Gender and age as factors in the attitudes toward those stigmatized as mentally ill.

36 male and 72 female undergraduates read 2 case histories of either a male or female and young or old obsessive-compulsive patient or a schizophrenic patient. Ss' ratings of the patients on 5 rating scales support the proposition that males rate such patients as less ill and perceive less difficulty in getting along with them than females; however, they contradict the idea that female patients are considered less severely ill than a similarly described male patient. Age had no significant effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal involvement as a determinant of argument-based persuasion.

Hypothesized that when a persuasive communication was on a topic of (a) high personal relevance, attitude change was governed by issue-relevant arguments, and (b) low personal relevance, peripheral features were more important. 145 undergraduates expressed their attitudes on the issue of comprehensive senior exams after exposure to a counterattitudinal advocacy that was of high or low personal relevance containing either strong or weak arguments that emanated from a source of either high or low expertise. Another 18 Ss were controls who were surveyed but not exposed to a counterattitudinal advocacy. Interactions of the personal relevance manipulation with the argument quality and expertise manipulations revealed that under high relevance (the exams were to be instituted the following year), attitudes were influenced primarily by the quality of the arguments in the message, whereas under low relevance (the exams were to be instituted in 10 years), attitudes were influenced primarily by the expertise of the source. It is suggested that an increase in involvement is associated with an increase in the importance of message arguments because people are motivated to hold "correct" and defensible opinions, and they have a better framework for things that are relevant to the self. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes and feelings of criminal justice personnel toward the mentally ill

The present study compared the attitudes and feelings of law-enforcement, corrections, parole and probation personnel, and college students toward mental illness. Modified versions of the Criminally Insane Scale (Khanna, Pratt, & Gardiner, 1962) and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness Scale (Cohen & Struening, 1962) were used in assessing these attitudes. Law-enforcement and corrections personnel tended to believe many of the stereotypic causes of mental illness, while the college students based their views on more current thinking. In addition, law-enforcement and corrections personnel indicated greater fear of the criminally insane than the other two groups. Possible causes and ramifications of these differences are discussed.     

Subject's attitudes toward psychology as a determinant of experimental results.

Proposed attitudes toward psychology and psychological research as the basis of ss' differential willingness to cooperate with the demands of the experiment. To test this proposition, demand characteristics for positive opinion-change were communicated in a pretest-posttest design with 144 undergraduates as ss. The psychology research survey (prs) was developed to measure ss' attitudes toward psychology. Although all ss showed significant opinion-change, it was found, as predicted, that ss with more positive attitudes toward psychology showed significantly greater opinion change than ss with less positive attitudes. In addition, prs scores were significantly positively correlated with posttest and opinion-change scores and nonsignificantly correlated with pretest scores. The potential role of attitudes towards psychology as a determinant of ss' experimental performance is discussed. (french summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response expectancy as a determinant of experience and behavior.

Reviews research on placebos, hypnosis, and fear reduction that indicates that response expectancies, defined as expectancies of the occurrence of nonvolitional responses, generate corresponding subjective experiences, the genuineness of which has been substantiated by corresponding changes in behavior and physiological function. The means by which response expectancies affect experience, physiology, and behavior are hypothesized to vary as a function of response mode. The generation of changes in subjective experience by corresponding response expectancies is suggested to be a basic psychological mechanism. Physiological effects are accounted for by the mind–body identity assumption that is common to all nondualist philosophies of psychology. It is argued that the effects of response expectancies on volitional behavior are due to the reinforcing properties of many nonvolitional responses. Research also indicates that classical conditioning appears to be one method by which response expectancies are acquired, but response expectancy effects that are inconsistent with a conditioning hypothesis have also been documented. (134 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The criminalization of the mentally ill.

Comments on the contribution of L. A. Teplin (see record 1985-12217-001) who discussed issues relating to the incarceration of the mentally ill. Although the present author agrees with Teplin's conclusions and recommendations, he asserts that the logic of the argument presented was not convincing. Teplin does not include the role of the magistrate in discussing the process through which mentally ill people end up in jail, and she thus lacks a comprehensive viewpoint. No direct data were presented to support the conclusion that the criminalization of the mentally ill is a result of inadequate funding for the mental health system. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client as colleague: Therapeutic contracting with the seriously mentally ill.

This article introduces the therapeutic contracting program as a comprehensive treatment system for persons with serious mental illness. Therapeutic contracting offers a promising framework for integrating medical, psychological, and social therapies in a manner that fosters clients' active involvement in treatment. This article outlines a multistage therapy program that mobilizes clients' adaptational resources through environmental interventions, structured goal-setting exercises, and skills-building experiences. Data illustrate the effectiveness of therapeutic contracting for (a) securing clients' treatment compliance, (b) promoting positive clinical outcomes, and (c) reducing overall treatment costs. The therapeutic contracting model is discussed as a potential vehicle for expanding the professional role of psychologists in psychiatric settings, particularly in areas of clinical and administrative decision making. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist behavior as a determinant for client noncompliance: A paradox for the behavior modifier.

