Review of Pornography and sexual aggression.

Reviews the book, Pornography and sexual aggression by N. M. Malamuth and E. Donnerstein (1984). Malamuth and Donnerstein are well qualified to prepare a book on pornography by virtue of their extensive research on the topic over the last several years. In 1970, the United States Commission on Obscenity and Pornography concluded that there was no evidence that pornography had adverse effects on the incidence of violence toward women. It is clear from Malamuth and Donnerstein's chapters that they believe the evidence now points to radically different conclusions and that a book summarizing all of the evidence was warranted. In the opening chapters, Malamuth and Donnerstein present summaries of their respective lines of research. Malamuth has concentrated primarily on the effects of aggressive pornography on men's sexual arousal to portrayals of coercive sexual interactions, their self-reported likelihood to rape, their acceptance of rape myths, their acceptance of interpersonal violence, and the belief that women enjoy being raped. Donnerstein discusses the effects of aggressive pornography on men's aggression toward females in a laboratory situation. The evidence presented in the book points to three main conclusions: (a) portrayals of sex and violence in the media have important effects on at least some people; (b) it is possible to formulate general theories to account for most of the results presented; and (c) the results present serious problems for society. This book is an important contribution to the literature on the effects of pornography. Put together in one volume, the evidence on the effects of pornography, especially violent pornography, is very convincing. The theoretical aspects of why this should be so are much less convincing. But the authors have made a good beginning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of AIDS and alcohol/drug abuse: Psychosocial research.

Reviews the book, AIDS and alcohol/drug abuse: Psychosocial research, edited by Dennis G. Fisher (1991). Substance use, primarily intravenous drug use, accounts for an increasingly large proportion of new acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases. As such, psychosocial research in the addictions plays an important role in evaluating strategies for reaching out to and educating those at risk for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and in developing effective prevention and risk-reduction strategies for this special population. This book is thus a timely contribution to the field. The seven brief chapters in this volume cover an extremely broad range of topics related to the relationship between AIDS and substance abuse. On the whole, however, the chapters in this volume are strikingly uneven in their sophistication and degree of relevance to the general psychologist working in addictive behaviors. Whereas some of the chapters are too brief to fully explore the implications of some of the issues they raise, the brevity of others is appropriate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Treating sexual desire disorders.

Reviews the book, Treating sexual desire disorders edited by Sandra R. Leiblum (see record 2010-13144-000). Sandra Leiblum’s Treating sexual desire disorders reviews a broad range of philosophical positions and treatment approaches to sexual desire disorders. This book also contains thoughtful reflections by the chapter authors regarding their personal approaches to treatment and effectiveness. One of the main strengths of this book is the use of case studies to illustrate the diverse approaches to treating sexual desire concerns. One of main weaknesses of the book is the lack of a concluding chapter by Leiblum to distill some of the common and overlapping themes that were present in numerous chapters. Another element that would have strengthened this book would have been more emphasis on outcome studies demonstrating the success of particular approaches. Even with these (minor) weaknesses, the reviewer highly recommends this book for its breadth of treatment approaches. One of the reviewer's take home messages was that sex therapists, relationship therapists, and the medical community need to be working in closer synchrony with each other to address the myriad of issues that underlie sexual desire issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Target groups for preventing AIDS among intravenous drug users: II. The "hard" data studies.

Studies were reviewed with respect to three different target groups for preventing AIDS among intravenous (IV) drug users by (a) providing drug abuse treatment for those who want to stop injecting drugs, (b) providing "safer" injection for those who are likely to continue injecting, and (c) preventing drug injection among those who are at high risk for beginning to inject. The studies reviewed were limited to those that include "hard" data: validated self-reports, seroprevalence outcomes, or self-reports of behavior that is opposed to any of the demand characteristics generated by the research setting. For two groups of current IV drug users—those entering drug treatment and those continuing to inject—these hard data studies show rapidly induced AIDS risk reduction but suggest a need for large-scale change maintained over long time periods. In terms of preventing initial injection, alternative forms of intense drug use have emerged but have not supplanted drug injection, and basic knowledge of AIDS does not appear to deter initial drug injection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Child sexual abuse: Critical perspectives on prevention, intervention, and treatment.

