This paper describes the self-evaluation maintenance model (SEM) which suggests that much social behavior can be understood by assuming that persons are motivated to maintain a positive self-evaluation. The two processes by which one's social circumstances may affect self-evaluation, i.e., reflection and comparison, are described. The relationship…

This report reviews five studies dealing with drug abuse and adolescence and presents an overview of the social changes which have contributed to the increased use of marijuana and other illicit drugs. The importance of the longitudinal study as a research tool is emphasized in describing the research projects that deal with the epidemiology of…

The 1980's may be remembered as the decade of the older woman, due in part to demographics and also to public awareness heightened by the women's movement. If psychology is to exert a constructive force towards the optimization of mental health of older women, it is essential for psychologists to be aware of the limits of current knowledge and the…

This document, one of a series for child caregivers working in military care centers, discusses ways of constructing appropriate environments for toddlers. Sections of part 1 focus on recognizing the influence of environments on children's feelings and behavior, coordinating the arrangement of space with the physical and psychological…

One of a series designed for caregivers in military child care centers, this book discusses how to plan and implement an effective environment for infants 6 weeks to 12 months of age. The document is divided into two parts, with selected resources listed at the end. Part 1 outlines some ways to organize and arrange physical space at the center. In…

Part of a series of instructor training modules on related subjects instruction for apprentices, this booklet deals with providing for individual learner needs. The first chapter consists of an outline of the scope and content of the instructor training modules as well as a self-asessment pretest. Covered in the module are determining needs,…

A study was conducted to examine the effects of students' interests on their writing. A group of 571 high school seniors, fluent and nonfluent in writing, completed a questionnaire dealing with aspects of writing interest, such as subject, form, or voice. Tape recorded interviews addressing the same aspects were conducted with 11 fluent seniors…

Although all cultural groups (civilages) are unique in some respect, Indian people are unique in more ways than other Americans and in ways that set them apart from all other Americans, taking all minorities and the dominant society as a whole. Beginning with U.S. colonial history, the article discusses the so-called dominant society, its behavior…

A series of studies carried out in Aberdeen, Scotland and Lancaster England is used to illustrate changing interests in the area of personality and learning. The early studies looked for general relationships, adopting a psychometric approach. Recent work has been focused more on the process of learning, particularly in higher education, and on…

In recent research, sequences of hypotheses observed during problem-solving have been categorized according to six hypothesis sampling systems that vary in efficiency. Three systems were characterized as strategies (focus, dimension check, hypothesis check) because they always lead eventually to solution. The remainder were called stereotypes…

The use of ability variables for grouping students is pervasive in elementary schools. Teachers form these groups judgmentally, taking into account formal (e.g., test) and informal (e.g., personal observation) sources of information. Their judgments of students' abilities are reasonably accurate. Such grouping can be explained as functional on…

This teaching guide, developed by the Los Angeles (California) Unified School District, presents concepts about relationships and a description of instructional objectives and activities which deal with family relationships, qualities of character and personality, and the teaching-learning act. A particular concept and objective are defined for…

Individual differences in the motivation and skill to manage impressions can be measured by the Self-Monitoring Scale. "Blind" dating encounters were established to investigate whether complementarity rather than similarity in partner's self-monitoring would lead to greater attraction and satisfaction with the relationship. College students (N=64…

This study examined the conditions for the selection of certain communication strategies in terms of the inferencing ability of the learner, the formal proficiency level attained, and the features of the communicative situation (task requirements). Two groups of 17-year-olds--one studying advanced French and the other French as part of a "core"…

A review of literature relevant to equal educational opportunity is presented in order to support an argument for the use of normative models in educational research. The literature review shows that confusion over the 1966 Coleman Report was due to a mismatch between the implied reform objective of the report and its statistical approach. The…