Students approach courses in communication with a lifetime of experience in the processes to be studied. Their already deeply imbedded attitudes and habits must be considered in planning instruction. Accompanying each course unit might be a series of introspective questions that encourage students to become aware of their relevant preconceptions,…

This paper presents the position that concern for others is fundamentally a matter of cognitive definition of one's relationship to and responsibility for other human beings. Altruism changes as a function of an individual's overall level of cognitive-moral development. There are six forms of altruism, corresponding to Kohlberg's six sequential…

This paper discusses the concept of popular culture, relating it to new journalism as a phenomenon which reflects the popular images of society. Style is the essential element of popular culture so that the kind of writing presently known as new journalism is the ultimate example of the philosophy that style is supreme. But the style of the best…

Modern society is an ever-changing pattern of pressure and counter pressure. A social movement in conflict with the dominant society is labeled with easily identifiable stereotypes--bearded long hairs, bra burners, terrorists, bleeding hearts, uneducated rednecks. Traditional criticism has failed to say anything meaningful about social movements…

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of social information received by audiences viewing "Sanford and Son" and "All in the Family." It was hypothesized that whites perceive "Sanford and Son" as being more real than blacks do; middle-class viewers rate each program as being more real than lower-class…

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to investigate the general image of women who are active in politics and compare that image with the general image of men who are politically active, (2) to examine the general area of sex-related voting patterns when a major woman condidate is involved, and (3) to determine whether or not a female…

Ethical behavior, particularly among young people, is of increasing concern to various segments of society. Before this or any behavior can be influenced, an understanding is needed of the factors that shape it, including social influences, cognitive and emotional factors, and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to examine students' knowledge…

The paper has two main parts. In the first part, some current thinking on the nature of the stereotypes and the role of schools in their propagation, as well as in their analysis, is reviewed. In the second part, suggestions are described and exemplified for some classroom techniques--to be used mainly with the reading of literature--which may…

Speech delivered at NAEYC's National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development explores changing perspectives on social needs, and suggests building a sense of community and improving teacher education as ways to support children and families in need. (HTH)

This pilot study examined the relational-behavior model (RBM) as an HIV/AIDS assessment tool for at-risk college populations. Based on this theory, a survey was constructed to assess the six areas associated with HIV/AIDS prevention: personal awareness, knowledge deficiency, relational skills, HIV/STD stigmatization, community awareness, and…

Data from a national survey of American economic literacy were used to investigate the relationship between economic knowledge and public opinion on economic issues. The telephone survey data were collected by the Gallup Organization from a sample of 1,005 members of the general public in March 1992. The instrument contained about 46 questions…

This study investigated the social, moral/ethical, and personality characteristics, and the social beliefs/attitudes differentiating male college students who engage in sexual assault or coercion from those who do not. Subjects consisted of a random sample of 243 male university students. The Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Koss & Oros, 1982) was…

Gay and lesbian adolescents are marginalized at many levels. Their needs and interests are slighted in the balance of advocacy work that purports a concern for the welfare of minority children. Their presence is overlooked in studies of youth and the mass media. Their existence is excluded from American popular culture. The symbolic annihilation…

Many people hold negative attitudes toward older adults, and these attitudes often are associated with negative behavior toward the old. To explore the behavioral correlates of attitudes toward the elderly, 105 male and female college students, with a mean age of 24.5 years, participated in a two-phase experiment. During phase one, all subjects…

Discussed are characteristics of the modern Canadian family and the social context within which the issues of adolescent pregnancy and adolescent sexuality arise. Various options for families and related ambivalent attitudes toward such personal freedoms are described. The historical evolution of western industrialized society is briefly sketched,…