Developmental phonological and lexical agraphia in adults

Many cases of agraphia from acquired cerebral lesions may be divided into two groups, phonological and lexical, suggesting two dissociable spelling systems. Studies of developmental agraphia have described some children who have spelling patterns similar to acquired phonological or lexical agraphia. This study analyzed spelling results from 22 adolescent and adult subjects with developmental agraphia (DA) and compared them to those from control subjects and subjects with acquired agraphia (AA). On the basis of spelling ability, subjects with DA could be divided into two groups. Analysis of the profile of spelling abilities indicated that the two groups of subjects with DA were almost indistinguishable from the two groups of subjects with AA, phonological and lexical. This supports the contention that DA in adults may be divided into phonological and lexical groups and further supports the two-system hypothesis for linguistic agraphia.     

Skin temperature biofeedback for multiple sessions with monetary incentives

This study evaluated the relative effectiveness of two incentive contingencies in learning biofeedback-assisted control of peripheral skin temperature: positive versus positive/negative monetary incentives. Both incentive groups of 10 participated in six sessions, including pre- and posttraining voluntary control sessions, and four intervening sessions with visual feedback and monetary contingencies. Each session consisted of adaptation, resting baseline, feedback or voluntary control, and a final resting baseline. The results indicated no significant difference in response control between groups and an over-all decline in temperature within sessions. Self-control was evidenced by the slower rate of decline in temperature for the first as compared to the last session, and feedback control by the attenuation in the rate of decline in the last three training sessions. Based on data from other physiological responses, these findings are not likely due to habituation effects. It was concluded that response control should not necessarily be defined in terms of increasing temperature but rather by reference to an appropriate comparison condition. Motivational effects should be further investigated with alternative incentive contingencies.     

Gender Differences and Sexism in the Knowledge and Use of Slang

Gender differences and sexism in the knowledge and use of slang were investigated. Thirty male and thirty female undergraduates (mostly Caucasian and middle-class) reported all the slang terms they knew to describe either woman or man, how many terms they used, and how frequently they used them. The terms were categorized as sexual or non-sexual Males listed more terms than females, but no gender differences were found in the listing of sexual slang or the use of slang. More sexual slang was listed to describe women than men, and participants reported using fewer of the terms describing women. Results suggest that although gender differences in the knowledge and use of slang may be narrowing, it remains the case that more sexual and derogatory slang exists to describe women.     

The role of appraisal in human emotions: a cross-cultural study.

Several theories of emotion propose that emotional responses are largely determined by the way events are appraised. To determine whether the proposed dimensions of appraisal are consistent across cultures, 973 Ss from the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, and the People's Republic of China were asked to describe emotional experiences. Few differences between the 3 cultures were observed on the more primitive dimensions (pleasantness, attentional activity, certainty, coping ability, and goal/need conduciveness) and on 2 of the more cognitively complex dimensions (legitimacy and norm/self compatibility). More substantial differences were observed on 3 other complex dimensions (control, responsibility, and anticipated effort). Considerable pan-cultural consistency was also observed in the dimensions of subjective experience of emotion and in the relations between these dimensions and cognitive appraisals.     

Relationships among measures of alcohol drinking behavior, life-events and perceived stress

Two measures of stress (life-events and perceived stress) and a measure of alcohol-drinking behavior were administered to 6,747 adult males. Analysis was carried out to examine the extent to which subjects classified into drinking-behavior groups differed on stress measures while controlling for age, income, and race. Significant differences held up under age, race, and income controls for life-events and perceived stress between the abstinence, common-use, and problem-drinking groups. Stress scores increased sequentially across the drinking-behavior groups. Apparently, men who are life-long abstainers (teetotallers) experience fewer life-events and perceive less stress than moderate drinkers, while moderate drinkers experience less stress than heavy drinkers.     

Cigarette smoking intentions and physical fitness: a multivariate study of high school males

This study was conducted to determine the extent to which several measures of physical fitness, treated compositely and individually, vary among adolescent males differentiated according to cigarette smoking status (i.e., strong intenders, mild intenders, and nonintenders). A total of 381 high school males were administered The Physical Performance Test for California to measure six traits of physical fitness, and a written questionnaire to assess smoking intentions and demographic data. As hypothesized, the teenage males who reported no intentions of smoking cigarettes were significantly more physically fit than were mild intenders and strong intenders, especially the latter. Etiological factors mediating the association are discussed within an underlying theme of prevention and cessation of the habit.