"Population and health psychology": A response.

Responds to a critique by D. C. O'Connell (see record 1987-21818-001) concerning the present author's (see record 1986-19757-001) article on population, development, and reproductive behavior. The author reiterates that individual, family, and community well-being, an improved quality of life, and freedom of choice in reproductive behavior are becoming areas of priority interest for health psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doing violence to "…violence against women."

Suggests that neither the comments by M. E. Mills (1990) and D. E. Mould (see record 1990-22858-001) on L. E. A. Walker's (see record 1989-26311-001) article nor Walker's (1990) response spoke to the point so clearly identified by Walker's article. It is argued that the incidence of women's violence toward men is largely irrelevant to the study of violence against women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Women's changing work roles: Impact on health, family, and public policy": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by K. A. Matthews and J. Rodin (American Psychologist, 1989[Nov], Vol 44[11], 1389–2393). On page 1391, the note in Figure 1 should read as follows: Note. 2000 is based on projections for women 25–54. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1990-06311-001.) Women's work roles have changed enormously. This article describes the long-term and short-term changes in women's paid employment. It also introduces a set of Public Forum articles that discuss the consequences of these changes for women's health and for their families and delineate the government's responses to women's changing work roles. The impetus for this Public Forum section came from a workshop conducted under the auspices of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Network on the Determinants and Consequences of Health-Promoting and Health-Damaging Behavior. Therefore, the article also discusses the mission of the Network and why multidisciplinary, collaborative research on the effects of women's employment is vital. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A critique of Bem's "Exotic Becomes Erotic" theory of sexual orientation.

Two critiques of D. J. Bem's (see record 1996-01742-006) "Exotic Becomes Erotic" (EBE) theory of sexual orientation are presented. First, the core proposition of EBE theory is considered; that is, the idea that adults are erotically attracted to the gender-based class of peers (males or females) who were dissimilar or unfamiliar to them in childhood. Studies cited by Bem and additional research show that EBE theory is not supported by scientific evidence. Second, Bem's claim that his theory applies equally to both sexes is questioned; instead the argument that it neglects and misrepresents women's experiences is made. Bem's conceptualization of erotic desire and his analysis of gender nonconformity illustrate this problem. It is suggested that different theories may be needed to explain the development of men's and women's sexual orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The myth of women's masochism": Comment on Caplan.

Contends that P. J. Caplan (see record 1984-31285-001) may have confused form, method, and function when she argued against the assumption that biology of penetration is not central to women's experience of sexuality. It is suggested that consistent with H. P. Blum's (1977) argument, maternal devotion and commitment (despite accompanying deprivations and frustrations) can be viewed as an active method and function. It is concluded that confusion may result when masochism is described as a trait belonging to a particular category rather than a multidetermined symptom and defense. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"She," "He," Coexistence, and Bastardy.

Before proposing a solution for the sex bias problems inherent in the generic use of the pronoun he, Spencer (see record 1990-58427-001) reviews some efforts to solve the problem. The attempted solutions are evaluated as "not an improvement ... awkward... jarring ... disturbing" (p. 782), In one case, Spencer notes that coauthors of a book "slip up" twice. To avoid the difficulties and the accompanying unpleasant experiences, Spencer suggests the use of co: "The form is derived from an old Indo-European common form for both male and female English pronouns" (p. 783). While arguing for the "goodness of fit" (p. 783) of co. Spencer acknowledges that "there is currently one exception in our language to this meaning of co-coed, in which the form has been bastardized and debased from its source" (p. 783). A clinical psychologist is assuredly not an expert in psycholinguistics, but one could reasonably argue the following: The concept of bastardy with all of its connotative meaning, including debased, derives from patriarchal, patrilineal, male primary societies and history. In short, it is a sexist concept. Ours is a difficult language to use and avoid the expression of bias. Perhaps we ought to be gentler with those who are trying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adult pets of alcoholics: Another underserved population.

Comments on W. R. Miller's article entitled Adult cousins of alcoholics (see record 2007-10115-001). The authors provide a tongue-in-cheek commentary on Miller's discussion of adult cousins of alcoholics by describing the foundation of APoA--the Adult Pets of Alcoholics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"A multivariate model for predicting rape and physical injury outcomes during sexual assaults": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by S. E. Ullman and R. A. Knight (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1991, Vol 59[5], 724–731). On page 730, column 2, line 9, the authors erroneously indicated that nonforceful verbal resistance was a dangerous strategy because it "increased the probability of physical injury and was ineffective at avoiding sexual abuse.' The correct interpretation is that nonforceful verbal resistance was a dangerous strategy because it "increased the probability of sexual abuse and was ineffective at avoiding physical injury.' (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1992-05865-001.) The relation of situational factors, offender aggression, and victim resistance to women's sexual abuse and physical injury during sexual assaults was analyzed using police reports and court testimonies of 274 women who either avoided rape or were raped. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that after situational factors were partialed out, (a) women's screaming/yelling was related to less severe sexual abuse, and (b) offender physical aggression was related to increased physical injury… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alice Miller's revision of psychoanalysis.

