 and -.11; Popular, -.04 and -.06; Preference for younger children, -.04 and .19; Sensi- tive (general), -.04 and .05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.04 and .17; Sex denied entirely, -.05 and -.14; Slow, dull, -.06 and .07; Leading others into bad conduct, -.13 and .10
Omitted — Grouped: temper, etc.; Temper tantrums
additional four conduct problems similarly yielded substantial cor- relations In the .30's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: incorrigibllity, hatred or jealousy of sibling, lazi- ness, and rudeness.
TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY 399
Five behavior difficulties showed consistently moderate correlations in the .20fs vith temper display; changeable moods or attitudes, contrariness, selfishness, sulkiness, and (calcu- lated for boys only) threatening violence. Among boys five mis- cellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the .20 's but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: emotional instability, unhappiness, inferiority feelings, object of teasing by other children, and former convulsions. Eleven behavior prob- lems among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: destructiveness , defiant attitude, restlessness in sleep, aullenness, excuse-forming at- titude, lying, fantastical lying, truancy from home, staying out late at night, finicky food habits, and irresponsibility.
There were six negative correlations of moderate size, ranging from -.31 down to -.21, all among girls: feeble-minded sibling, mental conflict, repressed manner, "request for voca- tional guidance, tf question or diagnosis of encephalitis, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
Among the six sex notations there was only one correla- tion of statistically significant size, -.21 + .06 with victim of sex abuse by older child or person (calculated for girls only).
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations all correlations were low or negligible, except the doubtfully sig- nificant negative coefficient of -.21 + .09 with question or diag- nosis of encephalitis among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
A "larger grouping" was made of the three similar nota- tions, temper tantrums (Table 76), temper display (Table 77), and irritable temperament (Table 47, p. 274). The resulting popula- tions were 736, or 34.8 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and 312, or 26.4 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. This broader grouping
^Ihe reasons for this broader grouping were given in I, 44; see 86, Table 13, Item C.
400 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
thus comprises one of the most frequent of behavior problems re- ported among our cases. The resulting coefficients (Table 78) vere usually larger than those computed upon the more restricted rub- rics .
It will suffice to summarize the coefficients for this larger grouping, temper tantrums or display (including irritable temperament , undifferentiated), briefly.
Four notations consistently yielded large or high coeffi- cients ranging from .43 to .57: violence, swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentiated), and the two notations for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated, threatening violence and swear- ing in general.
Thirteen notations yielded substantial or large correla- tions in the .30's and ,40's among both sexes: fighting, quarrel- someness, destructiveness, stubbornness, defiant attitude, contra- riness, bossy manner, selfishness, question of change of person- ality, changeable moods or attitudes, "nervousness, " crying spells, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Twenty behavior problems among both sexes yielded moderate to high correlations ranging from the .20's to the . 40's: incor- rigibllity, disobedience, disturbing influence in school, exclu- sion from s chopl , lying, fantastical lying, egooentricity, rude- ness, sullenness, sulk! ness , "spoiled child, " hatred or jealousy of sibling, excuse- forming attitude, restlessness, restlessness in sleep, irregular sleep habits, finicky food habits, staff nota- tion of emotional instability, queer behavior, and unpopularity and the two notations for which only the boys1 correlations were computed — teasing other children and smoking.
Among the six sex notations there was one correlation of significant size, .20 + .04 with overlnterest in the opposite sex among girls, the boys' coefficient not being calculated because of paucity of cases.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities, question 'or diagnosis of encephalitis yielded the substantial co- efficients of .31 + .04 and .33 + .06 for boys and girls respec- tively. Enures! s among girls yielded the substantial correlation of .31 + .03- Neurological defect (unspecified) among girls showed the moderate correlation of .24 + .04.
Among the four home or familial notations the only
.TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY
TABLE 78 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED : TEMPER, ETC.*1
401
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.36 ± .02 |
.42 f .02 |
|
Conduct -"total |
• 39 ± «02 |
.50 4- .02 |
|
.09 -I- .03 |
-.06 4- .04 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Threat/oiling violence |
.57 + .03 |
|
|
Violence |
.52 + .02 |
.57 4- .04 (2)* |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.50 + .02 |
.58 J .03 (1) |
|
SWe^P"! T\g (gftTiera1 )*.T.T..t.*r.Tt-rttt-.iTrrt-ti |
.14.3 + .03 |
|
|
Grouped; flvea**1 j\gt etc .T-,tTr..-.TT, T * - - |
.43 + .03 |
.43 4- .04 (10-11) |
|
Changeable moods |
.39 + .03 |
.43 4- .04 (10-11) |
|
.38 + .02 |
.47 Hh .03 (6) |
|
|
.36 Hh .02 |
•53 + »03 (3) |
|
|
Fighting |
.36 i .03 |
.48 + .03 (4-5) |
|
Emotl onal 1 nBtabl 1 1 ty .. T ...... r ............... |
.36 + .04 |
.28 + .05 (39-41) |
|
.34 + .03 |
.36 4- .05 (23-26) |
|
|
Stubborn |
.34 + .03 |
.40 i .03 (13-15) |
|
Defiant |
.33 + .03 |
.44 + .04 (8-9) |
|
Quest-top of change of personality. . T . r . . . r r . . . |
.33 + .04 |
.38 4- .07 (17-21) |
|
Contrary .,,.,., .,trr-*TtirrTT-Tr*,rr.*--.'~T*--T |
.32 i .04 |
.38 4- .05 (17-21) |
|
Quarrelsome T . r t „ . . T T . T . t T T T T . . . . |
.32 + .03 |
.48 i .03 (4-5) |
|
Bossy |
.31 i .04 |
.36 4- .04 (23-26) |
|
Selfish. |
.31 + .03 |
.39 i .05 (16) |
|
.31 + .04 |
.33 4- .06 (29-30) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.30 + .03 |
.36 i .04 (23-26) |
|
Crying spells |
.30 + .04 |
.38 4- .03 (17-21) |
|
"Nervous" |
.30 -»- .03 |
.34 4- .04 (27-28) |
|
Incorrigible f |
.27 + .02 |
.45 4- .03 (7) |
|
Rude |
.27 + .03 |
.44 + .03 (8-9) |
|
Egocentric |
.27 4- .03 |
.31 4^ .04 (33-34) |
|
Restless |
.27 -i- .03 |
.40 i .03 (13-15) |
|
Queer ,.... |
.26-1- .04 |
.21 t .05 (50-52) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.26 i .03 |
.42 4j .04 (12) |
|
Disobedient |
.25 + .03 |
.32 f '04 (31-32} |
|
Kir <TUB«- forming, ,,.,.....,,,.,.,,TT»»TT. .»•«.»• |
,25 4- .03 |
.30 4- .04 (35-37) |
|
.25 4- .04 |
.38 4- .05 (17*21) |
|
|
Lying |
.24 t «°2 |
.27 4- .03 (42-43) |
|
.24 4- .03 |
.40 4- .04 (15-15) |
|
|
Fantastical lying * ....... T ............... r .... |
.23 4- .03 |
.28 t -05 (39-41) |
|
Teasing other children Sulky |
.23 t -03 .23 4- .04 |
.36 t -05 (23-26) |
|
.22 4- .03 |
.20 4- .05 (53-57) |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.22 4- .03 |
.37 4; .04 (22) |
|
Smoking. ............... ^ ...................... |
.22 4- .03 |
|
|
8tea3 1 ng ................................... f T . |
.21 4- .02 |
.12 |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
402
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABIS 78— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.21 ± .04 .21 ± .03 .20 ± .04 .20 + .04 .20 i .03 .20 4- .03 .16 " .06 .16 .12 .12 .12 .19 .10 .09 .18 .12 .15 .12 .09 .18 |
.33 ± .05 (29-30) .27 + .04 (42-43) .25 ± .05 (44) .02 .34 4- .04 (27-28) .02 " .38 ± .04 (17-21) .32 + .05 (31-32) .31 ± .03 (33-34) •30 t .06 (35-37) •30 ± .05 (35-37) .29 ± .05 (38) .28 + .04 (39-41) .24 ± .04 (45) .23 ± .05 (46) .22 ± .05 (47-49) .22 ± .05 (47-49) .22 4- .04 (47-49) .21 ± .05 (50-52) .21 ± -05 (50-52) .20 ± .05 (53-57) .20 ± .04 (53-57) .20 ± .04 (53-57) .20 t .04 (53-57) |
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits. |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Former convulsions |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Enure si s |
||
|
Depressed |
||
|
Irresponsible |
||
|
Distractible ' |
||
|
Neurological defect |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
Day dreflinil ng , .................................. |
||
|
Psy choneuroti c |
||
|
Over interest in opposite sex |
||
|
Staying out late at night • |
.10 .10 |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Brother in penal detention |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.08 .09 |
-.22 ± .05 -.20 ± .05 |
|
|
Lack of initiative |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Headaches, .19 and .19; Nail-biting, .17 and .19; Truancy from hone, .17 and .11; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .17 (boya); Con- duct prognosis bad, .16 and .10; Refusal to attend school, .15 and .08; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, ate., .14 and .18; Masturbation, .14 and .11; Object of teasing, .14 and .18; Sensitive (general), .14 and .18; Unhappy, .14 and .07; Loitering, .13 and .11; Worry over specific fact, .12 and .17; Mental conflict, .11 and .09; Truancy from school, .11 and .15; Slovenly, .11 and .11; Lack of Interest in school, .11 and .17; Listless, .10 and -.00; Seclualve, .09 and .02; Apprehensive, .09 and .08; Speech defect, .09 and .03; Discord between parents, .08 and .08; Gang, .08 (boya); Sensitive over specific fact, .08 and .09; Lues-, .06 and .03; Bad companions, .06 and .02; Inattentive In school, .06 and .14; Over Interest In sex matters, .06 and .05; Bashful, .06 and .00; Popu- lar, .06 and .12; Follower, .06 and - 02; Clean, .05 and .12; Over suggest ible, .04 and -.04; Question of hypophrenia, .02 and .02; Poor work in school, .01 and .04; Underweight, .01 and .00; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.01 and -.00; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.01 and -.09; Vicious home conditions, -.03 and -.13; Retardation In school, -.03 and -.05; Vocational guidance, -.06 and .10; Attrac- tive manner, -.06 and -.02; Stuttering, -.06 (boya); Repressed, -.07 and .07; Slow, dull, - 07 and .06; Irregular attendance at school, -.08 and -.01; Feeble-
TEMPER TANTRUMS AND TEMPER DISPLAY 403
TABLE 78— Continued
minded sibling, -.11 and -.17; Victim of sex abuse, -.15 (girls); Immoral home conditions, -.16 and -.16; Sex denied entirely, -.16 and .OU Omitted — Temper display; Temper tantrums; Irritable
significant coefficient was the negative correlation of -.22 4- .05 with brother in penal detention among girls.
CHAPTER XLII SWEARING AND BAD LANGUAGE
In the original Indexing of the behavior problems and "reasons for referral" among the children examined consecutively in the behavior clinic at the Illinois Institute for Juvenile Re- search during the years 1923-27, separate categories were set up for swearing or cursing in general; obscene, indecent, or sugges- tive language ; profane, bad, or vile language (not Including ob- scene language ) ; and swearing at mother, stepmother, teacher, ma- tron, et-c., or "calling them names"; but these items were noted so Infrequently that in spite of their clinical importance it was possible to calculate coefficients for only two categories — swear- ing in general among boys and swearing or bad language (including the four categories undifferentiated) among both sexes. These no- tations were important as Indicators of conduct deviation, the girls' correlations being especially high, and, to a lesser extent, of personality deviation. As indicators of "juvenile delinquency," as measured by the correlations with police arrest, their signifi- cance was only moderate or low.
Swearing in general was noted among 137 of our 2,113 White boys, or 6.5 per cent. Among our I,l8l White girls it was noted •in only 37 instances, too few to justify correlational treatment. With the conduct- total its bi- serial £ was high, . 51 4- .02. With the personality- total its correlation was substantial, .30 4- .03. With police arrest its tetrachoric r was low, . 17 + .04 (Table 79).
Swearing in general yielded large correlations In the ,40's with the three notations temper tantrums, smoking, and violence. With six conduct problems it yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's: incorrigibility . fighting, threatening violence,
HTol. I, chap. 1.
2Ibid. , pp. 57-68, Table 3, Items 179, 195, 200, and 223.
404
SWEARING AND BAD LANGUAGE TABLE 79
CORRELATIONS WITH "SWEARING- (GENERAL)" (Boys Only)
Personality- total 30 ± .03
Conduct-total 51 ± »02
Police arrest 17 ± .04
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Grouped: temper, etc 43 ± .03
Temper tantrums 42 ± .04
Grouped: fighting, etc 4l ± .03
Smoking 4l * .04
Violence 40 ± .04
Rude 38 ± .04
Lying 37 ± .03
Incorrigible 36 ± .04
Grouped: disobedient, etc 34 ± .03
Stealing 33 ± .03
Fighting 32 ± .04
Threatening violence 32 ± .06
Defiant 29 ± .05
Leading others into bad conduct 29 ± .05
Truancy from home 29 ± .04
Exclusion from school 29 ± .05
Disturbing influence in school 27 ± .04
Destructive 26 ± .05
Disobedient 26 + .04
Teasing other children 26 ± .05
Excuse- forming 26 ± .04
Unpopular 26 f .06
Quarrelsome 25 f .04
Grouped: "nervous," etc 24 ± .03
Queer 24 ± .06
Irritable 24 t .04
Masturbation 24 t .04
Refusal to attend school 24 f .05
Staying out late at night 23 ± .04
Truancy from school 22 ± .04
Overinterest In sex matters . .21 ± .06
Sullen 21 ± .05
Inferiority feelings 20 ± .05
Temper display 20 t «05
Stubborn 20 + .04
Enuresis 20 + .04
Contrary 20 ± .06
Larger Correlations (Negative)
Lack of initiative -.29 t .03
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Bad companions, .19; "Nervous," .18; Conduct prog- nosis bad, .18; Nail-blting> .18; Loitering, .18; Restless, .17; Mental conflict, .17; Grouped: depressed, etc., .16;
405
406 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABIE 79— Continued
Former convulsions, .16; Unhappy, .16; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .16; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .16; Irregular sleep habite, .16; Egocentric, .16; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .16; Fantastical lying, .16; Ques- tion of encephalitis, .15; Boastful, "show-off," .14; Bossy, .Ik; Gang, .14; Sulky, .14; Changeable moods, .14; Question of change of personality, .14; Crying spells, .14; Distract- ible, .14; Object of teasing, .14; Discord between parents, .14; Neurological defect, .13; Over suggestible, .13; Lazy, .13; Finicky food habits, .13; Selfish, .12; Hestless in sleep, .12; Depressed, .11; Slovenly, .10; Leader, .10; Ques- tion of hypophrenia, .09; Absent-minded, .09; Spoiled child, .08; Emotional instability, .08; Lack of interest in school, .08; Sex delinquency (coitus), .07; Daydreaming, .07; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .07; Vicious home condi- tions, .06; Apprehensive, .06; Betardatlon in school, .05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .04; Follower, .04; Head- aches, .04; Brother in penal detention, .03; Popular, .03; Sensitive over specific fact, .03; Poor work in school, .02; Attractive manner, .02; Vocational guidance, .02; Prefer- ence for younger children, .01; Psychoneurotic, .01; Slow, dull, .01; Irresponsible, .01; Inattentive in school, .01; Lues, .00; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.01; Grouped: sen- sitive or worrisome, etc., -.01; Listless, -.02; Sensitive (general), -.02; Repressed, -.03; Seclusive, -.03; Clean, -.06; Speech defect, -.07; Underweight , - 07; Stuttering, -.07; Bashful, -.08; Feeble-minded sibling, -.08; Irregular attendance at school, -.10; Sex denied entirely, -.10; Worry over specific fact, -.11; Immoral home conditions, -.12 Omitted— Grouped: swearing, etc.
rudeness, lying, and stealing. A large list of twenty- four con- duct and personality problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's: defiant attitude, disobedience, stubbornness, contrari- ness, quarrelsomeness , teasing other children, temper display, ir- ritable temperament, destructiveness , truancy from home, staying out late at night, truancy from school, refusal to attend school, disturbing Influence in school, exclusion from school, leading others into bad conduct, sullenness, excuse -forming attitude, un- popularity, inferiority feelings, queer behavior, masturbation, overlnterest in sex matters, and enures is.
The only negative correlation with swearing in general was for lack of initiative, -.29+ .05.
Among the four sex notations for which the boys1 correla- tions were computed moderate correlations in the .20*3 were found for masturbation and overlnterest in sex matters.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal disabilities the
SWEARING AND BAD LANGUAGE
407
only statistically significant correlation was with enuresis, .20 + .04.
With the four home or familial notations the correlations with swearing in general were low or negligible.
The "broader grouping, swearing or bad language (undifferen- tiated), was made up of the four categories described above: swear- ing or cursing in general; obscene, indecent, or suggestive Ian- guage; profane, bad, or vile language (not including obscene lan- guage ) ; and swearing at mother, stepmother, teacher, matron, etc., or "calling them names." It was noted among 278, or 13.2 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 90, or 7.6 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls.
Among girls its unusually high bi- serial correlation of .76 + .02 was one of the three highest of the girls' correlations found with conduct- total (Table 7, p. 98), and among boys its very high coefficient of .61 4- .02 was the highest of all the boys' correla- tions found with conduct- total. Its correlation with personality- total among girls was large, .43 + .03, and among boys also sub- stantial, .33 + .02. With police arrest its respective tetrachoric jr!s for boys and girls were moderate or low, .23 4- .03 and .18 + ,05 (Table 80).
TABLE 80 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: SWEARING, ETC."
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personal Ity-totai ,,,»,,.. ..,,,,, T . r t r ,......., |
• 33 ± .02 |
.1*3 + .03 |
|
COndU<5"t -"totftl r ., r ...... r .. r ....... r ........... |
.61 + .02 |
.76 + .02 |
|
Police arrest |
.23 + .03 |
.18 + .05 |
|
Larger Corre |
dations (Positive) |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.47 + .03 |
.60 + .Ok (2)* |
|
Rude |
.^5 + .03 |
.50 + .05 (5) |
|
Violence |
,kk + .03 |
.6k + .05 (1) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.43 + .03 |
.^3 + .6k (10-12) |
|
Destructive |
.43 + .03 |
.kk i .07 (8-9) |
|
Temper tflwvtruniiEp ............................... |
.43 + .03 |
.42 i .05 (13-14) |
Bank order of girls' correlations.
408
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 80— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
43 ± .04 |
|||
|
Grouped: cHleobedlen'fcj etc.., |
.41 4- .03 .40 + .03 .37 ± .05 .37 4- .04 |
.46 ± -04 (?) .52 4- .04 (4) .32 t -07 (33-37) |
|
|
Incorrigible. |
|||
|
Contrary* .................... |
|||
|
Stacking |
|||
|
Defiant |
.36 4- .04 .35 ± .03 .34 t -03 .34 4- .04 •33 ± .03 .33 t -03 .32 ± .03 .32 t -05 .31 ± .05 .31 ± .03 .31 ± .03 .30 4- .04 .29 t -Ol* .28 t .03 .27 + .04 |
.34 4- .06 (28-30) .54 t -03 (3) .36 t .05 (25) .19 .43 4- .05 (10-12) .44 + .04 (8-9) .41 4- .06 (15-17) .32 t .06 (33-37) .42 + .07 (13-14) .48 + .05 (6) .41 I .04 (15-17) .41 + .06 (15-17) .39 4- .06 (18-20) .23 ± .05 (59-62) |
|
|
Fighting |
|||
|
Disobedient |
|||
|
Sullen |
|||
|
Qw|M*rftlecine, ,. r .............. |
|||
|
Stealing |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in school Qver:liyt«rppt In B«IT mat-tent? ,, |
L |
||
|
Staying out late at night .... |
|||
|
livincr. ........ . . . „ |
|||
|
Excuse-forming. |
|||
|
Exclusion from school |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Teasing other children |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling Conduct prognosis bad |
.27 ± .07 .26 4- .05 .26 + .03 .26 t -03 .25 + .04 .24 + .04 .24 + .04 .23 ± .03 .23 t .05 .23 t .04 .22 4- .04 .21 ± .05 .21 t -03 .21 t -03 .21 4- .04 .21 ± .03 .21 4- .04 .21 i .03 .20 t -05 .20 + -03 .20 4- .03 .20 + .03 .20 i .05 .07 .10 .16 .19 .10 .05 |
.25 ± .07 (52-56) .31 ± .08 (38-40) .34 ± .05 (28-30) .23 4- .04 (59-62) .35 ± .07 (26-27) .30 4- .07 (41-42) .43 + .07 (10-12) .33 ± .05 (31-32) |
|
|
Truancy from school. ......... |
|||
|
Grouped: "nervous tn etc |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
|||
|
Loitering |
|||
|
Leading others into bad conduc Truancy front home |
>t |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Egocentric , |
|||
|
.20 4- .06 (65-67) .37 + .06 (22-24) .33 ± .07 (31-32) .25 ± .05 (52-56) .16 .14 .32 + .07 (33-37) •31 ± .07 (38-40) .27 4- .06 (45-46) .34 ± .06 (28-30) .23 ± .05 (59-62) .26 4- .06 (47-51) .31 ± .05 (38-40) .32 ± .07 (33-37) •39 ± .05 (18-20) .39 ± .08 (18-20) -38 ± -05 (21) .37 ± .07 (22-24) -37 ± .06 (22-24) •35 ± .07 (26-27) .32 ± .05 (33-37) .30 4- .06 (41-42) .29 ± .07 (43) .28 4- .05 (44) |
|||
|
Tflrapfr display. ........... ^ * . |
|||
|
Queer |
|||
|
Stubborn. |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
|||
|
Lazy |
|||
|
ITan'ta.st.loaJ lying. ............ |
|||
|
Boastful, "ahov-off " |
|||
|
Bad QGropanlonB ................ |
|||
|
Bossy , * .. |
|||
|
Slovenly T frftrttftffttftttt , |
|||
|
Masturbation |
|||
|
Best less |
|||
|
Utahatjpy, ...................... |
|||
|
Grouped: lack of Interest In Question of encephalitis. ..... |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Question of change of persona] Lack of interest in school .... |
Llty |
||
|
Vicious h^mw* conditions. ...... |
|||
|
Overihtereet in opposite sex . , |
|||
|
Headaches .................... |
.06 .02 .15 |
||
|
Inattentiye in school. |
|||
|
Enuresis |
|||
SWEARING AND BAD LANGUAGE TABLE 80— -Continued
409
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Victim of sex abuse |
.27 t -06 (45-46) |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
.09 |
.26 + .06 (47-51) |
|
Restless In sleep |
.12 |
.26 ± .06 (47-51) |
|
Object of teasing. ............................ |
-17 |
.26 + .06 (47-51) |
|
Emotional Instability, ........................ |
.11 |
.26 + .07 (47-51) |
|
Mental conflict |
ell |
.25 + .08 (52-56) |
|
Dlstractlble |
.13 |
.25 t -06 (52-56) |
|
.08 |
.25 + .06 (52-56) |
|
|
.17 |
.24 + .08 (57-58) |
|
|
Crying spells |
.08 |
.24 t .05 (57-58) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.17 |
.23 + .06 (59-62) |
|
• 09 |
.22 + .06 (63) |
|
|
Selfish |
.11 |
.21 ± .04 (64) |
|
Sex del intjuency ( coitus ).. |
.05 |
.20 ± .05 (65-67) |
|
Apprehensive. |
.01 |
.20 ± .06 (64-67) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
Lack of initiative |
- I'S |
. pg j. 07 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Inferiority feelings, .17 and -.04; Gang, .16 (boys); Irresponsible, .16 and .08; Discord between parents, .16 and .15; Nail-biting, .15 and .16; Sulky, .15 and .06; Spoiled child, .13 and .02; Over suggestible, .12 and .07; Depressed, .12 and .07; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .12 and .10; Neurologi- cal defect, .11 and .12; "Nervous," .11 and .07; Worry over specific fact, .10 and .19; Former convulsions, .08 and -.00; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and .15; Seclusive, .06 and .10; Leader, .06 and .09; Absent-minded, .06* and .04; Preference for younger children, .04 and .12; Attractive manner, .04 and .09; Immoral home conditions, .04 and .14; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .03 and .09; Repressed, .03 and .10; Clean, .02 and -.03; Sensitive (general), .01 and -.04; Stuttering, .00 (boys); Poor work in school, .00 and .03; Popular, -.00 and .01; Underweight, -.00 and .01; Question , of hypophrenla, -.01 and .03; Psychoneurotic, - 01 and .10; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and .08; Listless, -.02 and .05; Retardation in school, -.03 and .06; Follower, -.04 and -.03; Sex denied entirely, -.05 and .03; Vocational guidance, -.05 and -.19; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., - 06 and .01; Slow, dull, -.06 and .03; Bash- ful, -.07 and -.11; Lues, -.09 and .13; Feeble-minded sibling, -.16 and .01; Speech defect, -.16 and -.04
Omitted — Swearing in general
Its highest correlation was with violence, among girls, .64 + .05, the corresponding coefficient for boys also being large, .44 + .03. Fighting among girls yielded the high correlation of •54 + .03, the boys' coefficient, .35 + .03, also being substan- tial. FiVe conduct problems yielded large correlations ranging
410 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
from .40 to .52 among both sexes: temper tantrums, incorrigibil- ity, rudeness, destructiveness , and (calculated for boys only) threatening violence. Among girls seven undesirable behavior traits yielded large correlations in the .40fs with corresponding substantial coefficients in the ,30!s among boys: qua r r e 1 s ome ne s a , disturbing influence in school, stealing, staying out late at night, lying, excuse- forming attitude, and unpopularity. Leading others into bad conduct also yielded the high correlation of .43 + .07 among girls but a moderate coefficient of .24 + .04 among boys.
Four behavior difficulties yielded substantial correlations In the .JO's among both sexes: disobedience, defiant attitude, contrariness, and overinterest in sex matters. Two traits, smok- ing (calculated for boys only) and overinterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only), also yielded substantial correla- tions in the .JO's. Sullenness among boys yielded a substantial correlation of .34 + .04 but a low coefficient of .19 among girls. Among girls thirteen conduct and personality traits yielded sub- stantial correlations in the .jJO's with moderate corresponding co- efficients in the ,20's for boys: temper display, boastful or "show-off" manner, bossy manner, restlessness, irregular sleep habits, truancy from home, truancy from school, exclusion from school, loitering or wandering, fantastical lying, queer behavior, unhapplnesa, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Six notations among girls similarly yielded substantial correla- tions in the .JO's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: changeable moods or attitudes, question of change of per- sonality, lack of interest in school , question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis , headaches, and vicious (not " Immoral" ) home conditions .
Seven undesirable behavior problems showed moderate corre- lations in the ,20!s with swearing or bad language ( undif f erenti- ated) among both sexes: irritable temperament, stubbornness, egQ- centricity, hatred or jealousy of sibling, bad companions, sloven- liness , and masturbation. Similar moderate correlations were found for two traits for which only the boys1 coefficients were calcu- lated— teasing other children and complaining of bad treatment by other children — and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person. Among girls sixteen notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20!s but corresponding low coeffi-
SWEARING AND BAD LANGUAGE 411
dents below .20 among boys: restlessness in sleep, emotional in- stability, distractibility, refusal to attend school, irregular attendance at school, inattentiveness in school, selfishness, men- tal conflict, daydreaming, crying spells, depressed spells or un- happiness (undifferentiated), apprehensiveness , object of teasing by other children, f i ni cky f oo d nab its, sex delinquency (coitus), and enures is .
Only one negative correlation was found, the moderate co- efficient of -.29 + .07, with lack of initiative among girls.
Swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) tended to be significantly correlated with sex misbehavior among both sexes. Overinterest in sex matters among both sexes and overinterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls1 coefficients were cal- culated, all yielded substantial correlations of .52. Masturbation among both sexes and victim of sex abuse by older child or person, for which only the girls1 correlations were calculated, showed mod- erate coefficients ranging from .20 to .27. Sex delinquency ( coi- tus ) among girls showed the moderate coefficient of .20 4- .05, the corresponding coefficient for the boys being .05. For sex misbe- havior denied entirely the two coefficients were negligible.
Among the six physical or psychophysical defects there were two correlations of statistically significant size, both among girls: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, .39 + .08, anci enuresis, .28 -f .05.
Among the four home or familial notations vicious (not "immoral") home conditions among girls yielded the substantial co- efficient of .35 + '07, all other coefficients in this field being low or negligible.
CHAPTER XLIII SMOKING
Smoking was noted among 190, or 9.0 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys. Among girls it was noted so infrequently (at least during the years 1923-27, during which period our cases were ex- amined) that a correlational analysis among girls was not feasible. Among boys it was a fairly substantial Indicator of conduct devia- tion and delinquency, but only a moderate index of personality dis- order. It was a considerable indicator of conduct deviation and "juvenile delinquency," its correlations with conduct- total and police arrest being .49 + .02 and .35 + .03 respectively. With persona 11 ty- 1 otal its bi-serial r_ of .21 4; .03 was of only moder- ate size.
Seven conduct problems yielded large tetrachoric correla- tions in the . 40's (Table 8l ) : leading others into bad conduct,
TABLE 81
CORRELATIONS WITH "SMOKING" (Boys Only)
Personality-total 21 + .03
Conduct -total 49 + .02
Police arrest 35 ± .03
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Leading others into bad conduct 48 ± .04
Gang 14-6 ± .04
Steallng 43 + .03
Truancy from home 42 ± .03
Swearing (general) 4l + .04
Lying 40 ± .03
Truancy from school 40 ± .03
Grouped: swearing, etc 37 ± .04
Grouped: disobedient, etc 35 ± .03
Bad companions 35 ± .03
Staying out late at night 34 ± .04
Stubborn 34 + .03
Boastful, "show-off" 32 ± .04
Disobedient 31 ± -03
Incorrigible 29 ± .03
412
SMOKING 413
TABLE 81— Continued
Irregular sleep habits 29 ± .05
Loitering 28 t »04
Fighting 27 ± .04
Sullen 27 t .04
Unpopular 27 ± .05
Contrary 26 t »06
Disturbing influence in school 26 ± .04
Rude 25 ± .01*
Grouped: fighting, etc 25 ± .03
Slovenly 24 t -04
Question of change of personality 24 t «05
Excuse- forming 24 ± .04
Irritable 24 ± .04
Grouped: egocentric, etc 23 + «OU
Defiant 22 f .04
Refusal to attend school 22 ± .05
Grouped: temper, etc 22 + .03
Teasing other children 21 + .Ok
Fantastical lying 20 + »03
Restless in sleep 20 ± .04
larger Correlations (Negative)
Headaches -.20 ± .05
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lack of interest in school, .19; Threatening vio- lence, .19; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .18; Selfish, .18; Masturbation, .17; Popular, .17; Leader, .17; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .16; Nail-biting, .16; Sulky, .16; Violence, .16; Changeable moods, .16; Grouped: depressed, etc., .15; Egocentric, .15; Exclusion from school, .15; Sex delinquency (coitus), .1^; Restless, .14; Depressed, .13; Follower, .13; Quarrelsome, .12; Temper tantrums, .12; Over- suggestible, .12; Irregular attendance at school, .12; Enu- resis, .11; Inattentive in school, .10; Temper display, .10; Sensitive (general), .10; Unhappy, .10; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .09; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .09; Dis- tract ible, .09; Conduct prognosis bad, .09; Clean, .09; At- tractive manner, .09; Destructive, .08; Irresponsible, .08; Listless, .08; "Nervous," .08; Spoiled child, .08; Question of encephalitis, .08; Finicky food habits, .07; Daydreaming, .07; Worry over specific fact, .07; Inferiority feelings, .07; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .07; Discord between parents, .07; Crying spells, .06; Sensitive over spe- cific fact, .06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .05; Queer, .05; Poor work in school, .05; Bossy, .04; Stutter- ing, .04; Brother in penal detention, .04; Lazy, .02; Emo- tional instability, .02; Former convulsions, .02; Overin- terest in sex matters, .01; Apprehensive, .01; Seclusive, .01; Repressed, .01; Object of teasing, -.00; Feeble-minded sibling, -.01; Underweight, -.01; Sex denied entirely, -.01; Mental conflict, -.01; Lues, -.03; Preference for younger children, -.04; Slow, dull, -.05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.06; Psychoneurotic, -.06; Speech defect, -.08; Retardation
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 81— Continued
in school, -.09; Neurological defect, -.09; Tnral home con- ditions, -.09; Vicious home conditions, -.10; sent -minded, -.10; Question of hypophrenia, -.13; Vocationa guidance, -.Ik; Lack of initiative, -.Ik; Bashful, -.18
running with a gang, stealing, truancy from home, truancy from home, truancy from school, swearing in general, and lying. Five conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,50's: bad companions, staying out late at night, boastful or "show-off" manner, disobedience, and stubbornness.
A large list of twenty undesirable conduct or personality traits showed moderate correlations in the ,20's: incorrigibility, contrariness, defiant attitude, refusal to attend school, fighting, disturbing .Influence in school, temper tantrums or display (undlf- ferentiated), teasing other children, rudeness, irritable tempera- ment, egocentricity or selfishness (undifferentlated), sullenness, loitering or wandering, slovenliness, irregular sleep habits, rest- lessness in sleep, excuse- forming attitude, fantastical lying, question of change of personality, and unpopularity.
One statistically significant negative correlation was found with smoking, the moderate coefficient of -.20 4- .05 with headaches.
Among the four sex notations, the seven physical or psy- chophysical defects, and the four home or familial notations for which the boys coefficients were calculated, the correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.10 to .17.
CHAPTER XLIV
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS; RUNNING WITH A GANG; AND LEADING OTHERS INTO BAD CONDUCT
Three notations — associating with bad companions , running with a gang, and leading others into bad conduct — were of consid- erable importance as indicators of conduct deviation and juvenile delinquency but of lesser importance as indicators of personality difficulties.
Bad companions was noted among 370, or 17-5 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 132, or 11.2 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. With the police-arrest criterion of "juvenile delin- quency" its tetrachoric correlation among boys was high, .59 + .02, and also fairly meaningful among girls, ,40 + .04 (Table 82). With
TABLE 82 CORRELATIONS WITH "BAD COMPANIONS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.14 + .02 |
.22 + .03 |
|
|
.40 4; .02 |
.35 + .03 |
|
|
.59 + .02 |
.40 -f- .04 |
|
|
Larger Corrc |
»latione (Posit Ive) |
|
|
•57 ± -02 |
.25 + .04 (18)* |
|
|
.48 ± .02 |
.43 ± .05 (2) |
|
|
Truancy from hnm<& ......... r ..... T ........ r . * ,. |
.47 £ .02 |
.21 + .05 (22-25) |
|
.If Jj. + .03 |
•59 ± -04 (l) |
|
|
Over suggestible * • |
.4? + .03 |
.40 ± .04 (4) |
|
.41 + .03 |
||
|
.37 + .04 |
.05 |
|
|
Lyiruz |
.35 + .03 |
.32 + .04 (6-7) |
|
x«5 + .05 |
||
|
Loitering „ ." |
.31 + .04 |
.27 •+- .06 (12-14) |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
415
416
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 82— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.30 ± .03 |
.26 ± .05 (15-17) |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. |
.28 4- .03 |
.29 ± .04 (9) |
|
.26 t -05 |
.28 t .06 (10-11) |
|
|
.25 + .Ok |
.07 |
|
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
.24 ± -03 |
.18 |
|
Lack of Interest In school |
.2k 4- .03 |
.17 |
|
.24 + .05 |
.32 ± .06 (6-7) |
|
|
Unhaimy |
.24 + .05 |
.07 |
|
Ex CUB«- fanning. T , » , -, . * , - , T - T . . t f T * , T ,,,.,,,,,, |
.23 + .03 |
.26 ± .06 (15-17) |
|
Follower |
.23 + .04 |
.07 |
|
Masturbation |
.22 + .03 |
.20 t '05 (26-31) |
|
.21 + .05 |
• 17 |
|
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.21 + .03 |
.27 ± .06 (12-14) |
|
Rude . * . |
.20 + 03 |
17 |
|
Grouped! lack of Interest in school, etc. .... |
.20 + .03 |
.20 t -05 (26-31) |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.41 t -04 (3) |
|
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus )........ |
.14 |
.37 4- .04 (5) |
|
-.01 |
.30 4- .07 (8) |
|
|
Defiant |
.09 |
.28 ± .06 (10-11) |
|
Fantastical lying. |
.18 |
.26 4 .06 (15-17) |
|
Irresponsible |
.14 |
.24 + .06 (19) |
|
Destructive |
.17 |
.22 4- .07 (20-21) |
|
Victim <~>f B*»I abuse. .......................... |
.22 4 .06 (20-21) |
|
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.19 |
.21 4- .06 (22-25) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.08 |
.21 4 .06 (22-25) |
|
- 00 |
21 4 06 (22-25} |
|
|
Bossy |
.09 |
20 4- 06 (26-31) |
|
Disobedient |
.19 |
.20 4 .05 (26-31) |
|
Egocentric ,. |
.15 |
.20 4 .05 (26-31) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.12 |
.20 4 .05 (26-^l^ |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
Stuttering. |
-.27 4- .05 |
|
|
F«ab1»-nlnded sibling, . , . , .................... |
.02 |
-.26 t 06 |
|
Retardat-1 on In school ......................... |
-.05 |
-.26 t '04 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fighting, .19 and .17; Swearing (general), .19 (boys); Sex denied en- tirely, .19 and -.14; Quarrelsome, .18 and .09; Irregular sleep habits, .18 and .17; Discord between parents, .18 and .17; Slovenly, .17 and .13; Hatred or Jealousy o'f sibling, .17 and .17; Sulky, .16 and .17; Sullen, .16 and .09; Grouped: fighting, etc., .16 and .12; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Emo- tional Instability, .15 and .17; Leader, .15 and .13; Irregular attendance at school, .15 and .05; Refusal to attend school, .14 and .1^; Exclusion from school, .14 and .02; Spoiled child, .13 and .13; Attractive manner, .13 and -.01; Nail-biting, .11 and .04; Violence, .11 and .09; Apprehensive, .11 and .13; Mental conflict, .11 and .06; Bnuresls, .10 and .00; Lazy, .10 and .11; Restless, .10 and .17; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .10 (boys); Daydreaming, .09 and .05; Headaches, .09 and .10; Former convulsions,
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS 417
TABUS 82— Continued
.09 and .02; Vocational guidance , .09 and -.07; Finicky food habits, .08 and .11; Grouped: depressed, etc., .08 and .09; Threatening violence, .07 (boys); Crying spells, .07 and .12; Restless In sleep, .0? and .09; Repressed, .07 and -.03; Popular, .07 and .10; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .07 and .09; "Nervous," .06 and -.02; Temper display, .06 and .03; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and .02; Sensitive over specific fact, .06 and .11; Clean, .06 and -.06; Inefficient In work, play, etc., .05 and .Ik; Stubborn, .05 and .18; Temper tantrums, .04 and .09; Unpopular, .Ok and .10; Inferiority feelings, .Ok and -.01; Poor work in school, >04 and -.10; Immoral home conditions, .04 and .15; Contrary, .03 and .01; Irritable, .03 and -.03; Distractible, .03 and .09; Question of change of personality, .02 and .19; Object of teasing, .02 and .14; Preference for younger children, .02 and .12; Underweight, .01 and -.01; Grouped: sensitive or worri- some, etc., .00 and .16; Seclusive, -.01 and .00; Changeable moods, -.01 and .07; Selfish, -.03 and .11; Depressed, -.04 and .07; Listless, -.Ok and -.13; Psychoneurotic, -.05 and .03; Neurological defect, -.06 and .06; Bashful, -.07 and -.11; Question of hypophrenia, -.07 and -.16; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and -.16; Slow, dull, -.08 and -.15; Absent-minded, -.08 and -.00; Sensi- tive (general), -.10 and .04; Lack of initiative, -.10 and -.15; Speech defect, -.11 and -.07; Question of encephalitis, -.13 and .07; Lues, -.15 and .16
the conduct-total criterion of conduct disorders, not necessarily amounting to "juvenile delinquency," its correlations were sub- stantial, its respective bi-serial .r's for boys and girls being .40-1- .02 and .35 + .03. With the personality- total criterion of personality difficulties its relationships were low or moderate, the respective correlations for boys and girls being , 14 + .02 and .22 + .03. It is probable that the high correlation with bad com- panions may illustrate the enhancing effect of what on pages 3^-35 has been designated as "prejudicial" factors in case-record infor- mation when it is obtained in so large a degree from parents of the children. Parents are wont to excuse or explain the troubles of their own child by saying that other people's children have led him into bad conduct.
The highest correlations among boys were with stealing, the tetrachoric r* being .57 + .02, while the corresponding girls1 correlation was of only moderate size, .25 + .04. Among girls the highest correlation was with staying out late at night, .59 + .04, the corresponding boys1 coefficient also being large, .44 + .03. Two conduct difficulties — truancy from school and oversugyestibil- ity — yielded large correlations in the ,40!s among both sexes. Running with a gang, for which only the boys* correlation was cal- culated, and overintereat in the opposite sex, for which only the girls1 correlation was calculated, similarly yielded large corre-
418 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
latlons in the ,40's. Truancy from home yielded correlations of .47 + .02 and .21 + .05 among boys and girls respectively.
Lying among both sexes and smoking (calculated for boys only) yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s. Incorrigibil- ity and loitering or wandering among boys similarly yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's with moderate correlations in the .20' s among girls. Leading others into bad conduct among boys yielded the substantial correlation of .37 + .04 but a negligible coefficient of .05 among girls. Among girls overinterest in sex matters yielded a substantial correlation of .32 + .06, the corre- sponding coefficient among boys being somewhat lower, .24 -f .05. Sex delinquency ( coitus ) and worry over some specific fact among girls similarly yielded substantial correlations in the .30's but low respective coefficients of .14 and -.01 among boys.
Pour notations — masturbation, swearing or bad language (un- dlfferentiated), excuse- forming attitude, and vicious home condi- tions — showed moderate correlations in the ,20's with bad compan- ions among both sexes. Victim of sex abuse by older child or per- son, which was calculated for girls only, also showed the moderate correlation of .22 + .06. Among boys seven miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low coefficients be- low .20 among girls: brother in penal detention, "follower," lack of interest in school, rudeness, boastful or "show-off" manner, un- happiness, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Among girls ten notations similarly showed moderate correlations in the .20fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: disobed- ience, defiant attitude, egocentricity, bossy manner, irresponsi- bility, Inattentiveneas in school, disturbing influence in school, deatructiveness, fantastical lying, and queer behavior.
Bad companions showed three negative correlations of mod- erate size in the -,20's: stuttering (calculated for boys only) and retardation in school and feeble-minded sibling among girls.
Among sex- misbehavior notations there was a tendency toward positive correlation. Overinterest in the opposite sex (calculated for girls only) yielded the large correlation of .41 + .04. Sex delinquency ( coitus ) and overinterest in sex matters among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs with corresponding positive correlations of .14 and .24 + .05 among boys. Masturba- tion among both sexes and victim of sex abuse by older child or
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS 419
person (calculated for girls only) showed moderate correlations in the .20's. Sex misbehavior denied entirely showed low correlations of .19 and -.14 among boys and girls respectively.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only statistically significant correlation was the negative one of -.27 + .05 with stuttering (calculated for boys only), all other coefficients being low or negligible, ranging from -.15 to .16.
Among the four home or familial notations there were three coefficients of moderate size in the ,20's: vicious home condi- tions among both boys and girls and brother in penal detention among boys ,
Running with a gang was noted among 219, or 10.4 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys. Among girls it occurred so infrequently that the calculation of correlation coefficients was not feasible. Among boys its correlations resembled those of bad companions, as one might suppose, but in general were slightly smaller. Its tet- rachoric correlation with police arrest was large, .45 + .03, its bi- serial correlation with the conduct-total was substantial, .35 + .02, but with personality- total the relationship was negligible, .09 + .02.
Its largest correlation was with stealing, .54 + .02 (Ta- ble 83). Large correlations in the . 40's were found for three
TABLE 83
CORRELATIONS WITH "GANG" (Boys Only)
Personality-total 09 ± .02
Conduct-total 35 t .02
Police arrest 45 + .03
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Stealing 54 + .02
Smoking 46 + .04
Truancy from school 46 ± .03
Bad companions 41 t .03
Truancy from home 37 ± .03
Loitering , 36 ± .04
Staying out late at night 35 t -°3
Incorrigible 34 ± .03
Grouped: disobedient, etc 32 ± .03
Oversuggestible 31 t -03
Leading others Into bad conduct 27 ± .05
420 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABIE 83— Continued
Conduct prognosis bad 27 ± .05
Defiant 26 ± .Ok
Fighting 26 ± .04
Slovenly 26 ± .Ok
Leader 26 + .Ok
Lying 25 ± .03
Sullen 2k ± .Ok
Rude 2k ± .Ok
Sex denied entirely 2k ± .05
Contrary 23 + .05
Refusal to attend school 23 ± .05
Destructive . 22 + .04
Disobedient '. 22 ± .03
Follower 21 ± .Ok
Boastful, "show-off" 20 + .Ok
Fantastical lying 20 + .03
Egocentric 20 + .Oil- Brother in penal detention 20 + .05
Larger Correlations (Negative)
Stuttering -.2k ± .05
Vocational guidance -.21 + .04
Selfish -.20 ± .05
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Laclj: of interest in school, .17; Grouped: fight- ing, etc., .17; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .17; Disturbing Influence in school, .16; Grouped: egocen- tric, etc., .16; Grouped: swearing, etc., .16; Mental con- flict, .16; Spoiled child, .15; Swearing (general), .14; Vi- olence, .14; Exclusion from school, .13; Sulky, .12; Mastur- bation, .12; Question of change of personality, .12; Excuse- forming, .12; Irregular attendance at school, .12; Irregular sleep habits, .11; Emotional instability, .10; Sex delinquen- cy (coitus), .09; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .09; Irri- table, .09; Queer, .09; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .09; Rest- less, .08; Sensitive over specific fact, .08; Grouped: tem- per, etc., .08; Inattentive in school, .07; Stubborn, .07; Restless in sleep, .07; Popular, .07; Irresponsible, .06; Temper tantrums, .06; Changeable moods, .06; Dlstractlble, .06; Feeble-minded sibling, .05; Poor work in school, .04; Former convulsions, .04; Vicious home conditions, .04; Nail- biting, .03; Quarrelsome, .03; Apprehensive, .03; Seclusive, .03; Repressed, .03; Clean, .02; Grouped: sensitive or wor- risome, etc., .02; Temper display, .01; "Nervous," .01; Un- happy, .01; Overinterest in sex matters, .00; Sensitive (gen- eral), .00; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .00; Lues, .00; Immoral home conditions, -.00; Crying spells, -.01; Retardation in school, -.02; Lazy, -.02; Enuresis, -.02; Finicky food habits, -.02; Discord between parents, -.03; At- tractive manner, -.03; Absent -minded, -.04; Threatening vi- olence, -.04; Daydreaming, -.05; Bossy, -.05; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., -.06; Question of encephalitis, -.07; Neuro- logical defect, -.07; Question of hypophrenia, -.07; Infer-
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS TAME 83— Continued
iorlty feelings, -.07; Inefficient In work, play, etc., -.07; Worry over specific fact, -.08; Object of teasing, -.08; Teas- Ing other children, -.08; Listless, -.09; Depressed, -.09; Speech defect, -.10; Psychoneurotlc, -.10; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.11; Unpopular, -.11; Lack of Initiative, -.11; Preference for younger children, -.12; Slov, dull, -.12; Bash- ful, -.12; Underweight, -.13; Headaches, -.16
conduct problems : bad companions, truancy from school, and smok- ing. Substantial correlations in the .30's were found for truancy from home , staying out late at night, loitering or wandering, over- suggestibility, and incorrigiblllty.
Running with a gang showed moderate correlations in the .20 fs with a large list of nineteen miscellaneous notations: lead- ing others into bad conduct, "leader, " "follower, " disobedience, defiant attitude, contrariness, refusal to attend school, egocen- tricity, boastful or "show-off" manner, sullenness, rudeness, de- structlveness, fighting, lying, fantastical lying, slovenliness, staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis, sex misbehavior denied entirely, and brother in penal detention.
There were three negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's: selfishness, stuttering, and "request for voca- tional guidance. "
Among the four sex notations for which the boys' correla- tions were calculated the only significant correlation with running with a gang was the moderate one of .24 4- .05 with sex misbehavior denied entirely.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only significant coefficient was the negative one of -.24 4- .05 with stuttering.
