Associative homogeneity may affect the persistence of illusory correlations but does not account for their occurrence.

Discusses G. M. Rosen's (see record 1975-31957-001) suggestion that associative homogeneity, as described by L. J. and J. P. Chapman (see record 1969-13004-001), may influence the persistence of illusory correlations. It is pointed out, however, that Rosen's suggestion should not be confused with issues of causality raised in the Chapmans' article. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A test of Chapman's theory of schizophrenic thought disorder.

Tested the validity of L. J. Chapman's (1964) theory of schizophrenic thought disorder. The vocabulary test from the Shipley-Institute of Living Scale for Measuring Intellectual Impairment served as the control task, and the multiple-choice vocabulary test used by T. B. Boland and L. J. Chapman (see record 1972-03368-001) to disclose a schizophrenic deficit related to thought disorder served as the experimental task. Two groups of 97 hospitalized psychiatric patients, one group classified as schizophrenic and the other as psychiatric controls, served as Ss. Both groups performed below the normal level reported by Boland and Chapman but somewhat above the mean level of the chronic schizophrenics they tested. The schizophrenic group in this study did not perform differently from the psychiatric controls on the experimental task. Results indicate that some factor other than schizophrenic thought disorder was being measured by the experimental task. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Finding the "genuine" schizotype: A model and method for resolving heterogeneity in performance on laboratory research.

Heterogeneity in the performance of persons affected with schizophrenia or schizotypic psychopathology on various laboratory tasks has long been recognized, both for its consistency across tasks and studies and for the massive methodological and substantive challenges it poses for experimental psychopathology, genetic, and other investigations. Traditional multivariate techniques, such as factor analysis, discriminant function analysis, and cluster analysis, have all been deemed inadequate for resolving heterogeneity, because of one or another statistical limitation. Here, an objective statistical approach based on a formal statistical model that uses the ubiquitous and well-developed expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm (A. P. Dempster, N. M. Laird, & D. B. Rubin, 1977) is presented, which enables one effectively to partition a group of experimental subjects, in this case identified initially using the well-known Perceptual Aberration Scale (L. J. Chapman, J. P. Chapman, & M. L. Raulin. 1978), in a manner that reduces heterogeneity and allows for the separation of what are termed genuine and false-positive schizotypes. The validity of the parsing strategy was supported by reference to other laboratory indexes of relevance to schizophrenia and schizotypy that were not... (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accounting for schizophrenics' Magical Ideation scores: Are college-student norms relevant?

L. George and R. W. Neufeld (see record 1988-06342-001) presented preliminary evidence for the use of the Magical Ideation Scale (MIS) for differentiating schizophrenics from nonschizophrenics. However, the schizophrenics in their study produced mean MIS scores substantially lower than the hypothetically psychosis-prone subjects in the initial MIS validation study (M. Eckblad and L. J. Chapman; see record 1983-21153-001). Moreover, their control subjects produced mean MIS scores that were substantially lower than the average college student in the original validation sample. We present additional normative college student data (N?=?3,249) that corroborates that of Eckblad and Chapman and discuss the implications of these data for the conclusions offered by George and Neufeld. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comments on three recent subliminal psychodynamic activation investigations.

Contends that unwarranted statements about subliminal psychodynamic activation research by the present author (1976, 1983, 1984) were made in the work of J. M. Oliver and R. Burkham (see record 1983-01571-001); K. C. Haspel and R. S. Harris (see record 1983-04952-001); and A. L. Porterfield and S. L. Golding (see record 1986-11992-001). Issues considered include the choice of subliminal stimuli, the present author's statistical analyses, and the necessity of a nonverbal measure of psychopathology in this research. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Susceptibility to Type A backward pattern masking among hypothetically psychosis-prone college students.

Evaluated the Type A backward masking functions of individuals defined as vulnerable to psychosis by their scores on psychosis-proneness scales developed by L. J. Chapman et al (see record 1982-20120-001). An initial screening battery consisting of the MMPI and the Chapman scales was administered to 455 undergraduates. 10 Ss identified as belonging to a physical anhedonia group and 10 Ss with a perceptual aberration-magical ideation (per-mag) were compared with 10 normal control Ss on the visual masking task. Two dependent measures were evaluated: critical stimulus duration (CSD) in a no-mask condition and mean target identification as a function of varying interstimulus intervals. No differences were obtained in CSD values among groups. However, both psychosis-prone groups had significantly fewer correct identifications of target stimuli than did control Ss on the masking portion of the study. Results are discussed in terms of susceptibility to Type A backward masking as a potential marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia and in terms of the validity of the Chapman scales as measures of psychosis proneness. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Positive thought disorder in a hypothetically psychosis-prone population.

