Regretted messages provide speakers an opportunity to learn. Whether learning occurs should depend upon how the incident is processed. This study had two objectives: (a) to determine how the goal a message conflicts with and seriousness influence the emotion(s) evoked; and (b) to determine which variables predict adoption of learning-oriented,…

This study examines the effectiveness of a cooperatively oriented negotiator who is highly skilled in role reversal in inducing cooperation in an adversary. Agreements were greater and faster in individualistic conditions than in competitive conditions. (Author/DB)

This paper reports one attempt to study and work toward the resolution of conflict in an inner city school. Specifically, this investigation was concerned with resolving conflict between students and teachers in an urban school by attempting to: (1) establish effective communication between these groups; and (2) improve understanding so that…

The potential for considerable marital dissatisfaction among wives is clearly present. Wives want less controlling behavior from their husbands than the husbands prefer to engage in. They want to move closer to their husbands and want their husbands to share more intimately with them. (Author)

Distressed couples were more critical of each other and less responsive to each other's influence efforts. Distressed and nondistressed couples were similar in their frequencies of inquiries and solution proposals. Criticism and responsiveness were important predictors of both satisfaction with outcomes and attainment of resolutions. (Author)

The use of poetry in couples' groups is suggested to facilitate group process and break down resistance. Techniques include the use of reactions to a poem or song, the construction of poems, and the development of images. Poetry can help clients express feelings and examine communication patterns. (Author)

To determine if empirically derived dependent variables could differentiate typical conflict and accord discussions, couples engaged in conflict and accord discussions on topics rated prior to and following discussions. Discriminators were volume, criticism, disagreement and sarcasm. Variables which did not differentaite topics were swearing, rate…

The effects of self-disclosure and attitude similarity on the reduction of interpersonal conflict in a modification of the Prisoner's Dilemma Game were investigated in an experimental study of the behavior of 60 undergraduate students. Results supported hypotheses that self-disclosure and attitude similarity would elicit more conflict-reducing…

Compared communicational interactions of maritally distressed and nondistressed couples engaged in conflict resolution tasks. Distressed couples made significantly more negative cognitive and problem-solving acts. Distressed couples evidenced more reciprocity of negative communication as compared with nondistressed couples. Relationships of these…

Widespread teacher negativism toward supervision, stemming from organizational sources (the supervisor, removed from day-to-day teaching concerns, as evaluator) and behavioral sources (distancing, ritualism, nonauthenticity) can only be changed by openness and willingness to examine past neglects and by developing new methods of behavior. (MB)

One of the sources of conflict in our urban centers today is the distrust that exists between the community and the police. In an effort to improve relations between community members and the police, so that both groups might work together more effectively in solving community problems, the Houston Cooperative Crime Prevention Program was…

Many teachers in the Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Area School District's alternative programs use principles taught to behavioral disordered students for confronting and handling difficult situations when they must confront other adults in the school system about their concerns and problems. A positive and effective adult confrontation process is…

Joliet Junior College's board found it had a campus-wide communications problem that was helped by a campus-wide committee. Its specific purpose is to communicate about problems that are of concern to all of the campus population, including board, faculty, administration, staff, and students. (LBH)

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 25 titles deal with a variety of topics, including: (1) persuasive messages and the hearing impaired; (2) the judicial speeches of Cicero; (3) the rhetoric of employment interviews; (4) doctor/patient communication; (5) black…