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Birth order and sex data were obtained from 80 Ss, who also expressed their aesthetic preferences for polygons varying in complexity-simplicity and produced a drawing of the human figure which was rated for detail. As predicted, firstborn Ss drew more complex (more detailed) drawings than did later born Ss, and females preferred more polygon complexity than males. Perception of complexity (in polygons) and production of complexity (detail in drawings) showed no significant relationship. Additional hypotheses are discussed, and the results related to previous findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author reflects on the case in Texas which involved Andrea Yates who was convicted of killing her five children and sentenced to life in prison. He indicates that 18 psychology students at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburgh had spoken out that the said mother should have received the death penalty. However, he is in favor of not to executive the mother, and believes that her postpartum psychosis should serve as a mitigating factor.

The article examines the importance of ovulation as a part of female sexuality that is understood through the concepts from evolutionary psychology and the unconscious nature of realities. Study shows that women are often likely to forget to use birth control during ovulation probably due to the powerful effects of ovulation that increases the sex drive. It is stated that many of the findings of evolutionary psychology are things of which people are not aware. Furthermore, it is noted that some people object to the concept of unconscious because many see it as part of psychoanalytic theory and explanation such as Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory.

Discusses an Yee et al.'s article on psychology's problems with the concept of race. Useful and potentially harmful aspects of the article; Importance of studying race.

In this article, the author has responded to T.F. Pettigrew's rejoinder. In his rejoinder Pettigrew advocates a position somewhat different from that in his original article. In his rejoinder he advocates using G.W. Allport's (1954) four situational characteristics as criteria to analyze racial contact situations. Since Allport's four conditions were not attained in the contact studies which he mentioned in the critique, Pettigrew feels he was justified in omitting them from his original article. This is most apparent on pages 54 and 55 of Pettigrew's original paper where, beginning his section on Contact Studies, he states, "The most solid social psychological evidence of racial attitude change comes from the contact studies. Repeated research in a variety of newly desegregated situations discovered that the attitudes of both whites and Negroes toward each other markedly improved."

Discusses the use of variable-interval punishment in prisons to keep therapists afraid of the prison administrator and show control. Observations of administration's punishment; The effect of the variable-interval punishment.