"On WAIS—R difference scores in the standardization sample": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by L. Atkinson (Psychological Assessment, 1991[Jun], Vol 3[2], 292–294). In Table 1, SEest(d) of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) difference scores for the standardization sample is incorrect; the corrected table is presented. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1991-26153-001.) Prior tables (Atkinson, 1991) describing WAIS and its revision, WAIS-R, subtest scores did not account for the fact that the best estimate of the "true' difference between 2 scores obtained by an individual is not the one actually obtained, but one based on the obtained difference and regressed toward the mean difference. Furthermore, the previously published WAIS-R table is based on a psychiatric sample. This article examined the WAIS-R standardization sample (N?=?1,880) using regressed difference scores to derive statistics describing subtest discrepancies. Results indicated improved difference score reliability in the WAIS-R, as compared with the WAIS, although reliability remained poor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On WAIS—R difference scores in a psychiatric sample.

This report examines the psychometric integrity of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) subscales, and the differences between them, in a sample of 229 psychiatric patients from 2 community mental health centers (ages 16 to 85). The results verify the overall alpha and split-half reliabilities of the instrument and indicate that greater caution needs to be exercised in clinically evaluating difference scores. Cutoff values presented in the manual appear too low to be of any statistical or diagnostic merit. Distributions for each of the 55 possible difference scores found in this sample are presented and provide a better guide for making nosological determinations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concurrent validity of three WAIS—R short forms in psychiatric inpatients.

Several investigators have proposed short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) to provide more cost-effective estimates of intellectual ability. The present study compared the concurrent validity of A. B. Silverstein's (1982) 2-subtest, Doppelt's (1956) 4-subtest, and L. C. Ward's (1990) 7-subtest short forms in predicting the WAIS—R Full Scale IQs of 304 psychiatric inpatients. Although Full Scale IQs were highly correlated with 2- and 4-subtest estimates, a significantly higher correlation was obtained with the 7-subtest short form. Errors in predicted IQ were smallest for the 7-subtest form. The results support previous research that found better predictive accuracy for the 7-subtest short form than for the 2- and 4-subtest methods, despite little additional cost in administration time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of WAIS and Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos scores in an institutionalized Latin American psychiatric population.

Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the WAIS and its Puerto Rican counterpart, the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos (EIWA), were compared in a chronic population of 42 hospitalized Latins and Trans-Caribbean Blacks. A matched sample of 12 English and Spanish speakers was administered the WAIS and the EIWA subtests, respectively. A sample of bilingual Latins was administered the EIWA and the WAIS subtests in a systematically counterbalanced order. In both designs, EIWA scores were significantly higher than WAIS scores. The assumption of equivalence of EIWA and WAIS estimates is questioned. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting violent behavior from WAIS characteristics: A replication failure.

Attempted to replicate the findings of M. W. Kunce et al (see record 1976-10022-001) on an index for predicting violent behavior derived from differential WAIS characteristics. The present study, with 16 violent and 10 nonviolent psychotic White males, found that, in contrast with the Kunce et al findings, violent Ss earned higher Similarities Ratio scores than did nonviolent Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Violent behavior and differential WAIS characteristics.

Used Q-factor analytic techniques to analyze the WAIS profiles of 30 17-73 yr old white males recently admitted to a maximum security unit for the criminally insane at a midwestern state hospital. The 15 Ss incarcerated for commission of violent crimes tended to have similar subtest score configurations. Subsequent investigation indicated that these WAIS profiles could be described as a simple ratio of the Similarities score to the total of all 11 subtest scores. The mean Similarities ratio score for the violent group was significantly lower than that of the nonviolent group in both the original and cross-validation samples. Results indicate the potential value of research efforts that simultaneously evaluate measures of related deficits in abstract reasoning, left temporal lobe dysfunctioning, and violent behavior on the same Ss. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminant and factor analysis of the WAIS and the Satz-Mogel Abbreviated WAIS on brain-damaged and psychiatric patients.

Used a multivariate approach to compare diagnostic classification (brain-damaged vs psychiatric) of the abbreviated and the standard WAIS, using 118 brain-damaged and 55 psychiatric patients. Results show that in terms of hit rates, agreement, and subtest accuracy, there is a fair degree of similarity between the short and standard WAIS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships among WAIS subtest scores, patient's premorbid history, and institutionalization.

Divided 40 schizophrenic patients equally among 4 groups on the basis of premorbid history and length of time hospitalized. The WAIS IQ for poor premorbids tended to be higher than for good premorbids, but good premorbids demonstrated significantly higher motor performance (WAIS Digit Symbol and Block Design). There appeared to be a relationship between lower verbal abstractive and decision-making abilities (WAIS Comprehension and Similarities) and length of institutionalization. Results are interpreted as suggesting that, for schizophrenics at least, performance on certain types of intelligence test tasks may be lower for patients who have undergone prolonged institutionalization. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WAIS—R factor structure in psychiatric and general medical patients.

