Neuropsychological impairment in pedophiles.

Compared 15 heterosexual, 14 homosexual, and 10 bisexual male pedophiles (mean age 39 yrs) to 14 nonviolent nonsex offenders (mean age 25 yrs), using the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and computerized tomography scans. Ss were classified into their groups based on criminal history, a standard sex history assessment, and a phallometric test of erotic preference. Pedophiles tended to have lower IQs than controls and showed significantly more impairment on all measures. Left temporo-parietal pathology was noted more often for pedophiles. Findings suggest that neuropsychological examination can provide useful and potentially discriminating information in pedophilia and should be considered an important supplement in clinical assessments of the disorder. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Union commitment: Replication and extension.

The union commitment measure developed by M. E. Gordon et al (1980) was administered to 426 nonprofessional and 334 professional members of a white-collar union. Four orthogonal factors were extracted: Union Loyalty, Responsibility to the Union, Willingness to Work for the Union, and Belief in Unionism. Factor comparisons both between the union of the present study and the union of the original study, and between professional and nonprofessional members within the same union, suggest that the factors developed by Gordon et al are consistent and generalizable across these populations. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological impairment in Tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder secondary to neuroleptic treatment. Whether TD is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction is a controversial issue. We reviewed 31 published studies evaluating neuropsychological (NP) test results in schizophrenic patients with and without TD and found that TD was generally reported to be associated with cognitive impairment. Numerous methodological limitations, however, restrict the conclusions made about the relationship between cognition and dyskinesia. We therefore undertook a study in which 143 schizophrenic patients were evaluated on a comprehensive NP test battery. On both global and learning deficit scores, TD patients demonstrated greater impairment than did a matched comparison group. Two aspects of TD (severity and topography) were related to severity of cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that dyskinesia and cognition may share some underlying mechanism in schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Fear-of-Intimacy Scale: Replication and extension.

Investigated the validity of the Fear-of-Intimacy Scale (FIS) with a middle-aged sample, using many of the same measures that C. J. Descutner and M. H. Thelen (1991) used previously with college students, and explored the dimensions of adult attachment as potential correlates of fear of intimacy. Data were obtained from 171 Ss (83 men, 88 women; aged 35–55 yrs) who had completed a battery of questionnaires containing the FIS and other measures of personality, behavior, and background data. The FIS showed high internal consistency, and evidence supporting its construct validity was replicated with several measures (e.g., significant correlations were found between the FIS and measures of self-disclosure, loneliness, and relationship satisfaction). Associations were obtained between fear of intimacy and the dimensions of attachment. After statistically controlling for trait anxiety, several significant associations between the FIS and other measures were upheld, and a few unpredicted associations became nonsignificant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pretest expectancies and cognitive impairment in alcoholics.

Alcoholics' neurological deficits have been attributed to cognitive impairment associated with brain dysfunction. Because alcoholics perceive themselves as impaired in higher cognitive functions, we investigated the alternative hypothesis that their deficits are predicted by lowered expectancies for successful performance. Ss were 48 male, middle-aged Veterans Administration inpatient alcoholics and 36 community controls. Subjects completed a standard series of neuropsychological tests. Before taking each test, Ss were asked how well they expected to do on that test in relation to members of their community. As predicted, means for the overall measures of expectancies and perfomance were significantly lower for alcoholics than for control Ss. Although expectancies were significantly correlated with performance, regression analyses indicated they could not account for the obtained performance differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Screening for neuropsychological impairment in alcoholics.

A short self-report instrument that could predict neuropsychological impairment in at-risk patients would be advantageous to clinicians treating alcoholics. Seventy-three Veterans Administration alcoholics and 36 control subjects were administered a 50-item self-report symptom checklist, the Neuropsychological Impairment Scale (NIS); psychological measures of anxiety and depression; and a battery of neuropsychological tests known to be sensitive to brain dysfunction. Alcoholics differed from control subjects on the neuropsychological tests and in their NIS profiles. Multiple regression analyses revealed that select NIS subscales could predict neuropsychological impairment in alcoholic subjects. These subscales, however, were found to be more strongly correlated with standard measures of anxiety and depression than with cognitive performance. The confounding role of affect in predicting neuropsychological impairment from self-report questionnaires is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ego identity and intimacy status: Replication and extension.

