bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Brief Intervention for Increasing Seat Belt Use on a College Campus
Authors: Pastò Luigi , Baker Andrew G.
Published: March 2007

The authors evaluated a brief intervention for increasing seat belt use among the front seat occupants of cars at a junior college, in a jurisdiction with a mandatory belt use law. The intervention included public posting of performance feedback and distribution of an informational flyer to cars in a target parking lot. Feedbackwas the display of the proportion of drivers observed wearing seat belts on the previous observation day. Seat belt use among drivers increased from 64% during the baseline phase to 71% during the intervention phase. Seat belt use among front passengers increased from 49% during the baseline phase to 67% during the intervention phase. In both cases, seat belt use at follow-up was comparable to seat belt use during the intervention phase, although a trend toward decreasing belt use was noted. Also found was higher seat belt use among females as compared with males irrespective of their front seat occupant status (driver or passenger). Effects of the intervention are discussed in the context of increasing seat belt use in a hardcore nonuser population of predominantly young adults.
Controlled Alcoholic Drinking
Authors: Davidson Robert S. , Bremser Robert F.
Published: March 2007

Two male chronic alcoholic patients were exposed to a procedure which provided differential reinforcement for low rate operant responding for alcohol reinforcement. One subject with corroborated brain dysfunction showed slow rates of learning, variability, and inefficiency, while the other showed rapid learning to maximal levels of efficiency. Clinical outcome data revealed controlled drinking in the slow learner and binge drinking in the rapid learner. This apparent paradox may have been predicted by operant rates at the end of treatment.
The Enhancement of Altruistic Behaviors in Children through the Implementation of Language Conditioning Procedures
Authors: Parish Thomas S.
Published: March 2007

In this experiment, 48 fifth grade children were randomly divided into three groups. The 17 children in the language conditioning group observed slides of altruistic scenes paired with positive words. The 15 children in the modeling group observed these same scenes and words, but in random order. The 16 children in the control group experienced no treatment procedures. While both the language conditioning and modeling groups were given models of altruistic behaviors via the slides, only the language conditioning group of children had the benefit of the transference of affect from the positive words to the altruistic scenes. Subsequently, the children from the language conditioning group-but not the modeling group-were found to be significantly more generous than their control group counter-parts. The implications of these findings for teachers and counselors are discussed.
Norm-Based Behavioral Consulting
Authors: Melahn Christopher L. , O'Donnell Clifford R.
Published: March 2007

A norm-based approach to behavioral consulting was presented. A behavioral code and norms for 32 behaviors were developed for indoor free play situations in Head Start classrooms, with comparisons for age, sex, exceptional status, referral status, and semester reported. Among the results indicated were the following: older children engaged in more cooperative behavior and talking, in general the boys were more active than the girls, both exceptional and referred children were involved in more conflicts with their peers and in inappropriate activities, referred children also used inarticulate speech more often and received more one-to-one direction from adults, sex and special needs seemed to influence the referral process with the more withdrawn boys and the more active girls being referred, the exceptionals who were involved in less conflict with their peers were also more likely to be referred, and, overall, inappropriate behaviors declined while cooperative activities increased across semesters. Finally, the use of norms in behavioral consulting is discussed.
The Modification of Schizophrenic Behavior
Authors: Gomes-Schwartz Beverly
Published: March 2007

The literature on treatment of schizophrenic behavior through operant conditioning, token economy, systematic desensitization, and social skills training was reviewed. Results from these studies indicate that operant procedures (particularly token economy) and skills training techniques are useful in altering some of the behaviors characterizing schizophrenia-most notably the regressed functioning associated with the "social breakdown syndrome," and components of appropriate social interaction. However, generalization and maintenance of appropriate behaviors after the patient has left the treatment program are more problematic. Equivocal results obtained with operant treatments of vocal psychotic symptoms suggested the need for a more complex analysis of the factors which contribute to hallucinations and delusions, and perhaps increased exploration of the utility of cognitive-behavioral approaches. The practical and ethical issues raised by procedures which include punishment of violent behavior are discussed.
The Resistive Client
Authors: Jahn David L. , Lichstein Kenneth L.
Published: March 2007

The limited behavioral literature on resistance is briefly reviewed. Initial attempts by behavior therapists to operationally define resistance, pertinent research variables, and hypothesized types of resistance are discussed. Parallel concepts are drawn from seemingly unrelated fields, such as reactance and communications theories, medicine, and hypnotherapy, and are related to behavioral techniques and potential research. Possible reasons for the neglect of this area are discussed and include the behavior therapist's theoretical orientation, the need to consider cognitive variables, and the methodological complexity required.
Managing Clinical Change
Authors: Kanfer Frederick H. , Grimm Laurence G.
Published: March 2007

