A psychiatric will.

Describes the use of a "psychiatric will" as a simple contract between the author and his recurrently manic patients to determine whether the patient will give the author power to hospitalize him/her in certain health states. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"How long will I suffer?" versus "How long will you suffer?" A self-other effect in affective forecasting.

This research presents evidence that people predict longer durations of negative affect for others than for themselves. It is argued that this self-other effect is based on the asymmetric availability of knowledge about psychological strategies that reduce negative affective experiences. Specifically, because people have available knowledge about their own coping strategies, they use this information when making predictions about their affect. The lack of information about others' coping strategies leads to longer predictions of affect duration for others, creating the self-other effect. A series of studies demonstrated this self-other effect, its source, and its boundary conditions. Specifically, the self-other effect occurred for negative but not for positive events, it was stronger when participants predicted affect duration for unfamiliar others than when participants predicted affect duration for familiar others, and the impact of the self versus other focus on affective forecasts was mediated by the availability of knowledge about coping strategies. In addition, alternative explanations for the self-other effect were ruled out. The implications for biases in affective forecasting are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Free will and time: That "stuck" feeling.

Clarifies the central elements of the "stuckness" feeling in the traditional framework for free will and determinism in psychology, based on the inherent dependence on context and the assumed need of free will to be independent of context. These central elements are examined from the relatively overlooked perspective of time. A large part of the stuckness is revealed to stem from the linear assumption of time, rather than the linear nature of causality, as usually assumed. Suggestions are offered for overcoming this overlooked perspective to overcome the stuckness. Alternative assumptions of time are shown to offer a fresh framework for resolving the free will/determinism problem. It is suggested that nonlinear approaches to time offer several advantages in the framing of the issues, including the integration of possibility and the past, without time and causality being sacrificed in the process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychiatric will: II. Whose will is it anyway?

Reports that, in light of the present author's proposal of a "psychiatric will" (see record 1983-05532-001), P. S. Appelbaum (1979) has proposed an alternative solution to the involuntary commitment/patients' rights dilemma that would guarantee the psychiatrist's power to commit. Appelbaum's communication illustrates how the language of coercive psychiatry precludes the psychiatrist from formulating any other policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The case against suicide prevention": Comment.

Comments on the article by T. Szasz (see record 1986-27453-001) advocating against coercive suicide prevention. The present author argues that suicidal behavior is often temporary, and as such warrants temporary restraint. He argues that treatment may reduce the danger of suicide, but inaction will not. He further maintains that Szasz overestimates the legal threat facing professionals who assume responsibility for suicidal persons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The case against suicide prevention": Reply.

Responds to the comments by G. A. Clum (see record 1988-05003-001) about the article by the present author (see record 1986-27453-001) advocating against coercive suicide prevention. The present author denies that he advocates a policy of nonintervention, argues that mental health professionals should be willing to intervene noncoercively—by offering help to persons troubled by the idea of committing suicide, and states litigation is not relevant to the issue of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Mood contagion": The automatic transfer of mood between persons.

The current studies aimed to find out whether a nonintentional form of mood contagion exists and which mechanisms can account for it. In these experiments participants who expected to be tested for text comprehension listened to an affectively neutral speech that was spoken in a slightly sad or happy voice. The authors found that (a) the emotional expression induced a congruent mood state in the listeners, (b) inferential accounts to emotional sharing were not easily reconciled with the findings, (c) different affective experiences emerged from intentional and nonintentional forms of emotional sharing, and (d) findings suggest that a perception–behavior link (T. L. Chartrand & J. A. Bargh, 1999) can account for these findings, because participants who were required to repeat the philosophical speech spontaneously imitated the target person's vocal expression of emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychiatric will: Odysseus at the mast.

Comments on T. S. Szasz's (see record 1983-05532-001) proposal for a psychiatric will, a mechanism that would allow individuals to plan how they wish their mental health needs dealt with in the future. While the author notes that he has previously endorsed the idea of such wills, he argues that Szasz overstates the case when he states that these wills will allow people to be protected from coercive psychiatry. Philosophical and practical problems with the psychiatric will are also noted. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Revising memories and forming new connections: A comment on "The reunion process: A new focus in short-term dynamic psychotherapy."

It is both exciting and an honor to have the opportunity to comment on interesting articles in our field. And interesting this one is! It brings together multiple sources of information and ideas to create a revisioning of the therapeutic approach in a way that is stimulating and intriguing. Dr. Sandler (see record 2007-09422-001)presents what he terms a "reunion process," in which he proposes connecting with positive attachment experiences as a way to intervene with patients who, despite "having done the necessary work on the painful memories of attachment failures" face relapse and return of symptoms. His explanations of the process of connecting with positive attachments raise challenging questions about roles and functions of memory, therapeutic techniques and processes, and our explanations for how and why psychotherapy works. In this brief comment, I offer reactions and questions that I hope will be part of the continuing dialogue about this fascinating process we call psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The "so what" and "who cares" responses to Thorngate's problem: No one will read this anyway.

