James A Thorson
Biographic Data
| ID | 371094 |
|---|---|
| NAME | James A Thorson |
| GIVEN NAMES | James A |
| FAMILY NAME | Thorson |
| SIGNATURE | THORSON J A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Nebraska at Omaha |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 41 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 26 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 41 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1975 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Depression and Intrinsic Religiosity
Social Values and Decision Making
The author introduced the "Lifeboat"exercise as a death-and-dying teaching technique in an article that appeared in the first volume of Death Studies (J. A.Thorson, 1978). It is a classroom exercise designed to illustrate the varying levels of social value placed on terminally ill patients. Using "Lifeboat" with different groups in succeeding years, the author has seen changes in the ways that individuals playing different roles are perceived by …
Undertakers' Sense of Humor
A group of 60 middle-aged morticians at a professional seminar in the midwestern USA who completed a multidimensional sense of humor scale scored significantly lower than another group of 136 men from other occupations. The difference between the two groups appeared almost entirely on scale items having to do with humor generation or creativity
Undertakers' Sense of Humor
Methodological Note on Use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale with Older Samples
Samples of older adults ( ns = 600, 251, and 214) given the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale by telephone seem to have composite scores that are much lower than those who are interviewed face-to-face
Methodological Note on Use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale With Older Samples
African- and Euro-American Samples Differ Little in Scores on Death Anxiety
Samples of 293 students of European heritage and 102 students of African heritage completed the Revised Death Anxiety Scale. Euro-Americans were more concerned with the uncertainty associated with death and with the loss of being, while African Americans expressed greater anxiety over the pain associated with dying, but there was no significant mean difference in total scores for the groups
Age Differences in Death Anxiety among African-American Women
Samples of 83 younger and 52 older African-American women completed a death anxiety scale; the younger women had significantly higher scores on the total scale, principally on items dealing with pain, loss of bodily integrity, and decomposition
Constructions of Religiosity and Death Anxiety in Two Cultures
Religiosity seems to moderate death anxiety, but not in all groups. The two constructs apparently are related mostly among those who are high in intrinsic religiosity or low in death anxiety, or both. Age seems to be an important factor in the development of this relationship. Samples from Kuwait (N = 294) and the United States (N = 279) completed instruments to assess death anxiety and intrinsic religious motivation. The Kuwaitis scored much hig…
Factor-Analytic Study of Sense of Humor in Croatia and the USA
A total of 401 Croatian university students completed a translation of the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale. Scores were compared with those of a sample similar in age and sex composition from Omaha, Nebraska (N = 242). The American respondents scored significantly higher on the element of self-described humor creativity. Factor analyses of intercorrelations from the two samples indicated differences in constructions of sense of humor
Qualitative thanatology
It is suggested that there is a bias toward quantitative methods in the social sciences. Notwithstanding, theory in the field of mortality research has had its genesis in qualitative as well as quantitative methodology. Several such contributions to thanatology are described, including small N , case study, grounded theory, and ethnographic approaches
Undertakers' Death Anxiety
A sample of 60 morticians completed the Revised Death Anxiety Scale. Their responses were compared with scores on that scale from 136 men from other occupations. The funeral directors' death anxiety scores were surprisingly high. Perhaps they are less able successfully to repress death fears because of constant occupational exposure to issues related to mortality
Women, aging, and sense of humor
Depression and Sense of Humor
This research note provides partial confirmation of a negative relationship between depression and sense of humor previously reported by Deaner and McConatha in 1993. Here, for 213 women and 134 men, r was -.18
Epidemiology of Gambling and Depression in an Adult Sample
As a relationship has been reported between pathological gambling and depression, the objective of this study was to explore whether there was a relationship between gambling and depression in a sample of 400 adults. No relationship was found
Did You Ever See a Hearse go By? Some Thoughts on Gallows Humor
Relationships of Death Anxiety and Sense of Humor
The Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale and the Revised Death Anxiety Scale were completed by a sample of 426 persons aged 18 to 90 years. Only slight relationships were found. The strongest correlation was between scores on death anxiety and on coping humor
To Die with Your Boots On
External causes of death (accidents, suicides, and homicides) account for slightly more than seven percent of all deaths in the United States. This percentage varies, however, from less than five percent in Rhode Island to almost fifteen percent in New Mexico and over twenty-five percent in Alaska. Relative lethality from external causes among the states is examined, and several explanatory hypotheses for observed differences are presented
Another look at Pastoral Candidates’ Personality Traits
The purpose of this research note is to comment upon a study by Jayne Patrick that appeared in the Summer, 1991, issue of this Journal (“Personality Characteristics of Male and Female Pastoral Candidates,” 19 [2], 186–196), suggest some alternative norms for comparisons for part of the data she presented, and provide additional data for purposes of comparison
Vagaries of College Norms for the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule
Differences in reported scores of 273 college students on the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule in comparison with published norms are noted. Two possible explanations are offered. Social changes in the lifestyles of college students since the norms were published in 1959 may influence scores and their interpretation achieved by a more recent generation of students. Alternatively, there may be some inherent instability in the instrument
A revised death anxiety scale
This article reports on the development and factor analysis of a Revised Death Anxiety Scale that has an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach alpha—.83) and that has been shown to be age-sensitive. Five studies using different versions of the scale are detailed, and data differentiating constructions of death anxiety for those high and for those low in death anxiety are presented
Afterlife Constructs, Death Anxiety, and Life Reviewing
A diverse sample (N = 389) completed a death anxiety scale and a series of questions dealing with frequency of church attendance, self-rating of religiosity, and afterlife concerns. Variance in both death anxiety and religiosity was great between age groups than across gender. Afterlife items tended to have higher correlations with death anxiety than did either self-rated religiosity or frequency of church-going. It is suggested that elements of …
Age Differences in Health Attitudes and Beliefs
Measurement of Sense of Humor
A sample of 365 individuals completed three scales designed to assess various elements of the personal construct of sense of humor. Data were factor-analyzed to estimate what elements the scales measure. Inadequacies are identified, and additional elements of sense of humor are recommended for a new, multidimensional humor scale
Age Differences in Health Attitudes and Beliefs
In a telephone interview, samples of 196 older and 280 younger adults completed a series of 24 items designed to assess health beliefs. Differences may have implications for health care expenditures now and in the future
A revised death anxiety scale
This article reports on the development and factor analysis of a Revised Death Anxiety Scale that has an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach alpha—.83) and that has been shown to be age-sensitive. Five studies using different versions of the scale are detailed, and data differentiating constructions of death anxiety for those high and for those low in death anxiety are presented
A funny thing happened on the way to the morgue
Literature on humor and on the humor associated with death is reviewed, and death humor is seen to have functions both as a defense mechanism as well as a social lubricant; it also helps people gain some sense of control over the uncontrollable. Types of death humor are categorized within ten types in two broad divisions
Constructions of death among those high in intrinsic religious motivation
A subsample of 145 people high in intrinsic religious motivation was extracted from a larger group (N = 346) that had completed a death anxiety (DA) scale and Hoge's Scale of Intrinsic Religious Motivation (IRM). Those people high in IRM scored significantly lower in DA, and their DA and IRM means displayed a significant negative correlation. Factor analysis and item analysis of their DA data indicate that people high in IRM have, with the except…
Women, aging, and sense of humor
A replication of kalish's study of cemetery visits
In a replication of a recent study by Kalish (1986) on fear of death and frequency of cemetery visits, a sample of students (N = 68) in death and dying courses were surveyed to determine their attitudes and behaviors in this regard. Unlike Kalish's sample, the present group demonstrated a positive, significant correlation between fear of death and number of cemetery visits. Those categorizing themselves as high in death fear visited cemeteries mu…
Social Values and Decision Making
