Reward contingencies and other extrinsic constraints on behavior can lead to reduced levels of interest in and/or decreased engagement in a target activity in a subsequent noncontingent situation. It has been hypothesized that this effect is caused by a change in the self-perceived locus of motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic. It follows from…

The effects of 80 second- through fifth-grade boys and girls of three types of adult commentary (anti-aggressive, nonaggressive, neutral), presented during a violent TV show, were examined and compared to a nonviolent control film group. Subjects' latency in seeking responsible adult assistance when witnessing "real" aggression among…

Type A behavior is characterized by extremes of time-urgency, competitive achievement striving, impatience and hostility. Type A persons have distinct patterns of responding to opponents' strategies for lowering hostility. Since minimum retaliation allows the opponent control over one's behavior, the strategy should effectively lower Type A…

The determinants of widows' attitudes toward women were investigated, using social and personality variables known to discriminate attitudes in other marital status groups as well as variables reflecting the unique experiences of widowhood. The subjects were 118 urban widows, aged 29-78. Over 40 potential attitude predictors were assessed in…

Distinctions between non-suicidal and suicidal depression were investigated. Epidemiological profiles of depressed patients (40 suicidal and 40 non-suicidal) were matched for sex and age. Independent raters diagnosed each subject according to five classifications of depression. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores for each…

Despite recent widespread claims about the importance of early contact for facilitating mother-infant bonding, the effects of early contact have not been convincingly demonstrated. Methodological and procedural difficulties, contributing to a "Hawthorne" effect, may account for the pattern of inconsistent and unclear findings to date.…

The psychological (expectancy) and physiological (dosage) effects of alcohol on aggressive and assertive behavior were investigated. The expectancy manipulation was accomplished by informing subjects that the beer they were to receive was either half as strong or twice as strong as commercially available beer. The dosage manipulation involved…

The effects of a comprehensive program for the treatment of cigarette addiction were investigated. Subjects were 18 university students and 12 community members. Abstinence levels of 40 percent, verified by expired air carbon monoxide tests, were achieved in a six to nine month follow-up period. A partial component analysis revealed that the…

Behavioral and perceptual differences among maritally distressed and nondistressed husbands and wives were investigated. Distressed couples beginning marital therapy and nondistressed couples solicited through community newspapers comprised the criterion groups which were matched for major demographic variables. Couples first enacted and then…

The effects of counter-aggression strategies on married couples resulting from use of the Taylor interactive paradigm were investigated. Married persons (N=52) competed in a complex reaction time task and set durations of 100 decibel punitive noise for either their spouse or an opposite-sex stranger. During pretrials (aggression escalation), males…

Differences between male and female medical students in attitude changes toward themselves and their environment were investigated. In general, women students appeared to have had a harder time, showing more negative developments in both attitudes toward the environment and in those toward themselves. Compared with men, women showed sharp declines…

Hyperactivity in children is explained in relation to behavioral characteristics, precipitating factors, and stimulant medication therapy. The basic mechanism of hyperactivity is seen to be impulsive style in motility, attention, and socialization. Problems caused by impulsivity are noted to include feeding problems, school difficulties, and peer…

An area probability sample of 200 elderly residents, living in two California cities, were interviewed to determine the nature of informal helping networks enabling them to maintain independence, specifically the relationship between involvement in informal helping networks and utilization of social and health services. Preliminary findings…

Many factors are contributive to a rise in the rate of remarriage among older adults. Statistical and survey data on the condition of the elderly suggest that: (1) the number of elderly marriages has increased dramatically in recent years; (2) improved health status allows older adults greater socialization and mobility which greatly enhance the…

The effects of a training manual designed to decrease dating discomfort and increase social skills were investigated. Males (n=22) who saw themselves as socially anxious and lacking in social and dating skills volunteered to take part in a program designed to increase dating frequency, communication skills, and comfort in male-female interactions.…