SAME-SEX PEER INTIMACY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND THE INDIVIDUATION OF THE YOUNG ADULT WOMAN (BEST-FRIENDS).
Item
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Title
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SAME-SEX PEER INTIMACY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND THE INDIVIDUATION OF THE YOUNG ADULT WOMAN (BEST-FRIENDS).
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Identifier
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AAI8601652
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identifier
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8601652
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Creator
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HARRIS, ELIZABETH ANN.
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Contributor
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Anderson J. Franklin
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Date
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1985
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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The study explored the relationship of best girlfriends in mid-adolescence as it pertained to the individuation of the late adolescent/young adult woman.;Two groups of young adult women, 20-22 years old, were studied. Each group consisted of twenty-two women. The Best Friends group was comprised of those women who had a relationship considered to be a best friend during mid-adolescence. The Not Best Friends group included those women who had had either no best friend or a boy for a best friend during mid-adolescence. A semi-structured interview was administered to each subject. The interviews consisted of questions pertaining to four topics: Parents and Family, Friends and Friendships, Romantic Relationships and Self-Worth. The responses were examined in terms of attitudes in high school compared to present attitudes. The responses were evaluated by two raters on a set of scales created for this study. The results were then analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.;Hypotheses that were tested compared the two groups on the above variables. It was expected that the Best Friends group would evidence more individuation than the Not Best Friends group.;Major findings were as follows: (1) Statistically there were very few differences between the two groups. (2) When the groups were compared in a qualitative analysis the responses pointed to more individuation: (a) The Best Friends group appeared more individuated than the Not Best Friends group regarding the development of attitudes towards parents and family. (b) The Best Friends group appeared more individuated than those in the Not Best Friends group regarding sense of self in relation to friends and friendships. (c) There were few qualitative differences between the two groups regarding attitudes towards romantic relationship. (d) The Best Friends group revealed a more consolidated sense of identity, than the Not Best Friends group, although there were no other differences between the groups regarding other areas of self-worth.;The findings were not conclusive. There was a trend towards greater individuation for the members of the Best Friends group compared to the Not Best Friends group. The data raised questions concerning the development of the capacity for intimacy as well as how friendships develop through adulthood.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