Among the four home or familial notations the only signifi- cant correlation was with brother in penal detention, .20 + .05.
Leading others into bad conduct was noted among 138 boys, or 6.5 per cent, and among 50 girls, or 4.2 per cent. With the conduct- total its correlations were definitely high, the respective bi- serial £'s for boys and girls being .51 + .02 and .65 4- .03 (Ta- ble 84). With the personality- total among girls its correlation was large, .45 + ,04, but among boys only moderate, .20 + .03.
422 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 84 CORRELATIONS WITH "LEADING OTHERS INTO BAD CONDUCT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.20 ± .03 .51 ± -02 .40 ± .04 |
.45 + .04 .65 + .03 .27 + .06 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Smoking |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.48 + .04 |
||
|
Stealing |
.46 4- .03 .38 t .03 .37 ± .04 '.35 ± .03 .34 + .04 .34 + .04 .32 -f .03 .32 ± .05 .31 ± .04 .31 + .04 .31 t .04 .31 ± .05 .30 ± .04 .29 + .04 .29 + .05 |
.16 .40 4- .05 (10-14) .05 " .29 ± .07 (33-35) .34 + .06 (23-29) .39 + .06 (15) .31 + .05 (28-29) .18 " .47 + .08 (1-2) .21 + .06 (56-58) .21 + .08 (56-58) .47 + .07 (1-2) .37 + .08 (18-19) .30 + .06 (30-32) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
||
|
B^d ccroparDil one ............................... |
||
|
Truancy from school |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
luring |
||
|
Leader |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Truancy from home |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Kxc.1 uffl on frnm pr-hool |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Swearing (general ) |
||
|
Bxeue^- farming. ..................... ^ * . * . * . . * |
.29 ± .04 .27 4- .05 |
.10 |
|
Brother in penal detention |
.27 ± .05 .26 + .04 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .04 .24 4- .04 .24 + .06 |
.22 + .08 (52-55) .23 4- .06 (47-51) .17 .36 4- .06 (20-22) .40 4- .06 (10-14) |
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Masturbation. |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Threatening violence , |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.24 + .04 .23 ± .03 .22 ± .03 .22 -t- 05 |
.43 4- .07 (5-6) .34 + .08 (23-24) .11 " |
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Loitering |
||
|
Teasing other children |
||
|
Unpopular ^ |
.22 4- .06 .21 t -06 .21 f .05 .21 ± .05 .21 + .06 .20 t -04 .20 + .04 .11 " .08 .08 |
.43 4- .08 (5-6) .16 " .32 + .07 (26-27) .40 + .07 (10-14) .42 +" .07 (7) .36 + .04 (20-22) .28 t .07 (36) .45 ± .05 (3) .44 + .07 (4) .41 + .09 (8-9) .41 4- .08 (8-9) .40 4- .07 (10-14) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
OverinteTftflt 1n *?^T Tnattwei ................... |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Sex delinquency (coitus) |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Contrary |
||
|
Tamper tantrums ............................... |
.12 |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS TABLE 84— Continued
423
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.16 |
.40 t *05 (10-14) |
|
Question of change of personality |
.03 |
.38 + .08 (16-17) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad* ........................ |
.08 |
.38 t .08 (18-19) |
|
Overlnterest in opposite sex |
.37 + .06 (18-19) |
|
|
Mental conflict |
.05 |
.36-1- .09 (20-22) |
|
Irresponsible |
.17 |
.33 * .08 (25) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.06 |
.32 + .05 (26-27) |
|
Kmoti onftl in.fl'fca-bl 1 1 ty ,.,,,..FT.,,T,T,^,ttTr,-T |
.11 |
.31 t .08 (28-29) |
|
Listless |
• 07 |
.30 + .08 (30-32) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.14 |
.30-1- .07 (30-32) |
|
Bossy |
.02 |
.29 + .08 (33-35) |
|
Changeable moods |
.07 |
.29 + .07 (33-35) |
|
Spoiled child |
• 07 |
.27 -f- .07 (37-38) |
|
Unhappy |
.18 |
.27 + .09 (37-38) |
|
.08 |
.26 + .06 (39) |
|
|
Sulky. |
.11 |
.25 + .08 (40-43) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.16 |
.25 + .09 (40-43) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
• 13 |
.25 + .08 (40-43) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.18 |
.25 t -06 (40-43) |
|
QTiftrral pnanft T T , T T „ r r f . , , , r , r r , r t r t , t . t T .v T r . T , . . |
.16 |
.24 + .06 (44-46) |
|
Crying spells |
.00 |
.24 t .06 (44-46) |
|
Restless |
.09 |
.24 + .06 (44-46) |
|
Selfish |
-.05 |
.23-1- .08 (47-51) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.05 |
.23 + .07 (47-51) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, n etc |
.07 |
.23 + .05 (47-51) |
|
-.02 |
.23 t .06 (47-51) |
|
|
Depressed |
.06 |
.22 t »08 (52-55) |
|
-.08 |
.22-1- .09 (52-55) |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
.05 |
.22 t .10 (52-55) |
|
Lack of Interest In school ................ r ... |
.17 |
.21 + .07 (56-58) |
|
Lazy. ......................................... |
.17 |
.20 + .08 (59) |
|
Larger Corrc |
ilatlons (Negative) |
|
|
-.20 t «06 |
||
|
-.13 |
- . 27 t .08 |
|
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Absent-mi nded . ... r ..,.,.»...,... t ,. ^ »,. - - r T 1 1 - |
.04 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Discord between parents, .16 and .03; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .16 and .10; Knuresls, .14 and .10; Irregular sleep habits, ,14 and .10; Dlstractible, .14 and .18; Temper display, .13 and .10; Inferiority feelings, .13 and .17; Victim of sex abuse, .13 (girls); Over suggestible, .12 and .05$ Best less In sleep, .12 and .05; CcnqxLaining of bad treatment by other children, .12 (boys); Sex denied entirely, .12 and -.13; Lues, .10 and -.05; Inattentive in school, .10 and -.12; Attractive manner, .09 and -.09; Preference
424 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLK ' 84— Continued
for younger children, .06 and .11; Poor work in school, .08 and .10; Irregular attendance at school, .08 and -.02; Object of teasing, .07 and .08; Retardation in school, .07 and .08; Former convulsions, .07 and .13; Irritable, .06 and ,13; Feeble-minded sibling, .06 and -.02; Clean, .05 and .07; Hail-biting, .04 and .08; Daydreaming, .03 and .16; Question of hypophrenia, .03 and .14; Underweight, .03 and .13; "Nervous/ .02 and .10j Follower, .02 and .09; Seclusive, .01 and .03; Repressed, .00 and .12; Immoral home conditions, -.00 and .18; Bashful, -.01 and .01*; Popular, -.03 and .17; Finicky food habits, -.03 and .19; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.04 and -.05; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.04; Neurological defect, -.06 and .10; Apprehensive, -.06 and .14; Question of encephalitis, -.09 and .16; Lack of initiative, -.09 and -.06; Vocational guidance, -.12 and -.01; Sen- sitive (general), -.14 and .01; Headaches, -.15 and .03
With police arrest its tetrachoric r among boys was definitely sub- stantial, .40 + .04, but only moderate among girls, .27 + .06.
Among boys its largest correlations were with smoking (cal- culated for boys only), .48 + .04. Among boys stealing also yieldei the large correlation of .46 + .03, the corresponding coefficient for girls being low, .16, Among girls exclusion from school and destructives ss yielded its largest correlations, .47 4- .07 and .47 4- .08 respectively, the corresponding coefficients for boys being substantial, .31 + .05 and .31 + .04. Five undesirable be- havior traits among girls similarly yielded large correlations in the .40's with moderate coefficients in the .20's among boys: overinterest in sex matters, swearing or bad language (undiffer- entiated), rudeness, sullenness, and unpopularity. An additional five behavior problems among girls yielded large coefficients in the .40»s but low coefficients ranging from -.02 to .12 among boys: sex delinquency (coitus ) , violence, temper tantrums, contrariness, and queer behavior.
Leading others Into bad conduct yielded consistently sub- stantial correlations in the .30 *s for the five notations: Incor- rlgibllity, staying out late at night, lying, boastful or "shov- off" manner, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in the opposite sex. Three notations— truancy from school, disturbing Influence In school, and truancy from home — among boys yielded sub- stantial correlations in the .30 fs tfith moderate coefficients in the .20's among girls. Bad companions and "leader" among boys yielded substantial correlations In the .^O's but low coefficients belov .20 among girls. Among girls five conduct problems yielded substantial correlations In the .30 !s with moderate coefficients
ASSOCIATING WITH BAD COMPANIONS 425
In the .20 'a among boys: disobedience , defiant attitude, fight ing » fantastical lying, and masturbation. Among girls an additional six behavior notations yielded substantial correlations in the ,30fs but low coefficients below ,20 among boys: mental conflict, question of change of personality, emotional Instability, listless- ness, irresponsibility, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Six notations consistently showed moderate correlations in the .20's: egocentricity, slovenliness, brother in penal deten- tion, and the three traits for which only the boys ! correlations were computed — running with a gang, threatening violence, and teas- ing other children. Pour undesirable traits among boys showed mod- erate correlations in the .20 's but low positive coefficients be- low ,20 among girls: refusal to attend school, excuse-forming at- titude, loitering or wandering, and inefficiency in work, play. etc. Among girls a large list of eighteen miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the ^O's but low coefficients be- low .20 among boys: bossy manner, selfishness, stubbornness, " spoiled child, w sulklneas, hatred or jealousy of sibling, quar- relsomeness, restlessness, lack of Interest in school, laziness, changeable moods or attitudes, crying spells, depressed mood or spells, unhappiness, sensitiveness over some specific fact, worry over some specific fact, psychoneurotic trends, and vicious home conditions .
Leading others into bad conduct showed negative moderate correlations in the -.20fs with speech defect among girls and with stuttering (calculated for boys only).
With sex misbehavior leading others into bad conduct tended to be significantly associated. Sex delinquency (coitus) and over- interest in sex matters among girls yielded large correlations in the .^O's, the respective boys1 coefficients of .11 and .21 jh .06 being low or moderate. Overlnterest in the opposite sex (calcu- lated for girls only) yielded the substantial correlation of .27 + .06. With masturbation the respective coefficients for girls and boys were .36 + .06 and .25 + .04. For sex misbehavior denied en- tirely and victim of sex abuse by older child or person (calculated for girls only) the coefficients were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only significant correlations found were the moderate negative
^26 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
ones of -.27 + .08 for speech defect (other than stuttering) among girls and -.20 + .06 for stuttering (calculated for boys only).
Among the four home or familial notations moderate posi- tive correlations In the .20's were found for brother In penal de- tention among both boys and girls and for vicious (not "immoral") home conditions among girls.
CHAPTER XLV
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY
The four behavior notations, loitering or wandering, lazi- ness, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , and irresponsibility, are grouped together in the present chapter only as a matter of con- venience. They are not greatly similar to each other as far ad may be Inferred either from their intercorrelations or from their "outside11 correlations with other traits.
Loitering or wandering, loafing or bumming on the street or in pool halls, dance halls, and the like, was noted among 174 , or 8.2 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and 61, or 5.2 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Among boys its correlations with the conduct- total and police-arrest criteria of seriousness were of fairly large size In the . 40's but of only moderate size, .23 + .03, with the personality- total criterion (Table 85). Among girls
TABLE 85 COHRELATIONS WITH "LOITERING"
|
Boye |
Girls |
|
|
Per eonality- total |
.23 ± .03 |
.06 t -04 |
|
Ji^ 4. O2 |
27 4- Ok |
|
|
POI 1 f>fl a.lTT»ftflt. t -,,,,,,, t , , , „ , T , , t r . , r r - r T t - . r T T |
.41 t -03 |
.23 ± .06 |
|
Larger Corr« |
>lat ions (Posit Ive ) |
|
|
• 53 ± .03 |
.25 t «06 (13-lU)* |
|
|
TnAfmrjy from school |
.49 + .03 |
•39 ± -06 (2) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.46 ± .03 |
.49 + .06 (1) |
|
Stealing |
.39 + .03 |
.35 4- .05 (4-5) |
|
yajyfca^blcal lying. ....................... r .... |
.38 ± .05 |
.21 t -08 (18-19) |
|
Refusal t-o at-t-end school ..Ja»,4.,,JiiJ,ii..,.J |
.36 + .05 |
.13 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
427
428
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 85— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.56 -f .Ok |
||
|
Irresponsible |
.34 ± -05 .33 ± .05 .32 + .03 .31 i .04 .29 + .06 .28 + .03 .28 + .04 |
.08 .0? .35 ± .05 (4-5) .27 ± .06 (12) .11 .34 ± .05 (6) |
|
Slovenly |
||
|
Lylna |
||
|
Ba<3l ccinpanl °HB . .... t .*..... T .................. |
||
|
Conduct/ prognosis bad |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Smoking. ...................................... |
||
|
Irregular att-endflT^Q s-t flchool T - - T - T -, -, , T - T * . * » |
.2? t -05 .26 + .04 .26 I .03 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .05 .25 ± .05 .24 + .04 .23 ± .04 •23 + .04 .22 ± .05 .21 + .04 .20 t .04 .20 J .04 .20 t -04 .20 t .04 .16 |
.16 .13 •36 t .05 (3) .00 .09 .08 .30 + .07 (10) .07 .06 .11 .02 .18 .32 + .06 (8-9) .01 .18 .33 ± .05 (7) .32 4- .06 (8-9) .29 t .08 (11) .25 + .10 (13-14) .24 ; .07 (15) .23 ± .05 (16) .22 + .07 (17) .21-1- .08 (18-19) .20 + .08 (20) |
|
Disturbing influence in school. |
||
|
Grouped! disobedient , etc |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc. |
||
|
Emotional instability, r t - . r , * , , , t , . T T r , . - , - T - - |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc . * . . » |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Lack of interest in school. |
||
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Dlstractlble |
||
|
Oversuggestible .... |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Sex delinquency (coitus) * |
||
|
Overlnterest in opposite sex |
||
|
Question of change of personality. . . Question of encephalitis |
.18 .12 .18 .19 .10 .10 .13 |
|
|
Violence |
||
|
Grouped : fighting, etc |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Vocational guidance » |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.11 .02 .12 .01 .06 -.07 |
-.34 + .06 -.31 t .07 -.25 + .08 -.24 ± .08 -.21± .07 -.21 t >06 |
|
|
Speech defect |
||
|
UnhaDDV |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Clean |
||
|
Popul ax* ,,,,,*,,,,.»,, . . . . . |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
.13 -.01 |
(n.c.) (n.c.) |
|
|
Repressed ..».. |
||
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY 429
TABIB 8^— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Vicious home conditions, .19 and .Ik; Boastful, "show-off/1 .18 and .16; Destructive, .18 and .16; Swearing (general), .18 (boys); Best less, .18 and .14; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .18 and .10; Absent-minded, .17 and -.10; Quarrelsome, .16 and .07; Masturbation, .16 and .00; Egocentric, .16 and -.02; Feclusive, .16 and -.03; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .Ik and .06; Lazy, .13 and .15; Nail-biting, .13 and .06; Teasing other children, .13 (boys); Leader, .13 and .11; Headaches, .13 and .13; Grouped: temper, etc., .13 and .11; Bossy, .12 and -.03; Sulky, .12 and .09; Temper tantrums, .12 and .09; Overinterest in sex matters, .12 and .14; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .12 and -.09; Discord between parents, .12 and ,08; Rude, .11 and .02; Poor work in school, .11 and .08; Attractive manner, .11 and .01; Former convulsions, .11 and -.06; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .11 and .11; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .10 (boys); Question of hypophrenia, .10 and .15; Stubborn, .09 and .02; Excuse-forming, .09 and .13; Crying spells, .08 and -.01; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .07 and -.07; Temper display, .07 and .15; Daydreaming, .07 and -.06; Irritable, .07 and .06; Sex denied entirely, .07 and -.18; Underweight, .07 and -.07; Contrary, .06 and .10; Bashful, .06 and -.18; Object of teasing, .06 and -.04; Follower, .06 and -.02; Neurological defect, .06 and -.06; Brother in penal detention, .06 and -.02; Listless, .05 and .02; Lack of initiative, .05 and -.11; Inattentive in school, .04 and .14; Restless in sleep, .04 and .18; Lues, .0^ and .13; Enuresis, .03 and .12; "Nervous," .03 and -.04; Prefer- ence for younger children, .03 and - 00; Apprehensive, .02 and .06; Immoral home conditions, .02 and .08; Selfish, .01 and .CU; Depressed, .01 and .01; Sensitive over specific fact, .01 and -.13; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .01 and .00; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.10 and -.04; Slow, dull, -.00 and .01; Worry over specific fact, -.01 and .16; Threatening violence, -.01 (boys); Changeable moods, -.02 and .09; Finicky food habits, -.02 and .15; "Victim of sex abuse, -.02 (girls); Stuttering, -.03 (boys); Sensitive (general), -.03 and -.05; Feeble-minded sibling, -.04 and -.07; Psychoneurotic, -.08 and -.02; Re- tardation in school, -.08 and .04; Mental conflict, -.17 and -.17
the correlations with conduct- total and police arrest were ol only moderate size, in the ,20's, and Its correlation with personality- total negligible.
The highest correlation with loitering or wandering was with truancy from home, . 5J5 + «03, the corresponding correlation among girls being moderate, .25 + .06, Staying out late at night and truancy from school among boys yielded the large correlations of .46 + .03 and .49 + .03, the corresponding coefficients among girls being almost as large, .49 + .06 and .39 + .06 respectively.
Pour notations consistently yielded substantial correla- tions in the .30»s: stealing, lying, and (calculated for boys only) running with a gang, and (calculated for girls only) overin- terest in the opposite sex. Fantastical lying and bad companions among boys yielded substantial correlations in the .30 fs with mod- erate correlations in the .20fs among girls. Three notations—
430 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
irresponsibility, slovenliness , and refusal to attend school— among boys yielded substantial correlations In the .30 fs but low coeffi- cients below .20 among girls. Among girls incorriglbility yielded the substantial correlation of .34 + .05* with a moderate correla- tion of .28 + .03 among boys. Sex delinquency (coitus) among girls also yielded the substantial correlation of .33 + .05 but a low co- efficient of .16 among boys.
Smoking among boys showed the moderate correlation of .28 4- .04 with loitering or wandering, the girls' coefficient not being calculated because of paucity of cases. Among boys the following thirteen behavior notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 among girls: inefficiency in work, play, etc. , irregular attendance at school, lack of interest in school, disturbing influence in school, exclusion from school, leading others into bad conduct, distract Ibllity, fighting, diso- bedience, "spoiled child, M unpopularity, emotional instability, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Among girls six notations showed moderate correlations in the .20 fs but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: irregular sleep habits, defiant attitude, violence, question of change of personality, queer behavior, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
With loitering or wandering there were six statistically significant negative correlations, ranging from -.21 to -.34, all among girls, the corresponding boys' coefficients being negligible: unhapplness. inferiority feelings, sullenness, clean habits, speech defect (other than stuttering) , and "request for vocational guid- ance. "
For two notations, repressed manner and popularity, the tetrachoric coefficients among girls could not be calculated be- cause there were no instances in which girls with either of these notations also were noted as given to loitering or wandering.
Among the six sex notations there were two correlations of substantial size in the ,30!s, both among girls; sex delinquency (coitus) and (calculated for girls only) bverlnterest in the op- posite sex.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities speech defect (other than stuttering) yielded the substantial neg- ative coefficient of -.31 + .07 among girls. Question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls showed the doubtfully significant co- efficient of .25 + .10.
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY 431
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with loitering or wandering were low or negligible.
Laziness was noted among 182 boys, 'or in 8,6 per cent of our cases, and among 79 girls, or 6.7 per cent. With the person- ality-total and conduct-total its correlations among boys were mod- erate, the bi-serial r-s being .29 + .02 and .22 + .03 respectively (Table 86), and low among girls, the coefficients in both instances being .17 + .04. With police arrest the girls' tetrachoric r of .30 + .05 was perhaps substantial, but the boys1 coefficient of -.05 + .04 was quite negligible. Laziness may, therefore, be con- sidered to be of minor Importance or seriousness from the stand- point of personality or conduct deviation.
Its largest correlation, .41 4- .06, was among girls for in- efficiency in work, play, etc. , the corresponding coefficient for boys, .34 + .05, being also substantial. Among boys listlessness and poor work in school yielded substantial correlations in the .30!s, with moderate coefficients in the .20's among girls. Irre- sponsibility and slovenliness among girls yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30!s, with moderate coefficients in the .20!s among boys. Temper display among girls similarly yielded the sub- stantial correlation of .35 + .06, but a low coefficient of .11 among boys.
Six behavior problems showed moderate correlations in the .20fs with laziness among both sexes: lack of initiative or ambi- tion, inattentiveness in school, lack of interest in school, boast- ful or "show-off" manner, rudeness, and unpopularity. Nine unde- sirable behavior traits among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs, but low or negligible coefficients below .20 among girls absent-mindedness, dlstractiblllty, selfishness, disobedience, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), disturbing Influence in school, inferiority feelings, unhapplness, and masturbation. Eleven notations among girla showed moderate correlations in the .20!s but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys; stub- bornness, contrariness, defiant attitude, bossy manner, leading others Into bad conduct, preference for younger children aa play- mates, sec IUB Ivene s s , depressed mood or spells, irregular sleep habits, enure a is, and "request for vocational guidance. w
Laziness showed three negative correlations of moderate
432
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 86 OOHRELATIOWS WITH "LAZY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.29 4- .02 .22 ± .03 -.05 + .04 |
.17 4- .04 .17 ± .04 .30 ± .05 |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.36 ± .04 .34 4- .05 .31 ± .03 .30 ± -03 .28 4- .05 .28 4- .03 .27 ± .05 .27 4- .04 .26 I .04 .26 + .03 .25 ± .04 .25 ± .04 .25 ± .04 .24 + .04 .23 ± .05 .22 + .05 .22 + .6k .21 t -05 .21 4- .04 .20 + .Ok .20 ± -03 .20 + .06 .11 " .19 .10 .06 .18 .19 .12 -15 .11 .05 !o4 .13 .17 • 19 |
.24 ± .07 (12-14)* .41 ± .06 (1) .23 t .05 (15-16) .21 4- .05 (20-23) .36 + -07 (2-3) .18 -.05 .04 .25 ± .07 (10-11) .22 ± .06 (17-19) .14 .24 t .06 (12-14) .36 ± .05 (2-3) .23 4- .06 (15-16) .27 ± .04 (7) -.04 .06 .29 ± .08 (6) .16 .09 -.05 .16 •35 ± .06 (4) .30 ± .Ok (5) .26 + .07 8-9) .26 t .05 8-9) .25 ± .06 10-11) .24 ± .06 (12-14) .22 ± .05 (17-19) .22 t -06 (17-19) .21 t -06 (20-23) .21 ± .07 (20-23) .21 4- .07 (20-23) .20 t -08 (24-27) .20 t .07 (24-27) .20 ± .08 (24-27) .20 t .07 (24-27) |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Grouped: lack of Interest |
etc |
||
|
GrouDed * dull fllow etc |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
Boastful "show- off1* |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in scl Lack of interest in school |
|||
|
Lack of Initiative |
|||
|
Distract ible |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
|||
|
Grouped* depressed, etc. * |
|||
|
Leading others Into bad 002 Preference for younger chi] Sex delinouency ( coitus j » < |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|||
|
-.28 4- .06 |
-.11 |
||
Rank order of girla1 correlations.
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY TABLE 86—Continued
433
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Destructive |
.06 |
-.24 + .05 |
|
- 1Q |
- 20 + 05 |
|
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Sex denied entirely |
.16 |
(n.c.) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
-.06 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Daydreaming, .19 and .09; Attractive manner, .19 and .05; Itflng, .18 and .13; Slow, dull, .18 and .14; Grouped: fighting, etc., .18 and .09; Quar- relsome, .17 and .14; Sullen, .17 and -.00; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .17 and .17; Bashful, .16 and -.07; Sensitive over specific fact, .16 and -.01; Queer, .16 and .17; Mental conflict, .16 and -.00; Spoiled child, .16 and .11; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .16 and .09; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Repressed, .15 and .10; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .15 and .01; Overinterest In opposite sex, .15 (girls); Clean, .14 and .04; Loitering, .13 and .15; Sulky, .13 and .12; Swearing (general), .13 (boys); Sensitive (general) .13 and .10; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .13 (boys); Object of teasing, .12 and .07; Grouped: "nervous,11 etc., .12 and .09; Violence, .12 and .12; Overinterest in sex matters, .11 and -.01; Irritable, .11 and .11; Follower, .11 and -.04; Bad companions, .10 and .11; Fighting, .10 and .09; Nail-bitLag, .10 and .01; Headaches, .09 and .11; Truancy from school, .09 and .06; Finicky food habits, .08 and .06; Fantastical lying, .08 and .09;. Truancy from home, .08 and -.05; Excuse-forming, .08 and .14; Restless, .08 and .08; Exclusion from school, .07 and .13; Discord between parents, .07 and .06; Cry- Ing spells, .06 and .03; Egocentric, .06 and .05; Restless in sleep, .06 and .04; Stuttering, .06 (boys); Former convulsions, .06 and -.02; Refusal to at- tend school, .05 and -.04; Popular, .05 and -.02; Immoral home conditions, .05 and .12; Incorrigible, .04 and .08; Temper tantrums, .04 and .00; Apprehensive, .04 and -.02; Changeable moods, .03 and .01; Emotional instability, 03 and .09; Lues, .03 and .01; Smoking, .02 (boys); Staying out late at night, .02 and ,05; Question of change of personality, .02 and .09; Leader, .02 and -.11; Stealing, .01 and .11; Neurological defect, .01 and -.06; Speech defect, .01 and -.14; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.04; Conduct prognosis bad, -.02 and .01; Victim of sex abuse, -.02 (girls); "Nervous," -.02 and -.01; Pey- ohoneurotic, -.02 and -.02; Threatening violence, -.02 (boys); Gang, -.02 (boys) Oversuggestible, -.03 and .03; Irregular attendance at school, -.04 and .14; Un- derweight, -.05 and .02; Vicious home conditions, -.07 and .02; Worry over spe- cific fact, -.08 and -.00; Question of hypophrenia, -.10 and .06; Feeble-minded sibling, -.18 and -.13
size In the -,20!s: aex delinquency (coitus) among boys and de- Btructiveness and retardation In school among girls.
Among the six sex notations there were two correlations of moderate size with laziness, both among boys, the interesting negative one of -,28 4- .06 with sex delinquency (coitus) and the positive one of .20 + .03 with masturbation.
434 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal defects the only statistically significant correlation ¥as .26 + .05 with enu- resls among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations all coefficients were negligible, ranging from -.07 to .12.
The notation inefficiency or carelessness in work, studies , play, etc., forgetting errands, etc., was found among 106 boys, or 5.0 per cent of our cases, and among 75 girls, or 6.4 per cent. Its bi-serial correlations with the personality- total were large, .42 + .03 and .50 + .03 for boys and girls respectively (Table 87). With the conduct-total its correlation among boys was moderate, .24 + .03, and among girls substantial, .35 + .04. With police arrest its tetrachorlc correlations were negligible.
Its largest correlations among both sexea were with absent- mindedness, with coefficients in the .40's. Irresponsibility among boys also yielded the large correlation of ,47 + .05, with a sub- stantial coefficient among girls of .35 + .07. Laziness among girls yielded the large correlation of .41 + .06, with a substan- tial coefficient of .34 + .05 among boys. Daydreaming and de- pressed mood or spells among girls similarly yielded large corre- lations in the .40' s with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys.
Pi s t rac t ibi 1 1 tty and queer behavior yielded substantial cor- relations ranging from .29 to ,36 among both sexes. Among girls three behavior problems, slovenliness, emotional instability, and changeable moods or attitudes, yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs with moderate coefficients in the .20's among boys. Among girls four additional conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,3Q!s but low coefficients below ,20 among bo; c boys : excuse- forming attitude, lying, defiant attitude, and boast-
Seven behavior traits showed consistent moderate correla- tions with Inefficiency in work, play, etc., in the ,20fs: llst- leasneaa, lack of interest in school, poor work in school, sensi- tiveness In general, crying spells* stubbornness, and quarrelsome- ness, and also one calculated for girls only, overlnterest In the opposite sex. Nine notations among boys shoved moderate correla- tions in the .20?s but low coefficients below .20 among girls:
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY
TABIE 8? CORRELATIONS WITH "IMOTCICIENT IN WORK, FLAY, ETC."
|
Boya |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total * |
.42 + .03 |
.50 4- .03 |
|
Conduct -total * . |
.2k + .03 |
.35 4- .04 |
|
Pol ICQ RT7]Tf*f|t ,,..,, T .. ....... t ... rrt,..,.-tTT |
.08 4- .Ok |
.00 4- .06 |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Positive) |
|
|
Irresponsible |
.Vf + .05 |
•35 + .07 (7-8)* |
|
Absent-minded. |
.11.7 + .05 |
.42 HH .07 (1-2) |
|
Dletractible |
.36 + .05 |
.29 4- .06 (15-19) |
|
Lazy |
.34 + .05 |
.41 + .06 (3-^) |
|
Unpopular |
.51 + .06 |
.33 -f .08 (10) |
|
Queer |
.30-1- .06 |
.29 4- .07 (15-18) |
|
Poor work in school |
.29 4- .o4 |
.22 t «05 (37-38) |
|
Listless |
.28 + .05 |
.28 4- .07 (19-20) |
|
Grouped: lack of Interest In school, etc |
.28 4- .04 |
.20 4- .06 (42-46) |
|
lAok <">-P Int-^rftpt In Rch<x>l. ................... |
.2? + .05 |
.23 4- .06 (29-36) |
|
TPfly^T*efljn1 UgT .................................. |
.26 4- .05 |
.42 4- .06 (1-2) |
|
Lack of Initiative. |
.26 + .06 |
.11 |
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
.26 + .04 |
.30 t -05 (14) |
|
Loitering |
.25 + .05 |
.00 |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. |
.25 + .05 |
.29 4- .06 ( 15-18) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.24 + .05 |
.26 t '07 (22-23) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.23 + .03 |
.11 |
|
Changeable moods |
.23 4- .05 |
.31 4- .06 ( 12-15") |
|
Depressed |
.23 + .06 |
.41 4- .07 (3-4) |
|
Crying spells |
.22 4- 04 |
.23 4- .05 (29-36) |
|
Seclusive „ |
22 + .05 |
17 |
|
Unhappy |
.22 4- .07 |
• 13 |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.21 4- .06 |
.16 |
|
Slovenly |
.21 + .05 |
31 4- .05 ( 12-13) |
|
Stubborn |
.21 4- .04 |
.23 4- .05 (29-36^ |
|
Rmotl onal Instability. |
.21 4- .06 |
.36 4- .07 (5-6) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc. ........ |
.21 4; .04 |
.21 4- .05 (39-4l) |
|
Quarrel BCOIO ................................... |
.20 4- .05 |
.23 4- .06 (29-36) |
|
Restless |
.20 4- .04 |
.16 |
|
Spoiled child |
.20 4- 05 |
.18 |
|
Question of encephalitis Excuse -forming |
.20 4- .07 .08 " |
-.03 .36 4- .06 (5-6) |
|
Defiant |
-.06 |
.35 4- .06 (7-8) |
|
Ikying |
15 |
34 4- 05 (Q} |
|
Joastful, "show-off" |
.09 |
.32 4- .07 (11) |
|
JHntAfrM cal lying. ........ .................. |
.14 |
.29 4- .07 (15-18) |
|
Rude |
.16 |
.28 + .06 (19-20) |
|
Queet^on of change of personality. ............ |
.08 |
.27 + .07 (21) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.15 |
.26 i .07 (22-23) |
|
Sulky |
.09 |
25 4- .07 (24-25) |
*Rank order of girls' correlations.
436
CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 87— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.08 .18 .08 .18 .14 .18 -.11 .09 .01 .14 .18 |
.25 ± ,08 (24-25) .24 t -08 (26-28) .24 t .08 (26-28) .24 + .05 (26-28) .23 ± .07 (29-36) .23 ± .05 (29-36) .23 ± .07 (29-36) .23 ± .05 (29-36) .22 ± .07 (37-38) .21 ± .05 (39-41) .21 ± .05 (39-41) .20 t -06 (42-46) .20 + .09 (42-46) .20 t .07 (42-46) .20 ± .05 (42-46) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Inferiority reelings ...» |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
||
|
Tlolence , , |
||
|
Slew, dull |
||
|
Immoral home confll t1 ORB |
||
|
Grouped? tamper, etc ......................... |
||
|
Exclusion from school. ........................ |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
||
|
Mental conflict |
.36 .19 .09 |
|
|
Headaches |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.09 -.07 |
-.33 ± .07 -.20 + .07 |
|
|
Irregular attendance at school. |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Staying out late at night, .19 and .08; Contrary, .18 and .05; Lues, .18 and .11; Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .17 (boys); Grouped: fighting, etc., .17 and .13; Stutter- ing, .16 (boys); Preference for younger children, .15 and .18; Neurological de- fect, .15 and .16; Discord between parents, .15 and .06; Disobedient, .14 and .13; Selfish, .14 and .19; Restless in sleep, .14 and .14; Sensitive over spe- cific fact, .14 and .17; Worry over specific fact, .14 and .16; Refusal to at- tend school, .13 and -.03; Irritable, .13 and .18; Object of teasing, .13 and .08; Truancy from school, .12 and .02; Grouped: swearing, etc., .12 and .10; Sullen, .11 and .16; Masturbation, .11 and .08; "Nervous,11 .10 and .18; Former convulsions, .10 and -.01; Bossy, .09 and .10; Incorrigible, .09 and .14; Nail- biting, .09 and -.02; Smoking, .09 (boys); Truancy from home, .09 and .13; At- tractive manner, .09 and .06; Vocational guidance, .09 and -.17; Destructive, .08 and .19; Overinterest Jn sex matters, .08 and .14; Bashful, .08 and .02; Egocentric, .08 and .09; Over suggestible, .08 and .12; Popular, .08 and -.00; Threatening violence, .07 (boys); Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .07 and .18; Fighting, .06 and .09; Temper tantrums, .06 and .18; Sex delinquency (coitus), .06 and .01; Bad companions, .05 and .14; Finicky food habits, .05 and -.06; Apprehensive, .05 and .12; Follower, .05 and .06; Enuresis, .04 and .19; Swear- ing (general), .04 (boys); Feeble-minded sibling, .04 and -.12; Repressed, .01 and .11; Victim of sex abuse, -.00 (girls); Underweight, -.00 and .04; Question of hypophrenla, -.00 and .04; Clean, -.02 and .06; Leader, -.02 and -.11; Psy- choneurotlc, -.02 and .10; Bex denied entirely, -.04 and .13; Temper display, -.04 and .17; Retardation in school, -.07 and -.02; Gang, -.07 (boys); Brother in penal detention, -.12 and -.19; Vicious home conditions, -.13 and .09
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY 437
lack of initiative or ambition, inattentiveness In school, loiter* ing or wandering, "spoiled child, " restlessness, unhappiness, se- cluaivenesa, leading othera into bad conduct, and question or di- agnosis of encephalitis. Among girla nineteen miacellaneoua no- tatlona ahowed moderate correlations in the .20* a but low or neg- ligible coefficienta below .20 among boys: alow or dull manner, fantaatical lying, mental conflict, inferiority feelinga, question of change of personality, egoecentrlclty or aelfiahneaa (undiffer- entiated), rudeneas, a u lkin.es a, "nervousneaa" or reatleaaneaa (in- cluding irritable temperament and changeable mooda. undifferenti- ated), irregular aleep habit a, diaobedience or Incorrigibllity (including defiant attitude, atubbornneaa, and contrarineaa, un- differentiated), violence, temper tantruma or diaplay (including irritable temperament, undifferentiated), dlaturbing influence in a chop 1, exclualon from achool, atealing, ataff notation of unfav- orable conduct prognoaia, immoral home conditiona, and headaches.
There were two negative correlationa of atatistically aig- nif leant aize vith inefficiency in work, play, etc., both among girla: apeech defect (other than atuttering), -.33 + .07, and Ir- regular attendance at achool, -.20 + .07.
Among the aix aex notatlona the only aignificant correla- tion waa .20 + .06 for overintereat in the oppoaite aex, for which only the girla1 correlationa were calculated.
Among the a even physical or paychophyaical disabllitiea there were two atatlatlcally aignificant correlationa, the poaltive one of .20 + .07 with queation or dlagnoala of encephalitia among boya and the curioua negative one of -*33 + «07 with speech defect (other than stuttering) among girls.
Among the four home or familial notatlona the only corre- lation of atatlatlcally significant size was with Immoral home con- ditions among girls, .23 + .07.
Irresponsibility was noted among 118 of our boya, or 5.6 per cent, and among 70 of our girla, or 5-9 P©r cent. With the peraonality- total and conduct-total it a correlationa were moderate, ranging from .24 to .32 (Table 88). With police arrest its corre- lationa were negligible.
Ita largeat correlation among boya waa .47 + .05 with in- efficiency in work, play, etc., the corresponding coefficient for
438
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 88 CORRELATIONS WITH "IRRESPONSIBLE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality -total |
.24 4- .03 .27 t -03 .10 t -04 |
.29 + .04 .32 + .04 .08 + .06 |
|
|
Conduct -"total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Loitering |
etc |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.47 ± .05 .34 ± .05 .33 ± .04 .30 ± .05 .28 4- .05 .26 4- .05 .25 + .05 .25 ± .04 .23 ± .03 .23 4- .04 .23 ± .05 .23 ± .06 .23 4- .04 .22 + .05 .22 4- .04 .22 t -06 .21 + .04 .21 f .04 .21 4- .04 .20 4- .05 .18 " -.06 .17 .17 .19 .07 .12 .12 .18 .10 -.02 • 05 .18 .12 .14 .12 .17 .13 .05 -.04 |
.35 t .07 (5)* .08 .13 .17 .36 4- .07 (2-4) .09 .26 + .07 (17-18) .24 4- .05 (21-26) .21 4- .07 (29-32) .16 " .24 4- .06 (21-26) -.05 .21 4- .06 (29-32) .10 " .25 4- .06 (19-20) .13 " .46 4- .04 (1) .20 ± .06 (33-35) .36 ± .05 (2-4) -.16 .36 t .05 (2-4) .34 ± .04 (6-7) .34 + .07 (6-7) •33 ± .08 (8-9) .33 t .07 (8-9) •32 ± .05 (10) .31 + .06 (11) .30 + .05 (12) .29 t -07 (13-15) .29 ± .06 (13-15) .29 ± .07 (13-15) .28 ± .07 (16) .26 4- .05 (17-18) .25 t .09 (19-20) .24 4- .06 (21-26) .24 + .07 (21-26) .24 4- .06 (21-26) .24 + .07 (21-26) .22 t -05 (27-28) .22 t -06 (27-28) |
||
|
Staying out late at night . |
|||
|
Ab0WTt-Tn"in<?fid, . .... i ...... |
|||
|
Lazy |
|||
|
Pny flr f?wn1 ng . ........... |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school Stealing. |
|||
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Truancy from home |
|||
|
Distractible |
|||
|
Jnmiora3 hom^ conditions . . . |
|||
|
Grouped: lack of interest Destructive |
in school, etc |
||
|
Disobedient |
|||
|
Unpopular, ................ |
|||
|
Lying |
|||
|
Slovenly |
|||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc.. |
|||
|
Listless |
|||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. Fighting |
|||
|
UnhaDDV |
|||
|
Leading others into bad cor Selfish |
iduct |
||
|
Grouped: fighting, etc.... |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. . . |
|||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
|||
|
Disturbing influence in set Quarrelsome |
lOOl. |
||
|
Tamper d1 splay ............. |
|||
|
Emotional Instability |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
|||
|
Bad companions |
|||
|
Defiant |
|||
|
Incorrigible |
|||
|
Spoiled child |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Sensitive over specific fac |
t |
||
Hank order of girls' correlations.
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY TABLE 88— Continued
|
Boye |
Girls |
||
|
Temper tanti Question of Overinteresl Queer |
rums T * * * .. T .. * ..................... |
-.01 .16 |
.21 l -06 (29-32) .21 t .08 (29-32) .20 ± .06 (33-35) .20 t .08 (33-35) |
|
change °f personality . . . ...,.,.,. |
|||
|
b in opposite sex |
|||
|
.14 |
|||
|
Vicious home Retardation Worry over £ Headaches . . |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|||
|
-.23 + .06 .11 .07 |
(n.c.) -.27 ± .08 -.24 t .05 |
||
|
3 conditions |
|||
|
in school |
|||
|
specific fact |
|||
|
Not Calculable |
|||
|
.01 (n.c.) .10 |
(n.c.) -.03 (n.c.) |
||
|
Question of |
encephalitis |
||
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irritable, .19 and .16; Lack of initiative, .19 and .08; Poor work in school, .19 and .09; Boastful, "show-off," .18 and .16; Bossy, .18 and .17; Re- fusal to attend school, .18 and -.01; Mental conflict, .18 and .03; Excuse- forming, .17 and .18; Restless, .17 and .16; Preference for younger children, .17 and .07; Contrary, .16 and .13; Changeable moods, .16 and .08; Seclusive, .16 and .01; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .16 and .19; Grouped: swearing, etc., .16 and .08; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Rude, .15 and .15; Popular, .15 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .15 and -.03; Truancy from school, .14 and .04; Exclusion from school, .14 and .16; Inattentive in school, .13 and .09; Overlnterest in sex matters, .13 and .03; Irregular sleep habits, .13 and .17; Masturbation, .12 and .05; Leader, .12 and .19; Neurological defect, .12 and -.03; Object of teasing, .11 and .15; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .11 (boys); Egocentric, .10 and .15; Threatening violence, .09 (boys); Smoking, .08 (boys); Oversuggestlble, .08 and .18; Attractive manner, .08 and .12; Discord between parents, .08 and .11; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .07 and .10; Slow, dull, .07 and -.03; Restless in sleep, .07 and .11; Irregular attendance at school, .07 and -.06; Brother in penal detention, .07 and -.05; Gang, .06 (boys); Violence, .06 and .19; "Nervous," .06 and .14; Follower, .06 and. 08; Vocational guidance, .06 and -.08; Stubborn, .05 and .12; Apprehensive, .05 and .05; Inferiority feelings, .04 and .13; Repressed, .04 and -.17; Under- weight, .04 and .04; Sulky, .03 and .06; Depressed, .02 and .18; Stuttering, .02 (boys); Bashful, .01 and -.03; Former convulsions, .01 and -.17; Sensitive (general), .00 and .06; Swearing (general), -.01 (boys); Sullen, -.01 and -.01; Finicky food habits, -.01 and .06; Enuresis, -.02 and .07; Victim of sex abuee, -.03 (girls); Lues, -.04 and -.06; Psychoneurotic, -.04 and .13; Grouped: sen- sitive or worrisome, etc., -.05 and .13; Speech defect, -.05 and .06; Clean, -.07 and .06; Question of hypophrenia, -.10 and .01; Sex denied entirely, -.11 and .02; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.14 and .11
440 CHILDREN1 S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
girls being substantial, .25 + -07- Among girls its largest cor- relation was .46 + .04 with lying, the corresponding coefficient for boys being only moderate, .21 + .04.
Three behavior problems — loitering or wandering, absent- mindedness, and staying put late at night — among boys yielded sub- stantial correlations in the .30's but low coefficients below .20 among girls . Laziness among girls yielded the substantial corre- lation of .36 + .07 and among boys the moderate coefficient of .28 + .05. Five behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: disobedience or incorrigibillty (undifferentiated), self- ishness, fighting, leading others into bad conduct, and unhappl- ness .
Irresponsibility showed consistent moderate correlations in the ,20's with the following six undesirable behavior traits: lack of Interest in school, slovenliness, distractibillty, fantas- tical lying, disobedience, and stealing and also one calculated for girls only, overinterest in the opposite sex. Among boys six notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coef- ficients below .20 among girls: listlessness, daydreaming, de- structiveness, truancy from home, unpopularity , and immoral home conditions. Among girls fifteen personality and conduct difficul- ties showed moderate correlations In the .20* s out low coefficients below .20 among boys: disturbing influence in school, incorrigi- bility, defiant attitude, emotional instability, temper tantrums, temper display, quarrelsomeness, "spoiled child, " crying spells, sensitiveness over some specific fact, question of change of per- sonality, queer behavior, nail-biting, bad companions, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
There were thuee negative correlations with irresponsibil- ity of moderate size in the -,20fs: among boys for feeble-minded sibling and among girls for retardation in school and vicious home .conditions .
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of signif- icant size with irresponsibility was for overinterest in the oppo- site sex. .20 + .06 (calculated for girls only).
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the correlations with irresponsibility were very low or negligible.
Among the four home or familial notations there were two
LOITERING; LAZINESS; INEFFICIENCY; IRRESPONSIBILITY
moderate correlations in the .20' s, the positive one of .25 + .06 with immoral home conditions among boys and the negative one of -•27 + -08 with vicious home conditions among girls.
CHAPTER XLVI
SLOVENLINESS AND CLEANLINESS
Slovenliness or marked lack of cleanliness or neatness In dress or appearance was noted among 337 of our 2,113 White boys (15.9 per cent) and among 205 of our 1,181 White girls (17 .4 per cent). It was of only moderate Importance or seriousness, its bi- serlal correlations with the personality- total and conduct- total ranging from .22 to ,30 (Table 89). With police arrest its tetra- chorlc j?'s for boys and girls respectively were only . 19 + .03 and -.02 + .04.
TAB1E 89 CORRELATIONS WITH "SLOVENLY"
Boys
Girls
Personality-total .
Conduct -total
Police arrest
Loitering
Wail-biting
Disturbing influence in school..
Incorrigible
Grouped: disobedient, etc
Contrary
Leading others into bad conduct.
Gang
Stealing
Truancy from school
Lazy
Smoking.
Staying out late at night
Destructive
Kude
Truancy from home
.22 + .02 .30 ± .02 .19 ± .03
.25 ± .03
.30 ± .03
-.02 + .Ok
Larger Correlations (Positive)
•33 ± •31 ± .28 ± .28 ± .28 ± .26 ± .26 ± .26
.05 .03 .03 .03 .03 .05
± .04
.07 .12 .22 ± •27 t -31 ±
.05 (22-30)* .04 (9-12)
.03 • •
\ •-•- ^r*
(9-12) (2-5)
.23 ± .06 (18-21)
.26 ± .03
.26 + .03
.25 + .04
.24 ± .04
.31 ±, .27 ± .36*
.04 (2-5) .04 (9-12) .05 (1)
.24 t .03
.23 ± .04
.23 ± .03
.23 ± .03
.14 .17 .26 ± .21 +
ok (13-16) (31-
,04
34)
Rank order of girls' correlations.
