Relational closeness: Comparing undergraduate college students' geographically close and long‐distance friendships

Abstract As interpersonal relationships change with the advent of new technology, researchers need to reexamine their theoretical constructs ( R. G. Adams, 1998 ). This study uses survey methodology to examine college undergraduates from the United States. It explores the concept of relational closeness by comparing how geographically close and long‐distance friends define closeness in their relationships. It assesses prior methods of defining and measuring closeness in interpersonal relationships for the impact of physical distance between the friends. Differences illustrate factors that are important in understanding relational closeness in general and in long‐distance relationships in particular.     

Putting the Image Back in Imagination

Despite their intuitive appeal and a long philosophical history, imagery-based accounts of the imagination have fallen into disfavor in contemporary discussions. the philosophical pressure to reject such accounts seems to derive from two distinct sources. First, the fact that mental images have proved difficult to accommodate within a scientific conception of mind has led to numerous attempts to explain away their existence, and this in turn has led to attempts to explain the phenomenon of imagining without reference to such ontologically dubious entities as mental images. Second, even those philosophers who accept mental images in their ontology have worried about what seem to be fairly obvious examples of imaginings that occur without imagery. In this paper, I aim to relieve both these points of philosophical pressure and, in the process, develop a new imagery-based account of the imagination: the imagery model.     

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN INTERVIEWER RATINGS: THE IMPACT OF STANDARDIZATION, CONSENSUS DISCUSSION, AND SAMPLING ERROR ON THE VALIDITY OF A STRUCTURED INTERVIEW

This research investigated empirical issues regarding the validity of individual interviewers'( N = 62) ratings collected after a structured interview. Each interviewer rated an average of 25 interviewees. One hypothesis examined but not supported was that systematic interviewer errors will attenuate interview validity when data are aggregated across interviewers. Also investigated was the validity of ratings averaged across interviewers compared to consensus ratings; consensus ratings were shown to have significantly but probably not practically higher validities. Third, a meta-analysis of individual interviewer validities revealed that all of the variance in validities could be attributed to sampling error. Results and implications are discussed.     

PERSON-ORGANIZATION FIT: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF ITS CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, MEASUREMENT, AND IMPLICATIONS

This article presents a comprehensive definition and conceptual model of person-organization fit that incorporates supplementary as well as complementary perspectives on fit. To increase the precision of the construct's definition, it is also distinguished from other forms of environmental compatibility, silch as person-group and person-vocation fit. Once defined, commensurate measurement as it relates to supplementary and complementary fit is discussed and recommendations are offered regarding the necessity of its use. A distinction is made between the direct measurement of perceived fit and the indirect measurement of actual person-organization fit, using both cross- and individual-level techniques, and the debate regarding differences scores is reviewed. These definitional and measurement issues frame a review of the existing literature, as well as provide the basis for specific research propositions and suggestions for managerial applications.     

Analyzing Ethical Conflict in the Transracial Adoption Debate: Three Conflicts Involving Community

This essay explores ethical conflicts underlying the discourse of the policy debate about transracial adoption, focusing on the adoption of Black children by whites. Three underlying conflicts are analyzed, namely, the values of equality versus community, interracial community versus mukiculturalism, individuality versus racial-ethnic community. The essay concludes with observations on multicultural families.     

Downsizing: Case Study of a Career in Crisis

Downsizing is a major concern in American industry today. Although much has been written about the effects of downsizing on corporations, little has been said about its effect on individuals. This case presents downsizing from one individual's perspective and suggests strategies and procedures for reducing the negative effect of downsizing on employees. Strategies and procedures that firms can adopt to make downsizing programs effective include planning in advance, developing effective communications, centralizing decision making, and educating personnel specialists and managers.     

Psycho-Palliation and the Enlightened Counselor

The counseling process of psycho-palliation is presented as a type of spiritual journey that leads to enlightenment. First, the theory of psycho-palliation is defined. Then, a step-by-step outline is given on how a psycho-palliative attitude produces enlightenment for the counselor. Throughout the exposition, the theory of psycho-palliative counseling is expanded upon through the use of parables and spiritual references from the world's religions. Wosong had learned much and thought that he was ready to enter Heaven. So he went to the doors of Heaven and knocked. A voice said, “Who is there?” “It is Wosong, and I am ready to enter.” The voice replied, “I am sorry Wosong, but there is not room for me and thee.” Dejected, Wosong returned to his place, studied all the prophets and gave all he had to the poor. Once again he returned to the doors of Heaven and knocked. A voice said, “Who is there?” “It is Wosong.” The voice replied, “I am sorry Wosong, but there is not room for me and thee.” In complete confusion, Wosong returned to his place. For 7 years, he meditated on the voice of Heaven. Then, in complete humility, he knocked on the doors of Heaven. A voice said, “Who is there?” Wosong replied, “It is thyself.” So the voice said, “Enter. I always have room for myself.”     

Interpersonal attraction as a function of extreme gender role adherence

Although gender-specific constructs of hypertraditionality qualitatively differ (e.g., hyperfemininity and hypermasculinity), we view them as analogous constructs that can predict similarity/attraction effects. The similaritylattraction paradigm showed that individuals find attractive the traits in others that are similar to their own traits. We suggest that this effect applies to levels of hypertraditionality, as measured by the hyperfemininity and hypermasculinity personality scales. The studies were conducted to test this hypothesis. We began by manipulating stranger similarity in an attraction experiment. Results showed that similarity of hypertraditionality led to attraction. Women preferred target persons similar to themselves in hypertraditionality. Data from men revealed an unexpected interaction. Low hypermasculine men preferred women similar to themselves in hypertraditionality, yet high hypermasculine men did not distinguish between female strangers based on the stranger's level of hypertraditionality. We then studied dating couples. These couples provided real-world data that supported and expanded the laboratory observations. We found a significant positive correlation between the partners' levels of hypertraditionality. The implications of attraction based on hypertraditionality may provide insights for future studies of relationship formation and maintenance.