Feeling good and feeling close: Affective influences on the perception of intimate relationships

Two experiments investigated the role of short-term affective states on the way people perceive various aspects of their personal relationships. Using an unobtrusive mood induction in a field setting, Experiment 1 found significant mood congruency in evaluative judgments about well-established intimate relationships. Experiment 2 used a controlled laboratory procedure and found that evaluations of the relationship and the partner, as well as preferred styles of conflict resolution were all significantly affected by the respondents' transient mood state. Increasing relationship longevity did not reduce affective influences on judgments in either study. The results arc discussed in terms of the role of affective states in cognition and judgments, and the influence of affect on everyday judgments about personal relationships is considered.     

Creativity in an Indigenous Afro-Arab Islamic Culture: The Case of Sudan

The present study attempted to appraise creativity in the indigenous Sudanese culture, which is formed by a complex integration and interaction of various social and cultural factors, mainly of African, Arab, and Islamic origin. More specifically, the study investigated the concept of creativity in a conformist culture, the problem of using Western tests and the problem of modernization. Also it attempted to find answers to some crucial questions: What is the scope available for creative expression in a tight sociocultural system? How could creativity coexist with conformity? What form of creativity can exist in the indigenous sociocultural system?     

Techniques for Group Family Enrichment

This article introduces a creative approach to family enrichment. The program emphasizes educational skill-building techniques using nontherapuetic approaches that enable families to resolve difficulties of family members. The meetings, which employ coaching and videotape feedback, enable parents and children to practice communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. Evaluation results indicate that participants become successful in the home environment as a result of their involvement in the multiple-family, group-training sessions.     

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF SELF-APPRAISALS OF JOB PERFORMANCE

This paper reviews literature of psychometric properties of self-appraisals of work performance. It summarizes evidence of leniency, variability, halo, bias, and construct validity. Comparisons with appraisals by supervisors, peers, and subordinates suggest that self-appraisals tend to show more leniency, less variability, and less discriminant validity. Different factor structures have been found among self, supervisor and peer-ratings. On the other hand, self-appraisals showed less halo. Self-appraisals were significantly correlated with other sources in some studies and failed to correlate in many others. Existing data do not allow any conclusion whether the quality of self-appraisals is a function of scale format, amount or rater training, type of judgment, or purpose of appraisal. The effects of the observed psychometric qualities of self-appraisals on various applications are discussed. Problems may exist when they are used for administrative decision making, diagnosis of training needs, applied criterion measurement, measurement of constructs in basic research, or for selection purposes.     

VARIABILITY IN COMMON DIMENSIONS OF MANAGERIAL VALUES DUE TO VALUE ORIENTATION AND COUNTRY DIFFERENCES1

This study identifies twelve common dimensions of values of managers in five countries, describes the content of the value dimensions identified, and locates the differences in these value dimensions due to value orientation and country effects and their interaction. Value orientation and country differences account for a substantial portion of the variance in six of the dimensions. The results extend studies of managers' values to underlying dimensions and provide directions for future research on the correlates of value dimensions.     

The Personal,Academic, and Career Problems of College Student Athletes: Some Possible Answers

This paper reports the development of a unique counseling program for student athletes at the University of Florida in which the athletic counselor's role has been expanded beyond traditional roles to that of identifying and assisting with the athletes' personal, vocational, and academic concerns. The authors also report on a recently developed course in counselor education targeted toward athletes and discuss a preventive approach using individual and group counseling of athletes.