This essay interprets the dynamics of suicide based on a view of life as an autonomous process of the unfolding of genetically determined potential. The life process does not require external incentives; it depends, however, on needs-satisfying exchanges between individuals and their physical and social environment. Social orders of human groups…

This text concentrates on the analysis of influences acting on human behavior, particularly the influences that people have on each other. Lessons are designed to lead the student to identifying these influences. Some influences that would not be obvious are introduced by several of the later chapters. Lessons are presented using readings,…

The literature on attitudes of health workers toward the elderly suggests three variables as contributing to the elderly patient's perception of helplessness in the health care setting. First, the health worker may age-stereotype the elderly person as dependent, low in competence, and unlikely to respond to treatment. Secondly, the disparity in…

The effects of participation in field study programs on levels of anxiety and assertiveness among college students was investigated. Students enrolled in the Great Lakes Colleges Association - Philadelphia Urban Semester, 1976-1977, were systematically assessed for levels of anxiety and related personality dimensions using the Adjective Check List…

A discussion is presented of the problems inherent in attempting to develop a national policy for health education. Health education is defined as any combination of learning experiences designed to facilitate voluntary adaptations of behavior conducive to health. The major difficulties facing developers of national health education are identified…

This manual is designed to assist those helping professionals responsible for developing consumer education programs for older adults on the topic of food purchasing and costs. In a modular presentation format, the materials focus on the follwing areas of concern: (1) information on food buying; (2) planning the food budget; (3) shopping for good…

The course of psychosocial adjustment to cancer was examined in 105 adults with cancer of the lung, breast and skin. Half of the patients received a program of systematic psychosocial rehabilitation plus evaluation, and the other half received only an evaluation, consisting of a series of psychometric instruments and a problem-oriented structured…

Elementary school students were interviewed with the goal of determining characteristics and behavioral patterns they considered appropriate for one sex or the other in participation in sports. Children from kindergarten through the sixth grade were examined and compared by grade, sex, and race in their gender-related attitudes. The instrument…

A fading procedure to maintain student pacing in personalized instruction courses in two settings--a small educational psychology course at a public university and a large psychology course at a private university--was investigated. Students in both courses were divided into two groups. The first group had gradually lengthened unit completion…

Differences between male and female medical students in attitude changes toward themselves and their environment were investigated. In general, women students appeared to have had a harder time, showing more negative developments in both attitudes toward the environment and in those toward themselves. Compared with men, women showed sharp declines…

Heuristic models help writers recall information, sometimes revealing unique combinations of information in ways not conceived previously. This makes heuristics a valuable technique for helping beginning writers generate writing ideas. Observing that all culture is communication, Edward Hall has organized Primary Message Systems (PMS), a framework…

IN AN ATTEMPT TO MODIFY OR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR IN NURSERY SCHOOL CHILDREN, A TEACHING TECHNIQUE WAS INTRODUCED WHEREIN THE TEACHER WOULD ATTEND TO THE CHILD ONLY WHEN THE CHILD WAS MANIFESTING ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND WOULD IGNORE THE CHILD WHEN HE WAS MANIFESTING UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR. IT WOULD THEN BE POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE…

This study investigated relationships among subjective experience, verbal formulations, and effective purposeful behavior in psychiatric nursing. The Quest (an unstructured, short paragraph paper and pencil test using 30 randomly chosen English words) was administered to a random sample of Northern California student nurses. A highly consistent…

The author believes that an aspect of human behavior being glossed over in psychological studies is the superb, beautiful person. He defines this individual as being: (1) free of abnormalities, (2) basically normal, well balanced, and mentally healthy, and (3) possessed of a unique group of characteristics which establish his being out of the…

A descriptive and exploratory study designed to determine demographic and behavioral characteristics of Spanish-speaking migrant workers was conducted in the Stockbridge, Michigan, area. Economic, social, and demographic characteristics (such as age, educational level, income, and family size) and behavioral patterns (such as recruitment and…