A rejoinder to "Psychotherapy research ethics: Continuing the debate on controlled clinical trials."

Responds to C. A. Heflinger's (1987) critique of the present authors (1986) by reiterating their concern for the principle of autonomy. The present authors note that all patients were fully informed about the research plan and their right to withdraw. Nonetheless, the ethical criticism offered by Heflinger regarding randomization cannot be entirely dismissed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"On the myth of intellectual decline in adulthood": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by J. L. Horn and G. Donaldson (American Psychologist, 1976, Vol 31[10], 701–719; see record 1977-07954-001). On page 717 the sentence that begins with the last line of the left-hand measure should read "The effect is shown by comparing (e.g., over 5 years) the first-test and retest average scores for those who do and those who do not survive for a while longer (another 5 years).' (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in PA, Vol 57:7954). Considers that careful review of the logical and empirical bases for the myth argument indicates that there is little to justify it. There is evidence that some of the abilities of intelligence improve throughout substantial parts of adulthood, or at least do not decline as much or as early as other abilities. Perhaps some individuals manage to avoid decrements which affect others. Positive sampling bias and wishful thinking in the conduct and interpretation of research tend to work against finding support for any decrement hypothesis that may be true. Yet the evidence suggests that if one lives long enough, decrement in at least some of the important abilities of intelligence is likely to occur. However, the reasonable interpretations that are possible for existing results are too complex… (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)     

Experimental attempts to produce phenylketonuria in animals: A critical review.

Studies attempting to produce PKU in animals are extensively reviewed. While some studies claim to have produced and consequently even prevented PKU in animals, such claims were found to be unjustified at this stage of research. Behavioral and biochemical criteria for assessing PKU are discussed along with certain methodological problems inherent in such work. The experimental production of PKU, on the other hand, offers an important model for the study of the relations between development, intellectual functioning, and biochemistry. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminating the "good" from the "bad" therapy hour: A study of dyadic interaction.

Investigated whether better interviews could be discriminated from worse interviews, using (1) relative client–therapist activity levels and (2) the degree of structure implicit in the therapist's messages. Eight 22–58 yr old clients and their therapists whose professional experience ranged from 1 to 4 yrs had congruent perceptions of 2 sessions, one good and one bad. Group and case-by-case comparisons were made of the natural language in these interviews. Results show metacomplementary patterns in both good and bad sessions, but client–therapist activity tended to be more asymmetrical in the worse interviews. In the bad sessions, these therapists either participated even more actively than their clients or were passive, while in their good sessions client–therapist participation levels were more balanced. In the good interviews, therapists consistently provided a moderate degree of structure (significantly more reassurance/encouragement, information, and interpretation), as opposed to lower structure (notably reflection/restatement) or higher structure (information seeking and guidance/advice) in their bad interviews. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The behavior of nonpsychologists on research review committee": Reply.

Responds to criticisms by T. H. Murray (1984) of an earlier discussion by the present author (1983) of social-psychological variables in the functioning of institutional review boards on the use of human Ss. The existence of such bodies implies societal acceptance of psychological research with human Ss and the need for external review and control to avoid immoral or unethical research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Compensation of "patient workers."

Comments on G. C. Davison and R. B. Stuart's (see record 1975-30208-001) speculation that some institutional directors may replace patient workers with workers from the outside because of the Wyatt v. Stickney case outlawing institutional peonage. Right to treatment standards set by this case required that patient workers be compensated according to the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advances in clinical intervention research: A decade review.

Reviews Canadian research on individual psychotherapy outcome, differential treatment efficacy, interpersonal skills, in-therapy performance, and cognitive behavioral approaches. Developments in family therapy and program development and evaluation are also discussed. The progression from a simple outcome research design to a new type of research closer to the level of clinical practice is highlighted. New approaches go beyond the study of static person–situation interactions to produce a process research that investigates the dynamic, cognitive, and affective performances of clients in specific in-therapy situations. (French abstract) (3 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The process and outcome of "adjustment" in the cancer patient: A reply to Taylor.

Comments on an article by S. Taylor (see record 1984-17824-001) that viewed successful adjustment by breast cancer patients as a function of their ability to generate a favorable slant or illusion regarding their situation and to modify their belief about the cause and course of their affliction as it unfolds. The importance of determining when patient adjustment processes begin to operate and of characterizing their time course within and between disease stages is stressed. It is argued that mental health should be distinguished from disease endpoints and that commonly accepted mental health criteria of adjustment are not necessarily equally valid in a physically ill population. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"If this be research…": Rejoinder.

In response to A. A. Lazarus's 1990 critique of Strupp's (see record 1989-26817-001) review of psychotherapy research, it is noted that a substantial proportion of psychotherapy clients do not have readily targeted symptoms and that meta-analytical reviews tend toward the conclusion that psychosocial therapies are relatively equal in efficacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response to "Bring it up in milieu: Toward effective traumatic brain injury rehabilitation interaction."

Asserts that G. P. Prigatano's (see record 1990-02662-001) therapeutic milieu approach to solving some of the major difficulties affecting staff–patient relationships could be significantly enhanced by adopting an approach that is not limited to a psychotherapeutic perspective. Alternative concepts that regulate the emotional behavior of staff and clients in stressful settings include "social milieu," the communication and clinical management framework offered as part of a token economy, and learned helplessness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Defining the boundaries of "policy-relevant" research: A comment on Blight.

Questions J. G. Blight's (see record 1987-16803-001) advocacy of a crisis learning approach in seeking understanding of policymakers' behavior concerning nuclear war; it is suggested that the role of psychologists in the policy community needs definition and that the relevance of a psychological approach in this area could be established. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A "humanistic alternative" to "Political ethics."