442
SLOVENLINESS AND CLEANLINESS TABLE 89— Continued
443
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Restless . |
.23 + .03 |
.19 |
|
Irregular* Pleep hSrb1tpr ttrrrit,rtr ,..»»»» |
.22 + .04 |
.13 |
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
. c.t jr . v/-r .22 4- .04 |
|
|
Inefficient In work, play, etc |
.21 + .05 |
.31 4- .05 (2-5) |
|
Irresponsible , |
.21 4- .04 |
.20 4- .06 (35-36) |
|
luring |
.20 + .03 |
.25 4- .04 (17) |
|
Teasing other children |
.20 + .04 |
|
|
Ex^uoe-formlng. ............................... |
.20 + .04 |
.28 4 .05 (6-8) |
|
Jr-reguiar ^tt^ndano« at school ,,TT1.r, ,,,.,,.,, |
.20 4- .04 |
• 09 |
|
.20 4- .03 |
.10 |
|
|
Grouped i swearing, etc ....................... |
.20 4- .03 |
.23 4 .05 (18-21) |
|
Violence |
.17 |
.31 4 .05 (2-5) |
|
Quarrelsome |
.14 |
.28 4 .04 (6-8) |
|
Overintorftflt in BRT matters .. T , T .......... r ., t |
-.02 |
.28 ± .05 (6-8) |
|
Queer |
.0? |
.27 ± .06 (9-12) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.17 |
.27 4 .04 (9-12) |
|
Defiant |
.16 |
.26 t «05 (13-16) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.17 |
.26 + .05 (13-16) |
|
Masturbation |
.13 |
.26 4 .04 (13-16) |
|
Depressed |
• 15 |
.23 + .06 (18-21) |
|
.19 |
.23 4 .04 (18-21) |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.19 |
.22 4 .05 (22-30) |
|
Disobedient |
.16 |
.22 4 .04 (22-30) |
|
Lack of interest in school |
.13 |
.22 t .05 (22-30) |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex . . < . |
.22 t .04 (22-30) |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.13 |
.22 4- .06 (22-30) |
|
Listless |
.13 |
.22 + .05 (22-30) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.10 |
.22 t -06 (22-30) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc* • |
.16 |
.22 t «05 (22-30) |
|
T«mp«T» t^ntTiTme * . * ..,»,..-. r , t r T . T ........... T |
.08 |
.21 t -05 (31-34) |
|
Da.yflT*sflm1 ng , T . . * ....... t -, , , . , t * , * ... r ........ T |
• 05 |
.21 ± .05 (31-34) |
|
Egocentric |
• 15 |
.21 t -05 (31-34) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.14 |
.20 4 .04 (35-36) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Absent-minded, .19 and -.03; Fighting, .18 and .17; Bad companions, .17 and .13; Unhappy, .17 and .09; Changeable moods, .16 and .08; Enuresie, .15 and .13; Emotional Instability, .15 and .07; Sex denied entirely, .15 and .10; Stubborn, .14 and .17; Mental conflict, .14 and .15; Bossy, .13 and .16; Self- ish, .13 and .06; Sullen, .13 and .03; Unpopular, .13 and .15; Discord between parents, .13 and .17; Follower, .13 and -^06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .13 and .15; Sulky, .12 and .13; Lack of initiative, .12 and .12; Dietractible, .12 and .16; Leader, .12 and -.06; Seclusive, .11 and .09; Spoiled child, .11 and -.03; Preference for younger children as playmates, .11 and .06; Grouped: tem- per, etc., .11 and .11; Swearing (general), .10 (boya); Temper display, .10 and .04; Question of change of personality, .10 and .15; Inattentive in school, .09 and .13; Refusal to attend school, .09 and -.07; Crying spells, .09 and .11; Ir- ritable, .09 and -.01; Slow, dull, .09 and .08; Object of teasing, .09 and .09; Popular, .09 and -.01; Exclusion from school, .08 and .13; Poor work in school, .08 and .12; Attractive manner, .08 and -.04; Question of encephalitis, .08 and -.03; Sex delinquency (coitus), .07 and .06; Oversuggeetible, .07 and .18;
444 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLES 89— Continued
Feeble-minded sibling, .07 and .07; Repressed, .06 and -.01; Victim of sex abuse .06 (girls); Apprehensive, .05 and .08; Restless in sleep, .05 and .Ik; Conduct prognosis bad, .05 and .09; Retardation in school, .05 and -.01; Former convul- sions, .05 and .03; Brother in penal detention, .05 and .17; Inferiority feel* ings, .04 and .07; Stuttering, .03 (boys); Neurological defect, .04 and .07; Underweight, .04 and -.01; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .02 and .07; Threatening violence, .02 (boys); Psychoneurotic, .02 and .05; Headaches, .02 and .14; Finicky food habits, .01 and .03; Bashful, .01 and .03; Question of hypophrenia, .01 and .08; Sensitive over specific fact, .01 and .06; Lues, .00 and -.05; Speech defect, -.01 and -.16; Sensitive (general), -.01 and .Qk; "Ner- vous," -.01 and .00; ¥orry over specific fact, -.05 and .02; Immoral home con- ditions, -.07 and .03; Vocational guidance, -.07 and -.14 Omitted — Clean
Among boys its highest correlations, in the . 30fs, were with nail-biting and loitering or wandering, the corresponding correlation for girls being low, ,12 and .07 respectively. Among girls four notations yielded substantial correlations in the .30' s, the corresponding correlations for boys being moderate, ranging from .17 to .26: laziness, Inefficiency in work, play, etc., stealing, and violence.
Slovenliness showed consistent moderate correlations in the .20 's with fourteen conduct and personality problems: irre- sponsibility, excuse- forming attitude, incorrigibility, disturb- ing influence in school, leading others into bad conduct, rudeness , truancy from home, truancy from school, lying, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), and the four notations for which only the boys1 coefficients were calculated, running vith a gang, smok- ing, teasing other children, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Among boys six notations showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 among girls: contrariness, staying out late at night, destructiveness , restless- ness, irregular sleep habits, and irregular attendance at school. Among girls sixteen notations showed moderate correlations in the . 20!s but low coefficients below .20 among boys: listlessness, lack of interest in school, daydreaming, depressed mood or spells, queer behavior, fantastical lying, boastful or "show-off" manner, egocentricity, quarrelsomeness, hatred or jealousy of sibling, dis- obedience, defiant attitude , temper tantrums, masturbation, over- interest in sex matters, and vicious home conditions.
Among the six sex notations there were three correlations
SLOVENLINESS AND CLEANLINESS 445
of moderate size In the .20»s, all among girls: masturbation, overintereat in sex matters, and (calculated for girls only) 6ver- interest in the opposite sex.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations all correlations were low or nejgligible.
Among the four home or familial notations the only corre- lation of moderate size with slovenliness was with vicious (not "immoral") home conditions, among girls, .22 + .06.
Clean, neat habits or appearance was one of the few "de- sirable" behavior traits which were noted frequently enough in our data to justify correlational treatment. It was noted among 318, or 15.0 per cent, of our boys and among 171, or 14.5 per cent, of our girls. Its correlations with our three criteria of serious- ness or "omlnousness" were all low or negligible.
Attractive manner yielded substantial correlations in the .^O's among both sexes (Table 90). Worry over some specific fact among girls also yielded the substantial correlation of .34 4- .07 with a moderate coefficient of .24 4* .05 among boys.
Sensitiveness or worrisome ness (undlfferentiated) and sen- sitiveness in general showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among both -sexes. Three notations — boastful or "show-off" manner, sensitiveness over some specific fact, and daydreaming — among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but among girls low co- efficients below .20. Six notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys : popularity , sex misbehavior denied entirely, repressec manner, changeable moods or attitudes, irregular sleep habits, and refusal to attend school.
Clean habits showed negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's with three notations: among boys with - retardation in school and among girls with feeble-minded sibling and loitering or wandering.
Among the six sex notations the seven physical or psycho- physical disabilities and the four home or familial notations the only significant correlation with clean habits was with sex miabe- havior denied entirely among girls, .25 4- .07. All other correla- tions in these fields were low or negligible, ranging from -.16 to .18.
446
CHILDREN* 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 90 CORRELATIONS WITH "CLEAN"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.15 + .02 |
.14 + .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.06 ± .02 |
.04 -i- .03 |
|
10 + o^ |
. 0^ + 05 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Attractive manner , , T T T T tTT,»trtt.T.w,,t |
.32 + .03 |
.30 + .04 (2)* |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.25 + .03 |
-.03 |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, *?to. ........ |
.24 + .03 |
.22 + .04 (7) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.24 + .05 |
•34 t -07 (1) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.22 + .03 |
.12 |
|
Dnyflr^flinlng, .................................. |
.20 + .04 |
.01 |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.20 + .04 |
.29 + .05 (3) |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.01 |
.25 + .06 (4-6) |
|
.13 |
.25 + .07 (4-6) |
|
|
.17 |
.25 + .06 (4-6) |
|
|
Repressed |
.10 |
.21 + .07 (8-9) |
|
Changeable moods |
.0? |
.21 + .05 (8-9) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.13 |
.20 -f- .07 (10) |
|
Larger Corre |
>latlons (Negative) |
|
|
-.24 4- .03 |
-.15 -.15 |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.18 |
-.26 + .05 |
|
Loitering |
-.07 |
-.21 + .06 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Fantastical lying, .18 and .06; Sex delinquency (coitus), .18 and -.06; Lack of initiative, .18 and .06; "Nervous," .15 and .01; Irregular attendance at school, .15 and .12; Bashful, .15 and .03; Inferiority feelings, .14 and .10; Lazy, .14 and .04; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .13 and -.01; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .12 (boys); Unpopular, .12 and -.08; Masturba- tion, .12 and .08; Bossy, .11 and .18; Finicky food habits, .11 and .18; Men- tal conflict, .11 and .10; Grouped: depressed, etc., .10 and .13; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .10 and .08; Seclusive, .10 and .08; Depressed, .10 and .14; Inattentive in school, .10 and -.08; Teasing other children, .09 (boys); Smok- ing, .09 (boys); Irritable, .09 and .07; Unhappy, .09 and .09; Leader, .09 and .07; Speech defect, .08 and .04; Headaches, .08 and -.01; Egocentric, .08 and .03; Temper display, .08 and .06; Sullen, .08 and -.03; Selfish, .08 and .12; Rude, .07 and .09; Immoral home conditions, .07 and -.02; Discord between par- ents, .07 and .02; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .07 and .05; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .07 and .05; Victim of sex abuse, .07 (girls); Exclu- sion from school, .06 and -.01; Spoiled child, .06 and .06; Apprehensive, .06 and .11; Bad companions, .06 and -.06; Sulky, .06 and .14; Stealing, .06 and
SLOVENLINESS AND CLEANLINESS TABLE 90— Continued
-.11; Defiant, .06 and -.02; Lack of Interest in school, .05 and -.04; Leading others Into bad conduct, .05 and .07; Question of change of personality, .05 and .02; Restless, .05 and .03; Restless in sleep, .05 and .08; Former convul- sions, .05 and .01; Grouped: temper, etc., .05 and .12; Poor work in school, .04 and -.06; Vocational guidance, .04 and .19; Psychoneurotic, .04 and .06; Overinterest in sex matters, .04 and .00; Stubborn, .04 and .12; Destructive, .Ok and -.04; Contrary, .04 and .10; Truancy from school, .03 and -.16; Crying spells, .03 and .06; Excuse -forming, .03 and .06; Neurological defect, .03 and .11; Luea, .03 and .06; Grouped: swearing, etc., .02 and -.03; Absent-minded, .02 and .16; Gang, .02 (boys); Disturbing influence in school, .01 and -.02; Violence, .01 and .06; Over suggestible, .01 and -.02; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .01 and .00; Incorrigible, -.00 and -.07; luring, -.00 and -.00; Temper tantrums, -.00 and .10; Vicious home conditions, -.01 and .00; Staying out late at night, -.01 and -.07; Nail-biting, -.01 and .04; Enuresls, -.01 and .12; In- efficient in work, play, etc., -.02 and .06; Truancy from home, -.02 and .16; Listless, -.02 and .13; Object of teasing, -.02 and -.09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.03 and .07; Follower, -.03 and .07; Conduct prognosis bad, -.03 and -.04; Threatening violence, -.03 (boys); Quarrelsome, -.04 and -.03; Stutter- ing, -.04 (boys); Preference for younger children, -.04 and .07; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.04 and .05; Question of encephalitis, -.05 and .17; Distract- iljle, -.05 and .09; Disobedient, -.05 and -.06; Swearing (general), -.06 (boys); Irresponsible, -.07 and .06; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.07 (girls); Fight- ing, -.08 and .12; Brother in penal detention, -.08 and -.16; Queer, -.09 and .07; Emotional instability, -.10 and .07; Slow, dull, -.11 and .06; Question of hypophrenia, -.12 and -.17; Underweight, -.15 and .13 Omitted — Slovenly
In general it may be said that clean habits showed almost no association with undesirable conduct manifestations but did show a few moderate correlations vith personality difficulties. It appeared to be positively associated with such desirable traits as attractive manner and popularity.
A comparison of the corresponding correlations for the presumably antithetical notations slovenliness (Table 89) and deaD habits (Table 90) shows again the curious statistical phenomenon that many of the coefficients for these antithetical pairs of traits were not of opposite sign and of similar magnitude, as would be expected if strictly objectively measurable traits were being used, but were often of the same sign (though of different magni- tude). Among the 119 pairs of corresponding coefficients for the boys in Table 89 (slovenliness ) and Table 90 ( clean habits ) there were 78 pairs of like sign and only 41 of unlike sign. Among 114 pairs of girls1 coefficients there were 71 pairs of like sign and only 43 of unlike sign. The intercolumnar correlations (Pearson's product-moment ) were - . 11 + .06 for boys and - . 27 + .06 for girls .
448 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
(A discussion and attempted explanation of this phenomenon may be found in I, 134-35 and 249-50, and in this volume, p. 45, and in the concluding paragraphs of chaps, xx, xxv, and lili. )
CHAPTER XLVII
LACK OP INTEREST OR INATTENTIVENESS IN SCHOOL STUDIES, EMPLOYMENT, ETC.
To distinguish between the notations lack of interest In school or Inattentlveness in school studies, employment , etc. , and the similar notation inattentlveness in school was frequently not easy in the perusal of the actual case records, and it is probable that these rubrics have been inadequately differentiated in our original indexing of the data. flLaclc of interest" was Intended to denote a more fundamental attitude in the patient, while "inatten- tiveness" was intended to designate a more superficial overt be- havior in the classroom. The bi-serial correlations for each ru- bric with the personality- total and conduct-total were only mod- erate, ranging from .18 to .32. Their tetrachoric correlations with police arrest were low with the exception of the moderate co- efficient of .26 + .05 among girls for inattentivenesa in school.
Lack of interest in school was noted among 279 of Dur 2,113 White boys (13.2 per cent) and among 107 of our I,l8l White girls (9.1 per cent). Among both sexes its largest correlations were with poor work in school, the respective coefficients for boys and girls being 32. jh .03 and .42 t -04 (Table 91). Disturb- ing influence in school yielded the substantial correlations of .31 ± .03 and .29 + .06 among boys and girls respectively. Six behavior traits among girls also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low positive coefficients ranging from .10 to .21 among boys: refusal to attend school, restlessness, question of change of personality, sullenness. fighting, and swearing or bad language (undiff erentlated) .
Lack of interest in school showed consistent moderate cor- relations in the .20fs with eight behavior difficulties: irrespon- sibility, laziness, inefficiency in work, play, etc., truancy from school, di a obedience , rudeness, and (calculated for boys only) threatening violence and (calculated for girls only) overintereat in the opposite sex. Nine behavior notations among boys showed
449
450
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 91 CORRELATIONS WITH "LACK OF INTEREST IN SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Pei*Brtnality-tryfca1 . » r t » . r . ..................... |
.26 4- .02 |
.32 -»• .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.20 + .02 |
.28 + .03 |
|
Pol 1 c« arrest .. r r ..*... r .,,.....,,....,. r ..... |
.15 + .03 |
.08 + .06 |
|
Larger Corr |
slat ions (Positive) |
|
|
Poor work In school |
.32 + .03 |
.42 + .04 (1)* |
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
.31 -f .03 |
.29 + .06 (8-9) |
|
Truancy from, school |
.29 + .03 |
.28 + .05 (10-12) |
|
Inefficient In work, play, etc |
.2? + .05 |
.23 + .06 (21-22) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. |
.27 + .05 |
.16 " |
|
Rude |
.26 + .03 |
.29 4- .05 (8-9) |
|
.25 -f- .05 |
.26 + .07 (14) |
|
|
Lazv. |
25 + o4 |
24 ± 06 (19-20) |
|
Bad companions |
.24 + .03 |
.17 |
|
Loitering |
.23 + .04 |
.06 |
|
Disobedient |
.21 4- .03 |
.20 ± .06 (31-33) |
|
Sullen |
.21 + .04 |
.30 ± .06 (5-7) |
|
Unpopular |
.21 4- .05 |
.14 |
|
Leader |
.21 -f- .04 |
-.00 |
|
Boastful, "show-off fl |
.21 ± .04 |
.14 |
|
Grouped: "nervous, fl etc |
.21 4- .03 |
.18 |
|
Threatening violence .......................... |
.20 4- .05 |
|
|
Mental conflict . |
.20 -f- .05 |
.11 |
|
Unhappy ....................................... |
.20 + .05 |
17 |
|
Question of change of personality |
• 17 |
•39 ± .06 (2) |
|
Fighting |
10 |
.38 + 04 (3) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
10 |
37 + 06 (4) |
|
Refusal to attend school |
.18 |
.30 + .07 (5-7) |
|
• 17 |
.30 + .05 (5-7) |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
.06 |
.28 ± 06 (10-12) |
|
luring . |
12 |
28 ± 04 (10-12) |
|
Dlstractlble |
.12 |
.27 4- 06 (13) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.11 |
25 + 0*5 (1*5-18} |
|
Stealing . |
17 |
2*5 4- OS (I'S-lft} |
|
Violence . . |
14 |
P*5 + 06 (1^-lfi |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.18 |
.25 4- .05 (15-18) |
|
Contrary. ..................................... |
.19 |
24 -i- 07 (IQ-PO^ |
|
XzoluBl on from school ............ . . A .......... |
.18 |
.23 4- 07 (21-22) |
|
Slovenly |
.13 |
op 4. 0*5 (P^-psO |
|
Overinterest in opposite sex |
.22 4- .05 (23-25) |
|
|
Object of leasing |
.08 |
.22 + .06 (23-25) |
|
Defiant |
.17 |
21 ± 06 (26-30) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
• 17 |
.21 4- 07 (26-30) |
|
Twnper tantrums |
.09 |
21 4- 06 (26-30) |
|
Apprehensive. .. . , |
- 00 |
PI I O*5 (P6-*iO^ |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
LACK OP INTEREST IN SCHOOL TABIE 91— Continued
451
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.16 |
.21 + .05 (26-50) |
|
.02 |
PO 4- 0*5 (VL-'^ |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient; etc. |
• 19 |
.20 + .Ok (51-33) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Smoking, .19 (boys); Daydreaming, .19 and .19; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .19 (boys); Egocentric, .18 and .06; Inferiority feelings, .18 and .11; Preference for younger children, .18 and .17; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .18 and .12; Gang, .17 (boys); Lack of initiative, .17 and .06; Sensitive (general), .17 and .02; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .17 and .16; Teasing other children, .16 (boys); Quarrelsome, .16 and .1^; Se- clusive, .16 and .12; Grouped: depressed, etc., .16 and .13; Truancy from home, .15 and .11; Fantastical lying, .Ik and .15; Listless, .Ik and .16; Sulky, .13 and .03; Irritable, .13 and .Ik; Follower, .13 and .Ik; Destructive, .12 and .12; Incorrigible, .12 and .1^; Crying spells, .12 and .10; Depressed, .12 and ,07; Irregular sleep habits, .12 and .17; "Nervous/1 .12 and .12; Spoiled child, .11 and .13; Sex denied entirely, .11 and .04; Grouped: temper, etc., .11 and .17; Excuse-forming, .10 and .17; Queer, .10 and .18; Headaches, .10 and -.05; Bashful, .09 and .05; Grouped: dull, slow, , etc., .09 and .17; Bossy, .08 and .18; Nail-biting, .08 and .08; Selfish, .08 and .01; Stubborn, .08 and .16; Swearing (general), .08 (boys); Worry over specific fact, .08 and .01; Question of encephalitis, .08 and .11; Discord between parents, .08 and -.03; Oversug- gestible, .07 and .08; Vocational guidance, .07 and .01; Irregular attendance at school, .07 and .19; Masturbation, .06 and .10; Enuresis, .05 and .0^; Rest- less in sleep, .05 and .08; Emotional instability, .05 and .08; Clean, .05 and -.Ok; Underweight, .03 and -.03; Absent-minded, .02 and .08; Victim of sex abuse, .02 (girls); Attractive manner, .02 and .15; Vicious home conditions, .01 and .18; Bepressed, .01 and .12; Conduct prognosis bad, .00 and .16; Speech defect, .00 and .13; Neurological defect, -.00 and .12; Popular, -.01 and -.Ok; Psychoneurotic, -.01 and .05; Temper display, -.01 and .00; Finicky food habits, -.01 and .09; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.08; Question of hypophre- nia, -.02 and .Ok; Slow, dull, -.02 and .13; Former convulsions, -.Ok and .01; Retardation in school, -.06 and -.Ok; Lues, -.07 and .11; Feeble-minded sibling, -.09 and -.08; Overinterest in sex matters, -.09 and .12; Immoral home condi- tions, -.11 and .08; Stuttering, -.12 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), -.13 and .10
Omitted — Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc.
moderate correlations in the .20's but low coefficients belov .20 among girls : loitering or wandering, bad companions, hatred or jealousy of sibling, boastful or "show-off" manner, "nervousness" or restlessness (undifferentiated), unpopularity, mental conflicts unhappinesa, and "leader. " Sixteen undesirable notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low coeffi- cients below .20 among boys: inattentiveness in school , dlstract- ibility, slovenliness, changeable moods or attitudes, contrariness.
452 CHILDREN »S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
defiant attitude, temper tantrums, violence , stealing, staying out late at night, lying, leading others into bad conduct , exclusion from school, object of teasing by other children, apprehensiveness , and sensitiveness over some specific fact.
Among the six sex notations the only one of moderate size was with overinterest in the opposite sex among girls, .22 + .05, the corresponding boys' coefficient being omitted because of the paucity of boys1 cases. All other correlations in the sphere of sex, as well as for the seven physical notations and the four fam- ilial notations, were low or negligible, ranging from -.12 to .18.
Inattentiveness in school was noted among 223 boys (10.6 per cent) and among 8l girls (6.9 per cent).
Its more considerable correlations were as follows. Dis- turbing influence in school yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among both sexes (Table 92). Lack of initiative among boys yielded the substantial coefficient of .39 + .04, but the neg- ligible one of .09 among girls. Victim of sex abuse by older child or person among girls also yielded the substantial correlation of .30 + .06, the boys' correlations being omitted because of paucity of boys' cases. Disobedience and restlessness among girls yielded substantial correlations in the . 30's with moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys. Excuse- forming attitude, distractibility, and overinterest in sex matters among girls similarly yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's but low coefficients below .20 among boys.
Inattentiveness in school showed consistent moderate cor- relations in the .20 's with the following eight undesirable nota- tions: poor work in school, laziness, lying, destructiveness, un- popularity, masturbation, exclusion from school, and ( calculated for boys only) teasing other children. Six personality and con- duct problems among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but among girls low positive coefficients below .20: daydreaming, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , rudeness, boastful or "show-off " manner , defiant attitude, and fighting. Among girls a list of seventeen miscellaneous behavior traits showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys : lack of interest in school, listlessness, "spoiled child, " finicky food habits, s t ubb or nne s s , quarrelsomeness , selfishness,
LACK OP INTEREST IN SCHOOL
TABLE 92 CORRELATIONS WITH "INATTENTIVE IN SCHOOL"
453
|
Boys |
Oirla |
|
|
Personality-total |
.18 + .02 .22 + .02 .06 t .03 |
.25 ± .04 .24 t .04 .26 ± .05 |
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.39 ± -04 •35 ± .03 .30 ± .03 .29 ± .03 .28 t .02 .26 ± .03 .26 t .03 |
.09 .38 ± .06 (2)* .33 ± .04 (5-6) •30 ± .05 (7-9) .37 ± .05 (3) .22 ± .07 (27-31) |
|
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Lazy |
||
|
Destructive |
.25 ± .04 .24 t .04 .24 t .03 .24 i .03 .24 + .02 .23 ± .03 .22 ± .03 .21 ± .04 .21 t -04 .21 t .02 .21 + .03 .20 ± .02 .20 ± .03 .20 ± .03 .12 .18 .08 |
.23 4- .07 (24-26) .17 .03 .26 ± .05 (17-18) .40 ± .04 (1) .11 .22 ± -08 (27-31) .16 .19 .24 + .05 (21-23) .11 .22 t .06 (27-31) .18 .25 ± .07 (19-20) .34 ± .06 (4) •33 ± .06 (5-6) .30 ± .07 (7-9) .30 ± .06 (7-9) .29 + .07 (10-12) .29 ± .05 (10-12) .29 ± .07 (10-12) .28 ± .06 (13-16) .28 ± .05 (13-16) .28 ± .07 (13-16) .28 ± .08 (13-16) .26 ± .06 (17-18) .25 ± .05 (19-20) .24 ± .07 (21-23) .24 ± .07 (21-23) .23 ± .06 (24-26) .23 t .07 (24-26) .22 ± .06 (27-31) .22 ± .06 (27-31) |
|
Defiant |
||
|
Poor work in school |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc |
||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc. ............... |
||
|
Unpopular |
||
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
||
|
FlKhtlnK |
||
|
Lyiljxr |
||
|
Rude |
||
|
Masturbation. |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Distractible |
||
|
OveT»lnte:re$t iji SSY mattery ..T,t.T.,tt.ff.Ttt,. |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
.12 .18 .02 .06 .16 .06 .12 .07 .18 .19 .18 .06 .17 .03 .19 |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
Groi^pedi sveisfr'lng, etc* -rT.Ttf..TT».,»ff»,-r-r |
||
|
Lank of Interest jfn school .. r .... T *..,,-... T * . |
||
|
Stubborn |
||
|
Object of teasing. |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Listless |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Temper taTyt-rmflB ,r.,rcrr..»»..»r,»,r..tr»,r»r-t |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
454
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 92— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Bad companions |
.08 |
.21 + .06 (32-34) |
|
.18 |
.21 + .05 (32-34) |
|
|
.12 |
.21 + .07 (32-34) |
|
|
Larger Corr< |
slatlons (Negative) |
|
|
-.28 + .05 |
-.22 + .06 |
|
|
- OQ |
-.24 ± .08 |
|
|
- Ok |
- 21 + .08 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Incorrigible, .19 and .19; Truancy from school, .18 and .16; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .18 and .11; Complaining of bad treatment by other chil- dren, .17 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, .16 (girls); Changeable moods, .15 and .09; Queer, .15 and -.04; Egocentric, .14 and .13; Attractive manner, .14 and .02; Bossy, .13 and .17; Irresponsible, .13 and .09; Absent-minded, .13 and .17; Worry over specific fact, .13 and .18; Staying out late at night, .12 and .18; Seclusive, .12 and .11; Nail-biting, .11 and .11; Leading others into bad conduct, .10 and -.12; Smoking, .10 (boys); Truancy from home, .10 and .07; Clean, .10 and -.08; Contrary, .09 and .03; Slovenly, .09 and .13; Sulky, .09 and .01; Temper display, .09 and .01; Violence, .09 and .18; Headaches, .09 and .15; Refusal to attend school, .08 and -.08; Inferiority feelings, .08 and .15; Popular, .08 and .05; Clang, .07 (boys); Crying spells, .07 and -.01; Question of hypophrenla, .07 and -.15; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .07 and .03; Sullen, .06 and .07; "Nervous," .06 and .19; Irregular attendance at school, .06 and -.03; Discord between parents, .06 and .01; Vicious home conditions, .06 and -.11; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and .14; Enuresis, .05 and .09; Former convul- sions, .05 and -.05; Loitering, .04 and .14; Irregular sleep habits, .04 and .03; Neurological defect, .04 and -.03; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .Oh and .06; Apprehensive, .03 and .13; Repressed, .03 and .16; Bashful, .02 and -.02; Psychoneurotic, .02 and -.02; Swearing (general), .01 (boys); Bex. de- linquency (coitus), .01 and -.04; Question of change of personality, .01 and .08; Slow, dull, .01 and -.08; Sensitive (general), .01 and .04; Underweight, .01 and .02; Vocational guidance, .01 and .06; Over suggestible, .00 and .02; Sen- sitive over specific fact, -.00 and .09; Irritable, -.00 and .18; Depressed, -.02 and .08; Brother in penal detention, -.03 and -.00; Emotional instability, -.03 and -.04; Follower, -.04 and .11; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.05 and .04; Im- moral home conditions, -.05 and -.09; Threatening violence, -.05 (boys); Lues, -.06 and -.17; Stuttering, -.06 (boys); Retardation in school, -.08 and -.10; Question of encephalitis, -.09 and .18; Unhappy, -.10 and -.00; Speech defect, -.11 and .00
Omitted—Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc.
temper tantrums, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), rest- lessness in sleep, stealing, bad companions, fantastical lying, mental conflict, object of teasing by other children, preference for younger children as playmates, and "leader. "
LACK OF INTEREST IN SCHOOL 455
Three notations showed moderate negative correlations rang- ing from -.21 to -.28: feeble-minded sibling among both sexes, ant sex misbehavior denied entirely and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among girls.
Among the six sex notations there were several correlation coefficients of statistically significant size in the . 20!s and •30!s: masturbation among both sexes, overinterest In sex matters among girls, and victim of sex abuse by older child or person (cal- culated for girls only). Sex misbehavior denied entirely among girls showed the negative correlation of -.24 + .08.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities and among the four home or familial notations, all correlations with inattentlveness in school were low or negligible, ranging from -.17 to .18.
When the cases falling under the rubrics lack of interest In school or school studies, employment, etc. , and inattentiveneas in school were combined into a broad grouping, there were 467 sucl cases, or 22.1 per cent, among our 2,115 White boys and 172 cases, or 14.6 per cent, among our I,l8l White girls. An examination of the resulting correlation coefficients as shown In Table 93 with the corresponding correlations in the two preceding chapters shows that the effect of combining these notations was In general to in- crease the size of the resulting coefficients. The fact of this increase in the resulting correlations indicates a close similarity between the two rubrics and suggests the likelihood that the two component notations overlapped to such a degree that one should not have attempted to set up more than one category in the origi- nal Indexing of this material. We may, therefore, summarize the correlations In Table 93 In the following brief manner.
The highest correlations, ranging from .32 to .41 with the broader grouping lack of Interest or inattentlveness In school studies or employment (undifferentiated), were with the two nota- tions disturbing Influence In school and poor work In school.
Fifteen undesirable notations yielded moderate to substan- tial correlations In the ,20's and ,30's among both sexes: lazi-
reasons for this broader grouping were given In I, 44; see p. 86, Table 13, Item H.
456 CHILDREN1 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 95 CORRELATIONS WITH "GROUPED: LACE OF INTEREST IN SCHOOL, ETC/
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total . . |
.26 + .02 |
.33 ± .03 |
|
Conduct-total |
.32 + .02 |
.36 t -°3 |
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.41 + .03 |
•39 + .05 (1-2)* |
|
Poor vork in school |
.32 ± .03 |
.38 -»- .Ok (3-5) |
|
Lazy. |
.31 •£ .03 |
.23-1- .05 (30-33) |
|
PI flobedi ent |
.31 + .03 |
.29 + .04 (12-lft) |
|
Truancy ft^can. school |
.30 + .03 |
.27 f .05 (16-17) |
|
Rude |
.29 ± .03 |
.25 t .05 (21-25) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.28 + .02 |
•30 t «04 (10-11) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc. |
.28 + .Ok |
.20 + .06 (41-48) |
|
Teasing other children |
.28 + .03 |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. ................ |
.28 + .o4 |
• 15 |
|
Restless ... |
27 + 05 |
58 + 04 (5-5) |
|
Defiant |
.26 i .0*4. |
.26 + .05 (18-20) |
|
Unpopular ........................... ........... |
.26 + .Ok |
.23 ± .06 (30-33) |
|
Daydreaming |
.26 t .03 |
.16 |
|
Boastful, "show-off11 , |
.25 ± .03 |
.17 |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
•23 ± .03 |
.18 |
|
Irresponsible |
23 + ok |
21 ± 06 (38-40 ) |
|
Exclusl on from school .............. , » » ... .. . » . , |
.22 + .03 |
.51 + .06 (9) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.22 + .03 |
.32 + .04 (8) |
|
Destructive . . . |
21 -»- 05 |
25 + O6 f5O-55^ |
|
Stealing |
.21 -f- .03 |
.24 + .04 (26-29) |
|
Egocentric |
.20 + 03 |
11 |
|
Itflng |
.20 + 05 |
PQ 4. o4 (1P-141 |
|
Fighting. |
.20 + .03 |
.55 + ,o4 (7) |
|
Bad companions ............. ....... *. . ... |
.20 I 05 |
.20 ± 05 (41-48) |
|
Grouped: sirearlng, etc |
.0? |
.59 j. .05 (1-2) |
|
Dlstractible |
-13 |
.58 + .05 (5-5) |
|
.13 |
.37 i- .06 (6) |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. |
.15 |
-30-1- .04 (10-11) |
|
Object of teasing |
.09 |
.29 + .05 (12-14) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.15 |
.28 4- .06 (15) |
|
KYr™««-form"lng |
.17 |
.27 t «05 (16-17) |
|
Tamper tantrums |
.08 |
.26 t -05 (18-20) |
|
O-Bwi.ntereist In sex mat-tern |
.02 |
.26 t .06 (18-20) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.15 |
.25 + .06 (21-25) |
|
Sullen |
.16 |
.25 + ,05 (21-25) |
|
Violence . . .. |
16 |
0*5 4. 05 p-i 0*5 \ |
|
Overlnterest In opposite sex. |
.25 4- .04 21-25) |
|
|
Staying out late at night |
.15 |
.24 ± .05 26-29) |
|
Stubborn * |
.14 |
.24 4- .04 (26-29^ |
Rank order of girls* correlations.
LACK OP INTEREST IN SCHOOL TABLE 93— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
QUATT^10°niP» ..................... • . T . T ., r ... r T |
.19 |
.2k ± .Ok (26-29) |
|
Refusal to attend school ...., |
.16 |
.23 t -07 (30-33) |
|
Victim of sex abuse |
.22-1- .05 (34-37) |
|
|
Apprehensive |
.01 |
.22 f .05 (34-37) |
|
Incorrigible |
.19 |
.22 + .Ok (34-37) |
|
Contrary |
.18 |
.22 t «06 (34-37) |
|
Masturbation |
.10 |
.21 ± .05 (38-to) |
|
Listless |
• 17 |
.21 t -05 (38-4o) |
|
Mental conflict |
.19 |
.20 ± .07 (41-1*8) |
|
Irritable |
.08 |
.20 t -05 (41-1*8) |
|
Slovenly |
.1^ |
.20 ± .06 (1*1-1*8) |
|
Bossy ».... |
.14 |
.20 ± .06 (1*1-1*8) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.10 |
.20 t -04 (1*1-1*8) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.03 |
.20 ± .07 (1*1-1*8) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .19 (boys); Leader, .18 and .15; Smoking, .18 (boys); Loitering, .18 and .10; Gang, .17 (boys); Spoiled child, .17 and .19; Leading others into bad conduct, .16 and .10; Sulky, .15 and .03; Truancy from home, .15 and .11; Queer, .15 and .15; Inferiority feelings, .ll* and .13; Worry over specific fact, .11* and .10; Seclusive, .11* and .15; Selfish, .11* and .ll*; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., ..ll* and .12; Crying shells, .13 and .09; Lack of initiative, .13 and .03; Sensitive over specific fact, .12 and .18; "Nervous,*1 .12 and .15; Threatening violence, .11 (boys); Sensitive (general), .11 and .04; Unhappy, .11 and .14; Irregular sleep habits, .10 and .17; Depressed, .10 and .09; Absent-minded, .10 and .15; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .10 and .10; Grouped: depressed, etc., .10 and .13; Headaches, .10 and .04; Irregular attendance at school, .10 and .09; Changeable moods, .09 and .18; Follower, .08 and .11; Discord between parents, .08 and -.02; Vocational guidance, .08 and .02; Attractive manner, .08 and .09; Swear- ing (general), .07 (boys); Over suggestible, .07 and .04; Restless in sleep, .07 and .17; Clean, .07 and .05; Popular, .06 and .03; Bashful, .06 and ,Q4; Fin- icky food habits, .05 and .18; Nail-biting, .04 and .08; Enuresis, .04 and .09; Vicious home conditions, .04 and .09; Sex denied entirely, .03 and -.04; Under- weight, .03 and -.00; Emotional Instability, .03 and .07; Neurological defect, .03 and .09; Temper display, .03 and .01; Repressed, .02 and .17; Psychoneurotic, .02 and .02; Slow, dull, .00 and .03; Former convulsions, -.00 and .01; Conduct prognosis bad, -.01 and .08; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.05j Lues, -.05 and .04; Question of hypophrenia, -.05 and -.03; Retardation In school, -.05 arid -.07; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .06; Speech defect, -.09 and .01; Immoral home conditions, -.09 and .03; Stuttering, -.11 (boya); Jteeble- mlnded sibling, -.17 and -.13
Omitted — Inattentive in school; Lack of Interest in school
ness. Inefficiency in work, play, etc. , irresponsibility, truancy from school, bad companions, exclusion from school, disobedience, stealing, defiant attitude, destructiveness , fighting, rudeness, restlessness, lyinfl, and unpopularity and (calculated for boys
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
only) teasing other children and (calculated for glrla only) over- Interest In opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person. Among boys daydreaming , boastful, or "show-off" manner, egocentrioity , and hatred or jealousy of sibling showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls. Twenty- five personality and conduct problems among girls showed moderate to substantial correlations in the ,20's and .350's but low positive correlations below .20 among boys: refusal to attend school, stubbornness, incorrigibili ty , contrariness, vio- lence, qua r re 1 s omene s s , staying out late at night, distractibility, listlessneas, slovenliness, question of change of personality, men- tal conflict, apprehensiveness , excuse- forming attitude, temper tantrums, irritable temperament , swearing or bad language (undif- ferentlated), fantastical lying, sullenness, bossy manner, object of teasing by other children, preference for younger children as playmates, masturbation, overlnterest in sex matters, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Among the six sex notations there were four positive coef- ficients of moderate size in the ,20's, all among girls: overin- terest in sex matters, masturbation, and two for which only the girls1 correlations were calculated — overlnterest in the opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations the only correlation of moderate size was the statistically question- able one of .20 + .07 with question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations in this chapter were low or negligible.
CHAPTER XLVIII
DISTURBING INFLUENCE IN SCHOOL
Disturbing influence or marked mischievousness in school was noted among 348, or 16.5 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 89, or 7.5 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. It is a mat- ter of common observation that girls adjust their conduct better in school routine than do the boys. With the factor of chronolog- ical age, its bi-serial correlation among girls was negative and of moderate size, -.24 + .04, and among boys negligible, -.06 (Ta- ble 9, p. 128). With Intelligence quotient (IQ) its bi-serial cor- relations were negligible, -.01 and .04 (Table 10, p. 130).
Its bi-serlal correlations with the conduct- total among both sexes and with personality- total among girls were large, ranging from .46 to .52 (Table 94). Among boys the correlation
TABLES 94 CORRELATION WITH "DISTURBING INFLUENCE IN SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.26 4- .02 |
.52 + .03 |
|
|
Conduct -total |
.46 + .02 |
.48 t -03 |
|
.23 + .03 |
.04 ± .0? |
|
|
Larger Corre |
latlona (Positive) |
|
|
Exclusion frnm eohoo] ......................... |
.51 ± -03 |
.51 ± .06 (1)* |
|
Boastful, " ehov-of f " |
.51 ± -03 |
.kk ± .06 (9-10) |
|
Teaelng other children Unpopular. |
.45 ± .03 .42 t .04 |
.49 ± .07 (2) |
|
.41 t .02 |
.45 ± .04 (6-8) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc |
.41 t .03 |
•39 ± .05 (17) |
|
Rude |
.40 + .03 |
.35 + .05 (21-22) |
|
•39 ± .03 |
.44 t .04 (9-10) |
|
|
Fighting |
.38 t -03 |
.43 + .06 (11) |
|
Incorrigible |
•37 ± .03 |
.40 -f .05 (14-16) |
Bank order of girls' correlations.
459
^60
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 9^— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Restless |
• 37 ± .03 |
.27 4- .0*5 (38) |
|
Disobedient- |
36 4- .03 |
.45 4- .05 (6-8) |
|
Destructive •••• . |
36 + .03 |
.32 4- .07 (25-31) |
|
Violence . |
.36 + .03 |
.47 4- .06 (3) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.35 4. .03 |
.38 ± .06 (18) |
|
Grouped: pwearlng^ etc. ..................... |
.32 + .03 |
.41 4- .06 (12-13) |
|
L«c)r of iiYh«rept In pchooi , . , . T , ... t , ......... |
.31 4- .03 |
.29 4. .06 (34-35) |
|
Contrary. ..................................... |
.31 4- .05 |
• 19 |
|
Leading others Into bad conduct |
.31 + .o4 |
.21 ± .08 (45-47) |
|
QttaTT'elaoine .................................. i |
.31 + .03 |
.36 ± .05 (20) |
|
Fantastical lying. |
.30 4- .04 |
.32 4- .07 (25-31) |
|
larinff , |
.30 + .03 |
.40 4- .04 (14-16) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.29 -4- .03 |
.37 4- .04 (19) |
|
Defiant |
28 + 04 |
46 4- 06 (4-5) |
|
Slovenly. |
.28 i .03 |
.22 4- .05 (44) |
|
Swearing (general ) . . r |
.2? 4- .Ok |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.27 + .03 |
.20 4- .05 (48-55) |
|
Loitering. |
26 -h Ok |
13 |
|
Smoking. |
.26 + .ok |
|
|
Lazy. ............................ |
25 +• ok |
14 |
|
25 + 03 |
28 4- 0^ M6-3S7) |
|
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
.25 + ,o4 |
|
|
Bossy , |
.24 + 04 |
23 4- .07 (43) |
|
Excuse -forming .... |
24 + 03 |
.32 + 06 (25-31) |
|
Egocentric . . . |
24 + 03 |
28 4- 06 (36-37) |
|
Distractible |
.24 + .03 |
.46 4- .05 (4-5) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.24 + .03 |
.40 4- .04 (14-16) |
|
Poor work in school |
.23 4- .03 |
.32 4- .05 (25-31) |
|
Sulky |
.22 4- .04 |
.18 |
|
Threatening violence |
.22 4- .05 |
|
|
Truancy from home |
.21 4- .03 |
.10 |
|
Stubborn. |
.20 4- .03 |
.31 4- .05 (32-33) |
|
Spoiled child |
20 + .03 |
.26 4- 06 (39-40) |
|
Object of teasing |
18 |
45 4- 06 (6-8) |
|
Temper tantrums |
.19 |
.41 + .05 (12-13) |
|
Queer |
• 13 |
.35 4- 07 (21-22) |
|
Question of change of personality |
08 |
33 + 07 (23-24) |
|
iDaydrftfuning . |
.00 |
.33 + 06 (23-24) |
|
TnMMncy from school . .... ^ ......... ........... |
.19 |
.32 4- .05 (25-31) |
|
"Nervous" *: |
.10 |
32 + 05 (25-31) |
|
Restless in sleep |
• 07 |
.32 4- .05 (25-31) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.18 |
.31 4- 08 (32-33) |
|
Irresponsible |
.18 |
2Q 4- 07 (^4-35) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
.15 |
.26 ± .01 (39-4o) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.17 |
.25 4- .08 (41-42) |
|
Emotl onal instabl llty ......................... |
.13 |
.25 + .07 (41-42) |
|
Bad companions |
19 |
21 4- 06 (45-47) |
|
Crying spells |
OQ |
21 i 05 (45-47) |
|
Enures! e . . . * .... |
10 |
20 -I- 05 (48-55) |
|
Nail-biting |
• 17 |
.20 4- .05 (48-55) |
|
Chrerlrrfcerefijt jn pez matters ................... |
.13 |
.20 4- .07 (48-55) |
|
Chaj*jgea.bl e moods ...................... . ..... |
.16 |
20 4- 06 (48-55) |
DISTURBING INFLUENCE IN SCHOOL TAEtE 94— Continued
461
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Neurological defect |
-.01 -.05 -.07 |
.20 -f .06 (48-55) .20 + .07 (48-55) .20 ± .07 (48-55) |
|
Speech defect |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.25 + .Ok -.23 + .04 |
-.04 -.09 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Refusal to attend school, .19 and .08; Sullen, .19 and .17; Inferiority feelings, .19 and .18; Overinterest in opposite sex, .19 (girls); Staying out late at night, .17 and .06; Temper display, .17 and .12; Leader, .17 and .18; Gang, .16 (boys); Irritable, .16 and .19; Over suggestible, .15 and .04; Mental conflict, .14 and .10; Selfish, .13 and .12; Irregular sleep habits, .13 and .16; Masturbation, .12 and .12; Former convulsions, .12 and .08; Vicious home conditions, .11 and .13; Depressed, .10 and .13; Unhappy, .10 and .10; Finicky food habits, .09 and .08; Grouped: depressed, etc., .09 and .13; Attractive manner, .08 and .09; Sex denied entirely, .07 and .03; Victim of sex abuse, .07 (girls); Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, ,.06 and -.02; Headaches, .06 and .14; Retardation in school, .05 and -.02; Irregular attendance at school, .05 and -.00; Discord between parents, .05 and -.01; Preference for younger chil- dren, .04 and .16; Absent-minded, .03 and .08; Sensitive (general), .03 and .06; Follower, .03 and .01; Popular, .02 and .12; Clean, .01 and -.02; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .01 and .17; Worry over specific fact, -.00 and .17; Sensitive over specific fact, -.00 and .10; Question of hypophrenia, -.01 and .12; Listless, -.02 and .10; Apprehensive, -.02 and .19; Underweight, -.03 and .01; Secluslve, -.03 and -.01; Brother in penal detention, -.04 and .06; Immoral home conditions, -.06 and -.12; Vocational guidance, -.08 and .03; Re- pressed, -.08 and .01; Stuttering, -.09 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), -.09 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.11 and .04; Slow, -.11 and .05; Bash'ful, -.12 and -.06; Psychoneurotic, -.16 and -.04
with personality- total was only moderate, .26 + .02. With the po- lice-arrest criterion of seriousness, the boys' tetrachorlc corre- lation was only moderate, .23 + .OJ5, and the girls' coefficient negligible, . 04 + .07.
Its largest correlations were for exclusion from school with the coefficients of .51 among both sexes. Boastful or "show- off" manner also yielded large coefficients of .5! 4- .05 and ,44 + .06 for boys and girls respectively. Unpopularity and (calcu- lated for boys only) teasing other children yielded large correla- tions in the .40' s. Rudeness yielded respective coefficients of .40 + .05 and .35 + .05 among boys and girls. The following six
462 CHILDREN* 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
conduct difficulties among girls yielded large correlations In the ,40's and among boys substantial coefficients in the .30fs: fight- ing, violence, inoorrlfiibillty, disobedience, swearing or bad lan- guage (undlfferentiated), and lying. Pour behavior traits among girl girls similarly yielded large correlations In the .40' s and moder- ate coefficients ranging from .18 to .28 among boys: defiant at- titude, temper tantrums, dlstractlblllty, and object of teasing by other children.
Pour conduct problems yielded substantial correlations In the .30' s among both sexes: inattentiveness in school, quarrel- someness, destructiveness , and fantastical lying. Pour undesirable behavior traits among boys yielded substantial correlations in the .30 fs and moderate coefficients ranging from .19 to .29 among girls : lack of Interest In school, leading others Into bad con- duct , contrariness, and restlessness. Three notations among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and among boys mod- erate correlations In the ,20's: poor work In school, stubborn- ness, and excuse- forming attitude. An additional seven miscella-* •• neous conduct and personality problems among girls yielded substan- tial correlations in the .?0's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: truancy from school, daydreaming, question of change of personality, queer behavior, "nervousness, " restlessness in sleep, and question dr diagnosis of encephalitis.
Nine conduct and personality difficulties showed consist- ently moderate correlations in the ,20's: bossy manner, egocen- triclty, "spoiled child, " slovenliness, stealing, and the four conduct problems for which only the boys1 coefficients were cal- culated: swearing In general, smoking, threatening violence, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Pour conduct dif- ficulties among boys "Showed moderate coefficients in the ,20's but low coefficients ranging from .10 to .18 among girls: truancy from home, sulklness, laziness, and loitering or wandering. Among girls thirteen miscellaneous case-record notations showed moderate cor- relations In the ,20fs but low or negligible coefficients below .20 among boys: emotional Instability, changeable moods or atti- tudes, crying spells, irresponsibility, inefficiency in work, play, etc . , bad companions, overinterest in sex matters, enure sis, nail- biting, neurological defect (unspecified), lues, speech defect (other than stuttering), and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis .
DISTURBING INFLUENCE IN SCHOOL 465
Two notations showed moderate negative correlations in the -,20's with disturbing influence in school , both among boys: lack of initiative and feeble-minded sibling.
Among the six sex notations all correlations were low ex- cept the doubtfully significant one of .20 + .07 with overinterest in sex matters among girls .
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations there were five coefficients of moderate size ranging from .20 to .31, all among girls: question of diagnosis of encephalitis, neurolog- ical defect (unspecified), lues, enuresla, and speech defect (other than stuttering) .
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with disturbing influence in school were low or negligible.
CHAPTER XLIX
RUDENESS
Rudeness, impertinence, Impudence, etc., toward adults was a fairly frequently appearing notation among our cases, the inci- dence being about 15 per cent of both boys and girls in this study Its bi-serlal correlations with the conduct-total were large, .48 + .02 and .55-1- .02 among boys and girls respectively (Table 95).
