Compared Moos Family Environment Scale scores from 15 physically abusive families with scores from 15 nonabusive families. Results showed that abusive families were less supportive of one another and less free to express their wants and desires, more independent, more likely to express anger and aggression, and more rigid. (JAC)

In two sessions, the duration and tempo of toy play of infants and reaction of frustration were measured. Correlations indicated a general relationship between response persistence during play and attempts to escape frustrating situations. (Author/CM)

Looking behavior for 11 Downs syndrome and 11 nonretarded infants was coded while they played with their mothers without toys. No significant group differences were found for maternal looking, holding, and vocalization behavior, but the Downs syndrome infants looked toward their mother nearly twice as often as the contrast group. (Author/SW)

Interviewed 20 female and 44 male bartenders. Findings indicated that both male and female bartenders are reliable reporters of their own and their customers' drinking behaviors and are aware of causes of problem drinking. Both male and female bartenders were positive about taking courses in alcoholism. (Author/RC)

Investigated the relationship between anomie theory, as measured by Srole's Anomie Scale, and self-admitted drug use in an adult population (N=1,449). Bivariate cross-comparison correlations indicated anomie was significantly correlated with several drug variables, but these associations were extremely weak and of little explanatory value.…

Identifies specific behavioral characteristics of both aggressive and passive-aggressive students, delineates a four-step process that most aggressive students go through as they lose control of their emotions, and describes intervention strategies that teachers can use to deal with each step of the breakdown of control. (FL)

Seven mother/newborn pairs, selected for neurological and obstetric optimality of the babies, were observed during two breastfeedings in order to gain insight into the temporal organization of early interaction between healthy babies and their mothers. (MP)

Reported two studies on the relations among observer familiarity, perceived behavioral discrepancy, and judgmental accuracy in detecting deceptions. Results indicated, among other findings, that observers having prior exposure to baseline information were significantly better at detecting deception, though repeated exposure did not significantly…

Discusses myths about homeless women--who they are, why they are on the streets, and how they behave. It then examines the realities. A survival center for poor and homeless women in Boston is explored, and the need for more such shelters is stated. (CT)

Assessed the performance of hypertensive patients in increasingly demanding interpersonal interactions. Twelve extended role-played scenes were employed. Results indicated that the hypertensive patients responded less assertively than the nonpatient comparison group. However, the performance of the normotensive patient group was similar to that of…

Tested the hypothesis that low consensus of volunteer couples completing the Spouse Observation Checklist underestimates that achieved by clinic couples. That hypothesis was not supported. Couples (N=10) beginning marital therapy achieved agreement rates on joint SOC behaviors of 38.6 percent. Findings confirm the low reliability of spouse…

Explores the relationship between intimacy, conflict and disputing styles in familial and nonfamilial relationships. Results supported the hypothesis that disputing styles tend to be more extreme in more intimate relationships. Intimacy differences do not account for a great deal of the variation in disputing styles. (JAC)

Examined adolescents' current use of substances and their interactions with peers and significant adults. Users of various substances associated with other individuals who used the same substances. Adolescent drug users do not appear to form subcultures delineated from nonuser subcultures along interaction dimensions other than that of drug use.…

Examined susceptibility of marital observations to purposeful faking. Behavioral observations of couples' problem-solving behavior during a conflict-eliciting task were obtained under neutral instructions and under instruction to fake. Evidence for differential responsiveness of marital types to faking instructions was limited and evident only in…

Compared specific verbal response mode (VRM) indices with the more global Experiencing (EXP) Scale. Stile's VRM taxonomy was used to code transcribed interviews published in the EXP manual. The strongest VRM correlate of EXP level was the percentage of utterances that were disclosure in form and intent. (Author)