Merger intimacy status in adult women.

Developed an intimacy interview and a rating system that allowed the reliable classification of 40 25–35 yr old women in 6 intimacy statuses. The interview/rating system included 2 new statuses: committed and uncommitted merger. The intimacy status interview and rating system, the Objective Measure of Ego-Identity Status (OMEIS), and 3 subscales from the Personality Research Form (PRF) were administered to Ss. It was predicted that merger Ss would score lower than Ss in other statuses on the Autonomy and Dominance and higher on the Succorance scales of the PRF. Results show that intimacy status was related to OMEIS scores. Most (7 of 9) committed merger Ss scored as identity diffuse or foreclosed. Nine uncommitted merger Ss scored as identity diffuse or moratorium. Ss in the moratorium category had strong religious involvement. Merger Ss had significantly higher scores on the Succorance scale of the PRF. Results are discussed in the context of childhood processes of attachment and separation. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative study of feminist and traditional group assertiveness training with women.

Tested the effectiveness of feminist group therapy within the context of group assertiveness training for women. Two types of group were organized: One emphasized female role modeling, identity formation, and awareness of sex roles; and one had a traditional approach. Two female group leaders were trained and conducted one of each type group with all-female group members. The 40 adult Ss were interviewed, and 5 outcome measures were taken pre- and posttherapy and at follow-up 6 wks later. Both groups made significant gains on all measures, but the feminist groups did not make greater gains than the traditional groups. Ss who described themselves as feminists at the outset generally showed elevated scores throughout, more commitment to remain in treatment, and greater initial gains in self-reported assertiveness than did Ss who endorsed a more conservative position. It is concluded that the success of feminist therapy groups may not be attributable to their consciousness-raising style but perhaps to the single-sex composition of such groups and to the feminist orientation of clients who seek this form of psychotherapy. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of women who enter feminist therapy and women who enter traditional therapy.

A sample of 201 women in feminist therapy and 207 women in traditional therapy was drawn from a national survey of women in consciousness-raising groups. Comparisons were made on political views at the time of entering therapy and on demographic characteristics and evaluations of therapy. There were no differences between clients of feminist and traditional therapy on demographic characteristics, symptom levels (Hopkins Sympton Checklist), and overall levels of life stress (Life-Events Stress Index). Clients of feminist therapists were more likely to describe their political views as radical and to identify themselves as members of the women's movement than were clients of traditional therapists. Clients of feminist therapists rated therapy as more helpful than clients of traditional therapy did. Clients who identified themselves as members of the women's movement evaluated feminist therapy as more helpful than traditional therapy; nonmembers evaluated feminist and traditional therapies as equally helpful. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The education of therapists.

At a conference for female therapists in Canada, participants answered a questionnaire on issues and skills of therapists. Results indicate that the Ss were interested in (1) understanding themselves, their careers, and women's roles in society, and (2) a feminist approach to therapy. The responses suggest that the Ss' training as therapists was inadequate to the extent that it failed to address their own reality and that of women clients. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Women therapists working with women: New theory and process of feminist therapy.

Reviews the book, Women therapists working with women: New theory and process of feminist therapy edited by Clair M. Brody (1984). As with other edited volumes on this topic, this book attempts to address a very broad range of issues confronted by a therapist holding a feminist theoretical perspective in her work. Where this is most original and successful is in the examination of the issues faced by the therapist as a woman and feminist in the social and emotional environment of therapy. This volume does not stand alone as a text on feminist therapy, and that was clearly not the editor's intention. It will probably be of most interest and use to therapists already familiar with other literature on feminist therapy, and serves to complement what has come before. I would not suggest it as any reader's first introduction to feminist therapy theory and practice. However, it is sufficiently introductory that it can be of use to any experienced psychotherapist seeking to enhance her or his consciousness of women's issues and sexism as they impact upon the process of psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's Action Tendency Scale: A self-report measure of aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness in children.

Describes a self-report measure of children's aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness, the Children's Action Tendency Scale. The development and validation of the measure followed the behavioral-analytic method described by M. Goldfried and T. J. D'Zurilla (1969). The measure's 3 subscales were shown to be highly correlated with peer and teacher reports of 6–12 yr old Ss' interpersonal behavior and to have moderate split-half and test–retest reliabilities. Scores on the Submissiveness subscale correlated positively with social desirability (Children's Social Desirability Questionnaire) scores and negatively with self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory) scores, and a negative correlation was found between Ss' aggressiveness scores and their social desirability scores. In addition, highly significant differences on the Aggressiveness and Assertiveness subscales were found between public school Ss and clinically aggressive children. Recommendations for the questionnaire's use and for further research are discussed. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pretherapy information: An investigation of client responses.

