Relation of moral and cognitive development to dimensions of juvenile delinquency.

Using H. C. Quay's (1972) typology, 3 groups of 12 Ss each—adolescent psychopathic, neurotic, and subcultural delinquent males (mean age 15.68 yrs)—and a matched nondelinquent control group were individually administered L. Kohlberg's (1964, 1969) structured moral dilemmas, 2 Piagetian tasks of cognitive development (pendulum and balance), and an adaptation of J. Flavell's (1968) role-taking task. Psychopathic Ss were more immature in level of moral development than all other groups, which did not differ from one another. Psychopathic Ss were significantly more concrete in their thinking on cognitive tasks than all other groups, which exhibited signs of early formal operational thinking. Psychopathic and, to a lesser extent, neurotic Ss were deficient in role taking compared with controls and subculturals, who did not differ from one another. Findings provide further evidence against viewing delinquency as a unitary syndrome of deviance. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Probability of punishment and suppression of behavior in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic offenders.

To investigate the hypothesis that psychopathic offenders would show less suppression of behavior as a function of punishment at varying levels of probability, 3 groups of Ss were selected. 50 criminal offenders were divided into 2 groups of psychopathic (mean age 31.5 yrs) and nonpsychopathic (mean age 30.7 yrs) offenders based on clinical ratings. A 3rd group of 25 nonoffenders (mean age 28.9 yrs) was also used. A probability-learning card game was developed that consisted of 10 different levels of punishment probability, with the punishment based on the response-cost technique of removing reinforcers (i.e., chips redeemable for money). A measure of suppression was obtained from the reduction of Ss' response rates. Results show psychopathic offenders to produce the least suppression and the lowest winnings, with these findings attributed to the psychopaths being least responsive when the probability of punishment was most uncertain. Results are best explained in terms of cognitive factors, with the element of magical or superstitious logic proposed as a major pathognomic characteristic of psychopathy. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathy and nonverbal behavior in an interpersonal situation.

88 male adolescents living in a minimum security institution were judged by their counselors on a scale measuring psychopathic behavior. Two extreme groups were composed, with 25 Ss each. These Ss were questioned by a male interviewer in a face-to-face situation about their leisure activities. Trained judges analyzed videotape recordings of the Ss' and the interviewer's nonverbal and paralinguistic behavior. Global judgments of the Ss' emotional states were also requested of the judges. Results show that compared with nonpsycopaths, psychopathic Ss displayed more hand gestures and leaned forward more, thus reducing the distance between them and their partner. They also looked toward their partner's eyes for much longer periods and tended to smile less than nonpsychopaths. On the other hand, when interacting with psychopaths, the interviewer spoke significantly less than with nonpsychopaths. A number of other observed differences in emotional expression between the 2 groups are discussed. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age differences in incidental learning.

Examined the effects of age and of incidental-learning tasks on recall of a categorized word list. Ss were 50 18-30 yr old college students and 50 55-65 yr old teachers. The control groups were instructed to remember the words; incidental-learning groups performed orienting tasks, but were not informed that they would have to recall the words. 2 orienting tasks required that Ss process the meaning of the words; the other 2 orienting tasks did not involve semantic processing. Analysis of the free-recall data indicates that the semantic processing tasks led to much greater recall and organization of recall than the nonsemantic orienting tasks. In recall, there was a significant interaction between age and orienting task, with old Ss only manifesting incidental learning that was inferior to young Ss, whose orienting task involved semantic processing. The findings indicate that the presence or absence of an age-related decrement in incidental learning is predictable from the depth of processing of the incidentally acquired material. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instructional desensitization: A semantic behavior treatment of anxiety disorder.

Explored the efficacy of instructional desensitization (ID) in the treatment of public speaking anxiety, using 30 speech-anxious undergraduates as Ss. Three self-report measures of confidence, affect, and anxiousness were completed by Ss, and 20 behavioral manifestations of anxiety were observed during Ss' delivery of a 4-min speech. Ss were randomly assigned to ID, placebo, or waiting list groups. Ss in the placebo group were led to believe that they were receiving a new form of therapy. Results show that ID Ss showed a significant decrement in their anxiety reactions as measured by objective and subjective anxiety measures. A significant anxiety decrement was also found in placebo Ss. However, self-report gains were not verified by objective observations. It is concluded that ID is a new semantic behavior therapy intervention that may have beneficial effects in the treatment of a broad variety of anxiety disorders. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal conditioning of psychopaths as a function of experimenter-subject sex differences.