Reviews the book, Child sexual abuse: Critical perspectives on prevention, intervention, and treatment edited by Christopher R. Bagley and Ray J. Thomlison (1991). This book is a compilation of a series of literature reviews originally commissioned by Health and Welfare Canada in 1987 and completed in 1988. The individual papers included in this edited version represent a cross section of Canadian academicians, clinicians, and case workers who are integrally involved in the policies and practices regarding child sexual abuse in Canada. The work provides a comprehensive perspective on prevention at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The list of authors is impressive in terms of their expertise and experience. At a time when numerous books on child sexual abuse are appearing on the market, it is nice to see a book that has some unusual aspects. Aside from its distinctly Canadian perspective, the book addresses several important, yet frequently ignored, topics. The book provides an up-to-date review of several core issues: conceptualization of the problem, prevention strategies, impact of sexual abuse, investigative interviewing, treatment outcome studies, and treatment issues for child molesters. The more unique topics include a review of the strategies used to evaluate prevention programs, prevalence rates among a number of special populations, the role of medical practitioners in preventing and intervening in child sexual abuse, and sexual abuse and exploitation among disabled individuals. Overall, I can recommend this book for clinicians and researchers in Canada and elsewhere who are interested in child sexual abuse. This compilation of literature reviews highlights the leading role that Canadian social service agencies have taken in developing programs for sexually abused children and their families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

HIV/AIDS communication among adolescents in psychiatric care and their parents.

The authors examined HIV/AIDS communication among 207 parent-adolescent dyads in psychiatric care to better understand the relationship between family communication and sexual risk behavior in an at-risk population. Dyads reported content and rated quality of family HIV/AIDS discussions, and adolescent sexual risk was assessed. Families discussed transmission, prevention, consequences, myths, and compassion. Parent-reported discussion of consequences was associated with greater sexual risk behavior, but only for girls. Higher quality communication reported by adolescents was associated with less sexual risk. Parents may send different messages about HIV/AIDS to sons versus daughters, and messages related to consequences may not effectively reduce risk among daughters. However, for boys and girls in psychiatric care, teaching parents how to discuss HIV/AIDS may promote safer sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Behavioral analysis of drug dependence.

Reviews the book, Behavioral analysis of drug dependence edited by Steven R. Goldberg and Ian P. Stolerman (1986). This volume brings together the main findings of basic research in behavioral pharmacology that have direct relevance to issues in drug dependence. As the editors note, the book is unique in being organized around behavioral principles rather than specific drug classes. It is also unique in making accessible a series of clearly written, well-edited summaries of the experimental literature to professionals and students who have no special background in behavioral pharmacology. I would recommend the Goldberg and Stolerman collection to researchers as well as substance abuse professionals and I think any student of substance abuse will find much of value here. The book will make a wonderful seminar at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level. Goldberg and Stolerman have succeeded in making an excellent overview of the behavioral pharmacology literature on drug dependence available to us in a single volume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The mismeasure of desire: The science, theory, and ethics of sexual orientation.

Reviews the book, The mismeasure of desire: The science, theory, and ethics of sexual orientation by Edward Stein (see record 1999-04230-000). It would hardly be overstating the matter to say that perhaps the single most hotly debated issue in both psychology and contemporary American culture is the nature and origins of human sexual desires. In opposition to the currently more widely accepted thesis that sexual orientation is determined at birth, philosopher and educator Edward Stein argues in this new book that much of what we think we know about the origins of sexual desire is probably misguided and incomplete. Carefully examining a broad range of research on sexual orientation, Stein suggests that many of the most frequently cited findings are deeply flawed—not only methodologically but also in light of certain unquestioned philosophical assumptions and cultural stereotypes. Although the arguments in Stein’s book are more than a little likely to create controversy, and, indeed, some may well be found to be specious, his book is nonetheless a very welcome infusion of thoughtful philosophical and psychological thinking into the all-too-often muddled arena of contemporary academic and political debate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of A primer of drug action.