This article identifies some limitations of the current behavioral paradigm of therapy and proposes a heuristic model which enlarges its scope. Seven overlapping phases are specified: (1) role-structuring and creating a therapeutic alliance, (2) developing a commitment for change, (3) conducting a behavioral analysis, (4) negotiating treatment objectives, (5) executing treatment and maintaining motivation, (6) monitoring progress, and (7) programming for generalization and treatment termination. These phases are intended to serve as a conceptual guide to ensure that attention is given to the client's motivation to engage in various aspects of therapy as well as specify subgoals that should facilitate the initiation and maintenance of behavior change.
Teaching Mentally Retarded Adults to Cook
Authors: Johnson Beverley F. , Cuvo Anthony J.
Published: March 2007

Acquisition of cooking skills is important for the adaptation of developmentally disabled clients to community living. The social and content validity of procedures to teach broiling, baking, and boiling was established using the opinions and recommendations of people from the community and home economists as criteria. Four mentally retarded adults were taught to cook various food items using pictorial recipes, a sequence of prompts, and a package of positive consequences. A multiple baseline across subjects demonstrated experimental control, and a multiple baseline across responses was employed to examine generalization across cooking responses. The results showed relatively rapid acquisition of the three cooking skills, substantial maintenance of the newly learned responses, and idiosyncratic patterns of generalization within and between the cooking methods. Sorne evidence of generalization from the training setting to the participants' home was found. The procedures also were cost effective.
Training Abusive Parents in Effective Child Management
Authors: Wolfe David A. , Sandler Jack
Published: March 2007

Parent training and contingency contracting were experimentally applied as methods of intervention with three abusive mothers and their families. High-risk parent/child interactions and problem situations were assessed by means of a family interaction coding system in the home and served as the focus of intervention over ten sessions. A two-variable withdrawal design demonstrated that both treatment modes produced a stable reduction in high-risk interaction patterns over duration of the intervention period, which was maintained at three, eight, and twelve-month follow-ups for the separate families, although the relative contribution of each variable was not functionally demonstrated. The results of this study suggest that behavioral training methods with child abusers can substantially reduce the risk of recurring abuse by providing these parents with effective child management techniques. Furthermore, assessment of family interactions in abusive homes distinguished between an "abusive parent," an `abusive child," and an "abusive partnership." These three distinct patterns may have important theoretical and practical implications.
Treating Hyperactivity with Dexedrine and Activity Feedback
Authors: Williamson Donald A. , Calpin James P. , DiLorenzo Thomas M. , Garris Raymond P. , Petti Theodore A.
Published: March 2007

Using a single-case experimental design, this study evaluated the effects of Dexedrine and an activity feedback and reinforcement procedure on several behavioral components of the hyperactivity syndrome. The results showed that Dexedrine improved classroom on-task behavior and lunchroom gross motor behavior but had no effect on activity level, as measured by a movement monitor worn on the child's wrist. After replicating these effects in a second phase of Dexedrine, an activity feedback and reinforcement procedure was combined with medication to reduce the subject's excessive rate of activity. This procedure involved sequentially adding three components of the activity feedback procedure in order to determine the significance of instructions, guided practice, and activity feedback and reinforcement for reducing activity. Results indicated that activity feedback and reinforcement produced the largest reductions in activity.
Increasing Students' Use of Hearing Aids
Authors: Hundert Joel , Mcmahon Sheila , Kitcher Peter
Published: March 2007

Despite the importance of auditory amplification, not all teachers -in a large provincial school for the hearing-impaired were ensuring that students used their hearing aids. The present experiment attempted to increase the percentage of students in a class using hearing aids by providing teachers with feedback and publicly posting the information. Nine teachers and 56 students participated in the experiment. Experimental conditions were analyzed by a multiple-baseline design across groups of teachers. Following baseline measurements, teachers completed evaluation forms on students' use of hearing aids. In addition, they received feedback on the percentage of students in their class observed using hearing aids and this information was publicly posted. The results indicated that the percentage of students using hearing aids increased substantially with the introduction of evaluation forms, feedback, and public posting.
Reduction of Disruptive Behaviors in Mentally Retarded Adults
Authors: Gardner William I. , Cole Christine L. , Berry Douglas L. , Nowinski Janice M.
Published: March 2007

