The results concerning conceptions of statistical relations, presented in this report are based on interviews with fourteen nurses and fourteen technicians. The interviews were about a medical and a technical case of a causal relation. The starting point was a statement about the existence of the relation and the subjects were asked what evidence…

Current social psychological analysis of the self is characterized by three principles: the self is bounded and concrete; the opinions of others are valued for self-definition, self-evaluation and the maintenance of self-esteem; and the road to fame is paved with one's own actions. Attributions of causality for one's actions traditionally have…

Considerable evidence has been found to support the hypothesis that actors' and observers' attributions diverge. It is also becoming clear that this divergence is not the result of a single process, but is the result of factors which co-occur and differentiate actors from observers. Observers' beliefs about their similarity to actors were…

The Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire, which measures perceived locus of control of academic outcomes, was administered to 28 emotionally handicapped (EH) and 25 learning disabled (LD)/EH children. Between group comparison revealed that EH children took significantly more personal responsibility for academic failure than did…

Observers are known to form inferences about an actor on the basis of the actor's behavior, regardless of the external forces contributing to that behavior. Two studies were conducted to determine whether this inferential error would also occur at the level of group activity. In the first study, 70 undergraduates read about a decision made by a…

The importance of out-of-role behavior in teacher evaluation was investigated. Sixty administrators were presented one of two variations of a teacher's application form from which they assessed the personality traits of the teacher and indicated their interest in interviewing the teacher. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that…

Two studies were conducted that explored observers' perceptions of responsibility of a victim for her involvement in a premeditated crime. Male and female college students listened to tapes of a purported victim describing a crime (either a rape or a mugging). There was general tendency toward a sympathetic reaction pattern. (Author)

Examines the effects of consensus information on the prediction of behavior as a function of social desirability of consensus information and the presence or absence of vignette information about target persons. Discusses the different manners in which consensus information can be used. (Author/RK)

Theory and research on the psychological construct of fear of success is reviewed in the context of Horner's original (1968) formulation of the motive. Both the validity and the reliability of the original measure are questioned in the light of the weakness of empirical support. (Author/AM)

Kindergarten children and adults were shown slides with an accompanying taped soundtrack which portrayed reciprocal and nonreciprocal aggressive and prosocial interactions. Following each episode, subjects' evaluations of the actor and their attributions concerning the cause of his behavior were obtained. (Author/JMB)

Explores use of psychological autopsies to clarify intention in suicide. Compares clinical experience with courtroom experience. Discusses the "decriminalization" of suicide and insurance concerns, mental disorders, and intention to commit suicide. Notes that capacity to have the intent to commit suicide is lost due to mental disorders only under…

The influence of attribution and self-control training on short- and long-term maintenance of strategic behavior, impulsivity, and beliefs about self-efficacy was assessed in 77 underachieving, hyperactive children. Results supported the use of attribution and self control training in treating strategic deficits in hyperactive and learning…

Investigated students' explanations as to the causes of success or failure in music. Results indicate that students tend to cite internal reasons for success or failure in music. Implications for teaching are drawn. (JDH)

Investigated the frequency of and reasons for college students' (N=342) procrastination on academic tasks. A high percentage of students reported problems with procrastination. Results indicated that procrastination is not solely a deficit in study habits or time management but involves a complex interaction of behavioral, cognitive, and affective…