The author introduced the "Lifeboat"exercise as a death-and-dying teaching technique in an article that appeared in the first volume of Death Studies (J. A.Thorson, 1978). It is a classroom exercise designed to illustrate the varying levels of social value placed on terminally ill patients. Using "Lifeboat" with different groups in succeeding years, the author has seen changes in the ways that individuals playing different roles are perceived by …
Attitudes toward the Aged and Frequency of Thoughts about Death
130 subjects attending an institute on death and dying completed Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People scale and a list of items designed to indicate their frequency of thoughts about death. No correlation (.03) was found between scores on the two instruments. The pattern of scores for subjects for the variable of years of education was consistent with earlier research
Variations in Death Anxiety Related to College Students' Sex, Major Field of Study, and Certain Personality Traits
208 undergraduate and graduate students completed the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and a scale designed to measure death anxiety. Females and persons high in the trait of succorance had higher death anxiety, while males and persons high in endurance, aggression, and exhibition indicated less death anxiety. Students majoring in social work tended to have higher death anxiety, and students in the College of Business had significantly lower …
Spiritual Well-Being of the Elderly
Spiritual Well-Being of the Elderly
A funny thing happened on the way to the morgue
Literature on humor and on the humor associated with death is reviewed, and death humor is seen to have functions both as a defense mechanism as well as a social lubricant; it also helps people gain some sense of control over the uncontrollable. Types of death humor are categorized within ten types in two broad divisions
Factor Structure of a Lethal Behaviors Scale
Factor analysis of a lethal behaviors scale that had been completed by 399 adolescents and adults indicates that lethality as a construct is multidimensional. Principal factors include a general orientation toward danger and violence, an orientation toward bravery and adventure, thrill-seeking and fast driving, and safe or unsafe habits. Young males scored highest in lethality
A replication of kalish's study of cemetery visits
In a replication of a recent study by Kalish (1986) on fear of death and frequency of cemetery visits, a sample of students (N = 68) in death and dying courses were surveyed to determine their attitudes and behaviors in this regard. Unlike Kalish's sample, the present group demonstrated a positive, significant correlation between fear of death and number of cemetery visits. Those categorizing themselves as high in death fear visited cemeteries mu…
Medical Students' Edwards Personal Preference Schedule Norms
Three consecutive classes of freshman medical students completed the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule; results were compared to published norms for male and female college students. 171 male medical students scored significantly lower on the traits of Order, Exhibition, and Dominance and were higher on Affiliation, Succorance, Nurturance, and Heterosexuality. 51 female medical students scored significantly lower on the traits of Exhibition, A…
Death Anxiety and Religion in an Older Male Sample
A death anxiety scale and a measure of intrinsic religious motivation were completed by 103 older white men. The correlation of scale scores was nonsignificant. Afterlife items on the death anxiety scale did correlate significantly with the intrinsic religious motivation score. Other elements of religiosity, such as religious behaviors, may be related to elements of death anxiety
Construct Validity of the Lethal Behaviors Scale
A Lethal Behaviors (LB) scale and Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) Form V were completed by 535 university students. The Pearson correlation of the scores on Lethal Behaviors scale with sensation seeking was .60 and was .53 with the Thrill and Adventure Seeking subscale of Zuckerman's scale. Younger men were significantly higher in both lethal behaviors and sensation-seeking
Effects of a Forced Institutional Relocation on the Mortality and Morbidity of Nursing Home Residents
Residents of a county nursing home underwent a forced, mass relocation. Gerontologists advised on preparation of staff and residents. No increase in residents' mortality or morbidity was found after the relocation. The highest death rate was in the anticipatory period, the year prior to the move
Political Behavior
Voting participation was examined across nine elections in Omaha, Nebraska. Voting frequencies of all eligible voters in the city, all elderly eligible voters, and a random sample of inner-city elderly black voters were compared. The analysis shows that frequency of voting among inner-city elderly black individuals was the same as among all elderly persons in seven of the nine elections and significantly higher than that found among eligible vote…
Is Propensity to Laugh Equivalent to Sense of Humor