A self-management intervention package, utilizing self-monitoring, selfevaluation, and self-consequation, was used to modify high-rate disruptive behaviors of two mentally retarded adults. A combined reversal and modified changing criterion design was used. The dependent variable was inappropriate verbalizations occurring during four daily work periods in a vocational training setting. Introduction and removal of the intervention package resulted in immediate and significant changes in the dependent verbal behaviors. Treatment gains were maintained during a fading phase and a 6-month follow-up. These findings suggest that the mentally retarded with chronic high-rate problem behaviors may be suitable candidates for cognitive behavioral therapy approaches.
Discrimination of Blood Glucose Levels in Insulin-Dependent Diabetics
Authors: Gross Alan M. , Wojnilower Daniel A. , Levin Renee B. , Dale Jennifer , Crichardson Pat , Davidson Paul C.
Published: March 2007

Three insulin-dependent diabetic adults were exposed to a blood glucose discrimination training program. Following baseline, during which subjects estimated their blood glucose levels twice daily, subjects received immediate feedback regarding the accuracy of their estimation. The procedure resulted in a large increase in accuracy of blood glucose level estimation. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Discriminant Analysis of Depressive Interactions
Authors: Linden Michael , Hautzinger Martin , Hoffmann Nicolas
Published: March 2007

An observation system of 28 categories was developed to measure verbal behavior in dyadic interactions. It was hypothesized that this observation system should be sensitive to forms of depressive verbal interactions. Twenty-six distressed couples were investigated. In 13 of these distressed couples one partner suffered from major depressive disorders, and in 13 couples no partner was depressed. Three hundred twelve minutes of conversation of each couple were tape-recorded and categorized by six independent raters (with high reliability). With a discriminant analysis, it was possible to differentiate depression-specific frequencies of verbal behavior categories. Negative self-evaluations, negative well-being verbalizations, negative future orientation, agreements, and positive statements about the partner and the relationship were all behavior patterns typical for depressed people. The behavioral differences among depressed patients, their spouses, and nondepressed couples are discussed from an interactional framework.
The "Safe at Home"Game
Authors: Peterson Lizette
Published: March 2007

Eight children who were occasionally left without parental supervision received training in the following areas: (1) how to react to the emergencies of a fire, a cut hand, and a tornado; (2) how to respond to strangers who come to the door or call on the telephone; and (3) how to select nutritious, safe snacks and optimal after-school activities. The subjects played the "Safe at Home" game, which allowed them first to discriminate correct from incorrect responses portrayed on cards; the cards were then phased out as the children progressed from recognition to recall learning. The subjects demonstrated acceptable but not optimal baseline levels of selecting snacks and after-school activities, and showed dangerously inadequate responses to emergencies and strangers. Following sixteen training sessions, children responded to all seven of the training areas at near-optimal levels. One year after training had ceased, the five children who could be contacted continued to show optimal responses to selecting snacks and after-school activities, and acceptable but not optimal responses to encountering strangers. Responses to emergencies were less acceptable but still superior to baseline responding. After less than two hours of review training, children demonstrated near-optimal responding on all seven training areas. The cost effectiveness of this treatment program for high-risk children is described.
Reactions to Assertive Versus Nonassertive Behavior
Authors: Levin Renee B. , Gross Alan M.
Published: March 2007

Although researchers have recently begun to examine the social impact of assertive versus nonassertive behavior, assertiveness in positive situations (com-mendatory assertion) has largely been ignored in these studies. In the present study, subjects observed a videotape showing a female stimulus model acting either assertively or nonassertively in four different situations. Two of these situations involved the expression of positive emotions (commendatory assertion) and two involved the expression of negative feelings (refusal assertion). After viewing the videotape, subjects were asked to evaluate the model by completing an interpersonal attraction inventory. In addition, subjects completed the College Self-Expression Scale, a self-report assertiveness inventory. In contrast to prior findings, assertive models were viewed as more likable and more competent than nonassertive models. Subject assertiveness level did not affect the social impact of assertive behavior. Implications of the results for assertiveness training are discussed.
Target Selection of Social Skills for Children
Authors: Hoier Tamara S. , Cone John D.
Published: March 2007

The present studies represent a preliminary test of the template-matching procedure as a means of empirically identifying critical social behaviors for individual client children. Study 1 assessed the consistency with which female child informants identified behaviors they preferred in their friends (template behaviors). Study 2 validated these template behaviors on the same subjects by manipulating the behaviors in nonscripted confederates and assessing the impact of the manipulations on behavioral and sociometric measures. It was found that: (1) subjects were consistent when identifying most preferred template behaviors; (2) subjects reciprocated template behaviors in kind; (3) different patterns of acceleration of template behaviors in confederates were associated with collateral increases in untrained behavior in subjects and in subject responsivity to confederates; and (4) sociometric ratings obtained from some subjects increased, but these increases were not statistically significant. Implications of these findings for future development of the template-matching procedure are discussed.
Assertiveness Style
Authors: Levin Renee B. , Gross Alan M.
Published: March 2007

