Investigation expands upon the Erchul and Chewning (1990) study examining relational communication aspects of behavioral consultation. Study hypothesizes that the more a consultee follows the lead of a consultant, the more favorable the outcome for consultants. Results indicate participants were more controlling than those in previous study. One…

Study used a method different from that of past studies to reexamine first-date scripts of heterosexual college students. As expected, the findings did not change. Despite egalitarian claims, initial dating practices consistently appear to be primarily traditional. Article concludes that semi-egalitarian, semi-traditional perspectives of students…

Discusses several studies of whether and how well humans can detect lies. Examines the accuracy of such persons as well as the process of how they actually detect lies, how they think they detect lies, and whether the actual and perceived processes of lie detection correspond to one another. (JMF)

A review of communication research was conducted to (1) describe and clarify the nature of empathy, (2) investigate the construct of assertiveness, (3) posit a possible relationship between empathy and assertiveness, and (4) provide possible suggestions for future research. The literature indicates that conceptualizations of empathy primarily…

Providing a systematic investigation of the dimensional nature of relationships, this paper focuses primarily upon the control dimension of interpersonal relationships. After establishing a conceptual foundation of the control dimension, the paper next enumerates the verbal and nonverbal indicants of control in regard to their manipulative…

Reviews nonverbal behavior research which reveals a recurrent theme of greater politeness and accommodation by women rather than men in the encoding and decoding of nonverbal cues. These findings complement a large literature on sex differences which suggests that women are more emotionally expressive, sensitive, supportive, and accommodating than…

Rapprochement among competing methods and views of marital and family therapy constitutes a major creative challenge for the field in the 1980s. Although integrative efforts have begun, psychodynamic understanding of intimate relationships is necessary for continuation of integrative process growth. (Author/NRB)

Explains the types of effects, usually unintentional, that psychologists can have upon the results of their research; describes the "Pygmalion Experiment," in which teachers' expectations for children's behavior proved to be self-fulfilling prophecies; and points to research needs in the area of interpersonal expectations. (GT)

Behavioral Marital Therapy (BMT) is clinically useful because it includes elaborating procedures, modifying the spouse's self-defeating cognitions, and moving toward early intervention and prevention. Each article in this issue of American Journal of Family Therapy focuses on innovations in BMT, either in research or practice. (Author/NRB)

There is not much evidence that supports the notion of the self-fulfilling prophecy as applied to teachers' expectations of students. The "Pygmalion" study is often cited by courts and in the media; but it is highly criticized in scholarly circles, and its findings could not be replicated. (VM)

Defines areas that could comprise pharmaceutical psychology. The discussion includes a review of literature, outline of areas in pharmacy in which psychologists could become involved, description of a project involving the application of psychology to pharmacy, and analysis of the concept of pharmaceutical psychology. A 99-item bibliography is…

There is no accepted definition of "needs" of the elderly. Perceptions vary with age, professional role, relationships, and time. The wide range of methodologies presents problems. Research instruments are being refined. The use of index of incapacity measures offers the best data base for planning needed services. (Author/NRB)

Notes that many researchers have asserted maternal "sensitivity" as the key feature of interactions promoting "secure" attachment relationships. Reviews literature addressing the construct of sensitivity, highlighting the problem of definition and identifying the range of behaviors typically used as indicators of sensitivity.…

The study of causal attributions at the interpersonal level has been an integral part of attribution research. Unfortunately most attribution research has involved persons unfamiliar with each other. The marital relationship is an example of the need for understanding causal attributions among intimates. A striking feature of marital interaction…

Teaching social skills to students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) has become an accepted practice. Literally hundreds of social skills training (SST) efficacy studies for students with EBD appear in the literature. As a result, many authors have published both narrative and meta-analytic reviews of the literature. Reviews have…