CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF PERCEPTION IN THE AGED; AN ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF THE RORSCHACH TEST Thesis for the Degree of Ph. D. MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE Herman Rochwarg 1954 a '7 vw'. C ,--o «IIJIII!Ifil‘l’l‘uim‘lflfiu‘l’imflfliiItWM ‘ 3 1293 10575 435 This is to certifg that the thesis entitled Changes in the Structural Aspects of Perception 1n the Aged: An Analysis by means of the Rorschach Test. presented by Herman Rochwerg has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Do cto r oLEhilQfiQDWgree in 2mm: Maj-er [Irofessor DateAngnnt ’3a 1954 0-169 CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF PERCEPTION IN THE AGED: AN ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF THE RORSCHACH TES T BY He rman R ochwarg AN ABSTRACT Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of P sycholog y Year 1954 APproved MW , “' \ HERMAN ROCHWARG _ ABSTRACT The purpose of this research project was to investigate one aspect of the psychological functioning of the aged; namely, the structural aspects of this group's perception. A review of the lit- erature suggested that there is an involution of this perceptual process which parallels the decline noted in physiologic processes, sensory and motor functioning, intellectual abilities, and over-all psychological functioning of this group. As a test of this general hypothesis, the Rorschach responses of two'groups of subjects were analyzed: (1) a group of forty nor- mal aged between the ages of 68 and 91; and (2) a group of forty normal adults between the ages of 23 and 45. None of the aged subjects were bed patients or convalescents. All were relatively active, either in the community or in the home in which they re- sided. The adult subjects were either government employees or held jobs in various industrial organizations. The specific hypotheses stated the following: 1. The aged group, being characterized by a general biolog— ical involution, would show less evidence of integrative perceptual a-Ctivity than the adult group. HERMAN ROCHWARG ABSTRACT Z. The aged group would show more evidence of early thought processes than would the adult group. The Rorschach responses of these two groups were analyzed in terms of developmental level, using. an index of integrative per- ceptual activity and an index of primitive thought processes. Both hypotheses were confirmed by the results. The aged group scored significantly lower on the Index of Integration, and significantly higher on the Index of Primitive Thought. In the discussion of the results, three main points were stressed: l. Senescence is a developmental phase characterized by its own unique psychological structure. 2. Perceptual decline in the aged is marked by consider; Vable individual variation. 3. The indices of developmental level used in this investi~ gation could be appropriately employed to evaluate the "psychological" age of elderly individuals. CHANGSS IN THE STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF PERCEPTION IN THE AGED: AN ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF THE RORSCHACH TEST BY Herman Rochwarg A.THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Psychology 1954 ’33-; 5,533 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was started in Boston, Hassachusctts and completed in East Lansing, michigan at hichigan state Colleg . Thus, people from different geographic areas contributed to this project. The author's primary debts of gratitude are to Dr. Albert 1. Rabin and Dr. Leslie Phillips. As Chairman of the Guidance Committee, Dr. Rabin pro- vided constructive criticism, understanding, and guidance throughout the entire project. As Chief of Psychological Research at Worcester State dospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. Phillips gave freely of his advise, encouragement and time. Dr. Robert C. Misch acted as judge in the research and contributed to the theoretical aspects of the study as well. Dr. Donald Ransdcll, Chief Psychologist at the Boston Veterans Administrathan Hospital, gave his unlimited cobpera- tion to the author and greatly simplified the matter of gather- ing the data. Dr. Austin Berkely at Boston University was invaluable as a statistical consultant. A debt of gratitude goes also to all the aged subjects who participated in the study. Without their cooperation this project would not now be completed. This research is dedicated to my wife, Irene, whose contributions were immeasurable. - ii - TABLLII OF CONT jNTS o -CIQIO iTLJEDGE-L-E 2“? 5 o o o o e o 0 LIST OF TABLES I. II. III, INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . A. The Biology of aging . . . Physiological Changes in Senescence Intellectual, Sensory and Motor Decline in Senescence . Personality Changes in Senescence B. Perception as a Developmental Function C. The Problem . . . . D. The Hypothesis . . . . . . METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . A. Subjects . . . . . . . . . B. Procedure . . . . . . . . Scoring of the Rorschach Protocols C. The Genetic Scoring System . Index of Integration . Index of Primitive Thought D. Statistical Technique . . RESULTS 0 O I O O O O O O O O 0 A. Reliability of Scoring . . B. Location Choice and Productivity The Number of Responses C. The Index of Integration . - iii - p cm I4 CD03 l2 14 17 18 18 21 24 27 28 29 30 30 30 31 32 Page D. The Index of Primitive Thought . . . . . . S4 3. Interrelationship Between.the Index of Integn tion and the Index of Primitive TIhOUéht o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o 0 0 CG (J1 F. The Index of Integnation and its Relationship to 3ther Variables . . . . . . 57 G. The Index of Primitive Thought and its Relationship to Other Variables . . . . . . 58 a. Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 1. Social Attainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 J. Organization as a Developmental Function . 47 K. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 IV. DISCUSSION OF'THE RESUTTS . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 A. The Nature of Integrative Activity . . . . 50 B. The Nature of Primitive Thought . . . . . . 53 C. The Relationship Between Primitive Thought and Integrative Activity. . . . . . . . . . 56 D. Implications of the Findings . . . . . . . 58 v. emu-hat -ID COI‘ICLUSION‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 APPENDIX I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 A. The Genetic Scoring System . . . . . . . . 70 I‘LPPENDIX II o e e o o o o o o o o e e e e e e o o o 0 77 A. Modified Worcester Scale of Social Attainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 -iv- LIST OF TABLES Table Page I A Comparison of Groups on age, Social Attainment,- and Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 2 a Comparison of the Groups for Location Choice and Response‘Iotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bl 5 A Comparison of the Number of Responses for Both Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 4 The Index of Integration and its Components . . . 33 5 A Comparison of the Groups for Integrative scores 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 O 34 6 The Index of Primitive Thought and its components 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O C O 36 7 The Index of Integration vs. Index of Primitive Thought for Both Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 8 The Influence of Intelligence, Social Attainment, and Response Total on the Index of Integration.. . 39 9 A Comparison of Location Choice for Both Groups . 4O 10 The Influence of Location Choice on the Index of Integnation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 ll Paired Replicates for the Index of Integnition liBtCh-ed for was? 0 O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O 42 12 The Influence of Intelligence, Social.Attainment, and Response Total on the Index of Primitive Thought 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 43 13 The Influence of Location Choice on the Index of Primitive Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 14 A Comparison of the Groups for Mental Age . . . . 