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Abstract

Using sociometric peer ratings, staff ratings, and hospital records, study was made of an entire hospital residential ward (N = 33) of adolescent girls. The sociometric structure of the collectivity involved essentially three types of individuals; girls high on positive sociometric status measures (association, popularity), girls high on negative sociometric status measures (avoidance, reputed power), and girls low on both positive and negative sociometric status measures. Thus, positive and negative sociometric status appeared to be rather independent qualities for the present Ss rather than having a strong negative association as might be expected. High positive sociometric status was strongly and significantly correlated in a positive direction with higher psychiatric health, heterosexual interest, and (consistently the strongest among present factors) social initiative. Being younger and/or more asocially aggressive was significantly associated with high reputed power, which in turn was significantly correlated with high avoidance status. The girls low in both positive and negative sociometric status tended to be low on all of the other variables noted.

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Sociometric Status in a Psychiatrically Deviant Adolescent Collectivity

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