This study examined the effects of body image boundaries on preferred and avoided seating choices in small groups and the personal meanings associated with these measures of spatial behavior. The findings indicate a tendency toward greater defensive distancing by the boundary-indefinite subjects. (Author)

The traditional view of academic life is that students undergo recurring patterns of stress. In an attempt to investigate this notion, data were collected from five different student services. A common pattern was found, showing higher rates of stress during the first semester. (Author)

Parents from child-abuse and matched-control families were examined for variation of life-change scores, perceptions of physical and emotional health, and punitiveness of their own parents. Abusive parents had higher life-change scores, more numerous perceptions of emotion physical ill health, and more punitive childhoods. (Author)

This study found that the level of nonverbal behavior had a significant effect on 39 out of 40 ratings made by professional interviewers. Dimensions most influenced by nonverbal behavior were enthusiasm/motivation, confidence in self, and persuasiveness. (Author)

This study investigated similarities and differences of response by male and female counselors-in-training to clients of their own and opposite sex. The Counseling Response Instrument (CRI) was administered to 127 participants. Although different response patterns were found, results were not in the direction of traditional sex-role stereotyping.…

Results indicated that both gender and previous experience have significant effects. Gender appeared to have a less substantial effect than previous experience, being more noteworthy for the similarities manifest between males and females than the few differences observed. Effects were complex and often mediated by additional factors. (Author)

This study investigated the ability of maritally-adjusted couples (N=12), couples attaining a divorce (N=5), and couples in counseling (N=9) to predict rewarding effects of their behavior on their spouse. The maritally-adjusted group was always more accurate in their predictions, but significantly more accurate only for selected areas of…

Younger (N=48) and older (N=48) males participated in a vocabulary task involving varying degrees of risk under neutral, supportive, and challenging instructions. Results indicated older adults were more cautious, selected tasks with higher probabilities of success, and were less likely to raise their level of aspiration following success. (Author)

This study related components of gender inappropriateness that isolate target persons from sources of reward and hence function as social controls against such deviance. The study confirmed that a significant portion of negative responsiveness toward homosexuals results from the belief that their behavior is incongruent with their anatomical sex.…

This study determined if interaction effects of selected psychosocial variables could be utilized as indicators of subsequent smoking behavior among youth having never smoked. Results support the hypothesis. Presented at the 49th annual convention of the American School Health Association, Denver, Colorado, 1975. (Author)

Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program in a maximum security prison were studied via cross-validation design. Meditation and control groups indicated reduction in anxiety, neuroticism, hostility, and insomnia as a function of the treatment. (Author)

Reactions of observers, classified as either high or low in self-disclosure flexibility, to high and low behavioral samples of self-disclosure to a stranger were examined. Results suggest self-disclosure flexibility reflects perceptual awareness of social-situational norms governing the appropriateness of self-disclosing behavior. (Author)

Examines some of the conditions associated with dissolution of the friendship tie. Subjects were 232 boys and girls between the ages of eight and 15 at a summer camp. The hypothesis that reduction in social interaction would be associated with increased probability of dissolution was not conclusively supported. (Author/HMV)

Investigates whether interpersonal skills training raises the level of facilitativeness of the trainers. Results are positive. (Author)

Childbirth during marital disruption is found to be a surprisingly frequent occurrence. Both prevalence of intermarital fertility and social policy issues which are involved suggest this phenomenon may be similar in importance to illegitimacy. (Author)