45 15 A Comparison of the Groups for Social Attainment O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 46 I. INTRODUCTION Considerable attention has recently been focused on the problem of psychologiCal Changes in old age. A look at the available statistics should make apparent some of the reasons behind the sudden rise in attention devoted to this question. Over the past half century, remarkable changes have been taking place in the age distribution of the United States pOpulation. The reduction of mortality together with a decline in fertility and a restricted im- migration have produced an extensive as well as challeng- ing problem, that of an aging population. In 1900, there were a little more than three million people over 65 in the United States. This was one person out of every twenty- five. In 1950, the Bureau of Census reported that there were 13.4 million peOple over 65, or one person out of every twelve. Within the brief period of one decade -- 1940 to 1950 -- the population at ages 65 and over increas- ed by 37 per cent, whereas the number at ages under 65 rose by only 13 per cent (53). Furthermore, the expectation is that by 1975, 20.7 million people in the United States will be 65 or over; and by the end of the century, the Bureau estimates that there will be more than 26 million people or over.1 This is 13 per cent of the anticipated pOpulation as compared with 4.1 per cent in 1900. - Concern with the problem of an aging population seems to mount as its wide-Spread implications become more clear. 2 An aged population is bound to have a higher crude death rate, lower marriage and birth rates, less economic produc- tivity and smaller per capita income (54). It has also been said that an aged population loses a great deal of its for- mer initiative, ”falling gradually into a stagnant conserva- tism in business, government and in personal habits" (ll). Proposals for attending to the serious economic needs of this group are now being studied on a national as well as state level. Changes in the employment policies and contemporary educational practices loom as essential. A dramatic appraisal of the situation is offered by a leading gerontologist: Man is a utilitarian creature and even pure scientific research is in part motivated by practical necessity. The present situation of a dramatically rapid increase in the number of the elderly in our population is wholly without precedent.....never before in the history of mankind has a like problem arisen; plagues, wars and famines have many times seriously changed the balance of population structure, but never before in the direction of a preponderance of the elderly such as is occurring today. (39, p.5) IThe above estimates are made under the assumption that the pre- vailing conditions of fertility, mortality and immigration con- tinue. 2The term "crude" refers to an uncorrected statistic, in this case a percentage. A. The Biology of Aging Almost nothing is actually known about the biology of aging; that is, its fundamental underlying causes. The im- pact of such factors as homeostatic constants, cellular in- filtrates, cumulative tissue damage, nutrition, and heredity upon growth are not yet open to precise investigation. Ex- planations are often endowed moreover, with references to mystical growth energies (38). The aging process is a continuous one, and involves all of the innumerable aSpects of life. It begins with concep- tion and terminates only with death. The term "aging" may be defined in several ways; for the purposes of this study, the one offered by Stieglitz will be used: "those changes which are introduced by the factor of time in living" (54). It involves two processes which go on simultaneously from the beginning to the end of life; growth or evolution, and atrOphy or involution. These processes continue throughout life, though at various rates naturally. We can observe illustrations of atrpphy even before the infant is born in the dis- appearance of the gill clefts which first develop and then atrophy in the early mammalian embryo. At the time of birth when the child begins to breathe and get its oxygen from the lungs instead of from the mother's circulation, the atrophy of certain arterial structures is indistinguishable under the microscope from the in- volutionary changes which we see later in life. The atrophic process is the same in the newborn infant and in the grandparent (25, p. 282). A most interesting, as well as important aSpect of the biologic process of aging, is the fact that aging changes are neither uniform nor symmetric. "This asymmetry of maturation affects us both biologically and psychologically. within the same species of mankind, there occurs great in- dividual variation”(54). It is not uncommon to hear about the vigor and alertness of some Spry septuagenarian. It is equally common to hear of others who seem "old" at fifty. Each organism is characterized by its own physio- logic age which may be greater or less than than its chronological age. In addition, no organism is of uniform physiologic age throughout, for the various organs and systems age at different rates at intervals in the life span.....the process of aging progresses more rapidly in the beginning than in the end; the rate of change (aging) is greatest in the fetus, less in the infant, still less in the child and after maturity becomes so slow as to be perceptible only by observations spaced widely apart (54, p.6). A fundamental distinction should be made at this point be- tween healthy old age (senescence) and disease in advancing years (senility) (25,55). The basic difference between the two is that senescence is a slow, almost imperceptible pro- cess, whereas in senility there is an unduly rapid deterior- ation involving body physiology, mental activity, and emo- tional responsivity. It is with senescence that this paper concerns itself. Physiological Changes in Senescence. The problem of defining what changes in the physiology of the aging indi- vidual are normal and which are abnormal, is puzzling even to path 010% ists. The issue becomes sharply focused upon the possibility of distinguishing between the cumulative but physiological changes that inevitably take place in all individuals as they grow older, and pathological changes that occur in the elderly as a result of adverse environmental conditions (11). The definition of normal structural changes znust be made in the statistical sense since it is impossible vvith our present knowledge of anatomy and biochemistry to (listinguish between pathological and normal structural changes. 13f most individuals show a certain change, that change is accepted as an entirely proper reaction~of the individual to ttie environment (38). The basic physiologic changes occurring in senescence may be classified into three groups (7,8): 1. Reduction in the size of organs and of the organism as; a whole. This is physiologic atrophy and is brought about 111 part by a reduction in the size of cells. Replacement arui repair effective in earlier years have become inadequate to offset the attrition of use. 2. Changes in the intercellular and supporting tissue of thms body which increase the proportion of connective tissue as (Rampared to the more actively functioning elements. 