Family Role Structure and Self Blame

Hypo: 'M S's who perceive their mother as playing the principal disciplinary role in the family will rank higher on attitudinal measures of self blame than M S's who perceive their father as playing the principal disciplinary role.' The cardiovascular reactions of those who discharge anxiety or blame inwardly differs from those who discharge outwardly against self or others. S's were 765 M HSch grad's who were members of the Air Force when administered a 34-page questionnaire containing items of Guttman scales: (1) 5-item measure of tendency to blame self; (2) 5-item measure of tendency to blame other person; (3) closure `indexes' as to whether S is clear or unclear as to whom he would blame. Guttman's `image technique' was used to construct blame scales (CofR=91.4). Intensity component was computed to provide 3 groups, only the + & - being used in the analysis. 'S's reporting that they would blame themselves & would not blame the other person are most likely to perceive mother as the principal disciplinarian. Reluctance to blame the other person as well as willingness to blame the self both increase the likelihood that the mother will be viewed as principal disciplinarian.' Relationship between sociol'al structures & physiologigical states are suggested. A. L. Ferriss.