It has been suggested that seeing a person manifest assertiveness in positive situations (commendatory assertion) will mitigate possible adverse consequences of seeing that person display assertive behavior in negative situations (refusal assertion). The central purpose of this study was to examine the possibility that adding empathy to a refusal assertion may serve a mitigating effect equivalent to that of commendatory assertion. Subjects observed a videotape showing a male or female stimulus model acting assertively, empathic assertively, or nonassertively in four different situations. Models were seen in four commendatory assertion situations, in four refusal assertion situations, or in two situations of each type. After viewing the videotape, subjects were asked to evaluate the model by completing the Interpersonal Judgment Scale. In addition, subjects completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory. In contrast to prior findings, regardless of context, assertive and empathic-assertive models were viewed as more likable than nonassertive models. Subject sex role orientation did not affect the social impact of assertive behavior. Implications of these results are discussed.
Contrast and Comparison of Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Comprehensive Treatment Methods for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
Authors: Andersen Arnold E.
Published: March 2007

Eating disorders present with a variety of abnormal beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that originate from a combination of the central features of the illness itself and the physiological response to starvation or binge-purge activity. Behavioral methods, cognitive-behavioral methods, and comprehensive approaches (which include psychodynamic and pharmacological treatments) all make important contributions to care of patients. Each of these methods has strengths and weaknesses that need to be appreciated to understand which approach is ideal for each of the multiple symptoms present. Psychiatric thinking has often been marked by "either-or" approaches to treatment based on theoretical dogmatism. Pragmatic strategies employ a variety of methods, with a "both-and" attitude toward complementary approaches. In general, the more specific the behavioral abnormality, the more likely behavioral methods with contingencies and reinforcements will apply. Behaviors growing out of irrational concepts respond to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment of associated mood disorders, resolution of central dynamic issues, and development of existential meaning require comprehensive approaches. An understanding and rational application of integrated methods leads to effective treatment.
Use of a Concurrent Treatment Design to Analyze the Effects of a Peer Review System in a Residential Setting
Authors: Egan Patricia , Luce Stephen C. , Hall R. Vance
Published: March 2007

An experiment was carried out in which the recording practices of individual case managers at a residential treatment facility were improved using feedback from the overnight therapists at the facility. The overnight therapists, who were not associated with the daytime management of the individual clients, conducted weekly reviews of the data that were compiled by case managers during the day. Four particular standards were observed across each case manager, and specific written feedback was delivered to the case manager who was responsible for compiling the data for each child. The written feedback referred to the presence and accuracy of particular details for each program, including introductory cover pages, labeled experimental conditions, operational definitions, and adequate interobserver agreement. The experiment analyzed and verified the feedback procedure through concurrent treatment of different elements across I I cases. The results suggested that significant changes in the recording practices of therapists can be accomplished through feedback generated by the night therapists of the agency.
Assessing Cognitions in Anxious Children
Authors: Francis Greta
Published: March 2007

This article describes the assessment of cognitions in anxious children. As empirical investigations of childhood anxiety are few, the role of cognitions has received little attention. As such, a brief, general overview of the principles and procedures of cognitive assessment is provided. This is followed by a review of the available studies of cognitive assessment in anxious children. Because no clinic-referred populations of anxious children have been studied, this review focuses on the assessment of cognitions in socially withdrawn, fearful children and test-anxious children. Finally, two areas for future research are highlighted: psychometric investigation of cognitive assessment techniques and cognitive assessment of clinic-referred, anxiety-disordered children.
The Anxious Child
Authors: Kendall Philip C. , Howard Bonnie L. , Epps James
Published: March 2007

The basic tenets of a cognitive-behavioral model are briefly noted, with consideration of affective, social, and developmental factors. The proposed cognitive features of the model, including the distinction between cognitive deficiencies and cognitive distortions, are presented with a focus on treatment implications. The literature dealing with applications of cognitive-behavioral procedures to the prevention and treatment of children's nighttime fears, fear of dental and medical procedures, evaluation anxiety, and clinical cases is reviewed, and treatment and research issues and recommendations for this nascent area are discussed.
Training Psychiatric Patients to Discuss Medication Issues
Authors: Dow Michael G. , Verdi Mary Beth , Sacco William P.
Published: March 2007