3. Alterations in the blood vessels are the chief char- acteristics of the aging process. Thelarge vessels lose theizr elasticity, the walls become thicker, muscle and elas- tic ffiibers are replaced by a nonelastic hyaline substance. Intellectual, éensory and Iotor Decline i_ Senescence. So far only the physiology of aging has been discussed. Aging of the organism denotes, of course, aging in all areas -- aging physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. It is a fundamental tenet of gerontology that the elderly are not "Just old people“. They are structurally, functionally and mentally different men and women than in the days of their youth and early maturity (1,8,25). Research in the area of behavior has demonstrated that ‘the physiologic changes described above have a counterpart in.the changes of psychological functions as well. Wechsler (58) artates that, “intellectual decline occurs after maturity with tune natural increase of age and is independent of any specific mental disease. Every human capacity after attaining a maxi- mum begins an immediate decline. This decline is at first vex y slow but after a while increases perceptibly. Once the demiline begins it progresses continually. The decline of merrtal ability with age is part of the general senescent pro- cess of the organism as a whole". According to Miles (55) , Jezaees and Conrad found a continued improvement in intelligence test scores up to the early twenties and a gradual decline aftearwards. This decline became became most marked after 45 years of age. 1% study by Yerkes on intellectual decline is reported in the .lgiterature by Gilbert (19). Yerkes found that officers in their sixties had an average mental age 18 months below those officers aged 20-25. Gilbert (19) also reports a study by Jeiss wuo found that the intellectual performance of several hundred industrial workers between 20-60 declined steadily from the age of 50 on. Other independent investi— gations by Rabin(46), Madonick (52), Lorge (51) and Miles (55) all confirmed the fact that there is an intellectual decline accompanying normal old age. Gilbert (19), in summarizing a discussion of intellectual changes with senescence said that: "From these many investi- gations into the matter of intellectual impairment with ad- vancing age, we can see that there is a decline in intelli- gsnice test scores in senescence . All studies are in agree- ment on this point." In addition, she states that changes 1E1 intelligence are inextricably linked to changes in the thrsiology, personality and emotional life of the aged person anxi umst be considered as part of a general biological in- VOJJJtion. It should be noted that not all intellectual functions follow the same course of decline with age but are dependent, in Ipart at least, upon the length of use and practice. Some abilities, such as vocabulary, do not decline during old use (19). :Sensory activity as well as motor ability undergoes a C38¢!Wi—Bment with time. The overall pattern of the changes in mental abilities with age parallels this decline of sensory and motor functioning. Brozek, in reviewing the studies done in this area had this to say about changes in the aged: Maturity and old age are just two phases in man's total life cycle. The efficiency of sensory, motor, and intellectual functions follows a curve indicating an increase during the early years of life, a rela- tively steady state during adulthood, and declineudth old age. This trend is characteristic of the changes in sensory, motor, and mental capacities in general but the detailed features vary for different functions; the overall pattern of changes in mental abilities with age is similar to the sensory and motor functions (6, p.255) PersonalityChanges in senescence. This pattern of ;physiological, sensory, motor, and intellectual decline with old age is strikingly similar to personality changes as well. Bazflnam (5), in an attempt to describe these changes, speaks abcnit three genetic stages roughly distinguishable from one ano ther: 1. Infancy, with its characteristic undifferentiated and random behavior but not without signs of increasing differ- entiaition and integration. 2. Maturity, where emotional sensitivity and control are most :fully developed but with signs of consolidation and some disirrtegration in later maturity. :5. Old age, with constricted emotional reSponses and per- Severation. She comments on these psychologiCal changes by adding that "the apparent diminution of affective adaptability in old age is explained by the emotional organization undergoing a cer- tain amount of consolidation, constriction, and disintegration in later years". Banham concludes with this comparison: All old people show in the normal process of aging a certain amount of inflexibility and narrowing of range of responses. Individuals vary as to the specific nature and degree of their inflexibility, but by and large, as they get older, they become more set in their ways, emotional moods, beliefs and attitudes. Just as there appears to be a pro- cess of maturation of behavior in early infancy with a neurological counterpart in the myelination of the axon sheaths, so also there seems to be a process of psychological senescence in the later years. This maturation and senescence shows in affective behavior as well as in motor coordina- tion and thought processes (5, p.179). The major portion of research with the aged carried on by psychologists has been devoted to the measurement of physio- logical and intellectual changes. The psychiatric literature, hownever, contains numerous articles describing personality chaznges, both normal and abnormal, in the aged person (54,59). Most: of these are actually essays on age changes and are often fburuied on uncritical observations (57). A few articles like those by Schilder (50) and Kaufman (26) stand out as impor- tant contributions to the understanding of personality changes in Old age. .fiith the introduction of more reliable measures of per- sonalzity3 psychologists have shown a growing interest in this PrOblem of personality changes which accompany old age. Rorschach (49), in his original monograph, reported his im— Pressions of the senescent's reactions to the ink blots. - 10 - He observed three principal Features in the record: 1. A reduced capacity to make use of their inner re- sources and a weakening of the reaction to emotional chal- lenges. 2. Inaccurate perceptions. 5. Highly restricted thought content demonstrating a tendency to stereotyped associations. Klopfer's (28) analysis of 50 Rorschach protocols of aged individuals showed the aged person to be slower, less produc- tive, constricted in inner integration and adaptive social responses. moreover, the conclusions remark on the resemblance of 'the senescent's functioning to that of the Child. Prados and Fried (45) similarly analyzed 55 cases of old People between the ages of 50 and 80 and concluded that their affkective life became quite shallow with little inner conflict and ‘with slight emotional rapport with the environment. These writners also found that with increasing age, control over instinctual demands tends to disappear and some of the mani- festzations of childhood tend to recur. (3rossman, Narshawsky, and Hertz (21) reported a Rorschach Studbr on.50 old people from 60 to 90 years old. They found the elderly people to be slower and less productive than the averagge adult.’ Thought processes were "rigid and often ir- realisrtic"; and an inability to form satisfactory social relation- ship-‘3 was especially evident. 1" - 11 - The most recent Rorschach analysis of a normal aged group was carried out by Ames at al. (2). These investigators were interested in studying age changes in intellectual and emo- tional functions and their results were essentially the same as those previously discussed. In summary, then, the prominent features of the aged per- sonality, as reflected in the Rorschach, may be stated as: l. Decreased emotional responsiveness. 2. Narrowed range of interests. 5. Less adequate adjustment than younger adults. 4. Faulty perception of reality. 5. Recurrence of manifestations common in childhood. 111 all but one of these.studies, the primary aim of the in- vesstigators was to study the adjustment capacity of the aged. Thcnigh the findings were marked by their distinct structural congruence with other developmental changes observed in the Senescent's functioning, no attempt was made to bring these reszrlts into any framework of genetic theory. Rather, there was (a.tendency to view senescence as a pathologic state of maturity. Amms gt 3;. (2), were the only investigators who attempted 150 discuss changes with age in terms of growth and development. The?’ symke about "patterned age changes which should take place in 01x1 age as they do in childhood". The subjects in this StudS' vvere divided into three groups: the 70-year-olds, 80-year— olds and 90-year-olds. Using the customary scoring procedure, the investigators expected to find marked differences oe- tween these three groups. On analysis of the data, however, no consistent differences were forthcoming. It was found that some subjects in each age group responded virtually as would the normal younger adult. Some subjects in the oldest age group reSponded more adecuately than those in the younger. It was then decided to classify each subject as either "normal", "presenile' or "senile", principally on the basis of certain