TABLE 95 CORRELATIONS WITH "RUDE"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.32 + .02 |
.39 t .03 |
|
Conduct-total |
.48 ± .02 |
• 55 ± «02 |
|
Police arrest |
.19 t »03 |
.20 + .04 |
|
Larger Corr< |
slatlons (Positive) |
|
|
.54 ± .02 |
.60 + .03 (1)* |
|
|
Defiant |
.14.9 + .03 |
.54 + .04 (2) |
|
Disobedient |
.46 + .03 |
.52 ± .04 (3) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.45 + .03 |
.50 + .05 (4) |
|
Incorrigible |
.44-1- .03 |
.4? -i- .04 (6-7) |
|
Contrary |
.42 t .04 |
.32 t .06 (26-27) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.40 t .03 |
•35 ± .05 (19) |
|
Destructive |
.38 -t- .03 |
.22 t »06 (51-53) |
|
Swearing (general) |
.38 + .04 |
|
|
Violence |
.36 + .03 |
.39 + .05 (14) |
|
• 35 ± .03 |
.49 + .03 (5) |
|
|
.35 + .03 |
•34 ± .04 (20-22) |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.34 t -04 |
.29 + .06 (31-37) |
|
.34 + .04 |
.31 + .06 (28) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, n etc |
.32 t '03 |
.24 t .04 (46-48) |
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
•31 ± .03 |
.40 ± .05 (11-13) |
|
Fighting |
.31 ± .03 |
.44 + .03 (8-9) |
|
Egocentric |
.31 t .03 |
•37 ± .04 (15-17) |
|
Teasing other children |
.30-1- .04 |
|
|
Temper "fcftTvtnnne |
.30 * .04 |
.40 * .04 (11-13) |
|
Restless . |
.30 t '03 |
.22 + .04 ( 51-53) |
Bank order of girls' correlations.
464
RUDENESS TABLE 95— Continued
465
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
.29 4- .03 .29 + .03 .27 4- .04 .27 ± .03 .27 4- .03 .27 4- .04 .27 + .03 .26 4- .04 .26 + .03 .26 + .03 .25 + 04 |
.36 t .04 (18) .25 + .04 (44-45) .11 .28 ± .05 (38-39) .42 4- .05 (10) .34 + .04 (20-22) .44 ± .03 (8-9) .16 .29 ± .05 (31-37) .34 t *04 (20-22) |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest Selfish |
in school, etc |
||
|
Staying out late at night.. |
|||
|
Sullen |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school. |
|||
|
Stubborn |
|||
|
Smoking |
|||
|
Threatening violence |
.25-4- .05 |
||
|
Spoiled child |
.25 t .04 .24 4- .04 .24 + .04 .24 + .04 |
.27 ± .05 (4o-4l) .23 ± .06 (49-50) .40 ± .06 (11-13) |
|
|
Lazy |
|||
|
Leading others into bad con |
duct |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.24 t .04 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .23 ± .03 .23 t .04 .22 t -03 .22 ± .04 .22 + .05 .21 4- .03 .21 ± .0? .21 + .03 .21 i .03 .20 ± .03 .20 ± .03 .20 t .04 .02 .18 .17 |
.15 .29 ± .06 (31-37) .26 t .04 (14-2-43) .29 ± .Ok (31-37) .17 .47 4- .04 (6-7) .17 .30 4- .06 (29-30) .11 " .29 t .06 (31-37) .25 t .05 (44-45) .33 ± .04 (23-25) 17 |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Slovenly |
|||
|
Stealing |
|||
|
Inferiority feelings |
|||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Unpopular |
|||
|
Inattentive in school |
|||
|
Sulky |
|||
|
Truancy from school |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Bad companions. . .. |
|||
|
Truancy frcw home |
.20 4- .04 (54) |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
|||
|
.37 t .05 (15-17) .37 ± .05 (15-17) .33 ± .05 (23-25) .33 ± .04 (23-25) .32 ± -06 (26-27) •30 t -05 (29-30) .29 ± .05 (31-37) .29 ± .04 (31-37) .28 ± .05 (38-39) .27 ± .06 (4o-4l) .26 ± .05 (42-43) .24 t .07 (46-48) .24 ± .06 (46-48) .23 t .05 (49-50) .22 t -04 (51-53) |
|||
|
Overinterest in opposite se Queer |
x |
||
|
.19 .18 .07 .14 .16 .10 .06 |
|||
|
Overinterest in sex matters Finicky food habits |
|||
|
Masturbation |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Question of change of per so Emot 1 "nal 1 nftt-fvM 11 ty ...... |
etc |
||
|
nallty |
|||
|
Question of encephalitis... |
|||
|
.16 .19 .02 |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. . . |
|||
|
Crying spells |
|||
|
Speech defect .............. |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|||
|
-.14 -.05 |
-.26 4- .05 -.20 t .04 |
||
|
Bashful |
|||
466 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBI^JMS
TABLE 93— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Nail-biting, .1? and .12; Irresponsible, .15 and .15; Refusal to at- tend school, .15 and .13; "Nervous," .15 and .05; Restless in sleep, .Ik and .14; Conduct prognosis bad, .14 and .13; Sensitive over specific fact, .13 and .01; Discord between parents, .13 and .15; Sex denied entirely, .12 and -.09; Loitering, .11 and .02; Sex delinquency (coitus), .11 and .06; Mental conflict, .11 and .12; Poor work in school, .11 and .09; Vicious home conditions, .11 and .13; Leader, .10 and .07; Enureeis, .09 and .07; Repressed, .09 and .03; Attrac- tive manner, .09 and .06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .08 and .10; Clean, .07 and .09; Immoral home conditions, .07 and .10; Psychoneurotic, .06 and .13; Distractible, .06 and .11; Seclusive, .06 and .05; Irregular attend- ance at school, .06 and .01; Apprehensive, .05 and .14; Object of teasing, .05 and .10; Worry over specific fact, .05 and .07; Headaches, .05 and .18; Former convulsions, .05 and .04; Victim of sex abuse, .05 (girls); Brother in penal detention, .05 and .11; 'Popular, .04 and .04; Absent-minded, .03 and .08; Fol- lower, .03 and -.09; Listless, .02 and .05; Neurological defect, .02 and .01; Sensitive (general), .00 and .16; Lues, .00 and -.00; Vocational guidance, .00 and -.06; Underweight, -.01 and .04; Preference for younger children, -.01 and .00; Over suggestible, -.01 and -.03; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07 and -.08; Question of hypophrenla, -.07 and -.12; Lack of initiative, -.07 and -.15; Slow, dull, -.09 and -.12; Retardation In school, -.11 and -.11; Feeble-minded sib- ling, -.12 and .17; Stuttering, -.19 (boys)
Its corresponding correlations with the personality- total were sub- stantial, .32 + .02 and .39 + .03. With the police-arrest cri- terion of "juvenile delinquency" its tetrachoric correlations were only moderate, .19 4- .03 and .20 + .04.
Its highest correlations among both sexes ranged from .44 to .54 for the four conduct problems, defiant attitude, disobedi- ence, incorrigibllity, and swearing or bad language (undifferen- tiated). Contrariness and disturbing Influence In school among boys yielded correlations in the ,40's and among girls in the .30fs. Three conduct problems among girls similarly yielded large correla- tions in the ,40fs with similar substantial coefficients in the ,30's among boys: boastful or "show- off" manner, fighting, and temper tantrums. An additional three conduct difficulties among girls yielded large correlations in the ,40's but moderate coeffi- cients in the ,20!s among boys: sullenness, quarrelsomeness , and leading others into bad conduct.
Six unfavorable notations consistently yielded substantial correlations in the ,30fs: violence, egocentriclty, exclusion from school, and the two notations for vhich only the boys ' coefficients were calculated — teasing other children and swearing in general — and (calculated for girls only) over-interest in the opposite sex.
RUDEHESS 467
Three conduct and personality difficulties among boys yielded sub- stantial correlations in the .30fs with moderate correlations in, the ,20fs among girls: destructiveness , hatred or jealousy of sibling, and restlessness. Among girls five behavior traits yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's with moderate coef- ficients in the ,20's among boys: stubbornness , irritable temper- ament , changeable moods or attitudes, lying, and unpopularity . Five additional behavior traits among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys : temper display, excuse- forming attitude, daydreaming , queer behavior and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in sex matters .
Rudeness showed consistent moderate correlations in the ,20fs with fourteen undesirable conduct and personality manifesta- tions: "spoiled child, " sulkiness, laziness, slovenliness, tru- ancy from school, staying out late at night, lack of interest in school, stealing, fantastical lying, and the four traits for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated — threatening violence, running with a gang, smoking, and complaining of bad treatment by other children. Seven personality and conduct difficulties showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys but low positive co- efficients below .20 among girls: bossy manner, selfishness, bad companions, Inattentlveness in school, depressed mood or spells, inferiority feelings, and Irregular sleep habits. Among girls eight miscellaneous notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20»s but low coefficients below .20 among boys: emotional insta- bility, question of change of personality, unhappiness, crying spells, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , finicky food habits, mas turbation, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
Rudeness among girls showed negative correlations of mod- erate size in the -.20fs with bashfulnesa and speech defect (other than stuttering) .
Among the six sex notations there were three moderate or substantial correlations ranging from .29 to .33, all among girls: masturbation, overinterest in sex matters, and (calculated for girls only) over interest in the opposite sex.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities there were two correlations of moderate size, both among girls: tne positive coefficient of .24 + .07 with question or diagnosis
468 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
of encephalitis and the negative one of -.26 + .05 with speech de- fect.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from .05 to .15-
CHAPTER L SEX NOTATIONS
A miscellaneous group of six sex notations which appeared with sufficient frequency in our case-record material to justify correlational treatment is discussed in this chapter. Although in the original indexing of our total 5,000 cases there were a large variety of sex items (as listed in I, 56, Table 2; 69-71* Table 4; and 72, Table 5), most of these items occurred so seldom that adequate statistical treatment was not feasible. In addition to the six notations to be discussed in Tables 96-101, there were another six categories (sex attack on person of opposite sex, "an- noying" girls, mutual masturbation with child of the same sex, ho- mosexual practices with child of same age, passive pederasty, and exhibitionism or "indecent exposure" ) for which correlations could be calculated among boys, but only with the personality- total, con- duct-total, police arrest, chronological age, and intelligence quo- tient (this volume, Tables 6-10 inclusive).
Sex delinquency, which in our study has been rigidly de- fined as "coitus or copulation with a person of the opposite sex," was noted among only 70 of our 2,113 White boys, or 3.3 per cent, but among 218 of our 1,181 White girls, or 18.5 per cent. Among girls its tetrachorlc correlation of .76 + .02 with the police- arrest criterion of "juvenile delinquency" was unusually high, in fact, conspicuously the largest correlation with police arrest found among all our correlations (Table 96). All other correla- tions among both sexes with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominousness" were consistently low, the coefficients ranging from .08 to .18.
Its largest correlations among both sexes were in the . 40's with the two sex notations, overinterest in sex matters and mastur- bation. Victim of sex abuse by older child or person among girls yielded the large correlation of .44 + .04, the boys' coefficient not being calculated because of the paucity of boys' cases. Staff
469
470
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 96 CORRELATIONS WITH "SEX DEIJNQUENCY (COITUS)"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total • |
.08 4- .04 |
.08 ± .03 |
|
Conduct- total • |
.17 ± .Ok |
.16 t -03 |
|
Police arrest . |
.18 ± .05 |
.76 -f .02 |
|
Larger Corrc |
>lations (Positive) |
|
|
Overinterest in sex matters |
.48 + .07 |
•47 ± .05 (3)* |
|
Masturbation , |
.14.3 .j. ,o4 |
.41 t .04 (7) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad. |
.32 4- .08 |
.48 ± .05 (1-2) |
|
TJayd-reRml npr - ---,,,-.. TT.T..,.T TT.rif |
.22 + .06 |
-.01 |
|
Sulky |
.20 4- .07 |
-.08 |
|
Mental conflict |
.20 4- .07 |
.23 -t .06 (19-21) |
|
Truancy from home |
.16 |
AS t .04 (1-2) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.11 |
•45 t .05 (4) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.10 |
.44 ± .04 (5-6) |
|
V1 fttJTI] Of POX HhUSft ............ r T r T ,.,,.,,.,,. |
.Mf .1. ,o4 (5-6) |
|
|
Over suggestible |
.11 |
.38 •»- .04 (8-9) |
|
.38 + .04 (8-9) |
||
|
Bad companions |
.14 |
.37 + .04 (10) |
|
Truancy from school |
.03 |
.36 -f .04 (11) |
|
Loitering |
.16 |
•33 t .05 (12-13) |
|
Lying |
.15 |
•33 t .03 (12-13) |
|
Bashful |
-.09 |
.30 ± .04 (14) |
|
Tiwnrrrfl.] hnrnft r.onrH t,i one ....................... |
.13 |
.29 ± .03 (15) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.10 |
.27 ± .03 (16) |
|
Stealing |
.16 |
.24 t .04 (17-18) |
|
-.03 |
.24 ± .04 (17-18) |
|
|
Underweight |
-.12 |
.23 + .04 (19-21) |
|
.04 |
.23 4- .05 (19-21) |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.09 |
.22 4- .04 (22) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.05 |
.20 4- .05 (23) |
|
Larger Corre |
lations (Negative) |
|
|
- . 39 4- .05 |
-.41 t 04 |
|
|
Lazy |
-.28 4- .06 |
-.11 |
|
Trrfig^laT* ftt.t,«ndan^€> it school. ............... |
-.21 4- .06 |
-.14 |
|
-.20 £ .07 |
-.03 ' |
|
|
Stuttering. * |
-.20 + .08 |
|
|
-.00 |
- 25 4- .03 |
|
|
Irritable |
.04 |
-.24 t .04 |
|
"Nervous" |
-.03 |
- 24 t .04 |
|
Restless in sleep |
-.01 |
-.23 t .04 |
|
Neurological defect |
.01 |
-.21 + .05 |
|
Question of encephalitis |
-.06 |
-.21 ± .07 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
SEX NOTATIONS 4?1
TABLE 96— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Popular, .18 and -.01; Clean, .18 and -.06; Worry over specific fact, .18 and .15; Pay choneur otic, .1? and -.05; Grouped: fighting, etc., .1? and .09; Depressed, .16 and .01; Inferiority feelings, .15 and -.09; Smoking, .14 (boys); Grouped: egocentric, etc., .14 and .03; Selfish, .13 and -.13; Vio- lence, .13 and .14; Sensitive over specific fact, ,13 and .01; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .13 and .03; Fantastical lying, .12 and .01; Rude, .11 and .06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .11 and -.01; Gang, .09 (boys); Fight- ing, .08 and .09; Threatening violence, .08 (boys); Preference for younger chil- dren, .08 and -.13; Unhappy, .08 and .01; Follower, .08 and .17; Egocentric, .08 and .07; Nail-biting, .07 and .03; Slovenly, .07 and .06; Sullen, .07 and .09; Swearing (general), .07 (boys); Exclusion from school, .07 and .18; For- mer convulsions, .07 and -.14; Brother in penal detention, .07 and .10; Inef- ficient in work, play, etc., .06 and .01; Discord between parents, .06 and .06; Vicious home conditions, .06 and .19; Crying spells, .05 and -.05; Repressed, .05 and -.08; Leader, .05 and -.04; Refusal to attend school, .04 and -.01; Ir- regular sleep habits, .04 and -.15; Queer, .04 and .17; Emotional instability, .04 and .17; Question of change of personality, .03 and .13; Boastful, "show- off," .02 and .10; Listless, .02 and .01; Defiant, .01 and .07; Inattentive in school, .01 and -.04; Teasing other children, .01 (boys); Contrary, .00 and .07; Temper display, -.00 and -.09; Feeble-minded sibling, -.00 and .11; Change- able moods, -.00 and .03; Object of teasing, -.01 and -.08; Question of hypo- phrenla, -.01 and -.08; Grouped: temper, etc., -.01 and -.09; Enuresis, -.01 and .05; Sensitive (general), -.02 and -.18; Headaches, -.02 and -.08; Finicky food habits, -.03 and -.04; Quarrelsome, -.03 and -.01; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, -.03 (boys); Excuse-forming, -.04 and .09; Dis- tractible, -.04 and .05; Apprehensive, -.05 and -.00; Destructive, -.06 and .02; Temper tantrums, -.06 and .08; Spoiled child, - 06 and -.08; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.07 and -.09; Disturbing influence in school, -.09 and .02; Stubborn, -.09 and .12; Slow, dull, -.09 and .01; Restless, -.09 and .09; Secluslve, -.09 and -.04; Unpopular, -.09 and .18; Grouped: lack of interest in school, -.09 and .06; Speech defect, -.10 and -.09; Poor work in school, -.11 and -.19; Retardation in school, -.11 and -.02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.11 and -.15; Lack of interept in school, -.13 and .10; Bossy, -.14 and ,01; Irresponsible, -.14 and .11; Attractive manner, -.14 and -.13; Absent-minded, -.16 and -.03
Omitted—Sex denied entirely
notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among girls yielded the large correlation of .48-1- .05, and a substantial coefficient of .32 + .08 among boys. Three additional notations among girls yielded large correlations in the ,40's but low positive coeffi- cients ranging from .10 to .16 among boys: truancy from home, staying out late at night, and leading others Into bad conduct.
Overinterest In the opposite sex among girls yielded the substantial correlation of .38 + .04, the boys' coefficient not be- ing calculated because of fewness of boys1 cases. Six additional conduct and personality difficulties among girls yielded substan- tial correlations in the .30's but low coefficients below .20 among
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
boys : oversugges t ibility , bad companions, loitering or wandering, truancy from school, lying, and baahfulness.
Mental conflict shoved moderate correlations In the ,20's with sex delinquency (coitus) among both sexes. Daydreaming and sulking as among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but negligible coefficients of negative sign among girls. Seven mis- cellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20 's but low coefficients below ,20 among boys: immoral home conditions, incorrigibility , disobedience, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), stealing, lues, and underweight condition.
Sex delinquency (coitus ) showed many negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20' s: among boys for the four notations, laziness, lack of initiative, irregular attendance at school, and stuttering and among girls for the five notations, "nervousness," irritable temperament, restlessness in sleep, question or diagno- sis of encephalitis, and neurological defect (unspecified). "Re- quest for vocational guidance" yielded the substantial negative correlations of -.39 t .05 and -.41 + .04 among boys and girls re- spectively.
Sex delinquency (coitus ) yielded substantial or large cor- relations ranging from .38 to .48 with four other sex notations— masturbation and overlnterest in sex matters— among both sexes and the two notations for which only the girls' coefficients were cal- culated, overlnterest in the opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities, two showed moderate positive correlations in the ,20's among girls, lues and underweight condition. Two showed moderate negative cor- relations in the -,20's among girls, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis and neurological defect (unspecified). Stuttering among boys showed the doubtfully significant negative correlation of -.20 + .08, the girls1 coefficient being omitted because of paucity of girls' oases.
Among the four home or familial notations the only statis- tically significant correlation with sex delinquency ( coitus ) was the moderate positive one of ,29 4 .03 with immoral home conditions among girls.
SEX NOTATIONS 473
Masturbation In our data ¥as one of the most frequently appearing behavior notations, especially among boys. It was noted among 599, or 28.3 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys, and among 154, or 13.0 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls. With the person- ality- total and conduct- total criteria of seriousness or "ominous- ness" its bl-serial correlations ranging from .30 to .41 may be considered substantial but not large (Table 97 )• With the police- arrest criterion of overt juvenile delinquency Its tetrachoric cor- relations of .20 + .03 and .21 + .05 were only moderate.
Its largest correlations were with overinterest In sex mat- ters, the respective coefficients for boys and girls being .54 + .03 and .46 + .04. Sex delinquency (coitus) yielded large corre- lations in the ,40's among both sexes. Stealing among girls yielded a large correlation of .44 4- .04, and a substantial coef- ficient of ,32 + .02 among boys.
Lying yielded substantial correlations in the .30's among both sexes. Daydreaming among boys yielded the substantial corre- lations of .37 + .03, but a moderate correlation among girls of .25 + .05. Among girls three notations — truancy from home, lead- ing others Into bad conduct, and worry over some specific fact — yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and among boys mod- erate coefficients ranging from .19 to .28.
Eleven personality and conduct problems showed moderate coefficients in the . 20's with ma s t urba 1 1 o n among both sexes: sen- sitiveness or worrlsomeness (undlfferentiated), sensitiveness over a ome s pecific fact, mental conflict, changeable moods or attitudes, "nervousness" or restlessness (Including Irritable temperament and changeable moods, undlfferentiated), nail-biting, Inattentlveness in school, bad companions, destructiveness, swearing or bad lan- guage (undifferentiated), and exclusion from school. Two conduct problems for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated — swearing in general and teasing other children — and two notations for which only the girls' coefficients were calculated — overinter- est In the opposite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person— -also showed moderate correlations in the .20' s. Six nota- tions among boys showed moderate correlations In the . 20*s but low coefficients below .20 among girls: enures is, inferiority feel- ings, boastful or "show-off" manner, fantastical lying, object of teasing by other children, and laziness. A large list of eighteen
474
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABEE 97 CORRELATIONS WITH "MASTURBATION"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality- total. |
.32 + .02 |
.30 t .03 |
|
.32 + .02 |
.41 4- .03 |
|
|
Pol 1 ce arrest |
.20 4- .03 |
.21 4- .05 |
|
Larger Corrc |
>latlons (Positive) |
|
|
OvertTYtwes"fc In S«MT matters ................... |
• 54 ± .03 |
.46 4- .04 (1)* |
|
Sox delinquency ( coitus) |
A3 t «04 |
.41 f .04 (3) |
|
.57 4- .05 |
.2*5 4- .0*5 (50} |
|
|
• 35 ± .02 |
.39 ± .Ok (k) |
|
|
Stealing. ,,,............ ........*....... |
.52 4- .02 |
.44 4- .04 (2) |
|
Destructive , |
29 4- 05 |
.29 ± .06 (8-12) |
|
Objective of teasing. |
.29 + .03 |
.09 |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.28 ± .ok |
.53 4- .07 (7) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.21 ± .03 |
.28 ± .04 (13-17) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.25 t -03 |
.15 |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.25 ± .0^ |
.36 ± .06 (5) |
|
.24 t .03 |
• 19 |
|
|
Swearing (general) |
.2k ± .Ok |
|
|
Inf er1 ority feelings ................... .....* * |
.24 + .03 |
.11 |
|
M«ntnl <?opf 1 1 <jt, , , , , |
.2k ± .Ok |
.2? ± .07 (18-23) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.23 -f .03 |
.27 4- .05 (18-23) |
|
Bad companions .......,...*.... * x ^ ... 4 .**»* |
.22 4- .05 |
.20 4- .05 (41-45) |
|
Boastful, "show-off11 |
.22 4- .03 |
.17 |
|
Changeabl e moods .......... , . , 4 ....... * , * * t * |
.22 4- .03 |
.20 4- .05 (41-45) |
|
Nail-biting |
.21 4- .03 |
.26 4- .04 (24-29) |
|
Teasing other children |
.21 + .03 |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.21 t .02 |
.22 4- .04 (54-37) |
|
Inattentive in school ......... •*.,*.. . . |
20 ± .02 |
.22 4- 06 ( 54-57 } |
|
Lazy |
||
|
Exclufll on from school .......... t ..,.,...,,, 1 4 . |
.20 4- .03 |
.29 4- .06 (8-12) |
|
Grouped : swearing, etc •• |
.20 4- .03 |
.26 + .06 (24- 29} |
|
Truancy from hcme ............... ..,..,,...,... |
.19 |
.35 + .04 (6) |
|
Defiant |
.00 |
.29 4- .05 (8-12) |
|
.14 |
.2Q 4- 04 (8-12} |
|
|
Victim of BMC abuse ......,.«....,...,..,.,.,.. |
.29 ir .05 (8-12) |
|
|
Question of encephalitis |
.18 |
.28 4- .07 (13-17) |
|
Restless In sleep |
.18 |
.28 4- .05 (13-17) |
|
Tamper tantrums |
.16 |
.28 + .05 (15-17) |
|
Violence ....... ....,». |
15 |
.28 4- 06 (13-17) |
|
lighting |
.16 |
.27 ± .04 (18-23) |
|
Overlnterest In opposite sex |
.27 t -05 (18-23) |
|
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.15 |
.27 4- .04 (18-23) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.16 |
.27 ± .05 (18-25) |
|
.19 |
.26 + .06 (24-29) |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.14 |
.26 4- .04 (24-29) |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
SEX NOTATIONS TABUS 97 — Continued
475
|
Boye |
Girls |
|
|
Stubborn |
.08 |
.26 -i- ,04 (24-29) |
|
Slovenly .. . |
• 13 |
.26 ± .04 (24-29) |
|
Bossy |
.10 |
.24 t .06 (31) |
|
Incorrigible |
.14 |
.23 + .04 (32-33) |
|
.15 |
.23 t «06 (32-33) |
|
|
• 13 |
.22 ± .06 (34-37) |
|
|
Disobedient |
.06 |
.22 t «04 (34-37) |
|
BVO 1 «D T r ,. r ... r . r ....,, r .. r , r , r r , r r ,.. - T T r r r ,, |
.07 |
.21 t -05 (38-40) |
|
.14 |
.21 ± x.04 (38-40) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc. .... |
.10 |
.21 t '05 (58-40) |
|
Unhappy |
• 15 |
.20 t -06 (41-43) |
|
Larger Corre |
jlations (Negative) |
|
|
-.10 |
-.37 + .04 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
"Nervous," .19 and .19; Repressed, .19 and .04; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .19 (boys); Smoking, .17 (boys);. Hatred or Jeal- ousy of sibling, .17 and .15; Question of change of personality, .17 and .17; Unpopular, .17 and .18; Loitering, .16 and .00; Over suggestible, .16 and .11; Conduct prognosis bad, .16 and .17; Spoiled child, .15 and .01; Neurological defect, .15 and .16; Staying out late at night, .11 and .11; Threatening vio- lence, .14 (boys); Emotional instability, .14 and .16; Grouped: temper, etc., .14 and .11; Truancy from school, .13 and .19; Crying spells, .13 and .15; Pop- ular, .13 and .01; Discord between parents, .13 and .11; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .13 and .18; Contrary, .12 and .10; Disturbing influence in school, .12 and .12; Irresponsible, .12 and .05; Gang, .12 (boys); Absent-minded, .12 and .15; Clean, .12 and .08; Attractive manner, .12 and .05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .11 and .08; Quarrelsome, .11 and .18; Listless, .11 and .00; Irri- table, .11 and -.01; Distractible, .11 and .14; Excuse -forming, .10 and .11; Ir- regular sleep habits, .10 and .03; Selfish, .09 and .18; Apprehensive, .09 and .10; Egocentric, .09 and .14; Vicious home conditions, .09 and .07; Sulky, .08 and .18; Bashful, .08 and -.07; Sensitive (general), .08 and .06; Finicky food habits, .07 and .13; Preference for younger children, .07 and .16; Headaches, .07 and .14; Lack of interest in school, .06 and .10; Refusal to attend school, .06 and .02; Temper display, .06 and -.07; Leader, .06 and .15; Seclusive, .05 and .12; Underweight, .04 and .00; Speech defect, .04 and .08; Immoral home con- ditions, .04 and .11; Former convulsions, .02 and -.04; Poor work in school, .01 and -.09; Follower, .01 and -.09; Lack of initiative, .00 and -.13; Irregu- lar attendance at school, -.01 and - 03; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.01 -and -.12; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.01; Question of hypophrenia, -.03 and .00; Slow, dull, -.04 and -.05; Lues, -.04 and .06; Stuttering, -.06 (boys)j Feeble-minded sibling, -.08 and -.10; Retardation in school, -.14 and -.15
Omitted — Sex denied entirely
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
miscellaneous case-record notations among girls shoved moderate correlations in the . 20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys : incorrigibility, disobedience, defiant attitude, stub- bornness, fighting, violence, temper tantrums, rudeness, bossy man- ner, sullenness, slovenliness, restlessness, restlessness in sleep, queer behavior, psychoneurotic trends, depressed mood or spells, unhappiness, and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
The only negative correlation of significant -size was with the routine item "request for vocational guidance," -.37 + .04 among girls.
Among the six sex notations the intercorrelatlons of mas- turbation with the two sex traits sex delinquency (coitus) and overinterest in sex matters were large, as we have noted, ranging from .41 to .54 amopg both sexes. With two notations for which only the girls ' correlations were computed — overinterest in the op- posite sex and victim of sex abuse by older child or person — the coefficients were of moderate size in the .20' s.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities moderate correlations in the ,20's were found for enures is among boys and question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls.
With the four home or familial notations all correlations with masturbation were low or negligible, ranging from -.02 to .13.
Manifesting precocious interest or overinterest in the op- posite sex was noted among 175 of our I,l8l White girls (14.8 per cent). Its incidence among our boys was so small that satisfactory correlation coefficients could not be computed. Its bi-serial cor- relation with conduct- total was fairly large, .47 4- .03, and with the personality- total probably substantial, .31 + .03 (Table 98). Its correlation with "police arrest was low, .18 + .04.
Its largest correlation, .50 + .04, was with staying out late at ni^ht. Five conduct problems also yielded large correla- tions in the .40' s: bad companions, truancy from school, incor- rigibility, lying, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prog- nosis.
Overinterest in the opposite sex yielded substantial cor- relations in the .30's with the following seventeen conduct and personality notations: sex delinquency (coitus), overinterest in sex matters, leading others into bad conduct, truancy from home.
SEX NOTATIONS 477
TABLE 98
CORRELATIONS WITH "OVERITOEKEST IN OPPOSITE SEX" (Girls Only)
Personality-total 31 + .03
Conduct-total ' 47 + .03
Police arrest 18 + .04
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Staying out late at night 50 + .Ok
Conduct prognosis bad 43 + .05
Truancy from school 43 + .04
Incorrigible 42 + .04
Bad companions 4l + .04
Itfing 40 + .04
Grouped: disobedient, etc 40 + .03
Sex delinquency (coitus) 38 + .04
Leading others into bad conduct 37 + .06
Queer 37 + .06
Unpopular 34 + .06
Violence 34 + .05
Fantastical lying 34 + .05
Boastful, "show-off" 33 + .05
Rude 33 + .04
Truancy from home 33 + .04
Exclusion 33 + .06
Grouped: swearing, etc 32 + .05
Loitering 32 + .06
Disobedient 32 + .04
Destructive 32 + .06
Stealing 31 + .04
Overinterest in sex matters .30 + .05
Temper tantrums 30 + .05
Stubborn 29 + .04
Grouped: egocentric, etc 28 + .04
Changeable moods 28 + .05
Masturbation 27 + ,05
Sullen ; 25 + .05
Egocentric 25 + .05
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc. . . .25 + .04
Defiant 23 + .05
Question of change of personality 23 + .06
Excuse-forming 23 + .05
Emotional instability 23 + .05
Victim of sex abuse 22 + .05
Slovenly 22 + .04
Lack of interest in school 22 + .05
Fighting 22 + .04
Contrary 21 + .06
Refusal to attend school 21 + .07
Lues 21 + .05
Grouped: temper, etc 20 + .04
Unhappy 20 + .06
Irresponsible 20 + .06
Inefficient in work, play, etc 20 + .06
478 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 98— Continued Larger Correlations (Negative)
Lack of initiative -.23 + .06
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Disturbing influence in school, .19; Psychoneurotlc, .19; Distractible, .19; Grouped: depressed, etc., .18; Grouped: fighting, etc., .18; Over suggestible, .18; De- pressed, .17; Restless, .17; Poor work in school, .17; In- attentive in school, .16; Lazy, .15; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .15; Daydreaming, .1^; Nail-biting, .1^; Quarrelsome, .Ik; Headaches, .13; Listless, .11; Irritable, .11; Leader, .11; Question of encephalitis, .10; Mental conflict, .10; Absent-minded, .09; Object of teasing, .09; Worry over spe- cific fact, .09; Immoral home conditions, .08; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .08; Finicky food habits, .07; Discord between parents, .07; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .06; Sulky, .06; Bossy, .06; Irregular sleep habits, .05; Sensitive over specific fact, .05; Vicious home conditions, .05; Brother in penal detention, .0^; Neurological defect, .OM-; Enuresis, .0^; Crying spells, .03; Feeble-minded sib- ling, .02; Irregular attendance at school, .02; Spoiled child, .02; Repressed, .02; Restless in sleep, .02; Self- ish, .02; Preference for younger children, .01; Former convulsions, -.00; Apprehensive, - 00; Underweight, -.01; "Nervous," -.01; Temper display, -.01; Question of hypo- phrenia, -.03; Popular, -.03; Attractive manner, -.03; Sex denied entirely, -.04; Apprehensive, -.05; Follower, -.05; Sensitive (general), -,06; Clean, -.07; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.07; Bashful, -.09; Slow, dull, -.11; Inferiority feelings, -.11; Vocational guidance, -.11; Seclusive, -.13; Speech defect, -.15
loitering or wandering, disobedience, violence, temper tantrums, de s t r u c t i ve n e s s , stealing, rudeness, boastful or "show-off" man- ner, fantastical lying, swearing or bad language (undifferenti- ated), queer behavior, unpopularity, and exclusion from school.
Moderate correlations in the ,20fs were found for nineteen notations: masturbation, victim of sex abuse by older child or person, stubbornness, defiant attitude, contrariness, sullenness, refusal to attend school, lack of interest in school, inefficiency, in work r play, etc., slovenliness , irresponsibility, egocentricity. fighting, excuse- forming attitude, emotional instability, change- able moods or attitudes, question of change of personality, unhap-" piness, and lues.
Only one negative correlation of significant size was found — lack of initiative—with a coefficient of -.23 + .06.
SEX NOTATIONS
Among Its intercorrelations with five other sex notations, overinterest in the opposite sex yielded substantial correlations in the . 30!s with sex delinquency (coitus) and overinterest in sex matters, and moderate coefficients in the ,20's with masturbation and victim of sex attack or abuse by older child or person.
Among the six physical or psychophysical disabilities con- sidered in Table 98, the only correlation of moderate size was with lues, .21 + .05.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were negligible, ranging from .04 to .08.
Manifesting precocious interest or overinterest in sex mat- ters was noted among 86 of our 2,113 White boys, or 4.1 per cent, and among 8l of our I,l8l White girls, or 6.9 per cent. With per- sonality-total and conduct -total its bl-serlal correlations were substantial, ranging from .31 to .42 (Table 99). With police ar- rest its tetrachoric correlations were of moderate size in the
TABLE 99 CORRELATIONS WITH "OVERINTEREST IN SEX MATTERS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.31 ± .03 .34 t .03 .27 ± .04 |
.35 ± .04 .42 t -03 .28 ± .05 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Masturbation |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
•5^ ± .03 .48 ± .07 .33 ± .07 .32 ± .05 .30 ± .07 .29 ± .07 .27 + .04 .27 ± .07 .26 ± .05 .24 t .06 .24 ± .04 .24 f .05 •23 ± .05 |
.46 ± .04 (2)* • Vf ± .05 (1) .15 .32 ± .06 (12-13) .17 .35 ± .07 (9) .29 ± .05 (21-22) .40 ± .08 (7) .25 ± .07 (29) .15 .43 ± .04 (4) .32 ± .06 (12-13) •3^ ± .07 (10-11) |
|
|
Sex delinquency (coitus) |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
||
|
Tw*rfll hnrn^ o<">pfl 1 +-1 <~>r>p T ,»..,» T , -, r -, -, T |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
||
|
Worry over specific fact .. |
||
|
Exclusion from school |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Lyinc v |
||
|
Bad companions |
||
|
Boastful, " show-off" \ |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
480
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 99— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.21 + .06 .21 + .06 |
.42 + .07 (5-6) |
|
|
Ex cue ©-forming |
.21 + .05 .21 + .07 .21 + .05 .20 + .07 |
.29 + .06 (21-22) .08 " .21 + .06 (35) .42 -i- .08 (5-6) • ^ + .05 (3) .38 i .06 (8) .34 + .07 (10-11) .31 + .07 (1^-15) .31 ± .06 (14-15) .30 + .07 (16-20) .30 + .05 (16-20) .30 + .05 (16-20) .30 + .07 (16-20) .30 + .05 (16-20) .28 i .05 (23-24) .28 -i- .05 (23-24) .27 ± .07 (25) .26 + -06 (26-28) .26 + .06 (26-28) .26 + .07 (26-28)" .24 + .05 (30) .23 ± .06 (31-32) .23 ± .05 (31-32) .22 ± -07 (33-3^) .22 + .08 (33-3^) .20 i .07 (36-38) .20 + .07 (36-38) .20 + .07 (36-38) |
|
Psych oneurotic |
||
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
V1 f-t-ll7l <">"f 0eX ^UP^ , T . T T , , „ . . T , . r T , . - . T T , T T T - - |
||
|
Bossy |
.14 .10 .18 .14 -.04 |
|
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
Violence. |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Headaches |
||
|
Rude |
.18 .08 .09 .13 -.02 .18 .15 .02 .19 .15 .06 .10 -.05 .15 .19 .03 .13 |
|
|
Inattentive in school |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Slovenly |
||
|
UnhaDDV |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
||
|
Daydreaming, .................................. |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
Distractible |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc. |
||
|
Leader |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Sullen |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school |
||
|
Question of hypophrenia |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.01 -.06 -.03 |
-.22 + .05 -.22 + .05 -.21 ± .06 -.21 t -08 |
|
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
||
|
Former convulsions |
.15 |
|
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
Sex denied entirely |
-.14 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Teasing other children, .19 (boys); Crying spells, .19 and .12; Sulky, .18 and .11; Unpopular, .18 and .18; Grouped: fighting, etc., .17 and .18; Quarrelsome, .17 and .15; Destructive, .17 and .05; Apprehensive, .16 and .03; Discord between parents, .15 and .07; Changeable moods, .15 and .03; Contrary, .15 and -.13; Refusal to attend school, .14 and .14; Restless in sleep, .14 and^ .16; Sensitive (general), .14 and .11; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .13 and .17;
SEX NOTATIONS 48l
TABLE 99— Continued
Vicious home conditions, .13 and -.04; Irritable, .13 and .10; Threatening vio- lence, .13 (boys); Irresponsible, .13 and .03; Incorrigible, .12 and .12; Loi- tering, .12 and .14; Restless, .12 and .18; Bnotional instability, .12 and .13; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .12 (boys); Popular , .12 and .04; Neurological defect, .12 and -.02; Lazy, .11 and -.01; Finicky food habits, .11 and -.06; Temper tantrums, .10 and .10; Repressed, .09 and .06; Seclusive, .09 and .14; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .08 and .14; Staying out late at night, .08 and .01; Irregular sleep habits, .08 and .03; Attractive manner, .08 and .19; Question of encephalitis, .07 and .04; Depressed, .0? and .16; Fight- ing, .07 and .14; Absent-minded, .06 and .13; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and .05; Brother in penal detention, .05 and .11; Oversuggestlble, .05 and .17; Tru- ancy from home, ,04 and .10; "Nervous," .04 and .07; Follower, .04 and -.05; Clean, .04 and .00; Speech defect, .03 and -.14; Lues, .03 and -.05; Object of teasing, .03 and .03; Listless, .03 and -.10; Selfish, .03 and .09; Defiant, .03 and .16; Enuresis, .02 and .14; Spoiled child, .02 and .17; Irregular at- tendance at school, .01 and -.04; Truancy from school, .01 and .19; Smoking, .01 (boys); Gang, .00 (boys); Question of change of personality, -.00 and ,13; Nail-biting, -.01 and .09; Retardation in school, -.03 and -.15; Temper display, -.03 and -.11; Poor work in school, -.05 and .04; Bashful, -.05 and .07; Slow, dull, -.06 and -.14; Stubborn, -.07 and .19; Lack of initiative, -.07 and -.17; Underweight, -.08 and .02; Lack of interest in school, -.09 and .12; Stutter- ing, -.10 (boys); Vocational guidance, -.11 and .03
.20'a. Its highest correlations, ranging from .46 to .54 among both sexes, were with masturbation and sex delinquency ( coitus ) . Victim of sex abuse by older child or person ( calculated only for girls) also yielded a large correlation of .44 + .05. Pour unde- sirable behavior traits among girls similarly yielded large corre- lations in the ,40's but moderate coefficients in the ,20!s among boys : mental conflict, worry over some specific fact, leading others into bad conduct, and lying.
Overlnterest in sex matters yielded substantial correla- tions in the . J50's among both sexes with swearing or bad language (undifferentiated) and among girls with over interest in the oppo- site sex, the boys' coefficient not being calculated because of paucity of cases. Immoral home conditions and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis among boys yielded substantial cor- relations in the ,30fs but low coefficients of .17 and .15 respec- tively among girls. Three conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the , 30's among girls, and moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: bad companions, boastful or "show-off" manner, and fantastical lying. An additional eight miscellaneous notations among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30'! but low coefficients below .20 among boys: disobedience , violence.
482 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
egocentricity, bossy manner, rudeness, hatred or jealousy of sib- ling, inattentiveness in school, and headaches.
Overinterest in sex matters among both sexes showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's with four undesirable notations: sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, excuse- forming attitude, and exclusion from school. Among boys psychoneurotic trends and preference for younger children as playmates showed moderate correlations in the .20' s but low coefficients below .20 among girls. Ten behavior traits among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20 's but low coefficients below .20 among boys: daydreaming, distractibil- ity, inferiority feelings, unhapplness, queer behavior, sullenness, slovenliness, disturbing influence in school, stealing, and "leader. r
There were four negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's with overintereat in sex matters, all among girls : question of hypophrenia, dull or slow manner (including listless- ness and lack of initiative, undifferentiated), former convulsions, and feeble-minded sibling.
Among the five intercorrelations of overinterest in sex matters with the other sex notations, consistently large coeffi- cients ranging from .44 to .5^ were found for the three traits, sex delinquency (coitus ) , masturbation, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person. A fairly substantial correlation of .JO + .05 was found for overinterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' correlations were calculated.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal disabilities all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.14 to .14.
Among the four home or familial notations the only corre- lation of significant size with overinterest in sex matters was .30 + .07 with immoral home conditions among boys.
The case-record notation, victim of actual or attempted rape or sex abuse by adult person (not a relative) or by older child, was noted among 104 of our I,l8l White girls, or 8.8 per cent. Among boys It occurred so seldom that correlations were not feasible in our data. As an indicator of behavior disorder it ap- pears to be of little meaning. With the conduct-total its corre- lation was only moderate, .21 + .03, while with the personality- total and police arrest its correlations were low, .11 + .03 and
SEX NOTATIONS
483
.19 4- .05 (Table 100). Its largest correlations, .44 + .04 and .44 + .05, were with sex delinquency ( coitus ) and overinterest in sex matters respectively. Substantial correlations in the ,30!s
' TABLE 100
CORRELATION^ WITH "VICTIM OF SEX ABUSE" (Girls Only)
Personality-total 11 ± .03
Conduct -total 21 t «03
Police arrest 19 ± .05
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Sex delinquency (coitus) 44 ± .04
Overinterest In sex matters 44 + .05
Vicious home conditions 33 ± -06
Inattentive in school 30 f .06
Masturbation 29 + »05
Itfing 29 ± .04
Truancy from home 28 + .05
Grouped: swearing, etc 27 + .06
Apprehensive 25 ± .05
Unhappy 23 + .07
Grouped: depressed, etc 22 ± .06
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc, . . .22 t »05
Overinterest in opposite sex 22 ± .05
Bad companions 22 + .06
Mental conflict 21 ± .08
Conduct prognosis bad 21 + .08
Discord between parents 20 ± .05
Larger Correlations (Negative)
Destructive -.29 ± .07
Sex denied entirely -.28 ± .07
Temper display -.21 + .06
Irritable -.20 ± .05
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
fantastical lying, .19; Queer, .19; Exclusion from school, .19; Immoral home conditions, .18; Sensitive over specific fact, .18; Stealing, .18; Bossy, .17; Brother in penal detention, .17; Boastful, "show-off," .15; Stubborn, .15; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .15; Bestless, .14; Ques- tion of change of personality, .14; Leading others into bad conduct, .13; Worry over specific fact, .13; Quarrelsome, .12; Disobedient, .12; Defiant, .12; Enuresis, .11; Staying out late at night, .11; Truancy from school, .11; Depressed, .11; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .10; Absent- minded, .09; Daydreaming, .09; Over suggestible, .09; Fol- lower, .09; Repressed, .08; Incorrigible, .08; Disturbing influence in school, .07; Seclusive, .07; Clean, .07; Head- aches, .07; Psychoneurotic, .06; Slovenly, .06; Selfish, .06;
484 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 100 — Continued
Nail-biting, .06; Rude, .05; Distractible, .05; Poor work in school, .05; Attractive manner, .05; Feeble-minded sibling, .04; Restless in sleep, .04; Excuse-forming, .04; Changeable moods, .03; Egocentric, .03; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .03; Neurological defect, .02; Leader, .02; "Nervous," .02; Vio- lence, .02; Lack of interest in school, .02; Spoiled child, .01; Grouped: fighting, etc., .01; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.00; Sulky, -.00; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, -.00; Listless, -.00; Fighting, -.01; Lazy, -.02; Refusal to attend school, -.02; Temper tantrums, -.02; Underweight, -.02; Lues, -.02; Loitering, -.02; Emotional instability, -.03; Lack of initiative, -.03; Irregular sleep habits, -.03; Sul- len, -.03; Irresponsible, -.03; Bashful, -.05; Unpopular, -.05; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.05; Crying spells, -.06; Object of teasing, -.07; Preference for younger children, -.08; Popular, -.08; Former convulsions, -.08; Question of hypophrenla, -.09; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.11; Speech defect, -.11; Question of encephalitis, -.11; Slow, dull, -.11; Finicky food habits, -.11; Retardation in school, -.12; Vocational guidance, -.12; Irregular attendance at school, -.12; Sensitive (general), -.14; Inferiority feelings, -.15; Grouped: temper, etc., -.16; Contrary, -.18
were yielded by vicious home conditions and inattentiveness in school.
Victim of sex abuse by older child or person showed mod- erate correlations in the .20's with the following eleven miscel- laneous notations: overinterest in the opposite sex, masturbation^ bad companions, truancy from home, lying, swearing or bad language (undifferentlated), apprehenslveness , un happiness, mental conflict } discord between parents, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Negative correlations of moderate size in the -,20's were found for the following four notations: sex misbehavior denied entirely, i r r 1 tab 1 e t empe r amen t , temper display, and destructive- ness .
Among the five intercorrelations between victim of sex abuse by older child or person and the other sex notations, large correlations in the . 40fs were found for sex delinquency ( coitus ) and overinterest in sex matters and moderate coefficients in the .20fs with masturbation and overinterest in the opposite aex. Wit* sex misbehavior denied entirely the correlation was negative and of moderate size, -.28 + .07.
With the six physical or psychophysical disabilities con-
SEX NOTATIONS
485
sidered in Table 100, all coefficients were low or negligible, ranging from -.11 to .11.
Among the four home or familial notations, vicious home conditions yielded the substantial correlation of .33 + .06, dis- cord between parents the moderate correlation of .20 + .05, and immoral home conditions and brother in penal detention the low pos- itive coefficients of .18 and .17 respectively with victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
The notation sex misbehavior denied entirely (i.e., patient denies masturbation, sex delinquency, homosexual practices, etc. ) was employed when there was no information contradicting the child fs own denials. It was noted among 142 boys, or 6.7 per cent, and among 47 girls, or 4.0 per cent. The data in this instance are of course very Incomplete, because in the clinical examinations it was not always considered advisable to investigate exhaustively the child's sex misbehavior beyond what was objectively verifiable. Its correlations with our three criteria of seriousness were all low or negligible, ranging from -.16 to .17 (Table 101).
TABLE 101 CORRELATIONS WITH "SEX DENIED ENTIRELY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.04 ± .03 .02 t .03 .07 ± .04 |
.17 ± .04 -.00 t .04 -.16 -i- .06 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
PO], in^ aTT£0+' .................. r . * ........ t * * . |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.25 ± .04 .24 + .05 |
.13 |
|
|
Copying spells |
.24 t .04 .21 t .04 .20 -I- .06 .13 " -.02 .13 -.12 -.13 |
.15 .01 .14 .28 + .09 (1)* .25 t .08 (2-3) .25 ± .07 (2-3) .21 ± .06 (3-4) .21 + .07 (3-4) |
|
Truancy from, school |
||
|
Hatvj?«d Q*» Jfift-l oiiny O"P «1M'lTigT ,, - , » ,,,,,,,,-- * |
||
|
Irregular Bleep habits |
||
|
Depressed. |
||
|
Clean |
||
|
Underweight |
||
|
Changeable moodiB .............................. |
||
Rank order of girls' correlations.