Psychiatric inpatients were randomly assigned to a medication-related communication skills program or to a control condition that consisted of a medication education program. The medication communication program emphasized learning to ask physicians questions about medications, to describe current problems, and to make relevant requests. Although patients in both groups improved their knowledge of medications, the medication communication skills program had the added impact of teaching patients to ask more questions of a doctor and to engage in longer conversations. Moreover, patients who completed the medication communication program were rated as more assertive, as having acquired more information about a new medication that was prescribed, as having greater social skill, as being more likely to be compliant with medication, and as having greater eye contact. These results suggest that the use of a medication-related communication skills program may be a somewhat novel and effective way to increase patient involvement in treatment and to facilitate the elicitation of information about the prescribed medication regimen.
Social Behavior of Students Who Are Seriously Emotionally Disturbed
Authors: Singh Nirbhay N. , Deitz Diane E. D. , Epstein Michael H. , Singh Judy
Published: March 2007

The social behavior of students who are seriously emotionally disturbed sets them apart from their normative classroom peers. This article provides a quantitative analysis of intervention studies dealing with the social behavior of seriously emotionally disturbed students. Social behavior was broadly defined as including social skills deficits, behavior under inadequate stimulus control, and inappropriate behavior in the classroom. Of the 28 studies located, 11 dealt with some aspect of social skills and 17 with inappropriate classroom behavior. Each study was analyzed with respect to (a) the age, gender, and classification of the subjects; (b) the setting, referral source, and therapist; (c) the dependent and independent variables; (d) type of evaluation design used; (e) reliability of the dependent and independent variable; (f) social validation; (g) programmed generalization, maintenance, and follow-up; (h) measurement of collateral behaviors; (i) functional analysis of the target behavior; and (j) efficacy rating of the results on a 3-point scale. The results are presented and discussed in terms of current status and implications for future research.
Enhancing the Spelling Performance of Learning Disabled Students
Authors: Singh Nirbhay N. , Farquhar Sarah , Hewett Amy E.
Published: March 2007

We investigated whether the efficacy of directed rehearsal could be enhanced by increasing a student's motivation through task variation. The efficacy of three conditions (directed rehearsal, directed rehearsal combined with task variation, and no-training control) on the spelling performance of four students with learning disabilities was compared in an altemating treatments design. Following each spelling error during the directed rehearsal condition, the teacher pronounced the word, the student pronounced the word, the teacher said aloud each letter of the word, and the student said aloud each letter of the word as he wrote the word correctly. This sequence was repeated five times. The same procedure was used during directed rehearsal plus task variation, except that previously learned words were alternately presented with new words. Results showed that although the two training conditions were more effective than no training, there was no difference between the two training procedures in terms of the cumulative number of words learned to criterion. This study showed that the addition of task variation to directed rehearsal does not increase the spelling proficiency of learning disabled students.
Behavioral, Physiological, and Self-Evaluative Effects of Anxiety on the Self-Control of Pain
Authors: Cbiederman James J. , Schefft Bruce K.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the impact of trait anxiety on self-control behavior using the cold pressor task. In addition to cold pressor tolerance, effects were measured in terms of physiological arousal and self-evaluations. Forty-six female subjects screened for high and low trait anxiety were given two trials of the cold pressor task, and between trials, they were given either self-control or non-self-control training. As expected, self-control training resulted in increased pain tolerance and decreased physiological arousal. Although anxiety did not influence behavioral tolerance, high trait anxious subjects receiving self-control training made more negative self-evaluations and had higher levels of physiological arousal. These results suggest that anxiety may disrupt the use of self-control strategies in coping with pain.
Training Anticipation for Intermediate Tennis Players
Authors: Scott David , Scott Lorna M. , Howe Bruce L.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the trainability of anticipation in intermediate tennis players. In particular, the study examined whether video presentations could improve on-court tennis serve returns. A series of separate A-B designs across 6 participants was implemented, with baseline and intervention scores for on-court serve-return performance being recorded. Intervention consisted of 2 phases: a training phase and an on-court testing phase. The training phase, which employed a changing criterion design, consisted of a series of tennis-serve video presentations that were replayed with gradually increasing speed. All serves were occluded on racquet/ball contact, and participants were asked to predict the type, depth, and width of serve. Following completion of the training phase, participants were again tested on their ability to return tennis serves on the tennis court. On-court results suggested that anticipation ability and performance did improve as a result of the intervention.
Long-Term Outcome of Cognitive Therapy's Contribution to Self-Exposure in Vivo to the Treatment of Generalized Social Phobia
Authors: Salaberria Karmele , Echeburua Enrique
Published: March 2007