qualitative signs. For example, some of the signs designated as "presenile' included the giving of initial exclamations, refusals, interest in other peoples' responses, looking at the back of the card, an animal per cent of 50 or more, the relating of personal experiences and a reaponse total of fif- teen or less. On the basis of this qualitative sign approach Ames §t_§l. reported that, " each of these three classifications seems to stand out as a patterned entity". B. Perception as 3 Developmental Function. As can be seen from the literature (64) the area of per- ception has proven to be a fruitful approach to the investi- gation of countless psychological problems. There is, in the area of psychology, a theory of perceptual development which has stimulated the present study. It is that of Heinz fierner(60). He states that all development may be expressed in terms of "an increasing differentiation of parts and an increasing sub- - 13 - ordination or hierarchization." Immature and mature levels of development can be described respectively as relatively "undifferentiated" or "differentiated and hierarchically integrated". Thus, immature perception, as seen in a young child, is a diffuse reaction to the global aspects of the situation as a whole. From this kind of perception, develop- ment is thought to proceed through "a process of differentia- tion and integration, a separation of discrete functions and psychological processes and their outgrowth into an integrated pattern of distinct visual processes". Developmental movement, then, is in the direction of in- creasing differentiation and hierarchization. This genetic change is exemplified by certain paired concepts: "syncretic- discrete", "diffuse-articulated", "indefinite-definite", "rigid-flexible" and "labile-stable". Immature perception is said to be diffuse, indefinite, rigid, labile, and syncretic.l Mature perception is described as discrete, articulated, defi- nite, flexible, and stable. 1The term "syncretic" is defined by derner: "If several.mental functions or phenomena, which could appear as distinct from each other in a mature state are merged without differentia- tion into one activity, we may speak of a syncretic function or syncretic phenomena". (60, p. 55) -14.. C. The Problem In his discussion of perceptual development, fierner makes no direct reference to the course of this development in old age. Evidence has been presented to show the pre- sence of physiologic, intellectual, sensory and motor de- cline in the aged. Projective techniques have more recently shown, that as a result of the aging process, there are also changes in overall psychological functioning. The appli- cation of .Jerner's theory to the study of the effects of aging in younger groups has already been effectively studied by means of the Rorschach (16,23) . The application of these experimental findings of functional decline to Warner's genetic framework permits one to make the logical supposi- tion that with old age there is also a reversal in the de- velopmental pattern of perception towards decreasing differ- entiation and reduced hierarchization. Friedman (16), using the Rorschach test as an eXperi- mental genetic instrument, introduced a scoring system de— signed to study variations in the structural aspects of percel’Jtion. He defined various subgroups of the usual location choices (W and D)1 so that it is now possible to as3°88» the characteristics of each choice. All of these \ 4‘; reSpouse to the whole of the Rorschach card is designated Ry a "W" score. A respouse to a delimited detail of the OI‘Sehach card is designated by a "D" score. -15- Rorschach scores may be considered as reflecting levels of organization by the subject, since they are defined in terms of genetic theory, conceptualizing a change from a state of relative undifferentiatedness to a state of differentiation and hierarchic integration. Each response is assigned a score which represents the nature and quality of the individual's integrative effort at various genetic levels. Hemmemdinger (23), using this genetic scoring system analyzed the protocols of 160 children ranging from 3-10 years of age as well as the record of 30 mormal adults, 20-40 years of age. In comparing the records of the two groups, he found that, "when the quality of the Whole (W) and Detail (D) scores is examined, the proportions of genetically mature scores were observed to increase regularly with ages from three years to adulthood". Subsequent studies by Siegel (52), Frank (14), and Lofchie (50) confirmed these conclusions. Of all the scores in the genetic scoring system, these "mature" scores reflect the most complex organizing activity of the person and were referred to by Lofchie as the "Index of Integration".1 It is the plan of the present research to use this Index Of Integration in comparing the dev'eIOpmental level of a normal S c3C>rnplete description of the genetic scoring system may e found in the Appendix. .43. brief description of this system gill be found in the next chapter, along with a definition the Index of Integration. - 15 - aged group with that of a younger normal adult group. The Index of Integration was chosen as a measure of developmental level because it is an index representative of the most high- ly developed organizational function: g and because it is the combination of scores in the genetic scoring system that shows a uni-directional positive relationship with development. In a recent study, misch (37) was able to differentiate a "verbal" group from a developmentally lower "motoric" group at a significant probability level on the basis of that group of scores in the system that seem specific to developmentally early thought processes. This group of scores, when taken together, was referred to by Misch as the "Index of Primitive Thousht'land will be used in this study as a second measure of developmental level. These scores show a uni-directional decrease with age up to adulthood and reflect developmentally early thought processes. This measure was included on both theoretical and empirical grounds as the writings of Banham (5), Rorschach (49), Klopfer (28) and Amos (2) have indicated there ‘were recurrences in the aged of manifestations common to childhood. It does not neceSSarily follow that if there is a reduction in those scores reflecting later developmental functioning that there will also be an increase in genetically early function- ing sdnce there is a middleground of scores in the scale which are not designated as either integrative or primitive. ‘lA definition of the "Index of Primitive Thought" appears in the next chapter. _ 17 _ D. The Hypothesis The general hypothes's is made by the author that in the process of normal aging, there is a reverSaI in the devel- opmental pattern of perception away from the maximum hier- archic integration and organization found in normal adults. secondly, that in the process of normal aging there is also a reappearance of genetically early perceptual processes. This led to the specific hypotheses that if an aged group were compared to an adultlgroup, the aged group would show less evidence of deveIOpmentally mature functioning and more evidence of developmentally early functioning than would the younger group. Having Specified the two groups (normal aged and normal adults) and the measures to he used (Index of Integration and the Index of Primitive Thought), the specific hypotheses become: 1. That the aged group will achieve lower scores than the adult group on the Index of Integration and 2. That the aged group will achieve higher scores than 'the adult group on the Index of Primitive Thought. l Henceforth, the word "adult" will be used to refer specifically to the younger group. II. METHODOLOGY A. The Subjects The subjects in this experiment consisted of two groups: I) an experimental group of 40 white males between the ages of 68 and 91; and 2) a control group of 40 white males between the ages of 23 and 45. Their intelligence was recorded in terms of mental age. The mental ages were derived from the vocabulary sections of either the Revised Stanford-Binet or the Wechsler-Bellevue Form 1. Their education ranged from no formal schooling to four years of university training. No member of either group had a history of psychiatric dis- turbance