Parsing surrounding space into regions

Surrounding space is not inherently organized, but we tend to treat it as though it consisted of regions (e.g., front, back, right, and left). The current studies show that these conceptual regions have characteristics that reflect our typical interactions with space. Three experiments examined the relative sizes and resolutions of front, back, left, and right around oneself. Front, argued to be the most important horizontal region, was found to be (a) largest, (b) recalled with the greatest precision, and (c) described with the greatest degree of detail. Our findings suggest that some of the characteristics of the category model proposed by Huttenlocher, Hedges, and Duncan (1991) regarding memory for pictured circular displays may be generalized to space around oneself. More broadly, our results support and extend thespatial framework analysis of representation of surrounding space (Franklin & Tversky, 1990).     

Situation and Personality Correlates of Psychological Well-Being: Social Activity and Personal Control

Two studies that examined the correlates of peoples′ reports of their own psychological well-being are reported (Ryff, 1989). In Study 1, extraverts reported better psychological adjustment than introverts, especially when they completed the questionnaires with no one else present. Need for social approval and the sex of the participant were unrelated to self-reports of well-being. Satisfaction with social activities, especially activities involving friends and parents, predicted psychological well-being but the frequency of social activity did not. Completing questionnaires in the presence of friends led to better self-assessments of well-being than completing them in the presence of strangers. In Study 2, internal locus of control, high desire for control, and being female, as well as perceived control over the testing situation, were found to predict reports of better psychological adjustment. It is suggested that future research on self-assessments of psychological well-being focus on: (a) the interaction effects of personality and situational variables; (b) the difference between seeking social interaction and seeking social approval: (c) the distinction between platonic and romantic relationships, and; (d) changes in the correlates of psychological well-being throughout the life-cycle.     

The impact of illness on the family and the family's impact on illness

This paper discusses the influence that familial relationships can have on illness and the way in which illness can impact on the functioning of the family system. Developmental phases of illness, the family life cycle and chronic illness are all examined in relation to the family and it's functioning. The way in which health behaviours are adopted within families, and behavioural and genetic predispositions to illness are also discussed.     

Asian-American Acculturation,Gender, and Willingness to Seek Counseling

Neither acculturation nor gender were found to significantly relate to Asian-American willingness to see a counselor for either a personal or an academic problem. Participants were more willing to see a counselor for an academic problem than for a personal problem.     

The use of the mental development index of the Bayley scale to diagnose language delay in 2-year-old high-risk infants

To determine if a detailed analysis of the language items of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) would be useful in detecting language delay, the Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) and Reynell Developmental Language Scales (RDLS-R) were administered to 137 low-birthweight infants at 2 years of age. In spite of scores in the normal range on the BSID, many of these children had significantly delayed language. However, the children with delayed language could be detected on the basis of detailed analysis of certain language items of the MDI, indicating that these items are more useful than the total MDI score.     

Microcomputer-based organizational survey assessment: Applications to training

As sophisticated technology continues to impact on organizations, a growing need for efficient, flexible and cost effective training programs becomes paramount. To cope with these increased training demands, many organizations have turned to Computer Based Training (CBT). The present paper describes a XENIX-based IBM PC/AT Computerized Executive Network Survey System (CENSUS) which can interface with CBT training programs to enhance training quality and assess training effectiveness. The multi-user support capabilities of CENSUS allow training-related surveys to be conducted in a more efficient, accurate and reliable manner than paper and pencil instruments. It is this microcomputer-based multi-user system, unique to CENSUS, that may provide an alternative delivery system for microcomputer-based training programs in the future.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, they are not official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Navy Department. The authors appreciate the help of Mitch Vicino, John Kantor, Marie Thomas, Catherine Riordan, and Jack Edwards.     

EMPLOYMENT AND ROLE SATISFACTION

A path analytic model was used to examine the impact of three domains of life satisfaction and three employment-related variables on general well-being in a sample of 1,145 Army wives. The life domains included marital, financial, and role satisfaction. The employment-related variables included: (a) time spent employed (none, part, or full); (b) role fit; and (c) satisfaction with overall career development prospects. The employment-related variables were hypothesized to impact on general well-being both directly and indirectly through their relationship to role satisfaction. Time spent employed and role fit were found to be significantly related to role satisfaction, which in turn, was significantly related to general well-being. One variable–satisfaction with overall career development prospects–had a significant direct impact on general well-being.     

Outpatient groups for chronic psychiatric patients

Long-term support groups have been utilized at the University of Alberta Hospitals since 1977 in order to meet the needs of chronic psychiatric patients who are unwilling or unable to commit to insight-oriented therapy. These groups meet once weekly for one hour and are intended to be drop-in groups, which patients can use regularly or only while in crisis. It is hypothesized that the institution or style of therapy practiced at an institution, rather than the specific therapists, provides a source of stability and support to these patients. Our experience suggests these groups are beneficial and cost-efficient, but research is necesssary to evaluate them to determine components of therapeutic effectiveness.Linda McAuley, M.A., was a staff therapist at the Psychiatric Walk-in Clinic and is currently in private practice.An earlier version of this paper was presented at a meeting of the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association in Banff, Alberta, October, 1987.     

Sexual harassment in universities during the 1980s

This review examines research studies since 1980 that investigate instructor-student sexual harassment in university settings. Implications are discussed.     

Increase in mastery levels using a computer-based tutorial/simulation in experimental psychology

A computer program was written in PCPilot to teach a unit in basic concepts in experimental design. The graphics-based program includes both tutorials and simulations. The students who used the program had significantly higher test scores than those in another class who did not; they reported that they enjoyed learning to use the program.