Discusses the related concepts of loneliness and the guidance counseling of adolescents. Argues that the fear of loneliness and the accompanying need to avoid it constitutes a universal motivational principle and that it is especially acute during adolescence. Shows how loneliness may serve as a basis for understanding and interpreting adolescent…

Used Rorschach Test to contrast 12 diagnosed female adolescent bulimics with 12 female adolescent controls. Bulimics averaged greater number of aggression responses. Data suggest that adolescent bulimics are more depressed, self-punitive, and negativistic than peers and that they have more disordered thoughts, inaccurate perceptions, and impaired…

Postmodern perspectives of body piercing and tattooing interpret these as signifiers of the self and attempts to maintain control over the body in an age of increasing alienation. Results of this survey of adolescent females reveal that body piercings and tattoos were significantly correlated with trait anger (Angry Reaction subscale scores).…

Problematic and unhealthy personality characteristics have typically been the focus of researchers interested in the possible causes of substance abuse/use. Study compares personality structure among three groups of rural college students: abstainers, experimenters, and regular users. Minimal support was obtained for the hypothesis that moderate…

Specifies parameters of adolescent girls in distress in terms of behavioral and personality features. Discusses main characteristics of adolescents, females, and those in social distress. Develops an integrative theoretical model that illustrates uniqueness of this group and its problems. Concludes that needs of this group require establishment of…

Administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to 401 adjudicated male juvenile offenders. Identified 28 MMPI scales that best described and discriminated between high and low levels of recidivism, crime severity, assault, and property offenses. Psychopathic Deviance, Amorality, Authority Problems, Social Responsibility, and…

Administered Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to 104 young adult cross-country hitchhikers. Results displayed predominance of intuitive and feeling functions among subjects, and the utilization of perceptual function in dealing with the environment. Findings suggest a personality which is impulsive and autonomous, having a high degree of tolerance for…

Examined non-K-corrected Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of 243 adolescents presenting themselves for chemical dependency treatment in a residential setting. Results suggest general lack of psychopathology in this population, although significant elevation on Pd scale did emerge. Compared data to findings of previous studies…

Investigated relationship between alcohol use and misuse and personality in 347 high school students. Students completed measures of alcohol involvement and personality. Results demonstrated that as adolescents increasingly became involved with alcohol, the more their personality characteristics differed from those of adolescents not involved or…

Used Millon Adolescent Personality Inve.tory to compare personality styles, expressed concerns, and behavioral correlates of 13 conduct-disordered and 137 non-conduct-disordered adolescents. Conduct-disordered youth reported being very critical, harsh, and not respectful of others; tended to seek out the unpredictable and to be moody and…

Defines bulimia and lists associated features of bulimia, physical side effects, and cognitive disturbances related to binging and purging. Asserts that bulimics resist treatment; but that such methods as cognitive, group, family, behavior, and drug therapy, and hospitalization appear promising. (Author/ABB)

Study investigated personality traits and social competence as predictors of delinquency in adolescent girls. Agreeableness did not correlate with the overall delinquency score. The more crimes reported, the less conscientious, more neurotic, and more open the girls were. Correlation between delinquency and extroversion was not statistically…

Compared low and high socioeconomic status (SES) drug-abusing adolescents. Found that the two groups did not differ significantly with respect to self-esteem, quality of family relationships, impulse control, moral development, and drug-taking behavior. High SES adolescents were more depressed and anxious than were low SES adolescents. Findings…

Discusses need for comprehensive assessment involving ability, personality, and motivation when young people are referred to mental health service with problems of school failure. Reviews traits associated with obsessive-compulsive personality style and explores impact on school performance. Presents three case examples to illustrate how this…

Investigates the self-esteem and fear of negative evaluation of 77 fan-club members and 128 age-equivalent secondary school students who had never joined a fan club. Results reveal an association among fan-club membership, poor self-esteem, and a strong fear of negative evaluation. Most fan-club members were female. (RJM)