The aim of this work was to test the contribution of cognitive therapy to exposure in vivo in the group treatment of generalized social phobia. Seventy-one severely disabled social phobics, selected according to DSM-III-R criteria, were assigned at random to: (a) self-exposure in vivo, (b) self-exposure in vivo with cognitive therapy, or (c) a waiting-list control group. A multigroup experimental design with repeated measures of assessment (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups) was used. Additionally, half of the patients in both therapeutic groups were given self-help manuals for managing anxiety. Most patients that were treated (64%) showed significant improvement at the 12-month follow-up, but there were no differences between the two therapeutic modes. No improvement was shown by the control-group participants at the 6-month follow-up. The results of the present trial do not support the beneficial effects of adding cognitive therapy or a self-help manual to exposure alone. Finally, several topics that may contribute to future research in this field are discussed.
Stereotyped Behavior in Developmentally Delayed or Autistic Populations
Authors: Ross Linda L. , Yu Dickie , Kropla William C.
Published: March 2007

Stereotypies are high-frequency, highly repetitive, nonfunctional behaviors that are also often characterized as rhythmic. Rhythmicity suggests that the behavior is periodic, occurring at fixed intervals. Few studies, however, have rigorously demonstrated periodicity in stereotypy. This study examined various topographies of stereotypy in 9 participants and used spectral methods to detect existence of periodicities. TWo general patterns emerged in the spectral analysis. Participants who engaged in stereotypic rocking showed peaks in their power spectra; participants who engaged in other topographies of stereotypy did not show peaks. Thus, it appears that although some stereotypies-notably, rocking-have a periodic component, rhythmicity does not appear to be a characteristic of stereotypy in general.
Effects of Deliberative and Implemental Mindsets on Persistence in Goal-Directed Behavior
Authors: Brandstätter Veronika , Frank Elisabeth
Published: March 2007

In three experiments with a total of 243 students, the hypothesis was tested that mindsets affect goal-directed persistence in behavioral conflict situations. In Studies 1 and 2, an implemental mindset led to higher persistence as compared with a deliberative mindset in solving a puzzle or playing a computer game, respectively, when the characteristics of the task implied a behavioral conflict (i.e., when perceived desirability was low and perceived feasibility was high, or vice versa).No differences were found when the desirability and feasibility of the task were both low or both high. In Study 3, it was demonstrated that, depending on the functional value of persistence in the given situation, the implemental mindset leads to lower persistence compared with the deliberative mindset. These findings are interpreted to mean that the implemental mindset is a self-regulatory mechanism that permits a flexible response to the demands of a particular situation.
Integrating Identity and Instrumental Approaches to Intergroup Differentiation: Different Contexts, Different Motives
Authors: Scheepers Daan , Spears Russell , Doosje Bertjan , Manstead Antony S. R.
Published: March 2007

In two experiments, the authors examined the interplay of two functions of intergroup differentiation: an identity function (obtaining a distinct and meaningful social identity) and an instrumental function (advancing group goals). In Experiment 1, in minimal and thus relatively meaningless groups, participants differentiate (identity function), but those with a group goal differentiated more strongly later on than those without (instrumental function). In Experiment 2, both the possibility to differentiate and the presence of a group goal were manipulated orthogonally. Highest differentiation (and cohesion and identification) resulted in the minimal condition (no goal, no prior differentiation opportunity) and in the instrumental condition (goal and prior differentiation opportunity). Mediation analyses and a group effort measure provided evidence for the different functions proposed to underlie differentiation in these two cases. The authors propose an integration between social identity and interdependence approaches to group differentiation: Different conditions promote differentiation for different reasons.
Elements of Reciprocity and Social Value Orientation
Authors: Parks Craig D. , Rumble Ann C.
Published: March 2007

This study assessed the impact of social value orientation on the ability of a reciprocal choice strategy to induce high rates of cooperative behavior in a prisoner’s dilemma. Prosocials, competitors, and individualists played against reciprocal strategies for which delay of reciprocation of both cooperation and noncooperation were orthogonally manipulated. As predicted, individualists cooperated most frequently against Tit-for-tat, competitors when retaliation for noncooperation was delayed, and prosocials when their cooperative choice was immediately reciprocated. In addition, it was found that prosocials began “behavioral assimilation” as early as the second of four five-trial blocks and that changes in competitors’ rate of cooperation over time were determined by immediacy of reciprocating cooperation.
Incremental Commitment and Reciprocity in a Real-Time Public Goods Game
Authors: Kurzban Robert , McCabe Kevin , Smith Vernon L. , Wilson Bart J.
Published: March 2007

Allowing players in public goods games to make small incremental commitments to contributing to the good might facilitate cooperation because it helps to prevent players from being “free ridden,” contributing more to the public good than other group members. Two experiments using a real-time version of the voluntary contribution mechanism were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that players are generally willing to contribute public goods conditional on beliefs that others are doing so at similar levels. Experiment 1 provided evidence that affording a strategy of commitment can increase the production of public goods. Experiment 2 provided evidence that most players are willing to contribute to the public good at a level at or slightly above the contribution of the lowest contributor in the group. Both experiments point to inequity aversion as an important element of play in public goods games.
Employee Adjustment to an Organizational Merger: An Intergroup Perspective
Authors: Terry Deborah J. , Carey Craig J. , Callan Victor J.
Published: March 2007

