The results in this experiment identified both partial and continuous reinforcement as efficacious procedures for reversing learned helplessness in college students. The partial success therapy schedule produced greater response persistence in escape extinction following therapy. The framework for a new therapy technique, persistence training, is…

Untrained, trained, and professional counselors (N=60) responded to an audio presentation of client affective self-disclosures consisting of either high or low intimacy content. Results indicated that untrained counselors made lower quality responses than either trained or professional counselors, with no differences between professionals and…

Boys' and girls' understanding of the emotions of others and of their own emotional reactions to emotion in others was assessed with kindergarten and second-grade children. (Author/MP)

Forty adults participated in an experiment in which 20 participants unexpectedly found a dime (elevated-mood condition) and half did not (neutral-mood condition). Opportunities to acquire information and to help another person were then presented. Elevating mood increased helping but also increased information acquisition, supporting an activation…

Investigates teachers' responses to initiations of interaction by severely mentally handicapped children who were rated as extremely excitable or inhibitable. (MP)

Expressive language samples were obtained from 20 children in four location-stimulus combinations and from wireless radio telemetry. No significant differences existed between the locations of home and clinic, but significant differences were noted among samples elicited using pictures as opposed to open-ended questions as compared to telemetry…

This review of research on factors which influence the degree of stigma attached to handicaps discusses: (1) ranking handicaps in order of acceptability; (2) personality factors involved in response to handicaps; (3) how professional groups respond to handicaps; and (4) how attitudes may be changed. (Author)

Recommends that teachers look for and value the freshness, naivete, humor, and wisdom in children's writing. Samples of children's writing are provided to illustrate these traits. (AEA)

Summarizes the Ralph Nader report on the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Tests reviewed include preschool, elementary, high school, and college admission; equivalency; financial aid; placement; and graduate school admission. The conclusion is that ETS has an overwhelming economic and political interest in maintaining the current testing system.…

Behavior modification in a weight control program is examined in two models of operant and classical conditioning. Successful utilization of behavioral techniques is dependent on adherence to principles of learning, the skill and insight of the clinician, and the sensitivity to the individual needs of each client. (JN)

To test the theory that children's behavioral cues influence adult responses to them, responses of a mother sample and a student sample to children depicted in danger and nondanger situations were analyzed. Significant differences in types of responses were examined for their implications for the training of child caregivers. (Author/SK)

Although the roles of Archie Bunker and Ralph Cramden were quite similar, those of Edith Bunker and Alice Cramden in their reactions to similar strong personalities were quite different. Results suggest that one's role depends on individual personality structure and personality structures of group members. (Author)

Because many teachers demonstrate limited use and knowledge of feedback strategies positively associated with student achievement, providers of preservice and inservice teacher education should review feedback research and instruct teachers on its effective use. (CJ)

The implications that students often minimize study to avoid the implication that they lack ability if they fail is examined. Results indicated that although effort stability contributed little to variations in student affect, it did influence teacher judgments. (Author/GK)

Sex of the absent parent was correlated with the type behavior manifested; absence of the father with "acting-out" and absence of the mother with "acting-in" behavior. The propensity of children of absent fathers to "act-out" and of absent mothers to "act-in" was related to whether children were aware of their parents' incarceration. (Author)