Compared smokers' (214) and nonsmokers' (220) explanations for cigarette smoking behavior to determine predictors of cigarette consumption. Results showed addiction and affective smoking were the most important motives predicting consumption. Presented at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 1980. (WAS)

Twin children were videotaped hitting an inflated clown figure. Three behaviors (number of hits, intensity of hits, and number of quadrants hit) showed adequate response characteristics, rater reliability, and test-retest reliability. Twin analyses of the three behavioral ratings yielded no evidence of hereditary influence. (Author)

The goodness-of-fit rule was used in the attribution of causality for acquaintances when the behavior could be made to fit with extant impressions. When the behavior was completely inconsistent with extant impressions, the most external attributions were made in the poor fit/high consensus condition. (Author)

Tested predictions derived from Eysenck's theory of personality in two samples by relating extraversion scores to library study locations, frequency of study breaks, and self-report of factors which influence study location. Found predicted main effects for study location with extraverts occupying locations that provided greater external…

Identified stable components of Type A behavior and examined their relationships in a study of 69 male college students. Results showed a moderate relationship between ambition, but not adjustment, and a version of the Jenkins Activity Survey. Raised questions about the interpretation of the JAS. (WAS)

Investigated helping as a function of empathic anxiety (anxiety in response to modeled distress) and individual differences in sociopathic tendencies. Results indicated modeled distress produces increases in anxiety which are positively associated with helping and sociopathic individuals are less likely to help than are nonsociopathic individuals.…

Couples (N=26) completed a daily event and mood checklist about husbands for 14 consecutive days. The group-averaging strategy generally used to describe event-mood correlations was compared to a tabulation of significant individual correlations. Observed correlations were consistent with previous studies. (Author/RC)

Gender differences in resistance to stress are not rooted in recognition of coercive elements, but in differences in responding to coercive elements. Type As are particularly sensitive to threats to personal control. The critical difference may be in the frequency rather than the intensity of the stress. (JAC)

Tested the hypothesis that internals will achieve more than externals in situations where competition is preeminent but not where cooperation is requried. Children (N=300) were divided into internals and externals, placed in situations varying in competition and cooperation, and readministered digit-symbol task. The general hypothesis was…

Administered caffeine to males (N=39) who were provoked or not provoked by a partner. Provoked participants attributed their feelings to both the drug and their partner's behavior. Angered subjects were more aversive when thinking they had taken caffeine but reduced their aggression when told the drug was a placebo. (Author/JAC)

Studied males initially angered or not angered by an experimental accomplice. Later shocks were administered to the same accomplice. Subjects were told the shocks would interfere with learning and cause pain or were given no information. Results show angered men receiving hurt instructions and high-victim-pain feedback were most aggressive.…

Conducted two studies to test the notion that various factors, i.e., situation-personal, may differentially affect degrees of entrapment (amount invested) depending upon the point in time at which they are introduced. The results of both studies suggest amount invested depends upon timing in the entrapment process. (RC)

Studied male students who viewed an aggressive television program or a neutral one. Half of the students were then angered by a confederate. Results indicated angered men who had seen the aggressive film were most aggressive and exhibited the lowest average pulse rates both before and after shock delivery. (Author/JAC)

Studied the stability of cross-situational anxiety reactions over six months to determine the stability of cross-situational patterns of behavior. Inventory and self-report description data analysis indicated a high and significant stability of cross-situational profiles for reactions across verbally described anxiety provocative situations. (RC)

Examined the effects exerted upon compliance behavior by two types of dispositional self-conciousness. Subjects (N=65) were induced to make incorrect responses on a perceptual task by means of simulated group pressure. Results indicated that private self-conciousness was associated with the tendency to make judgments using internal perceptions.…