Effects of father absence on boys and girls who live in families headed by mothers were studied. Subjects were 40 Israeli children (ages 2.6 to 2.10 years of age) whose fathers had died before their birth. Strong differential effects were found in the responses of girls as compared with those of boys. (Author/MP)

Used conjoint measurement to describe how systems-oriented therapists predict the occurrence of suicide. Although the systems approach emphasizes the interaction between an individual and a system, all 10 clinicians were described by an additive model. (Author/JAC)

Delinquent boys (18 percent of 120) were found to be depressed when DSM III criteria for Major Depressive Disorder were utilized. Results indicated the prevalence of depression was not significantly more frequent among socialized, undersocialized, aggressive or nonaggressive subtypes. (Author)

Explores the social and environmental characteristics of Black female homicide victims and offenders. Assembled data on 661 Black female homicide victims and 119 Black female homicide offenders. Analyses indicated that Black female homicide victims and offenders exhibit low socioeconomic status and essentially similar behavior patterns. (Author)

Describes instruments developed to measure inmates' (N=150) drug use, knowledge, and attitudes. A drug use inventory, a drug attitude scale, and a drug knowledge test were examined for validity. Each measurement tool was subjected to item analysis for internal consistency. Implications and suggestions are discussed concerning inmate drug…

Based on Fromm's proposed personality theory of the productive and nonproductive use of four character types, studied the productive facet of the four life-style orientations. Analyses of the data from surveys of life and interpersonal relations orientations supported the four orientations suggested by Fromm's theory. (RC)

Counselors should not treat psychological conversion as a sacred process best dealt with by the theologians. Counselors should not criticize clients' religious beliefs based on doctrine but should acknowledge psychological conversion as a departure from spiritual understanding and subsequently help clients clarify religious anxiety within a…

Examined the way people interpret ambiguous, but potentially sexual, interactions between the sexes in a work setting. Respondents (N=218) evaluated a vignette depicting such an interaction. Men interpreted the vignettes more positively than did women. Incidents initiated by women were viewed more positively. (Author/RC)

Examined whether graduate students (N=40) experienced developmental transitions similar to those suggested in adult development theories by using a structured interview protocol to collect data on developmental tasks. Findings indicated that the developmental transitions reflected in a composite developmental framework were applicable to graduate…

Studied relationships between depth of depression, anaclitic and introjective depressive experiences, and illness behavior in 37 chronic pain patients. Depth of depression and degree of introjective depressive experiences showed similar positive covariation with a broad range of illness behavior, hypochondriasis, disease conviction, affective…

Compared Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores of incestuous fathers and stepfathers to those of a matched control group. Analyses reflected more pathological scores for incest fathers on the psychopathic deviate scale, the psychasthenia scale and the schizophrenia scales. Results were discussed in terms of a character-disordered…

Compares an adolescent and a parental group with regard to standardized measures of alcohol consumption in order to test the hypothesis that drinking patterns are not unique to the adolescent society but rather exemplify the models in the adult community. Independent samples of students and adults were found to be very similar in patterns of…

Studied 600 British consumers to determine the role of uncommitted purchasing power. Results indicate clothing consumption tends to be age oriented rather than class oriented. Fashion behavior among the young is determined by the excitement motive while older women are more economical. (JAC)

Compared leisure behavior patterns after retirement with those of preretirement. Examined data within the context of the spillover and compensatory hypotheses, with retirement representing a nonwork sphere. Findings revealed a spillover effect, characterized by a high degree of passive, solitary leisure behavior both before and after retirement.…

Explored the life-styles of elderly wanderers and nonwanderers in long-term care. Paired t-tests confirmed hypotheses indicating that wanderers had engaged in a higher level of social and leisure activities and had experienced more stressful events, motoric reactions to stress, and motoric behavioral styles prior to their illness. (Author)