Proverb interpretations of subjects who scored high on the Perceptual Aberration-Magical Ideation Scale (Per-Mags) (Chapman & Chapman, 1985) were compared with those of low-scoring controls. Responses to 10 familiar and 3 unfamiliar proverbs were scored for Bizarre-idiosyncratic thinking (J. Marengo et al; see record 1987-30079-001) and literalness (C. A. Hertler et al; see record 1979-12346-001). A Group by Type of Proverb (familiar versus unfamiliar) interaction was found for bizarre-idiosyncratic scores; Per-Mags scored higher than controls on unfamiliar, but not familiar proverbs. The Group?×?Familiarity interaction for bizarre-idiosyncratic scores indicates that the Per-Mag group displayed a subclinical, positive-thought disorder that is affected by the familiarity of the proverbs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Encounter research.

Refers readers interested in the article by D. Hartley et al (see record 1977-01609-001) to 4 articles on encounter research by M. J. Diamond and J. L. Shapiro (see record 1976-05062-001), J. Rowan (see record 1976-02670-001), W. Schutz (see record 1976-02672-001), and P. B. Smith (see record 1976-02673-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Balay and Shevrin's critique of Silverman's subliminal psychodynamic activation research.

Responds to J. Balay and H. Shevrin's (B&S; see record 1988-20203-001) criticisms of L. H. Silverman's subliminal psychodynamic activation studies (e.g., L. H. Silverman and J. Weinberger; see record 1986-15022-001). B&S's insistence on exact replication advocates a mechanistic rather than a clinical approach to the study of schizophrenia. Although tailoring stimuli to address individual conflicts should provide more robust results, B&S minimize the possibility that particular types of subliminal stimuli can evoke powerful emotional responses, even though less specifically tied to an individual's conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postmodern psychology: Resonance and reflection.

K. J. Gergen comments on the reactions to his exchange (see record 1994-37275-001) with M. B. Smith (see record 1994-37277-001) from R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

About postmodernism: Reply to Gergen and others.

In his reply, M. B. Smith comments on the issues between K. J. Gergen (see record 1994-37275-001) and himself (see record 1994-37277-001) and replies to comments by R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A further note on "Prognostic scales in schizophrenia".

Replies to commentary by A. Farina (see record 2005-10655-011) on the original article by S. L. Garfield and D. M. Sundland (see record 1966-04456-001) regarding prognostic scales in schizophrenia. Marital status and premorbid personality are discussed as prognostic indicators of improvement in schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the persistence of illusory correlations associated with the Rorschach.

L. J. Chapman and J. P. Chapman (see record 1969-13004-001) found that illusory correlations associated with the Rorschach persist in the presence of valid symptom-sign relations. Data from 120 undergraduates who completed 4 forms of a word-association questionnaire are presented which demonstrate that control over various levels of associative connections within Chapman's experimental task materials may have been insufficient. Further research needs to control such methodological confounds to evaluate adequately the persistence of illusory correlations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

SPA is subliminal, but is it psychodynamically activating?

Responds to comments by J. Weinberger (see record 1990-04808-001) on Balay and Shevrin's (B&S; see record 1988-20203-001) work on the subliminal psychodynamic activation (SPA) method, which, contrary to Weinberger's assertion, was not an attempt to destroy the work of L. H. Silverman (published 1974–1985) and others who have used the SPA method. Rather, B&S hoped to encourage investigators using this method to take a closer look at the theoretical assumptions underlying SPA (i.e., the generic vs specific nature of subliminal stimuli that might activate conflict-related, unconscious fantasies). Analyses are also offered of comments made by T. E. Moore (see record 1990-04745-001), M. D. Figueroa (see record 1990-04666-001), and D. K. Silverman (see record 1990-04785-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Comments on three recent subliminal psychodynamic activation investigations": Rejoinder to Oliver and Burkham and to Porterfield.