Discusses A. Miller's (1984) rejection of Freud's etiology of neurosis and her contention that psychoanalysis practiced in conformity with drive theory is incompatible with a psychotherapy based on an adequate understanding of a healthy self. The drive theory, as Miller sees it, (1) stands in the way of catharsis and (2) leads to an intensification of neurosis. Miller's position regarding the sources of neurosis and the steps necessary for curing it are outlined, and attention is given to Freud's comments on the role played in the development of neurosis by factors external to the individual who becomes neurotic. It is concluded that Miller's emphasis on traumatic frustration of narcissistic needs is justified. Effective treatment of this suffering may require that the individual learn to discover and relate to others who can realistically satisfy these needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prospective sexual behavior.

Discusses W. B. Miller's (see record 1984-17604-001) use of the term "proceptive" in his analysis of reproductive freedom. It is argued that the continuum from contraceptive to proceptive forms only one part of the complex spectrum of human sexual behavior and that, because much of modern human sexuality deliberately avoids conception and reproduction, it is essential to consider the continuum from "conceptive" to "extraceptive" as well. It is suggested that most people will probably exercise some degree of proceptive sex choice as to their offspring when that choice does not require surgical procedures like amniocentesis and when the effectuation does not demand abortion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role playing: An alternative to deception? A review of the issue.

Responds to A. G. Miller's (see record 1973-03488-001) conclusion that the prospects for role playing (RP) as an alternative to deception (DEC) are very poor. The RP–DEC issue is described as a pseudo-issue resulting from the failure to clearly specify the function of DEC and to develop techniques that fulfill a similar function while minimizing the methodological and ethical problems of DEC. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Kelman's "Conversations with Arafat."

Argues that H. C. Kelman's (see record 1983-32571-001) recommendation that the US and Israel negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization is a misapplication of psychological principles to a political question and is based on a judgment of Yasser Arafat's "cognitive style," which conflicts with all the overt evidence. It is further argued that Kelman's hypotheses are not only without a scientific base but also serve to lend credibility to a man and an organization whose intentions have been cognitively and behaviorally clear—the end of the existence of Israel. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"That swimsuit becomes you: Sex differences in self-objectification, restrained eating, and math performance": Correction to Fredrickson et al. (1998).

Reports an error in "That swimsuit becomes you: Sex differences in self-objectification, restrained eating, and math performance" by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Tomi-Ann Roberts, Stephanie M. Noll, Diane M. Quinn and Jean M. Twenge (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998[Jul], Vol 75[1], 269-284). This article contains errors in the Participants sections. The corrected information is included in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1998-04530-020.) Objectification theory (B. L. Fredrickson & T Roberts, 1997) posits that American culture socializes women to adopt observers' perspectives on their physical selves. This self-objectification is hypothesized to (a) produce body shame, which in turn leads to restrained eating, and (b) consume attentional resources, which is manifested in diminished mental performance. Two experiments manipulated self-objectification by having participants try on a swimsuit or a sweater. Experiment 1 tested 72 women and found that self-objectification increased body shame, which in turn predicted restrained eating. Experiment 2 tested 42 women and 40 men and found that these effects on body shame and restrained eating replicated for women only. Additionally, self-objectification diminished math performance for women only. Discussion centers on the causes and consequences of objectifying women's bodies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Zoos as settings for psychological research: A preliminary survey.

Presents survey results that support D. B. Miller's (see record 1977-28610-001) proposal that US zoological parks are appropriate environments for naturalistic comparative psychological research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to "A comment on alcoholism, alpha production, and biofeedback."

Replies to A. G. Glaros's (see record 1978-08480-001) critical comments concerning the research of F. W. Jones and D. S. Holmes (1976) in which it was found that alpha biofeedback training was ineffective with alcoholics. It is concluded that the criticisms do not necessitate a rejection of the data but instead highlight the questionable incremental validity of biofeedback training in clinical settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child: lost in the clash of adverse opinions

Discusses The World Declaration on the Survival, Protection, and Development of Children (1989, 1990) and some of the possible reasons that the document has not been broadly publicized by professionals in mental health and human services in the US. The author believes that part of the problem is the ambiguity of the language in which some of the 54 articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) are formulated. Two specific examples are given. The 1st example includes challenges by the conservative groups regrading the antifamily impact of the Convention, which to the author, seem unfounded. The 2nd concerns the Convention's preamble which the author fears may be interpreted by abortion rights advocates as an attempt to curb women's reproductive rights. It is concluded that it is necessary to rise about ideological clashes in order to gain a clear view of the future of children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Schools of "thought."

Challenges J. Wolpe's (see record 1979-12261-001) assertion that cognitive (COG) formulations add little to an adequate understanding and treatment of psychological disorders. Conceptual and empirical issues are addressed. Although COG therapies may not be unequivocally superior to other methods, preliminary data suggest that COG approaches may contribute to the clinical effectiveness of psychological or behavioral treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More on the identity-equivalence sequence: An update and some replies to Miller.

Responds to S. A. Miller's criticism of the present authors' study on identity and equivalence conservation (see record 1975-31383-001). It is suggested that Miller's criticism is in error as he attempts to propose theoretical explanations for the task, criterion–task, and age–task effects he attacks, thereby implying their existence. It is concluded that analysis has shown, in most studies, these effects to be in the medium-to-large range. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)