Comments on W. Thorngate's (see record 1991-03036-001) analysis of the overproduction of psychological literature, arguing that this problem may be a direct result of the institutional structures of psychology. The problem is viewed as the result of a basic concern about the nature of psychology, and efforts to address the problem will require changes in institutional structures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Traditional versus "new therapies."

Comments on S. A. Appelbaum's article (see record 1983-13146-001) which discussed new "human potential" therapies. The current author opines that while it is gratifying that Appelbaum (September 1982) could see how psychoanalytic therapy could benefit from some of the criticisms offered by the "new therapies," the assumption in the article that traditional equals psychoanalytic is a disservice to all those nonpsychoanalytic therapies that have been around for many years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A discussion of "Homosexuality: The ethical challenge."

Takes issue with G. C. Davison (see PA, Vol 56:Issue 6) who suggests that homosexuality is a normal variant of sexuality and that the problems of homosexuals derive from societal prejudices. It is argued that homosexuality is pathological, being the outcome of adverse experiences with both parents, and that Davison's promulgation of the "new myth" that homosexuality is normal cannot and does not alter societal prejudice. Further, it is argued that if social pressures were entirely absent, homosexuals would still wish to change. Social pressures merely contribute to the suffering of homosexuals by reinforcing what is already there; the individuals hurt by the new mythology are homosexuals themselves in that it robs them of options and undermines the determination needed for a reconstructive, therapeutic experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The hunt: Job hunting for the new PhD psychology": Comment.

Comments on B. Perlman's (see record 1976-21272-001) article on job hunting for the new PhD psychologist and argues that Perlman missed 2 important points: (1) the type of degree the job seeker holds, and (2) where the degree was obtained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pediatric and psychiatric comorbidity. Part I: The future of consultation-liaison psychiatry

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of high-frequency aircraft noise on the function of the auditory system of school-age children. A total of 228 students attending a school near an airport (school A) and 151 students attending a school far from an airport (school B) were analyzed. Audiometry and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) detection were performed in all subjects to evaluate cochlear and retrocochlear function. The results of audiometry indicated that hearing ability was significantly worse in the children of school A, which was located under the flight paths. The values of pure tone average, high pure tone average, and threshold at 4 kHz were all higher in children who were frequently exposed to aircraft noise. There was no consistent difference in BAEP latencies between the two schools. These results indicate that central transmission is not affected in children who have been exposed to aircraft noise for several years. The results of the present study showed a significant association between aircraft noise exposure and prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss. Although damage to peripheral cochlear organs was confirmed in school-age children, involvement of the central auditory pathway could not be verified.     

"Comparing genuine and simulated suicide notes: A new perspective": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by S. T. Black (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1993[Aug], Vol 61[4], 669–702). On page 701, the 4th column heading in Table 2 appears as "Dunnett's t test probability.' The correct column heading is "Dunn's t test probability.' (The following abstract of this article appeared in record 1993-45704-001.) E. S. Shneidman and N. L. Farberow (1957) preselected writers of simulated suicide notes to eliminate vulnerable Ss. Subsequent comparisons of genuine and simulated notes have perpetuated the methodological misstep of the original study. In this study, a new set of genuine notes were selected from completed suicides by men and women who left at least one note, who were White, and who were older than 18 yrs of age. The simulated note writers (SNWs) were unpreselected, unpaid community volunteers. Genuine note writers in the current and the 1957 samples were not found to differ; SNWs from the samples did differ. Problems with the interpretation of differences between genuine and simulated notes are discussed, with a focus on the role-playing nature of simulated notes. (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)     

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)     

"The psychological unconscious: A necessary assumption for all psychological theory?" Comments.

Comments that difficulties in H. Shevrin and S. Dickman's (see record 1980-10863-001) thesis result from a failure to address 2 issues: what is to count as a theory and what is the role of theoretical concepts in a theory. Perhaps what Shevrin and Dickman intended to say is that no complete theory can avoid a psychological unconscious; however, no science possesses a complete theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A third "trap."

Comments on B. E. Sandler's remarks (see record 1975-08484-001) on the potential dangers that can limit the success of behavioral scientists in exploiting the possibilities of industrial psychology (IP). Sandler fails to distinguish IP generally and those applications of it by practitioners working for industry in programs designed to further management goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)