and all considered themselves to be in good physical health. Because of the major changes in this country's social and economic structure over the past 50 years, it would have ‘been.misleading to make a comparison of the socio-economic status of the groups on the basis of annual income, educa- ‘tion or occupation alone. Rather, selected items from a social attainment scale reported by Phillips and Cowitz (41) and revealing many aspects of the subject's earlier economic and social experience were used. Table 1 is a comparison of 1A complete description of the modified Worcester Social Attainment Scale may be found in the Appendix. - 19 - the two groups on age, social attainment, and intelligence. A COMRHRISOR OF GROUPS ON AGE, SOCIAL ATTA NMSNT “ND INTELLIGENCE Group .mge Mean Median Mean Score Median Range Age Age Social Attainment M. A. Aged (N-40) 68-91 78.5 78 15.4 19 - 9 Adult (N-40) 23-45 35.7 36 15.4 15 - 6 The eXperimental group was established in the following way. The author contacted various organizations known to have an intimate relationship with a normal elderly popula- tion. Without going into too many details, the research project was outlined to the prOper authorities and assur- ances given that the tests to be used would not be taxing in any way to the subject. It was also made clear that no «one who showed any reluctance would be tested. The aged group was made up of subjects obtained from severel.sources; seventeen came from a Masonic Home in Charlton, Massachusetts; eight subjects were obtained at GoodMuJJ.Industries of Boston, a private industrial concern that is interested in providing employment for the aged; two of the subjects were from a private home for the aged; enui the remaining thirteen were members of the South End House, - 20 - a Red Feather Agency which servos as a meeting place as well as a center for recreational and educational programs for the aged living in the community. Since the aged group was to be compared with a younger group that Was active and productive, it was considered de- sirable that the aged subjects be relatively active as well. None of the subjects used were either bed patients or con- valescents. Of the entire group, 21 lived at home, many of them with their families. Of this number, eight had full- time jobs and several others held part-time positions. Of the two subjects coming from a priVate home one was an artist who continues to turn out paintings at a prolific rate, and the second was a volunteer instructor at the fennel Arts Therapy unit at a Veteran's Administration Hospital. The fiasonic home in Charlton is unique in that it bears only a slight resemblance to any institution dedicated to the care of the aging. The residents there have complete freedom to come and go as they please and visits to friends and relatives are a common occurrence. Married couples re- side together, whereas it is almost a universal rule in most homes for the aged that the men and women live apart regard- less of marital status. All of the subjects seen partici- pated fully and actively in the affairs of the home. For example, one, a retired pharmacist, continues this role at the home, filling the pharmaceutical needs of all the residents. - 21 - a second ran the postoffice-in the home, while a third man- aged the commissary. still another was a guide, taking visitors to the home on tours of the grounds. Of the others, some worked in the laundry room, others in the dining hall and some tended the gardens. The subjects from the South End House were regular par- ticipants in group activities and contributed substantially to the planning and organization of the various programs held at the center. The control group was set up in the following way: Ten of the subjects were employed by the Veteran's Admini- stration in various non-professional capacities. The re- maining 30 were seen by another investigator as part of a larger research project.1 B. Procedure The control subjects seen by the writer were told that Inc was preparing his doctoral dissertation on a comparison between the things a young group and an old group see on some ink blots. All those seen expressed a willingness to cOOperate in the study. As for the older group, the author was introduced to eacfli subject by someone who was on friendly terms with that lTrue 30 control subjects seen by another investigator canua from various industrial organizations in Massachusetts. subject. In the case of the Masonic Home as well as the private home for the aged, this was the director. In the South End House, it was the social worker who acted as an intermediary. For the Goodwill Industries this task was handled by the personnel director. It was explained to each of the subjects that the author was interested in working with older people and that this was a research project to "learn more about what makes older people tick". In addition, they were told that the information gathered was confidential and would remain so. They were told that other people their age had volunteered as subjects and found the tests interesting; that if they did not wish to go through the procedure, they did not have to. Of all the elderly individuals interviewed, seven refused to volunteer. Several of these were interviewed at the height of a widely publicized congressional hearing and felt that the author was and F. B. 1. agent. Others considered themselves to be "stupid" and usually suggested the name of some other person who would, in his opinion, do much.better. One or two felt that the procedure would Ins a violation of their privacy and refused to participate on that point. lPrior to the administration of the Rorschach, each of the elderly subjects was given a battery of four short -23.. psychological tests1 that are known to show a decrement with aging (52,46). It was felt that those subjects showing an unusually severe impairment on these tests should be elimi- nated. On this basis, two subjects were eliminated, both having shown an almost complete loss in memory and in simple arithmetic reasoning. a standard Rorschach test was individually administered, there being a slight deviation in procedure only when the developmental aSpects of a given response were not clear. Such an occasion arose when a "pars pro toto" or a "fabu- lized combination" appeared to have been given and further clarification was required. In addition to the Rorschach test, the vocabulary test from either the Revised Stanford-Binet or the Wechsler- IBellevue Form.I was administered. Both of these measures rurve been shown to be closely related (46, 57). The re- sults of the Stanford-Binet are usually given in terms of mental age; the results of the 'Jechsler-Bellevue in terms of' intelligence quotient (I. Q.). These I. Q. scores, how- ever, may be transformed to equivalent mental age scores (58, p. 120, Table 1'7) . Vocabulary has long been consider- ed one of the best indices of intelligence (58). Further- nrxre, studies tend to agree that vocabulary holds up well J‘l‘he Digit Span, Digit Symbol, and Arithmetic Sub-tests of the Wechsler-Bellevue, Form 1, and the first paragraph for recall 0:1 the Wechsler memory Scale were used (58,59). with age and is remarkably resistant to impairment. Since it was intended to match the groups as closely as possible for original intellectual level, vocabulary seemed best suited to serve as an index. scoring 9: the Rorschach brotocols. A detailed de- scription of the genetic scoring system will be found in Appendix 1. Therefore, in this chapter the scores involved in the system will only be very briefly reviewed. All Ror- schach protocols were scored independently by the author in accordance with the system deveIOped by Friedman (16), and used by Siegel (52), Hemmendinger (25),Pena (40), Frank (14), Lofchie (30)and Misch (57). A sample of ten of the records chosen at random were independently scored by another psychologist to provide a measure of reliability. C. The Genetic Scoring aystem The genetic scoring system evolved by Friedman derives from.Werner's description of develOpmental stages (60) and from observations made by Beck (4) and Rapaport (48). Werner has used the following schema to outline development: Devel cpment moves away from a fused unity of functions in ‘the direction of articulation of functions and