To test the optimal incompetence hypothesis (high self-efficacy lowers task interest), 30 subjects rated interest, perceived difficulty, and confidence of success in different tasks. In study 2, 33 subjects completed a dart-game task in easy, moderate, and difficult conditions. In both, interest was a quadratic function of self-efficacy,…

Colleges and universities should help prepare an able, intelligent, motivated workforce, provide problem-solving services to business, and provide opportunities for individuals to better themselves. New conditions require that it also prepare for the global economy, advancing technology, an increasingly diverse population, and minority educational…

This 1989 American Association of Suicidology presidential address focuses on statistics of 3.6 male suicide completions for each female completion, exploring hypothesis that different socialization and the concomitant differential expectations of males and females are responsible for the increased likelihood of suicide among males. (NB)

Develops and tests an interventionist model (which posits that effective mediators assume active, highly participatory roles in the mediation process) using 91 mediated roommate disputes. Examines (1) the impact of disputants' expectations on the process of mediation; and (2) whether disputants' and mediators' perspectives were consistent…

A total of 45 3-month-olds were observed for stability in forming visual expectations. Findings indicate that infant performance in the Visual Expectation Paradigm is reliable as early as 3 months. Individual differences exist in infants' tendency to form visual expectations. (RH)

Male, middle-aged inpatient alcoholics (N=48) and 36 community controls completed neuropsychological tests. Before tests, subjects told how well they expected to do on test in relation to community members. Means for overall measures of expectancies and performance were significantly lower for alcoholics than for controls. Expectancies, although…

Infants: (1) demonstrated memory for four events and the robustness of memory after a one week delay; (2) showed ability to anticipate upcoming events during training; (3) increased anticipatory behaviors during later training trials; and (4) appeared to form expectancies of future events during periods of stimulus onset and offset. (RH)

Examined unrealistic expectations of college graduates regarding their first jobs. Data from 253 college graduates working at their first job after graduation revealed that subjects' initial expectations for their first jobs were not met by work realities. Those graduates whose career-role expectations were not met by their first jobs were likely…

Examines the role of trust in health care settings--among professionals and between patients and nurses. Discusses nurses' role in achieving trust relationships. (SK)

Self-efficacy expectation to perform in both male- and female-dominated occupations and salience in work and home roles were assessed in 64 female and 49 male undergraduates. Self-efficacy in traditionally male occupations predicted commitment to work role for women but not for men. Women expected to participate in more home-related activities.…

Conducted two studies examining comparison of performance expectancies given by women for themselves and for hypothetical other woman. Findings from 45 female undergraduates and from 84 male and female undergraduates revealed that not only did female undergraduates state lower performance expectancies than did males but women predicted average…

Assessed effects of violated parenting expectations on adjustment to parenthood among 473 married women. Interviewed women during final trimester of first pregnancy and at one-year postbirth. Found women expected things to be better at one year than they actually were. Discrepancies significantly affected ease of adjustment to motherhood.…

Evaluated treatment effects in single session process using problem-focused approach and solution-focused approach. Findings indicated significant difference between two approaches when dealing with client's perceived problem improvement, outcome expectancy, session depth, session smoothness, and session positivity. Found no significant…

The low status of nursing is traced from the days of Florence Nightingale, and concepts of role socialization are applied to nurses. A highly automated, democratized workplace is envisioned that will change socialization practices. (SK)

Asserts that therapists perceived as having strong spiritual orientation face challenges, especially when one spouse views him/herself as "spiritually one-up" and wants therapist to form spiritually based coalition against other. Describes dilemmas that therapists may face when clients perceive them as having spiritual expertise and presents…