Psychoanalytic theory predicts that humor preference is a derivative of unresolved childhood conflicts. Analyzed students' (N=104) Rorschach protocols to yield measures of preoedipal fixation. Students ranked jokes from most to least funny. Results showed that the ranking of jokes was a function of the fixation measures for women only. (Author/RC)

The author explores the theory of changing basic thought processes in order to improve personal performance on the job. This entails helping people identify their existing thoughts and replacing the ones that won't support performance goals with those that will. (CT)

Studied whether intense negative affect states linked to suicidal behavior exist. Gathered Personal Feeling Scales data from high, moderate, and low serious suicide-threatening women and from a disturbed but nonsuicidal group. Results indicated that a particular configuration of intensely negative affects exist for highly serious suicidal women.…

The rhythmic patterning of man's biochemical, physiological, and psychological behavior and the temporal relationships among various functions are the province of chronobiology. Citing animal and human studies, the author documents the progress of this new science and poses complex questions that it may answer about human behavior. (Editor/SJL)

Based on available evidence, it appears reasonable to assume that the psychological and social consequences of becoming a father during adolescence are the same as those more traditionally associated with adolescent motherhood. (Author)

Finds strong correlations between sex and four subscales of the "Denver Community Health Questionnaire" in 44 outpatients at a Texas mental health complex. Shows that the women are less productive and evidence more psychological distress, while men have more legal difficulties and are more likely to use soft drugs. (RL)

A major concern to anyone involved in the alcoholism field is the basic understanding of alcoholism as a disease that Hispanics have not yet completely accepted. Hispanics have usually labeled the use of alcoholic beverages as being embedded into Hispanic culture and have viewed alcoholism as an individual weakness to be endured in silence. (NQ)

Shyness is a socially learned reaction against the unstructured, novel, spontaneous, or intimate, and is frequently unknowingly fostered by teachers and parents. (MB)

The psychometric properties of three coping inventories are examined: (1) the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (N. Endler and J. Parker, 1994); (2) the COPE (C. Carver and others, 1989); and (3) the Coping Strategies Inventory (D. Tobin and others, 1989). Three general factors were found across the three instruments. (SLD)

Examined social physique anxiety, upper body esteem, social anxiety, and body dissatisfaction as possible predictors of anabolic steroid (AS) use. Results based on 185 AS-using bodybuilders and various control groups indicated that the upper body strength subscale of two measures, along with age, were significant predictors of AS use. (RJM)

Integrative Family Therapy provides four family systems assessment components and an intrapsychic assessment component as the foundation for understanding family strengths and challenges. Presents a case study in which obtaining a balanced assessment of the systemic and intrapsychic dynamics was critical to the success of therapy. (GCP)

Based on observation of 94 kindergartners and preschoolers for 3 months, this study examined changes in preschoolers' tendencies to play alone as a function of dispositional negative emotional intensity (DNEI) and changes in expressed negative emotions. Findings indicated higher emotional intensity, increased solitary play, and decreased…

Investigates how individual and situational interest factors contribute to topic interest and text learning. Results reveal that both individual interest variables and specific text titles influenced topic interest. Examination of processes predictive of text learning indicated that topic interest was related to affective response, affect to…

Accounts of prisoners of war, Holocaust survivors, and refugees elucidate ways that educators might help learners understand, reframe, and overcome extreme experiences. They expand the meaning of learning beyond instrumental outcomes to its most fundamental moral purposes. (SK)

Two studies tested for gender differences in rates of depression among undergraduates using three conceptualizations of depression. Results provide no evidence of gender differences in rates of depressed mood in either sample. However, in both samples, gender differences in rates of depressive disorder were found, with male students more likely…