Previous research has supported E. Erikson's (1968) theoretical proposition that advanced identity formation is associated with greater interpersonal intimacy. However, these studies have been criticized for using cross-sectional methods and/or male Ss exclusively. In this study, 28 male and 50 female undergraduates were randomly selected as participants in a 1-yr longitudinal project to assess the identity–intimacy relationship. An ego-identity interview and an intimacy interview were administered to measure Ss' statuses on the 2 psychosocial constructs. Data indicate that identity formation maintained a trend for time-lagged and concurrent associations with intimacy development. Occupational identity for males and religious identity for females were the most salient factors contributing to advanced intimacy status. The importance of sex differences in determining the specificity of the identity–intimacy relationship is discussed. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Operant eyelid conditioning in Trisomy 18: Replication and extension.

A profoundly retarded 6-yr-old child with extra No. 18 chromosomes (Trisomy 18) and a normal 7-mo-old infant were conditioned to emit operant eyeblinks and to maintain a head position in conformity with a variety of complex schedules of reinforcement. The experimental conditions included reinforcement for every eyeblink, reinforcement if the eyeblink did not occur, reinforcement after every 4 eyeblinks, reinforcement only after both eyeblinks and a certain head position occurred, and, finally, reinforcement for blinks or head position alone. The sessions were held at S's regular mealtimes, and spoonfuls of food were used as reinforcers. Both responses of both Ss increased or decreased in frequency depending upon the reinforcement contingencies. The response repertoire of the Trisomy 18 could be modified, and an application to the hospital ward was possible. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential perceptions of counselor behavior: Replication and extension.

Conducted 2 studies with 141 undergraduates in an attempt to replicate and extend the 1976 findings of M. B. LaCrosse and A. Barak (1976). In both studies the Counselor Rating Form was shown to be sensitive to perceived differences among and within counselors of moderate and minimal levels of training/experience. In both studies a significant positive relationship was noted between perceived counselor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness and willingness to refer oneself to the observed counselor for a variety of counseling problems. The provision of a common baseline for S judgment (Study 2) resulted in expertness ratings more consistent with actual counselor training/experience than those of Study 1. The implications of this latter finding for methodological improvements in counseling analog studies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preemployment predictors of union attitudes: Replication and extension.

Replicates and extends the J. Barling et al (see record 1992-07316-001) model of family socialization of union attitudes on the basis of data from 87 students and their parents. Students' union attitudes were predicted by students' Marxist work beliefs and their perceptions of parental union attitudes. Students' perceptions of parental union attitudes and participation were predicted from parents' self-reported attitudes and participation. Students' Marxist work beliefs were not related to parents' work beliefs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive impairment in chronic alcoholics: Some cause for optimism.

Even after they cease drinking, many alcoholics show continued impairment of cognitive functioning on both intelligence and neuropsychological tests, with deficits being apparent in visual perception, learning and memory, and the use of problem-solving strategies. Neuropsychological investigations have suggested that these deficits reflect premature aging, a direct dose response relationship, or localized brain damage. However, studies have shown that a considerable recovery of cognitive functioning occurs, most dramatically after drinking cessation and more slowly thereafter. Tasks that require novel, complex, and rapid information processing require longer to recover, and persistent impairments in visual-spatial abilities, abstraction and problem solving, and short-term memory are common, particularly in older alcoholics. Practical applications of this research are discussed in terms of the possibility of reducing cognitive dysfunction and improving treatment outcome in alcoholics. (72 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological impairment, depression, and Parkinson's disease.

Examined the nature of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) and its relation to depression in 89 nondemented (mean age 69.35 yrs) and 19 demented (mean age 79.94 yrs) PD patients and 64 control Ss (mean age 66.44 yrs). PD Ss were significantly more depressed than controls on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). There were significant, negative associations between scores on the GDS and performance on 8 neuropsychological test variables. Both PD groups were significantly impaired on 7 neuropsychologial test variables, including measures of visuomotor, memory, and executive functions. The demented PD group was more impaired than the nondemented PD and control groups on 9 neuropsychological test variables. Cognitive impairments in the nondemented PD group were relatively subtle and not apparent on the Mini-Mental State Examination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Employee and customer perceptions of service in banks: Replication and extension.

Replicated the 1st author and J. J. Parkington's (1979) research on the relationships between employees and customers in service organizations by analyzing survey data from 142 employees and 968 customers from 28 branches of a bank. Moderate support was found for the 1st author and Parkington's work on correlates of stress for boundary role employees. Support was also found for relationships between branch employees' and branch customers' service perceptions and attitudes as reported by the present 1st author et al (1980). Significant relationships were reported between branch employees' perceptions of organizational human resources practices and branch customers' attitudes about service. Employee attitudes and customer attitudes were related to their own and one another's turnover intentions. Results are discussed from the perspective of promoting an integration of consumer and organizational behavior in the service sector. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chronic tolerance and sensitization to alcohol in sons of alcoholics: II. Replication and reanalysis.

