Discusses problems of general interest in developmental psychology that can be successfully studied in the domain of food; these include (1) development of food likes and dislikes; (2) establishment of the edible/inedible distinction; (3) disgust and contagion; (4) transgenerational communication of preferences; and (5) transition to food…

Examines the role that affect may play in the understanding of human development. An ecological approach to perception is used to provide a basis for discussion of the adaptive function of affect. (PCB)

A two-part study examined children's conceptions of the linkages between sociomoral events and emotional consequences for several event participants. Results of the first study indicated that children's conceptions were highly differentiated. The second study found children able to match affective information to events likely to cause emotional…

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)

First- and third-graders' emotion dissimulation in a disappointing gift task was compared with their degree of dissimulation in a highly motivating game task that required the same ability but involved a self-gain motive. Although boys reduced their expression of negative affect in the game task, they still showed higher levels of negativity than…

In a series of studies, a positive problem orientation was prospectively associated with greater positive effects on problem-solving ability under a variety of conditions. However, the relation of the problem orientation variables to distress appeared to be mediated by trait affectivity. Results are interpreted in light of the social…

Observed 32 preschoolers' interactions with their toddler siblings. Preschoolers' references about emotions were more likely to be about the toddler than the self. Preschoolers who were skillful perspective takers talked more about internal emotional states and more frequently about the toddler and themselves than did poor perspective takers. (BC)

This paper considers meanings used for the terms "affect,""emotion," and "mood" and suggests that feeling states should be defined in terms of duration, subjectivity/objectivity, the role of cognition, and the phenomenological level. A study of patients' facial expression and vocal acoustics is described to offer empirical support for the…

Interactions of mothers and fathers with hyperactive or normal 6- to 12-year-old sons were observed in dyadic and triadic settings. There was more frequent coercion in families with hyperactive boys than in those with normal boys. (BC)

From a sample of 1,520 hospital nurses, 520 responses demonstrated that (1) affective measures were strongly associated with career and affective-organizational commitment and (2) reports of continuance commitment and normative commitment increased significantly with career stage, but career commitment remained constant. (Author/SK)

Examines the underlying dimensions of adolescent emotion through exploratory factor analysis. Self-reports from 483 male and female fifth through ninth graders were analyzed. Adolescent effect in students was found to be comparable to that observed in adults, with variations possibly related to social transition of adolescents. (SH)

Discusses the importance (in Heinz Kohut's post-Freudian conception) of narcissism in postmodern pedagogy. Maintains that the affects (despair, depression, anger, joy) are the means by which students most fully understand the implications for their self-understanding of what they are being taught. (SR)

Investigated father and son dyads' (n=39) attitudes and perceptions about their touching interaction and observed their touching behavior. Results supported integrated father-son touch theory and showed negative relationship between son's age and amount of touch sons received. Both fathers and sons were more accepting of fathers touching sons…

The scoring pattern of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List--Revised (MAACL-R) (M. Zuckerman and B. Lubin, 1985) was studied under "simulate good" and "simulate bad" conditions and under instructional sets of "simulate" or "simulate with caution" with 320 college students. Results show that the MAACL-R…

A study of 270 hotel managers found that the strongest positive relationship between job satisfaction and performance occurred when high attainment of values associated with work was coupled with high-positive or low-negative affective disposition. (SK)