Sex role perceptions and the abortion decision

This paper is concerned with the relationship between two aspects of self‐concept—perception of gender role and perceived competence—and the decision to have an abortion as a solution to a problem pregnancy. It was hypothesized that (1) there will be a positive relationship between the choice of abortion and perceived competence, and (2) there will be a negative relationship between the choice of abortion and the degree to which female role is perceived traditionally. The data came from a broader study conducted throughout Michigan during 1974–75. The study group consisted of 921 women who chose to have an abortion. A comparison group included 360 women with problem pregnancies who chose to keep their child. Data were obtained through an anonymous questionnaire which included the two relevant indices. The abortion group was found to be significantly higher in perceived competence than those who chose to keep the child, and the black abortion group was significantly less traditional than the black group which chose to keep the child. These relationships remained significant when age was controlled. Race did not affect subjects' degree of perceived competence, but blacks were more traditional than whites regardless of decision.     

Elementary models for population growth and distribution analysis

A version of the Lotka-Volterra interaction model is adapted to describe population growth and migration processes in a two-region system. The regions are identified as a metropolis and its non-metropolitan hinterland. Several conditions on growth and migration regimes are imposed. The time behavior of the systems are analyzed, noting especially situations where total depopulation or population explosion eventually occur in one or both populations. Neither growth control nor migration control alone results in a condition of long-run stability in both regions. If at least a momentary condition of zero growth is achieved in both regions, it is possible to maintain finite populations if each population follows a logistic natural growth process and migration flow is proportional to the volume of interaction. It is necessary also that the natural increase limitation is strong relative to migration rates. This result holds even if one population has a net migration advantage over the other.