Outdoor adventure education programs may offer opportunities for improving overall wellness beyond the realm of physical fitness. A hypothetical framework is presented as follows: (1) outdoor adventure experiences provide individuals with opportunities to be truly challenged; (2) success in challenging situations builds self-efficacy and…

Discusses the conflicting evidence and points of view presented by scientists involved in research on the nature of memory. The research of one group supports a chemical basis for memory, while the other group presents evidence supporting an electro-physiological basis. (JR)

The use of the kinesthetic aftereffect as a descriptive personality variable is strongly discouraged by the results of the present study. (Authors)

Measured arousal and motor responses as a function of conflict type and field structure. Using paper-and-pencil fields, subjects performed under four conflict conditions and a control condition. Arousal increased significantly with increasing conflict complexity and was habitual over repeated trials, though arousal did not differentiate field…

Assessed the relative efficacy of EMG biofeedback training to reduce tension levels in students (N=55) characterized by the presence or absence of coronary-prone behavior pattern (Type A or Type B). Results showed biofeedback students attained and maintained greater relaxation during training than did controls, regardless of A/B status. (WAS)

Studied whether somatic content is more important than self-devaluation in producing depressive mood variations, using the Veltan Mood Induction Procedure on college students (N=302). Results indicated that students in the self-devaluation condition showed significantly more depressed affect than students in the neutral condition. (WAS)

Investigated the autonomic reactions (heart rate and skin conductance) of 17 mothers of five-month-old infants to two landscape scenes and four types of videotaped segments depicting their own baby and an unfamiliar baby smiling or crying. (JMB)

Discusses the "chutzpah factor", the ability to transcend fear and enter into the unknown, in altered states of consciousness, especially in what are known as "adept" individuals. Examines the powerful effect a person's belief system has upon what he or she is able to do and endure. (Editor/RK)

This study examined individual differences in 4-year-old children's expression of the self-conscious emotions of embarrassment and shame and their relation to differences in cortisol response to stress. Results indicated the presence of two different types of embarrassment--one that reflected negative evaluation of the self, and the other a…

The links between endocrine physiological processes and adolescent psychological processes are the focus of this article. Presents a brief history of biopsychosocial research in adolescent development. Discusses four models for conceptualizing hormone-behavior research as illustrative of biopsychosocial models. Concludes with challenges and…

Examined pain and negative moods during labor in relation to instructions to monitor labor contractions and LaMaze class attendance. In Study 1, pain and negative moods showed sharp decline at Stage 2 (active labor) for women who monitored and LaMaze participants; in Study 2, LaMaze participants reported decline in pain during active labor and…

The central role of interest in determining selection and persistence in processing information is discussed. The effect of individual and text-based interest on cognitive functioning and facilitation of learning, the role of interest in allocation of attention, the associated psychological and physiological processes, and related neurocognitive…

Psychophysiological measures are generally those in which electrodes measure central or autonomous nervous system or skeletomotor activity with the goals of establishing linkages between the measurement and specific psychological processes. Psychophysiological methods and the difficulties inherent in their use are discussed. Guidelines are…