It was hypothesized that similar testing situations would reveal consistent behavior in 20 preschoolers. No significant correlations were found when the intersession interval was three to four days, but significant correlations were noted when the interval was 12 to 14 days, apparently due to perceived novelty of the second situation. (RL)

Deals with a study conducted in Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia to determine whether Latin Americans have similar distance and contact orientations regardless of sex and nationality. Concludes that the differences in behavior between the Central and South Americans are significant enough to warrant further research. (MH)

Reviews laboratory research on behavioral momentum conducted with pigeons and summarizes its findings and their generality to people, including those with mental retardation. Discusses the high-probability procedure used to establish compliance in clinical settings and based in part on an extension of the momentum metaphor. (CR)

This commentary discusses John Nevin's article on establishing compliance via behavioral momentum involving high-probability procedures, and questions whether applications of behavioral momentum can be derived from the theory, whether applications could have been developed if the theory not been formulated, and whether the theory will add…

Argues that the computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) community should adopt a stronger orientation to other social science disciplines, particularly psychology. Greater attention to psychological literature provides three benefits: well-validated principles about human behavior in group and organizational contexts relevant to CSCW research;…

Current literature suggests that a teacher's expectancies for a pupil may in part determine the pupil's subsequent behavior. This review asks how such expectancies affect the teacher's own behavior, with the goal of determining what teacher behaviors mediate the observed effect on the pupil. A model of this process is proposed. (Author)

Investigates various ethnic interpretations of appropriate distances for interaction. (MH)

See CS 703 555 for availability. (MH)

Noting that recent research and theory from the expanding field of psychobiology have not been integrated into the study of human communication, this paper offers a synthesis of principles from several leading psychobiological scientists as a step toward a possible unifying approach to communication philosophy, theory, and research. The paper…

A literature review of communications, psychological, physiological and other sociobehavioral research literature reveals a number of paradoxes regarding the emphasis by information gatekeepers, media, and audiences on messages that are negative, critical, pessimistic, conflict-and-tension-producing, skeptical, punitive, threatening,…

This study is based on Locke's (1968) hypothesis that individuals will spontaneously set performance goals when feedback is related to a standard of performance. The study tests Locke's proposal in an actual work setting by comparing the performance rate of keystroke operators who received feedback and a standard with that of a control group who…

Groups exist in a time environment. The group develops, changes, may function for years, and eventually disbands. The theory of groups across time is in a different psychological domain than that of short-term groups. For example, in long-term groups changes in group membership are inevitable whereas in short-term groups these changes are rarely…

Attempts to determine the degree to which communication may be viewed as structured sequences of behavior. Includes an analysis of discussion groups, teacher classroom behavior, speech therapy sessions and police-civilian telephone calls. See CS 703 503 for availability information. (MH)

The contribution of a structured procedure designed to facilitate the generalization of assertive behavior was examined. Subjects solicited from the community (N=48) were assigned to an assertion training plus generalization instructions (AT Plus), an assertion training only (AT Only), or an attention-placebo control condition. Both behavioral…

The effects of observational purpose are thought to impact on such diverse processes as categorization, behavior perception, trait ascription, and memory. The role of observational purpose in the categorization of behavior was explored to determine whether differences between trait and goal concepts affect certain information-processing…