This study was designed to test two alternative explanations for the foot-in-the-door phenomenon. It was found that the issue similarity variable had no effect on compliance. However, within the similar issue condition there was a cumulative effect of persuasive message and small request. (Author)

Two experiments are reported: one in which presentation of external information about a stranger evoked significantly higher attraction ratings than available psychological information; and a second where similarity of Subject and Other on external characteristics had greater effects upon attraction scores than did similarity of psychological…

Mother-son dyads interacted with the Interpersonal Game Test. Various patterns of interacting were identified and some differences in mother-son interactions seemed related to aggression/withdrawal in children. Potential advantages of this procedure over more conventional procedures for assessing family interactions were discussed. (Author/BEF)

The relationship between the ability to coordinate social perspectives and levels of anxiety induced by the social context was studied. Results showed a relative failure to coordinate perspectives in the "anxious" compared with the "neutral" condition and were discussed in terms of social contextual effects on aspects of social cognitive…

It was predicted that the amount of satisfaction following an interpersonal exchange will be higher when the resource given is similar to the one reciprocated and lower when they are dissimilar. Interpersonal exchange situations were experimentally created in which two independent variables were manipulated. (Author)

Independent groups of seven-year-old subjects listened to humor on headphones, either with a nonlistening companion (audience) or with a companion who also listened (coactor). In coaction sessions, children sitting closer engaged in more eye contact, laughter, and smiling. (Author)

The effects of several factors on willingness to take a counterattitudinal position in a forthcoming debate were investigated. Subjects were presented with the dilemma of either compromising their own position and thereby not forfeiting a competitive advantage in the debate or forfeiting a competitive advantage by not compromising their own…

Social exchange theory was employed to predict instigative helping behavior as a function of two types of resources available to the recipient for reciprocation (social and non-social). The possibility of influencing reciprocation of both types of resources produced significant increases in subjects' helping. (Author)

This study investigated how "correct" and "incorrect" dissenters from erroneous group consensus affect conformity on visual and opinion stimuli under normative and informational social pressure. Results are consistent with earlier data. (Author)

Effects of resource capability and interpersonal attraction on coalition behavior were studied. Introductory psychology students role played across three experimental conditions. Subjects were asked to select a coalition partner, predict formation of coalition, estimate winnings distribution. Male and female choices and predictions differed.…

A co-educational living-learning center for the arts was studied through participant observation and quantitative assessment. The results document the importance of full self-selection into a membership group and demonstrate the relationships between reference group identification, basic interests in personality, and social behavior. (Author)