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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1962)
EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD, Wed., August 1, 1962 Page SB nun a .J JlMolalla Mill To Shut Down J Long-Range Project Begun in 1946 By Professor of Psychology at UO Children's early acceptance or rejection of their proper sex roles influences the develop ment of their interest patterns and vocational choices, accord ing to the results of a 16-year study at the University of Ore gon. Leona E. Tyler, professor of psychology, has issued her final report on a long-range study of the development of vocational and other interests in children which she began in 1946. Starting in early grade school, Miss Tyler traced the same group of Eugene children through graduation from high school in the longest term study of this particular aspect of hu man growth the development of interests ever undertak en. The children were given psy chological tests which assessed their interests, special abilities, and personal-social character istics in the first, fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades. In addition, in high school they were tested for vocational interests. Of the original 287 children in the study, 145 completed the entire ieries of tests. The study was supported by the University Graduate School's Office of Scientific and Schol arly Research. New Approach Suggested In addition to specific find ings, the project has led Miss Tyler to suggest a new approach to the study of the "dynamic structures for selecting among life's possibilities." Miss Tyler's report deals principally with two special aspects of the study the de velopment of career interests in girls and scientific interests in boys. Both these interests show up by the age of 14 in those children who will develop 'them, and there are some aspects of temperament and per sonality which precede them, the report states. A group of girls in the study were divided into career and non-career types on the basis of their answers to a vocation al interest test given in high school. Miss Tyler then traced each group back to the re aponses received on tests ad ministered in grade school. One of the most important findings was that those girls who later showed preferences for careen gave more mascu line responses in the first grade, although by the time they reached high school, their re sponses were as feminine as, and in some cases, more femi nine than, their non-career classmates. It is early masculinity of in terests among girls, not mascu linity at later ages, that is re lated to the development of ca reer interests, Miss Tyler points out. Eventually Accept Role "Most girls eventually do ac cept the traditional feminine role in spite of all the social changes that have occurred," she writes. "Perhaps the one most useful piece of evidence the present study adds is that delay in accepting it is related to the process of interest devel opment." Children become aware at an early age of the different roles played by men and women in society, Miss Tyler emphasizes. Another aspect of the limita tions which the recognition of sex roles places on the develop ment of interests was pointed out by Miss Tyler in an earlier report following the testing of the first graders. This preliminary study show ed that primary mental abilities correlate with interests in boys, but not in girls. This could be evidence that "even at this age, boys are beginning to formu late differentiated roles in ac cordance with the differentiated positions they must look for ward to occupying, whereas for the little girl who sees her fu ture in terms of her mother's life, distinctions on the basis of mental abilities would be ir relevant," the earlier report said. At the iourth grade level, tests showed that the girls who were to develop career interests were less popular with their classmates than the non-career group. They were mentioned as being less good-looking, less ac tive, bossier, more restless, more talkative, and more inter ested in reading, indicating that their social adjustment was somewhat inadequate at this stage, Miss Tyler observes. Way of Reacting The pyschologist suggests that in some cases the development of career interests may be a girl's way of reacting to prob lems she encounters with her classmates during middle child hood. "A girl who does not consider herself to be good-looking or popular enough to win any of the prizes in the competition for social success may decide to become a good student and develop the basis for an inde pendent life of her own," Miss Tyler writes. In the scientist-non-scientist study among boys, it was again the early attittudc toward the sex role that differentiated the two groups at the first-grade level. Those who had a strong ten dency to make masculine choices at the age of six were more likely to develop scientific interests, although they did not score higher on the masculinity tests later in life, Miss Tyler found. "It may be that in the chan nels marked off for them by the sex limitations they are especially likely to encounter varieties of experience that will stimulate scientific interests," Miss Tyler explains. "As such experience generates new forms for programming one's life, the old classifications based on the sex differentiation become ir relevant. Thus in the end the IMWllillltTS' ?f"l III 1 MOLALLA (UP) The A. F. Lowes Lumber Co. will go out of business this fall, the widow of the founder said Wed nesday. The company employs 70 men and provides one of the two prime payrolls in this city. Lowes, who founded the com pany 15 years ago, was killed in an automobile accident In 1954. Mrs. Lowes said faltering markets and increased costs were the primary factors in the decision to close. She said the mill has been cutting about two million board feet of lumber a month. Adding Maehln calenlmtoff & ! rrp writer A V , BEI'AIKB UKKVICB 4 Y SUPPLIES y UN kvbuui uun LANE COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES CO. Mil Orchard gt 01 M11J Parkins rlsnl ouUlda doot Follow Peanuts Daily & Sunday In the tegister-Guard 1 Sees Results & a. Leona E. Tyler, professor of psychology at the University of Ore gon, shows Neil Goldschniidt, president of the university student body, some of the results of her recently completed 16-year study of the development of interests in children. Goldschmidt, who will be a senior in political science next fall, entered the study in 1947 as a first grader at Edison School, Eugene, and remained a subject in the study until his graduation from South Eugene High School in 1959. Miss Tyler reported that in checking test results she found that Goldschmidt's early popularity with his classmates and early interests in social service jibes with his present academic interests and campus political success. O: O: O: BEFORE YOU BUY ANY PLUMBING... VALVES, HARDWARE DISPOSALS, OR SINKS . . . CHECK WITH US! ! lie We're Always Glad to Discuss Your Plumbing Problems With You! Chapman has Plumbing "We might even save you some money!" i m in in Dl tXQHTRACU PLUMBING I AND HEATING 242 WEST 6th BRAND NAME MERCHANDISE 4-6225 Ok scientist may not score particu larly masculine. . . . The func tion of the early masculinity was to direct his experience into certain channels rather than others." In earlier reports, Miss Tyler pointed out that children start out with a broad pattern of ac ceptance they like almost everything. By the age of 10, the children were exhibiting definite inter est patterns, based at least part ly on sex differences. The boys were rejecting inappropriate ac tivities, shunning pursuits which they considered "sissy," and in dicating an aversion to work and a preference for play. In discussing the use of time, Miss Tyler writes, "Each per son has at his disposal only a finite amount of this precious commodity. What he does with it determines to a great extent his unique individuality." The study suggests that there may be a "considerable amount of trial-and-crror before the final programs arc written." Several different programs may be tried out and abandoned as the individual develops, ma tures, and gains more experi ence. These successive develop mental stages, rather than in dividual traits, should be the concern of scientists wishing to learn more about psychological growth. Miss Tyler believes. HjL BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPECIAL LAY-A-WAY PLAN fS DOWN ... on any purchase secures "a. your purchase until October 1st. I x SHOP WHILE SELECTIONS AND STYLES ARE COMPLETE! A-l TAPER PANTS $6.95 . . . 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