36 female undergraduates who had expressed profeminist attitudes as operationally defined by the Attitudes Toward Women Scale were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each group received differing amounts of pretherapy information about the therapist's values and therapy orientation. Results indicate that Ss did not perceive themselves as similar to the "explicit feminist" therapist, did not believe that she would be as helpful as either the "traditional" or "feminist label" therapists, and were not as willing to see the explicit feminist therapist. Implications for therapist disclosure of explicit value orientations are considered. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scales for physical and social anhedonia

Devised 2 true–false scales to measure anhedonia, the lowered ability to experience pleasure: a 40-item Physical Anhedonia (PA) scale and a 48-item Social Anhedonia (SA) scale. After scale development using 371 college students, the final version was given to 505 normal adults stratified by social class, age (18–45), and sex, and to 123 male schizophrenics. The potential artifacts of social desirability, acquiescence, and random responding were ruled out. Coefficient alpha values for PA and for SA were .74 and .85 for male normal Ss and .82 and .85 for male schizophrenics. Schizophrenics scored more anhedonic than normal Ss on both PA and SA. Schizophrenics' scores on PA fell into 2 clusters of scores, one resembling the total distribution of the normal Ss, and a 2nd cluster consisting of scores that were more anhedonic than those of the normal Ss. Anhedonics were more often poor premorbid and hedonics more often good premorbid. The PA scale may be useful for testing the hypotheses, advanced by several theorists, that anhedonia is genetically transmitted and that nonpsychotic anhedonics are at high risk for schizophrenia. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biased reporting of therapist–patient sexual intimacy.

To investigate bias in reports of therapist–patient sexual intimacy, information about 559 patients who were sexually intimate with their previous therapists was collected via questionnaire from 318 psychologists who subsequently saw these patients in therapy. Psychologists, the experimental Ss in the present study, were predominantly aged 40–49 yrs, and 64% were male. It was found that Ss who reported that no harm occurred to patients as a result of therapist–patient sexual intimacy (SI) admitted twice the prevalence of SI between patients and themselves than did Ss in general. Those Ss who had experienced SI with patients were less likely to report adverse effects of SI either for patients or for therapy. Fewer Ss with a history of SI than those without reported anger toward offending therapists, and fewer recommended punishment. A higher percentage of female than male Ss reported anger toward offenders and recommended punishment, yet women did not rate the effects of SI as more harmful than did men. In general, anger toward offending therapists and recommendations for punishment were associated with the degree to which patients were thought to have been harmed. Ss who had been consultants to a greater number of other therapists about sexual contact with patients reported relatively more cases in which therapy ended soon after SI began than did Ss who were consulted by fewer therapists. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Feminist therapy with chronically and profoundly disturbed women.

28 18–55 yr old females judged to be either high risk, chronic, or potentially chronic with regard to psychiatric illness by staff at a community mental health center were assigned to a women's awareness (WA) group and tested. While they waited for the WA group to begin, they participated in an "adult daycare" program for a mean of 8.7 wks. The WA groups lasted 14–26 wks, before and after which Ss were again tested. Significant improvement in self-esteem, as measured by the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, and significant increase in sexual knowledge, as measured by a sexual information questionnaire, were produced for Ss in the feminist therapy groups. No changes were produced on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale. No effects were noted for Ss in the control comparison on any of the measures. Results are compared with other findings on the effects of feminist therapy. It is concluded that feminist therapy can be effective for women from the chronically and profoundly disturbed population. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-cultural investigation of the validity of Erikson's theory of personality development.

Constructed a self-report questionnaire for measuring the personality components that, according to E. H. Erikson (1950, 1959, 1968) are formed before the onset of old age. This applied to a sample of 1,859 15–60 yr old South African White and Black males and females. Results indicate that the reliability of the total scale was high for both Black and White Ss. The reliabilities of the subscales were adequate. Evidence of the validity of the scale is discussed. The components of personality that theoretically develop in childhood seemed strongly interrelated in adolescent and adult Whites. White women appeared to solve the identity crisis earlier, and they experienced a higher degree of intimacy than did White men, although the difference narrowed with age. In both sexes, psychosocial development was related to well-being. Black men seem to resolve the identity crisis only after age 40 yrs and there were indications that the psychosocial development of Black adult women was frustrated. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preferences for therapists and related expectancies.

60 male and 60 female undergraduates were shown slides of the faces of potential therapists, older males, younger males, older females, and younger females. Ss indicated how much they would like to talk to each individual if they had a personal or vocational problem. They also indicated how they thought each therapist would act in a discussion and what each was like as a person. Older males were the preferred therapists in all cases except for women with personal problems who tended to prefer older women. Preferences seemed to be related to high expectancies on therapy relevant variables, especially understanding, rather than to similarity to the students. Students' social classes and parent-child relationships were not related to preferences. (23 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identity and fear of success.

