Extinction versus credibility in the desensitization of speech anxiety.

Compared systematic desensitization with 2 control treatments—a nonextinction control procedure in which visualizations of hierarchy items were paired with an aversive shock, and a placebo treatment equal to desensitization in credibility. 97 undergraduates with public speaking anxiety (Personal Report of Confidence As a Speaker) served as Ss. Significant improvement was obtained for all 3 conditions on all outcome measures. Data indicate that Ss in all 3 conditions improved more than minimal treatment, simulation, and high-demand no-treatment-control Ss. Analyses failed to uncover any significant between-group differences. On 2 self-report measures, Ss' pretreatment ratings of treatment credibility accounted for significant and substantial proportions of the variance (12.6 and 36.5%). Data support the influence of perceived treatment credibility on outcome measures, and they tend to disconfirm conditioning explanations of the efficacy of systematic desensitization. A significant difference in treatment credibility ratings between actual Ss and pretest pilot Ss was also noted, suggesting the advisability of checking credibility manipulations with Ss who believe that they are to receive the treatment described in the rationale. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol intake in selected lines of mice: Importance of sex and genotype.

Studied the relationship between CNS sensitivity to ethanol (E) and voluntary consumption of an E solution in mice selected by G. E. McClearn and R. Kakihana (1973) for differences in E-induced sleep time. In Exp I, 32 mice from the long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) lines were offered a choice of water or solution GS consisting of 3% glucose and .16% sodium saccharin (w/v); or a choice of water or solution GS?+?E that contained GS solution plus 4% E (w/v). In Exp II, Ss from the 1st experiment were provided with a 3-way choice among water, solution GS, and solution GS?+?E. In both experiments, SS (alcohol-insensitive) Ss consumed more GS?+?E than LS (alcohol-sensitive). In addition, females drank considerably more GS?+?E solution than males. Thus consumption of sweetened E in both a 2-way choice (water and GS?+?E) and a 3-way choice (water, GS, and GS?+?E) was dependent on both genotype and sex. High genetic sensitivity to E was associated with low consumption, and vice versa. Although females consumed more alcohol than males, females of these lines have not been previously found to show lower sensitivity to acute alcohol administration. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affecting the salience of the social responsibility norm: effects of past help on the response to dependency relationships.

A series of experiments by the authors assumes that many people in our society are motivated to aid others who are dependent upon them because such help is prescribed by a "social responsibility norm." The present study also assumes that prior help can increase the salience of this norm. In a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design using 80 Ss (college women), ? of the Ss were individually helped by a peer (E's confederate) on a preliminary task, while the others were not aided. After this, the Ss worked on another task under the supposed supervision of yet another peer, with ? of the Ss being told the supervisor was highly dependent upon their work and the others told she was less dependent upon them. The 1st peer would supposedly learn of their work in ? of the cases but not in the other ?. The previously helped Ss tended to exert the greatest effort in behalf of their dependent peer. A self-report scale assessing social responsibility tendencies was significantly correlated with the effort measure in the Prior Help-High Dependency condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-directed treatment for premature ejaculation.

Tested the effects of self-administered treatment for premature ejaculation vs therapist-administered treatment by assigning 18 couples with premature ejaculation problems to (a) totally self-administered treatment, (b) self-administered treatment in conjunction with minimal therapist (telephone) contact, or (c) standard therapist-administered treatment. All Ss completed the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test and a sexual background inventory. Ss were successfully treated by therapists or by themselves when they maintained minimal contact with a therapist. Ss working without therapist contact failed to complete treatment successfully. Follow-up data indicate that although there was deterioration in therapeutic gain following the termination of treatment, improvement over pretreatment responses was maintained on all relevant measures. Data also indicate that greatest improvement in ejaculatory control occurred when Ss continued to use the squeeze or pause to delay ejaculation, but significant improvement in latency to ejaculation also occurred when Ss used neither technique to lengthen intercourse. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modulation of behavioral inhibition in appetitive extinction following manipulation of adrenal steroids in rats: Implications for involvement of the hippocampus.

Two experiments were conducted in this study, utilizing 57 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Exp I investigated the functional behavioral significance of the hormone-brain interaction in the extinction of an appetitive runway response in normal Ss and in those with lesions of the hippocampus. During extinction, half of the Ss in each group were given daily sc injections of corticosterone. While the classical retardation effect of hippocampal lesions on appetitive extinction was replicated, hormone treatment was without effect in normal or hippocampally damaged Ss. The absence of a hormone effect in normals was primarily attributed to a saturated limited-binding system operating in the normal S. Exp II tested this notion, repeating the 1st experiment, with adrenalectomized (ADX), ADX?+?corticosterone replacement, and normal groups of Ss. Adrenalectomy produced a striking facilitation of extinction, which was speculated to be the result of hyperactive inhibitory neural organ free from an inhibitory endocrine feedback. This was supported when corticosterone treatment normalized the progress of extinction in ADX Ss. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological impacts of sexual contact between therapists or other health care practitioners and their clients.