Examined the immediate impact of therapist behavior on client noncompliance in 2 studies involving 12 3.8–13.1 yr old socially aggressive children and their families. One family participated in both studies. Observation systems describing client and therapist behavior were used to code videotaped therapy sessions. In Study 1, the therapist behaviors teach and confront were associated with significant increases in the likelihood of client noncompliant reactions. Therapist behaviors facilitate and support were followed by reliable decreases in client noncompliance. In Study 2, the therapist behaviors teach and confront were manipulated in a series of single-S ABAB reversal designs. Results demonstrate that changes in therapist behaviors produced increases in client noncompliance. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The stereotype of the mentally ill

The objective of the submitted work was to obtain a more accurate picture of lay ideas on mentally ill people in seven selected population groups--two classes from a school for health workers, two classes of general secondary schools, participants of a training course for nurses organized by the church, employees of the law court and prosecution and patients of a psychiatric hospital/a total of 181 respondents. The respondents were asked to give at least 5 expressions characterizing a mentally sick person or lunatic. A total of 948 statements, incl. 450 different ones, were obtained. The statements were divided into four categories, depending whether they expressed a favourable or unfavourable quality, the need of assistance, protection or sympathy or whether they were neutral. The author assessed the ratio of categories by groups of respondents, repeatedly used expressions and qualities described in the statements. With the exception of the from of pupils of an extension course for health workers, where the majority were statements expressing the need of assistance, in the remaining groups more than half the expressions were unfavourable, in five the difference was statistically significant. The difference between students from the school for health workers and students from general secondary schools was significant only as regards the number of favourable replies from those in the extension course the difference was a smaller number of unfavourable replies. Against expectations, adverse ideas were recorded in the group of subjects training for nursing. Employees of the law court and prosecution used most frequently adverse expressions and made the smallest number of statements expressing the necessity of assistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Answering young children's questions as a determinant of their subsequent question-asking behavior.

Investigated whether answering preschool children's questions increases the frequency with which they ask questions. Data suggest that answers serve a dual function as a discriminative cue and as a reinforcer to elicit and maintain well-established inquiry behavior patterns among young children interacting with an informative adult. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implicit leadership theory as a determinant of the factor structure underlying supervisory behavior scales.

Examined implicit leadership theory (preconceptions about the patterning of leadership variables) in 235 college students. Ss completed the Survey of Organizations questionnnaire on a fictitious "Plant X" about which they were given little information. Factor analysis, performed on the items purported to measure 4 leadership factors, resulted in the conceptualized factor structure. Since no information was given regarding supervisory behavior in Plant X, the factor structure was attributed to an implicit leadership theory. Factor analysis on subsamples indicated the factor structure could not be attributed to either experience in organizations or previous instruction in management. It is suggested that responses to questionnaires regarding organizational variables may be contaminated by implicit theory and that multitrait-multimethod procedures may be required to validate questionnaires. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex-related alcohol expectancies predict sexual risk behavior among severely and persistently mentally ill adults.

Three hundred three adults (57% male, average age 42 years) with severe and persistent mental illness receiving treatment at community mental health clinics completed a survey, which included B. C. Leigh's (1990) sex-related alcohol expectancy scale and measures of alcohol use and sexual risk behavior. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses, controlling for drinking behavior, revealed that participants with stronger expectancies that drinking would lead to enhanced sexual experience were more likely to have drank prior to intercourse and that, among participants who drank prior to intercourse, those with stronger expectancies that alcohol would lead to riskier sexual behavior were more likely to have engaged in sexual risk behavior. Implications for preventing HIV infection among people with severe mental illness are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental health needs of the chronically mentally ill elderly.

The treatment histories and current social, financial, and clinical status of 111 chronically mentally ill (CMI) persons over the age of 60 were examined. Information was obtained from Ss, family, mental health records, and mental health professionals familiar with Ss. Psychiatric symptoms were observed in 74% of Ss. Many Ss experienced long periods without acute episodes of illness. Recurring episodes eventually appeared in most Ss, however, and ongoing deficits in daily functioning and social contacts were prototypical. Two thirds of the Ss were living in the community, relying heavily on family contacts; the rest lived primarily in nursing homes (23.4%) or psychiatric hospitals (7.2%). Social support was the best predictor of level of functioning. Findings suggest that failure of CMI elderly to use mental health services is not due to lack of need. Mental health services currently do not appear to be meeting the needs of this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The nurse's role as patient advocate for mentally ill people

The recent report of the Confidential Inquiry into Homicides and Suicides by Mentally Ill People (the Boyd report) compiled for the government, and the imminent publication of the Mental Health Patient's Charter, highlight national concern over the provision of care for this group of people. This article examines some of the dilemmas facing mental health nurses when caring for patients under detention orders and evaluates guidelines and recommendations which can aid the nurse in providing appropriate care.     

Labeling the mentally ill and the attribution of personal traits.

Data from 900 community college students indicate that labeling, including both the labels themselves and the labelers, has no significant independent effect on the attributes imputed to a labeled individual, although it may produce some effects in interaction with other variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community-based care for the mentally ill: Simple justice.

Discusses problems associated with community-based treatment for the mentally ill and describes a new federal policy initiative to improve services to this group. Features of the Comprehensive Mental Health Service Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-660) are described, including specifications for its implementation, its initial outcome, and roles for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a public policy on the chronic mentally ill patient

This paper outlines the problems posed by the chronic mentally ill, which have become a national disgrace. The historical background of deinstitutionalization is reviewed, issues critical to an understanding of the problems of the chronic mental patient are examined, solutions are suggested, and a public policy on the chronic mental patient is proposed.     

Building bridges: Psychologists and families of the mentally ill.

Describes problems faced by families of the mentally ill, particularly since the caregiving system in the US provides only incomplete solutions. Psychologists have provided important support to family members coping with seriously mentally ill relatives; however, psychology's response has been incomplete. Families have helped themselves in the initiation in 1979 of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), an advocacy and education organization that originated as a network of mutual support groups. The history of communication between NAMI and the American Psychological Association (APA) is outlined. The need for "building bridges" between psychologists and families of the mentally ill resulted in 2 conferences between APA and NAMI. Other steps to enhance communication between psychologists and these families are listed, including communication with legislatures and the general public about public policy agendas on mental health services and research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)