Examined the factor structure of the WAIS—R in a sample of 200 general medical (GM) patients and 271 psychiatric patients. The mean age of the Ss was 38.9 yrs. Results of 2- and 3-factor principal factor solutions with varimax rotations were compared to the factor structure of the WAIS—R normative sample (n?=?1,880) and a sample of vocational counseling patients (n?=?84), as well as an additional sample of psychiatric patients (n?=?114). Across all of these samples, coefficients of congruence for the 1st 2 factors (Verbal, Performance) were .97 or greater, and coefficients of congruence for the 3rd factor (Freedom From Distractability) ranged from .93 to .97. Results indicate that the WAIS—R has a robust factor structure and provides empirical evidence for the existence of Verbal, Performance, and Freedom From Distractability factors on the WAIS—R in psychiatric and medical populations. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Gender characteristics and adjustment: A longitudinal study": Addendum.

Reports an error in "Gender characteristics and adjustment: A longitudinal study" by Jennifer Aubé and Richard Koestner (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1992[Sep], Vol 63[3], 485-493). The authors would like to acknowledge that the age 41 longitudinal data used in their study were collected by David McClelland, Carol Franz, Joel Weinberger, Richard Koestner, and Joseph Healy. This data collection was supported by a grant from the Seaver Institute. The data are currently being archived at the Henry Murray Research Center of Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1993-01033-001.) Used a prospective longitudinal design to investigate the long-term developmental implications of gender-related interests and traits. Archival data were available for Ss in the R. R. Sears et al (1957) study. Men, who at age 12 yrs endorsed interests and undesirable traits more typically associated with women, had poorer social–personal adjustment at ages 31 and 41 yrs. No effects were found for women. Feminine expressive traits at age 31 yrs did not impact on 41-yr-old adjustment for either men or women, whereas masculine instrumental traits were positively related for both. These findings support a multidimensional view of gender and indicate that harsher consequences follow when adolescent boys endorse nontraditional gender-related interests and undesirable traits than when girls do so. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI scores for field-dependent and field-independent psychiatric outpatients.

Investigated the relationship of field dependency to personality traits and styles of psychopathological adjustment. 3 shortcomings of previous research were avoided by using a larger sample (N = 414), a nonprojective measure of personality, and a clinical population. Validity scales, clinical scales, and 13 experimental Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales were compared for field-dependent and field-independent psychiatric outpatients. Separate analyses were made for males and females. As predicted, field-dependent males scored higher on social desirability and acquiescence but lower on social introversion. Field-dependent females scored higher on hysteria, repression, and hypochondriasis but lower on ego strength and control. Overall results partially support the proposed relationship of field dependency to personality traits and modes of psychopathological adjustment. The sex of the S is an important variable in predicting specific relationships. Correlational data indicate that the strength of the relationship between field dependency and MMPI scales should not be overestimated. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychiatric will: A new mechanism for protecting persons against "psychosis" and psychiatry.

After a brief review of the traditional justifications for and objections to involuntary psychiatric interventions, a new legal mechanism accommodating the interests of both supporters and opponents of such interventions is proposed. Fashioned after the model of the last will and the living will, the psychiatric will provides a mechanism whereby individuals could plan, while rational and sane, for how they wish to be treated in the future, should others consider them to be irrational or insane. Individuals who dread the power of psychosis and desire protection from it by embracing, in case of "need," the use of involuntary psychiatric interventions could execute a psychiatric will in keeping with their beliefs. Individuals who dread the power of psychiatry and desire protection from it by rejecting, regardless of "need," the use of involuntary psychiatric interventions could execute a psychiatric will in keeping with their beliefs. Thus, no one who believes in psychiatric protectionism would be deprived of its alleged benefits, while no one who disbelieves in it would be subjected to its policies and practices against his or her will. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivated closing of the mind: "Seizing" and "freezing."

A theoretical framework is outlined in which the key construct is the need for (nonspecific) cognitive closure. The need for closure is a desire for definite knowledge on some issue. It represents a dimension of stable individual differences as well as a situationally evocable state. The need for closure has widely ramifying consequences for social-cognitive phenomena at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group levels of analysis. Those consequences derive from 2 general tendencies, those of urgency and permanence. The urgency tendency represents an individual's inclination to attain closure as soon as possible, and the permanence tendency represents an individual's inclination to maintain it for as long as possible. Empirical evidence for present theory attests to diverse need for closure effects on fundamental social psychological phenomena, including impression formation, stereotyping, attribution, persuasion, group decision making, and language use in intergroup contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

WAIS characteristics and violent behavior: Failure to generalize versus failure to replicate.