486
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 101— Continued
|
Boys |
Girle |
|
|
Larger Corrt |
slat ions (Negative) |
|
|
- 28 + 07 |
||
|
Inattentive in school |
-.09 |
-.24 + .08 |
|
.09 |
-.24 + .06 |
|
|
Vicious home conditions , |
.07 |
-.20 + .09 |
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Lazy |
.16 |
(n.c.) |
|
Lack of initiative |
.05 |
(n.c.) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
(n.c.) |
.11 |
|
Overlnterent -\r\ R^X Tfltfl-ttftrfi- t T , t .............. |
-.14 |
(n.c.) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Bad companions, .19 and -.14; Follower, .16 and -.08; Immoral home con- ditions, .16 and .16; Slovenly, .15 and .10; Staying out late at night, .15 and .02; Enuresis, .13 and .12; Mental conflict, .13 and -.11; Leading others into bad conduct, .12 and -.13; Rude, .12 and -.01; Spoiled child, .12 and .17; Lack of interest in school, .11 and .Ok; Leader, .11 and .12; Stealing, .10 and .10; Sullen, .10 and .07; Apprehensive, .10 and -.10; Brother in penal detention, .10 and .06; Discord between parents, .10 and .16; Seclusive, .09 and .14; Un- happy, -09 and .11; Headaches, .09 and .04; Lues, .09 and .04; Speech defect, .09 and -.15; Contrary, .08 and .09; Incorrigible, .08 and -.06; Loitering, .08 and -.18; Nail-biting, .08 and .13; Sulky, .08 and -.07; Psychoneurotic, .08 and -.05; Disobedient, .07 and -.05; Disturbing influence in school, .07 and .03; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and .11; Repressed, .07 and .12; Poor work in school, .07 and .01; Irregular attendance at school, .07- and .11; Teas- ing other children, .06 (boys); Refusal to attend school, .06 and .19; Slow, dull, .06 and -.19; Queer, .06 and .10; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .06 (boys); Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .06 and -.07; Grouped: sen- sitive or worrisome, etc., .06 and .06; Sensitive (general), .05 and .18; Fight- Ing, .04 and .09; Popular, .04 and .13; Boastful, "show-off," .04 and .18; Ques- tion of change of personality, .03 and .17; Unpopular, .03 and .08; Neurologi- cal defect, .03 and .11; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .03 and -.04; Itflng, .02 and .07; -Quarrelsome, .02 and .16; Excuse-forming, .02 and .00; Object of teasing, .02 and -.13; Oversuggestible, .02 and -.04; Restless in sleep, .02 and .05; Stubborn; .01 and .11; Restless, .01 and .09; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .01 and .18; Defiant, .00 and .07; Vocation guidance, .00 and .01; Absent-minded, .00 and -.18; Feeble-minded sibling, -.00 and -.01; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.00 and .02; Smoking, -.01 (boys); Former convulsions, -.01 and -.12; Egocentric, -.02 and .05; Distractible, -.02 and .07; "Nervous," -.02 and .14; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.03 and -.03; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.04 and .13; Worry over specific fact, -.04 and -.09; Inferiority feel- ings, -.04 and .05; Question of encephalitis, -.04 and .17; Overintereet in opposite sex, -.04 (girls); Destructive, -.05 and -.02; Temper display, -.05 and -.14; Listless, -.05 and .15; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.05 and .03; Self- ish, -.06 and .08; Preference for younger children, -.06 and .06; Threatening violence, -.07 (boys); Violence, -.07 and .09; Stuttering, -.07 (boys); Grouped: fighting, etc., -.07 and .09; Finicky food habits, -.08 and .10; Temper tantrums,
SEX NOTATIONS 48?
TABLE 101—Continued
-.08 and .13; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.08 and .3Aj Retardation in school, -.09 and .03; Swearing (general), -.10 (boys); Irresponsible, -.11 and .02; Question of hypophrenla, -.11 and -.01; Exclusion from school, - 11 and -.08; Bossy, -.12 and .10; Bashful, -,.13 and -.07; Daydreaming, -.16 and .13; Grouped: temper, etc., -.16 and .OU; Irritable, -.17 and .08; Emotional instability, -.18 and -.03; Fantastical lying, -.19 and -.00
Omitted — Sex delinquency (coitus), Masturbation
Its highest correlations were only of moderate size in the .20' s. Among boys five behavior traits showed correlations rang- ing from .20 to .25: attractive manner, truancy from school, ha- tred or jealousy of sibling, crying spells, and (calculated for boys only) running with a gang. The corresponding girls' coeffi- cients were low, ranging from .01 to . 15« Among girls five nota- tions showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coeffi- cients among boys ranging from -,13 to .13: clean habits, depressed mood or spells, changeable moods or attitudes, irregular sleep habits, and underweight condition.
Sex misbehavior denied entirely among girls showed four negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20fs: truancy from home, inattentiveness in school, vicious home conditions, and (com- puted for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person.
Among the three sex notations for which tetrachoric corre- lations with sex misbehavior denied entirely were calculated, the only one of significant size was the moderate negative coefficient of -.28 4- .07 with victim of sex abuse by older child or person (computed for girls only).
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only coefficient of probable significant size was the moderate one of .21 + .06 with underweight condition among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations with sex misbehavior denied entirely were low or negligible with the exception of the very doubtfully significant negative coeffi- cient of -.20 + .09 with vicious home conditions among girls.
A few words summarizing the trends in the six tables dis- cussed in this chapter may be appropriate in view of the consid- erable prominence given to sex behavior in children's behavior clinics. Among both boys and girls, sex problems appear to be
488 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
conspicuously intercorrelated with one another. Among girls, sex notations are frequently associated to a considerable extent with conduct and personality disorders of nonsexual character, but among boys such correlations appear to be of relatively minor degree. Among girls the highest correlation was between sex delinquency (coitus ) and the fact of police arrest or detention, .76 4- .02. With physical defects the correlations were largely low or negli- gible. With Immoral home conditions and vicious home conditions there were occasionally correlations of moderate or substantial size. With discord between parents there appeared to be almost no relationship with sex notations.
CHAPTER LI ENURESIS; NAIL-BITING; AND FINICKY POOD HABITS
The three "nervous habits" — enuresis , nail-biting, and finicky food habits — shoved only minor correlations either among themselves or with the other notations considered in this study. So far as our correlational results indicate, all three appear to be of little importance clinically, with the possible exception of the correlation of finicky food habits with the personality- total among girls with the fairly high bi- serial coefficient of .41 + .03.
Enuresis or bed- wetting (present or former) was considered a conduct problem in our present study if it continued beyond the third birthday Into the third year of age. (The appropriateness of our including enuresis in our conduct- total is admittedly open to question, and the writer in retrospect now feels that it should not have been so included. The effect upon our correlational re- sults, however, is probably of little importance. ) It was noted as having occurred among 576, or 27.3 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 250, or 21.2 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls and is thus a frequently noted item, though only seldom did it appear to be a principal reason for referring the child to the clinic for examination. Its bl- serial correlations with the pe r a ona 1 1 1 y- 1 o ta 1 and conduct-total were low, ranging from .16 to .20 (Table 102). With police arrest its tetrachoric correlations for boys and girls respectively were . 07 + ,03 and -.25 + .04. Its largest correla- tions with specific behavior problems were only .32 among girls and .26 among boys.
Its highest correlation, .32 + .03, was found among girls for the "broader grouping" of "nervousness" or restlessness (in- cluding Irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferenti- ated), the corresponding coefficient among boys being low, .11. Restlessness IP sleep showed the moderate correlations of .26 + .03' and .31 + .04 among boys and girls respectively. Mental conflict
489
490
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 102 CORRELATIONS WITH "ENURESIS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.17 -f- .02 |
.20 -f .03 |
|
Conduct -total. |
.16 + .02 |
.18 + .03 |
|
.07 + .05 |
- . 25 + . o4 |
|
|
Larger Corre |
jlatlons (Positive) |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.26 + .03 |
.31 + .04 (2-4)* |
|
Masturbation |
.2k + .03 |
.19 |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.22 + .03 |
• 09 |
|
Swearing (general ) |
.20 + .04 |
|
|
Twipar t-nntrimiR |
.20 + .03 |
.27 + .04 (8-9) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.11 |
.32 + .03 (1) |
|
Mental conflict |
.03 |
.31 + .06 (2-4) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.16 |
.31 + .03 (2-4) |
|
Violence |
10 |
.28 -f .05 (5-7) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
• 13 |
.28-1- .04 (5-7) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
• 15 |
.28 -i- .05 (5-7) |
|
Irritable |
.O'D |
.27-1- .04 (8-9) |
|
06 |
26 + 0*5 do) |
|
|
Nail-biting |
.18 |
2k + o4 (11) |
|
Stubborn , |
.10 |
.23 + .04 (12-14) |
|
D^yflT*B«jn1ng. ............ t *,...... v . . . x , * t a 4. a. * , |
.13 |
.23 t -05 (12-14) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.13 |
.23 -»• .05 (12-14) |
|
Quarrelsome . |
.18 |
22 + 04 (15-18) |
|
Unpopular |
.08 |
.22 + .06 (15-18) |
|
Question of encephalitis |
.08 |
.22 + .07 (15-18) |
|
Speech defect |
.14 |
.22 + .05 (15-18) |
|
Restless |
.07 |
.21 + .04 (19) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school. |
.10 |
.20 + .05 (20-21) |
|
Grouped; d1 flobflcllont , otc .................... |
.14 |
.20 ± .03 (20-21) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Destructive, .19 and .09; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .19 and .13; Stealing, .18 and .19; Teasing other children, .17 (boye); SuDqr, .16 and .09; Exclusion from school, .16 and .17; Former convulsions, .16 and .13; Slovenly, .15 and .13; Temper display, .15 and .10; Truancy from school, .15 and .12; Inferiority feelings, .15 and .10; Leading others Into bad conduct, .14 and .10; Crying spells, .14 and .17; Fighting, .13 and .19; Itfing, .13 and .19; Truancy from home, .13 and -.00; Conduct prognosis bad, .13 and .00; Spoiled child, .13 and .10; Sex denied entirely, .13 and .12; Boastful, "show- off," .12 and .08; Over suggestible, .12 and -.03; Discord between parents, .12 and -.00; Finicky food habits, .11 and .19; Disobedient, .11 and .12; Fantasti- cal lying, .11 and .15; Incorrigible, .11 and .17; Smoking, .11 (boya); Change- able mood, .11 and .01; Listless, .11 and .18; "Nervous," .11 and .19; Vicious
ENURESIS; NAIL-BITING; AND FINICKY FOOD HABITS 491
TABLE 102— Continued
home conditions, .11 and .01; Victim of sex abuse, .11 (girls); Bad companions, .10 and .00; Bossy, .10 and .17; Contrary, .10 and -.03; Excuse -forming, .10 anH .13; Headaches, .10 and .09; Threatening violence, .09 (boys); Rude, .09 and .07; Distractible, .09 and .18; Sensitive (general), .09 and .14; Worry over specific fact, .09 and .09; Follower, .09 and .06; Lack of initiative, .08 and .05; Ob- ject of teasing, .08 and .1*4-; Staying out late at night, .07 and .15; Psycho- neurotic, .07 and -.07; Repressed, .07 and .12; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .07 and .04; Apprehensive, .06 and .07; Underweight, .06 and .11; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .06 and .13; Inattentive in school, .05 and .09; Lack of Interest in school, .05 and .04; Bashful, .05 and .02; Queer, .05 and .08; Question of hypophrenia, .05 and .16; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .04 and .19; Absent- minded, .04 and .14; Egocentric, .04 and .08; Unhappy, ,04 and -.01; Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc., .0^ and .09; Overinterest in opposite sex, .04 (girls); Defiant, .03 and .16; Loitering, .03 and .12; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .03 and .09; Depressed, .03 and .18; Slow, dull, .03 and .05; Irreg- ular sleep habits, .03 and .11; Seclusive, .05 and .05; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .03 (boys); Neurological defect, .03 and .06; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .03 and .03; Emotional instability, .02 and .08; Popular, .02 and -.03; Lues, .02 and .15; Overinterest in sex matters, .02 and .14; Irregular attendance at school, .02 and .01; Brother in penal detention, .02 and -.11; Retardation in school, -.00 and .04; Sullen, -.00 and -.07; Im- moral home conditions, - 01 and .03; Attractive manner, -.01 and -.02; Clean, -.01 and .12; Poor work in school, -.01 and -.13; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.01 and .05; Gang, -.02 (boys); Irresponsible, -.02 and .07; Stuttering, -.03 (boys); Question of change of personality, -.04 and .07; Leader, -.06 and .18; Selfish, -.06 and .12; Refusal to attend school, -.07 and .12; Vocational guid- ance, -.10 and -.18; Feeble-minded sibling, -.17 and .01
and temper tantrums or display (including Irritable temperament, undifferentlated) also yielded moderate or possibly substantial coefficients of .31 each among the girls, and low coefficients of .03 and .16 respectively among boys.
Enure s Is showed moderate correlations in the .20*3 among both sexes with temper tantrums and also with swearing In general, for which only the boys' coefficients were computed. Sensitive- ness over some specific fact and masturbation among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20 '3 but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls. Fourteen miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: nail-biting, restlessness, ir- ritable temperament, quarre 1 s omene s 3 , violence, stubbornness, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), disturbing influence in school, laziness, preference for younger children as playmates, day.dreaming, unpopularity, speech defect (other tha-n stuttering), and question or diagnosis of encephalitis.
The only negative correlation of moderate size waa the In- teresting one with police arrest among girls, -.25 + .04.
492
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Among the six sex notations the only correlations of mean- ingful size were with masturbation, the respective coefficients for boys and girls being .24 + .05 and .19.
Among the six physical or psychophyslcal disabilities, for which correlations with enure sis were calculated, there were two of moderate size, both among girls: question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis, .22 + .07, and speech defect (other than stuttering), .22 + .05.
Among the four home or familial notations, all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.11 to .12.
Enuresis in our data, therefore, appears to have little meaning other than as an annoyance in itself.
Nail-biting was noted among 300 of our boys, or in 14.2 per cent, and among 246 of our girls, or in 20.8 per cent. Its inci- dence thus appears to be definitely greater among girls. With the personality- total its bi-serial correlations among both sexes were of moderate size in the .20' s. With the conduct -total its corre- lations were low, .19 4- .02 and . 17 + .03 for boys and girls re- spectively. With police arrest . its corresponding tetrachoric cor- relations of .10 + .03 and . 06 4- .04 respectively were negligible (Table 103).
TABLE 103 CORRELATIONS WITH "NAIL-BITING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||||
|
Personality-total |
.28 + |
.02 |
.24 |
.03 |
|
|
Conduct -total |
.19 + |
.02 |
.17 |
+ |
.03 |
|
Police arrest |
.10 + |
• 03 |
.06 |
.04 |
|
|
Larger |
Corrc |
»lati< |
me |
» (Positive) |
|
|
Slovenly |
.31 + |
.03 |
.12 |
||
|
.27 + |
.03 |
.40 |
.04 (1)* |
||
|
"Nervous" |
.26 ± |
.03 |
• 29 |
.04 (5) |
|
|
Restless |
.25 i- |
.03 |
.27 |
.06 (7) |
|
|
UnhaTCDV |
.25 -f |
.05 |
.07 |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc. « |
•25 ± |
.03 |
•37 |
.03 (2) |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
ENURESIS; NAIL-BITING; AND FINICKY POOD HABITS TABLE 103 — Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Fantastical lying. |
.21 + .03 |
.16 |
|
Masturbation. |
.21 ± .03 |
.26 + .Ok (8-12) |
|
Changeable moods |
.21 t -04 |
.26 + .Ok (8^12) |
|
Bossy |
.20 + .05 |
.23 + .05 (14-15) |
|
Crying spells |
.20 + .03 |
.21 + .Ok (16) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.18 |
.30 + .05 (3-4) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.13 |
.30 + .04 (3-4) |
|
.18 |
.28 + .06 (6) |
|
|
.18 |
.26 + .05 (8-12) |
|
|
Stealing. |
.16 |
.26 t -04 (8-12) |
|
Neurological defect |
.11 |
'.26 + .05 (8-12) |
|
Enures is |
.18 |
.24 + .04 (13) |
|
-.05 |
.23-1- .06 (14-15) |
|
|
Destructive |
.14 |
.20 t .06 (17-22) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.17 |
.20 t -05 (17-22) |
|
Fighting |
.06 |
.20 ± .04 (17-22) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.14 |
.20 i .05 (17-22) |
|
Violence |
• 15 |
.20 t -05 (17-22) |
|
.16 |
.20 t »06 (17-22) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lying, .19 and .18; Grouped: depressed, etc., .19 and .15; Inferior- ity feelings, .18 and .13; Defiant, .18 and .15; Swearing (general), .18 (boys); Contrary, .17 and -.09; Bude, .17 and .12; Truancy from school, .17 and .17; Daydreaming, .17 and .08; Grouped: temper, etc., .17 and .19; Teasing other children, .16 (boys); Selfish, .16 and .17; Smoking, .16 (boys); Depressed, .16 and .17; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .16 and .10; Exclusion from school, .15 and .18; Grouped: swearing, etc., .15 and .16; Truancy from home, .14 and .16; Queer, .14 and .18; Overinterest in opposite sex, .14 (girls); Headaches, .14 and .18; Loitering, .13 and .06; Temper tantrums, .13 and .13; Threatening vio- lence, .13 (boys); Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .13 (boys); Grouped: disobedient, etc., .13 and .11; Grouped: sensitive, etc., .13 and .19; Temper display, .12 and .11; Question of change of personality, .12 and .13; Egocentric, .12 and .04; Irritable, .12 and .16; Spoiled child, .12 and .13; Bad companions, .11 and .04; Inattentive in school, .11 and .11; Incorri- gible, .11 and .18; Worry over specific fact, .11 and .16; Former convulsions, .11 and .05; Boastful, "show- off," .10 and .17; Lazy, .10 and .01; Stubborn, .10 and .09; Psychoneurotic, .10 and -.01; Sensitive over specific fact, .10 and .17; Follower, .10 and .13; Disobedient, .09 and .07; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .09 and -.02; Apprehensive, ,09 and .15; Excuse-forming, .09 and .04; Seclusive, .09 and -.04; Sensitive (general), .09 and .11; Attractive man- ner, .09 and .06; Irregular attendance at school, .09 and .03; Discord between parents, .09 and .12; Lack of interest in school, .08 and .08; Quarrelsome, .08 and .16; Absent-minded, .08 and .08; Distractible, .08 and .19; Sex denied en- tirely, .08 and .13; Question of encephalitis, .08 and .13; Sex delinquency (coitus), .07 and .03; Object of teasing, .07 and .19; Vicious hona conditions, .07 and -.01; Staying out late at night, .06 and .07; Conduct prognosis bad, .06 and .06; Leader, .06 and .06; Vocational guidance, .06 and -.05; Victim of sex abuse, .06 (girls); Refusal to attend school, .05 and -.06; Sullen, .05 and .09; Mental conflict , .05 and .06; Speech defect, .05 and .18; Leading others into bad conduct, .04 and .08; Sulky, .04 and .02; Bashful, .04 and .01; List-
494 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 103— Continued
lees, .04 and -.17; Repressed, .04 and .06; Popular, .04 and -.07; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .04 and .08; Gang, .03 (boys); Over suggestible, .03 and .05; Lack of initiative, .02 and .03; Overinterest in sex matters, .01 and .09; Stuttering, .01 (boys); Lues, .00 and .04; Clean, -.01 and .04; Under- weight, - 02 and .07; Poor work in school, -.02 and -.10; Feeble -minded sibling, -.03 and -.15; Question of hypophrenia, -.03 and .06; Retardation in school, -.04 and -.05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.05 and -.07; Emotional instability, -.06 and .13; Slow, dull, -.07 and -.08; Immoral home conditions, -.12 and .12; Brother In penal detention, -.14 and -.11
Its largest correlations of .40 + .04 and .37 + .03 were found among girls for restlessness in sleep and "nervousness" or restlessness (including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated) respectively, the corresponding coefficients among boys being of moderate size in the .20's.
Nail-biting showed moderate correlations in the .20fs with sex personality and conduct problems: "nervousness, " restlessness, changeable moods or attitudes, crying spells, bossy manner, and masturbation. The three behavior notations slovenliness, unhappi- ness, and fantastical lying among boys showed moderate correlations ranging from .21 to .31 but low coefficients below .20 among girls. Thirteen miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate coef- ficients ranging from .20 to .30 but low coefficients below .20 among boys : enure sis, finicky food habits, fighting, violence, hatred or jealousy of sibling, destructiveness , disturbing influ- ence in school, irregular sleep habits, stealing, irresponsibility, unpopularity, preference for younger children as playmates, and neurological defect (unspecified).
Among the six sex notations, nail-biting showed moderate correlations in the, . 20's with masturbation among both sexes.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities, enures is and neurological defect (unspecified) showed moderate cor- relations in the ,20fs among girls.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
"Finicky" food habits or capricious or irregular appetite was noted among 236 boys, or 11.2 per cent, and among 105 girls, or 8.9 per cent. Among girls it appeared to be of some signifi- cance as an indicator of personality deviation, its correlation
ENURESIS; NAIL-BITING; AND FINICKY FOOD HABITS 495
with personality- total being .41 + .03 (Table 104). Among girls ita correlations with conduct-total and police arrest were of mod- erate size in the .20 's. Among boys it showed a moderate correla- tion of .26 jh .02 with personality-total, but low or negligible correlations with conduct-total and police arrest.
TABLE 104 CORRELATIONS WITH "FINICEf FOOD HABITS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.26 + .02 .10 ± .02 .01 + .03 |
.41 + .03 .28 + .03 .26 + .05 |
|
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Restless In sleep |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.34 + .03 .33 + .05 .31 + .03 .31 ± .04 .29 ± .05 .27 + .04 .26 + .03 .25 ± .05 .24 + .04 .23 ± .04 .22 + .04 .22 + .05 .22 + .03 .22 + .03 .20 + .03 .13 .16 .09 .12 .14 .12 .10 .18 .06 .05 .12 .07 .12 .14 .15 .11 - 08 |
.38 + .05 (5-6)* .30 + .07 (15-17) .45 + .04 (1) .33 ± .06 (11) .27 ± .06 (24-25) .27 + .06 (24-25) .42 + .04 (2-3) .02 .12 .31 + .05 (12-14) .31 ± .05 '(12-14) .09 .42 + .05 (2-3) .19 .26 + .05 (26-29) .40 t -06 (4) ,58 ± .04 (5-6) .36 + .06 (7-8) .36 ± .04 (7-8) •35 ± -06 (9-10) .35 ± .08 (9-10) .31 ± .07 (12-14) .30 ± .05 (15-17) .30 + .07 (15-17) .29 ± .05 (18-22) .29 ± .05 (18-22) .29 ± .05 (18-22) •29 ± .05 (18-22) .29 ± .04 (18-22) .28 t -06 (23) .26 ± .05 (26-29) .26 ± .06 (26-29) .26 t .06 (26-29) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, w etc |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
"Nervous" |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Selfish |
||
|
Grouped: f ightlng^ etc |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Grouped: egocentric > etc |
||
|
Violence |
||
|
Question of encephalitis |
||
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Nail-biting |
||
|
Incorrigible |
||
|
Rude • |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Grouped : fllpob^diftiTt; f»fcc. .,,,..-,*, T .- ,.,... |
||
|
Disobedient |
||
|
Grouped: swearing, etc • |
.09 |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
496
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 104— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Contrary |
.08 |
.25 t -07 (30-31) |
|
Flghtinc. |
.04 |
.25 ± .06 (30-31) |
|
Inattentive In school |
.06 |
.23 + .06 (32-35) |
|
Stubborn |
.14 |
.23 + .05 (32-35) |
|
Temper display . . |
.18 |
.23 + .06 (32-35) |
|
- 08 |
.23 + .06 (32-35) |
|
|
.13 |
.21 •«• .07 (36-38) |
|
|
Worry over specific fact |
.05 |
.21 t -08 (36-38) |
|
Discord between parents |
.06 |
.21 ± .05 (36-38) |
|
Crying spells |
.13 |
.20 t «05 (39-43) |
|
Seclusive |
.02 |
.20 + .06 (39-43) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.11 |
.20 t «07 (39-43) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
-.02 |
.20 t -08 (39-43) |
|
Neurological defect |
• 05 |
.20 + .06 (39-43) |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Boastful, "show-off/ .17 and .18; Destructive, .17 and .12; Under- weight, .16 and .18; Bossy, .15 and .03; Follower, .14 and .12; Grouped: de- pressed, etc., .14 and .13; Sulky, .13 and .15; Swearing (general), .13 (boys)j Depressed, .13 and .17; Queer, .13 and .04; Listless, .12 and .10; Enuresls, .11 and .19; Overlnterest In sex matters, .11 and -.06; Sensitive over specific fact, .11 and .05; Clean, .11 and .18; Teasing other children, .10 (boys); Dis- tractible, .10 and .13; Emotional Instability, .10 and .06; Unhappy, .10 and .12; Disturbing influence in school, .09 and .08; Apprehensive, .09 and .11; Attractive manner, .09 and .14; Bad companions, .08 and .11; Lazy, .08 and .06; Threatening violence, .08 (boys); Absent-minded, .08 and -.04; Lack of initia- tive, .08 and .11; Smoking, .07 (boys); Staying out late at night, .07 and .13; Masturbation, .07 and .13; Bashful, .07 and .14; Repressed, .07 and .15; Over- interest in opposite sex, .07 (girls); Inefficient in work, play, etc., .05 and -.06; Itflng, .05 and .12; Object of teasing, .05 and .14; Preference for younger children, .05 and .04; Stuttering, .05 (boys); Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .05 and .18; Poor work in school, .04 and -.02; Vicious home con- ditions, .04 and -.17; Truancy from home, .03 and .02; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .03 and .02; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .03 (boys); Unpopular, .02 and .11; Mental conflict, .02 and -.07; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .02 and -.02; Excuse-forming, .02 and .14; Fantastical lying, .01 and .19; Slovenly, .01 and .03; Truancy from school, .00 and .11; Exclusion from school, .00 and .14; Speech defect, -.00 and -.11; Leader, -.00 and .17; Vocational guidance, -.01 and .02; Lack of Interest In school, -.01 and .09; Irresponsible, -.01 and .06; Lues, -.02 and .05; Gang, -.02 (boys); Loitering, -.02 and .15; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.03 and -.04; Leading others into bad conduct, -,03 and .19; Over suggestible, -.04 and .12; Stealing, -.04 and .06; Feeble-minded sibling, -.06 and -.13; Question of hypophrenia, -.06 and -.15; Sex denied entirely, -.08 and .10; Brother in penal detention, -.09 and .06; Slow, dull, -.09 and -.12; Victim of sex abuse, -.11 (girls); Immoral home con- ditions, -.14 and -.16; Retardation in school, -.15 and -.11
Among girls its largest correlations ranging from .42 to .45 were with "nervousness" or restlessness (including irritable
ENTJKESIS; NAIL-BITING; AND FINICKY POOD HABITS 497
temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated), temper tan- trums or display (including irritable temperament, undifferenti- ated), and irritable temperament, the corresponding coefficients for "boys being of moderate size ranging from .22 to .31. Selfish- ness among girls similarly -yielded the fairly large correlation of ,40 + .06 but a low coefficient of .13 among boys.
Three notations — restlessness in sleep, irregular sleep habits, and sensitiveness in general — yielded substantial correla- tions in the ,30's among both sexes. Six notations among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30's but low positive co- efficients below .20 among boys: nail-biting, violence, defiant attitude, refusal to attend school, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis, and former convulsions.
Finicky food habits showed moderate correlations in the . 20's among both sexes for the three notations, "spoiled child," restlessness, and headaches. Pour traits among boys showed moder- ate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 among girls : question of change of personality, changeable moods or at- titudes, sensitiveness or worrisomeness (undifferentiated), and popularity. A large list of twenty-two miscellaneous case-record notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20's but low or negligible coefficients below .20 among boys:
bility, disobedience, contrariness, stubbornness, fighting, quar- relsomeness, temper display, rudeness, egocentricity, sullenness, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), inattentlveness in school, daydreaming, seclusivenesa, inferiority feelings, worry over" some specific fact, psychoneurotic trends, crying spells, ir- regular attendance at school, discord between parents, neurologi- cal defect (unspecified), and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Among the six sex notations all correlations with finicky food habits were low or negligible, ranging from -.11 to .11.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities there were two correlations of statistically significant s-ize, both among girls: question or diagnosis of encephalitis, .35 + .08, and neurological defect (unspecified), .20 4- .06.
Among the four home or familial notations, the only coeffi- cient of moderate size was with discord between parents among girls , .21 + .05.
CHAPTER LI I BOASTFUL OR "SHOW-OFF" MANNER
From the standpoint of clinical importance, boastful or "shov-off" manner appeared in our data to be of considerable im- portance, especially among girls. With both the per s ona li ty- 1 ota 1 and the conduct- total the bi-serial correlations among girls were in the . 50's and the corresponding correlations among boys in the ,40's (Table 105). With the police-arrest criterion of juvenile
TABLE 105 CORRELATIONS WITH "BOASTFUL, SHOW-OFF"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.42 ± .02 |
.56 ± .03 |
|
|
Conduct -total |
.48 ± .02 |
.52 + .03 |
|
.po + .05 |
.10 t .06 |
|
|
Larger Corrc |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.52 ± .03 |
.37 t «07 (15-16) |
|
Disturbing Influence in school |
.51 ± -03 |
.kk t -06 (4-5) |
|
Quarrel Bomo |
.41 + .03 |
.2? t .05 (38-41) |
|
• 39 ± «03 |
.45 t -05 (3) |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
• 38 ± .03 |
.44 ^ .05 (4-5) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.56 ± -03 |
.34 ± .04 (18-19) |
|
Teasing other children |
.34 t •oU |
|
|
Bossy |
•33 ± -05 |
.47 ± .06 (2) |
|
Ikying — |
•33 ± -03 |
.31 t »05 (28-30) |
|
.33 + .05 |
.49 + .07 (1} |
|
|
Smolcl ng . . ....,.,....,,...,....,....... |
,32 t -04 |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.32 + ,o4 |
•38 ± 06 (12-14) |
|
.51 + .05 |
40 4- 05 (8-11) |
|
|
.30 ± .03 |
.20 + 05 ( 54-55} |
|
|
Fighting |
.30 ± .03 |
.23 + .07 (V7-50) |
|
Landing others ln"to bad conduct ............... |
.30 t «o^ |
.37 4- .08 (15-16) |
|
p-fc«*o ipg , |
.30 ± .03 |
.24 t -05 (14-5-46) |
|
CJoivfcTrwy- |
.29 4- .05 |
29 4- 08 (55-55} |
|
Defiant |
.29 •*• Ok |
52 4- O6 (25-27} |
Rank order of girls1 correlations.
498
BOASTFUL OR "BHOW-OFF" MANNER TABLE 105— Continued
^99
|
Boye |
Girls |
||
|
Excuse-forming |
.28 4- .04 .28 + .03 .28 4- .04 .28 + .04 .28 + .03 .27 ± .03 .26 4- .04 .26 + .04 .26 f .05 .25 + .04 .25 + .05 |
.33 4- .06 (20-24) •33 ± .05 (20-24) .28 4- .06 (36-37) .16 ~ .29 + -05 (33-35) .30 ± .05 (31-32) .25 4- .07 (43-44) .32 i .07 (25-27) .26 4- .08 (42) .19 " |
|
|
Inferiority feelings |
|||
|
ISbfciluBlon from school ...... |
|||
|
Grouped: fight ing, etc. ... |
|||
|
Incorrigible. .............. |
|||
|
Lazy |
|||
|
Selfish |
|||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibli Destructive |
Tntf |
||
|
Trto<r«fttei'il ng vlolfin^fl. ...... |
|||
|
Clean |
.25 ± .03 .25 ± .03 .25 ± .03 .24 4- .03 .23 ± .05 .23 4- .04 .22 I .04 .22 + .04 .22 t -03 .22 t .05 .21 4- .04 .21 I .04 .21 + .05 .21 + -03 .21 t -04 .20 4- .04 |
-.03 .38 4- .04 (12-14) .17 " .18 .34 4- .07 (18-19) .27 ± .07 (38-41) .04 .40 4- .06 (8-11) .19 " .01 .16 .14 .25 4- .07 (43-^4) .24 + .06 (45-46) .31 ± .07 (28-30) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc... |
|||
|
Grouped: lack of Interest Bad companions |
in school, etc |
||
|
Overinterest in sex matters Leader |
|||
|
Staying out late at night . . |
|||
|
Violence |
|||
|
Masturbation |
|||
|
Mental conflict |
|||
|
Inattentive in school...... |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school. |
|||
|
Sulky |
|||
|
Truancy from school |
|||
|
Grouped: svearing, etc.... |
|||
|
Gana . |
|||
|
Tamper ^antrims t ........... |
.20 -f .04 .20 t -05 .15 .18 .16 .16 .18 |
,4o 4- .06 (8-U) .23 t .08 (47-50) .42 t .05 (6-7) .42 t .06 (6-7) .40 + .07 (8-11) .38 4- .04 (12-14) .36 I -07 (17) .33 t -05 (20-24) .33 4- .06 (20-24) .33 ± .07 (20-24) .32 ± .07 (25-27) .31 t .07 (28-30) •30 ± .07 (31-32) .29 ± .08 (33-35) .28 t -07 (36-37) .27 4- .07 (38-41) .27 I .06 (38-41) .23 t .05 (47-50) .23 t -06 (47-50) .22 t .05 (51) .21 t -06 (52-53) .21 t .08 (52-53) .20 t -09 (54-55) |
|
|
Irregular e]^«p habits, .... |
|||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Daydreaming. |
|||
|
Queer |
|||
|
Grouped: temper > etc |
|||
|
Brootl onal 1 nstabl 11 ty ...... |
|||
|
Overinterest in opposite se Distractlble |
i |
||
|
.18 .08 .09 .16 .04 .05 .18 .07 .14 .19 .10 •19 .19 .19 .02 |
|||
|
Headftchep ,..»• ............. |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, Sensitive (general) |
etc |
||
|
Psychoneurotic. ............ |
|||
|
Repressed* ......*. |
|||
|
Depressed. |
|||
|
UhhflrTYPV , ................... |
|||
|
Grouped: depressed; etc* . * |
|||
|
Stubborn |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
|
Slovenly |
|||
|
Ti^vftncy from hoin^. ......... |
|||
|
Conduct prognosis bad. ..... |
|||
|
Question of encephalitis. . . |
|||
500
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 105—Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
ye^ble-ralndetf sibling. ..................... , . , |
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|
|
.05 .00 |
-.38 + .06 -.28 t .06 |
|
|
Follower |
||
|
Lack of Initiative |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
-.05 |
(n.c.) |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Restless in sleep, .19 and .13; Attractive manner, .19 and .09; Irre- sponsible, .18 and .16; Loitering, .18 and .16; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .18 (boys); Finicky food habits, .1? and .18; Sullen, .17 and .14; Temper display, .17 and .08; "Nervous," .16 and .15; Object of teasing, .16 and .13; Popular, .16 and .18; Worry over specific fact, .15 and .11; Vic- tim of sex abuse, .15 (girls); Swearing (general), .Ik (boys); Grouped: sensi- tive or worrisome, etc., .Ik and .19; Sensitive over specific fact, .13 and .11; Enuresis, .12 and .08; Absent-minded, .12 and .16; Poor work in school, .12 and .Ik; Discord between parents, .12 and .03; Over suggestible, .11 and .15; Nail- biting, .10 and .17; Former convulsions, .10 and -.03; Refusal to attend school, .08 and .00; Question of change of personality, .08 and .Ik; Preference for younger children, .08 and -.06; Brother in penal detention, .08 and -.19; Se- clusive, .06 and .08; Vicious home conditions, .06 and .03; Neurological defect, .05 and -.07; Sex denied entirely, .Ok and .18; Crying spells, .03 and .17; Ir- regular attendance at school, .03 and .02; Sex delinquency (coitus), .02 and .09; Apprehensive, .02 and .18; Vocational guidance, .01 and .06; Immoral home conditions, .00 and -.03; Stuttering, -.02 (boys); Listless, -.03 and .Ik; Bash- ful, -.03 and .11; Speech defect, -.07 and -.05; Question of hypophrenia, -.08 and - 05; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.10 and -.01; Underweight, -.11 and -.01; Lues, -.15 and .10; Retardation in school, -.17 and -.08; Slow, dull, -.17 and -.03
delinquency its tetrachoric correlation of .29 + .03 among boys vas of moderate size, while the corresponding coefficient for girls was low, .10 4- .06. It was noted among 251, or 11.9 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 77* or 6.5 Pe** cent, of our I,l8l White girls. It yielded high correlations in the ,50's with fan- tastical lying and disturbing influence in school among boys and meaningful coefficients of .37 + .07 and ,kk + .06 among girls. Quar re 1 s omene s s among boys yielded the large correlation of .41 + .03 and a moderate coefficient of .27 + .05 among girls. Pour un- desirable behavior traits among girls yielded large correlations In the ,40's and substnatial coefficients in the .^O's among boys: egooentricity, bossy manner , rudeness , and unpopularity. Violence
BOASTFUL OR nSHO¥~OFPn MANNER' 501
and temper tantrums among girls also yielded substantial correla- tions in the .40 fs but moderate correlations in the .20fs among boys. Three personality difficulties among girls similarly yielded, large correlations in the ,40fs but low coefficients below *20 among boys : changeable moods or attitudes, daydreaming, and queer behavior.
Boastful or "show-off" manner yielded substantial correla- tions in the . 30's among both sexes with the four behavior prob- lems, "spoiled child," disobedience or incorrlgibillty (including defiant attitude , stubbornness , and contrariness, undifferenti- ated), lying, and leading others into bad conduct. The two conduct problems for which only the boys' coefficients were calculated — teasing other children and smoking — and also overlnterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' coefficient was computed, also yielded substantial coefficients In the ,30's. Three conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among boys and moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls: fighting, dis- obedience, and stealing. Seven conduct and personality problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .]50!s and mod- erate coefficients In the ,20's among boys: defiant attitude, in- corrlglbility, swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated), self- ishness, restlessness, excuse- forming attitude, and overlnterest In sex matters . Six notations among girls yielded substantial cor- relations in the , 30's and low positive coefficients below .20 among boys : emotional instability, psyohoneurotlc trends, dlstraot- ibility, inefficiency in work, play, etc. , sensitiveness in general, and headaches .
Boastful or "show-off" manner showed moderate correlations In the .20' s with eight behavior traits among both sexes: infer- iority feelings, "leader," contrariness, laziness, sulklness, tru- ancy from school, irregular sleep habits, and hatred or jealousy of sibling. Two conduct problems for which only the boys* corre- lations were computed also showed moderate correlations in the •20's: threatening violence and running with a gang. Nine nota- tions showed moderate correlations in the .20's among boys but lov coefficients below .20 among girls: inattentlveness in school, lack of Interest In school, exclusion from school, bad companions, staying out late at night, destructlveness , mental conflict, mas- turbation, and clean habits. Nine case-record notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low positive
502 CHILDREN »S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
coefficients below .20 among boys: Irritable temperament , stub- bornness, slovenliness, depressed mood or spells, unhappiness, re- pressed manner, truancy from home, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis.
Two negative correlations of significant size were found, both among girls: "follower, " -.28 + .06, and feeble-minded sib- ling, -.38 + .06.
With the six sex notations boastful or "show-off" manner showed several meaningful correlations. With overinterest in sex matters the respective correlations among boys and girls were .23 + .05 and .34 + .07. With masturbation the coefficients for boys and girls respectively were .22 4- .03 and .19. With overinterest in the opposite sex, for which only the girls' coefficient was com- puted, the substantial correlation of .33 + -05 was found. With sex delinquency (coitus), however, both coefficients were negli- gible.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslcal notations, all correlations were low or negligible, except possibly the coeffi- cient of very questionable statistical significance, .20 4- .09, with question or diagnosis of encephalitis among girls.
With the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
CHAPTER LI I I "BOSSY"; "LEADER"; AND "FOLLOWER"
In our data bossy manner was considered as an undesirable conduct problem. The notations "leader" and "follower" were in- cluded in the original indexing as behavior traits to be consid- ered neither as personality nor as conduct problems but as a "neu- tral" trait included for comparative purposes.
Bossy manner toward playmates was noted among 112, or 5-3 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 86, or 7.3 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Among girls It appeared to be of con- siderable clinical importance, its bi-serial correlations with the personality- total and conduct-total being . 50 + .03 and .43 + .03 respectively (Table 106). Among boys the corresponding correla- tions of .32 + .03 and .28 4- .03 were of moderate size. With the
TABLE 106 CORRELATIONS WITH "BOSSY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.32 + .03 |
.50 ± «03 |
|
Conduct-total |
.28 ± .03 |
.43 ± .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.02 + .Ok |
-.08 -K .06 |
|
Larger Corr« |
jlations (Positive) |
|
|
.36 ± .06 |
.54 + .06 (1)* |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
•33 ± -05 |
.4? + .06 (2) |
|
Qq^rTfO goon? ...,,,......,.. t . . ,. ................ |
.33 + .04 |
.37 ± .05 (9-10) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.32 + .ok |
.43 ± .o4 (4) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.31 + .o4 |
.36 4- .04 (11) |
|
Egocentric |
.30 ± .Ok |
•35 ± .05 (12-14) |
|
.29 ± .06 |
.37 + .07 (9-10) |
|
|
Mental conflict |
.28 + .06 |
.30 + .08 (22-24) |
|
Selfish |
.2? -I- .06 |
.29 t -07 (25-28) |
Bank order of girls' correlations.
503
504
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 106— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.27 t .05 |
.38 4- .06 (5-8) |
|
Destructive |
.26 t .05 |
.12 |
|
Teasing other children |
.26 4- .05 |
|
|
Rude |
.26 4- .04 |
.16 |
|
.26 4- .04 |
.25 ± .05 (37-39) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.26 4- .04 |
.38 4- .04 (5-8) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc. |
.26 + .04 |
.31 4- .05 (20-21) |
|
.25 4- .05 |
.24 4- .06 (40-42) |
|
|
"Nervous" |
.25 t .04 |
.24 4- .05 (40-42) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.25 4- .05 |
.20 t .07 (54-57) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.25 4- .05 |
.09 |
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
.24 + .04 |
.23 t -07 (43-47) |
|
Stubborn. |
.24 4- .04 |
.25 t .05 (37-39) |
|
Restless |
.24 4- .04 |
.26 t .05 (34-36) |
|
Fantastical lying |
.23 4- .06 |
.28 4- .07 (29-30) |
|
Crying spells |
.23 4- .04 |
.17 |
|
Tfropw display. t .............................. |
.22 4- .05 |
.30 ± .06 (22-24) |
|
Distractible |
.22 ± .05 |
.32 + .06 (17-19) |
|
Fighting |
.21 4- 05 |
.38 4- .06 (5-8) |
|
.20 ± .04 |
.27 + .05 (31-33) |
|
|
Nail-biting |
.20 4- .05 |
.23 + .05 ( 43-47) |
|
Threatening violence |
.20 4- .06 |
|
|
Grouped : swearing, etc ....................... |
.20 4* .05 |
.54 4- .06 (15-16) |
|
.Violence |
.19 |
.46 4- .06 (3) |
|
.14 |
.38 4- .06 (5-8) |
|
|
Changeable moods ...................... ^ . ^ ... ^ . |
.10 |
.35 + .05 (12-14) |
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.12 |
.35 + .06 (12-14) |
|
Object of teasing |
.10 |
.34 + .06 (15-16) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.14 |
.32 ± .08 (17-19) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.19 |
.32 ± .05 (17-19) |
|
-.02 |
51 4- 07 (20-21) |
|
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.16 |
.30 + .05 (22-24) |
|
Di sobedl ent . . |
.11 |
.29 4- .05 (25-28) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.02 |
.29 + .08 (25-28) |
|
-.09 |
.29 4- .07 (25-28) |
|
|
Restless in sleep |
.16 |
.27 4- .06 (31-33) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.19 |
.27 t .07 (31-33)1 |
|
Queer |
.06 |
.26 4- .07 (34-36) |
|
.16 |
.26 + .07 (34-36) |
|
|
Stealing .* |
.14 |
.25 4- .05 (37-39) |
|
Masturbation |
.10 |
.24 4- .06 (40-42) |
|
Psychoneurotic |
.02 |
23 4- 07 (43-47) |
|
Exclus 1 en "from school ......................... |
• 07 |
.23 4- .07 (43-47) |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.17 |
.23 4- .04 43-47) |
|
Sullen |
.10 |
.22 4- .06 48-51) |
|
Leader |
.18 |
22 + 07 48-e5l) |
|
Envtl onal instability . ,..,.,.., *,..,....,.... |
.07 |
.22 4- .07 (48-51) |
|
Lazy |
.05 |
21 4- .07 52-53} |
|
ExcuBfl-formlng . ............... |
• 17 |
.21 4- .06 52-53) |
|
Bad companions |
.09 |
.20 4- .06 (54-57) |
|
Apprehensive. |
.05 |
20 4- .06 (54-57} |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.14 |
.20 4- .06 (54-57) |
"BOSSY"; "LEADER"; AND "FOLLOWER" TABLE 106— Continued
505
Boys
Girls
Larger Correlations (Negative)
Question of encephalitis.
Vocational guidance
Lack of initiative
.27 ± .07
.01
.09
.22 ± .09 (48-51) -.25 ± .05 -.22 t -07
Not Calculable
Feeble-minded sibling.
(n.c.)
-.17
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irresponsible, .18 and .17; Victim of sex abuse, .17 (girls); Defiant, .16 and .19; Neurological defect, .16 and .11; Finicky food habits, .15 and .03; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .15 (boys); Attractive manner, »15 and .06; Contrary, .14 and .18; Swearing (general), .Ik (boys); Inattentive in school, .13 and .17; Slovenly, .13 and .16; Daydreaming, .13 and .16; Loiter- ing, .12 and -.05; Clean, .11 and .18; Former convulsions, .11 and -.01; Enure- sis, .10 and .17; Truancy from home, .10 and .05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .09 and .10; Incorrigible, .09 and .19; Lack of interest in school, .08 and .18; Stuttering, .08 (boys); Staying out late at night, .07 and .11; Tru- ancy from school, .06 and .14; Lues, .06 and -.01; Speech defect, .06 and .10; Overlnterest in opposite sex, .06 (girls); Irregular sleep habits, .05 and .02; Smoking, .Ok (boys); Bashful, .04 and -.04; Question of change of personality, .Ok and .19; Absent-minded, .03 and -.13; Seclusive, .03 and .10; Repressed, .03 and .15; Headaches, .03 and -.09; Discord between parents, .03 and .06; Poor work in school, .02 and .05; Underweight, .01 and .05; Irregular attend- ance at school, .01 and -.05; Conduct prognosis bad, .00 and .02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.02 and -.01; Slow, dull, -.04 and .01; Gang, -.05 (boys); Refusal to attend school, -.06 and -.09; Vicious home conditions, -.07 and .05; Immoral home conditions, -.08 and -.16; Follower, -.08 and -.16; Brother in penal detention, -.09 and -.06; Over suggestible, -.09 and .11; Question of hy- pophrenia, -.11 and -.05; Sex denied entirely, -.12 and -.10; Popular, -.Ik and .12; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.Ik and .01; Listless, -.16 and -.10; Retarda- tion in school, -.17 and -.08
police-arrest criterion of overt juvenile delinquency its tetra- chorlc correlations of .02 and -.08 among both sexes were negli- gible.
Its largest correlations were with unpopularity , the re- spective coefficients for boys and girls being .56 + .06 and .54 + .06. The second highest correlations among both sexes were with boastful or "show-off" manner, the corresponding coefficients be- ing ,33 + .05 and .47 + .06. Violence among girls also yielded the large correlation of .46 4- .06 but a low positive correlation among boys of .19.
506 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Three conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the .30 's with bossy manner among both sexes: egocentricity, qua r r e 1 s ome ne s s , and temper tantrums or display (undifferentiated). Among girls eight conduct and personality problems yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,20's, the corresponding coefficients among boys being of moderate size in the .20' s: "spoiled child/' temper display, "nervousness" or restlessness ( including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated), dlstractlbll- ity, fighting, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), hatred or jealousy of sibling, and mental conflict. Among girls an addi- tional six personality and conduct problems yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low coefficients belov .20 among boys : object of teasing by other children, sensitiveness over some specific fact, worry over some specific fact, depressed mood or spells, changeable moods or attitudes, and overinterest in sex mat- ters.