Investigated the relation between ego identity and fear of success in 53 female and 49 male college students (aged 21–41 yrs). Two measures of identity were used—the Ego Identity Scale (EIS) was administered to all 102 Ss, and J. E. Marcia's (see record 1966-07584-001) interview for identity status was administered to 44 of the 102 Ss. All Ss also completed a people-knowing questionnaire (PKQ), used to measure fear of success, and an occupational questionnaire designed to gather information concerning work-related behaviors and attitudes. A significant correlation was observed between EIS and PKQ scores. Those classified as identity achieved and foreclosed were found to have lower PKQ scores than those classified as moratorium and diffusion. Significant correlations of PKQ and identity scores with the work-related items were also observed. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A-B distinction in a sample of prominent psychotherapists.

Asked 134 prominent psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and behavior therapists to fill out the Whitehorn-Betz A-B therapist scale and comment on their possible differential effectiveness in treating schizoid-schizophrenic vs neurotic patients. Psychometric analysis of the 95 responses disclosed that their scale scores were reliable, distributed comparably to other therapists and collegiate males, and denotative of 2 correlated interest-aptitude dimensions. Professionals typed as A's or B's showed a greater reluctance to accept the research-generated implications of their A-B status than Ss whose scores fell into neither of these categories. Although data did not provide strong evidence for a relationship between A-B scale scores and theoretical orientation, the distribution of scores did suggest that B therapists desire and seek more complex and exciting sensory-cognitive inputs during therapy hours than A therapists. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived attractiveness as a function of support for the feminist movement: Not necessarily a put-down of women.

Conducted 2 studies to replicate and extend the findings of P. A. Goldberg et al (see record 1975-27508-001) that Ss identified photos of unattractive women significantly more frequently than those of attractive women as being supporters of the women's liberation movement. In Study 1, photos were taken of 30 undergraduate women between the ages of 18 and 22 yrs and of 30 nonstudent women over the age of 25 yrs; these women were identified as supporters or nonsupporters of the feminist movement according to their scores on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale. Ratings of the physical attractiveness of the photographed women were made by 40 university students and by 40 nonstudents over age 25 yrs. Results show that such ratings were not related to the attitude scores of the photographed women. In Study 2, 40 additional college students and 40 additional nonstudents were given the same task with similar stimuli. Results show no significant difference between the mean attractiveness score of those women selected as supporters and those selected as nonsupporters, thus failing to replicate the findings of Goldberg et al. Male undergraduates, however, did choose photographs of less attractive women as members of the feminist movement, whereas female undergraduates chose photos of more attractive women. Neither male nor female nonstudents chose differently than chance. (French summary) (3 ref) (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)     

Involvement of the 5'' proximal coding sequences of hepatitis C virus with internal initiation of viral translation

To examine patterns of identity development for late adolescents raised in the Norwegian mixed liberal welfare-state economic system compared with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of the United States, ego identity status scores and distributions were examined for 56 (37 women, 19 men). Norwegian and 1498 (814 women, 684 men) United States undergraduate university students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2. The United States sample was drawn from four geographic regions and comprised of those who had participated in prior studies performed by Adams. Significant differences were found between the two nations on all identity status subscales in the ideological and interpersonal domains for each sex. The more moderate identity status scale scores evidenced by the Norwegian sample may reflect a cultural trend toward greater moderation in the exploration and commitment process.     

Patient and therapy process variables relating to dropout and change in psychotherapy.

Investigated the relationship between pretherapy patients and process variables and change in 91 19–54 yr old adults who received psychotherapy from 26 trainees at a university teaching hospital. Pretherapy measures included Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and the SCL-90 (Revised). Upon termination of therapy, Ss completed the SCL-90, the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory—Form OS64, and a personal evaluation form; therapists completed a psychotherapy process inventory and a discharge summary. Results indicate that process variables rather than preexisting S traits were the best predictors of outcome. Therapist ratings of Ss' involvement in therapy were the best single predictor of symptomatic change. Variables differentiating dropouts from remainers were also investigated. Few outcome differences were observed between Ss who remained in and Ss who dropped out of therapy. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The future of feminist therapy.

Discusses the development of feminist therapy over the past 20 yrs and its outlook for the future. Feminist therapy is characterized by shared concepts, which include egalitarianism in the therapy relationship and a recognition of the importance of environmental pressures, particularly gender roles and gender-based discrimination. Future directions for feminist therapy include the continuing development of feminist therapy theory, a movement toward a more multicultural perspective, an expansion of populations served by feminist therapists, and the development of more formal standards and training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Should WAIS subjects explain picture arrangement stories?

To determine whether requiring 16-65 yr. old WAIS Ss to explain their Picture Arrangement (PA) sequences affects PA scores, 56 Ss were given the WAIS and asked to tell PA stories, and 102 Ss were given the WAIS under standard instructions. 37 pairs of Ss were matched for age, Full Scale IQ, and reason for referral. No significant differences were found between Ss who told PA stories and those who did not. Findings were contrasted with those of J. Herrell and J. Golland, who found a 2-point scaled score increment on PA for WISC Ss who explained their sequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)