This study identified factors associated with postcollege changes in the personality functioning of 170 young alumni. Using the Omnibus Personality Inventory and a questionnaire, relationships between individual change and demographic variables were computed. Respondents with high undergraduate GPA's evidenced considerable intellectual remission.…

Shows that interview effects can occur when the respondent's attitudes and information are unfocused or ambiguous and when the topic is important. Explains these interview effects by the respondent's desires to maintain self-esteem during the interview situation. (RL)

Today, the term 'behavior therapy' has no clear denotation. Those who adhere to the more delimited meanings of behavior therapy tend to disregard significant nonbehavioral therapeutic development. They also overlook convincing data demonstrating that in adult humans, conditioning is produced through cognitive mediation. Adoption of a more…

Examined effects of parents' perceptions of infant temperament on personality change during transition to parenthood. Using self-rating scales, both global/trait and situation-specific/state measures were obtained from new parent and childless couples for efficacy expectations, personal control, anxiety, and depression. Differential results were…

Presents a model emphasizing the interactions between reorganization of social systems and individual competencies in old age. The model suggests the process by which loss of coping abilities and feelings of worthlessness develop. Implications for effective intervention with the elderly are discussed. (DP)

Compared changes in male drug abusers treated in a therapeutic community (TC) with untreated drug abusers in prison. Results showed little change in subjects confined in prison relative to marked changes in those treated in a TC. TC treatment did not markedly affect psychopathic traits. (Author)

Assessed specific personal effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) using a role construct repertory grid and an Eysenck Personality Questionnaire completed by subjects (N=7) before and twice after starting the practice of TM. Compared to controls meditators showed a systematic pattern of significant changes over the three tests. (Author)

The invariance of factor structures in the Guilford Zimmerman Temperament Survey is clearly evident. Basic personality structure appears little affected by social and historical change. Results favor the stability model for objectively measured personality traits in adult males. (JAC)

Variations in "foot-in-the-door" effect (gaining compliance in small requests to increase compliance with larger requests) examined for enhancing client motivation to change in counseling. Participants (N=56) assigned to one of four conditions in 2 x 2 factorial design based on presence or absence of request and motivation labeling.…

A total of 127 pairs of twins completed a measure of personality at 20 and 30 years of age. Analyses revealed that variance in negative emotionality was the result of diminishing genetic influence; personality stability was the result of genetic factors; and personality change was the result of environmental factors. (BC)

Summarizes the story of Don Henry, a student at the University of Kansas in the 1930s, focusing on how he became a communist after he left home and later went to fight in the the Spanish Civil War. Provides a teaching activity on the role of universities in influencing students and their beliefs. (CMK)

The following question is posed: can a close look into why a person does something which is uncharacteristic or out of character provide a window through which one might view underlying dynamics of that person's ongoing character development? An autobiographical account is provided. (Author/BJG)

There is increasing evidence that significant personality changes take place during adolescence and early adulthood. Among 10,000 high school seniors tested, the group intending to go to college differed in ability, socioeconomic background, parental encouragement, academic motivation and attitudes from those going on to jobs or homemaking.…

The Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) was administered to 76 volunteer graduating seniors at the University of Kentucky to investigate the dimensions of personality change through a factor analysis of independent change scores. These change scores were obtained by comparing the OPI scores of the students as freshmen with those scores of the same…