Journal of Psychology
Year:2001 | Volume:5 | Issue:3 (19)|Papers Count:8

Many researchers have confirmed the role of stress as an important factor for physiological arousal. On the other hand many studies have focused on the moderating role of personality traits (such as hardiness) in relation to stress -illness. Hardiness is composed of beliefs concerning with the self and the world and has three components: commitment, control and challenge. Studies, also, have confirmed the effect of stress in blood pressure changes. The purpose of the present research was to study the moderating role of hardiness in relation to stress and the variations of blood pressure. Sixty girl students from Allameh Tabatabaee University (Tehran) were selected and divided in two groups (high hardiness / low hardiness). Both groups were examined through measuring their systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and after being exposed to a failure condition. The results indicated that the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes of subjects with low hardiness was higher than subjects with high hardiness. In sum, findings demonstrate the protective role of hardiness against stress.

The purpose of the present study was to adapt and standardize the Williams Intelligence Test for Children with Defective Vision: A test for blind and partially sighted children. This test has been used in various studies since 1956 and consists a total of one hundred verbal and non- verbal items. The test has been designed largely based on an earlier version of the Stanford-Binet Scale and intended to use with children of about 5-15 years old. One hundred and thirty four students (age range 11.5-14.5 years old) from regular and special schools in Tehran (Iran) participated in the study. The results indicate high reliability and validity. Spilt-half reliability for the three groups of subjects ranged from 0.64 to 0.87 and the correlation between intelligence quotient and academic achievement was 0.73.

This study examined the effect of passive and active music therapy on the negative and positive symptoms of the Schizophrenia. Ninety six schizophrenic patients (60 males and 36 females) were selected from two psychiatric centers in Tehran and randomly assigned in two experimental groups and a control group. The first experimental group was exposed to active music therapy wherein they participated in the actual playing of different musical instruments, singing and dancing. The second experimental group was exposed to passive music therapy, i.e. they only listened to music rather than playing any instrument. All participants were interviewed and rated on the positive and negative symptoms before and after the experiment as the pre and post tests. The main findings are as follow: Music therapy, in general, has relatively more favorable effects on the negative symptoms as compared to the positive symptoms. The effects of music therapy is significantly more pervasive and encompassing in the case of female patients as compared to male patients. The effects of music therapy varies with level of education: Patients with less education respond much better to music therapy as compared to the more educated patients. Patients belonging to lower socio -economic class, as compared to middle and upper class, respond better to music therapy particularly to active music therapy.

The present research evaluated the relationship between personality type with sensory perception and memory for words. The Framingham and Bortner Personality type Scale were administered on 320 university students. Based on their Scores on the test, 60 of them were chosen. In order to examine the relationships between speed and accuracy of response with personality types, differences in perceptual accuracy, speed and time of response, and also the level and patterns of word recall in Personality types A and B were administered. In general, Type A individuals respond with higher speed and higher number of errors in the accuracy test. Also, in the memory test, they recalled greater number of words. Although, Type B individuals respond with lower speed, they had fewer numbers of errors and higher accuracy. In the memory test, Type B subjects recalled fewer words. It is concluded that personality characteristics have an influence on cognitive perception. Therefore, individuals with different personality types, differ in their perception and memory.

The main purpose of this study was to explore the effect of the individual and environmental factors in following the norms of schools by students. The study was taken on the high school girl students in the district 18 in Tehran. The proportionate stratified sampling has been used to select a sample of 150 out of11986 girl students in this district. Method of the study was based on survey research. Data was obtained by a questionnaire. The results indicate that: There is a direct relationship between the norms and selected courses, student's knowledge about the rules of schools, and student's satisfaction of the educational environment. There is also an indirect relationship between following the norms of schools by students and their parent's education and occupation.

One of the basic premises of the attachment theory is that attachment style shapes the way people cope with, and adjust to, stressful situations using defense mechanisms. To examine the relationship between attachment styles and defense mechanisms, 214 Tehran University students were studied. Subjects were asked to complete the Adult Attachment Inventory and the Defense Styles Questionnaire. The results revealed that the defense styles are significantly related to attachment styles: 1) Subjects with secure attachment styles used mature defense mechanisms more than subjects with insecure attachment styles; 2) Subjects with insecure attachment style used neurotic and immature defense mechanisms more than subjects with secure attachment styles; 3) Subject with ambivalent attachment style used neurotic and immature defense mechanisms more than subjects with avoidant attachment style. Results and implications of this innovative study are discussed in terms of the attachment theory.