Noted Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner is leading a team studying the social and ethical norms of young people on the Web. Known as the "GoodPlay Project," the study is being financed with a grant from the Chicago-based Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. What researchers hope to do through the project is fill a gap in the burgeoning research…

"Catalyst" is a publication of the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention. This issue contains the following articles: (1) The National Study of Student Hazing Initial Findings; (2) The Social Norms Marketing Research Project--An Update; (3) Message From William…

Data show that males dominate the drinking scene in terms of both frequency and amount of consumption. The highest consumption is found among freshman males. The consequences of consumption are also explored. (Author)

High and low socially anxious women were given identical feedback about their personality traits after a brief social interaction with a male confederate. The male confederate was trained to respond positively to half and negatively to half. High socially anxious subjects had more accurate memory for negative information about themselves. (Author)

The presented human sexuality theory argues that sex is highly pleasurable and therefore reinforcing; because it reinforces further contacts with partner, sexual involvement makes formation of stable bonds, love and eventually marriage likely. Data from large student ( N=668) and national (N=1613) samples generally support the theory. (Author)

Adult follow-up information on social outcome variables was obtained for males who had taken the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) during their junior year. Individuals with undergraduate profiles indicative of psychopathology differed significantly in marital and educational status when compared to the no-high-point group 10…

The development of self-disclosure within an acquaintance exercise was examined. A sample of 80 subjects was assigned to same-sex or mixed-sex dyads. In half of the dyads, one member was asked, through a short statement in the written instructions, to encourage maximal disclosure in his/her partner. Dyad partners took turns discussing…

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…

This study provides evidence for the validity of the Social Adequacy subscales of the Psychosocial Maturity Inventory: Social Commitment, Tolerance, and Openness to Change. A group of students who invested substantial time and energy in social action projects directed toward helping others was compared with a randomly chosen control group. The…

Three studies were conducted to investigate stereotypes of men of various hair colors by middle-class Anglo college students. Study 1 found an increase of perceived blondness with status, while lack of status was associated with red hair. Study 2, using semantic differentials (after Osgood), found blonde males to be significantly more beautiful,…

Results indicated that both gender and previous experience have significant effects. Gender appeared to have a less substantial effect than previous experience, being more noteworthy for the similarities manifest between males and females than the few differences observed. Effects were complex and often mediated by additional factors. (Author)

Subjects (N=18) were treated for social nonassertion, nine in a behavioral rehearsal group and nine in an eclectic nonrehearsal group. Comparisons were made based on physiological, behavioral, and self-report measures. Both treatment groups displayed statistically significant increases in assertive behaviors. (Author)

Study investigates the relationship between assertiveness and patterns of drug use. Found exploratory use of marijuana and hashish was the norm among this sample of college students. Current users and those never using such drugs were less assertive than those who had experienced these drugs but no longer did so. (Author)

This study explores the effects of controlling influence attempts on social face and constructive conflict resolution. It also investigates the role of social face in how persons respond to evaluations by their peers. A sample of 90 college undergraduates randomly assigned to six conditions. The group's evaluation of the representative's relative…

The effect of the invasion of personal space upon an individual's subsequent use of personal space was investigated. Subjects in the invasion condition stood closer to the confederate than did subjects in the non-invasion condition. Results were interpreted in terms of the confederate serving as a model for the subjects. Still, subjects generally…