Bossy manner showed moderate correlations in the .20's among both sexes for the following eleven undesirable behavior man- ifestations : selfishness, irritable temperament, "nervousness, " restlessness, nail-biting, stubbornness, temper tantrums, disturb- ing Influence in school, lying, fantastical lying, and sensitive- ness in general. Two conduct problems for which only the boys ' correlations were computed also showed moderate correlations in the .20's: threatening violence and teasing other children. Pour personality and conduct problems showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among boys but low coefficients below .20 among girls: rudeness, destructiveness , crying spells, and inferiority feelings. A large list of nineteen miscellaneous case-record notations showed correlations in the ,20's among girls but low coefficients below .20 among boys: " leader," leading others into bad conduct, pref- erence for younger children as playmates, disobedience, bad com- panions , stealing, excuse- forming attitude, sullenness, sulkiness, laziness, lack of interest or inattentiveness in school studies or employment (undifferentiated), emotional instability, psychoneu- rotic trends, unhappiness, apprehensiveness, queer behavior, rest- lessness in sleep, masturbation, and exclusion from school.
Question or diagnosis of encephalitis showed a curious di- vergence of relationship among the two sexes, its correlation among boys being negative, -.27 + .07, while its correlation among girls
"BOSSY"; "LEADER11; AND "FOLLOWER"
507
was of positive sign, .22 + .09, though the latter coefficient is of very doubtful statistical significance since it is less than three times its probable error. Lack of initiative and "request for vocational guidance" among girls showed negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20's.
Among the six sex notations there were two correlations of significant size with bossy manner among girls, .38 4- .06 with overintereat in sex matters and .24 + .06 with masturbation, the corresponding correlations for boys being low, .14 and .10.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only meaningful correlations were with question or diagnosis of encephalitis , as noted above.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
The notation patient a leader in group of same age was noted among 152 of* our boys, or 7.2 per cent, and among 78 or our girls, or 6.6 per cent. Its correlations with all three criteria of seriousness were low but positive, ranging from .05 to .21 (Table 107).
TABLE 107 CORRELATIONS WITH "lEABER"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.05 ± .03 |
.16 ± .Ok |
|
Conduct -total |
.21 + .05 |
.19 t -ofc |
|
Polio© arrest |
• f-j. * •V-Y .13-1- .ok |
.07 t «06 |
|
Larger Corrc |
»lations (Positive) |
|
|
PQTVUl*W . t r r ... r ...... r ........ t ...... r .. t T ,. T . |
.32 4- .05 |
.ko t -07 (1)* |
|
Leading others Into bad conduct. |
.32 t -05 |
.18 |
|
Gang. |
.26 + .Ok |
|
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.23 t -0^ |
.27-1- .07 (8-10) |
|
.21 + .0^ |
-.00 |
|
|
Attractive mftJTTjeir. ,,...,,,,,..,.,,, t.tfTtirftfir |
.21 + .Ok |
.23 t -06 (13-15) |
|
Staying out late at night |
.20 t -03 |
• 03 |
|
Restless. |
.20 t -Ofc |
.23 -f .05 ( 13-15) |
|
Irritable |
.12 |
.36 i- .05 (2) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
508
CHILDREN! 3 BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 107 —Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Fantastical lying. |
.18 |
.31 t -07 (3) |
|
.12 |
.29 + .05 (k) |
|
|
Grouped.: "nervous, " etc |
.17 |
.28 -f .05 (5-7) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.10 |
.28 + .06 (5-7) |
|
Defiant |
.18 |
.28 -i- .07 (5-7) |
|
UnDODular |
.12 |
.27 + .08 (8-10) |
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
.19 |
.27 + .05 (8-10) |
|
Egocentric |
.17 |
.26 + .06 (11) |
|
Lyina |
.19 |
.24 + .05 (12) |
|
Changeable moods ' |
.12 |
.23 + .06 (13-15) |
|
Piydreaml ng ............ f .... |
-.02 |
.22 -f .07 (16-18) |
|
Ov«FJlTyfceree"fc in BPT matters ................... |
-.05 |
.22 + .07 (16- 18) |
|
Bossy |
.18 |
.22 + .07 (16-18) |
|
Inattentive in school |
.12 |
.21 + .07 (19-20) |
|
Stealing |
12 |
.21 + 05 (19-20) |
|
Larger Corre |
>lations (Negative) |
|
|
Queer |
-.29 t -05 |
.03 |
|
- 2k + .05 |
.12 |
|
|
Retardation in school |
-.12 |
-.32-1- .ok |
|
Repressed . |
- 02 |
- 2k + 08 |
|
Feftbi^-inlr^efl flIMIng. . |
-.11 |
-.21 + .07 |
|
Seclusive |
-.19 |
-.20 ± .07 |
|
TrnmOTwl hrnflf* r-.nrvHt-fnriB. ..,,.,,., a , , , a . |
.Ok |
-.20 ± .01 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Grouped: disobedient, etc., .19 and .Ik; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .18 and .15; Disobedient, .18 and .15; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .18 and .07; Disturbing influence in school, .18 and .18; Stacking, .17 (boye); Bad companions, .15 and .13; Stubborn, .15 and .12; "Nervous," .Ik and .12; Truancy from school, .Ik and .Ik; Fighting, .13 and -.07; Loitering, .13 and .11; Truancy from home, .12 and -.07; Sullen, .12 and .12; Slovenly, .12 and -.06; Irresponsible, .12 and .19; Selfish, .11 and .15; Sensitive over spe- cific fact, .11 and .11; Spoiled child, .11 and .12; Sex denied entirely, .11 and .12; Grouped: fighting, etc., .11 and .10; Overinterest in opposite sex, .11 (girls); Temper display, .10 and .Ik; Swearing (general), .10 (boys); Rude, .10 and .07; Contrary, .09 and .Ok; Refusal to attend school, .09 and .15; Quar- relsome, .09 and .05; Irregular sleep habits, .09 and -.01; Worry over specific fact, .09 and .05; Clean, .09 and .07; Emotional Instability, .08 and .11; Ex- cuse-forming, .08 and .18; Teasing other children, .07 (boys); Preference for younger children, .07 and -.06; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .07 and .10; Nail-biting, .06" and .06; Grouped: svearing, etc., .06 ejid .09; Ifaaturba- tion, .06 and .15; Incorrigible, .06 and .17; Exclusion from school, .06 and -.11; Destructive, .05 and -.01; Temper tantrums, .05 and .10; Sex delinquency (coitus), .05 and -.0^; Distractible, .05 and .12; Mental conflict, .05 and .08; Discord between parents', .05 and -.02; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .Ok (boys); Crying spells, :0k and .19; Violence, .Ok and .12; Bash- ful, .03 and -.08; Irregular attendance at school, .03 and -.03; Conduct prog- nosis bad, .02 and -.06; Threatening violence, .02 (boys); Lazy, .02 and -.11;
"BOSSY"; "LEADER"; AND "FOLLOWER" 509
TABUS 107— Continued
Victim of sex abuse, .02 (girls); Absent-minded, .01 and -.09; Over suggestible, .01 and -.09; Vocational guidance, .00 and -.01; Finicky food habits, -.00 and .17; Question of encephalitis, -.00 and -.05; Poor work in school, -.01 and -.00; Inferiority feelings, -.01 and .06; Lack of Initiative, -.01 and -.11; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.02 and -.11; Lues, -.02 and -.09; Brother in penal detention, -.02 and -.03; Unhappy, -.03 and .06; Sulky, -.Ok and .08; Vi- cious home conditions, -.05 and -.03; Psychoneurotic, -.05 and -.01; Enuresis, -.06 and .18; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.06 and .12; Speech defect, -.07 and -.19; Sensitive (general), -.07 and .05; Depressed, -.08 and .09; Headaches, -.09 and .15; Stuttering, -.09 (boys); Object of teasing, -.09 and -.19; Ques- tion of change of personality, -.09 and .07; Underweight, -.11 and -.06; Ques- tion of hypophrenia, -.11 and .19; Apprehensive, -.11 and -.02; Former convul- sions, -.12 and -.04; Listless, -.15 and -.14; Slow, dull, -.17 and -.14; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.17 and -.17 Omitted — Follower
Its largest correlations vere with popularity, the respec- tive coefficients for boys and girls being .32 + .05 and .40 + .07. Leading others into bad conduct among boys yielded the substantial correlation of .22 + .05 but among girls a low coefficient of .18. Irritable temperament and fantastical lying among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys.
"Leader" showed 'moderate correlations in the ,20's among both sexes with the three traits boastful or "show-off" manner, restlessness, and attractive manner and also with running with a gang (calculated for boys only). Two conduct problems among boys — staying out late at night and lack of Interest in school — showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but negligible coefficients be- low ,20 among girls. Among the girls twelve undesirable manifesta- tions showed moderate correlations in the . 20's but among boys low coefficients below .20: bossy manner, egocentricity, changeable moods or attitudes, temper tantrums or display (including irritable temperament, undifferentiated), restlessness in sleep, daydreaming, inattentiveness in school, stealing, lying, defiant attitude, over- interest in sex matters, and unpopularity.
It may seem curious that the notation "leader" shows posi- tive correlations with both of the apparently antithetical traits popularity and unpopularity. This problem was discussed in ear- lier pages (p. 45 and in the concluding paragraphs of chaps, xx, xxv, and xlvi). These apparently contradictory correlations may, of course, be due to a general inaccuracy in case-record material
510 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
of the kind utilized in this study. But the explanation may also be made on a curvillnearity of regression of "leader" with the trait popularity- unpopularity . It may be that a child who tends to be a leader among other children is likely to be both popular and unpopular among his associates, according to the specific re- lation of a "leader" to another individual child affected by his "leadership." It is interesting to note that the correlations of "follower" with both popularity and unpopularity are very low or negligible, as will be found in Table 108 (p. 511).
"Leader" among boys showed negative correlations of moder- ate size ranging from -.20 to -.32 with queer behavior and neuro- logical defect (unspecified) and among girls with repressed manner, seclusiveness, retardation in school, feeble-minded sibling, and Immoral home conditions.
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of moder- ate size was with overinterest in sex matters among girls, .22 + .07. All other correlations In this field were low or negligible - ranging from -.05 to .15.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only correlation of moderate size was the negative one of -.24 + .05 with neurological defect (unspecified) among boys.
Among the four home or familial notations the largest cor- relation with "leader" was the negative one, -.20 + .07, with im- moral home conditions among girls, which is of doubtful statlstica] significance, since it Is less than the conventionally accepted "three times its probable error."
Patient a "follower" in group of similar age was noted among 202 cases, or 9.6 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 103 cases, or 8.7 pen cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Its corre- lations with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominousness" were low or negligible, ranging from -.03 to .12 (Table 108). Since almost all its correlation coefficients with other separate case notations were of negligible size (only nine showing coeffi- cients as high as the .20fs) it may be concluded that "follower" is of very minor Importance from clinical considerations.
The largest positive correlation was the moderate one of .2 .29 + .04 with oversuggestlbility among boys, the corresponding coefficient among girls being .18. Bashfulness showed moderate
"BOSSY"; "LEADER"; AND "FOLLOWER"
TABLE 108 CORRELATIONS WITH "FOLLOWER"
511
|
Boys |
Girls |
|||
|
Personality -total |
.12 t |
.03 |
.0? + |
.04 |
|
.07 + |
.03 |
-.03 + |
.04 |
|
|
.08 + |
.04 |
.05 + |
.05 |
|
|
Larger |
Corr |
slations |
(Positive) |
|
|
Oversuggestlble |
.29 t |
04 |
.18 |
|
|
2*5 + |
ok |
- 02 |
||
|
Bad companions |
.23 + |
,04 |
.07 |
|
|
Bashful |
.22 + |
,04 |
.23 + |
.05 (2)* |
|
.21 -»- |
Oil |
|||
|
Speech defect. |
.21 + |
04 |
.10 |
|
|
Crying spells |
.20 + |
.03 |
.19 |
|
|
Lack of initiative . |
.16 " |
.25 ± |
.07 (1) |
|
|
.09 |
.21 ± |
.06 (3) |
||
|
Larger |
Corr |
slat ions |
(Negative) |
|
|
Question of change of personality '. . . . |
-.21 + |
.05 |
.06 |
|
|
.Ok ~ |
-.29 + |
.08 |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.00 |
-.28 ± |
.06 |
|
|
Defiant |
-.12 |
-.25 + |
.06 |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Absent-minded, .18 and .03* Changeable moods , .17 and »04; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .16 and .09; Sex denied entirely, .16 and -.08; Poor work in school, .14 and .13; Finicky food habits, .14 and .12; Lack of interest in school, .13 and .14; Refusal to attend school, .13 and .00; Slovenly, .13 and -.06; Smoking, .13 (boys); Restless, .13 and .13; Restless In sleep, .13 and .06; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .12 and .15; Distractible, .12 and .16; Lazy, .11 and -.04; Lying, .11 and .08; Stealing, .11 and -.03; Apprehensive, .11 and .12; Slow, dull, .11 and .12; Truancy from school, .10 and -.01; Wail-biting, .10 and .13; Enuresis, .09 and .06; Selfish, .09 and .10; Irritable, .09 and -.00; Retardation in school, .09 and .01; Victim of sex abuee, .09 (girls); Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .08 and .11; Preference for younger children, .08 and .09; Mental conflict, .08 and .12; Sex delinquency (coitus), .08 and .17; Teasing other children, .07 (boys); Worry over specific fact, .07 and -.04; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .07 (boys); Unhappy, .07 and -.04; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .07 and .03; Grouped: temper, etc., .06 and -.02; Ijmnoral home conditions, .06 and -.11; Vicious home conditions, .06 and -.10; Sullen, .06 and -.02; Loitering, .06 and -.02; Irre- sponsible, .06 and .08; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .05 and .06; Question of hypophrenia, .05 and .09; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .04 and .09; Brother
512 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABIE 108—Continued
in penal detent Ion, .04 and .00; "Nervous," .Ok and .02; Over interest in sex matters, .Ok and -.05; Daydreaming, .04 and -.01; Swearing (general), .04 (boys); Stubborn, .04 and -.11; Disobedient, .03 and .00; Disturbing Influence in school, .03 and .01; Rude, .03 and -.09; Sulky, .03 and -.05; Temper display, .03 and .10; Emotional instability, .03 and -.06; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .03 and .08; Exclusion from school, .02 and .Ok; Leading others into bad conduct, .02 and .09; Fighting, -.00 and -.07; Listless, -.00 and .05; Object of teasing, -.00 and .13; Grouped: depressed, etc., -.00 and -.09; Egocentric, -.01 and .06; Truancy from hone, -.01 and -.01; Inferiority feelings, -.02 and .08; For- mer convulsions, -.02 and -.15; Discord between parents, -.03 and -.12; Destruc- tive, .02 and .06; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .02 and .09; Staying out late at night, .01 and .01; Masturbation, .01 and -.09; Depressed, .01 and -.19; Ir- regular sleep habits, .01 and -.08; Sensitive over specific fact, .01 and .06; Unpopular, .01 and -.11; Spoiled child, .01 and .01; Neurological defect, .01 and -.16; Vocational guidance, .01 and -.05; Stuttering, .00 (boys); Underweight, -.03 and -.06; Clean, -.03 and .0?; Sensitive (general), -.03 and .03; Inatten- tive in school, -.04 and .11; Violence, -.04 and -.11; Headaches, -.04 and .02; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.Ok and -.03; Conduct prognosis bad, -.05 and .05; Contrary, -.05 and -.18; Overinterest in opposite sex, -.05 (girls); Incorri- gible, -.06 and -.07; Queer, -.06 and -.10; Seclusive, -.06 and -.01; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.06 and .04; Temper tantrums, -.07 and -.17; Bossy, -.08 and -.16; Threatening violence, -.08 (boys); Popular, -.08 and .10; Quarrelsome, -.09 and .06; Fantastical lying, -.09 and -.03; Attractive manner, -.10 and .03 Irregular attendance at school, -.10 and -.07; Psychoneurotic, -.12 and -.08; Feeble-minded sibling, -.14 and .07; Question of encephalitis, -.18 and -.11 Omitted—Leader
correlations in the . 20's among both sexes. Running with a gang among "boys similarly shoved the moderate correlation of .21 + .04, the corresponding coefficient for girls not being calculated be- cause of the paucity of girls' cases. Pour additional notations among boys showed moderate correlations In the ,20's, but low co- efficients below .20 among girls: bad companions, excuse- forming attitude , crying spells , and speech defect (other than stuttering). Two notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the .20' s but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: lack of ini- tiative and lues.
"Follower" showed four negative correlations of moderate size ranging from -.21 to -.29: among boys for question of change of personality and among girls for r epre s s ed manner , boastful or "show-off" manner, and defiant attitude.
Among the six sex notations all correlations with "follower" were low or negligible, ranging from -.09 to .17.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities there were two coefficients of moderate size in the ,20's, speech defect (other than stuttering) among boys and lues among girls.
"BOSSY"; "LEADER"; AND "FOLLOWER" 513
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.12 to .06.
A comparison of the corresponding correlations for the pre- sumably antithetical notations "leader" (Table 107 ) and "follower" (Table 108) shows again the curious statistical phenomenon that many of the coefficients for these antithetical pairs of traits were not of opposite sign and of similar magnitude, as would be supposed if strictly objectively measurable traits were being used but were often of the same sign (though of different magnitude). Among the 118 pairs of corresponding coefficients for the boys in Table 107 ("leader") and Table 108 ("follower") there were 75 pairs of like sign and only 43 of unlike sign. Among 113 pairs of girls1 coefficients there were 58 pairs of like sign and 55 of unlike sign The intercolumnar correlations (Pearson's product-moment ) were .10 + .06 for boys and -.10 + .06 for girls. (A discussion and at- tempted explanation of this phenomenon may be found in I, 134-35 and 249-50, and in this volume, p. 45, and In the concluding par- agraphs of chaps, xx, xxv, and xlvi. )
CHAPTER LIV SULI^ENNESS AND SULKINESS
Sullenneas and sulkiness appeared to be of little more than moderate importance so far as its correlations with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominous ness" are concerned.
Sullenness was noted among 243 of our 2,113 White boys (11.5 per cent) and among 97 of our I,l8l White girls (8.2 per cent). With personality- total and conduct-total the correlations were of only moderate or scarcely substantial size, ranging from .29 to .35 (Table 109). With police arrest its tetrachoric £ among boys was moderate, .23 + .03, and among girls negligible, .08 + .05.
TABIE 109 COHRELATIONB WITH "SULLEN"
|
Boya |
OlrlB |
|
|
Personality -~to"tal ............................. |
.29 t -02 |
.34 ± .03 |
|
Conduct-total ................................. |
• 35 ± .02 |
.33 ± .03 |
|
Police arrest |
.23 t .03 |
.08 t «05 |
|
Larger Corr< |
alatlone (Positive) |
|
|
,if4 ± .03 |
.41 •»• .04 (3)* |
|
|
Defiant 7 |
.41 t ^04 |
.If4 ... .06 (1) |
|
Contrary. ..................................... |
.38 ± .05 |
•33 ± -07 (9) |
|
•35 ± .03 |
.31 t .05 (11-13) |
|
|
.34 + .04 |
.19 |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.28 + .03 |
.27 t -05 (21-27) |
|
.28 ± .05 |
.34 + .05 (5-8) |
|
|
.27 + .03 |
.27 t -06 (21-27) |
|
|
• 27 t .04 |
• 05 |
|
|
Sntoklnff . ...................................... |
.27 t .04 |
|
|
Rude |
.27 + .03 |
.42 + .05 f2) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
514
3ULLENNE33 AMD SULKJ1ES3 TABLE 109— Continued
515
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Disobedient |
.26 -t |
.03 |
.32 + .05 (10) |
|
Stealing |
.26 4. |
.03 |
.30 4- .05 (14-18) |
|
Sulky |
.26 + |
.05 |
.30-1- .07 (14-18) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of* (sibling. ................ |
.26 + |
.05 |
• 15 |
|
Violence |
.25 + |
.Oil |
27 4- .06 ( 21-27) |
|
UnhaixDT |
• c.j x .24 + |
.05 |
.31 4- .07 (11-13) |
|
.2k + |
oi* |
||
|
QuwreliKwe ,,.». |
.23 + |
Olf |
.30 4- .05 (14-18) |
|
Egocentric . . . . . ... . ..... |
.23 4- |
.Oil |
.30 4- .05 (14-lfl) |
|
.23 + |
.05 |
14 |
|
|
Conduct pr^ignosis bad. ........................ |
.23 * |
• 05 |
.34 + .07 (5-8) |
|
ETC In si on from school ......................... |
.22 + |
04 |
.27 t .07 (21-27) |
|
Truancy from school ........................... |
.22 + |
• 03 |
. 27 4- . 05 ( y\ -P7 \ |
|
.22 -»• |
o)j |
-.07 |
|
|
Fantastical lying |
.21 + |
• 03 |
.21 ± .07 (39-42) |
|
Lack of Interest In school |
.21 t |
04 |
.30 4- .06 (14-18) |
|
Leading others Into bad conduct. .............. |
.21 + |
.05 |
.40 4- .07 (4) |
|
Lyinrr, . . |
.21 -}- |
.03 |
.23 4- .05 (36) |
|
Shearing (general) |
.21 + |
• 05 |
|
|
Repressed |
.21 •*- |
• 05 |
.20 4- .08 (43-49) |
|
Grn*rvup«fl : tffHpwr j A-f ........ , . . J . . ^ .... ^ . * x . |
.20 i |
.03 |
.34 4- .04 (5-8) |
|
Irritable |
.20 + |
• 03 |
.26 4- .05 (28-30) |
|
Truancy from home |
,20 + |
• 03 |
.11 |
|
Tamper tantrums |
.09 |
.314. + .05 (5-8) |
|
|
Spoiled child |
.16 |
.31 4- .06 (11-13) |
|
|
Depressed. |
.07 |
.29 t -07 (19) |
|
|
Changeable woods. ............................. |
.05 |
.28 4- .05 (20) |
|
|
Distractible |
.11 |
.27 4- .06 (21-27) |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
• 17 |
.27 ± .06 (21-27) |
|
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc . . .- |
.Ik |
.26 4- .04 (28-30) |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
-.08 |
.26 t »°6 (28-30) |
|
|
Fighting |
.17 |
.25 t -°4 (31-35) |
|
|
Refusal to attend school |
.18 |
.25 4- .08 (31-35) |
|
|
.25 4- .05 (31-35) |
|||
|
Grouped: lack of Interest in school, etc |
.16 |
.25 t .05 (31-35) |
|
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.09 |
.25 t -oS (31-35) |
|
|
Seclusive |
.18 |
.22 4- .06 (37-38) |
|
|
Bossy |
.10 |
.22 t -06 (37-38) |
|
|
T^mnwr 41 st>l*v ................................ |
.15 |
.21 t .06 (39-42) |
|
|
Masturbation . |
.07 |
.21 4- .05 (39-42) |
|
|
Senni'tlve (general) ........................... |
.11 |
.21 t .06 (39-42) |
|
|
Restless. . !T |
.11 |
.20 ± .05 (43-49) |
|
|
Object of teasing |
.08 |
.20 t .06 (43-49) |
|
|
PanJb'eanlruy |
.14 |
.20 4- .06 (43-49) |
|
|
Crying spells |
.11 |
.20 4- .05 (43-49) |
|
|
Absent-minded |
.01 |
.20 ± .07 (43-49) |
|
|
Overin^ereat in sex matters |
.03 |
.20 t -07 (43-49) |
|
|
Larger < |
3orrf |
lation* (negative) |
|
|
Loiterlx^. . r ................... r ,...,.,.. T , r f r |
.06 |
-.21 t -07 |
|
|
Xvi'^piliftr 1'tti'flndAnce at school |
.07 |
-.20 t «06 |
|
5^6 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE log—Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Disturbing Influence in school, .19 and .17; Selfish, .19 and .16; Ir- regular sleep habits, .18 and -.07; Boastful, "show-off," .17 and .14; Question of change of personality, .17 and .19; Lazy, .16 and -.00; Bad companions, .16 and .09; Staying out late at night, .15 and .13; Vicious home conditions, .14 and .14; Teasing other children, .13 (boys); Slovenly, .13 and .03; Leader, .12 and .12; Mental conflict, .12 and .13; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .11 and .16; Queer, .11 and .18; Brother in penal detention, .11 and .11; Sex denied entirely, .10 and .07; Sensitive over specific fact, .09 and .17; Inferiority feelings, .09 and -.13; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .09 (boys); Discord between parents, .08 and .01; Immoral home conditions, .08 and .06; Clean, .08 and -.03; Poor work in school, .08 and .02; Inattentive in school, .07 and .07; Sex delinquency (coitus), .07 and .09; Slow, dull, .07 and .08; Listless, .07 and .15; Emotional instability, .07 and .17; Follower, .06 and -.02; Nail-biting, .05 and .09; Popular, .05 and .03; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .Ok and .07; Apprehensive, .Ok and .10; Bashful, .03 and -.05; "Nervous," .03 and .Ok; Bestless in sleep, .03 and .12; Retardation in school, .02 and -.02; Vocational guidance, .00 and -.04; Enuresis, -.00 and -.07; Question of hypopljrenia, -.00 and .05; Lues, -.00 and .07; Feeble-minded sibling, -.00 and -.05; Headaches, -.01 and .06; Attractive manner, -.01 and -.06; Over suggestible, -.01 and -.00; Irresponsible, -.01 and -.01; Lack of initiative, -.02 and -.13; Victim of sex abuse, -.03 (girls); Worry over specific fact, -.03 and -.04; Stut- tering, -.Ok (boys); Question of encephalitis, -.05 and .08; Former convulsions, -.05 and -.08; Psychoneurotic, -.06 and .08; Preference for younger children, -.06 and .10; Neurological defect, -.08 and .11; Underweight, -.09 and .10; Speech defect, -.12 and -.09
Among both sexes, its largest correlations ¥ere with de- fiant attitude, the respective coefficients for boys and girls be- ing .kl + .04 and .kk + .06. Rudeness and leading others into bad conduct among girls yielded large correlations in the .40' s but among boys only moderate coefficients In the .20' s.
Contrariness and stubbornness among both sexes yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's. Threatening violence, for vhlch only the boys' coefficient was computed, also yielded the substantial correlation of ,]52 + .05. Swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated) among boys yielded the substantial correlation of .34 + .04 but among girls a low coefficient of .19. Nine unde- sirable behavior notations among girls yielded substantial corre- lations in the ,30's with corresponding moderate coefficients in the .20 's among boys: sulkineaa, disobedience, egooentricity, lack of interest in school, quarrelsomeness , temper tantrums or display (undifferentiated), unhappineas. stealing, and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prognosis. Two additional behavior problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the .30fs but low
SULLENNESS AND SULKINKSS 517
positive coefficients below .20 among boys: "spoiled child" and temper tantrums.
Eight notations showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs among both sexes : incorrigibility, violence, Irritable tempera- ment , lying, fantastical lying, truancy from school, exclusion from school, and r epr e s s ed manne r . Three notations for which only boys1 correlations were computed — running with a gang, smoking » and swearing in general — and the notation overinterest in the op- posite sex, for which only the girls' coefficient was computed, also showed moderate coefficients in the ,20fs. Five undesirable behavior traits showed moderate correlations in the .20fs among boys but low coefficients below .20 among girls : hatred or jeal- ousy of sibling, truancy from home, destruotiveness , excuse- forming attitude, and unpopularity. Seventeen personality and conduct problems among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low coefficients below .20 among boys: refusal to attend school, fighting, temper display, bossy manner, secluslveness , absent- mindedness, distractlbility, restlessness, depressed mood or spells daydreaming , changeable moods or attitudes, sensitiveness in gen- eral, object of teasing by other children, crying spells, finicky food habits, masturbation, and overinterest in sex matters.
Sullenness among girls showed negative correlations of mod- erate size in the -,20's with loitering or wandering and Irregular attendance at school.
Among the six sex notations there were three correlations of moderate size in the ,20's among girls: masturbation, overin- terest in sex matters, and (calculated for girls only) overinter- est in the opposite sex.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations and the four home or familial notations, all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.12 to .14.
Sulklness or pouting was noted among 112, or 5.J5 per cent, of our boys and among 68, or 5.8 per cent, of our girls. With per- sonality-total and conduct -total its bl- serial correlations were of moderate size in the ,20's (Table 110). With police arrest its tetrachoric correlations for both sexes were low, .16 and .07 for boys and girls respectively.
The only notation among both sexes yielding substantial
518
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 110 CORRELATIONS WITH "SULKY"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.21 4- .03 |
.29 4- .04 |
|
|
Conduct-total |
.2k 4- .03 |
.27 4; .Ok |
|
.16 + .04 |
.07 4- .06 |
|
|
Larger Corr< |
alations (Positive) |
|
|
Grouped: disobedient , etc |
.35 + .03 |
.33 4- .05 (5-6)* |
|
Defiant |
.26 4- .05 |
.28 4- .07 (18) |
|
Sullen |
.26 + .05 |
.30 4- .07 (10-13) |
|
Apprehensive |
.26 + .04 |
-.06 |
|
Stubborn |
.2k + .Ok |
.2k + .06 (25-26) |
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.23 + .Ok |
.36 4- .05 (2-k) |
|
Crying spells |
.23 + .04 |
.20 4- .05 (29-31) |
|
Disobedient |
.22 + .Ok |
.18 |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.22 + .Ok |
.18 |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.21 + .05 |
.25 t 07 (20-24) |
|
Rude |
.21 4- .05 |
.29 4- 06 (14-17) |
|
Yiolence |
.21 + .05 |
:i7 |
|
Grouped: "nervous , " etc |
.20 4- .04 |
.30 4- .05 (10-13) |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ) |
.20 + .0? |
-.08 |
|
T^ppeT* (H ppl fly, ......I,.,,.,.,,....,,.....,... |
.20 4- .05 |
.29 4- .07 (14-17) |
|
Onrjtrary. 1 1 1 , ................................. |
.20 + .0? |
.36 ± .08 (2-4) |
|
Sensitive (general ) |
.12 |
.37 + .07 (I) |
|
T^nipftir tflrTh-nmB . r ....... r ..................... |
.15 |
.36 4- .06 (2-4) |
|
Unhappy * |
.Ok |
.33 4- .08 (5-6) |
|
Excuse -forming |
.07 |
.32 4- 07 (7-9) |
|
- 01 |
32 4- 07 (7-9) |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
.08 |
.32 4- .06 (7-9) |
|
Changeable moods |
• 17 |
.30 4- .06 (10-13) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc » |
.16 |
.30 4- .05 (10-13) |
|
Depressed |
.06 |
.29 4- .07 (14-17) |
|
Bossy |
- 09 |
.29 4- 07 (14-17) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc |
.17 |
.27 t '05 (19) |
|
Egocentric |
.05 |
.25 4- .06 (20-24) |
|
Leading (vhhws Into bftd conduct-. .............. |
.11 |
.25 t «08 (20-24) |
|
Inefficient in work, play, -etc Fantastical lying |
.09 .16 |
.25 ± .07 (20-24) .25 4- .07 (20-24) |
|
lying |
.13 |
.24 4- .05 (25-26) |
|
Unpopular ., |
.05 |
.22 + .08 (27) |
|
QuftT*T*el nBOjne ...... ^ ........................ r ... |
.07 |
.21 4- .06 (28) |
|
Object of teasing |
.10 |
.20 4- .07 (29-^1) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.Ik |
.20 4- .09 (29-31) |
|
Larger Corre |
;lat ions (Negative) |
|
|
Feeble-minded sibling |
-.22 4- .06 |
-.25 4- .07 |
|
Irregular sleep habits |
.02 " |
-.27 + .08 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
SULLENNESS AND SULKINESS 519
TABLE 110— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irritable, .19 and .19; Restless in sleep, .19 and .14; Selfish, .18 and -.02; Overinterest in sex matters, .18 and .11; Spoiled child, .1? and .10; Absent-minded, .17 and .Ik; Refusal to attend school, .17 and ,10; Fighting, .17 and .09; Bad companions, .16 and -.17; Destructive, .16 and .18; Enuresls, .16 and .09; Smoking, .16 (boys); Sensitive over specific fact, .16 and .15; Popular, .16 and .17; Restless, .15 and .Ik; Grouped: swearing, etc., .15 and .06; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .15 and .03; Vicious home con- ditions, .15 and -.07; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .15 (boys); Truancy from home, .15 and .Ik; Teasing other children, .15 (boys); Staying out late at night, .Ik and .03; Swearing (general), .Ik (boys); Threat- ening violence, .Ik (boys); Repressed, .1^ and .11; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .13 and .19; Conduct prognosis bad, .13 and .01; Lazy, .13 and .12; Lack of in- terest in school, .13 and .03; Finicky food habits, .13 and .15; Loitering, .12 and .09; Gang, .12 (boys); Slovenly, .12 and .13; Truancy from school, .12 and .15; Question of change of personality, .12 and .17; Distractible, .12 and .Ik; Preference for younger children, .12 and .08; Seclusive, .11 and .08; Incorri- gible, .11 and .Ik; Stealing, .10 and .Ik; "Nervous,11 .10 and .Ok; Emotional instability, .10 and .Ik; Exclusion from school, .10 and .19; Attractive man- ner, .09 and .10; Inattentive in school, .09 and .01; Masturbation, .08 and .18; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .08 and .0^; Sex denied entirely, .08 and -.07; Discord between parents, .07 and .01; Mental conflict, .07 and .17; Listless, .07 and .09; Daydreaming, .07 and .18; Bashful, .06 and .06; Clean, .06 and .1^; Overinterest in opposite sex, .06 (girls); Former convulsions, .05 and -.01; In- feriority feelings, .05 and .09; Over suggestible, .05 and .11; Nail-biting, .Ok and .02; Question of hypophrenia, .Ok and .01; Headaches, .03 and .05; Follower, .03 and -.05; Stuttering, .03 (boys); Irresponsible, .03 and .06; Slow, dull, .02 and .03; Poor work in school, .02 and .12; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .02 and .06; Speech defect, .01 and -.07; Retardation in school,. .01 and .03; Lack of initiative, .01 and -.Ok; Victim of sex abuse, -.00 (girls); Vocational guid- ance, -.01 and -.Ik; Irregular attendance at school, -.02 and .05; Immoral home conditions, -.03 and .00; Neurological defect, -.03 and .Ok; Psychoneurotlc, -.03 and .08; Leader, -.Ok and .08; Question of encephalitis, -.12 and .09; Lues, -.13 and -.06; Underweight, -.17 and -.07; Brother In penal detention, -.19 and .09
correlations In the .^O's was the "larger grouping," disobedience or incorrlgibility (including defiant attitude, stubbornness, and contrariness , undifferentiated). Among girls three behavior prob- lems yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's and moderate co- efficients In the ,20's among boys: sullenness, contrariness, and "nervousness" or restlessness (Including irritable temperament and changeable moods, undifferentiated). Six additional undesirable behavior problems yielded substantial correlations in the .jJO's among girls but low coefficients below .20 among boys: sensitive- ness in general, changeable moods or attitudes, un happiness, queer behavior, temper tantrums, and excuse- forming attitude.
Sulkiness showed moderate correlations in the ,20's among
520 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
both sexes vith six conduct and personality problems: rudeness, stubbornness, defiant attitude, temper display, boastful or "show- off" manner, and crying spells. Five conduce and personality prob- lems among boys showed moderate correlations in the .20' s, but low coefficients below .20 among girls: disobedience, violence, dis- turbing influence in school, apprehenaivenesa , and sex delinquency (coitus). Among girls eleven undesirable behavior traits showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low coefficients below .20 among boys : quarrels omeness . egocentrlclty, bossy manner, lead- ing others into bad conduct, depressed mood or spells, inefficiency in work, play, etc., object of teasing by other children, worry over some specific fact, lying, fantastical lying, and unpopularity.
Two case-record notations showed negative correlations of moderate size in the -.20' a, irregular sleep habits among girls and feeble-minded sibling among both sexes.
Among the six sex notations the only correlation of mean- ingful size with sulkiness was the statistically questionable co- efficient of .20 + .07 with sex delinquency (coitus) among boys.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities and the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible.
CHAPTER LV
HATRED OR JEALOUSY FOR SIBLING
Hatred or jealousy for sibling, step- sibling, f oster-sib- ling, etc. , was noted among 95 of our 2,113 White boys, or 4.5 per cent, and among 58 of our 1,181 White girls, or 4.9 per cent. Its bi-serial correlations (in the .40* s) with the personality- total were fairly large and also substantial (in the ,30's) with conduct- total (Table 111). Its tetrachoric correlations with the police-arrest criterion of overt juvenile delinquency, however, were low.
TABLE 111 CORRELATIONS WITH "HATRED OR JEALOUSY OF SIBLING"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.43 -f .03 |
.45 t -O^ |
|
Conduct- -"to^-al, ........................ r ....... |
.32 ± .03 |
.33 + .04 |
|
Polio© arrest * |
.10 + .Ok |
-.11 + .06 |
|
Larger Corr< |
alatlone (Positive) |
|
|
Contrary. |
-37 ± -06 |
.04 |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.36 + .05 |
.43 + .08 (1)* |
|
Destructive |
• 35 ± .05 |
.29 + .08 (17-18) |
|
Rude |
.34 4- .04 |
.29 + .06 (17-18) |
|
.32 t «04 |
.32 t .06 (11) |
|
|
Queer |
.30 + .06 |
.21 + .08 (32-34) |
|
.30 + .05 |
.07 |
|
|
Bossy |
.29-1- .06 |
.37 + .07 (5) |
|
Selfish |
.29 -i- .06 |
.27 ± .04 (20-22) |
|
Grouped.: lack of interest in school, etc. ... |
.28 -i- .04 |
.15 |
|
Spoiled child |
.28 + .05 |
.19 |
|
"BTOUBft-fOTOiltlg. , . . , . . , ... , .................... |
.28 t -05 |
.15 |
|
.27 * .05 |
.16 |
|
|
Grouped: swearing, etc |
.27 + .07 |
.25 + .07 (25-27) |
|
Egocentric |
.26 t «05 |
.38 + .06 (4) |
|
Sullen |
.26 t -05 |
.15 |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
521
522
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE Ill—Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Boastful, M show-off11 |
.26 ± .05 |
.26 ± .08 (23-24) |
|
Violence |
.25 ± .05 |
.14 |
|
Grouped: depressed; etc |
.25 ± .05 |
.25 + .07 (25-27) |
|
Irritable |
.24-1" .04 |
.22 4- .06 (30-31) |
|
Depressed .. .. |
.24 4- .06 |
.31 4- .08 (12-15) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.23 + .05 |
.31 4- .06 (12-15) |
|
Attractive manner |
.23 + .05 |
.10 |
|
Grouped: disobedient; etc. .»...«. |
.23 4- .Ok |
.20 + .05 (35-38) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc «...* |
.22 4- .04 |
.30 + .05 (16) |
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
.22 + .04 |
.27 4- .05 (20-22) |
|
Unhappy |
.22 + .0? |
.18 |
|
Defiant |
.21 + .06 |
.16 |
|
Quarrelsome |
.21 4- .05 |
.33 4- .06 (9-10) |
|
Threatening violence |
.21 4- .07 |
|
|
Secluslve |
.21 -»• .05 |
.13 |
|
Mental conflict |
.21 4- .07 |
.27 4- .09 (20-22) |
|
Grouped : temper, etc |
.21 + .04 |
•33 + .05 (9-10) |
|
Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc |
.20 + .04 |
.34 4- .05 (6-8) |
|
Sex denied entirely |
.20 t .06 |
.14 |
|
Jtatastical lying |
.16 |
.4o 4- .07 (2) |
|
Temper display |
• 15 |
.39 4- .07 (3) |
|
Sensitive (general) |
.19 |
.34 + .07 (6-8) |
|
Oow!rvfcerflf?t 1n HOY Tmtt«ri3. |
.10 |
.34 4- .07 (6-8) |
|
Restless in sleep , |
.19 |
.31 4- .06 (12-15) |
|
Stubborn |
.16 |
.31 4- .06 (12-15) |
|
Crying spells |
.16 |
.28 + .05 (19) |
|
Headaches |
.11 |
.26 4- .07 (23-24) |
|
Leading others into bad conduct |
.16 |
.25 4- .09 (25-27) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.05 |
.24 4- .10 (28) |
|
"Nervous" . . . , |
.18 |
.25 4- .06 (29) |
|
Slovenly |
.13 |
.22 4- .06 (30-31) |
|
Repressed. |
.18 |
.21 4- 09 (32-34) |
|
Restless |
.14 |
.21 4- .06 (32-34) |
|
Nail-biting |
.16 |
.20 4- .06 (35-38) |
|
Changeable moods ...,.....,.,,,,,.. |
.06 |
.20 4- .07 (35-38) |
|
Former convulsions |
.15 |
.20 4- .09 (35-38) |
|
Larger Corre |
dations (Negative) |
|
|
Brother In penal detention |
.10 |
-.32 t .07 |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.18 |
-.25 4- .08 |
|
Question of hypophrenia |
-.10 |
-.21 4- .06 |
|
Retardation in school |
-.15 |
-.20 + .05 |
|
Not |
Calculable |
|
|
Vocational guidance. .......................... |
(n.c.) |
-.12 |
|
?aeb}a-mlnded slbl Ing |
(n.c.) |
-.32 4- .07 |
HATRED OR JEALOUSY FOR SIBLING 523
TABUE in— Continued Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .19 (boys); Discord between parents, .19 and -.05; Leader, .18 and .07; Object of teasing, .18 and .13; Psychoneurotlc, .18 and .18; Teasing other children, .18 (boys); Inatten- tive in school, .18 and .11; Bad companions, .17 and .17; Laiy, .17 and .17; laying, .17 and .15; Truancy from school, .17 and .04; Masturbation, .17 and .15; Exclusion from school, .17 and .Ok; Swearing (general), .16 (boys); Diso- bedient, .15 and .12; Bashful, .15 and .0^; Refusal to attend school, .Ik and .Ik} Apprehensive, .Ik and .16; Clean, .13 and -.01; Distractible, .13 and .15; Loitering, .12 and -.09; Stealing, .12 and .10; Truancy from home, .12 and .09; Neurological defect, .12 and .09; Staying out late at night, .11 and .08; Fight- ing, .11 and .18; Poor work in school, .10 and .Ok; Temper tantrums, .09 and .15; Smoking, .09 (boys); Gang, .09 (boys); Incorrigible, .08 and -.01; Sulky, .08 and .04; Conduct prognosis bad, .08 and -.05; Immoral home conditions, .08 and .00; Overinterest in opposite sex, .08 (girls); Irresponsible, .07 and .10; In- efficient in work, play, etc., .07 and .18; Disturbing Influence in school, .06 and -.02; Lues, .06 and -.08; Popular, .05 and .08; Underweight, .Ok and .02; Speech defect, .Ok and -.10; Slow, dull, .03 and .18; Enuresis, .03 and .09; Finicky food habits, .03 and .17; Irregular sleep habits, .02 and .06; Lack of Initiative, .02 and .13; Stuttering, .02 (boys); Follower, .02 and .09; Over- suggestible, .00 and -.06; Preference for younger children, -.00 and .01; Vic- tim of sex abuse, -.00 (girls); Unpopular, -.01 and .16; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.01 and -.09; Listless, -.03 and .Ok; Absent-minded, -.Ok and .19; Emo- tional instability, -.Ok and .15; Irregular attendance at school, -.05 and -.12; Question of change of personality, -.06 and .12; Sex delinquency (coitus), -.07 and -.09; Question of encephalitis, -.08 and -.11
Among both boys and girla its largest correlations were with inferiority feelings , the respective coefficients being .36 + .05 and .43 + .08. Fantastical lying among girls also yielded a large correlation of .40 + .07 but a low coefficient of .16 among boys.
Three conduct and personality problems — rudeness , destruc- tiyeness, and queer behavior — also yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's among boys and moderate correlations in the ,20's among girls. Contrariness and daydreaming among boys. similarly yielded substantial correlations in the ,30's but negligible coef- ficients among girls. Six personality and conduct problems among girls yielded substantial correlations in the ,30fs with correspond- ing moderate coefficients in the ,20's among boys: egocentrioity, bossy manner, quarrelsomeness, temper tantrums or display (undif- ferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, and depressed mood or spells. Among girls five additional personality and con- duct difficulties yielded substantial correlations in the .30' a but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: stubbornness, tern-
524 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
per display t sensitiveness in general, restlessness in sleep, and overinterest In sex matters.
Six personality and conduct problems consistently showed moderate correlations in the . 20fs: selfishness, boastful or "show-off" manner, irritable temperament, swearing or bad language (undifferentiated), mental conflict, and (calculated for boys only) threatening violence. Ten personality problems among boys shoved moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among girls: "spoiled child, " sullenness, defiant atti- tude , violence, excuse- forming attitude, lack of interest in school, seclusiveness , unhappiness , attractive manner, and sex mis- behavior denied entirely. Eleven miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coefficients below .20 among boys: leading others into bad con- duct , slovenliness, repressed manner, "nervousness, " restlessness, changeable moods or attitudes, crying spells, worry over some spe- cific fact, nail-biting, former convulsions, and headaches.
Hatred or jealousy of sibling showed negative correlations of moderate size ranging from -.20 to -.32 with four notations, all among girls : question of hypophrenia, retardation in school, vi- cious home conditions, and brother in penal detention.
Among the six sex notations there were two correlations of significant size, overinterest in sex matters among girls, .24 + .07, and sex misbehavior denied entirely among boys, .20 4- .06.
Among the seven physical or psychophyslca? notations all correlations were negligible, ranging from -.11 to .12.
Among the four home or familial notations there were two negative correlations of moderate size, both among girls: vicious home conditions, -.25 + .08, and brother in penal detention, -.52 + .07.
CHAPTER LVI
SCHOOL NOTATIONS: POOR WORK, RETARDATION, EXCLUSION
The three frequently appearing school notations considered in this chapter were not counted as either personality or conduct problems. Poor work in school and retardation in school showed only minor correlations with our three criteria of seriousness, but exclusion from school appeared to be of considerable import- ance with respect to conduct deviation.
Poor work in school was noted among 632 cases, or 29.9 P®r cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 319 cases, or 27.0 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls. With the personality-total its bi-serial correlations of .21 + .02 and .18 4- .03 among boys and girls re- spectively indicate a palpable relationship (Table 112). Its bi- serial correlations with the conduct- total among both sexes and its
TABLE 112 CORRELATIONS WITH "POOR WORK IN SCHOOLr
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.21 + .02 |
.18 t '03 |
|
GOndllCt-tOtl^l TTT»»TTtttt...»»TTT..»,»T..rr..»1- |
.11 ± .02 |
.08 + .03 |
|
Police arrest |
-.04 t -0? |
-.26 + .ok |
|
Larger Corre |
>lations (Positive) |
|
|
Lack of 1rrt<?'r^B't', In school . . . . r ............... |
.32 t «°3 |
.14.3 + .Ok (1)* |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.32 + .03 |
.38 ± .Ok (2) |
|
Lazy f |
.30 ± .03 |
.21 4- .05 (14-16) |
|
.29 t *0^ |
.22 + .05 (12-13) |
|
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
.29 f .02 |
.21 t .03 (14-16) |
|
Distraotlble |
.28 t -03 |
.34 t -04 (3-4) |
|
Absent -minded. . . , .....*.. |
.27 ± .ok |
.21 t -05 (14-16) |
Rank order of girls' correlations.