14 females who had had sexual contact with their therapists/psychiatrists (Group 1), 7 females who had had sexual contact with their health care practitioners (principally physicians [Group 2]), and 10 females who had received counseling services but had not engaged in sexual contact with therapists (Group 3) were compared by administering a questionnaire on self-esteem, depression, attitudes, beliefs about sexual contact, emotional effects of treatment, sexual attitudes, and psychosomatic and psychological symptoms. In addition, data were obtained from Ss, who were primarily aged 26–45 yrs, on (1) history of sexual victimization, (2) marital status of therapist/physician, (3) who initiated sexual contact, and (4) frequency of sexual contact. Results show that Ss in Group 1 had greater mistrust of and anger toward males and therapists and a greater number of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms following the cessation of therapy than did Ss in Group 3. Ss in Groups 1 and 2 did not differ in psychological impacts. Severity of impacts were significantly related to the magnitude of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms prior to treatment, prior sexual victimization, and the marital status of the therapist or health practitioner. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effet du canal de communication sur le jugement d'émotions ressenties et simulées.

Studied the extent to which communication channel affects judgments of the type and authenticity of emotions. 80 university students (mean age 21.5 yrs) were presented with short audio, video, and audiovideo excerpts of actors expressing specific emotions. In some cases, the emotion was actually experienced by the actor; in other cases, the emotion was simulated. Ss were distributed over 8 communication channel conditions (i.e., facial, audio, filtered audio, gestural?+?facial, facial?+?filtered audio, facial?+?audio, gestural?+?facial?+?filtered audio, and gestural?+?facial?+?audio) and asked to judge the emotional category (i.e., happiness, fear, anger, surprise, and sadness) and the authenticity of the emotion. The accuracy of the judgments was analyzed in relation to the type of channel and the type of emotion. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dentists' voice control: Effects on children's disruptive and affective behavior.

Examined whether (1) loudness is a necessary component of the technique of voice control (i.e., the use of loud commands in response to disruptive behavior) in pediatric dentistry, (2) voice control actually reduces children's disruptive behavior, and (3) children's negative affect increases after treatment. Ss were 40 3.5–7 yr old children who were scheduled for cavity restoration. Ss were assigned randomly to either loud- or normal-voice groups and were classified as potentially disruptive or not, based on an initial screening. Prior to and after treatment, Ss reported their feelings, and disruptive behavior was scored. Following loud- but not normal-voice commands, Ss reduced their disruptive behavior. After treatment, Ss who received loud- but not normal-voice commands tended to report less arousal and more pleasure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting along and getting ahead: Empirical support for a theory of protective and acquisitive self-presentation.

Study 1, with 386 undergraduates, demonstrated that the Concern for Appropriateness Scale and the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (SMS—R) developed by the 1st 2 authors (see record 1984-27678-001) were orthogonal and that they were predictably related to measures of self-esteem, social anxiety, shyness, and sociability. Study 2, with an additional 249 Ss, showed that Ss high in concern for appropriateness tended to describe their own drug use as due to inducement by others, whereas Ss who scored high on the SMS—R tended to describe their drug use as self-initiated. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dyadic interaction and adaptation to the stresses of college life.

Conducted a 2 * 2 factorial design study in which 92 male undergraduates were assigned to mutual and nonmutual dyads with and without prior contact in an encounter group. Ss used a variety of psychological measures (e.g., the TAT, the Allport-Vernon Study of Values, and a scale of academic stress) to write biographies. Mutual dyads studied one another; nonmutual dyads did not. Mutual interaction and prior contact were hypothesized to be more effective in reducing stress and facilitating coping. Results confirm these predictions only with respect to class achievement scores among mutual dyads. On all other variables, mutual interaction appeared to interfere with the process of adaptation. Prior exposure of Ss did not affect adaptation on any of 12 variables measured. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-efficacy and relapse in smoking cessation: A replication and extension.

