An experiment was conducted to determine right-left preferences in apartment floor plans. Subjects presented mirror image pairs of floor plans demonstrated a strong tendency to select those floor plans with the living room in the far right, rather than the far left, corner. A theoretical interpretation and suggestions for future research are discussed.
AbstractThis study examined the effects of expressions of humor and physical attractiveness on desire for future interaction in various types of heterosexual relationships. Humor was manipulated using interview transcripts containing humorous self‐deprecating responses: physical attractiveness was manipulated using photographs. Men were found to emphasize physical attractiveness more than did women for dating, sexual intercourse, and a serious relationship. Consistent with the Social Transformation Model of Humor introduced in this article, individuals, particularly men, expressing humor were rated as more desirable than nonhumorous individuals for a serious relationship and marriage, but only when these individuals were physically attractive. Humorous individuals were perceived to be more cheerful but less intellectual than nonhumorous individuals. The Social Transformation Model appears to be a valuable way of looking at the interaction of humor and physical attractiveness. Directions for future research based on this model are discussed.
AbstractObjectiveIn this research, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested the efficacy of two teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) curricula, Reducing the Risk and Love Notes, compared with a group of adolescents in a control condition, on primary pregnancy prevention among youth at high‐risk for teen pregnancy. A secondary purpose was to examine two potential mediators, negative beliefs about teen pregnancy and intentions to follow the sequence of completing education, marrying or establishing a committed relationship, and then having children.BackgroundTeen pregnancy rates for racial/ethnic minority youth in the United States are disproportionately high compared with White youth. Given the positive view of children in these populations and the drive for youth to form peer relationships and explore their sexuality, meeting these cultural and developmental needs within TPP may be critical.MethodsThe study examined the number of reported pregnancies across the first year after the interventions from a three‐arm, cluster RCT engaging 1,448 youth living in poverty between the ages of 14 and 19 years in 23 community‐based organizations in a southeastern U.S. city.ResultsAt the 1‐year follow‐up, youth in Love Notes report significantly fewer pregnancies compared with the control condition (18 pregnancies, 3.51%), F(2, 1,309) = 4.17, p = .02, d = 0.11. There was no significant difference between Reducing the Risk (31 pregnancies, 6.14%) and the control condition (27 pregnancies, 6.49%) in number of pregnancies. Less favorable attitudes about having a child as a teenager and other attitudes were associated with predicted outcomes.ConclusionsThis study provides additional evidence for the efficacy of Love Notes, which embeds sex education into a larger curriculum on life planning and healthy relationship formation and maintenance.Implications.TPP approaches need to add content on planning and relationships to comprehensive sexual education.
AbstractFew studies have examined romantic relationship attitudes and behaviors among ethnic or racial minority youth. The purpose of this study was to compare African American (AA) and mostly African refugee adolescents living in a U.S. city on romantic relationship attitudes and behaviors. A baseline questionnaire was given to 1448 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 from 2011 to 2014 as part of a larger study on teen pregnancy prevention (Barbee et al., 2016). The sample included both U.S.‐born AA youth and a sample of mostly African refugee youth. Eighty‐eight percent of youth were on free and reduced lunch and living in the highest poverty neighborhoods of a southern U.S. city. AAs reported more favorable life history expectations than refugees. In addition, refugee youth were more likely than AAs to see the ecology as dangerous and their lives as likely to be short. Results also found that AA youth were more secure and less avoidant in their attachment styles than refugee youth. Using a measure of romantic motives, refugee youth were more likely to display traits of "parasites" and less likely to be "partners" or "players" than AA youth. Implications for pregnancy outcomes, youth development, and interventions are discussed.
Three studies were conducted to explore the psychological determinants of COVID-deterrent behaviors. In Study 1, using data collected and analyzed both before and after the release of COVID-19 vaccines, mask-wearing, other preventative behaviors like social distancing, and vaccination intentions were positively related to assessments of the Coronavirus Behavioral Health Mindset (CVBHM); belief in the credibility of science; progressive political orientation; less use of repressive and more use of sensitization coping; and the attribution of COVID-19 safety to effort rather than ability, powerful forces, fate, or luck. In Study 2, favorable COVID-19 vaccination intentions were related to greater willingness to work, lower emotional distress, and greater customer experience mindset. Study 3 examined the personality and motives of individuals who volunteered to help deliver COVID-19 inoculations to the local community. The vaccine-giving volunteers, especially those with prosocial motives, had high CVBHM scores, belief in the credibility of science, low use of repressive coping, greater attribution of COVID-19 protection to effort, low likelihood of voting conservative, were older, and had more education than others. The majority of public health volunteers expressed prosocial motives to help people or join a cause (60.7%), but many (39.3%) expressed the personal motives of getting the COVID-19 vaccination for themselves, conveying a public image of compassion, or structuring time. Based on the three research studies, a COVID-19 Mindset Hierarchy model is proposed to integrate the results.