their inte- lgration into an ordered whole. The scores in the system :represent an attempt to set up perceptual parallels to this general schema. - 25 - All scores in the system are based on location choice (W and D only), the definitness of the blot outline that the reaponse requires, and organizational quality. The four highest response-types are also based on the adequacy of the form-level (whether or not the form elements are % or -). The scores in the system are as follows: [fl and D/% : responses are classed as "plus-plus" if they involve breaking down a solid blot area into component parts and then resynthesizing these parts to form an appro- priately organized unity. W/ and Di: responses are classed as "plus" if they in- volve the integration of two or more discrete blot areas into an appropriately organized unity. Wm and Dm : esponses are classed as "mediocre" if they are given to a solid blot area, and are predominantly based on the specific gross outline of this area. W- and D- : responses are classed as "minus" if the re- sponse requires a Specific form, and if that form require- ment is not met by the blot--i. e., if the form element is F-. We and Da : responses are classed as "amorphous" if he. Specific form is required, the responses being based solely on chromatic or achromatic blot features. flpars and Dpars : responses are classed as "pars pro toto" when the only basis given for such responses is that some portion, less than half of the total blot area - 26 - included in the reaponse, is given as the entire basis of what is seen. Pars pro toto responses include DW, DdN, D 9 D and DdD. Nfab and Dfab responses are classed as "fabulized combination" if they involve the inappropriate and arbi- trary unification of two or more sub-units on the basis of sheer spatial contiguity. Wcont and Dcont responses are classed as "contami- nations" if they involve the fusion of two separate responses given to the same area into a single response in which the elements of the two responses now intermingle. WV and Dv - the "vague" responses have been placed at the end of the list, not because they are lowest genetically, but because they are essentially agenetic. That is to say, although an increasing number of "vagues" is to be expected as the general level of pathology comes to include more re- lgressive phenomena (6. g., schiZOphrenics have more "vagues" tha411neurotics), "vague" responses are not characteristic of cfinildrenu Although they seem associated with regression, theyr are uniquely adult. A response is scored as "vague" if the demand made on the blot structure is so minimal that al- most any form could fulfill the requirement. "Vagues" fall between amorphous and mediocre response-types as regards the Specificity of their form requirements. The first three categories of this genetic system (viz., the plus-plus, plus and mediocre) are considered to be "mature"; in general they have shown a positive relation- ship with increasing age up to adulthood. The balance are considered to be "immature"; in general they have shown a negative relationship with increasing age. Some of the scores within the system, however, show stronger uni-direc- tional relationships with age than do others. The two top scores (viz., the plus-plus and plus) have this character- istic relative to the mediocre score. Because of this, Lofchie (30) combined these two scores into an index of developmental level which has been used in the present study. The Index 9; Integration., This index is a combinatory score, first proposed by Lofchie (30), who derived it from the work of Friedman (16), which is defined as the per cent of all W and D scores that clearly involve appropriate integration: lfiLilW Dig”) {DNA / LBJ) X 100 The integrated responses (// and /) are the only re- sponse types whose median production at the normal adult leve1.exceeds that of all levels of childhood and pathology enui distinguishes between normal adulthood and psychoneurosis (30). “The other scores in the system, while showing strong developmental trends, have not demonstrated the clarity of relationship with development that these scores do. Or to put it in another way: of the scores presented in the genetic scoring system, two have been demonstrated to have superior validity as measure of perceptual development. Thus, theoretically and empirically, the integrative scores designate the most mature levels of perceptual deveIOpment. The Index g§_Erimitive Thought. On the low side of the scale three types of responses (viz., pars pro toto, fabu- lized combination and contamination) seem to be most clearly associated with ideational processes of a developmentally early nature. These three have been combined into an index (The Index of Primitive Thought Processes) and have also been utilized in the present study. The psychological pro- cesses underlying these scores are reflected in behavior identified as syncretic, diffuse and labile. This index is a combinatory score, first proposed by misch (37), which is defined as the per cent of all W and D scores that fall in the pars pro toto, fabulized combination and contamination categories: LVpars and Dpars) / (Wfab and Dfab) f (Vlcont and Dcont) 41W ; D) X 100 D. The Statistical Technique The procedure used was a chi square analysis. All the subjects, echrimental and control, were ranked on a given score, and a combined nedian couputed. This combined median provided a "cutting point"; the distribution of subjects from both groups was then compared in a 2 X 2 contingency table to test whether or not it was random with reference to the combined median. The null hypothesis, then, was that within the limits of chance, the distribution of each group would be evenly devided between the "above median" and "below median" categories. In case of those scores which yielded a combined median of zero (e. g. , the Index of Primitive Thought), the tables describing the results were labeled in such a way as to indicate that the tests were for presence vs. absence of the score, although the procedure was identical with those cases in which the combined median was a figure other than zero 0 III. REJULTS A. Reliability of scoring Although users of the developemtal system of scoring have repeatedly demonstrated that it is reliable (14,16,50 37,40,52), a sample of ten of the protocols, selected at random was independently scored by another psychologist.l This was done in order to provide a measure of reliability of the application of the system to this study. The per- centage of agreement between the author and judge on the scoring of the 180 reSponses involved in the ten records was 95.6 per cent. This figure compares well with the mean agreement in all previous studies (93.7%) and would seem to indicate that the system of genetic scores has been reliably applied in the present study. B. Location Choice and Productivity Table 2 is a comparison of the two groups for location Choice and response total. Although the two groups differed significantly on N and D location choices, a detailed dis- cussion of these differences appears later in the chapter and will not receive further attention at this time. LThe author wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. Robert C. Misch for his assistance in acting as a judge in this study. a -31... TABLE 2 A COLLPl-rRIJON OF Tiidl GROUPS FOR LOCATIOI‘I CHOICE 315D RESPOL‘IJJ TO‘I'L lied ian Mean Media n .