BEHAVIORAL RIGIDITY BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL COLLEGE-STUDENTS

The Test of Behavioral Rigidity was administered to a group of Traditi onal (age less-than-or-equal-to 22 years) and Nontraditional (age grea ter-than-or-equal-to 25 years) college students to assess the signific ance of mean differences in rigidity scores between the groups. Analys is indicated significant differences between the groups on Personality -Perceptual Rigidity and the Composite Rigidity Quotient, with the Non traditional students scoring as less rigid (more flexible). Within eac h group, women were significantly less rigid (more flexible) on Psycho motor Speed Rigidity and on the Composite Rigidity Quotient. Results a rgue against the belief that Nontraditional students find it difficult to adjust readily to new situations and tasks and that rigidity incre ases with age. Further, within both groups of students women scored as more flexible than men. Implications of these results for higher educ ation are discussed.