Legacy of insecurity, a reservoir of hope: the psychosocial impact and developmental implications of the threat of nuclear war on adolescents
Five scales were constructed to measure the opinions and expectations of the respondents regarding the threat of nuclear war, the future for both themselves and the world, socio-political activism, and adult stewardship. Two standard scales measuring powerlessness and estrangement - focus of control and alienation - were also employed and analyzed for their interaction with the above opinions and expectations. The respondents were 270 female and male junior and senior volunteers attending the three high schools in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who completed the above scales anonymously. In three of the five major areas of inquiry, a majority of these youngsters responded unequivocally and as predicted: (1) they are keenly aware and fearful of the threat of nuclear war and believe such a war to be unlimitable, unsurvivable, and probable in their lifetime - with those most highly threatened more pessimistic about the future, more skeptical of socio-political activism, and more critical of adult stewardship: (b) they are eagerly optimistic about their own personal futures; and (c) they have confidence in socio-political activism. These results are consistent with previous research. The findings with regard to appraisal of the world's future and adult stewardship were less definitive. Both alienation and externality were significantly correlated with negative assessments of the future, socio-political activism, and adult stewardship.
- Research Organization:
- Fordham Univ., New York (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5977437
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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