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Three experiments investigated the conditions under which pictures facilitate learning. In Experiment 1, confusing verbal relationships were supplemented with pictures that illustrated the key concepts in each verbal relationship (base pictures), illustrated the key concepts in more elaborate arbitrary relationships (pictures of arbitrary elaborations), or illustrated the key concepts in ways that helped clarify the verbal relationships (pictures of explanatory elaborations). All three types of pictures facilitated the retention of the verbal relationships, although pictures of explanatory elaborations were superior to other types of visual illustrations. In Experiment 2, the facilitative effects of base pictures depended on a schematically unique illustration of the key concepts in a single image. In Experiment 3, picture facilitation effects were constrained by the type of verbal elaborations that accompanied the pictures. Specifically, base pictures and pictures of arbitrary elaborations did not facilitate the retention of confusing verbal relationships that were elaborated with explanatory information, and actually interfered with the retention of those explanatory elaborations. The implications of these results are discussed.One strategy frequently used to help people understand new and confusing information is to represent that information in a visual illustration. Pictures or graphic illustrations are commonly used in lectures, ftlms, textbooks, instruction manuals, computer software, and scientific articles to help people understand and learn new information. Despite the extensive use of visual illustrations, it remains unclear why pictures facilitate the comprehension and retention of verbal information and what factors influence the effectiveness of pictorial illustrations (e.g., Bluth, 1981;Brody, 1981;Levin, 1981;Samuels, 1970).One way pictures could facilitate the comprehension and retention of information is by helping people relate new information to previous experience (elaboration). Substantial research suggests that comprehension and/or retention can be enhanced by providing additional elaborations during study

The goal of this study was to explore the association between the love styles endorsed by respondents and their romantic partners on the one hand, and the quality of their romantic involvements on the other. A sample of 186 couples at a large southern university completed a questionnaire that included a shortened version of Hendrick & Hendrick's (1986) Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) designed to assess six love styles originally proposed by Lee (1973). Both the individual's and partner's scores on the six love scales (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, Agape) were then examined as predictors of the structural qualities of the couple's relationship specified by Rusbult's (1980a, 1983) investment model. The results of correlational and multiple regression analyses indicated that the respondent's own love style scores were the best predictors of relationship quality. In particular, the endorsement of Eros and Agape were associated with higher levels of rewards, satisfaction, investments and commitment, lower levels of costs and poor alternative quality. Ludus showed the opposite associations with these same variables. The partner's love styles were also related to a number of relationship characteristics, although less strongly so. In addition, couples showed evidence of matching of love styles (with the exception of Ludus and Mania), and discrepancies in couples' love attitudes were related to negative outcomes for women but not for men. Finally, the associations between several demographic variables (relationship status, age, relationship duration) and respondents' love styles suggest that individuals' love attitudes may be subject to change as a result of time and/or experience. These findings suggest that individuals' beliefs about love have important implications with regard to the relationship outcomes experienced by both themselves and their romantic partners.

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In two studies, we investigated whether individuals were accurate in perceiving weight-related attitudes of their romantic partner. We also investigated whether accuracy was moderated by whether the partner was currently attempting to lose weight, relationship commitment level, amount of discussion about weight and importance of weight. Each individual answered questions assessing their own weight concerns and perceptions, and similar questions assessing their partner's weight concerns and perceptions. We found evidence that perceptual inaccuracy of weight-related attitudes was greatest when one's partner was attempting to lose weight in relationships of shorter duration, lower commitment, or in which they rarely discussed weight. Self-ratings and partner's perceptions were positively correlated.