The author looks back on the early days of the civil rights movement and recreates the tension and fear of that time for young Blacks. He describes the first freedom ride to Jackson, Mississippi, where White supremacy still ruled, and the courage it took to challenge segregation injunctions backed by mobs. (PP)

Studied the relationship between depression and humor in 85 college students who took the Beck Depression Inventory and then rated 10 cartoons. Results showed no difference between mildly depressed and nondepressed subjects. However, some trends were noted on a mood scale related to immediate feelings and humor preference. (Author/JAC)

Interviewed bereaved persons shortly after the death of a close family member and 18 months later. Respondents were grouped according to mode of death. The short-term chronic illness group made the most favorable adjustment. Sudden death and long-term chronic illness death groups sustained higher intensities of bereavement. (Author/RC)

Examined reasons for alcohol use in a sample of detained and adjudicated male juveniles (N=92). Findings indicated that alcohol use not only appeared to be a multidimensional phenomenon, but that it had special meaning as a mood altering substance to help cope with stressful feelings and/or problems. (Author/RC)

Compared attitudes of physicians, housestaff, and nurses (N=483) on care of the dying. Overall, health professionals responding to the survey felt comfortable talking to dying patients and supported the belief that patients should be informed of their prognosis. Substantial differences were found in beliefs about analgesic administration.…

Reports on a study that examined the preferences of kindergarten children for upper or lower case letters. Concludes that preference for letters may result from the development of an aesthetic sense. (FL)

Examines the dynamics of unemployment in terms of job loss and job search. Compares job loss to the grieving process and job search to burnout. Describes counseling strategies for people at various stages in the unemployment process. (Author)

Evaluated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral approach to stress management for teachers. Results showed the training program significantly reduced stress and anxiety among 128 urban secondary school teachers. Results also indicated decreases in motoric manifestations of anxiety in the classroom as a result of training. (Author/JAC)

Examined the quality and intensity of children's emotional attributions to themselves and to others as characters in affect-laden stories. Results indicated that children attributed more sad and scared responses and fewer happy responses to the other than to the self. More intense responses were attributed to the other. (Author)

Examined the relationship between social interest, self-report measures of adjustment, and perceptions of others. Results of the three studies found that people with greater interest in others are less inclined to make extreme responses in judging themselves, others, and a wide variety of attitudinal issues. (Author/JAC)

Various definitions of shyness are suggested that denote shyness as overt bits of behavior, an intervening variable, and an experimental state. Describes a definition of shyness in global and specific forms, and constructs a theory of the causation, modifiability, and prevention of shyness. (Author)

Used a mathematical simulation procedure adaptable to an interactional concept of personality to predict the interpersonal compatibility of couples. Strife scores derived from computer simulation of interactional personality data correlated significantly with partner ratings for the quality and the stability of their relationship. Significance…

Describes biofeedback as the monitoring of a physiological function and the awareness of that by the person. Has been used in counseling as a relaxation aid. Other potential uses include improving clients' internal locus of control, reducing depression, diagnosing, and monitoring progress. Includes cautions and recommendations for counselor…

Responses of 1- to 2 1/2-year-old children as bystanders to naturally occurring and simulated expressions of anger and affection by others were recorded by mothers trained as observers. Expressions of anger frequently caused distress in the children. Distress responses were significantly more likely when physical attack occurred. Overt signs of…

Examined the relationship between self-esteem discrepancies and depression in a long-term intimate relationship. Findings supported the hypothesis that depression is associated with discrepancies between married partners' self-appraisals, perceptions of spouse's appraisal, and spouse's actual appraisal. (Author/DB)