48 male and female psychopathic and 48 nonpsychopathic undergraduates, as defined by their MMPI, Psychopathic (Pd) scores, were verbally conditioned by a male and a female E. The hypothesis was that psychopathic Ss condition only in an opposite E-S sex group, while those in a matching sex group do not. It was further hypothesized that no such Sex * Treatment interaction exists for nonpsychopathic Ss, where both sex groups are expected to condition. Results lend support to the hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drugs and placebos: The effects of instructions upon performance and mood under amphetamine sulfate and chloral hydrate.

The experiment reports the effects of appropriate and inappropriate instructions and 2 drugs (.5 g chloral hydrate and 10 mg racemic amphetamine sulphate) on motor performance and mood measures. The Ss were 90 older men randomly assigned to 9 experimental groups. The design used was expansion of a model design involving Drug Disguised groups, Placebo groups (300 mg lactose), an Untreated group, and Amphetamine, Chloral Hydrate, and Neutral instructions. The drugs and placebos were given to the Ss in capsules, and all Ss received orange juice, which was also the vehicle for the disguise. The Untreated group received orange juice only. Instructions alone affected performance, but had little or no effect on mood. Instructions appropriate to the presumed drug effects produced performance deterioration on the simple motor tasks used. Instructions inappropriate to the presumed drug effects counteracted much of the drug produced decrement. A slight decrement in performance was found in the Placebo group which received Amphetamine instruction. Amphetamine treated Ss produced reports of greater comfort on the mood index than did chloral hydrate. On the other hand, the chloral hydrate instructions resulted in greater comfort than the Amphetamine instructions. There was no interaction between drug effects and instructional effects. The 2 Placebo groups did not differ significantly on the mood index. The effects of instructions on mood were found only when the drug was present. Several suggestions are offered for further research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological profiles of purging bulimics, repeat dieters, and controls.

In Study 1, 29 female undergraduates who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) criteria for bulimia were compared with 2 nonbulimic groups drawn from the same S pool. One group consisted of 27 Ss who reported feeling dissatisfied with their weight and engaged in repeated dieting attempts but not bulimic behavior. The 2nd comparison group consisted of 27 Ss who reported feeling satisfied with their weight and not dieting within the last year. Measures included the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Personal Attributes Questionnaire, and Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. All Ss scored in the normal range, but bulimics scored significantly higher than the 2 comparison groups on a number of clinical scales. Also, the bulimics and repeat dieters reported lower self-esteem than did the nondieting group. The major discriminating variables—psychopathic deviance, mania, and physical self-esteem—separated all 3 groups and accounted for 78% of the explained variance. Study 2 was conducted with 27 current bulimic women, 12 former bulimics, 29 nondieters, and 31 repeat dieters. Results confirm the importance of physical self-esteem and psychopathic deviance in differentiating between groups. This study also revealed that bulimics engaged in sexual activities and in the adolescent acting-out behaviors of drug and alcohol use more frequently, and at an earlier age, than did the 2 comparison groups. Implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Simulation of normal and psychopathic MMPI personality patterns.

Previous work with the simulation of normalcy on personality tests has suggested that good adjustment involves an adequate understanding of socially approved behavior. 27 well-adjusted and 42 maladjusted college males took the MMPI under instructions to simulate very good adjustment, and again under instructions to simulate psychopathic personality. Both groups simulated very good adjustment satisfactorily; however, well-adjusted Ss were superior to maladjusted Ss in the simulation of psychopathic personality. The findings were consistent with the literature on role-taking and empathy, supporting the view that good adjustment involves an ability to understand and predict socially adequate and inadequate behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methods of communication and mediating processes in realistic job previews.

Assigned 164 bank teller applicants (mean age 22 yrs) who were offered jobs to 1 of 3 experimental groups to investigate the effectiveness of presenting realistic job previews. Ss in Group 1 received a job preview from an incumbent teller; Ss in Group 2 received a job preview brochure; Ss in Group 3 served as controls. Substantially fewer Ss in Group 1 left the job 2–3 mo later than did Ss in the other groups. There were no significant differences in job outcome between Ss in Groups 2 and 3. There was also no support for self-selection and commitment to choice as mediating processes. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Passive avoidance learning in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic offenders.