But laughter is weakness, corruption, the foolishness of our flesh. It is the peasant's entertainment, the drunkard's license.... Brother Jorge The Name of the Rose (Eco, 1983, p. 576) Several recent studies using the scales, Situational Humor Response Questionnaire, Coping Humor Scale, and Sense-of-Humor Questionnaire, suggest caution in viewing a measure of the behavioral response of laughter as an assessment of the sense of humor, a multidimen…
Is Propensity to Laugh Equivalent to Sense of Humor
But laughter is weakness, corruption, the foolishness of our flesh. It is the peasant's entertainment, the drunkard's license.... Several recent studies using the scales, Situational Humor Response Questionnaire, Coping Humor Scale, and Sense-of-Humor Questionnaire, suggest caution in viewing a measure of the behavioral response of laughter as an assessment of the sense of humor, a multidimensional construct
To Laugh in the Face of Death
A total of 399 individuals completed a lethal-behaviors scale and a measure of death anxiety, which were found to have no significant correlation. Item analysis of the lethal-behaviors scale indicated a number of the best predictors of lethalness. The most lethal individuals in this sample were young, male, and less educated. These people may be exercising both death-denying and fear-of-death-denying behaviors
Afterlife Constructs, Death Anxiety, and Life Reviewing
A diverse sample (N = 389) completed a death anxiety scale and a series of questions dealing with frequency of church attendance, self-rating of religiosity, and afterlife concerns. Variance in both death anxiety and religiosity was great between age groups than across gender. Afterlife items tended to have higher correlations with death anxiety than did either self-rated religiosity or frequency of church-going. It is suggested that elements of …
Age Differences in Health Attitudes and Beliefs
Measurement of Sense of Humor
A sample of 365 individuals completed three scales designed to assess various elements of the personal construct of sense of humor. Data were factor-analyzed to estimate what elements the scales measure. Inadequacies are identified, and additional elements of sense of humor are recommended for a new, multidimensional humor scale
Age Differences in Health Attitudes and Beliefs
In a telephone interview, samples of 196 older and 280 younger adults completed a series of 24 items designed to assess health beliefs. Differences may have implications for health care expenditures now and in the future
Constructions of death among those high in intrinsic religious motivation
A subsample of 145 people high in intrinsic religious motivation was extracted from a larger group (N = 346) that had completed a death anxiety (DA) scale and Hoge's Scale of Intrinsic Religious Motivation (IRM). Those people high in IRM scored significantly lower in DA, and their DA and IRM means displayed a significant negative correlation. Factor analysis and item analysis of their DA data indicate that people high in IRM have, with the except…
Another look at Pastoral Candidates’ Personality Traits
The purpose of this research note is to comment upon a study by Jayne Patrick that appeared in the Summer, 1991, issue of this Journal (“Personality Characteristics of Male and Female Pastoral Candidates,” 19 [2], 186–196), suggest some alternative norms for comparisons for part of the data she presented, and provide additional data for purposes of comparison
Vagaries of College Norms for the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule
Differences in reported scores of 273 college students on the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule in comparison with published norms are noted. Two possible explanations are offered. Social changes in the lifestyles of college students since the norms were published in 1959 may influence scores and their interpretation achieved by a more recent generation of students. Alternatively, there may be some inherent instability in the instrument
A revised death anxiety scale
This article reports on the development and factor analysis of a Revised Death Anxiety Scale that has an acceptable level of reliability (Cronbach alpha—.83) and that has been shown to be age-sensitive. Five studies using different versions of the scale are detailed, and data differentiating constructions of death anxiety for those high and for those low in death anxiety are presented
Did You Ever See a Hearse go By? Some Thoughts on Gallows Humor
Relationships of Death Anxiety and Sense of Humor
The Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale and the Revised Death Anxiety Scale were completed by a sample of 426 persons aged 18 to 90 years. Only slight relationships were found. The strongest correlation was between scores on death anxiety and on coping humor
Psychology (40 works) · Social Psychology (26 works) · Clinical Psychology (23 works) · Social Psychology (23 works) · Clinical Psychology (21 works) · Scale (ratio (16 works) · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion (15 works) · Developmental psychology (15 works) · Psychiatry (15 works) · Anxiety (13 works)