Data from D. B. Newlin and J. B. Thomson (1991) were reanalyzed, and data from an independent replication study were analyzed, relative to tonic (baseline) and phasic (response to alcohol challenge) aspects of drinking alcohol administered at the same dose on several occasions. Among the high-risk men (sons of alcoholic fathers), linear trends across days for resting (predrinking) baselines were opposite to alcohol-evoked changes for finger pulse amplitude, finger temperature, and skin conductance in Study 1 and for pulse transit time and body sway (static ataxia) in Study 2. In contrast, the structure of the low-risk men's (sons of nonalcoholic parents) data was precisely the opposite. Results are discussed in terms of sensitization as a potential mechanism that relates vulnerability to final manifestation of addictive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Active–alert hypnosis: Replication and extension of previous research.

Compared levels of hypnotic responsiveness resulting from 4 induction procedures: (a) verbal active-alert induction alone, (b) bicycle pedaling alone, (c) verbal active-alert induction plus bicycle pedaling, and (d) traditional relaxation induction. Ss were 48 undergraduates. Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale scores indicated that the verbal induction plus pedaling procedure was significantly more effective than either the verbal- or pedaling-alone procedures. There were no significant differences in scores produced by the verbal plus pedaling and traditional relaxation inductions. Findings are consistent with A. M. Ludwig's (1966) proposal that there exists a range of stimulation necessary for the maintenance of normal waking consciousness and that levels of stimulation above or below that range are conducive to the production of altered states of consciousness. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological dysfunction and aggression among female federal inmates.

In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between neuropsychological dysfunction and aggression in female inmates. Participants included 555 female inmates from two low-security federal institutions. Aggression was measured by the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form. Neuropsychological dysfunction was measured by the Neuropsychological Dysfunction scale of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory and questions on the Psychology Services Intake Questionnaire. Results indicate this sample's neuropsychological functioning. Consistent with studies of male inmates, findings support the relationship between self-reported aggression and neuropsychological dysfunction, identifying female inmates' neuropsychological functioning as an important part of understanding their behavior and providing appropriate treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differences in cognitive impairment between VA and community treatment center alcoholics.

Administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to 42 Veterans Administration (VA) treatment program alcoholics, 38 peer community treatment program alcoholics, and 37 peer controls. The groups differed significantly on an overall performance score: VA Ss performed the worst, community Ss were intermediate, and controls were best. VA Ss performed more poorly than community Ss on Verbal, Visuospatial, and Concept Formation factors. Community Ss performed more poorly than community controls on Verbal Memory and Concept Formation. Results suggest limitations on generalizations concerning severity of neuropsychological impairment based on VA samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Replication and extension of social influence processes in counseling: A field study.

Attempted to validate S. R. Strong's (1968) theory of counseling as a social influence process by using a correlational field study, replicating the 3-factor structure of clients' perceptions, and extending findings to the relationship between counselor attributes and the success of an intake interview. 250 college students seeking help from a university counseling center's walk-in service participated in the pre- and postintake interview design. Factor analysis of both preintake preferences for counselor attributes and postintake perceptions of actual counselors resulted in extraction of 3 factors corresponding to Expertness, Attractiveness, and Trustworthiness. Regression analysis accounted for 48% of the variance in Ss' ratings of satisfaction with the intake interview. Four variables contributed significantly to prediction. Regression analysis of Ss' return for a scheduled referral revealed no significant predictors. Replicated findings and divergent results are discussed in terms of the validity of Strong's model and the need for field validation. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Replication and extension of the Teacher Self-Control Rating Scale.

Relations among teacher ratings of self-control and adjustment were examined in this study and involved (a) a replication and extension of investigations of Humphrey's Teacher Self-Control Rating Scale (TSCRS) and (b) an analysis of the relation between teacher ratings of self-control and school adjustment across elementary school grades for urban and suburban children. Ratings were obtained from a stratified random sample of 407 urban and suburban children in first through fifth grades and from 108 classroom teachers. Findings include (a) replication and extension of previous TSCRS research findings and (b) consistent, significant patterns of relations between self-control and adjustment across elementary grades. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Disproportionate referrals for child academic/behavior problems: Replication and extension.

R. S. Drabman et al (see record 1988-15423-001) investigated children's month of birth in relation to mental health referrals and found that the younger children in a class were disproportionately referred for services. We conducted a replication and extension of the Drabman et al. investigation. Data were collected on children's (N?=?222) cognitive and academic competencies. Results indicated that (a) younger children in a class were disproportionately referred, (b) the referral pattern remained constant across all grades examined, (c) the referral pattern could not be explained by differences in children's competencies, and (d) although the youngest children in the class were referred most frequently, they had the lowest rate of qualification for special services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)