A theory of timing is proposed, based on the observation that signals of reinforcement elicit adjunctive behaviors. Transitions between these behaviors are described as a Poisson process. These behaviors may come to serve as the basis for conditional discriminations of the passage of time. (SLD)

Examined meaning and maintenance of friend relationships among 41 male and 74 female older adults. Men and women tended to agree on characteristics of friend; gender differences emerged when they differentiated between "friend" and "close friend." Older women were more likely than older men to consider friends made earlier in life as still part of…

This study of 12 residents of a treatment facility for individuals with mental retardation examined cycles in occurrences of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and aggression both within and across individuals. The study confirmed that such behavior tended to be rhythmical, with cycles of three-month and five-month periods consistently observed for…

The nature of certain aspects of emotion (as viewed from a control-theory perspective on behavior) is explored, focusing on the feedback-based processes through which people self-regulate their actions to minimize discrepancies between actual acts and desired or intended acts. (SLD)

It is proposed that for deduction tasks for which the necessary information is provided verbally, the heart of deduction for untrained participants involves repeatedly reencoding the problem, a behavior referred to as verbal reasoning. Model theory accounts of deduction behavior are consistent with verbal reasoning. (SLD)

This study reviewed the literature on the clinical features of Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, looking for evidence that a tendency toward violence is common in individuals with the syndrome. Although many studies were excluded on the basis of inadequate data, findings of remaining studies did not support the speculation that violence is…

The definition of mental disorder in the third edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-III-R) explains that a disorder is harmful and represents a dysfunction, but it fails to capture the idea of dysfunction. Ideas for increasing the conceptual validity of the definition are presented. (SLD)

Paralinguistic behaviors, including speech rates and turn-taking behaviors, of five-year-old boys who stutter (n=11) and boys who do not stutter (n=11) and their fathers were investigated. No significant differences were found in comparisons of the two groups of fathers or of the two groups of children for any of the paralinguistic behaviors.…

Developed scale to assess routinization (tendency to maintain daily events of one's life in relatively unchanging and orderly pattern of regularity) among older adults. Findings from over 200 older adults revealed 2 underlying factors: Having Order and Routine in daily living and Disliking Disruption. Evidence was found for validity of the 20-item…

Compared patterns of use and attitudes toward alcohol by college athletes (n=71) and nonathletes (n=75). Analysis indicated minimal differences existed between drinking behaviors of athletes and nonathletes; the more negative attitudes of athletes toward alcohol consumption did not result in drinking behaviors distinct from nonathletes.…

Examined effects of being a smoker on employment prospects in three studies using college students (or their acquaintances) as subjects (n=122). Results implied smokers may reduce their employment handicap by directly eliminating the basis for the preference, such as by not volunteering information about their status as a smoker or by promising…

A model is presented that demonstrates that a random response to external constraint can produce results similar to those predicted by more complex models. Behavior that appears rational, optimal, or adaptive may truly be a random response to external constraint. Predictions based on this model may provide appropriate null hypotheses. (SLD)

Many psychologists assert that boys are in dire straits in U.S. society, but in fact, there is no evidence of an emotional or behavioral epidemic for either sex. If there is any truth to the claim that boys are in trouble, it results from practices that foster aggression. It is a mistake to regard either gender as "fragile." (SLD)

Tests a team-learning model in a multimethod field study. A study of 51 work teams in a manufacturing company showed that team psychological safety is associated with learning behavior, but team efficacy is not, when controlling for team psychological safety. Learning behavior mediates between safety and performance. (54 references) (MLH)

Presents a method for examining the Targeted Dysfunctional Behavior (TDB) cycle to help therapists and clients identify many possibilities for bringing about change, especially in the beginning of treatment. Theoretical rationale, stages of the cycle, and model are described with examples. The TDB cycle is outlined. (Author/EMK)