The development and validation of a new decontaminated hassles measure, the Inventory of College Students' Recent Life Experiences, are described. An initial pool of 85 items was administered to 100 undergraduates along with the Perceived Stress Scale. Forty-nine items were selected based on significant correlations against the Perceived Stress Scale. The alpha reliability of the resultant final form of the Inventory of College Students' Recent Life Experiences and its correlation against the Perceived Stress Scale were both high. In a separate cross-replication sample of 108 undergraduates, the alpha reliability of the Inventory and its correlation against the Perceived Stress Scale showed little shrinkage. Furthermore, separate analyses for male and female subjects supported the reliability and validity of the Inventory of College Students' Recent Life Experiences across gender. Factor analysis of the Inventory yielded seven interpretable factors. Intercorrelations among sub-scales based on these factors were generally modest, though in all cases significant, suggesting that the Inventory is relatively free of contamination by psychological distress.

A new decontaminated hassles measure for adults, the Survey of Recent Life Experiences, was developed and validated. An initial pool of 92 items was administered to 100 subjects along with the Perceived Stress Scale. Fifty-one items were selected, based on significant correlations with the latter scale. The alpha reliability of the resultant final form of the Survey of Recent Life Experiences and its correlation with perceived stress were both high. In a separate cross-replication sample of 136 adults, the alpha reliability of the Survey and its correlation against the Perceived Stress Scale remained acceptably high. Moreover, separate-sex analyses supported the reliability and validity of the Survey of Recent Life Experiences across gender. Factor analysis of the Survey yielded six interpretable factors. Intercorrelations among subscales based on these factors were generally modest, suggesting that the scale is relatively free from contamination by psychological distress.

State driver stress was measured in both low and high traffic congestion using cellular telephones. The contributions of time urgency, trait driver stress, and hassles were also examined. Drivers showed substantially more state driver stress under high than low congestion. Time urgency made a significant positive contribution to state driver stress at both congestion levels. Trait driver stress also contributed positively under low congestion. There was a significant hassles X trait stress interaction under high congestion. Hassles exposure moderately increased state driver stress for high trait stress drivers, but reduced state driver stress for medium and low trait stress drivers. These findings indicate that state driver stress is influenced by a combination of situational and personal factors, including factors external to the driving context.

19 male Es employing a Taffel-type task conducted a verbal conditioning experiment with 60 female Ss. I the Es were led to expect their Ss to show verbal conditioning, and 4 were led to expect no verbal conditioning. 4 the Es in each of these groups were led to feel that it would be desirable if their Ss showed conditioning, and J were led to feel that it would be undesirable. Those Es who (a) both wanted and expected, and (b) neither wanted nor expected their Ss to show increased use of i and WE pronouns obtained significant conditioning (p = .001). Those Es who (a) wanted but did not expect, and (b) expected but did not want increased use of I and WE pronouns obtained no significant conditioning (p = 1.00). Ss high in need for social approval arrived earlier at the site of the experiment, were less "aware" of the contingency but were no more likely to show conditioning. Ss' ratings of Es' behavior during the experiment showed significant differences between Es in different experimental conditions, between Es who were 1st vs. later born, and between Es who were high vs. low in need for social approval.

This study explored the feasibility and effects of humour-related interventions for mentally ill adults. Twelve, randomly assigned, participated in each of 3 arms--stand up comedy training (the experimental arm), discussing comedy videos (the active control arm), and no humour-related intervention (the passive control arm). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected at baseline, end of interventions (3 months) and follow up (after another 3 months). Scale comparisons were largely negative, although self-esteem marginally increased in the experimental arm. Interview responses indicated benefits for the interventions, including improved self-esteem in the experimental arm. These results, though mixed, justify further study.