Adopting an intergroup perspective, the research was designed to examine predictors of employee responses to an organizational merger. Data were collected from 465 fleet staff employed in a newly merged airline company. As predicted from social identity theory, the negative effects of the merger were most marked for employees of the low-status premerger organization. Also, as predicted, the perception of permeable intergroup boundaries in the new organization was associated positively with identification with the new organization and both job-related and person-related outcomes among employees of the low-status premerger organization but negatively with person-related outcomes among employees of the high-status premerger organization. As predicted, there was some evidence that the main and interactive effects involving status, perceived permeability, and intergroup contact on employee adjustment were mediated through strength of identification with the new organization.
Responsibility Diffusion in Cooperative Collectives
Authors: Forsyth Donelson R. , Zyzniewski Linda E. , Giammanco Cheryl A.
Published: March 2007

The authors examined questions about diffusion of responsibility in groups by asking group members to apportion responsibility for an outcome to each group member: Does responsibility diffuse more as groups increase in size but eventually level off in larger groups? Does responsibility diffuse equally, with each member getting an equal portion, or is it concentrated on certain individuals? Do group members apportion responsibility in ways that maximize their own self-esteem? Dyads attributed more responsibility to others after failure than success, but four-person groups tended to take the blame for failure. Overall, however, responsibility diffused in proportion to group size as group members concentrated more responsibility on some group members and withheld responsibility from others through specific role allocations. There was a significant degree of consensus in group members’ perceptions of individual members’ contributions to performance, but members generally felt they contributed more to the group than did other members.
“I’m not as Thin as You Think I Am”: The Development and Consequences of Feeling Discrepant from the Thinness Norm
Authors: Sanderson Catherine A. , Darley John M. , Messinger Candace S.
Published: March 2007

This research examines whether people feel discrepant from others in terms of their attitudes and behaviors related to valued social norms as well as the development and consequences of this perceived discrepancy. To examine these issues, the authors chose a prevalent social norm, namely, the norm of thinness for women. As predicted, participants believed that, compared to themselves, other women are thinner, want to be thinner, exercise more frequently and for more aesthetic reasons (e.g., weight loss, attractiveness), and are more aware of and influenced by the thinness norm. Moreover, upper-class women showed more evidence of perceiving a discrepancy on behavioral norms than first-year women, and women who felt discrepant from the norm showed more symptoms of eating disorders. Discussion focuses on the theoretical and applied implications of these findings.
Enhancement and Reduction of Task Performance by Psychological Modeling
Authors: Paulus Paul B. , Gatchel Robert J. , Seta John J.
Published: March 2007

Subjects performed a noise escape task after observing a model's successful or unsuccessful performance of this task. Relative to a control group, the successful model observers performed more poorly on the noise escape task while the unsuccessful model observers showed enhanced performance. The results were interpreted in terms of a comparison level analysis and were related to research on learned helplessness.
The Relationship of Physical Attractiveness and Punitiveness: Is the Linearity Assumption out of Line?
Authors: Solomon Michael R. , Schoplerl John
Published: March 2007

Three levels of physical attractiveness were manipulated in order to: (1) replicate the finding that an attractive defendant receives less punishment than an unattractive defendant and (2) demonstrate that attractiveness and punitiveness are curvilinearily related. Results supported both aims and are discussed in terms of information search.
The Structure of Rape Prevention Beliefs
Authors: Riger Stephanie , Gordon Margaret T.
Published: March 2007

Factor analyses of the responses of random samples of men and women from three cities indicate the presence of two relatively independent dimensions of rape prevention attitudes: a) beliefs about measures calling for restrictions in women's behavior, and b) beliefs about measures involving changes in the environment, or assertive actions by women. Sex and race differences in ratings of the effectiveness of the two types of prevention measures illustrate the usefulness of this two-dimensional approach for understanding rape prevention beliefs. The implications of these results for attribution theory and for anti-rape policies are discussed.
Cross-racial Recognition and Age: When You're Over 60, Do They Still "All Look Alike?"
Authors: Brigham John C. , Williamson Norma Lee
Published: March 2007

Research involving college students has identified the existence of an "own-race bias" such that people tend to recognize facial pictures of members of their own race better than pictures of members of another racial group. Some theorists have assumed that this bias is greater among whites than among minority group members, although the research evidence is mixed. In the present study, the responses of elderly blacks and whites (mean age 72) were investigated. A significant race of subject by race of picture interaction was found, similar to that found with college students. The extent of own-race bias was significant for elderly black subjects but not for elderly whites. The implications of these findings are discussed.
A Perceptual View of Attribution
Authors: Lowe Charles A. , Kassin Saul M.
Published: March 2007

