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While psychological theories have long linked prejudice and psychopathology, research findings have been weak and inconsistent. Three possible reasons for this were remedied in this study: social desirability was controlled, the participants (N = 110; South African adults) had clinically diagnosable psychopathology, and a validated multidimensional measure of psychopathology, the MMCI-II, was used. Analyses of the Millon personality and symptom scales, and principal component factors derived from each set, with measures of authoritarian attitudes and anti-Black prejudice indicated two significant paths linking psychopathology and prejudice. First, a Compulsive-Dependent personality factor was significantly related to authoritarian attitudes, which mediated an indirect effect of this personality disorder on prejudice. Second, a Negative Affectivity symptom factor was directly associated with prejudice, and also mediated indirect effects of an Avoidant-Negativistic personality factor on prejudice. The findings are discussed in terms of authoritarian personality theory and theories linking symptoms of psychopathology and prejudice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrimination against black minority children was originally viewed as causing them to evaluate their own-group negatively and the white out-group positively, resulting in impaired self-esteem. Research, however, has produced inconsistent findings, poss ibly because of social change and the black consciousness movement. The present study investigated this issue among black South African children, a social group that has experienced particularly severe racial discrimination. As expected, the findings indicated that self-esteem, own-group racial pride, and overall ethnocentrism were significantly higher amongst older (n = 37; 10 to 12-years old) than among younger black children (n = 41 ; 6 to 8-years old). The younger children showed a slight though non-significant tendency to out-group favouritism, while the pattern for the older children was non-preference. However, the correlations of self-esteem with in-group pride, out-group prejudice, and overall ethnocentrism were non-significant suggesting that the own-group and out-group attitudes of minority children do not necessarily effect their self-attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the reliability and factorial validity of the Psychiatric Symptom Index (PSI) through cross validation using a white South African sample. Findings support reliability and validity; Measurement of psychological distress; Intercorrelation between depression and anxiety.

Responds the Gideon de Bruin's commentary on the author's article `Die faktoriale geldigheid van die Psychiatric Symptom Index,' published in the periodical `South African Journal of Psychology, volume 24, 1994. Reliability and factorial validity of the Psychiatric Symptom Index (PSI); Choice of principal component analysis; Ambiguity of factor structure of PSI.

Responds to an article written by J.J. Ray in which he examined works by the author that focused on subtle racism and authoritarianism in South Africa. Author's support and defense of his writings; Reiterates evidence which his writings were based on; Rebuts criticisms by Ray.