AN AFFECTIVE-COGNITIVE DIMENSION IN PLAY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNALITY-EXTERNALITY AND IMAGINATION.
Item
-
Title
-
AN AFFECTIVE-COGNITIVE DIMENSION IN PLAY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNALITY-EXTERNALITY AND IMAGINATION.
-
Identifier
-
AAI8312342
-
identifier
-
8312342
-
Creator
-
DRYER, JOY ALISON.
-
Contributor
-
Gilbert Voyat
-
Date
-
1983
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Psychology, Developmental
-
Abstract
-
This study investigated the relationship between the internal-external modes of structuring experience, as measured by locus-of-control (LOC) and field orientation (FO) scales, and the capacity to pretend in make-believe play, as measured by affective, cognitive, and make-believe variables. The premise was that an internal mode reflects the development of internal symbolic processes which enable a child to re-present absent objects in imaginative play. Thus, it was expected that measures of LOC and FO, while orthogonal to one another, would positively correlate with play measures.;A homogeneous group of eleven very intelligent, middle-to-upper-middle class eight-year-old girls were given three LOC scales, three FO scales, and selected personality tests. They then played with two differing sets of toys during three contiguous play sessions (total of 25 minutes). Methods and findings were divided into a statistical analysis (Part I) and a clinical analysis of data (Part II).;In Part I, correlational analysis revealed strong relationships between LOC and two affective play variables (Relationship to Examiner, and Positive Affect), and a make-believe play variable (Imagination), and some relationship between FO with affective (Positive Affect) and make-believe (Fantasy) play variables. No FO measures correlated with one another, nor with any LOC measures.;In Part II Ss were grouped into High, Mixed, and Low Imagination Groups by ranking their raw play scores. Individual differences within each Imagination group attempted to assess what factor(s) might determine a child's capacity to be "imaginative." To do so, four metapsychological indicators (affect, drives, mental representations, and superego constancy) assessed aspects of ego functioning as revealed in the content of each S's play sessions. Results showed High Imagination Group Ss to have flexible LOC perceptions, and flexible, fully differentiated ego functions. A strong, positive relationship with mother was a major factor discriminating these Ss from the others. It was suggested that internalization of this relationship provided an internal structure which allowed these Ss to regress to a symbolic state of symbiosis, where internal and external symbols were merged, while simultaneously conserving identities of their selves and their (symbolic) objects.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
-
Program
-
Psychology
