When the findings of sociobiology and ethology are properly interpreted, they are surprisingly compatible with commonsense ethical values, adding to our understanding of moral and ethical principles as an essential element of human social behavior. This paper provides a brief overview of the broader scientific interpretation to illustrate this…

An analysis of theory and research in social psychology reveals that while methods of research are scientific in character, theories of social behavior are primarily reflections of contemporary history. (Author)

Discusses behavioral momentum and the general behavioral relation between the persistence of behavior and the rate of reinforcement obtained in a given situation. Strategies for establishing the generality of behavioral relations are reviewed, followed by a brief summary of evidence for the generality of behavioral momentum. (Author/CR)

Reviews laboratory research on behavioral momentum conducted with pigeons and summarizes its findings and their generality to people, including those with mental retardation. Discusses the high-probability procedure used to establish compliance in clinical settings and based in part on an extension of the momentum metaphor. (CR)

This commentary discusses John Nevin's article on establishing compliance via behavioral momentum involving high-probability procedures, and questions whether applications of behavioral momentum can be derived from the theory, whether applications could have been developed if the theory not been formulated, and whether the theory will add…

An investigation of a theory of "idiosyncrasy credit" which was developed by Hollander (1958) as a framework for understanding status and conformity, was undertaken in the community college setting. Idiosyncrasy credit represents status and allows for behavior which may exceed the "limits" set by the common expectancies of a group. The specific…

This book presents an analysis of the concepts of privacy, crowding, territory, and personal space, with regard to human behavior. Intended as an introduction to the environment-and-behavior field for undergraduate and graduate students, as a preliminary guide to research and theory for researchers, and as a model for integrating environmental and…

The paper argues that the theory and practice of invitational education (which is an experiment in cooperative living) can be better articulated and implemented if its foundations and range are re-examined. Using a constructivist-critical method of analysis, the Snygg-Combs theory of perception is shown to be lacking as foundation because of its…

Maintains that a loss-gain hypothesis (a negative impression gives way to a positive one) is a more powerful indicator and incentive for future friendship than an opposite sequence (positive to negative). Both of these, however, were eclipsed by a positive-positive interaction as a determinant of interpersonal attraction. (MJP)

Recounts an experiment where two groups of college students composed questions for a simulated quiz show and then answered each other's questions. They then answered questions comparing their performance with other groups. Proposes a social norm rather than attribution error explanation for the fact that groups consistently will underestimate…