Research on passive avoidance learning has demonstrated reliable differences between psychopaths and controls when avoidance errors result in electric shock but not in loss of money. Using monetary punishments, J. P. Newman et al (see record 1985-22847-001) found that psychopathic delinquents performed more poorly than controls in an experimental paradigm employing monetary reward as well as the avoidance contingency. The present study was conducted to replicate and extend these findings using adult psychopaths and a computer controlled task. 60 White male prisoners (mean age approximately 25 yrs) were assigned to psychopathic or nonpsychopathic groups using R. D. Hare's psychopathy checklist and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Ss were administered a "go/no-go" discrimination task involving monetary incentives. One condition entailed competing reward and punishment contingencies; the other, 2 punishment contingencies. As predicted, psychopaths made significantly more passive avoidance errors than nonpsychopaths when the task contained competing goals but performed as well as controls when the Ss' only goal was avoiding punishment. Results corroborate earlier findings that psychopaths are relatively poor at learning to inhibit reward-seeking behavior that results in monetary punishment. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of meditation-relaxation on anxiety and depression in a geriatric population.

36 female volunteers (aged 63–79 yrs) participated in a 20-wk study on the effects of meditation-relaxation on symptoms of anxiety and depression. 83% of the Ss were widows and were selected because of complaints of anxiety, nervousness, tension, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, and somatic complaints. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: relaxation-meditation, relaxation-meditation with a 10-wk follow-up consisting of instructions to practice on a daily basis using relaxation-meditation tapes, and a pseudo-relaxation control group. The treatment groups received 1 wk of baseline evaluation, 10 wks of 30-min training sessions, and a 10-wk follow-up, with taped relaxation sessions for the 2nd group. The control group followed an identical schedule for 10 wks but did not participate in the follow-up. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-Rating Depression Scale were administered prior to treatment, at the end of training, and at the end of the follow-up period. In comparison to the control group, the treatment groups manifested a significant pre–posttreatment decrement for both state and trait anxiety. The practice group continued to show a decrement in state anxiety, while the no-practice group exhibited a return toward baseline levels. However, trait anxiety continued to decrease for both groups. When questions that correlated highly with anxiety and somatic symptoms were removed and analyzed separately, a significant pre- to posttreatment decrement in depression was noted. (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ontogenetic dissociation of two classes of habituation.

Determined the rates of decrement of 2 classes of response (an elicited startle reflex and emitted exploratory behavior) in rats of 2 different ages (15 and 36 days). Ss were 31 Sprague-Dawley albino rats. The rate of decrement in the startle reflex was not clearly differentiated as a function of age. In contrast, there was no evidence of habituation of exploration in the younger Ss, whereas older Ss uniformly showed profound response decrements. This ontogenetic dissociation of the 2 instances of response decrement indicates that accounts of both instances in terms of a common process called habituation may be unwarranted. In addition, these data, in conjunction with earlier findings, indirectly support the possibility that reflex decrements may be relatively more dependent on brain serotonin, whereas decrements in exploration may be more dependent on normal cholinergic activity in brain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive models of criminal violence based upon intelligence and psychopathy levels.

Examined specific models of violence relating to psychopathic status by considering additional cognitive factors that might relate to intelligence and to the expression of physical aggression. 168 male prisoners (mean age 32.96 yrs) served as Ss. Three cognitive psychopathic models were suggested by the data: (1) An impaired-processing psychopathic model of violent crime, involving low-IQ psychopaths, would explain the highest risk factor for violence by a combination of poor impulse control and low empathy and the lack of inhibitions against physical aggression associated with poor socialization. (2) A sadistic, effective-processing psychopathic model of violence was suggested by the higher empathy and better impulse control of the high-IQ psychopath. It was proposed that empathy promoted sadistic reinforcement by enhancing the psychopath's awareness of the victim's pain and distress. (3) A defensive, impaired-processing, nonpsychopathic model of violence was proposed for the low-IQ nonpsychopaths: Effective self-reinforcement coupled with poor impulse control and low empathy placed them in hazardous situations that exceeded their cognitive skills. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of anticipatory alerting signals and a compatible secondary task on vigilance performance.

