The reactions of 60 gifted students and 60 regular students in grades 4, 6, and 8 to an audiotape of age-appropriate riddles, jokes, puns, satire, and nonhumorous items were compared. Results indicated that gifted subjects performed significantly higher in spontaneous mirth response and comprehension of verbal humor than the general population…

A study of 50 refugee Chilean children newly settled in Sweden examined their persecution in Chile and coping patterns in Sweden. Sleep disturbances and dependency were significantly associated with persecution. Implications for working with refugee families are discussed. (BRM)

Introduces a three-stage experimental design for analyzing categories used by individuals in conceptualizing male and female stereotypes. Three samples of German university students enumerated and sorted a list of familiar male and female characteristics. Distinct but complex clusters of traits emerged for both men and women, the most important…

Compared samples of college students (n=497) with mixed heritage and single heritage to determine whether bicultural socialization had positive or negative effects on personality, adjustment, and intergroup relations. Found no evidence of negative effects; positive effects were found for intergroup contact and attitudes, language facility, and…

Examined interrelationship among congruence aspects (vocational, avocational, and skill utilization) and their relationship to well-being measures. Administered inventories to Jewish (N=74) and Arab (N-117) teachers. Found various kinds of congruence were related not only to reported satisfaction but also to reported physical and distress…

Interviews with 73 abusive caretakers were analyzed to determine aspects of the caretakers' situation and the interaction with the abused child that contributed to their belief that the abuse was justified or not. Justification was related to defiance of the child and environmental stressors on the abuser. (Author/JDD)

Forty female incest victims, ages 12-18, were administered personality and self-concept assessments. Subjects were found to be shy, expedient, guilt-prone, aggressive, realistic, and withdrawn and to have low overall self-concept. Subjects showed more confidence about physical appearance and intellectual and school status than other aspects of…

Considers problems with use of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Presents brief history of MBTI and brief theory of type. Examines MBTI's statistical structure, reliability, and validity. Concludes that MBTI does not conform to many basic standards expected of psychological tests. (NB)

Over 800 academic department chairs, stratified by discipline, were selected from research and doctorate-granting institutions and completed the Department Chair Stress Index along with demographic questions. Results indicate that, overall, stress among department chairs is monolithic. Chairs expressed high stress both in faculty and…

According to the Myers Briggs Type Inventory completed by 18 preservice agricultural teachers at Montana State University and 25 at Ohio State University, they tended to be field independent, the females more so than national norms. Both groups preferred learner-centered instruction. Many field-independent women tended to exhibit field-dependent…

Integrates existing literature with the authors' research that examines resiliency (students in danger of dropping out of school who are able to develop stable, healthy personas and are able to recover from or adapt to life's stresses or problems). Suggests a model to explain resiliency that can be used to better understand why these students have…

Reviews current research on treatment of borderline clients with medication, individual counseling, and family interventions. Notes that recent studies indicate that borderline personality is heterogeneous condition in which different underlying disorders (affective, schizotypal, and neurological) may be present. Reviews effectiveness of various…

Findings from 204 recently divorced mothers revealed that relationship between exposure to harsh parenting as child and subsequent abuse by husband was mediated by woman's involvement in aggressive/deviant behavior. Concluded that women subjected to abusive parenting tended to develop hostile, rebellious orientation and to affiliate with and marry…

Relationships among principal leadership style, personality type, and school climate were studied in urban and rural contexts using responses from 34 principals and 166 teachers in three similar school districts. No relationship was found between personality type and leadership style, and no urban/rural differences were found for these variables…

Important contributions of "Individual Psychology" to marriage and family counseling are examined. Through "open forum family counseling," a framework is provided for infusing these ideas into training family practitioners. Key concepts, assessment techniques, strategies to help individuals understand their own family of…