‘Tean Median Mean Hedi an Mean Adult 36 32 60 51 o ,o 7 20 21 . .7 From the table it can be seen that there was very little difference in the average number of reSponses between the two groups . Previous Rorschach studies have reported a re- duced productivity in the aged as compared with adults (10,28) . However, the aged subjects in this study are of superior in- tellectual ability and this factor was probably most influ- ential in the maintenance of their productivity. The Number of ReSponses. Because of the possible in- fluence on the various scores of the total number of responses, "Rn variable. a comparison has been made between the two groups on this The results of this comparison are given in Table 3. AS can be seen from the table, the difference between the two groups is not a significant one. No further consideration will be given to this Variable in this paper. - 32 - TABLE 5 A COMPARISON OF THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES FOR BOTH GROUPS Aged Adult 1- Pro babi lity Group Group (N-4Q) (Ii-40) X value Number above "R" median 19 19 (Combined Median 0.0 .99 21) Number below median 21 21 C. The Index 9; Integration The Index of Integration, as was indicated in the pre- vious chapter, is a combinatory score defined as the percent- age of all W and D responses that fall in the plus-plus and plus categories. This combination of scores has been found to have a positive uni-directional trend with development and denotes the highest organizing capacity of the individual(50). Table 4 shows the comparison figures between the aged group and the adult group. As can be seen from the table, the in- dex differentiated the aged from the younger group at a very significant level of probability. The plus responses formed a more discriminating score than the plus-plus responses, but both of them were exceeded in differentiating power by the Index of Integration. Tfld TAB ( Ln) ()1 a lNJfiX OE INFEGRnTI fl .JID Il‘ :5 CO .‘z’l’ONJlITS Aged Adult Group Group Probability AjN-dO) giN-éO) value Index of Inte- humber above gretioh median 9 31 (Combined median Number below 24.0 .001 lo.0) median 51 9 Plus-plus % Number having (Combined Median at least one 4 17 0.0) Number having 9.5 .001 none 36 23 Plus % Number above (Combined Hedian median 10 29 15.0) Number below 18.0 .001 median 30 ll -54.. Table 5 is a comparison of the integrative scores attained by the two groups. The integrative 1 scores show more of a decline than the integrative D scores relative to their incidence in the adult group. T4.3L3 5 A COMPnRIoOlI 0)" THE GROUPS FOR INTEG'LRTI‘TE SCORES Mean 5% of Median % of Mean 95 of Median 9% of Group WA "2‘ w//, W/ D/r‘. D/ D//, D/ Aged 4 0.0 9 8 Adult 20 17.0 25 22 D. The Index 9}: Primitive Thought The Index of Primitive Thought is a combinatory score defined as the percentage of all the W and D responses that fall in.the pars pro toto, fabulized combination.and man- tamination categories. These scores are specific to develop- mentally early thought processes and the index was first used to differentiate a developmentally mature group from one less mature at a significant level of probability (3'7). As indicated in Table 6 the index was able to differentiate between the two groups. In addition, two of the component scores involved in the index, the pars pro toto and the fabulized combination discriminated between the two groups as well. E. Interrelationship Between the Index of Integration and_the Index 33 Primitive Thought The present hypotheses were formulated in such a way as to predict differences in perceptual development from two approaches. The first of these approaches, utilizing the Index of Integration as its measure, was based on the experimental and empirical evidence of a general biological decline at senescence. The second approach, utilizing the Index of Primitive Thought as its measure, was based on the consideration that in the senescent period per s3, there 7were resemblances to earlier behavior patterns. Therefore, in addition to predicting differences in the integrative capacity of the two groups, the existence of diffuse and syncretic perceptual patterns in the senescent group was expected as well. In a previous study, involving groups younger than the experimental subjects used here, these two measures were found to be unrelated (37). The results in Table '7 indicate that there was a significant relationship ‘between.the two indices suggesting the possiblity that in (flu: age the process of decline is associated with extensive psyc ho logi cal change 3 . m - 1A THE INDEX OF PRIMITIVS THOUOET 43D ITS COHPONENTS Aged Adult Group Group 12' Probabi 1113 y AjN-4O) (N-éOl value Index of Number having Primitive Thought at least one 26 3 (Combined Median Number having 26.0 .001 0.0) none 14 37 Pars Pro'Toto % Number having (Combined Median at least one 16 2 0.0) Number having 11.8 .001 none 24 38 Fabulized Number having Combination % at least one 16 1 (Combined Median Number having 14.8 .001 0.0) none 24 39 Contamination % Number having (Combined Median at least one 4 0 0.0) Number having 2.36 .10 none 36 40 TABDE 7 INDEX OF INTEGRATION VS. INDflX OF PRIXITIVB THOUGHT FOR BOTH GROUPS Above Median. Below Median 1 Integration Integration “XL Probability __p Index Index value Number having at least one 9 20 Primitive Response 5.2 .02 Number having none 31 20 ‘ F. The Index g£_Integration and Its Relationship tg_0ther Variables Cronbach (9) has pointed out that ratio scores such as the Index of Integration anelves an inappropriate combination of areas. In contrast t3 ‘the child, whose integrative efforts are inappropriate from the start, the aged person is able to synthesize the discrete b101: area only to have the organization upset with further elaixoration. This description of perceptual activity may be lalkened to maturation processes in general during which any dew310pmenta1 stage preserves vestiges of the earlier stages frGin-which it has emerged, and any degeneration bears signs of the higher level from which it has declined. The process of a decreasing integrative capacity in the older person seems dramatically illustrated by this feature. C. The Relationship Between Primitive Thought and Integgative Activity The hypotheses tested here were based on the formulation that developmental changes in the aged would be associated with decreasing integration, as measured by the Index of Inte— gration, along with an increase in early thought processes as measured by the Index of Primitive Thought. Ls discussed previously, both of these predictions were borne out by the findings. In this study, the two indices have been found to be: correlaries. There is a middle group of scores, however, movering responses that are not considered as either inte- ngitive or perceptually primitive. It is possible, then, for thus indices to be independent of one another. Misch (37), in. a comparison of a "verbal" adult group with a development- alLLy'lower "motoric" adult group, found no significant re- laizionship between the Index of Integration and the Index of Prinnitive Thought, whereas both measures discriminated between the; groups at a significant probability level. Werner has StrNassed the point that, "the normal man does not always quCtion at the some level of mental activity". The same nornlal.person, depending on inner or outer circumstances, may be Cklaracterized by entirely different levels of develOpment, ‘n and primitive modes of behavior not only appear under some conditions, but are continually pres;nt (60).1 It seems reasonable to suggest that the senescent's decline is of a nature which, amongst other things, involves a weakening of those psychological processes ordinarily en- gaged in negotiating with more primitive thought and inhibit- in its production. The result is that the primitive per- 00 ceptual processes become more prevalent at old age than at adulthood, though they are present, to a varying degree in both groups. Comparisons were made between both measures of perceptual development and mental age. All previous studies with the (havelopmental scoring system have shown the absence of a sig- :nificant relationship between the mature scores and intelli- genes (250,36) . In the present study, however, it was felt thiit the effect of old age on intellectual functioning might infiluence the production of integrative scores. It was on this account only that some measure of intelligence was in- Clllded in the research. As it turned out, the aged group prCJved to be intellectually superior to the adult group. L 1Gardner Murphy, according to K10pfer(2'7) , has also Spoken aibout developmental levels of perception and his descrip- 'tixbn follows closely the theory presented by Werner. murphy 1‘feels that the adult mind is functioning at mature and launature levels all the time but that each person has his OVVII proportion of these processes. In attempting to cor,ly with the requirement be limited to those aged who are still active and a ' selection factor seems to have been operating. Gilbert (19), otieglitz (54), Brozek (6) and others have been impressed by the close relationship between intellectual decline and general physical