Three experiments examined elementary school children's ascriptions of blame for communication failure in a game in which either the child or the experimenter described one of a set of drawings so that the other could pick the matching one from an identical set. (Author/JMB)

Evidence is reviewed which suggests that there may be little or no direct introspective access to higher order cognitive processes. It is proposed that when people attempt to report on their cognitive processes they do not do so on the basis of any true introspection. (Editor/RK)

A measure of causal attribution of emotion using a simple, realistic task with responses requested in segments was employed to investigate 40 kindergarteners' understanding of the causes of emotions in others. (JMB)

Study examines the Slaby and Frey (1975) gender-constancy interview, which has been widely used in tests of the cognitive-developmental account. Sixty children, aged between 42 and 54 months, were given the interview either in the traditional order or in a reversed order. Order effects were found. Methodological issues are discussed. (Author/BN)

Sixty mothers of four- through 12-year-old children rated the (1) environmental versus dispositional basis of their child's behavior; (2) behavior's probable origins, cross-situational consistancy, and temporal stability; (3) child's controllability; and (4) personal responsibility for engaging in each behavior. Findings suggested a positive bias…

To examine gender differences in attributions for success and failure across subject areas, the Survey of Achievement Responsibility (SOAR) was administered to 165 girls and 160 boys in grades 4 through 12. The SOAR assesses attributions for success and failure in language arts and mathematics/science. Results are presented. (Author/MT)

College students were administered the Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale (MMCS). Most of the 3-item subscales had adequate reliabilities. A factor analysis of intercorrelations of responses revealed three pure factors and three ambiguous factors. Results provide partial support for reliability and factorial validity of the MMCS.…

Examines reasons that adolescents use alcohol and drugs, including role confusion, developmental factors, parental influence, and peer pressure. Reports that adolescents also abuse substances to feel excitement, cope with personality conflicts, and express their individuality through rebellion. (ABB)

Assesses the information used by 5- to 13-year-olds to make dispositional attributions. Children were shown a boy interacting with others harmfully. Results of trait adjective ratings and predictions of causal responsibility for subsequent property damage revealed that the use of frequency and covariation information differed with age. (Author/CB)

A series of six experiments compares young children's competence in attributing absence of knowledge (ignorance) to their competence in attributing a false belief to the other. (HOD)

Examines developmental change in 4- 7- and 10-month-old infants' perceptions of correlations among attributes to determine whether relational information plays a role in abilities ranging from the perception and recognition of a simple pattern to the formation of a category. (HOD)

Explores developmental and psychological assumptions about women that are fundamental to current marriage and family therapy practice. Ethical guidelines for reducing bias in therapy, especially with couples and families, are offered to counselors and therapists for evaluation and refinement of professional gender role sensitivity. (Author)

Results indicated subjects decreased their ratings of self-efficacy and interest as a result of the failure experience and the same ratings increased as a result of the success experience. Women rated themselves lower than men and rated luck as the cause of their successful performance. (Author/BL)

Examined attributions used by pre- and postmenopausal women (N=105) to explain mood. After reading a diary written by a middle-aged woman, participants rated menopausal symptoms, environment, and age as likely causes of the woman's mood. Menopausal symptoms were rated as a salient source of attribution for negative mood. (NRB)