Considers the replies of A. L. Porterfield (see record 1986-11991-001) and J. M. Oliver and R. Burkham (see record 1986-11985-001) to the critique of the present author (see record 1986-12007-001). The original criticisms are seen as valid. A critical deficiency in the design of Porterfield and S. L. Golding's (see record 1986-11992-001) study is viewed as disqualifying it as a fair attempt at replication. It is suggested that although Oliver and Burkham's (see record 1983-01571-001) study was well-designed, statements made in their write-up are unwarranted. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A correction to the hierarchical regression analysis used by Smyth: A comment on Pedhazur.

The author acknowledges that E. J. Pedhazur (see record 1984-13952-001) correctly pointed out errors in the present author's (see record 1983-07281-001) use of ANCOVA via hierarchical regression analysis in a study on psychopathology as a function of neuroticism. One of the conclusions reached in the study required modification once the errors were corrected. That is, J. Reyher's (1962) paradigm did produce psychopathology in highly hypnotically susceptible Ss, but the Ss' neuroticism did not influence their reports of psychopathology. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Horsefeathers: A commentary on "Evolutionary versus prototype analyses of the concept of disorder."

J. C. Wakefield's (see record 1999-03409-002) article further develops his harmful dysfunction (HD) model for disorder concepts. This commentary focuses on three areas. The first notes the imbalance in the debate between the S. O. Lilienfeld and L. Marino (see record 1995-43832-001) Roschian model and the HD model for disorder concepts. The second claims that Wakefield's purposes for the HD model have changed over the years and progressed toward irrelevance to psychopathology in general and toward irrelevance to actual nosologic, reimbursement, and sociopolitical controversies about disorder status. Further discussion is on how certain structural elements in Wakefield's arguments and current limitations of evolutionary theory permit a superficially attractive model for psychopathology. These arguments and limitations, however, harbor serious problems when confronted with actual disputes about disorders. The conclusion notes some virtues to Wakefield's inquiry, in style and substance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Level of generality and clear thinking in theory construction and theory evaluation: Reply to Greenberg (1994) and Patton (1994).

L. S. Greenberg (see record 1994-38238-001) and M. J. Patton (see record 1994-38253-001) both address ambiguities in C. J. Gelso and J. A. Carter's (see record 1994-38236-001) theoretical propositions. In this reply, the issue of how general a theory ought to be in order to have maximal impact on research and practice is discussed. A number of Greenberg's assertions about Gelso and Carter's formulations are questioned. Research on complex constructs, for example, transference, is difficult but viable. The field should not shy away from such constructs because of definitional and measurement problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Illusory correlation: A further exploration of Chapman's paradigm.

Even though the phenomenon of illusory correlation first researched by L. Chapman (see record 1967-08174-001) has been demonstrated in a variety of studies, little has been done to show that this bias cannot be reduced or eliminated by training. The present study addresses this issue with 4 groups of 15 undergraduates each. The 1st group replicated a study by L. Chapman and J. Chapman (see record 1969-13004-001) with an equal association of all valid Wheeler signs and invalid signs and statements of the patients' purported problem. Group 2 had valid signs presented 100% of the time and invalid signs presented 50% of the time. Group 3 Ss had special pretraining against illusory correlation, with 50% presentation of valid signs, and Group 4 also had the special pretraining, with 100% presentationof the valid Wheeler signs. It was predicted that Groups 3 and 4 would show the least amount of illusory correlation. This hypothesis was not confirmed. However, the Chapman finding that Ss predominantly associated the concept of anality with preconceived problems of homosexuality was partly replicated. Ss also appeared to create their own illusory correlate. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Primate research, family politics, and social policy: Transforming 'cads' into 'dads' ": Reply.

Responds to the comments of S. Sperling (see record 1994-17265-001), J. Belsky (see record 1994-17245-001), V. Phares (see record 1994-17261-001), and M. E. Lamb (see record 1994-17257-001) on the work of L. B. Silverstein (see record 1994-17264-001) on evolutionary biology and human paternal behavior, father involvement, father absence, and biological determinism. Silverstein asserts that her overriding goal was to dramatize how extrascientific factors (e.g., political ideology) shape the construction of scientific knowledge. It is argued that the experience of nurturing and caring for young children has the power to change the cultural construction of masculinity into something less coercive and oppressive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)