Attempted to cross-validate the J. T. Kunce et al (see record 1976-10022-001) WAIS similarities ratio with a new sample of 11 nonpsychotic violent White males. A test of the applicability of the ratio to 21 nonpsychotic violent and 16 nonviolent Black males was also undertaken. Both efforts yielded negative results. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Becoming a sibling: "With a little help from my friends."

The qualities of children's friendships that may promote the development of positive sibling relationships were examined. 30 3- to 5-yr-old 1st-born children whose families were expecting a 2nd child participated in longitudinal assessments of parent–child, sibling, and best-friend peer relationships. Families were studied from the last trimester of pregnancy to 14 mo following the new child's birth. Peer relationship variables, particularly, the overall quality of peer play, engagement in fantasy play, and conflict management were found to be significant predictors of the quality of children's interactions with their 6- and 14-mo-old siblings. Results are discussed in terms of the functions friendships may hold for helping children make the transition to the sibling role. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The next generation of SEPI: Integrationists from the "get go."

A generation of integrative therapists developed inside the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) and the psychotherapy integration movement emerged the last couple of decades. These integrationists from the "get go" represent a new model of integrative development, which comes to complement the traditional route of "single theorist gradually turns integrationist." This series of articles presents the developmental journeys, future plans, and views about psychotherapy integration of four such integrative scientist-practitioners, in an effort to inspire the next generation of SEPI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Voluntary settlement and the spirit of independence: Evidence from Japan's "northern frontier."

The authors hypothesized that economically motivated voluntary settlement in the frontier fosters independent agency. While illuminating the historical origin of American individualism, this hypothesis can be most powerfully tested in a region that is embedded in a broader culture of interdependence and yet has undergone a recent history of such settlement. The authors therefore examined residents of Japan's northern island (Hokkaido). Hokkaido was extensively settled by ethnic Japanese beginning in the 1870s and for several decades thereafter. Many of the current residents of Hokkaido are the descendents of the original settlers from this period. As predicted, Japanese socialized and/or immersed in Hokkaido were nearly as likely as European Americans in North America to associate happiness with personal achievement (Study 1), to show a personal dissonance effect wherein self-justification is motivated by a threat to personal self-images (Study 2), and to commit a dispositional bias in causal attribution (Study 3). In contrast, these marker effects of independent agency were largely absent for non-Hokkaido residents in Japan. Implications for theories of cultural change and persistence are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"She," "He," Coexistence, and Bastardy.

Before proposing a solution for the sex bias problems inherent in the generic use of the pronoun he, Spencer (see record 1990-58427-001) reviews some efforts to solve the problem. The attempted solutions are evaluated as "not an improvement ... awkward... jarring ... disturbing" (p. 782), In one case, Spencer notes that coauthors of a book "slip up" twice. To avoid the difficulties and the accompanying unpleasant experiences, Spencer suggests the use of co: "The form is derived from an old Indo-European common form for both male and female English pronouns" (p. 783). While arguing for the "goodness of fit" (p. 783) of co. Spencer acknowledges that "there is currently one exception in our language to this meaning of co-coed, in which the form has been bastardized and debased from its source" (p. 783). A clinical psychologist is assuredly not an expert in psycholinguistics, but one could reasonably argue the following: The concept of bastardy with all of its connotative meaning, including debased, derives from patriarchal, patrilineal, male primary societies and history. In short, it is a sexist concept. Ours is a difficult language to use and avoid the expression of bias. Perhaps we ought to be gentler with those who are trying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of partialing out postmorbid WAIS scores in a heterogenous sample: Comment on Golden et al.

This comment addresses recent concerns about the effects of partialing out postmorbid Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) scores from the relationship between the Luria-Nebraska (LNNB) and the Halstead-Reitan (HRB) neuropsychological batteries. Such concerns are valid only when attempting to examine the sensitivity of the two batteries to discriminate between diagnostic groups. However, when knowledge of group membership is lost by collapsing data across diagnostic groups, it is not possible to attribute variance to specific factors such as the presence or degree of brain dysfunction. In such a design, partialing of the WAIS does not "correct" for brain damage but reflects the degree of association across groups between the LNNB and HRB independent of their common overlap with the WAIS. Independent of the WAIS, the data indicate that the two batteries are not "equivalent," and appear to assess different ranges of behavioral variability. This difference is not necessarily negative and may have positive implications for the practice of neuropsychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)