The place of nuclear threat in young people's everyday concerns and expectations.
Item
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Title
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The place of nuclear threat in young people's everyday concerns and expectations.
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Identifier
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AAI9009762
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identifier
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9009762
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Creator
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Mesnikoff, Wendy Savin.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Roger Hart
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Date
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1989
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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, Developmental | Health Sciences, Human Development | Health Sciences, Public Health
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Abstract
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Research aim is assessing how nuclear threat interacts over time with developing adolescents' general concerns and shaping ideology/world view. Interaction of nuclear concern with variables of gender, SES, academic achievement level, and stressful life events is examined. Field theory concepts are used to understand both individual psychology and human development in an interactive, societal context. Developmental psychology concepts focused on attachment needs, and on theory and research on adolescent cognitive and identity tasks. Additional areas: risk perception, coping with environmental disaster, victimization research, theory and research on coping strategies.;Ninth and 10th grade classes in Rivertown (metropolitan New York City area village) High School were research focus--a sufficiently diverse population to reveal SES differences in dealing with nuclear threat. Nuclear concern was not identified until final stage of this two phased study: survey and qualitative phases. Statistical analyses used data from present and future concerns surveys (119 students). Using survey findings, 30 students were intentionally selected for the qualitative phase. Picture Arrangement (collage) approach enabled students to create spatial arrays of images representing a range of personal and societal issues. An open interview concluded research (including memory task measuring self-rated changes in intensity of nuclear concern).;A slight majority of students were highly nuclear concerned on one, the other, or both surveys. Nuclear threat was the most prominent societal issue and ranked among the few highest personal concerns. A cluster of "vulnerability" issues (cancer, Aids, crime victim) joined with nuclear. Lowest achieving students were most vulnerable and nuclear concerned. Students concerned about family breakup significantly did not select vulnerability or nuclear items, and they were concentrated in the lower SES segment of Rivertown population.;Qualitative findings indicate different relationships to the nuclear issue based in different world views. Young people are accommodating to nuclear threat. Three dimensions of coping strategies are explored. Students lack understanding of political process and role models for political initiative relative to dealing with nuclear threat. The majority of students perceive nuclear threat as a central, societal problem, not as a personal threat. Findings of personal distress associated with nuclear threat center on experience of family instability.
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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.
