After discussing the defensive response in interpersonal communications in organizations, the article presents eight communication techniques for improving organizational communication skills and thereby creating a more supportive organizational climate. (MF)

The concept of psychological well-being is introduced, and scales to measure three of its different facets are described and applied to 1655 British respondents. Results from measures of positive and negative affect are compared with North American findings, and hypotheses are broadly confirmed. Two clusters of specific anxiety items are…

The role of trait anxiety as opposed to state anxiety was studied in its impact on digit span performance. It was predicted and found that only the congruent aspect of trait anxiety (the concentration factor of the children's Manifest Anxiety Scale) lead to lowered digit span performance. (NG)

Investigated the relationship between depression and daydreaming characteristics in a non-hospitalized sample. Use was made of self-report psychometric instruments that measure depression and aspects of depression and other activity such as mindwandering, boredom, distractibility, and curiosity. (Editor/RK)

Concern for the social and psychological development of student athletes resulted in a class in which parallels were drawn between the game of tennis and the game of life. (JD)

Attribution theory holds that perceived arousal may cause a person to draw an inference about his emotions and base his subsequent behavior on that inference. Recent research suggests, however, that this account does not entirely explain the influence of false arousal feedback on simultaneously occurring avoidance behavior. Proposes a behavior…

Aspects of recent behavioral and cognitive theories of depression were evaluated. Social-skill concepts were conceived as involving two component processes, termed "receptive" and "expressive" communication, and the ability of depressed subjects to engage in these behaviors was studied within a nonverbal communication paradigm. (Editor)

Indicated that (1) arguments perceived as strong by receivers generated both more favorable, supportive cognitive responses and attitude change than weak message arguments; and (2) perceived source expertise and attractiveness influenced cognitive responses, but not in a coherent fashion or to the extent that they effect attitude change. (JD)

Presents a comprehensive four-phase treatment approach for helping Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Describes phases in the recovery process: assessment, stabilization of symptoms, working through the trauma and reintegration into the family and society. Also describes the Vet Center Outreach Program designed to meet…

This article describes ways in which physical education teachers may influence shy children in order to reduce their shy behavior by working closely with them to encourage class participation, motivating them to develop new skills, and offering positive reinforcement of pro-social behavior. Twelve steps are described. (JL)

Data were examined to determine (1) the stability of negative emotional characteristics from early life through adolescence; (2) the degree of relation between these emotional characteristics and adjustment in childhood and adolescence; and (3) the degree to which the characteristics differentially predict multiple adjustment dimensions in…

Assessed curative factors among therapy groups of offenders experiencing differentially restrictive incarceration from probation through minimum security and maximum security to a special segregation unit for behaviorally problematic prisoners. Found wide differences between the curative factors that participants found most helpful in therapy…

Considers explanations for women's use of less violent methods to commit suicide. Reinterprets "Snow White" and makes parallel with contemporary clinical cases to show that illusion of a nondefinitive death is often assimilated, in western culture, with step toward rebirth. (Author/NB)

Indicates that husbands and wives were equally affected by (1) requests with various types of emotional disclosures, and (2) the emotional disclosures of different face-values. Reports that gender did not influence either the objective or subjective effectiveness of a request when it was reasonably appropriate for either males and females to…

Reviews behavioral and psychological concepts currently applied to the assessment and treatment of chronic pain syndromes, including operant conditioning and psychophysiologic concepts such as the stress-pain hypothesis, the pain-muscle spasm-pain cycle, and the neuromuscular pain model. Discusses relaxation and biofeedback training and concepts…