It is outlined that the basic operant principles, behavioral plasticity and functional interdependence of behavioral and environmental events, best describe the increasing body of data on reversibility of decline and optimizability of functioning in old age. (Author)

A condensed review of the concepts of exploration and play is presented, followed by an outline of the major research findings. From this basis, gaps in the literature and new research directions are discussed. (Author/AM)

This research was a further test of the theory of constructive processes proposed by Foos, Smith, Sabol, and Mynatt (1976) to account for differences among presentation orders in the construction of linear orders. This theory is composed of different series of mental operations that must be performed when an order relationship is integrated with…

Attempts to reframe current controversies over several aspects of language, including meaning, comprehension, acquisition, reading, and reasoning. Argues that in all these cases the conflicts are rooted in differing assumptions about the relation of meaning to language: whether meaning is extrinsic to language--designated as "utterance"--or…

Today, the term 'behavior therapy' has no clear denotation. Those who adhere to the more delimited meanings of behavior therapy tend to disregard significant nonbehavioral therapeutic development. They also overlook convincing data demonstrating that in adult humans, conditioning is produced through cognitive mediation. Adoption of a more…

Aspects of recent behavioral and cognitive theories of depression were evaluated. Social-skill concepts were conceived as involving two component processes, termed "receptive" and "expressive" communication, and the ability of depressed subjects to engage in these behaviors was studied within a nonverbal communication paradigm. (Editor)

Proposes and tests a model of the relationship between beliefs and behavioral intentions based on a mathematical probability theory. (MH)

The replication, with 192 adults, of research concerning implicit intelligence theories suggested a simpler model of implicit theories than that proposed by R. I. Sternberg et al (1981). Using a sorting procedure, a second study (N=88 undergraduates) showed that people distinguish intelligent and unintelligent behaviors without distinguishing…

Discusses conceptions of writing that have developed since the nineteenth century and identifies five elements of written expression. Describes how behavioral techniques can be applied to various aspects of written expression, such as handwriting and grammatical skills, and examines the effects of negative criticism and forms of positive…

A behavioral outplacement program including a system of self-monitoring, goal setting, and positive reinforcement can dramatically decrease the length of the job search. The client corporation benefits by receiving objective reports on the progress of terminated employees. (SK)

Provides perspectives on the process of perceiving another person while interacting with that person. Offers a social interaction approach in contrast to previous approaches that treat the perceiver as a passive information processor. Proposes that each person constructs a significant part of the social reality that one confronts. (ML)

Theorizes that there are two primary dimensions or continua along which delays or dysfunctions may occur in career decision making: the decided/undecided state and the decisiveness/indecisiveness trait. Suggest that the combination of the two dimensions yields four distinct diagnostic categories which demonstrate the need for differential…

Research developments in the area of clothing and human behavior are reviewed in terms of relevant psychological and sociological theories, including impression formation, clothing's effect on the behavior of others, conformity, personality, and life style. (SK)

In finding an accurate method of describing school administrators' behavior patterns, draws on script theory from cognitive psychology and speech act theory from sociolinguistics to supplement the structured observation approach. (JW)

The relationship between engaging in pleasant activities and mood was examined as a function of age, sex, and diagnostic group (depressed, nondepressed, psychiatric and normal controls). Results indicate that: (1) a significant relationship existed between mood level and number of pleasant activities of all groups; (2) psychiatric controls and…