Describes a study that assessed (1) differences in causal ascriptions for a given performance outcome between males and females; and (2) sex differences in performance expectations, pretest anxiety, desire to take similar tests in the future, and expectations of performance outcomes on future tests. Contrasts results with previous findings by…

When given a story about either mentally retarded or fast learning children displaying defense mechanistic behavior, 40 retarded students (mean CA 13 years) rated the defensive characteristics higher and liked them more than did 89 nonretarded students matched for CA or MA. (CL)

Studied effects of verbal accounts offered by a threatener on targets' (N=82) subsequent attributions of the threatener's social motives. Results showed a cooperative account led to an inference of cooperative disposition, a transrelational equity account led to attribution of deceit, and an excuse of ignorance was linked with apathy. (WAS)

Draws links between child abuse and depression literature, discussing implications for mental health services. (Author/MP)

In contrast to Weiner's attributional model, these research findings indicate that attributions for performance in an actual achievement situation are not linked to self-esteem-related affect such as pride/shame. (Author/PN)

Showed that men used more ability attributions on a digit guessing task and women stressed ability for failure. Those more successful on the task reported using more ability, effort, and luck ascriptions. Only in relation to subjective outcome for effort did sex identity add information beyond sex of subject. (Author)

Examined subjects' causal attributions of counselor behavior and ratings of counselor characteristics as affected by counseling analogue methodologies. Quasi-analogue subjects tended to rate counselors more positively than did audiovisual analogue subjects. Audiovisual subjects who saw only the counselor tended to rate counselors more positively…

Children who lacked subtraction skills received didactic training in subtraction with effort attributional feedback concerning past achievement, with feedback concerning future achievement, or with no feedback. Results showed that attributional feedback for past achievement led to more rapid progress in mastering subtraction operations, greater…

Study compared self-esteem and attributions of 35 learning disabled (LD) and 99 non-LD junior high school students and general attributions and task specific attributions of LD students. Concluded that LD students may verbalize desire to do well in school but fail to expend the effort necessary to complete work and, consequently, appear to be…

Results indicated that the mothers of LD children attributed successes less to ability and more to luck, while attributing failures more to a lack of ability and less to bad luck. (Author)

Undergraduates completed Jones's Irrational Beliefs Test and reported impressions of actors portraying couples on videotape. Disagreeing couples were rated as experiencing more negative feelings, sharing less affection, having less stable relationships, and being less compatible than agreeing couples. Observers high in irrational beliefs reported…

A series of five experiments are reported which support the proposition that observers between three years of age and adulthood interpret physical causation primarily in terms of the concept of generative transmission rather than in terms of other well-known rules such as covariation, similarity, and temporal and spatial contiguity. (Author/MP)

The hypothesis that college students' overall level of course achievement would be related positively to the accuracy of their performance evaluations and knowledge of the instructor's grading criteria was tested. Results showed no difference in poor and good students' accuracy at evaluating the course performance of others. (Author/GK)

Alcoholism in females requires a different explanation from alcoholism in males. A set of dimensions for analyzing the problem was specified. A two-track model emerged: depression-dependence, and low femininity. These are seen as developmental, with life events contributing to a value-added propensity to problem drinking, ultimately triggered by a…

Describes process scales designed to rate counselor's references to locus of control and record problem-solving statements. Results indicated counselors are inconsistent in use of style and content in causality. Counselors implied that students had resources to solve problems, but provided solutions rather than allowing students to solve problems.…