Seeing is believing: Facial appearance,credibility, and attitude change

One-hundred twenty-eight subjects (64 female, 64 male) viewed either a babyfaced or maturefaced female speaker delivering a persuasive communication, and also received information designed to make the speaker seem either untrustworthy or inexpert. Subjects indicated how much they agreed with the speaker's position and completed other measures concerning her appearance and their perceptions of her speech. Babyfaced speakers induced more agreement with their position than did maturefaced speakers when trustworthiness was in question, presumably because babyfaced speakers still appeared honest due to their babyish facial features. Conversely, maturefaced speakers produced more attitude agreement as compared to babyfaced speakers when expertise was questioned, perhaps because knowledgeability was still communicated via their mature countenance. Attitude change was not related to perceived likability, age, attractiveness, or communication skills of the speakers, or subjects' interest in the topic.Over 80 million people watched at least one of the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon television debates. Those who listened to them on the radio tended to think Richard Nixon had outdone the youthful, inexperienced JFK. The Republican's words carried more weight. Those who watched on television, however, proclaimed Kennedy the winner. His words were less important than his warmth [and] his sincerity. ... all of these qualities came across on television.—Krauss, in Davis & Baran (1981, pp. 103–104)     

Correlates of physical activity in a community sample of older adults in Appalachia

Although much has been learned about the global determinants of physical activity in adults, there has been a lack of specific focus on gender, age, and urban/rural differences. In this church-based community sample of Appalachian adults (N = 1,239), the primary correlates of physical activity included age, gender, obesity, and self-efficacy. Overall, 42% of all participants and 31% of adults age 65 years or older met recommended guidelines for physical activity, which suggests that most participants do not engage in adequate levels of physical activity. Of participants who met physical activity guidelines, the most common modes of moderate and vigorous activity were walking briskly or uphill, heavy housework or gardening, light strength training, and biking. These particular activities that focus on building self-efficacy might be viable targets for intervention among older adults in rural communities.     

A reciprocal global education? Working towards a more humanizing pedagogy through critical literacy

Dehumanizing tendencies within the present neo‐liberal era provide the backdrop against which the authors have developed an 11‐year partnership in the Global South. The economic context encourages competition over community and, while portending to bring people closer together through technological advances, it only facilitates the flow of commerce and capital while stemming the movement of consumers and workers. The authors provide a nuanced historical perspective leading up to the neo‐liberal moment, which notices the emergence of patriarchy, Christianity, racism, and capitalism as particular forms of social control, oppression and dehumanization. Recognizing the constructed nature of these forms, the authors propose community, consciousness, and courage as liberating ways forward towards the creation of an alternative form – a more reciprocal global education. While documenting some of their 11‐year partnership, the authors reveal the contribution of the following theorists who have impacted their praxis: Paul Kivel (social service vs social change), Paul Farmer (charity vs development vs social justice approaches to ‘service’ work), and Paul Gorski (decolonizing intercultural education). The authors conclude by (re)examining their desire to resist neo‐liberal globalizing tendencies towards a more reciprocal global education which expands upon relationships built and focuses on a critical literacy approach though the use of culture circles.     

Regions: An Illusive Concept

Books reviewed in this article: Tan, Joseph L.H. (ed.), AFTA in the Changing International Economy Menon, Jayant, Adjusting Towards AFTA: The Dynamics of Trade in ASEAN Bora, Bijit and Findlay, Christopher (eds), Regional Integration and the Asia-Pacific Lawrence, Robert Z., Regionalism, Multilateralism, and Deeper Integration     

Fieldwork in Industrial Settings: Opportunities,Rewards, and Dilemmas

World of work field placements offer rich learning opportunities both for students interested in direct service and those pursuing planning, administration, and research specializations. Social work skills have become highly relevant to corporations and unions as they have expanded their function into the social welfare arena. Selection of appropriate sites requires an ability to make an assessment of organizational readiness. Careful selection of students and clarity of social work function at the field site contribute to successful outcome. In addition, back-up support from the school is essential to the smooth development of these innovative and stimulating placement opportunities.