Abstract
The purpose of the study was to compare self-concepts, academic aspirations, and vocational maturity of adolescents (9th graders) whose parents “understood” them with those whose parents “misunderstood” them. Ss were 50 boys and 50 girls from a Southeastern university town of about 50,000. Families were of predominantly middle-class background with parental education and occupation somewhat above average. Instruments used were Gordon's “How I See Myself,” two measures of academic aspirations from Brookover's research, and Crites Vocational Development Inventory. Data supported the hypotheses that understood Ss perceived themselves more favorably in Parent-Teenager Relations and Academic Adequacy and had higher desired and expected aspirations. Although more boys than girls described themselves as misunderstood, the difference was not significant.
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