In United States culture, educational achievement is perceived to be of the highest importance. Children believed to be bright who consistently perform poorly in school become sources of grave concern. Research studies at Illinois Institute of Technology involving differential diagnosis and treatment of underachievement have proven to be the most…

Examines motivational literature to determine and list behavior and personality characteristics connected by research to each of McClelland's three motivational needs--achievement, affiliation, and power. Makes case for reversing the direction of the usual predictive process in order to offer another management tool to estimate a worker's needs…

This literature review examines the psychological aspects of the savant syndrome in people with intellectual disabilities, focusing on the means by which such abilities as calendar calculation are accomplished and highlighting variables (such as intense motivation in one area) postulated as important for development of the syndrome. (Author/DB)

Concludes that depression consists of low reward motivation and high punisher motivation. Depressed people exhibit their most severe motivational deficits in ambiguous social situations. Depressed people engage in few instrumental and operant behaviors, and in many escape and avoidance behaviors. (Author)

Presents an overview of the development of motivational thought in the study of exploratory behavior and curiosity. Traces the way in which concepts of curiosity were considered from the perspectives of instinct and drive-reduction theories to the more recent notions of optimal stimulation. (Author)

An examination of personality development points the way toward prevention strategies which respond to social and emotional needs of young alcohol abusers. Prevention programs which utilize these strategies have begun to operate. There is a critical need for more programs, particularly in the area of early parent education. (Author)

Discusses rhythm as a fundamental element in human behavior. Suggests that the unity of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor functioning, most vividly seen in Black expressive forms, must be studied to more fully understand Black behavior and learning styles. (RC)

Reviews conceptual and methodological progress in climate research. A discussion of current thinking on the etiology of climates follows, and an integrative conceptual scheme is developed, based on Mead's (1934) symbolic interactionism. Implications are discussed with respect to measurement issues, management of climate acquisition, and the change…

Questions the assumption that behavioral, mental, or cognitive incompetence accompanies the biological aging process. Investigates the philosophical, psychological, social, and cultural-historical bases to this erroneous assumption. Concludes that gerontological psychologists have directly contributed to the negative stereotypes of elderly…

Presents current psychological and educational literature associated with the behavioral characteristics of the mentally retarded adolescent. Discusses empirical constructs including adaptive behavior, motivation, reinforcer effectiveness, locus of control, and social discrimination skills of the mentally retarded. Suggests practical strategies…

A basic tenet of this paper is that, from the time of the ancient Greeks, Western thought has distinguished between rational processes unique to humans and the processes governing animal behavior. A model of motivation, emotion, and the cognitive/physiological interaction that can be applied to both animals and humans is presented. The special…

This book reviews issues concerning attention deficit disorders (ADDs) in the context of a systems perspective. ADDs are viewed as resulting from dynamic interactions of behavior, cognition, and affect, out of which emerge distinct and idiosyncratic ways of coping. Chapter 1 looks at the interaction of attention and behavior. In chapter 2, the…