The author reviews literature on childrens' reactions to perceived failure and offers "learned helplessness" as a model to explain why a child who makes a mistake gives up. Suggestions for preventing these reactions are given. (Author/JMK)

Research about job aspects that school superintendents, principals, and supervisors find most stressful is summarized. Sources of stress among Tennessee school administrators, for example, include administrative tasks, such as complying with state and federal policies, dealing with teachers and parents, and personal adjustment problems. (PP)

This article demonstrates how personal construct theory is used to make generalizations about the perceptions of those in educational and other organizations and to identify organizational subcultures. Constructivist researchers should focus on the individual within the organization, rather than strive for generalized norms about organizational…

Parallels are drawn between T. S. Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions and George Kelly's personal construct systems. Personal construct psychology is depicted as a particularly innovative approach to adult learning with implications for: (1) the philosophy of lifelong learning; (2) the importance of experience; (3) recognition of individual…

The relationship between select Massachusetts classroom teacher background variables and aspects of teacher burnout was examined. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) served as the dependent variables. Sex, age, and grade level taught related significantly to one or…

Investigated the appropriateness of self-disclosure in relation to the concept of disclosure flexibility defined as the modulation of disclosure in accordance with target and setting conditions. Subjects rated contrived protocols with varied disclosure appropriateness. Results indicated perceptions of self-disclosure were contingent on…

In individual, open-ended interviews, 10 women and men living alone were asked to describe all the places they had lived. Findings indicated that home has varying environmental and psychological dimensions across people's lives and does not seem to depend upon traditional family structure for its meaning. (Author/RC)

A list of 105 adjectives which describe affective qualities of environments was developed and presented to 323 subjects. Factor analysis of subjects' ratings produced two bipolar factors that correlated with reactions of arousal and pleasure to various environments. (Author/WB)

Volunteer workers over sixty-five were compared to retired elderly who did not engage in work activity. Volunteers had significantly higher degree of life satisfaction, stronger will to live, and fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization. No differences were found on demographics or background. (Author)

A random survey of 230 school personnel in various role-groups in a British Columbia school district suggested that an identifiable stress cycle occurs with agreed pattern and regularity and is measurable and statistically significant. Elementary as compared to secondary teachers identified a meaningfully different stress cycle over the school…

Assessed the relationships between a life satisfaction index and social/demographic/psychological factors in older adults. Results showed marital status, occupational prestige, years of formal education, race, annual income, and a variety of specific satisfaction with life measures were related to successful aging. (Author)

Studied the social and emotional adjustment of women and children from single-parent families. Widows and divorcees did not differ significantly from married women on social and emotional adjustment but did report more positive and negative life changes. Children of widows and divorcees reported significantly poorer emotional adjustment. (Author)

Recorded war-related anxiety reactions observed over a two-year period at a Lebanese outpatient counseling clinic and constructed a 15-item Likert-type inventory. Found sex differences among 13 items as well as between total scores. The observed coefficients spoke well for the instrument's internal consistency. (Author)

Reviews the literature on pregnancy, indicating that there is a predictable and uniform psychological process associated with the experience for both expectant parents. Identifies specific developmental tasks for both expectant mothers and fathers. Suggests that the manner in which prospective parents handle the pregnancy will affect post-partum…

Reviewed the published research on the psychological significance of names and name changes. Found little data pertaining to the implications of a woman changing or retaining her surname at marriage. Suggests such research would have relevance for individual personality development, marital and family relationships, and social and cultural…