Data from a national survey were used to test a model representing the dynamics of newspaper reading behaviors. It was hypothesized that three types of constraints (structural constraints, transitional constraints, and self-constraints) would be present to various degrees in four types of newspaper readers: regular readers, regular nonreaders,…

This paper presents research findings on differences in the social and cognitive behavior of first born and only children at 3, 12, and 24 months of age as observed at home and in a free play laboratory setting. The sample consisted of 21 only children (children who did not acquire a sibling for at least the first 48 months of life) and 35 first…

Research related to the importance of involving parents directly in treatment programming for childhood obesity has provided inconclusive results because of methodological problems and relatively short treatment duration periods. The effectiveness of an extended behavioral weight control program was evaluated during a 10-week treatment phase and…

Experimental interest in anger arousal has typically been incidental or secondary to the study of aggresssion. Novaco developed a cognitive behavior therapy approach to chronic anger problems. Clinical techniques have followed the work of Meichenbaum (1974, 1975) in the development of an approach called "stress inoculation" that has been…

This guide is intended to familiarize therapists with the scope of marital difficulties and the range of techniques found useful in dealing with them. While it is tempting to think that proven techniques can be matched to specific marital problems, the literature cautions that predicting outcome in therapy research depends not only on the…

The traumatic effect of divorce on young children is discussed, noting the typical changes in behavior evidenced by children in such a situation. Suggestions are made on ways parents can cope with the child's emotional reactions and alleviate the stress that is natural when a marriage dissolves. (JD)

Conditions are examined under which the imposition of an extrinsic constraint upon performance of an activity can lead to decrements in creativity. Female college students worked on an art activity either with or without the expectation of external evaluation. In addition, subjects were asked to focus upon either the creative or the technical…

In 1976, Muller and Spuhler found support for the proposition that self-concept influenced achievement. This experiment was designed to challenge their findings by demonstrating that when self-concept is lowered in a therapeutic manner, no deficit in achievement will result. The experimenter adjusted the self-concepts of college students regarding…

Intentional changes over the past two years in the lives of 45 women and men in Toronto were examined through interviews involving extensive probing and dialogue. The intentional changes turned out to be mostly through self-help. It was largely the person herself or himself who chose, planned, and implemented the change. The person often obtained…

The effects of short-term consciousness-raising instruction on the sexist attitudes of preservice teachers toward women was examined. To test the ability of teacher education institutions to lessen the level of sexist attitudes, 70 students were divided into three groups, a control group and two treatment groups. Each group was pretested and…

The Individual Counseling Skills Training Course is a three-unit, 11-day course for alcoholism and drug counselors. One unit, dealing with individual counseling skills and client management, is presented here. The course was originally conceived for paraprofessionals in front-line counseling positions who have little or no formal academic…

This report is concerned with the re-training of 30 existing school psychologists. It is based on the need for more effective school psychology practice, the emergence of a new social learning approach to school problems, and the development of television techniques for immediate learning. The study utilized an experimental design wherein…

Procedures used to select classes for an intensive study of change processes in teacher and student classroom behavior resulting in increases in academic learning time are discussed. Included in the text are sections on the philosophy of the intervention, the procedures and methodology to be used, the history of selection, the instructional model,…

The 16 case studies illustrate the nature and scope of psychological intervention with emotionally disturbed and otherwise handicapped students. Included are papers with the following titles and authors: "Reducing Math Anxiety while Increasing Independent Work Habits in a Learning Disabled Elementary School Boy" (K. Hoogeveen); "Coping with…

The booklet provides information on a number of strategies for teachers to use in managing disruptive behaviors in the classroom. In the first section several approaches (such as token economies) are discussed that pertain to the general, comprehensive management of classes. Included in Section II are several strategies (including taking away…