involution. D. Implications g: the Findings In the first chapter, it was mentioned that the rate of decline differs widely among people and that physiological and psychological ages seldom coincide with chronological age (34, 54). There seems to be even more individual variation and asymmetry in psychological maturation and later involution thamiix1the physical changes inherent in senescence (54). Knowledge about the psychological age of old people is of great iJmportance in social planning, and of economic interest. Relgiable information, for example, is necessary before a de- CIJSion may be made as to which persons may continue working Pasrt the technical retirement age, which can enter upon a mOCtified work program and which should be given simpler tasks eVTin before the retirement age has been reached. It would seENn that an arbitrary retirement age should be replaced by a mOIVB flexible system of evaluating the potential of old people. The scores in the developmental scoring system, having been set up to parallel developmental changes seem to offer a I‘EB'cilistic approach to the study of psychologic age in these elderly people. Certainly it would seem that a senescent with a minimum of primitive thought would exercize better judgment than an old person in whom those abundance. Likewise, an old person who retains some measure of integrative capacity as measured by the developmental scores should be able to offer more in the way of productivity than someone with no such apparent capacity. The implications for economic "reclamation" of the aged are obvious. Other es of this technique would be in evaluating older people at m u institutions for the aged and hospital admissions suspected of senility. Many writers, in discussing the psychological changes (noncommitant with old age, have been impressed by the parallels truat could be made between the behavior of neurotic adults and ‘I Sennescents (17,57). SeVeral writers even went so f»r as to (W lxebel these oldsters "neurotic". Pollack (44) compiled an exflzensive list of behavioral similarities between old people efud neurotics. He included negativism, social withdrawal, bOredom, inadequacy feelings, regressive tendencies, rigidity arui conservatism as being features common to both groups. StFill others have attempted to make childhood as a period, COIHQarable to senescence (20,39). One writer'recalls the folk ‘Wifsdonlthot says the aged person ultimately returns to a n ‘ Seoond childhood" (31). ff" I 0‘. O I Jhat is common to both positions is the failure to recognize old age as a distinct period of deveIOpnent with its own unique mental structure. Such things as a mild in- pairment of judgment, a growing more "set in their ways" and a failing of recent memory are all "normal" to this period. Just as the child is not to be considered "a little man", so too is the elderly person not to be thought of as just "an old adult". Qgcline of functions should not be equated-with a lggs of functions for certainly there are many peeple in the world today who have lived six decades or more and continue to be productive, alert and interesting. In this reapect, the results of this study lend empirical support to ‘the View that individual differences among the aged are granat. Fourteen of the aged subjects, for example, showed no siégn.of primitive thought processes and nine were above the nmxiian on the Index of Integration. The transition from adltlthood to senescence is seen as a gradual process with ovsxrlapping functional areas and not one sharply delimited by specific age groups. V. oUmmnRY Ann CQECLUSIONJ The fO‘JULLtIOE leading to the specific hypotheses test- ed in the present study was b;de on considerations drawn from two sources: werner's developmental theory and evidence from biological investigations. Werner states that the de- velopment of all organic forms and their functions is express- ed in an increasing differentiation of parts and an increasing subordination or hierarchization. Immature and mature levels APPENDIX II Modified Iorcester Scale of social Attainment —..- ..—__ I I4. ..-_. .~-— «:11!!! r! 3. 'PA iii :1 ~ . “3.3 —_ Zodified Uorcester scale 9: Social Attainment Rating 1.. Jducational Level some postgraduate work . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 College graduate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Completed technical school, or one or more years of college . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 High school graduate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 some high school . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Six to eight grades of school . . . . . . . . . 1 Five or less grades of school . . . . . . . . . 0 2- £921.22; Managerial, professional . . . . . . . . . . . 3 skilled (D. O. T.1 4 and 5) . . . . . . . . . . 2 Semi-skilled (D. O. T. 6 and 7) . . . . . . . . l Unskilled (D. O. T. 8 and 9) . . . . . . . . . O l Dicrtionary of Occupational Titles. V01. I and II, 1949. Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. 3. Job Responsibilit' Inventive-creative, e. r artist worker, but not technician . . . . . . . . . wide range of freedom, must adapt to changing conditions, e. 3., office manager° insurance , salesman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sets up own job but supervisor available for unusual conditions and emergencies, e. g., production worker; radio repair man . . . . . Routine work, minumum of individual freedom, e. g., postal clerk; assembly line worker . . ‘4. Level 9: Supervision Head of company which employs 10 or more workers; head of department which includes skilled workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dead of conpany which employs less than 10 workers; head of department which includes semi-skilled workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . In charge of a group of unskilled workers. . Has helper when needed . . . . . . . . . . . Never in command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rating OI—‘NCJ _-‘Mkh)ll .1 -i . ‘ "ME. . Rating 5. Karital status 1.:Elrri ed a o o o o o o o a o o o o o o o o o o 2 Divorced and remarried successfully . . . . . l Divorced, separated, or single . . . . . . . O 6. Type 2; Organization If subject belon;s to more than one organi- zation, the organization with t e higher rating determines his score. Belong to organizations where membership results in service to the commumity, e. g. PTA; Community Chest; Red Cross . . . . . . l Elks; Knights of Columbus; sports clubs . . O '7. Number 9; Organizations Belongs to 4 or more . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Belongs to 2 or 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . l Belongs to one or none . . . . . . . . . . . O 8. glrganization Attendance Regular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Infrequent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Never 0 O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O A"! Rating E}. Leadership 1; Organi:ations Sxecutive position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Kinor position, e. g., committee member; bergeant—at-arms; union grievance man . . . . . 1 No position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O IlO. Habitual Recreational activity The following criteria for habitual recreational activity are used: a) Self-educative, e. 8., course work; home study. b) Constructive, e. g., repairing equipment; building; painting. 0) Requires training or skill, e. g., choral singing; playing musical instrument. Meets any of the above . . . . . . . . . 2 Meets none of the above, but engages in participant recreation, e. g., fishing; golf; chess; cards . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Meets none of the above, and activities restricted to spectator recreation, e. g., viewing television; casual reading . . . O (Tr_t LD-t I‘L-h“ [JAM Rating ll. Social Participation and Leadership The following criteria are used: a) states he has at least one close friend. b) Participates in social gatherings at least once a month. c) Indicates he is more than Just a passive follower in social groups. All criteria met . . . Two criteria met . . . One criterion met . . . OHND} No criterion met . . . . Demco-293 Date Due HICHIGRN STRTE UNIV. LIBRARIES WIHWIWIIHIIWIIWWWWHIWIWUWI 31293105754356