525
526
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 112— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Slow, dull |
.26 + .03 |
.11 |
|
Inattentive In school |
.2k ± .03 |
.26 ± .05 (6) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
.23 t «03 |
•32 ± .05 (5) |
|
Lack of Initiative |
.23 + .o4 |
.22 t .05 (12-13) |
|
Listless |
.21 t .03 |
.24 + .05 (7) |
|
Preference for younger children |
.21 + .03 |
.23 t -05 (8-11) |
|
Question of hypophrenia |
* -^ .20 t .06 |
.23 ± .03 (8-11) |
|
Irregular attendance at school |
.20-1- .03 |
.03 |
|
Staying out late at night |
• 0? |
.34 + .Ok (3-4) |
|
Exclusion from school |
.0? |
.23 ± .05 (8-11) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.17 |
.23 + .05 (8-11) |
|
Unpopular |
.19 |
.20 ± .06 (17) |
|
Larger Corrc |
»lations (Negative) |
|
|
InmorftJi bcme pojidl tlonB ....................... |
-.12 |
-.26 + .ok |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Irresponsible, .19 and .09; Object of teasir^g, .19 and .Ik; Daydreaming, .18 and .06; Teasing other children, .17 (boys); Overinterest in opposite sex, .17 (girls); Seclusive, .16 and .19; Spoiled child, .16 and .10; Refusal to at- tend school, .Ik and .16; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .Ik (boys); Unhappy, .Ik and .09; Follower, .Ik and .13; Over suggestible, .13 and .06; Attractive manner, .13 and .08; Speech defect, .13 and .12; Boastful, "show-off," .12 and .Ik; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .12 and .11; Grouped: dis- obedient, etc., .12 and .07; Fantastical lying, .11 and .11; Loitering, .11 and .08; Rude, .11 and .09; Bashful, .11 and .06; Listless, .11 and .Ik; Mental con- flict, .11 and .06; Conduct prognosis bad, .11 and .01; Crying spells, .10 and .08; Disobedient, .10 and .16; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .10 and .Ok; Con- trary, .09 and .01; Question of change of personality, .09 and .06; Irritable, .09 and .06; Sensitive (general), .09 and .09; Vocational guidance, .09 and .11; Leading others into bad conduct, .08 and .10; Quarrelsome, .08 and .05; Slov- enly, .08 and .12; Sullen, .08 and .02; Headaches, ,08 and .13; Apprehensive, .07 and .12; Sensitive over specific fact, .07 and ,07; Worry over specific fact, .07 and -.03; Sex denied entirely, .07 and .01; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., .07 and .10; Grouped: depressed, etc., .07 and .08; Fighting, .06 and .06; Incorrigible, .06 and .08; Temper display, .06 and -.Ok; Queer, .06 and .08; Selfish, .05 and -.02; Smoking, .05 (boys); Truancy from school, .05 and .06; Excuse-forming, .05 and .16; "Nervous," .05 and .Ik; Restless in sleep, .05 and .02; Grouped: fighting, etc., .05 and -.01; Victim of sex abuse, .05 (girls); Finicky food habits, .Ok and -.02; Itflng, .Ok and .Ok; Gang, ,6k (boys); Irregular sleep habits, .Ok and .Ok; Clean, .Ok and -.06; Fanner con- vulsions, .Ok and -.01; Bad companions, .Ok and -.10; Underweight, .04 and .01; Changeable moods, .03 and .04; Depressed, .03 and .05; Bossy, .02 and .05; Sulky, .02 and .12; Swearing (general), .02 (boys); Threatening violence, .02 (boys); Repressed, .02 and .09; Popular, .02 and -.01; Question of encephalitis, .02 and -.07; Vicious home conditions, .02 and -.03; Destructive, .01 and .00; Stubborn, .01 and -.06; Violence, ,01 and .01; Masturbation, .01 and -.09; Brother in penal detention, .01 and -.08; Discord between parents, .01 and -.11; Grouped: temper, etc., .01 and .04; Grouped: swearing, etc., .00 and .03;
SCHOOL NOTATIONS: POOR WORK, RETARDATION, EXCLUSION 527 TABLE 112— Continued
Truancy from hone, -.00 and -.09; Defiant, -.00 and -.01; Enuresis, -.01 and -.13; Stealing, -.01 and -.05; fiaotlonal Instability, -.01 and -.02; Retarda- tion In school, -.01 and .06; Leader, -.01 and -.00; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.01 and .02; Nail-biting, -.02 and -.10; Neurological defect, -.0? and .06; Overinterest in sex matters, -.05 and .04; Egocentric, -.06 and .04; Lues, -.06 and .13; Feeble-minded sibling, -.01 and .04; Temper tantrums, -.08 and .05; Psychoneurotic, -.08 and -.01; Stuttering, -.08 (boys); Sex delinquency (coitus), -.11 and -.19
tetrachoric r vith police arrest among boys were low or negligible, ranging from -.04 and ,11, but among girls it showed a curious neg- ative correlation, -.26 4- .04, with police arrest.
Its highest correlations were with lack of interest in school, with respective coefficients of .52 + .03 and .42 + .04 among boys and girls . With two behavior problems it yielded sub- stantial correlations in the ,30's for girls and moderate coeffi- cients in the .20fs for boys: dis tract ibility and disturbing in- fluence in s chool . Staying out late at night yielded divergent coefficients of .07 and .34 + .04.
Nine miscellaneous behavior notations showed moderate cor- relations ranging from .20 to .30 for both sexes: inattentiveness in s chool , inefficiency in work, play, etc. , listlessness, lack of initiative, laziness, absent-mindedness , dull or slow manner (in- cluding 11 sties s ness and lack of initiative, undifferentiated), question of hypophrenla, and preference for younger children as playmates . Irregular attendance at school among boys showed the moderate correlation of .20 + .03 but the negligible coefficient of .03 among girls. Three miscellaneous notations among girls showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coeffi- cients below .20 among boys: exclusion from school, inferiority feelings, and unpopularity .
The only significant negative correlation with poor work in school was with immoral home conditions among girls, -.26 + .04.
Among the six sex notations and the seven physical or pay- chophysical disabilities all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.19 to .17.
Among the four home or familial notations the only signifi- cant negative correlation was with immoral home conditions among girls, -.26 + .04, as noted above.
528
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Retardation In school (which presumably will amount to tvo years or more at the age of 16) was found among 878, or 41.6 per cent, of our White boys and among 474, or 40.1 per cent, of our White girls and was one of the most frequent case-record notations in our data. Its negligible relationship with poor work in school, the tetrachoric correlations being only -.01 and .06, is curious and unexpected. It appears from our data to be of almost negli- gible Importance as an indicator of personality or conduct devia- tion, the correlations with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominous ness" ranging from -.14 to .13 (Table 113).
TABLE 113 CORRELATIONS WITH "RETARDATION IN SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
-.12 ± -02 -.08 ± .02 |
.13 ± .02 -.14 t .02 -.05 t .04 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Question of hypophrenla |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
•55 ± .02 .25 ± .04 .24 ± .03 .17 .17 .18 -.04 |
.48 t .03 (D* .34 4 .04 (2) •30 t -03 (3) .24 t .03 (4) .23 + .04 5) .22 t .05 6) .21 t .05 7) |
|
|
•pe^b"} «-TTi1 nflfld fflhllng. ......... t .............. |
||
|
Slow, dull |
||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc ........*...«....*.». |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.36 ± .04 |
-.34± .05 -.32 + .04 -.16 " -.26 ± .05 -.15 -.21 t -05 -.36± .05 , -.32 t -04 -.28 ± .04 -.28 ± .03 -.26 t .06 -.26 -i- .04 -.24 t .04 |
|
|
Vocational guidance . * . . ^ . . |
-.31 t .03 -.26 ± .03 -.215 ± .04 -.24 t .03 |
|
|
Attractive manner Psychoneurotlc Clean |
||
|
Mental conflict |
-.09 -.12 - 14 |
|
|
Leader |
||
|
-.17 |
||
|
Depressed |
-.14 |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
-.14 |
|
Rank order of girls' correlations.
SCHOOL NOTATIONS: POOR WORK, RETARDATION, EXCLUSION 529 TABLE 113— Continued
|
Boys |
Oirls |
|
|
Spoiled child |
..14 |
-.24 + .04 |
|
.07 |
-.24 t -05 |
|
|
Grouped: depressed,, etc |
-.14 |
-.22 ± .04 |
|
-.17 |
-.21 t »04 |
|
|
Inferiority feelings * |
-.11 |
-.21 + .05 |
|
Lazy |
-.19 |
-.20 + .05 |
|
-.15 |
-.20 t «05 |
|
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Over suggestible, .16 and .04; Lues, .12 and .11; Truancy from school, .10 and -.08; Underweight, .09 and .16; Follower, .09 and .01; Violence, .08 and -.02; Speech defect, .08 and .12; Brother in penal detention, .07 and .09; Leading others into bad conduct, .07 and .08; Former convulsions, .05 and -.00; Distractlble, .05 and .14; Threatening violence, .05 (boys); Swearing (general), .05 (boys); Slovenly, .05 and -.01; Disturbing influence in school, .05 and -.02; Disobedient, .04 and -.06; Incorrigible, .04 and -.01; Temper display, .04 and -.04; Apprehensive, .04 and -.04; Conduct prognosis bad, .04 and .06; Sullen, .02 and -.02; Exclusion from school, .02 and .05; Headaches, .02 and -.07; Ob- ject of teasing, .01 and .05; Sulky, .01 and .03; Staying out late at night, .01 and -.09; Fighting, .01 and -.05; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .00 (boys); Enuresis, -.00 and .04; Destructive, -.01 and -.05; Steal- ing, -.01 and -.04; Crying spells, -.01 and -.09; Poor work in school, -.01 and .06; Question of encephalitis, -.01 and .09; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.02 and -.07; Stuttering, -.02 (boys); Listless, -.02 and -.01; Gang, -.02 (boys); Re- fusal to attend school, -.03 and -.09; Truancy from home, -.03 and -.05; Over- interest in sex matters, -.03 and -.15; Grouped: temper, etc., -.03 and -.05; Grouped: swearing, etc., -.03 and .06; Restless in Bleep, -.04 and -.11; Nail- biting, -.04 and -.05; Bashful, -.05 and -.05; Excuse -forming, -.05 and -.10; Neurological defect, -.05 and -.06; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.05 and -.03; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., -.05 and -.07; Overinterest in op- posite sex, -.05 (girls); Seclusive, -.06 and -.07; Lack of initiative, -.06 and -.06; Temper tantrums, -.06 and -.03; Lack of interest in school, -.06 and -X)4; Inefficient in work, play, etc., -.07 and -.02; "Nervous," -.07 and -.14; Restless, -.08 and -.02; Queer, -.08 and -.18; Quarrelsome, -.08 and -.09; I$r- ing, -.08 and -.11; Loitering, -.08 and .03; Inattentive in school, -.08 and -.10; Fantastical lying, -.09 and -.10; Teasing other children, -.09 (boys); Smoking, -.09 (boys); Absent-minded, -.09 and .08; Sex denied entirely, -.09 and .03; Emotional instability, -.10 and -.17; Repressed, -.10 and -.13; Unpop- ular, -.10 and -.05; Rude, -.11 and -.11; Stubborn, -.11 and -.06; Sex delin- quency (coitus), -.11 and -.02; Irritable, -.11 and -.11; Unhappy, -.11 and -.12; Grouped: "nervous," etc., -.11 and -.15; Sensitive (general), -.12 and -.14; Irregular sleep habits, -.12 and -.14; Victim of sex abuse, -.12 (girls); Contrary, -.13 and -.13; Selfish, -.13 and -.18; Changeable mooda, -.13 and -.13; Immoral home conditions, -.13 and .11; Discord between parents, -.13 and -.05; Masturbation, -.14 and -.15; Finicky food habits, -.14 and -.11; Question of change of personality, -.15 and -.10; Boastful, "show-off," -.17 and -.08; Bossy, -.17 and -.08; Defiant, -.17 and -.17; Popular, -.18 and -.12
530 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Its largest correlations were with question of hypophrenia, the respective coefficients for boys and girls being .55 + .02 and .48 + .03. Positive correlations of substantial size in the ,30's were f ound among girls for slow or dull manner and feeble-minded sibling, the corresponding coefficients for boys being of moderate size in the ,20's. Three additional notations showed moderate pos- itive correlations in the .20fs among girls but low coefficients below .20 among boys: irregular attendance at school, preference for younger children as playmates , and vicious home conditions.
Retardation in school showed a relatively large number of negative correlations of statistically significant magnitude. Worry vover some specific fact and "request for vocational guidance yielded substantial negative correlations in the -.30fs among both sexes. Mental conflict and "leader" among girls yielded substan- tial negative correlations in the -.30's but low negative coeffi- cients less than -.20 among boys.
Psychoneurotlc trends and daydreaming showed moderate neg- ative correlations in the -.20fs among both sexes. The two "de- sirable" traits, attractive manner and clean habits , showed moder- ate negative correlations in the -,20's among boys but low coeffi- cients less than -.20 among girls. Ten notations, chiefly person- ality problems, among girls showed negative correlations in the -,20's but low negative or negligible coefficients less than 4- .20 among boys: egooentriclty, "spoiled child, " hatred or jealousy of sibling, laziness, irresponsibility, inferiority feelings, depressed mood or spells, sensitiveness or worrlsomeness (undifferentiated), sensitiveness over some specific fact, and bad companions. It is curious that laziness shows negative correlations of -,19 and -.20 + .05 with retardation in school, in view of the fact that it was correlated positively~to a statistically significant degree with poor work in school, as noted above, those correlations being .JO + ,03 and .21 + .05 among boys and girls respectively.
Among the six sex notations and among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities all correlations with retardation in school were low or negligible, ranging from -.15 to .16.
Among the four home or familial notations, the only corre- lation of significant size was the moderate positive one of .21 + .05 with vicious home conditions among girls.
SCHOOL NOTATIONS: POOR WORK, RETARDATION, EXCLUSION 531
Exclusion, expulsion, or suspension from school vas noted among 204, or 9.7 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 71* or 6.0 per cent, of our 1,181 White girls. In contrast with the two school notations previously discussed in this chapter, exclu- sion from school appears to be of definite clinical significance as an indicator of conduct deviation, its bi- serial correlations with the conduct -total being .49 + .02 and .56 + .03 for boys and girls respectively (Table 114). Among boys its correlations with
TABLE 114 CORRELATIONS WITH "EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|||
|
Personality-total |
.32 + |
.02 |
.16 4- |
.04 |
|
Conduct -total |
.49 + |
.02 |
.56 + |
.03 |
|
Police arrest |
.33 + |
.03 |
.22 4- |
.06 |
|
Larger |
Corre |
jlatione |
(Positive) |
|
|
Disturbing influence In school |
.51 4- |
.03 |
.51 4- |
.03 (1)* |
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
.37 + |
.03 |
.37 + |
.04 (14-17) |
|
Violence |
.56 4- |
.04 |
•-/I X .49 4- |
.06 (2) |
|
Destructive |
• j\J -r .34 + |
.04 |
•77 x .40 + |
.07 (7) |
|
Hude |
.34 + |
.04 |
.31 4^ |
.06 (25-26) |
|
Grouped: fighting, etc. |
• -/•* x .34 -I- |
.03 |
.38 ± |
.05 (11-13) |
|
Incorrigible |
.32 + |
.03 |
.39 + |
.05 (8-10) |
|
Leading fvthore livt^ bad conduct- , .............. |
.31 + |
.05 |
.47 4- |
.07 (4) |
|
Defiant |
.30 4- |
.04 |
.21 4- |
.07 (46) |
|
Conduct prognosis bad |
.30 + |
06 |
.35 4- |
.08 (20-22) |
|
Swearing (goneral) ......*............. |
.29 4- |
.05 |
||
|
grouped j 8«ea'»p*"l'i"»g, «"•"•<? T T T T » T - , *,?,,.*, *,*..*. |
.29 + |
04 |
.39 ± |
.06 (8-10) |
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
.28 i- |
,04 |
.16 |
|
|
Disobedient |
.28 4- |
.03 |
.36 4- |
.05 (18-19) |
|
.28 + |
.04 |
.44 4- |
.03 (5) |
|
|
Contrary. ..................................... |
.27 4- |
.05 |
.13 |
|
|
Stealing |
.27 -f |
.03 |
.37 ± |
.05 (14-17) |
|
Qv*vrr«l BOOM . .................................. |
.26 + |
04 |
.29 ± |
.06 (28-30) |
|
Tfropw tffflt/ruinfl |
.26 4- |
,04 |
.37 4- |
.06 (14-17) |
|
Truancy from hom^ ............................. |
•*"" A .26 + |
.03 |
.25 4- |
.06 (36-38) |
|
Overinterest in sex natters |
.26 ± |
.05 |
.25 ± |
.07 (36-38) |
|
Teasing other children Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
-25 ± .25 + |
.04 .05 |
||
|
I/yinx*, |
.24 + |
.03 |
.42 ± |
.05 (6) |
|
Threatening violence Question of encephalitis |
.24 t .2** + |
.05 06 |
".48't" |
'.08* (3) |
|
Sttl leu ........... ....... ... ... .......... |
.22 4- |
,04 |
.27 t |
.07 (32-33) |
Bank order of girls1 correlations.
532
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABDG 114— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
.22 ± .22 ± • 21 ± .21 ± .20 ± .20 + .20 t .20 + .20 + .18 " .04 .15 .03 .15 .03 .17 |
• 03 .03 .05 .03 .03 .04 .03 .04 .05 |
.20 ± .05 (47-50) .31 ± .06 (25-26) .03 .22 + .06 (43-45) .25 ± .07 (36-38) .18 .29 ± .06 (28-30) .16 .38 ± .07 (11-13) .39 + .05 (8-10) .38 i .07 (11-13) .37 ± .08 (14-17) .36 + .06 (18-19) .35 + .05 (20-22) .35 ± .08 (20-22) .34 ± .07 (23) .33 ± .06 (24) .30 t -06 (27) .29 + .06 (28-30) .28 + .07 (3D .27 ± .05 (32-33) .26 ± .09 (34-35) .26 ± .05 (34-35) .24 + .06 (39) .23 ± .05 (40-42) .23-1- .07 (40-42) .23 + .07 (40-42) .22 + -07 (43-45) .22 t .08 (43-45) .20 ± .07 (47-50) .20 ± .07 (47-50) .20 ± .07 (47-50) |
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
|||
|
Refusal to attend school |
|||
|
Truancy from school |
|||
|
Inattentive in school |
|||
|
Loitering |
|||
|
Masturbation |
|||
|
Emotional instability ' |
|||
|
Restless |
|||
|
Question of change of personality |
|||
|
Unpopular . ....... T .... , ....................... |
|||
|
Dlstractible |
|||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
|||
|
Mental conflict |
|||
|
Object of teasing |
|||
|
Over interest in opposite sex |
|||
|
Neurological defect |
.08 • 07 .18 .10 -.12 .15 .08 .07 .18 .07 .01 .00 .17 .05 .03 |
||
|
Changeable moods |
|||
|
Queer |
|||
|
Stubborn |
|||
|
Worry over specific fact |
|||
|
Question of hypophrenla |
|||
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Poor work in school |
|||
|
Lack of interest in school. |
|||
|
Bossy. |
|||
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
|||
|
Fantastical lying |
|||
|
Preference for younger children |
|||
|
Larger |
Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
Bashful |
-.20± |
.04 |
-.13 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Victim of eex abuse, .19 (girls); Egocentric, .18 and .13; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .18 and .09; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .17 and .04; Enu- reais, .16 and .17; Staying out late at night, .16 and .08; Nail-biting, .15 and .18; Stacking, .15 (boys); Overeuggestible, .15 and .14; Bad companions, .14 and .02; Irresponsible, .14 and .16; Gang, .13 (boys); Former convulsions, .11 and .10; Sulky, .10 and .19; Tamper display, .10 and .03; Irritable, .10 and .04; Inferiority feelings, .10 and .08; Popular, .09 and .03; Slovenly, .08 and .13; Daydreaming, .08 and .17; Irregular attendance at school, .08 and .08; Speech defect, .08 and -.04; Lazy, .07 and .13; Sex delinquency (coitus), .07 and .16; Depressed, .07 and .10; Restless in sleep, .07 and .16; Leader, .07 and -.11; Clean, .06 and -.01; Underweight, .06 and .14; Irregular sleep habits, .05 and .12; Brother in penal detention, .05 and -.06; Crying spells, .04 and
SCHOOL NOTATIONS: POOR WORK, RETARDATION, EXCLUSION 535 TABIE 114 —Continued
.15; Grouped: depressed, etc., .04 and .11; Spoiled child, .03 and .09; Pay- choneurotic, .02 and .12; Retardation in school, .02 and .05; Follower, .02 and .04; Discord between parents, .02 and -.02; Selfish, .01 and .08; Apprehensive, .01 and .05; Finicky food habits, .00 and .14; Ticious home conditions, .00 and .10; Seclusive, -.00 and .15; Sensitive over specific fact, -.01 and .11; At- tractive manner, -.01 and .09; Vocational guidance, -.01 and -.13; Listless, -.02 and .05; Sensitive (general), -.04 and .02; Lues, -.04 and .09; Grouped: sensitive or worrisome, etc., -.06 and .13; Repressed, -.0? and .03; Slow, d"*n -.08 and -.06; Unhappy, -.08 and .08; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., -.09 and .01; Immoral home conditions, -.10 and .12; Sex denied entirely, -.11 and -.08; Lack of initiative, -.16 and .07; Stuttering, -.16 (boys); Feeble-minded sibling, -.17 and -.06
personality- total and police arrest may be considered as substan- tial, the respective coefficients being .32 + .02 and .33 + .03. Among girls the corresponding correlations, .16 + .04 and .22 + .06, were less meaningful. The children in our study comprising •the group falling under the rubric exclusion from school are not of homogeneous character. While the principal cause for this ex- clusion among our cases appeared to be for reasons of conduct dis- turbing to school routine, in many cases exclusion was due to an inability to learn and in some instances because of some physical disability rendering the child unable to be adequately cared for in the public schools.
Its highest correlations were with disturbing influence in school, the coefficient being .51 + .03 for both boys and girls. Three conduct problems among girls yielded large correlations in the .40' s and moderate coefficients in the ,30's among boys: vio- lence, destructiveness , and leading others into bad conduct. Amon girls an additional three notations similarly yielded large corre- lations in the ,40's but only moderate coefficients in the .20's among boys : fighting, lying, and question or diagnosis of enoepha lltls.
Pour conduct notations yielded uniformly substantial cor- relations in the ,30fs: incorrlgibility, rudeness, staff notatiot of unfavorable conduct prognosis, and (calculated for girls only) overinterest in the opposite sex. Five conduct and personality problems yielded substantial correlations In the .30»s among girls and moderate coefficients in the '^O's among boys: disobedience, stealing, swearing or bad language (undlfferentlated), temper tan*" truma, and emotional Instability. Seven notations among girls
524 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
yielded substantial correlations In the .30 !s but low positive co- efficients below .20 among boys: restlessness, dlstraotibility, question of change of personality, mental conflict, object of teas- ing by other children, unpopularity, and neurological defect (un- specified).
Eight conduct problems showed moderate correlations ranging from .20 to .30 with exclusion from school among both sexes: de- fiant attitude, sullenneas, quarrelsomeness, truancy from school, truancy from home, inattentiveness in school, overinterest in sex matters, and masturbation. Pour behavior problems for which only the boys' correlations were computed also showed moderate correla- tions in the ,20's: swearing in general, teasing other children, complaining of bad treatment by other children, and threatening violence. Five undesirable behavior manifestations among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low positive coeffi- cients below .20 among girls: refusal to attend school, contrari- ness , loitering or wandering, boastful or "show-off" manner, and excuse- forming attitude. Among girls fourteen miscellaneous no- tations showed moderate correlations in the ,20fs but low coeffi- cients below .20 among boys: stubbornness, changeable moods or attitudes, queer behavior, "nervousness, " question of hypophrenia, lack of Interest in school, poor work In school, Inefficiency in work, play, etc. , absent-mindedness , worry over some specific fact, bossy manner, fantastical lying, preference for younger children as playmates, and headaches.
Only one notation, bashfulness, showed a negative correla- tion of moderate size with exclusion from school, -.20 + .04 among boys .
Among the six sex notations overinterest In the opposite sex, for which only the" girls1 correlation was computed, showed the substantial correlation of .33 + .06. Overinterest In sex matters and masturbation showed moderate correlations in the .20fs among both sexes.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical notations ques- tion or diagnosis of encephalitis yielded the fairly large corre- lation of .48 + .08 among girls and a corresponding moderate coef- ficient of .24 + .06 among boys. Neurological defect (unspecified) among girls yielded the fairly substantial correlation of .30 + .06.
Among the four home or familial notations all correlations were low or negligible, ranging from -.10 to .12.
CHAPTER LVII
ATTRACTIVE MANNER
Attractive manner was one of the four "desirable" behavior traits which were noted with sufficient frequency in our case-rec- ord material to justify correlational treatment. The other three "desirable41 behavior notations, It will be recalled, were popular- ity (Table 28), clean habits (Table 90), and "leader" (Table 107). Attractive manner was noted among 307 of our 2,115 White boys, or 14. 5 per cent, and among 165 of our I,l8l White girls, or 14.0 per cent. Its correlations with our three criteria of seriousness were low or negligible, ranging from -.08 to .16 (Table 115).
TABLE 115 CORRELATIONS WITH "ATTRACTIVE MANNER*1
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.16 t -02 |
.05 + .03 |
|
Conduct -total |
.12 + .02 |
.08 + .03 |
|
Pol Ice anv?B"t ................................. |
.05 + .03 |
-.08 + .05 |
|
Larger Corrc |
Nations (Positive) |
|
|
.36 + .04 |
.36 -I- .05 (1)* |
|
|
Clean |
.32 t '03 |
.30 ± .04 (2) |
|
Vicious home conditions |
.27 + .05 |
.21 + .06 (5) |
|
Underweight Grouped? P«m9"i"fc1v** OT voTTlflnmaj «"fcnr T T T T , t . . |
.26 ± .03 .25 t -03 |
-.01 " • 17 |
|
Sex denied entirely |
.25 + .05 |
.13 |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.25 + .05 |
.20 4- .07 (6-8) |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
.23 t -05 |
.10 |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.23 + .03 |
.15 |
|
Spoiled child |
.23 + .04 |
.20 + .05 (6-8) |
|
Former convulsions |
.22 t .04 |
.02 |
|
Headaches |
.22 -i- .04 |
.07 |
|
Sensitive (general) , |
.22 ± .04 |
.19 |
|
Leader |
.21 t -04 |
.23 ± .06 (4) |
|
Absent -minded. |
.20 ± .04 |
-.00 |
Bank order of girls' correlations.
535
536
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 115— Continued
|
Boys |
Qlrle |
|
|
Irregular attendance at school |
.01 |
.26 + .05 (3) |
|
Davdreflmlnff. .................................. |
.17 |
.20 f .05 (6-8) |
|
Larger Corr< |
Nations (Negative) |
|
|
- 16 |
||
|
Listless |
06 |
- 34 + 0*5 |
|
UxiDODular. |
.02 |
-.23 ± .06 |
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Boastful, "show-off," .19 and .09; Lazy, .19 and .05; Discord between parents, .19 and .14; Vocational guidance, .17 and .18; Fantastical lying, .16 and .12; Bossy, .15 and .06; Depressed, .15 and .05; Unhappy, .15 and .02; Grouped: depressed, etc., .Ik and .07; Question of encephalitis, .14 and .09; Question of change of personality, *l4 and .06; Inattentive in school, .14 and .02; Bad companions, .13 and -.01; Contrary, .13 and .04; Irregular sleep habits, .13 and .07; Poor work in school, .13 and .08; Inferiority feelings, .12 and -.10; Masturbation, .12 and .05; Teasing other children, .12 (boys); Defiant, .11 and .07; Loitering, .11 and .01; Selfish, .11 and .02; Excuse-forming, .10 and ,05; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .10 and .06; Finicky food habits, .09 and .14; Leading others in bad conduct, .09 and -.09; Nail-biting, .09 and .06; Rude, .09 and .06; Smoking, .09 (boys); Stubborn, .09 and -.09; Sulky, .09 and .10; Apprehensive, .09 and -.02; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., .08 and .09; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .08 (boys); Men- tal conflict, ,08 and -.01; Lack of initiative, .08 and .04; Overinterest in sex matters, .08 and .19; Slovenly, .08 and -.04; Irresponsible, .08 and .12; Disturbing Influence In school, .08 and -.02; Disobedient, .07 and .04; Lying, .07 and .13; Distractlble, .07 and .08; Queer, .07 and -.05; Neurological de- fect, .07 and -.03; Restless in sleep, .06 and .03; Restless, .06 and .05; Cry- Ing spells, .06 and ,10; Destructive, .05 and -'.06; Grouped: disobedient, etc., .05 and -.05; Victim of sex abuse, .05 (girls); Grouped: swearing, etc., .04 and .09; Immoral home conditions, .04 and .15; Changeable moods, .04 and .02; Repressed, .04 and .03; Incorrigible, .04 and -.04; "Nervous," .03 and .07; Grouped: egocentric, etc., .02 and -.02; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .02 and -.11; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .02 and .08; Brother in penal detention, .02 and .06; Speech defect, ,02-and .06; Seclusive, .02 and -.09; Bashful, .02 and .10; Truancy from school, .02 and .12; Swearing (general), .02 (boys); Staying out late at night, .02 and .02; Refusal to attend school, .02 and -.11; Lack of interest in school, .02 and .15; Temper display, .01 and .02; Threatening vio- lence, .01 (boys); Truancy from home, .01 and -.08; Stealing, .00 and -.01; Ob- ject of teasing, -.00 and .08; Exclusion from school, -.01 and .09; Quarrelsome, -.01 and -.08; Enuresis, -.01 and -.02; Sullen, -.01 and -.06; Slow, dull, -.02 and -.11; Emotional Instability , -.02 and .10; Oversuggestible, -.03 and .06; Temper tantrums, -.03 and -.07; Gang, -.03 (boys); Overlnterest in opposite sex, -•°2 (fi$rle)» Irritable, -.04 and .02; Conduct prognosis bad, -.04 and -.10; Preference for younger children, -.04 and -.09; Question of hypophrenia, -~04 and -.18; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.04 and -.02; Grouped: temper, etc., -.06 and -.02; Fighting, -.07 and ,02j Violence, -.08 and .09; Egocentric, -.09 and -.01; Follower, -.10 and .01; Feeble-minded sibling, -.10 and -.06; Lues, -.12 and -.09; Psychoneurotic, -.12 and -.11; Stuttering, -.14 (boys); Sex delin- quency (coitus), -.14 and -.13
ATTRACTIVE MANNER 537
Its largest correlations (in the ,30fs) among both sexes were found for popularity and clean habits.
Moderate coefficients in the ,20fs among both sexes were found for four notations : "leader, " "spoiled child, " worry over some specific fact, and 'vicious home conditions. Eight notations among boys showed moderate correlations in the ,20's but low or negligible coefficients below .20 among girls: sensitiveness in general , sensitiveness over some specific fact, hatred or jealousy of sibling, absent-mindedness , sex misbehavior denied entirely, former convulsions, headaches, and underweight condition. Among girls daydreaming and irregular attendance at school showed moder- ate correlations in the .20' s but among boys low or negligible co- efficients below .20.
Attractive manner showed three negative correlations of statistically significant size. Listlessness among girls yielded the substantial negative correlation of -.34 + .05 but a negligible coefficient of .06 among boys. Retardation in school among boys and unpopularity among girls showed moderate negative correlations in the -.20's.
Attractive manner showed the moderate positive correlation of .25 + .05 with sex misbehavior denied entirely among boys. All other correlations with sex notations were low or negligible.
Among the seven physical or psychophysical disabilities the only correlation of significant size was with underweight con- dition among boys, .26 -f .03.
Among the four home or familial notations moderate positive correlations in the .20's were found found for vicious (not "Im- moral") home conditions among both sexes.
CHAPTER LVIII STUTTERING OR STAMMERING
In view of the widespread belief among speech pathologlsts that the psychologic components In stuttering or stammering are Im- portant, It seems feasible to allot a separate chapter to Its con- sideration. Although Its correlation with speech defect (other than stuttering) is substantial, .35 + .06, its bi-serial correla- tions with all other notations are generally dissimilar to those obtained for speech defect (Table 120, chap. lix). Since speech defect appears to be correlated only with notations suggestive of low intelligence or constitutional inadequacy, it has been rele- gated to a subsequent chapter in which physical (or possibly "psy- chophysical" ) notations are considered. Stuttering was noted among only 83 cases, or among 3-9 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys. (Within our smaller population of I,l8l White girls there were not sufficient cases to justify computing correlation coefficients.) As an indicator of personality or conduct deviation, stuttering appeared to be of little Importance, its correlations (ranging from -.05 to .10) with pers onality- 1 ota 1 , conduct- total, and po- lice arrest being low or negligible (Table 116).
Its largest correlation was with speech defect (other than stuttering), .35 + .06. Three notations — psychoneurotic trends, mental oonf Hot , and staff notation of unfavorable conduct prog- nosis— showed moderate correlations in the .20* s.
Stuttering showed moderate negative correlations in the -,20!s with six miscellaneous notations: bad companions, running with a gang, irregular attendance at school, leading others into bad conduct, brother in penal detention, and possibly with sex de- linquency ( coitus ) .
Among the four sex notations for which boys f correlations were calculated, all coefficients were negative and of negligible size except possibly the dubious negative coefficient of -.20 + .08 with sex delinquency ( coitus ) .
Among the six physical or psychophysical notations for
528
STUTTERING OR STAMMERING 539
TABLE 116
CORRELATIONS WITH "STUTTERING" (Boys Only)
Personality-total 10 ± .03
Conduct -total . . ' -.05 t .03
Police arrest 09 ± .05
Larger Correlations (Positive)
Speech defect 35 + .06
Psychoneurotic 29 t -07
Conduct prognosis bad 28 4- .07
Mental conflict 22 + .07
Larger Correlations (Negative)
Bad companions -.27 ± .05
Gang -.2k ± .05
Irregular attendance at school -.24 ± .06
Leading others into bad conduct -.20 ± .06
Sex delinquency (coitus) -.20 + .08
Brother in penal detention -.20 + .06
Not Calculable
Vicious home conditions (n.c.)
Other Correlations (Positive to Negative)
Lack of Initiative, .17; Inefficient in work, play, etc., .16; Object of teasing, .16; Inferiority feelings, .16; Listless, .13; Unpopular, .13; Grouped: sensitive or wor- risome, etc., .12; Sensitive (general), .12; Restless in sleep, .12; "Nervous," .12; Crying spells, .11; Complaining of bad treatment by other children, .11; Former convulsions, .11; Headaches, .10; Emotional instability, .10; Sensitive over specific fact, .10; Queer, .10; Threatening violence, .10; Popular, .09; Grouped: "nervous," etc., .08; Distract!- ble, .08; Selfish, .08; Boasy, .08; Absent-minded, .07; Lues, .07; Irregular sleep habits, .06; Bashful, .06; Lazy, .06; Fantastical lying, .06; Finicky food habits, .05; Oversug- gestible, .05; Preference for younger children, .05; Spoiled child, .Ok} Smoking, .04; Slovenly, .Ok; Teasing other chil- dren, .03; Fulky, .03; Violence, .03; Apprehensive, .03; Ir- ritable, .03; Repressed, .03; Question of hypophrenia, .02; Slow, dull, .02; Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, .02; Refusal to attend school, .02; Irresponsible, .02; Disobedient, .02; Nail-biting, .01; Staying out late at night, .01; Daydream- ing, .01; Depressed, .01; Grouped: dull, slow, etc., .01; Grouped: depressed, etc., .01; Grouped: swearing, etc., .00; Follower, .00; Immoral home conditions, -.00; Feeble- minded sibling, -.01; Boastful, "show-off," -.02; Temper dis- play, -.02; Retardation in school, -.02; Neurological defect, -.02; Grouped: egocentric, etc., -.02; Secluslve, -.03; Loitering, -.03; Enures ie, -.03; Sullen, -.04; Restless, -.04; Clean, -.04; Underweight, -.04; Vocational guidance,
540 CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 116— Continued
-.0^; Grouped: disobedient, etc., -.0^; Grouped: fighting, etc., -.05; Unhappy, -.05; Question of change of personality, -.05; Changeable moods, -.05; Temper tantrums, -.05; Fight- ing, - 05; Inattentive In school, -.06; Lying, -.06; Mastur- bation, -.06; Egocentric, -.06; Grouped: temper, etc., -.06; Question of encephalitis, -.07; Sex denied entirely, -.07; Excuse- forming, -.07; Swearing (general), -.07; Stubborn, -.07; Incorrigible, -.07; Defiant, -.08; Poor work In school, -.08; Leader, -.09; Truancy from home, -.09; Quarrelsome, -.09; Disturbing Influence in school, -.09; Destructive, -.10; Stealing, -.10; Truancy from school, -.10; Over Interest In sex matters, -.10; Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc., -.11; Contrary, -.11; Lack of Interest in school, -.12; At- tractive manner, -.li-; Discord between parents, -.1^; Worry over specific fact, -.15; Exclusion from school, -.16; Rude, -.19
which correlations with stuttering were calculated, speech defect yielded the substantial positive correlation of .35 + .06, all other correlations in this field being negligible, ranging from -.07 to .07.
Among the four home or familial notations brother in penal detention showed the moderate negative coefficient of -.20 + .06, all other correlations in this field being low or negligible.
CHAPTER LIX
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSICAL NOTATIONS
In this chapter and the succeeding one are presented four- teen abbreviated tables concerning miscellaneous physical, psycho- physical, home, familial, educational, and vocational notations which are not "behavior traits" such as were considered in Tables 6-116, inclusive. A fuller discussion of these fourteen tables would be appropriate in a separate study, in which emphasis could be placed upon causal analysis. In the present volume the inten- tion has been a study of intercorrelations among traits and a con- sideration of their relative Importance or "seriousness." In these fourteen tables all correlation coefficients less than + .20 (ex- cept those for personality-total , conduct- total, and police arrest ) have been omitted. These smaller coefficients may be found scat- tered among Tables 6-116, inclusive.
Among these fourteen tables, question or diagnosis of en- cephalitis is of especial Interest because of its concomitants in the personality and conduct fields. Because of the difficulty of making a definite diagnosis among our cases in which actual hos- pital records were so often lacking, we have employed the words "question of" in order to emphasize the lack of certainty in our consideration of its Intercorrelations with other traits. In about 38 per cent of our "encephalitis cases" a definite staff notation of encephalitis or "post-encephalitis" was made, while in the re- maining 62 per cent the diagnosis was only tentative or conjec- tural.1
It was noted among 70, or 3- 3 per cent, of our 2,113 White boys and among 37, or 3.1 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Its
A more detailed analysis of our cases of encephalitis is given in the article "The Behavior of Encephalitlo Children" by B. L. Jenkins and Luton Ackerson (American Journal of Qrthopsyohiatry, 3T [1934], 14-99-507) .
542 CHILDREN 'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
bi-serial correlations with personality- total were considerable, .41 + .03 among boys and .52 + .04 among girls. With conduct- total its correlation among girls was fairly substantial, .36 + .04, but only moderate among boys, .20 -f .04. With police arrest its corre- lations were practically zero.
Question or diagnosis of encephalitis showed very high cor- relations in the .60»s with question of change of personality among both sexes and large correlations in the ,40's with staff notation of emotional instability (Table 117). It showed meaningful corre- lations ranging from the ,20's to the ,40's for such "nervous"
TABLE 117* CORRELATIONS WITH "QUESTION OF MGEPHALITIS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality -total |
.41 ± .03 .20 t .04 •03 ± .05 |
.52 ± .04 .36 ± .04 .00 + .07 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Quf*iB"fci on of oh%ng« &f pore^nallt-y. ............ |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.65 ± .05 .46 ± .06 .35 ± .04 .31 ± .04 .30 + .10 .30 + .05 .30 ± .07 .29 + .07 .27 ± .06 .27 ± .05 .26 ± .05 .26 ± .05 .25 + .02 .24 t .06 .23 ± .07 .23 ± .05 .22 ± .07 .20 + .07 .20 t .07 .17 .04 .14 |
.66 ± .07 (l)f .48 ± .08 (2-4) .48 + .05 (2-4) .33 ± .06 (15-17) .29 ± .09 (24-27) .31 + .07 (19-22) .44 ; .09 (6-7) -.09 .03 .45 ± .06 (5) .32 ± .06 (18) .30 ± .08 (23) .31 ± .09 (19-22) .48 t -08 (2-4) |
|
|
Smotl r>rn3 1 notahl 11 ty ; , . . |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc. |
||
|
Grouped: temper, etc |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
iTTeguliur B! e«p )Msb1"kfl ........................ |
||
|
Cfwtrary. , |
||
|
Restless |
||
|
Crying spells |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Abfl*wvfc-m1,ii<J6d .... t ............................ |
||
|
Exclusion from school , |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children Grouped: fighting, etc |
||
|
.29 ± .06 (24-27) '!o8 -.03 .44 ± .07 (6-7) .40 ± .07 (8-9) .40 t .06 (8-9) |
||
|
Threatening violence Depressed. |
||
|
Inefficient in voric, play, etc |
||
|
Distractible. |
||
|
Tflffip w tantrums |
||
|
"Nervous11 |
||
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found in Tables 6-116. " order of girls' correlations.
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSICAL NOTATIONS TABLE 117—Contlnued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Changeable ra^odfl . ,...,...,,,,. T - T T T ., T - - , T - T T |
.09 |
•39 ± -07 (10-11) |
|
Grouped: swearing, etc '. |
.10 |
.39 ± .08 (10-11) |
|
Restless in sleep |
.15 |
.36 ± .07 (12) |
|
Finicky food habits |
.14 |
•35 ± .08 (13-14) |
|
.13 |
.35 ± .10 (13-14) |
|
|
Destructive |
.05 |
•33 ± .10 (15-17) |
|
Spoiled child |
.06 |
.33 t .08 (15-17) |
|
.18 |
.31 ± .08 (19-22) |
|
|
Incorrigible |
.10 |
.31 + .07 (19-22) |
|
Daydreaming, r . t , .... r r ,...,,... r . r T .. r , - r .. r . t |
-.02 |
.29 ± .08 (24-27) |
|
.15 |
.29 t .07 (24-27) |
|
|
Masturbation |
.18 |
.28 4- .07 (28) |
|
Fighting |
.09 |
.27 ± .04 (29-31) |
|
-.10 |
.27 + .06 (29-31) |
|
|
Violence |
.1? |
.27 t .09 (29-31) |
|
Stealing |
.08 |
.26 + .06 (32) |
|
Defiant |
.15 |
.25 t .08 (33-34) |
|
Loitering |
.12 |
.25 t .10 (33-34) |
|
.Ik |
.24 + .06 (35-37) |
|
|
Rude |
-.02 |
.24 t .07 (35-37) |
|
Truancy from home |
.02 |
.24 t .07 (35-37) |
|
Enures"! o .......................... t .....,..,,. |
.08 |
.22 t .07 (38-41) |
|
Unpopular |
.09 |
.22 + .10 (38-41) |
|
Worry over specific fact |
.02 |
.22 ± .11 (3d-4l) |
|
Egocentric |
-.11 |
.21 ± .08 (42-43) |
|
.02 |
.21 t .08 (42-43) |
|
|
Grouped: lack of interest in school, etc |
.03 |
.20 ± .07 (44-45) |
|
Boastful, " show-off" |
.02 |
.20 ± .09 (44-45) |
|
Larger Corre |
la t lone (Negative) |
|
|
Bossy. |
-.27 t .07 |
.22 * .09 (38-41) |
|
Bashful |
-.10 |
-.22 + .07 |
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus )........ |
-.06 |
-.21 + .07 |
|
Tenrner display. |
.Ik |
-.21 * .09 |
traits as "nervousness t " restlessness , Irritable temperament , tem- per tantrums or display (undifferentiated), crying spells, fight- ing, threatening violence , Irregular sleep habits, queer behavior, object of t easing by other children, complaining of bad treatment by other children, and absent-mindedness . Among girls a large ad- ditional list of personality and conduct problems showed meaning- ful correlations ranging from the ,20's to the .40!s but low and generally positive coefficients below .20 among boys: changeable moods, restlessness in sleep, distractibility, disturbing influence
544
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
in school , incorrigibility, loitering or wandering, staying out late at night, disobedience, violence, defiant attitude, rudeness, egooentrioity, boastful or "show-off" manner, unpopularity, de- struotiveness, swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated), "spoiled child, " finicky food habits, daydreaming, stealing, lying, truancy from home, enuresis, masturbation, and staff notation of unfavora- ble conduct prognosis.
The correlations for the heterogeneous category, neurologi- cal defect (other than formally diagnosed paralysis), drooping of one side of face, dragging one leg, tremors, jerking of limbs, tvitchlng, tic, blinking eye, ptosis, nystagmus, "mask expression, " dyadiadokokinesis, etc>, are presented in Table 118. Since this
TABIE 118* CORRELATIONS WITH "NEUROLOGICAL DEFECT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
||
|
Personality -total |
• 32 ± .07 ± -.06± |
.02 .03 .03 |
.39 ± .03 .12 ± .03 -.19 ± .05 |
|
Conduct-total |
|||
|
Police arrest |
|||
|
Question of change of personality. ............ |
|||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
|||
|
.36 ± •31 ± •29 ± .28± •25 t • 21 ± • 21 ± •20 ± .20 ± .15 .08 .18 .19 .11 • 09 .16 .12 |
.05 .04 !o4 .03 .05 .05 .04 .03 |
.42 + .06 (2)f .44 i .04 (1) .25 ± .06 (14-15) .32 ± .05 (6) .41 ± .04 (3) .19 .09 •33 ± .05 (5) .28 ± .04 (9) .36 ± .06 (4) .30 ± .06 (7) .29 t .05 (8) .27 ± .06 (10) .26 t .05 (n-13) .26 ± .06 (11-13) .26 ± .08 (11-13) .25 ± .05 (14-15) |
|
|
"Nervous" |
|||
|
Eraotl onnl 1 nstabl 11 ty |
|||
|
Pest less in sleep |
|||
|
Grouped: "nervous > " etc |
|||
|
Depressed |
|||
|
Best less. .......?....... |
|||
|
Irregular sleep habits, ......... r .......... , . . |
|||
|
Exclusion from flchool ......................... |
|||
|
Distraotible. |
|||
|
Object of teasing «... |
|||
|
Nail-biting |
|||
|
Violence « |
|||
|
Worry over specific fact |
|||
|
Irritable |
|||
Other coefficients smaller than ± .20 may be found in Tables 6-116. 'Hank order of girls' correlations.
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOPHY.SICAL NOTATIONS TABLE 118— Continued
|
Boys |
Girle |
|
|
.10 |
.24 f •&* (16-17) |
|
|
Selfish '. |
.0? |
.24 t «04 (16-17) |
|
Spoiled child |
.10 |
.23 4- ,06 (18-21) |
|
Sensitive over specific fact |
.10 |
.23-I- .05 (18-21) |
|
Psychoneurotic |
.10 |
.23 + .07 (18-21) |
|
Grouped; B^*Tii9l"t1ve or yo-pr-j pr-jr^, etc. » » t » T t . , |
.14 |
.23 ± .05 18-21) |
|
Inferiority feelings |
.06 |
.22 -f .07 22) |
|
Queer |
.16 |
.21 t -07 23-24) |
|
• 03 |
.21 + .05 (23-24) |
|
|
Finicky food habits * |
.05 |
.20 t «06 (25-27) |
|
Disturbing influence in school |
-.01 |
.20 t .06 (25-27) |
|
Listless |
.16 |
.20 + .06 (25-27) |
|
Larger Corr* |
jlations (Negative) |
|
|
Leader |
-.24 ± .05 |
.12 |
|
.01 |
-.21 t »°5 |
|
category is so heterogeneous, the correlation coefficients calcu- lated thereon are difficult of Interpretation. Their resemblance to those for question or diagnosis of encephalitis (Table 117) is probably due to the fact that the questioned cases of encephalitis form a substantial portion of those included under the rubric neu- rological defect (unspecified). Since only a very small fraction of our cases showed neurological defects, it was not feasible to obtain a more homogeneous grouping of cases.
The notation headaches or migraine appeared to be of mod- erate importance with respect to personality and conduct deviation but of negligible significance so far as police arrest or overt juvenile delinquency was concerned (Table 119). Headaches tended to be materially correlated with neurotic and "nervous" behavior traits. In our case-record material It was often difficult to as- certain whether the patient actually suffered physical pain when complaining of headaches or was merely making neurotic complaints.