Reviews the book, A primer of drug action (4th ed.) by Robert M. Julien (see record 1985-97568-000). This volume, which is the fourth edition of this text to appear in the last decade, provides an excellent introduction to drugs that affect the central nervous system. The author begins with basic pharmacology--how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated--and then discusses specific pharmacological agents by grouping them into five major categories. This book can be understood easily by those with no background in the biological sciences. Students who are deficient in such knowledge can pick up what they need to know from the appendices, which are as thoughtfully prepared as the remainder of the text. Another nice feature of this book is that its content is not overly Americanized and thus it is unlikely to alienate Canadian students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Hope and Mortality: Psychodynamic Approaches to AIDS and HIV.

Review of book: Mark J. Blechner. Hope and Mortality: Psychodynamic Approaches to AIDS and HIV. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press, 1997, 288 pp. Reviewed by Morton Israel. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol-involved sexual risk behavior among heavy drinkers living with HIV/AIDS: Negative affect, self-efficacy, and sexual craving.

Evidence of the effects of negative affect (NA) and sexual craving on unprotected sexual activity remains scant. We hypothesized that NA and sexual craving modify the same day association between low self-efficacy to use condoms and unprotected anal or vaginal sex, and the same-day association between alcohol use during the 3 hours prior to sexual activity and unprotected sex. We used an electronic daily diary, drawing on a sample of 125 men and women recruited from an agency serving economically disadvantaged persons living with HIV/AIDS. Casual or steady partner type designation and perceived partner HIV serostatus were also examined. Findings support the hypothesized moderating effects of high NA and sexual craving on the association between low self-efficacy and unprotected sex, and the association between alcohol use and unprotected sex. Implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drogues et dependances and Toxicomanies.

Reviews the books, Drogues et dépendances by Jef-Louis Bonnardeaux (1983) and Toxicomanies by Dollard Cormier (1983. The book by Bonnardeaux is clearly written and is accompanied by illustrations. However, one doubts the utility of the representation of many biochemical formulas. One wishes also for a better structuring of the various chapters. The book by Cormier is an excellent complement to the Bonnardeaux book. Drug addiction is presented as a life style expressing a solution to problems of existence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drug use and AIDS: Developments from the International Conference on AIDS.

This article presents recent information about injection drug use as it relates to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Presentations from the VIII International Conference on AIDS, held in Amsterdam in July 1992, are highlighted. Several recent developments are noteworthy for psychologists coping with addictive behaviors, including the return of tuberculosis as a communicable disease affecting people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), advancements in prevention of HIV infection, and treatment of AIDS in drug users. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Healing voices.

Reviews the book, Healing voices by Toni Ann Laidlaw, Charyl Malmo, and Associates (see record 1990-97463-000). This book is a rich collection of a particular type of feminist therapy aimed primarily at adult female victims of sexual abuse. Readers who are interested in feminist therapies, psychodynamic approaches to the treatment of women, or the deleterious effects of sexual abuse on women will find this book interesting reading. The authors, therapists, and clients provide much detail and personal reflection which give this book depth. Unfortunately they do not address the important issues of systematically validating the effectiveness of these strategies, nor frequently, the need for serious consideration of what therapy to use with whom. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Drug use and misuse.

Reviews the book, Drug use and misuse by Stephen A. Maisto, Mark Galizio, and Gerard J. Connors (see record 1990-98923-000). Maisto, Galizio, and Connors have written a comprehensive, 16-chapter volume that discusses the use and abuse of historically important drugs as well as the most recently developed psychoactive drugs. Most of the chapters contain thorough and up-to-date discussions of drug issues and recent research concerning drug effects. The presentation of information is orderly and logical. Discussions later in the book build from information presented earlier, and students should have no trouble in following the text and using it effectively. On occasion, there are recent developments that probably deserve expanded coverage beyond that provided by the text. However, this is a well-produced book that should prove useful to students and benefit introductory courses in substance use and abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensation seeking, alcohol use, and sexual behaviors among sexually transmitted infection clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa.