This visual vigilance study simulated an industrial inspection task in which Ss were alerted to possible targets by a semiautomatic detection device. 1 experimental group was forewarned of possible targets by a buzzer with 1-sec foreperiod and rested between alerting signals. A 2nd experimental group worked on a problem-solving secondary task instead of resting between buzzes. A control group observed the display continuously. Other variables of interest were sex of O, target type, and size of display window. It was found that: (1) performance by alerted groups was far superior to that of controls and continued to improve throughout the task, (2) a vigilance decrement was not in evidence in any condition, (3) the problem-solving task did not interfere with detection performance, (4) male and female Ss performed equally well, and (5) Ss engaged in the problem-solving task greatly underestimated the duration of the detection task and reported it "interesting" while the other groups estimated duration accurately and indicated boredom. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuroticism and extraversion in Turner's Syndrome.

Administered the Maudsley Personality Inventory to 5 groups of female Ss: (a) 13 Turner Syndrome Ss (mean age 19 yrs 2 mo) with karyotype 45X, (b) 18 Turner Syndrome (TS) Ss (mean age 26 yrs 11 mo) with other types of sex chromosomal abnormalities, (c) 16 sisters of Ss (mean age 24 yrs 2 mo), (d) 9 Ss with growth retardation and primary amenorrhea (mean age 22 yrs 4 mo), and (e) 19 nurses (mean age 22 yrs 8 mo). The results are compared to English and American normative values. The total group of TS Ss obtained a low Neuroticism (N) score compared to the control groups. When the total group was divided on the basis of their karyotypes, the low N score could be referred solely to Ss with karyotype 45X, who scored significantly lower than any other group tested so far with the MPI. TS Ss with chromosomal abnormalities other than 45X scored within normal limits. No variables other than karyotype 45X were related to an extremely low N score. It is concluded that exceptional emotional stability, as reflected in a very low N score on the MPI, is concomitant with the total absence of one sex chromosome, which is probably due to a developmental abnormality of the CNS. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emotion in the criminal psychopath: Startle reflex modulation.

Measured startle-elicited blinks during presentation of affective slides to test hypotheses concerning emotional responding in psychopaths. Ss were 54 incarcerated sexual offenders divided into nonpsychopathic, psychopathic, and mixed groups based on file and interview data. Consistent with findings for normal college students, nonpsychopaths and mixed Ss showed a significant linear relationship between slide valence and startle magnitude, with startle responses largest during unpleasant slides and smallest during pleasant slides. This effect was absent in psychopaths. Group differences in startle modulation were related to affective features of psychopathy, but not to antisocial behavior per se. Psychopathy had no effect on autonomic or self-report responses to slides. These results suggest an abnormality in the processing of emotional stimuli by psychopaths that manifests itself independently of affective report. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cholinergic influences in habituation of exploratory activity in mice.

Injected 30 male mice, chosen from a random-bred strain (ICR), with either saline, scopolamine, or methscopolamine. Ss were then allowed to explore a chamber, and locomotor activity was monitored every 7.5 min by photocells. Ss treated with saline and methscopolamine displayed a significant decrement in activity over the course of an exposure session, but Ss injected with scopolamine did not show this decrement. The decline in activity over time was considered to reflect habituation of exploratory responses in a novel environment. Results are interpreted in terms of the disruptive effects of scopolamine on habituation. It is concluded that activity of brain acetylcholine is critical to the process of habituation of locomotor activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stimulus-seeking behavior in three delinquent personality types.

Examined stimulus-seeking behavior in 3 delinquent personality types (psychopathic, neurotic, and socialized) drawn from 3 populations (juvenile delinquents, young adult offenders, and college students). 10 Ss were selected from each population with mean ages of 15.2, 20.6, and 19.0 yrs, respectively. Results from a kinesthetic aftereffect task and the Sensation-Seeking Scale indicate only limited evidence of pathological stimulus seeking by the psychopathic delinquent personality type. It is suggested that this limited evidence results from the incarceration experiences of the young adult offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of sleep deprivation on performance in a simulated communication task.

"Twenty Ss were tested for their ability to receive and send complex instructions in a simulated communication situation following 55 and 70 hr. without sleep. The ability to receive showed a significant decrement, but the ability to send did not. The time required to send instructions and the number of errors corrected spontaneously increased significantly. In the case of sending, high-intelligence Ss showed greater decrement than low-intelligence Ss." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)