Speech defect (other than muteness or stuttering), e.g., Infantile speech, lisping, mispronunciation, la 1 ling, rhinolalla . "scanning speech." etc., appeared to be of negligible Importance
546
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 119* CORRELATIONS WITH "HEADACHES"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.31 ± .03 .14 ± -03 ,04 |
.25 4- .04 .30 ± .03 -.07 ± .06 |
|
|
Larger Correlations (Posit lye) |
||
|
.42 f .04 .32 ± .05 .29 ± .05 .26 + .06 .24 + .06 .24 r .06 .23 + .04 .23 ± .05 .22 + .04 |
.28 4- .06 (8)t .24 + .07 (14-15) .27 ± .06 (9-10) .29 ± .07 (7) ,18 |
|
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Complaining of bad treatment by other children |
||
|
.26 4- .04 (11-12) .16 " .07 |
||
|
.21 4- .04 .20 + .04 .20 + .05 .0? " .01 .08 .11 -.04 .06 .08 .11 .17 .17 .Ik .19 .18 .16 -.02 .17 .19 .03 |
-.14 .12 .12 .36 ± .08 (1) .34 ± .08 (2) •33 ± .07 (3) .31 ± .06 (4) .30 ± .07 (5-6) .30 4- .06 (5-6) .27 ± .07 (9-10) .26 ± .07 (11-12) .25 ± .05 (13) .24 t -06 (14-15) .23 ± .05 (16-19) .23 ± .05 (16-19) .23 ± .05 (16-19) .23 ± .05 (16-19) .22 ± .07 (20) .21 ± .07 (21) .20 ± .07 (22-23) .20 ± .07 (22-23) |
|
|
Listless |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
SmOklng . . . r T . * r T , r r T - t - T T r |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.20 ± .05 |
||
*0ther coefficients smaller than t -20 may be found in Tables 6-116. "*Bank order of girls' correlations.
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOPHSTSICAL NOTATIONS
so far as our three criteria of seriousness are concerned (Table 120). Its substantial correlation of .35 + .06 with stuttering (calculated for boys only) in our data is questionable, since fre- quently it vas difficult to distinguish from the case record whether
TABLE 120* CORRELATIONS WITH "SPEECH DETECT r (OTBER
|
THAU STUiTKHlUG) |
||
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.18 ± .05 -.05 ± .05 - OQ |
.11 ± .Ok .00 t .0** -.08 ± .05 |
|
|
Conduct-total |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
•55 ± .06 |
||
|
.22 t .01* .22 t .05 .21 + .01* .21 ± .05 .21 + .05 .21 ± .03 '.11* .15 -.02 -.07 .01* |
.15 .15 .10 .01* .17 .11 .22 ± .01* .22 ± .05 .21 ± .06 .21 ± .01* .20 ± .07 .20 ± .07 |
|
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
Follower |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Slow, dull |
||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Fighting |
||
|
Disturbing influence in school. |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.22 ± .06 .09 .02 .05 -.13 -.14 -.11* .03 |
.06 -.35 ± .07 -.51 t .07 -.30 ± .08 -.27 ± .08 -.26 ± -05 -.26 ± .06 -.21 ± .07 |
|
|
Loitering. |
||
|
Bude |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than t «20 may be found in Tables
548
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
the speech difficulty was a true stuttering or not. It appeared to be characteristic of our younger children, its bi-serial corre- lations with chronological age among boys and girls respectively being -.25 + .03 and -.18 (Table 9, p. 128). It tended to show some moderate correlations with behavior traits associated with lower intelligence or "inadequate" personality.
Convulsions in the case-record material considered in the present volume usually refers to "convulsions in infancy" or "for- mer convulsions," and only seldom were they continuing at the time of the child's examination in the clinic. In only a few instances did they indicate a definite epilepsy. Former convulsions showed only low or negligible correlations with personality or conduct difficulties in our data (Table 121). Several correlations of mod- erate size ranging from .20 to .30 were found for various "nervous" behavior traits.
TABLE 121* CORRELATIONS WITH "FORMER CONTOU3IONS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.18 ± .03 .17 ± .03 .07 |
.11 ± .Ok .00 t .04 -.19 ± .06 |
|
Conduct- total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Restless in sleep |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.29 ± .Ok .22 ± .Ok .20 ± .06 .20 ± .Ok .20 ± .03 .06 .15 .01 .19 .05 .15 |
.26 ± .07 .02 .02 .10 .02 .30 ± ,07 .27 ± .08 .23 ± .09 .21 t .06 .21 t .08 .20 t .09 |
|
|
A'fc'tl'aC'tive ifiwnjiGTP, , t.Tr.TtTt.T,.T. fTT.fT. »„.,.- |
||
|
Conduct prognosis bad* |
||
|
Grouped i "temper, etc .................... r .... |
||
|
Finicky food habits , |
||
|
IrreguJ KP 03 eep hablte ........... r ..*.,?. T ,,,, |
||
|
"Nervous" |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. ................ |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found In Tables
MISCELLANEOUS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSICAL NOTATIONS TABUJ 121— Continued
|
Boys |
airle |
|
|
Overlntereevt in sej matters! . * 1 1 *,.,,,,* T ,,,.„, |
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|
|
.15 .16 |
-.21 ± .08 -.20 ± .Ok |
|
|
Preference for younger children • |
||
The children with syphilis or lues ( congenital or acquired ] or with positive Vaasermann ("2-plus" or more) in our data formed a heterogeneous group because in some instances it was due to a pre- natal or congenital Infection while in other cases, especially among girls, it was acquired through specific sex acts by the pa- tient For this reason its correlation coefficients as shown in Table 122 are difficult to interpret. Its correlations with our three criteria of seriousness were negligible. Its only signifi- cant positive correlations were among girls for traits tending to be associated with sex acts.
TABLE 122* CORRELATIONS WITH "LUES"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.06 + .6k .12 + .Ok .2k + .05 |
||
|
-.03 + .03 |
||
|
Police arrest • |
.00 + • & |
|
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus )..... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.(A .16 -.06 |
.23 t .05 .22 ± -05 .22 ± -07 .21 ± .05 .21 ± .06 .20 ± .07 .20 -I- .07 |
|
|
Object of teasing. |
||
|
Follower * |
.09 -.00 -.05 |
|
|
Disturbing Influence In school |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found in Tables
550
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 122— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Spoiled child |
Larger Correlations - (Negative) |
|
|
-.27 ± .05 -.26 ± .07 -.23 4- .06 |
-.05 -.19 .03 -.20 ± .07 |
|
|
Question of change of personality. |
.11 |
|
Underweight condition (10 per cent or more) or "poor physi- cal condition" (unspecified) appeared in our data to be of negli- gible clinical importance, only a few coefficients attaining mod- erate size in the ,20's (Table 123).
TABIE 123* CORRELATIONS WITH "UNDERWEIGHT"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.09 ± .02 -.04 t .02 -.12 ± .03 |
.11 ± .03 -.02 ± .03 -.22 + .Ok |
|
Conduct-total |
||
|
Attractive manner * ............................. |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.26 ± .03 .Ok -.12 -.12 .12 |
-.01 .25 + .Ok .23 4- .Ok .21 ± .06 .20 ± .06 |
|
|
Question of hypophrenla |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus) |
||
|
Sex denied entirely |
||
|
Threatening violence |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.20 ± -05 |
|
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found in Tables
CHAPTER LX
MISCELLANEOUS HOME, FAMILIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND VOCATIONAL NOTATIONS
In this chapter seven abbreviated tables are presented, concerning home, familial, educational, and vocational notations, together with a brief discussion of each. Minor correlations fall ing between -.19 and +.19 may be found scattered throughout Tables 6-116, Inclusive. The populations upon which these correlations were based are listed in Table 3, p. 55-
Vicious home conditions (exclusive of "immorality"), such as moonshining, bootlegging, gambling, begging, or planning bur- glaries or hold-ups within the home, showed only low positive cor- relations ranging from .06 to .18 with our three criteria of ser- iousness or "ominousness. " Among girls there were four positive correlations of substantial size ranging from .32 to .41 with low positive correlations below .20 among boys: staying out late at night, swearing or bad language (undlfferentiated), truancy from school, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex abuse by older child or person (Table 124). A few additional conduct and personality problems showed moderate correlations in the . 20's among both sexes.
Immoral home conditions (such as prostitution of parent, or sibling living in adultery in the home) among girls showed the moderate tetrachoric correlation of .30 + .05 with police arrest (Table 125). All other correlations with personality- total, con- duct-total, and police arrest were quite negligible. It showed moderate correlations among girls with sex delinquency (coitus), . 29 + .03, and among boys with overinterest in sex matters, .30 + .07, Among behavior notations of nonsexual nature there were a few moderate correlations in the .20!s.
The notation brother or half-brother in penal or correc- tional Institution or with police arrest among boys showed the
551
552
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
TABLE 12k* CORHELATIOBB WITH "VICIOUS HOME COBDITIOIIS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality- total. * |
•13 t -03 .12 ± .03 .18 ± .05 |
.06 ± .Ok .18 ± .04 .15 ± .06 |
|
CciMiJuct-totftl t ,....,.... * ..................... |
||
|
Polios arrest |
||
|
Vlctln, of sex abuse |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.33 ± .06 (3)f .13 .21 + .06 (9-11) -.17 " .28 ± .06 (5) -.20 ± .07 .41 ± .06 (1) .35 t -07 (2) .32 ± .06 (4) .25 ± .08 (6) .24 ± .05 (7) .22 ± .06 (8) .21 ± .06 (9-H) .21 ± .05 (9-11) |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits. |
.29 ± .06 .27 ± .05 .26 t .07 .26 ± .05 .21 ± .07 .11* .05 .18 .13 .17 .10 .18 -.04 |
|
|
Attractive manner. ............................ |
||
|
Worry over specific Tact |
||
|
Bad ccnpanj ons |
||
|
lEpno^l onal 1 nstabl 1 1 ty |
||
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
Grouped? sveiirlngj etc. ......... , ............ |
||
|
Truancy from school. ......... ^ ^ . ^ * , t * * ^ . ^ * * * |
||
|
Leading others Into bad conduct ............... |
||
|
Stealing |
||
|
Slovenly. |
||
|
Truancy from home ............. ^ . * ., * .**.*.. ^ * . |
||
|
Retardation In school ......................... |
||
|
Egocentric |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.08 -.03 -.05 .11 .05 .10 .18 .06 .07 .07 |
-.33 ± .05 -.29 ± .05 -.29 ± .07 -.27 t .08 -.27 ± .08 -.26 ± .08 -.25 * .08 -,24-t .06 -.21 + .07 -.20 t .09 |
|
|
Grouped: egocentric, etc |
||
|
POTXttlfUT ........................ » * m , x . ma |
||
|
Irresponsible ............. ...x** , |
||
|
Inferiority feelings |
||
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling |
||
|
Irritable |
||
|
Dlstractlble |
||
|
Sex denied entirely |
||
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found In Tables 6-116. "^Rank order of girls' correlations.
substantial tetrachoric correlation of .33 ^ .04 with police ar- rest (Table 126). All other correlations with our three criteria of seriousness or "ominous ness" were low or negligible. Among boys there were a few moderate positive correlations ranging from .20 to .32 with the overt conduct difficulties, stealing, truancy from school, truancy from homes bad companions, running with a
MISCELLANEOUS HOME, ETC., NOTATIONS
TABLE 125* CORRELATIONS WITH "IMM3RAL HOME CONDITIONS"
555
|
Boys |
Oirlo |
|
|
Personal Ity-tota] ............................. |
-.00 ± .03 .01 ± .03 -.00 t -Ofc |
-.03 ± .04 .10 ± .03 •30 ± .05 |
|
Conduct -"total |
||
|
Pol i ce arrest |
||
|
0'V<W"'lTYfce;r^pt, 1P 0^3C nMlttWS. .................. |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
•30 ± .07 .23 ± .06 .13 -.11 .05 |
.17 -.05 .29 ± .03 .23 ± .07 .20 + .06 |
|
|
Irresponsible ................ |
||
|
Sex delinquency ( coitus ).. |
||
|
Inefficient In vork, play, etc |
||
|
Truancy "Trent Bchool. |
||
|
Temper t-airfrnims ............................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.22 t .05 -.19 -.12 -.19 - 16 |
-.03 -.26 ± .05 -.26 ± .04 -.24 ± .05 -.23 ± .06 -.20 ± .07 |
|
|
Irritable |
||
|
Poor vork in school |
||
|
Question of hypophrenla |
||
|
Leader |
.04 |
|
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found in Tables
TABLE 126* CORRELATIONS WITH "BROTHER IN PENAL DETENTION11
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
-.08 + -03 .10 ± .03 .33 ± .04 |
-.12 + -03 -.01 + .04 .00 ± .05 |
|
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.32 ± .03 .28 ± .03 |
.18 .02 |
|
|
Stealing |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than t «20 may be found in Tables
55*
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABDC 126— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
.27 ± .05 .25 ± .07 .23 ± .Ok .20 * .05 |
.22 t -08 • 07 .07 |
|
|
Bad ccBocpanionB .......... ^ ....,,*,,..... r ...... |
||
|
Truancy frcta home. ............................ |
||
|
Temper tantrums ............................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.26 ± .05 -.22 4- .05 |
-.17 -.32 t -06 -.34 ± .07 -.30± .05 |
|
|
Psychoneurotic , |
-.22 t .06 |
|
|
-.20 t .°6 |
||
|
Spoiled child |
-.11 .10 -.04 -.14 -.17 -.12 |
-.36 ± .05 -.32 ± .07 -.31 ± .06 -.27 ± .04 -.26 t .08 -.25 ± .05 -.£4 + .08 -.23 ± .07 -.22 + .05 -.22 + .05 |
|
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling. ................ |
||
|
Sensitive (general) |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous, " etc |
||
|
Worry over specific fact |
||
|
%testlon of change of personality |
.03 • 09 -.08 |
|
|
Jrragular sleep habits ........................ |
||
|
Grouped * temper , etc ......................... |
||
and leading others Into bad conduct. Curiously enough, there were more negative than positive correlations with behavior prob- lems in the personality sphere.
The notation mental deficiency or feeble -mindednesa among siblings showed low negative bi-serial correlations with the per- sonality-total and conduct-total and negligible tetrachoric rfs with police arrest (Table 127). Among the separate behavior nota- tions it showed a few positive coefficients of significant size with such notations as question of hypophrenia, slow or dull man- ner, and retardation in school; but the majority of its correla- tions of significant size were negative in sign.
Discord between parents or foster-parents was noted among 525, or 24.8 per cent, of our 2,115 White boys and among 285, or 24.1 per cent, of our I,l8l White girls. Its correlations with our three criteria of seriousness were low or negligible, ranging
MISCELLANEOUS HOME, ETC., NOTATIONS
TABIE 127* CORRELATIONS WITH "FEKBLE-MIHEJED SIBLING"
555
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
-.20 + .03 -.15 t .03 .05 ± .04 |
- 12 ± .03 -.16 + .03 .09 ± .05 |
|
|
Conduct -total ....***•*. -rrrtr**. .*...... ...... |
||
|
Police *\TTQttt-. . ... T .... T ...................... |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.25 ± -Ok .20 ± .04 .07 .04 |
.31 ± .04 .27 ± .05 .26 ± .05 .25 ± .04 |
|
|
Slow, dull |
||
|
Grouped: dull, slow, etc |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
-.28 ± .05 -.28 t -04 -.28 + .06 -.27 ± .05 -.27 ± .05 -.25 ± .12 -.24 t -04 -.24 ± .05 -.23 ± .06 -.23 ± .04 -.22 ± .05 -.22 ± .06 -.22 ± .06 -.20 t -04 -.17 -.05 -.09 -.09 -.19 .02 -.10 -.13 .11 .02 -.13 -.08 -.18 -.15 -.16 |
-.22 t -06 -.15 -.06 -.14 -.08 .06 -.11 -.14 -.04 -.09 -.25 ± .06 -.25 ± .07 .06 -.27 + .04 -.45 t .05 -.38 ± .06 -.33 t .07 -.32 ± .06 -.32 ± .06 -.31 t .06 -.30 ± .08 -.29 ± .08 -.27 ± .06 -.26 t .06 -.26 ± .04 -.26 ± .08 -.26 ± .05 -.24 ± .05 -.23 + .07 |
|
|
"Nervous" |
||
|
T^tmp^ir tfl.TVtTums ...,..* T ., r ,,,..... T , r . T ....... |
||
|
Preference for younger children |
||
|
POPU? ftT r...............T...........rt......... |
||
|
Grouped: "nervous," etc |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Queer |
||
|
Grouped: depressed, etc |
||
|
Sulky |
||
|
Question of change of personality |
||
|
Grouped: disobedient, etc |
||
|
Spoiled child |
||
|
Boastful, "show-off" |
||
|
lA'f'wl oirtty f ^e3 ings ., ,r....T..r.. |
||
|
Defiant |
||
|
Repressed |
||
|
Mental conflict |
||
|
Fantastical lying. ..r»t»»»»-T*-i--t*TTTr--f-f-»T |
||
|
Selfish . .. |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than t *20 may be found in Tables
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 127 -—Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
-.11 -.03 |
-.21 ± .07 -.21 t .06 -.21 t -05 -.20 ± .05 -.20 ± .06 |
|
|
-.16 |
||
|
-.07 -.02 |
||
|
Not Calculable |
||
|
-.23 ± -06 (n.c.) |
(n.c.) -.32 ± .07 |
|
from -.01 to .19 (Table 128). It showed moderate positive corre- lations in the ,20's among boys with unhappiness and restlessness in sleep and among girls with the three notations, destructiveness, finicky food habits, and (calculated for girls only) victim of sex
TABLE 128* CORRELATIONS WITH "DISCORD BETWEEN PARENTS"
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Personality-total |
.19 ± .02 .02 4- .02 .13 ± .03 |
.08 + .03 .16 ± .03 -.01 t -04 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Police arrest |
||
|
Unhappy |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.23 + .04 .21 ± .03 .20 t .03 .06 .12 |
.11 .07 -.Ok .21 ± .05 .20 ± .06 .20 4- .05 |
|
|
Grouped: depressed, etc. |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Destructive |
||
|
Ab 9 *pt -winded |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
||
|
.02 |
-.201 .05 |
|
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than ± .20 may be found in Tables
MISCELLANEOUS HOME, ETC., NOTATIONS 557
abuse by older child or person. The fact that In our case-record material discord between parents showed so negligible a relation- ship with personality and conduct problems among our children Is contrary to the frequently expressed belief among students of child behavior that parental or familial discord is a potent cause of un- desirable behavior. The present writer does not attempt to explain or Interpret these correlational results at this time.
Irregular attendance at school or frequent change of school in our data was a heterogeneous notation which, on the one hand, included instances in which a child's truancies may have been so extensive that the continuity of his school career may have been seriously interrupted and, on the other hand, instances in which these irregularities may have been due to inability or unwilling- ness of the child's parents to keep him in regular attendance. Its correlat .ons with our three criteria of seriousness were low, or at best only moderate (Table 129). The majority of its significant
TABIE 129* CORRELATIONS WITH "IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL"
|
Boys |
air Is |
|
|
Personality-total |
.07 ± .03 .15 + .03 .20 + .04 |
-.02 t -04 .01 + .04 -.22 t -05 |
|
Conduct -total |
||
|
Pol i ee arrest' ., ............................... |
||
|
Truancy "Prom school ........................... |
||
|
Larger Correlation* (Positive) |
||
|
.35 ± .03 .3*- t -05 .27 ± .05 .20 ± .03 .20 + .Ok .Ik " .01 .08 -.08 .17 |
.26 ± .05 (3-4)t .32 t -07 (2) .16 .03 • 09 .34 ± .07 (1) .26 ± .05 (3-4) .25 ± .06 (5) .23 ± .06 (6-7) .23 ± .04 (6-7) |
|
|
Refusal to attend school |
||
|
Loitering |
||
|
Poor work in school |
||
|
Slovenly. Ttt.TTt.T,..,.t,rr.,Tfft.r»T, .,,,,,,,. |
||
|
Irregular sleep habits |
||
|
Attractive manner. |
||
|
QpO'UpedT PVflfltring, etC ........... r . i . r r T ..... |
||
|
Finicky food habits |
||
|
Rf*<hm»dnr't1 on in school ......................... |
||
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 may be found in Tables 6-116. order of girls1 correlations.
558
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS TABLE 129— Continued
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Larger Corr |
elatlons (Negativ |
|
|
Stuttering » |
-.2^ t .06 |
|
|
Sex delinquency (coitus) ...... |
-.21 ± .06 |
-.14 |
|
Selfish |
.02 |
-.26 t .04 |
|
Sullen |
• 07 |
-.20 + .06 |
|
Inefficient in work, play, etc |
-.0? |
-.20 t «07 |
correlations were for problems associated vlth his school life, such as refusal to attend school , truancy from school , poor worl in school, retardation In school, and traits denoting inadequacy such as loitering or wandering and slovenliness .
The children for whom a request for vocational guidance appeared in the case records formed a vaguely defined group. Ii some cases the request for vocational guidance was the chief re* son for the clinic examination, while in other cases the requesl was secondary to some behavior or educational problem. Its con latlons (Table 130) are reproduced in this volume for the sake < completeness. The present writer at this time is unable to mak« any interpretations concerning these obtained correlations.
TABLE 130* CORRELATIONS WITH "REQUEST FOR VOCATIONAL
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
P^rsonallty-to'tftl . .... r ......... t ......... t , T * |
.02 ± .02 -.10 ± .02 -.35 ± .03 |
.02 t .03 -.17 ± .03 -.34 ± .04 |
|
Pol 1 o<? nrreflt ,.,.,...,r,T.T.,ttt1.TT-TTTt...TTT |
||
|
Lack of initiative |
||
|
Larger Correlations (Positive) |
||
|
.23 ± .05 .11 .03 |
.Ik .21 ± .06 .20 t -07 |
|
|
Lazy |
||
6-116.
Other coefficients smaller than + .20 nay be found in Tables
MISCELLANEOUS HOME, ETC., NOTATIONS TABUffi 130— Continued
559
|
Boys |
Girls |
|
|
Bex delinquency ( coitus) |
Larger Correlations (Negative) |
|
|
-.39 ± .05 -.31 ± -03 -.22 ± .02 -.21 + .04 |
-.41 t -04 -.32 ± .04 -.31 ± .04 |
|
|
Stealing |
||
|
Fantastical lying |
-.17 -.10 .11 -.13 -.16 -.01 .01 .02 -.10 -.08 -.06 -.05 -.03 -.17 |
-.44 -i- .05 -.37 ± .04 -.34 ± .06 -.31 ± .04 -.29 t -04 -.27 ± .04 -.25 ± .05 -.25 ± .05 -.23 ± .04 -.23 ± .04 -.22 t -05 -.22 ± .05 -.21 ± .04 -.21 4- .04 |
|
Masturbation, ................................. |
||
|
LoA^^rlng, ................... r ... r - .. T - T T - - - T r |
||
|
Bossy |
||
|
Staying out late at night |
||
|
Object of teasing |
||
|
"Nervous" |
||
|
Incorrigible. .................... T r ..... r .... r |
||
INDEX
Absent-mindedness , 52, 206, 210-13, 252, 434, 440. Also passim In chaps. ix-lx
Ackerson, L., 3, 38, 42, 70, 81, 126, 134, 541
Ad hoc approach In research, 32, 56- 62, 69
Adler, H. M., 12, 36, 240
Affection, lade of. See Lack of af- fection
A&6* See Chronological age
Alienation (T. L. Kelley), 65-66
Ambiguity in defining and in delimit- ing terms, 38-44, 47
"Annoying" girls, 54, 84, 116, 119. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Antagonistic. See Contrariness
Antithetical notations, correlations of, 45, 134, 204-5, 243-44, 447-48, 513
Apprenensiveness , 52, 166, 168-70. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Arrington, R. E., 24
Associating vlth bad companions. See Bad companions
"Attenuation, '^correction for. See "Theoretical maximum correlation"
Attractive manner, 53, 201, 445, 535- 37 • Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Automobile stealing. See under Steal- ing
Bad ccanpanions , associating with, 34-
Bi-serial correlation (Pearson), 14-
23
Bi-serial T| (Pearson), 15-16 "Blaming others for his own diffi-
35, 53, 70, 71, 73, 75, 84, 109,
116, 256, 311, 324, 415-21, 424,
472, 476. Also passim in chaps.
ix-lx. See also Running with a
gang Bad language, 54, 384, 392, 396, 4o4-
11. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiil.
See also Swearing; Obscene language Baker, H. A., 59 Bancroft, W. D. , 57 Bashfulness, 52, 117, 166-68, 170.
Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx Bed- vetting. See Itnuresis Begging on the street , 54 , 109. Also
passim in chaps, ix-xlli Bias. See Prejudicial trends in the
data
See Excuse -forming at-
Boastful or "show-off manner, 53, 183-84, 197, 206, 224, 291, 364, 369, 395, 461, 498-502, 505. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Bossy manner, 53, 197, 500, 503-7- Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Bowel incontinence, 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
Breaking into bull cling, box car, etc. See Bobbing a building, etc.
Breaking toys. See Destructiveness
Brother with police arrest or in penal detention, 55, 110, 118, 269, 551-54. Also passim in chaps, ix- lx
Brown, W. , 5
Bullying, 54, 389. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
"Bumming. H See Loitering; Truancy
Burkey, H. E., 7*5
Capricious appetite.
food habits
Car stealing. See under Steal! Carelessness, etc. See Inefficiency,
etc.; Irresponsibility Case-record data, evaluation of, 24-
50
Categorical trait names versus meas- ured variates, 44-45 Causal factors, causation, 3 -6, 49,
82, 541 Change of personality, question of,
357 52, 114, 221, 226-30, 231, 542.
Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx Changeable moods, 52, 114, 136, 229,
231-35, 238. Also passim in chaps.
Ix-lx Chronological age, 8-9, 10, 15, 51,
126-30 Clean habits, 53, 445-48, 535, 537-
Also passim in chaps, ix-lx Cleanliness, lack of. See Slovenli-
563
564
CHTLKREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Clues, use of correlation coeffi- cients as, 6-1, 18, 69-77
Coarse versus fine grouping of trait names, 38-43, 135, 298. ^55
Coefficients. See Correlation co- efficients
Coitus. See Sex delinquency (coitus)
Complaining of bad treatment by other children, 52, 190-92. Also passim in chaps, Ix-lx
Concentration, lack of. See Dis- traotiblllty
Conduct -prognosis unfavorable. See Unfavorable conduct prognosis
Conduct -total ; correlations with, I*, 37-38, 51, 54, 55, 63, 64, 97- 105, 113, 114-21, also passim in chaps, ix-lx; as criterion of "se- riousness/ 82-83, 85-87, 97-105, 113, 114-21; definition of, 7
Consistency, 27-34, 46
Contingency coefficient (Pearson), 16, 20-21
Contrariness, 52, 219, 332, 347-56. Also passim In chaps. Ix-lx
"Control group" in research, 67-68
Convulsions, present or former, 55, 543.14.9. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Correlation: bi- serial r, 132-33 (see also Bi-serial correlation [Pearson] ) ; inter columnar, between boys' and girls1 coefficients, 96, 105, 113; methods of, 14-23; prod- uct-moment, 14^23; tetrachoric, 14-
23 Correlation coefficients, utility
and Interpretation of, 4-7, 65-77 Crap -shoot ing. See Gambling Criteria of Importance or "serious-
ness" among traits, 81-87 Cruelty; to animals, 54 (also passim
in chaps, ix-xiii); to younger
children, 54, 389 (also passim In
chaps. Ix-xiil ) Crying spells, 51, 143-49, 154, 168.
Also passim in chaps, ix-lx Cursing. See Svearlng Curvilinear Ity of regression. See
Rectilinear ity of regression
Data, description of, 8-13 Daydreaming, 52, 115, 142, 200, 206-
10. Also passim In chaps. ix-lx Deoeltfulness. See Lying; Sneakiness Defiant attitude, 52, 295, 311, 332,
336, 340-44, 351-56, 392, 462, 466,
516. Also passim in chaps, ix- lx Dementia praecox, 54, 84, 92, 114,
127. Also passim in chaps, ix-xili Depressed mood or spells, 51, 64, 84,
92, 93, 114, 135-39, 143, 148, 150,
154, 158, 163, 181, 216-19, 234.
Also passim in chaps, ix-lx Desirable and Indifferent behavior
traits, 45-46, 47 Destructiveness, 53, 84, 332, 336,
340, 350, 376, 378, 384-88, 392,
421, 424, 556. Also passim in
chaps . Ix-lx Dichotomizatlon, point of, 19, 21,
31-32, 39, 74 Differential completeness of the
case-record information, 35-38,
47, 88, 92
Discontented. See Unhapplness Discord between parents, 55, 112,
5514-57. Also passim In chaps.
ix-lx
Discouraged. See Depressed mood Disobedience, 52, 84, 114, 332-36,
340, 344, 350, 351-56, 384, 396,
400, 461, 516, 519, 533- Also
passim in chaps. Ix-lx Dlstractibility, 52, 209, 210, 256,
259-62, 280, 462. Also passim in
chaps, ix-lx Disturbing Influence In home, 54.
Also passim in chaps, ix-xili Disturbing influence in school, 53,
101, 192, 199, 259, 332, 336, 340,
344, 350, 391, 449, 455, 459-63,
500, 533. Also passim in chaps.
ix-lx
Doerlng, C. B., 39 Dull, olov manner.
See Slov, dull
manner
ISconooLlc status of our cases, 25 Educational guidance. See Yooa-
tlonal guidance Egocentric attitude, 52, 291-95,
29&-301, 302, 500. Also passim In
chaps. Ix-lx Elkind, S. B., 39 Emotional conflict. See Mental oon-
Emotional Instability, 35, 52, 181,
231, 23^, 235-39, 306, 309, 542.
Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx Emotional lability. See Emotional
Instability Empirical approach. See Exploratory
approach
565
Encephalitis , question of , 12, 35, 55, 115, 148-49, 209, 213, 219, 225-26, 235, 259, 269-70, 272, 273, 277, 280, 281, 287, 310, 315, 320, 323, 53^, 5^1-^5. Aleo pa B elm in chape. ix-lx
English Convict, The (Goring) , 60
Enuresis, 12, 34, 53, 175, 178, 489- 92. Also passim in chape, ix-lx
Escape from, institution. See Truancy from institution
Etiology. See Causal fact ore
Excitable. See Irritable tempera- ment; Changeable moods; Emotional instability
Exclusion from school, 53, 309, 369, 424, 461, 525, 531-3^. Aleo pas- sim In chaps, ix-lx
Excuse-forming attitude, 52, 291, 302-5 • Also passim in chaps, Ix- lx
Exhibitionism, 54. Also passim in . chaps, ix-xiil
Exploratory approach in research, 56-62
Expulsion from school. See Exclu- sion from school
Failure to adjust in foster-home, 5^ Aleo passim in chaps, iy-xiii
Fantastical lying, 53, 185, 357, 361-65, 500, 523. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Fantasy ing. See Daydreaming; Fan- tastical lying
gear fulness . See Appr ehens i vene s s
Feeble-mindednesB . See Hypophrenia
Feeble-minded sibling, 55, 64, 554. Also Passim in chaps, ix-lx
lighting, 53, 115, 192, 195, 276, 280, 29^, 295, 326, 366-70, 373, 378-83, 395, 396, 400, 4o4, 409. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Fine versus coarse grouping of trait names. See Coarse versus fine grouping grouping of trait names
Finger-sucking . See Thumb -sucking
Flniclor food habits, 10, 53, 489, 494-97, 556. Also passim in chaps. ix-1*
Fire-setting, 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
Fisher, R. A., 20, 22
"rollover," 45, 46, 53, 510-13. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Forget fulness. See Absent-minded- ness
Gambling, 5^, 109- Also paasim In
chaps, ix-xiii
Gang. See Running vith ja. gang Gluttony, 5^> Also paeeim in chaps.
ix-xiii Goring, C. See English Convict
Hatred or Jealousy of sibling, 53, 115, 521-24. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Headaches, 55, 210, 283, 5^5-^6. Al- so Passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Heterosexual. See under Sex nota- tions
"High-strung" tfjTOper*a">ent . See Ir- ritable temperament
Home conditions : immnyni } 55, no, 118, 488, 551, 953 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx); miscellaneous, 551-57 (also passim, in chaps, ix- lx); vicious, 55, 112, 551, 552 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx)
Homosexual (same age), 54. See also under Sex notations. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
Hull, C. L , 72
Hyperact ivity . See Restlessness
Hyperkinesis. See Restlessness
la, question of; 52, 133,
134, 240-44, 256, 264, 530 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx); inter - columnar correlations of, vith in- telligence quotient (IQ), 134, 243- 44
Hypotheses, 56-62
Hysteria. See Psychoneurotic trends
Illegitimate parentage, 5^, 112. Also passim in chaps, ix-xlil
Illinois Institute for Juvenile Re- search, 9, 11
Immoral sister, 54, 118. Also pas- sim in chaps. Ix-xiii
Impertinence. See Rudeness
Impudence . See Rudeness
Inadequacy, feeling of. See Infe- riority feelings
Inattentiveness in school, 53, 249, 250, 449-58. Also passim In chaps, ix-lx. See also Lack of interest in school
Incipient psychosis, 10, 54, 84, 92, 114, 127. Also passim in chaps. ix-xlll
Incorrlglbility, 52, 110, 115, 306, 309, 316, 320, 332, 336-40, 3^, 351-56, 384, 395, 396, 400, 476,
566
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Incorr igibility — Cont inued
519 > 533. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
"Indecent exposure." See TfrrVHMf.inn-. ism
Indifferent attitude. See Listless- ness
"Indifferent" behavior traits. See Desirable and indifferent behavior traits
Inefficiency in vork, play, etc., 53, 115, 206, 210, 249, 252, 427, 431, 434-37. Also passim in chaps. ix-lx
Inferiority feelings or "complex," 52, 115, 138, 142, 143, 148, 150, 154, 158, 161, 166, 170, 171-75, 176, 216, 521. Also passim in chaps . ix-lx
Insomnia. See Irregular sleep habits
Intelligence quotient (IQ), 15, 51, 117, 126-27, 130-34, 243-44, 459, 469; intercoluwnar correlations of, with question of hypophrenia, 134, 243-44; of our cases, 8, 9, 11, 15, 25, 126, 130, 132
Irregular attendance at school, 55, 324, 329, 557-58. Also passim in chaps . ix-lx
Irregular employment record, 54. Also passim In chaps, ix-xlii
Irregular sleep habits, 52, 283, 287-
90. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx Irresponsibility, 53, 430, 431, 434,
437-41 . Also passim in chaps, ix-
Irritable temperament, 52, 266, 274- 82, 392, 395, 396, 399-403, 489-
91, 494, 543. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Jealousy of sibling. See Hatred or
Jealousy of sibling Jenkins, K. L., 70, 54l Juvenile delinquency. See Police
arrest
Kelley, T. L., 15, 20, 65, 72, 132 Kuhlmann-Binet examination, 130
Lack of affection for other people, 5E"I Also passim in chape, ix-xiii
Lack of ambition. See Lack of ini- tiative
Lack of concentration. See Dis- tractibilitv
Lack of energy. See Lack of initia- tive
Lack of initiative, 52, 250-55* 452,
457. Also pae'sim in chaps, ix-lx Lack of interest in school, 53, 449-
58, 527. Also passim in chaps.
ix-lx. See also Inattentiveness
in school Laughing to self vithout apparent
reason. See Talking to self Laziness, 53, 247, 431-34, 440. Also
passim in chaps, ix-lx "Leader^ among other children, 45,
46, 53, 117, 201, 503, 507-10,
513, 537. Also passim in chaps.
ix-lx Leading others into bad conduct, 53,
109, 115, 224, 339, 350, 354, 412,
4l8, 421-26, 471, 509, 533. Also
passim in chaps, ix-lx Listlessness, 52, 216, 245, 247-50,
253-55, 431, 537. Also passim in
chaps, ix-lx Loafing. See Loitering Loitering, loafing, wandering, 53,
fine, va 0, 427-3
256, 316, 320, 427-31, 44o7 444.
Also passim in chaps, ix-lx Lues, diagnosis or question of, 55,
119-20, 549-50. Also passim in
chaps, ix-lx Iffing, 52, 53, 70, 71, 115, 197,
324, 357-61, 364, 440, 473, 476,
48l. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx.
See also Fantastical lying
Masturbation, 34, 53, 119, 471, 473-
76, 481, 484. Also passim in
chape . Ix-lx
Maturation. See Chronological age Measured varlates versus categorical
trait names. See Categorical trait
names
Memory, poor. See Absent -mlndedness Mental conflict, 52, 114, 138, 142,
143, 171, 176-80, 181, 264, 538.
Also Pa-Bskfr *n chaps, ix-lx Mental deficiency. See Bjypophrenia "Method of concomitant variations,"
5
Migraine . See Headaches
Mill, John Stuart, 5
Mink, M. S., 12, 36
MischievousnesB . See Disturbing in- fluence in hone; Disturbing influ- ence in school
Multiple causality, principle of, 5, 56
Mutual masturbation (same sex), 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
567
Hail-biting, 53, 283, 444, 489, 492- 9^» Also paaalm in chape, ix-lx
Heat appearance. See Clean habits
Negativism. See Contrariness
Negro cases, 7, 8
"Nervousness," 35, 52, 118, 138-39, 148, 170, 263-64, 266-70, 276, 277-82, 283, 287, 366, 370, 376, 380, 392, 400, 489, 494, 496-97, 543, *>48. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Neurological defect (unspecified), 55, 5^4-45. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx. See also Encephalitis
Neurotic trends. See P s jchoneur ot i o trends
"Night terrors ," 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiil
Normality of distribution, 15, 18, 74
"Not calculable*1 (n.c.) correlations, 64
Object of teasing by other children,
52, 190, 192-90. Also passim in chaps, Ix-lx
Objectivity. See Consistency
Obscene language, 54, 116, 4o4, 407- 11. Also passim in chaps, Ix-xlii
Oligophrenia. See Hypophrenia
Olson, W. C., 30
" Ctainousness . " See Relative Impor- tance among traits
"Omitted" correlation coefficients, 64
Overact ivity. See Restlessness
Overeating. See Gluttony
"Overindulged child." See "Spoiled child"
Overinterest in the opposite sex,
53, 71, 73, 306, 319-20, 324, 354, 417, 476-79. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Overinterest in sex matters, 53, 469, 473, 476, 479-82, 483, 551. Also passim in chaps. ix-lx
Oversuggestlblllty, 52, 71, 73, 76, 109, 256-59, 417, 510. Also pas- sim in chaps. ix~lx
"P" (probability), 21-22
*Partialing out" chronological age, .16-17, 25
Parents, discord between. See Dis- cord between parents
Pearson, Zarl, !4-io7~20, 21, 23, 59
"Peculiar" manner. See Queer be- navior
Pederasty, passive, 54, 109. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiil
Personality, question of change of. See Cfrmnge of personality
Personality-total ; correlations vith, 14, 37, 51, 54, 55, 63, 64, 88-96, 105, 113 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx); as criterion of "seriousness," 81-87, 88-96, 113, 114-21; definition of, 7, 82-83
Physical and psychophysical factors, 541-50
Physical condition poor. See Under- weight condition
"Picking on" other children. See Teasing other children
Platt, ¥., 59
Police arrest; brother vith, see Brother vith police arrest; as criterion of "seriousness," 7, 51, 54, 55, 81-87, 97, 100, 106-13, 114-21, 469; or detention, 51, 63, 64, 73, 75-76, 106-13 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx)
Poor work in school, 11, 53, 431, 449, 452, 455, 525-27, 528. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Popularity among other children, 45, 52, 197, 201-5, 509, 537. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Pouting. See Snifriness
Precocious interest in sex. See Overinterest' in sex matters; Over- interest in the opposite sex
Prediction of future behavior, use of correlation coefficients as, 7, 18, 69-77
Preference for younger children as playmates, 52, 25b, 262-65. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Prejudicial trends in the data, 34- 35, 46-47, 417
Pr oduct -moment c orr elat 1 on . See Correlation, product -moment
Profanity, 404, 407-11. See also Svearing; Bad language
Psychiatric social worker, 12, 36
Psychiatrist, 12
Psychoneurotic trends , etc., 52, 115, 174, 178, 181-85, 188, 538, 545. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Psychopathic personality, 54, 101, 110, 115. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Psychophyslcal factors. See Physi- cal and psychophysical factors
Psychosis. See Incipient psychosis; Dementia praecox
568
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR FROBU5MS
Purpose of this study, 3-7
Quarrelsomeness, 53, 291, 295, 332, 336, 340, 354, 366, 369, 370-73, 376, 578-83. Also passim in chaps.
Queer behavior, 52, 84, 92, 114, 210, 221-26, 229, 286, 287. Also pas- sim In chaps. Ix-lx
Questionnaire method in case-record data, 49-50
Question of change of personality. flee Change of personality
Range, restriction of. See Restric- tion of range
Rectilinearity of regression. See Regression, rectilinearity of
Refusal to attend school, 52, 319, 323, 324, 327-31. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Regression, rectilinearity of, 15-16, 18, 25, 126-27, 132-33
Referral, reasons for, 8-12
Relative Importance or seriousness among traits, 7, 81-121
Reliability. See Consistency
Repressed manner, 52, 214, 217-20. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Resentful attitude, 54, 102, 115, 117. Also passim in chaps, ix- xiii
ReslstlvenesB. See Contrariness; Stubbornness
Restlessness, 52, 143, 148, 226, 259, 263-64, 270-73, 276, 277-82, 283, 286, 287, 366, 370, '376, 380, 392, 400, 489, 494, 496, 543 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx; in sleep, 52, 266, 272, 276, 280, 283-87, 489, 494, 497, 556 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx)
"Restriction of range," 26, 46, 126, 132
Retardation; mental, see Hypophrenla; In school, 11, 53, 133, 24i, 525, 528-30 (also passim in chaps, ix- lx)
Robbing a building, home, etc., 54, 84, 106. Also passim in chaps, ix- xiil
Rudeness, 53, 327, 332, 336, 340, 344, 350, 354, 384, 464-68, 516. A^ao passim in chaps, ix-lx
"Running avay." See Truancy
Running with a gang, 55, 256, 311, 319, 320, 324, 414, 415-21, Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Sauclnese. See Rudeness
Schizophrenia. See Dementia yraecox
School problems, 11, 324-31, W*9-5&, 459-63> 525-34, 551, 557-59. See also Exclusion from school; Ir- regular attendance at schools Lack of Interest in school; Poor vorlci Refusal to attend school; Retarda- tion; Vocational guidance
School retardation. See Retardation in school
Schroeder, P. L., 12
Secluslveness, 37, 52, 138, 140, 143, 166, 214-17, 247, 252, 255. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Selective factors in the present data, 25-27, 75
Self -centered attitude. See Egocen- tric attitude
Selfishness, 52, 291, 295-301, 497- Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Sensitiveness; in general, 37, 51, 138, 142, 143, 145, 150-53, 154, 158, 161-65, 171, 174, 181, 183 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx); over some specific fact, 51, 138, 142, 148, 153-57, 168, 171, 178, 188, 195 (also passim in chaps, ix-lx)
Seriousness. See Relative Importance among traits
Sex attack on child of opposite sex, Also passim in chaps, ix-xlll
Sex delinquency (coitus), 4-5, 53,
71, 73, 76, 106, 111, 113, 116, 119, 127, 130, 256, 306, 319, 320, 469-72, 473, 476, 481, 483, 488, 549, 551. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Sex misconduct denied entirely, 53, 485-87. Also passim in chaps, ix- lx
Sex notations. See "Annoying" girls; Exhibitionism; Homosexual (same age); Masturbation; Mutual mastur- bation (same sexTF Obscene language; Overlnterest in the Opposite sex; Over interest in sex matters; Pas- sive pederasty; Sex attack upon child of opposite sex; Sex delin- quency ( coitus ) ; Sex~mlsconduct denied entirely; Victim of sex abuse
"Shov-off" manner. See Boastful or "shov-off" manner
Shyness . See Bashfulness
Sibling, hatred or Jealousy of. See Hatred or Jealousy of sibling
HOBX
569
Sister j immoral. See Immoral a later
Sleeplessness . See Irregular sleep " habits
Slovenliness, 4 5, 53, 442-45, 447-48 Also passim in chaps, ix-lx.
Slow, dull manner, 52, 133, 245-47, 252, 253-55. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Smoking, 53, 324, 404, 410, 412-14, 418, 421, 424. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Sneakiness, 54. Also pass 1m in chape, ix-xlli
Social worker. See Psychiatric so- cial worker
Soper, H. E., 14, 22
Spearman, C., 28, 59, 72
Speech defect, 55, 538, 545-48. Al- so passim in chaps, ix-lx. See also Stuttering
"Spoiled child," 52, 181, 185-89, 497* Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Stmnmering. See Stuttering
Stanford-Binet examination (1916) , 117, 130
Statistical methods, 14-23
Staying out late at night, 4, 52, 71, 73, 75, 76, 101, 109, 115, 311, 316, 320-23, 324, 330, 336, 354, 417, 421, 424, 429, 44o, 471, 476, 551- Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Stealing, 10, 16, 31-32, 34, 52, 70- 71, 73-77, 84, 106, 118, 256, 311- 15, 316, 320, 324, 336, 340, 354, 357, 364, 417, 419, 424, 473 (also passim In chaps, ix-lx); of an automobile or horse, 54, 84, 106, 115 (also passim in chaps, ix-xiii)
Stogdill, R. M., 87
Striking others. See Violence
Stubbornness, 40, 52, 332, 335, 340, 344-47, 351-56. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
"Student," 22
Stuttering, 53, 538-40, 545-48. Al- so passim in chaps. Ix-lx. See also Speech defect
Sucking thumb . See Thumb -sucking
^Sugar hunger , " 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xiii
Suggestions, use of correlation co- efficients as, 69-75
Sulkinees, 53, 514, 517-20. Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Sullenness, 53, 340, 354, 514-17, 519* Also -passim, in chaps, ix-lx
Sums -and- differences formula (Spear- man), 72-77
Suppressed manner . See Repressed manner
Swearing; In general, 53, 84. 101^ 115, 199, 302, 319, 336, 354, 366. 373, 378, 380, 384, 392, 396, 400, 404-11, 466, 551 (also passim In chaps. Ix-lx); at mother, teacher etc., 54, 102, 404, 407-11 (also passim In chaps, ix-xiii)
Syphilis. See Lues
Tables of correlation coefficients,
construction of, 63-64 Talking to self without apparent rea-
son, 54, 84. Also passim, in chaps.
ix-xlll Teasing other children, 53, 192, 196,
389-91, 461. Also passim in chaps.
ix-lx
display, 40-41, 53, 64, 392, '-403. Also passim in chaps, ix-
tantrums, 4o-4l, 53, 64, 276, . 340, 373, 378, 380, 384, 392- 96, 399-403, 404, 410. Also passim in chaps. lx.-lx
Tetrachoric correlation (Pearson) . See Correlation, tetrachoric
"Theoretical FF?ir1;nP"n correlation," 28
Thorndike, E. L., 18
Thrasher, F. M., 42
Threatening violence, 53, 116, 377- 83, 384, 392, 400. Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx
Thumb-sucking, 54. Also passim in chaps, ix-xlli
Thurstone, L. L., 14, 59
Tiring easily, 54. Also passim In chaps, ix-xlil
Truancy; from home, 16, 52, 70-71, 73-77, 84, 101, 106, 115, 311, 316- 20, 324, 329, 330-31, 336, 35^, 357, 364, 429, 471 (also passim in chaps. Ix-lx); from institution, 54 (also passim In chaps. Ix-xiii); from school, 52, 70-71, 73-77, 102, 106, 109, 115, 311, 516, 320, 329, • 330-31, 336, 340, 354, 357, 364, 417, 421, 424, 429, 476, 551, 558 (als° passim In chaps, ix-lx)
Underweight condition, 55, 550. Al- so passim In chaps, ix-lx
570
CHTLERKN'8 BBHA710R PROBLEMS
Unfavorable conduct prognosis, staff
notation of, 52, 233/306-10. 471.
476, 481, 558. Also passim in
chape. ix-lx Unhappiness, 43, 51, 135, 158, 139-
43, 148, 171, 206, 216, 219, 556.
Also passim In chaps. ix-lx Unpleasant nloknsMlnct ter other chll-
dren, object of. See Object of teasing > etc.
52, 115, 192, 197-201, ^-5,9, 370, 376, 380, 461, 505* Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx UnregponairaneBB . See SeclusiYeness Untruthfulness . See Lying
Varying completeness in the case- record data. See Differential completeness, etc.
Victim of sex abuse. 53, ^69, 481, 4«2-d5, 551, 556-57. Also passim
in chaps. Ix-lx Violence, 1*0, 53, 92, 101, 115, 185,
200, 224, 229, 332, 336, 3^0, 3*4,
354, 366, 373-77, 378, 383, 384,
392, 396, 400, 404, 409, 462, 505.
Also passim in chaps. Ix-lx Vocational guidance, request for,
55, 558-59. Also passim in chaps.
Ix-lx
Wandering. See Loitering
Wickman, K. K., 85-87
WorrieomeneBs, 51, 138, 150, 161-65, 171- Also passim in chaps, ix-lx
Worry over some specific fact, 51, 138, 157-65, 181, 445. Also pas- sim in chaps, ix-lx
Yule's "coefficients of association and colligation," 20-21