The purpose of this research was to examine the existence of multidimensionality in delay of gratification for Black university student leaders. We investigated delay preference as it related to academic decisions, career choices, sociopolitical issues, and consumer preferences. Results supported such multidimensionality by yielding evidence for the heretofore unexamined sociopolitical dimension as well as an achievement-oriented delay dimension in this sample of Black students. Gender differences are also reported. Results indicated that similar factor structures emerged for both sexes. The importance of this approach to the study of delay is discussed as well as directions for future research.
Research on the delay of gratification in Blacks was critically reviewed. The methodology typically em ployed to investigate this construct involves offering the individual a choice of obtaining either a small, im mediate reward or a large, delayed reward. Contrary to previous reports, it is argued here that the evidence divides published studies into those demonstrating overall patterns of nonpreference for delayed versus immediate rewards and those demonstrating overall or partial patterns of preference for delayed rewards among Blacks. Little empirical evidence is provided in the literature of a tendency for Blacks to prefer im mediate gratification, or of the relationship of such behavior to other personality characteristics.
Brown et al. investigated locus of control among black and white, male and female leaders and reported that white leaders were more internally controlled than were black leaders and were more willing to attribute good outcomes to personal attributes than were black leaders. They also found that white female leaders were more willing to accept responsibility for bad outcomes than were black female leaders. It is argued here that closer inspection is warranted of the reported findings and of some conclusions drawn from those findings. Specifically, attention is given to the absolute status of the relevant groups on locus of control as well as to the relative status. It is suggested that, because of the widespread appeal of this theoretical construct, extreme care should be taken when attempting to generalize the existence of internality-externality across various populations.
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