Challenges E. Gologor's (1978) contention that research concerning positive characteristics of people might be disruptive, as it could be discovered that people possess considerable potential for evil. A paradigm is presented that allows an objective evaluation of the effects of deception-disclosure on a given psychological phenomenon or procedure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Marital interaction and depression": Correction to Schmaling and Jacobson.

Reports an error in "Marital interaction and depression" by Karen B. Schmaling and Neil S. Jacobson (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1990[Aug], Vol 99[3], 229-236). In this article, the measures in Table 1 were incorrectly listed. The third and fourth measures ought to read "Wife DAS" and "Husband DAS," respectively. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1991-01471-001.) In this article, patterns of marital interaction as a function of depression and marital satisfaction are examined. The purpose of the study was to separate dysfunctional marital interaction patterns that were unique to depression from those that were associated with marital distress. The presence or absence of a depressed wife was crossed with level of marital satisfaction (distressed or nondistressed) to produce four groups of subject couples. Couples in which the wife was depressed exhibited more depressive behavior than did nondepressed couples, but only during discussion of a high conflict (as opposed to neutral) topic. Sex?×?Depression Level?×?Marital Satisfaction interactions were found for aggressive behavior: Depressed women in nondistressed relationships exhibited behavior that was characteristic of maritally distressed couples (high rates of aggression). In contrast, the husbands of these women exhibited behavior that one would expect in happily married couples (low rates of aggression). We failed to replicate previous findings that depressive behavior served a coercive function, although distressed couples, regardless of depression status, exhibited all the usual signs of negative dysfunctional interaction. [An erratum for this article will appear in Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1990 (Nov), Vol 99(4). The measures in Table 1 were incorrectly listed in the original article.] (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Sex bias in psychological research: Progress or complacency?": Response.

Responds to the L. Gannon et al (see record 1992-23274-001) comments on the F. L. Denmark et al (see record 1988-34553-001) paper, "Guidelines for Avoiding Sexism in Psychological Research." The authors note that the intent of Denmark et al was to point out common examples of sex bias in psychological research and offer scientifically sound recommendations to prevent or reduce sex bias. However, the authors reaffirm the scientific need to analyze and report sex differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The "I," the "we," and the "when": A meta-analysis of motivational primacy in self-definition.

What is the primary motivational basis of self-definition? The authors meta-analytically assessed 3 hypotheses: (a) The individual self is motivationally primary, (b) the collective self is motivationally primary, and (c) neither self is inherently primary; instead, motivational primacy depends on which self becomes accessible through contextual features. Results identified the individual self as the primary motivational basis of self definition. People react more strongly to threat and enhancement of the individual than the collective self. Additionally, people more readily deny threatening information and more readily accept enhancing information when it pertains to the individual rather than the collective self, regardless of contextual influences. The individual self is the psychological home base, a stable system that can react flexibly to contextual influences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Teaching about animal research in psychology": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by M. Domjan and J. E. Purdy (American Psychologist, 1996 [Jul], Vol 51[7], 736–737). Portions of the text were inadvertently omitted in the production process; the comment is presented in its entirety. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in PA, Vol 83:32272.). Responds to P. F. Cunningham's (see record 83:32271) and S. D. Gosling's (see record 1995-45383-001) study of the acknowledgment of contributions of animal experimentation in leading introductory psychology textbooks. The authors agree with Gosling that the primary goal of the general psychology course is to facilitate the students' understanding of psychology and that animal research is not presented in an educationally effective fashion in general psychology textbooks. However, it is argued that students need to know not only the conclusions of research but also something about how the research was conducted. In response to Cunningham's contention that psychology instructors will have to address why research animals are kept under stressful laboratory conditions, the authors note that psychology experiments typically do not involve deadly diseases or experimental pathologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Gender differences in interaction style and influence": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by L. L. Carli (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1989, [Apr] Vol 56[4], 565–576). On page 567, the 3rd sentence in the Procedure section should read, "Half of the subjects were paired with same-sex partners and half with opposite-sex partners, resulting in 16 female pairs, 16 male pairs, and 32 mixed-sex pairs.' On page 568, the equation at the bottom of the left-hand column should read as follows: (Mfs?–?Mms?–?Mfm?+?Mmm)/((2MSe?+ &2MS′e)(1/n))?. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1989-25837-001.) Observed 128 Ss in mixed- and same-sex dyads to examine effects of interaction on sex differences in influence. Ss discussed 2 topics on which they disagreed. During the 2nd discussion, 1 S in each pair was told to influence the other. Ss showed more agreement and positive social behavior when paired with a woman and more disagreement and task behavior when paired with a man. Although… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The "stuff" of hypnotic performance: A review of psychometric approaches.

Reviews psychometric investigations into the nature of the processes that underlie hypnotic performance and examines issues that underlie psychometric investigations of hypnosis scales, such as the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale. The issues addressed are dimensionality and the problem of difficulty factors, the interpretation of factorial dimensions, and componential alternatives to the factor analytic approach. It is argued that hypnotic performances are most likely overdetermined in that they reflect the combined influence of a plurality of processes. The relevance of various componential models, each reflecting a different contemporary theoretical perspective toward hypnosis, and some of the implications of such models for future research are discussed. (77 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response to "Psychology in the Public Forum" on socially sensitive research.

Comments on articles by S. Scarr (see record 1988-15683-001) and J. E. Sieber and B. Stanley (see record 1988-15684-001) regarding socially sensitive research. It is suggested that the domain of socially sensitive research should be expanded to include culture as well as issues such as race and gender. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)