Alcohol use is associated with risks for HIV/AIDS. The association between alcohol and sexual risk may be accounted for by sensation seeking personality. However, sensation seeking in relation to substance use and HIV risk has not been examined in Africa. In this study, 292 men and 219 women receiving sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnostic and treatment services in Cape Town, South Africa, completed anonymous behavioral surveys. Structural modeling was used to test a model of alcohol use and sensation seeking in relation to sexual risk behaviors. Results showed that sensation seeking and alcohol use in sexual contexts were related to HIV risks, controlling for gender and marital status. The association between sensation seeking and HIV risk was partly accounted for by alcohol use in proximity to sex. In contrast to studies conducted in the United States, sensation seeking was not related to alcohol-sex outcome expectancies. These findings suggest that alcohol use is an important HIV transmission risk factor for many STI clinic patients and that interventions for individuals who are characterized as sensation seekers are urgently needed in South Africa. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Child abuse: New directions in prevention and treatment across the lifespan.

Reviews the book, Child abuse: New directions in prevention and treatment across the lifespan by David A. Wolfe, Robert J. McMahon, and Ray DeV. Peters (see record 1997-30225-000). This edited book offers a diverse collection of chapters that describe innovative approaches to the treatment and prevention of child physical and sexual abuse. Readers can peruse contributions from leaders in the field that depict recent efforts to address the complexity of these problems. This book is a valuable addition to the libraries of researchers, clinicians, and students who are interested in issues related to the treatment and prevention of the physical and sexual abuse of children. It will be especially useful to those already acquainted with the characteristics and consequences of child abuse, who will find their understanding of this topic broadened by its contributions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Relapse prevention.

Reviews the book, Relapse prevention by G. Alan Marlatt and Judith R. Gordon. The book is well suited for its intended audience-clinicians and researchers working in the field of addictions. Clinicians and program developers will appreciate the clear clinical conceptualization of the addiction treatment program and the comprehensive and detailed array of treatment methods that are directly linked to the model. Clinicians working in specialized addiction programs will benefit from the chapters from the contributing authors which outline programmatic approaches for dealing with these behaviors. Clinicians outside the addiction field certainly will find the model and strategies useful in conceptualizing and facilitating the maintenance of behavior change in all types of clients. For researchers, the book will be a rich resource of research ideas and future research directions, and a model for integrating research with practice. It is still uncommon, but much appreciated, to see a true scientist-practitioner like Marlatt who uses research findings to improve treatment and treatment observations to pose research questions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Sexualities and homosexualities.

Reviews the book, Sexualities and homosexualities by Jaime P. Stubrin (see record 1994-97944-000). Stubrin's primary goal for this book is to outline the various theories that apply to an understanding of what he calls the sexual "deviations" ("perversions, neosexualities, and paraphilias"). He wants this consolidation of information to serve as a resource for psychoanalysts who may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the material on this topic. One theme repeated throughout the book is the need for analysts to approach "sexual deviants" with the "same affection and sympathy" which they feel toward obsessive, hysterical, borderline, or psychotic patients. Stubrin challenges the tendency in traditional psychoanalytic theory to assume mental illness or degenerative tendencies in those whose sexuality is not considered "normal." Throughout the book, Stubrin draws on literature, Freud's original work, and case examples to breathe life into his theoretical musings. The book is engaging and easy to read. At times, the translation (from Spanish) is quite choppy, but the ideas remain solidly stated. In summary, the reviewer believes that Stubrin accomplishes his primary goals of generating unrest and controversy through a challenging discussion of difficult psychoanalytic topics. The book will be of interest to those who hold very traditional psychoanalytic theoretical positions as well as those who work with the various sexualities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special series: HIV infection among drug abusers.

Drug users are particularly at risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus and serve as a major mechanism for spreading the virus to other sectors of the population. As a result drug abuse treatment and potential behavioral change strategies are primary public health issues. The purpose of this article is to review the contributions included in this special edition, which represent an effort to describe the most current thinking in the field with a blend of theoretical, review, and empirical articles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)