Gertrude Schmeidler

Linear representation of temporal location and Stevens’s law

Ss were asked to indicate points 1 week, 7 months, 3 years, and 9 years in the past and future on two time lines representing birth to present and present to death. Data for 90 college-age Ss fit a psychophysical power function following Stevens’s law. with negatively accelerated growth indicating proportionately greater linear representation of periods nearer to the present. Variability was greater for the representations of the future than of the past, with monotonic increases in variability as distance from the present increased.

The Relationship Between Locus of Control and Temporal Experience.

As locus of control involves generalized expectancies regarding the determination of events, it should relate to temporal attitudes and experiences. Correlational data from 89 subjects on the Rotter-Mirels Locus of Control and Ricks-Epley-Wessman Temporal Experience Questionnaire scales supported the hypothesis that the reported time experiences and orientations of external control subjects would be significantly more harassed and pressured, ciscontinuous and undirected, procrastinating and inefficient, and inconsistent and changeable than those of internal control subjects. Discussion forcuses on the self-defeating cycle of disorganization and victimization experienced by individuals with an external locus of control.

MOOD CHANGES AFTER ALPHA FEEDBACK TRAINING

Immediately before alpha feedback training, 13 Ss responded to a mood checklist and the Breskin Rigidity Test (measuring preference for perceptual closure). After 2 sessions of alpha training, retests showed significant increases in (a) production of alpha EEG waves, (b) scores for those moods which prior research had shown to be associated with alpha, (c) preference for closure.

Race Differences in Children's Responses to “Black” and “White”

Negro and Caucasian 7th graders made line drawings and semantic differential responses to 7 color names, including black and white. Caucasian semantic differential scores were similar to those found earlier by Williams; Negro scores were less similar. As hypothesized, Negroes evaluated black (compared to white) more favorably than Caucasians. Caucasians with better reading ability evaluated black less favorably. Negroes drew white with significantly simpler, heavier, more downward lines than did Caucasians and drew black with significantly smaller, lighter, more upward lines. It is suggested that for some groups (nonverbal) line drawings may provide a more appropriate measure of attitude than verbal responses.

MOOD AS A CONFOUNDING VARIABLE IN EYE DOMINANCE, FIELD DEPENDENCE AND READING

Fast reading related to strong eye dominance and good comprehension for Ss in a good mood (but not for other Ss). Field dependence related to weak eye dominance and poor comprehension for Ss not in a good mood. Mood seems to interact with habitual tendencies to affect response.

A Nonverbal Indicator of Attitudes: I. Data From Thailand

207 Thai college students made nonverbal responses to show their attitudes toward 5 abstract concepts and 5 social roles. Compared with American students (tested in the same way) Thai students demonstrated more cross-cultural similarity for abstract concepts than for social roles.