In contrast to the prevailing cognitive emphasis, a perceptual view of attribution is proposed. This view maintains that attributions are often perceptually' based and endorses a paradigm in which subjects observe dynamic events directly. Three illustrative applications are reviewed-individual differences in attributions, the behavioral cues on which attributions are based, and the development of attribution processes. The heuristic advantages of this alternative view of attribution are discussed.
Affirming the Empirical Basis of Social Psychological Theorizing
Authors: Shaeffer David E. , Francis William D. , Ruback R. Barry
Published: March 2007

Gergen has argued that American social psychological theorizing has had little impact outside the discipline because it has failed to challenge cultural assumptions. According to Gergen, this shortcoming could be remedied if theory construction were detached from data collection and hypothesis testing. An examination of Gergen's analysis reveals numerous misconceptions and inconsistencies. It is argued that social psychological theorizing could best advance by maintaining and extending its empirical foundation.
Dishonesty, Burnout, and Unauthorized Work Break Extensions
Authors: Jones John W.
Published: March 2007

Based on anonymous survey responses from 31 nurses, results showed that the average nurse extended her work breaks each week without authorization by over 25 minutes. Moreover, nursing personnel most likely to lapse over into unauthorized break time (a) scored reliably higher on a dishonesty test measuring attitudes, values, and perceptions toward theft and (b) had significantly higher scores on a burnout scale than nurses who strictly adhered to their work break schedules. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Nonverbal Greetings
Authors: Riggio Ronald E. , Friedman Howard S. , DiMatteo M. Robin
Published: March 2007

We investigated the effects of various situational and personality variables on the display of nonverbal greetings. The sex of the greeting interactants, level of acquaintanceship, and the topic to be discussed were systematically varied in a number of role-played greeting situations. Observers then rated these role-played greetings in terms of intimacy and the type of greeting displayed. Greetings between role-played friends were judged more intimate than greetings between acquaintances. In addition, individuals who scored higher on standardized measures of nonverbal skills were more intimate overall in their greeting displays.
The Sequence of Outcomes and ESP
Authors: Zenker Sanford , Leslie Robert C. , Port Ellen , Kosloff Joan
Published: March 2007

Subjects with three different beliefs regarding ESP experienced an ascending, descending, or random sequence of outcomes at an ESP task. Subjects in the descending condition recalled more past success and predicted greater future success for themselves than did those in the ascending or random condition. Believers in ESP attributed outcomes more to sender's effort and ability and less to luck than those skeptical about ESP. Results were discussed in terms of the relative - salience of cues used for performance estimates and attributions of causality.
Perceived Homosexuality
Authors: Cuenot Randall G. , Fugita Stephen S.
Published: March 2007

Most social psychological research dealing with homosexuality focuses on heterosexuals' general attitudes, as expressed on questionnaires, toward homosexuals. The present study investigated some specific nonverbal and attitudinal reactions of heterosexuals to a perceived homosexual in an ongoing interaction. Perceived homosexuality, sex of subject, and sex of interviewer were varied in a 2x 2 x 2factorial design. Subjects had similar visual interaction patterns with both the homosexual and the heterosexual but spoke faster to the homosexual. Furthermore, they did not alter their publicly expressed attitudes about homosexuality compared with a previous private expression when interacting with the homosexual. However, they espoused more conservative attitudes about sexual behavior in general. When subjects interacted with a heterosexual, they espoused more liberal general sexual attitudes in the public compared with the private situation. The response to the homosexual was interpreted as a "socially acceptable" defensive reaction to a situation where direct denigration of homosexuality would be disruptive. Further, there was a greater avoidance reaction to same as opposed to opposite sex homosexuals.
The Effects of Self-Esteemand Self-Consciousness on Interpersonal Attraction
Authors: Lloyd Kathy , Paulsen Jane , Brockner Joel
Published: March 2007

This study investigates the effects of rater and target similarity along the personality dimensions of self-esteem, private self-consciousness, and public self-consciousness on interpersonal attraction. Previously unacquainted opposite-sex subject pairs completed personality measures and engaged in ten-minute conversation with each other. After the conversation all subjects rated their partner's attractiveness. The traits of self-esteem and public self-consciousnesss produced rater x target interaction effects. Subjects liked one another more when they were similar rather than dissimilar along these dimensions. Private self-consciousness yielded a target main effect, such that targets were liked more if they were high rather than low in private self-consciousness. Implications are discussed.