In an effort to replicate and extend findings by M. M. Condiotte and E. Lichtenstein (see record 1982-01877-001), the relationship of a measure of self-efficacy—the Confidence Questionnaire—to posttreatment smoking status was assessed. Ss were 74 smokers (mean age 37 yrs). End-of-treatment self-efficacy scores were significantly correlated with follow-up smoking status at 3-mo and 6-mo follow-up, but not at 1 yr. When only Ss who were abstinent at termination were considered, self-efficacy still correlated significantly with 3-mo follow-up but not with 6-mo or 1-yr smoking status. Smoking during treatment was associated with lower end-of-treatment efficacy scores. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biofeedback and relaxation training for chronic headache: A controlled comparison of booster treatments and regular contacts for long-term maintenance.

Assigned 55 adult Ss, successfully treated by 2 of the present authors in behavioral treatment for chronic headaches, to 1 of 2 follow-up conditions: (1) regular contact or (2) booster treatment. Ss assigned to regular contact were asked to continue daily monitoring of headache activity and home practice and were seen for a brief visit (10–25 min) on a monthly basis for 6 mo. Ss assigned to booster treatments received full sessions during their 6 monthly visits. Results show that at 1-yr follow-up diary records and interviews with Ss and significant others revealed no major differences between groups. Although Ss attributed a number of positive side effects to treatment, it is suggested that regular contact may be an efficient procedure for maintaining treatment gains. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group insight versus group desensitization in treating speech anxiety.

Compared 3 forms of group treatment for their relative therapeutic effectiveness in reducing speech anxiety: (a) desensitization, (b) insight, and (c) combined desensitization and insight. 53 18-26 yr. old volunteers were assigned to 9 groups including a discussion group (attention placebo) and a waiting list control group. Ss filled out several self-report measures (The Confidence of Speaking, Social Avoidance and Distress, and Fear of Negative Evaluation scales) and a speech anxiety questionnaire. Results indicate that the insight group was as effective as the desensitization group in significantly reducing speech anxiety over control group levels as assessed by behavioral, cognitive, and self-report measures given immediately after posttreatment and at a 3-mo follow-up. The desensitization group treatment appeared to be significantly more effective than insight treatment with Ss for whom speech anxiety was confined to formal speech situations; conversely, insight group treatment appeared to be significantly more effective with Ss who suffer anxiety in many varied social situations. (42 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of group structure and risk-taking disposition on group behavior, attitudes, and atmosphere.

Prior theoretical formulations have suggested that client exposure to levels of personal risk and responsibility most conducive to optimal group development can be regulated with group structure. The current study employed a randomized, within-S design to determine the effects of (a) risk-taking disposition; (b) group structure; (c) sex; and (d) group tasks on early group behaviors, attitudes, and cohesion. Ss were 48 male and 48 female undergraduates who had extreme high and low scores on the Jackson et al risk-taking inventory. Results indicate that the highest frequency of therapeutically relevant behaviors occurred in the high-structure and high-risk-taking disposition treatment conditions. Additionally, structure was particularly influential at increasing the target behaviors of low-risk-taking Ss. Unexpectedly, group cohesion and evaluative attitudes were the most negative in the treatment conditions associated with the highest level of meaningful interpersonal communication. Results are discussed in terms of problems and advantages of analog research and the current status of knowledge in group work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of actor depression on observer attributions: Existence and impact of negative attributions toward the depressed.

This experiment examined whether others explain the successes and failures of depressed versus nondepressed people differently and how these attributions are related to affective and behavioral reactions to a request for psychological help. Ss reported attributions about the success and failure experiences of hypothetical depressed and nondepressed people. Ss also responded to a hypothetical request for psychological help by indicating their attributions, affective reactions, willingness to help, and desire for future social contact. As hypothesized, Ss displayed more negative attributions toward depressed people. Replicating prior research (W. P. Sacco et al; see record 1986-12000-001), Ss responded to the depressive's request for help with mixed emotional and behavioral reactions. Path analyses revealed that attributions influenced affective reactions, which influenced willingness to help; but a more complex pattern emerged from the analysis of desire for future social contact. Results are discussed in terms of the interpersonal impact and possible causes of negative attributions about the experiences of depressed people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of hysterectomy on sexual receptivity, food intake, running wheel activity, and hypothalamic estrogen and progestin receptors in rats.

Ovariectomized-hysterectomized (OH) CD rats given sequential treatments with 2 μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and .5 mg of progesterone (P) showed significantly higher lordosis quotients than ovariectomized (OV) Ss in 2 tests, 1 and 2 wks after surgery. To test whether the effects of hysterectomy persist, 3 groups of OV and OH Ss received weekly injections of EB, EB?+?P, or sesame oil for 4 wks, were given 2 μg of EB followed 24 hrs later by .5 mg of P, and tested for receptivity. Only the OH Ss that had received hormones for 4 wks showed a significantly higher lordosis score than OV Ss. The effects of hysterectomy on food intake, weight gain, and running wheel activity were also tested. After 1 wk of 2 μg/day EB, OH Ss lost significantly more weight and consumed less food than OV Ss, but by 2 wks the effects of hysterectomy were no longer evident. Treatment with .5 μg/day EB resulted in a significant loss in weight and food intake in OH Ss throughout the experiment. OH Ss implanted with Silastic capsules containing EB were significantly more active in running wheels than OV Ss over the 1st 9 days, but by Day 23 the activity of both groups was similar. 24 hrs following a single injection of EB, hypothalamic-preoptic area cell nuclear estrogen receptors and cytoplasmic progestin receptors were significantly higher in OH than in OV Ss. Possible mechanisms by which hysterectomy might act to enhance hormone-dependent behaviors are discussed. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infants' reactions to perceptual paradox during mother–infant interaction.

36 3-mo-old infants interacted with their mothers under conditions in which they could see and hear their mothers (correlated auditory plus visual information: A?+?V), see but not hear their mothers (V), and hear but not see their mothers (A); the latter 2 conditions are termed perceptual paradox. The interactions were videotaped, and the Ss' behavior was judged by naive observers who used a subjective 7-point rating scale of infant affect. For 2 groups of Ss, 3 1-min presentations of the A?+?V condition were alternated with 3 1-min presentations of either A (Group 1) or V (Group 2) conditions. In both groups, Ss were judged as being more distressed during unimodal presentations than during bimodal presentations. In a 3rd group, unimodal (A) presentations were alternated with unimodal (V) presentations. Ss in this group were significantly more distressed when they could hear but not see their mothers than when they could see but not hear their mothers. Results demonstrate the suitability of global subjective ratings of affective state in studies of infant perception. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive interventions to improve face-name recall: The role of personality trait differences.

To explore the relationship of personality trait differences to the ability of older adults to benefit from an intervention to improve face–name recall, 3 previously validated methods of intervention were used in conjunction with the NEO Personality Inventory. Ss were 156 community-dwelling elderly. The 3 treatment conditions all included a standard imagery mnemonic for remembering names and faces but differed in the method of nonmnemonic training (imagery, relaxation, and imagery?+?judgment) administered before teaching the mnemonic device. As in prior studies, there was an overall improvement in the number of face–name pairs remembered after the intervention. In the group of Ss as a whole, Ss who scored higher on the openness factor of the NEO scored significantly higher on all face–name outcome measures regardless of training conditions. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between treatment condition and scores on Subfactor O1 (fantasy) of the openness factor. Higher scores on the fantasy subfactor were related to greater improvements in the imagery condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does touching patients lead to sexual intercourse?

347 male and 310 female licensed PhD psychologists responded to a questionnaire on erotic and nonerotic contact with patients. The 21 Ss who admitted having intercourse with patients advocated and used nonerotic contact with opposite-sex patients more often than other Ss, but they did not differ from other Ss on most demographic variables. On the other hand, the 30 who admitted engaging in nonintercourse erotic contact did not differ from other Ss in their use of nonerotic touching. But these Ss were older and more experienced than the rest of the sample. The differential application of nonerotic hugging, kissing, and touching to opposite-sex patients but not to same-sex patients is viewed as a sex-biased therapy practice at high risk for leading to sexual intercourse with patients. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contextual conditioning and the control of copulatory behavior by species-specific sign stimuli in male Japanese quail.

Three experiments were conducted to identify species-specific sign stimuli sufficient to elicit copulatory behavior in male Japanese quail and to determine how learning is involved in the control of behavior by these sign stimuli. In Exp 1, sexually experienced Ss were tested for copulatory behavior with a live female quail and with a model consisting of a female quail's head and neck mounted in front of a foam pad. Comparable levels of copulatory behavior were observed in the two tests, indicating that static visual cues provided by a female quail's head and neck are sufficient to elicit copulatory behavior in this species. Exp 2 showed that male birds that previously received numerous opportunities to copulate with a live female quail in the test situation were significantly more likely to copulate with the head?+?neck model than were sexually inexperienced Ss. Exp 3 showed that prior sexual experience with live quail facilitated responding to the head?+?neck model only if the sexual experience was provided in the same place where Ss were later tested with the model. This finding suggests that sexual experience facilitates control of copulatory behavior by species-specific sign stimuli through contextual conditioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)