Frustration theory: Many years later.

The role of frustration in learning theory, in the invigoration of behavior and in the development of learned persistence and discrimination learning, is conceptualized. This and other phenomena are facets of the larger explanatory domain of what has come to be known as frustration theory, a theory that has guided the author's own research (from behavioral to developmental to psychobiological) until the present time and has had some influence on the research of other investigators. This is a commentary on the first of several published theoretical papers on the frustration theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sufficient and necessary conditions: Misused terms.

Notes that although the terms sufficient and necessary are absolute in nature and allow no counterexamples, psychologists inappropriately apply them to probabilistic outcomes. Misuse of the terms leads to confusion and the creation of pseudoissues, as illustrated in the argument over whether therapist warmth is a necessary or sufficient condition in behavioral desensitization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The distinction between sympathy and empathy: To call forth a concept, a word is needed.

Discusses the ways in which the terms sympathy and empathy have been used in psychology and suggests that these terms (a) have different historical roots, (b) have been utilized in different research paradigms, and (c) have been involved in different kinds of theorizing. It is suggested that sympathy refers to the heightened awareness of another's plight as something to be alleviated, whereas empathy refers to the attempt of one self-aware self to understand the subjective experiences of another. It is argued that these are different psychological processes and that the differences between them should not be obfuscated. (98 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Show versus no show: A comparison of referral calls to a suicide prevention and crisis service.

Conducted an exploratory content analysis of 20 pairs of taped telephone calls to a suicide prevention and crisis service. Variables that might differentiate between referrals resulting in "show" and those resulting in "no show," were studied. A show and a no show call for each of 20 telephone therapists were coded. It is concluded that a scale based on 6 indexes would differentiate between the 2 groups. Motivation of the caller for getting help and the concreteness of the therapist emerged as most important factors in the 6-item scale. The relationship between this research and a crisis intervention model is discussed. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The state of psychological theory as illustrated by Melzack's new conceptual nervous system model/theory: Strong on imaginativeness but weak in inference.

Melzack's (see record 1989-30022-001) paper typifies the highly imaginative conceptual contributions that he has made in psychology. Moreover, as usual, there is close attention paid to applied relevance, rather than constraining his contribution to "ivory-tower," purely academic considerations. However, in my view, it is not at all clear that the New Conceptual Nervous System (NCNS) proposed by Melzack (1989, pp. 6-13) represents a genuine scientific advance in understanding and control. What is in doubt is whether there is any strong inference possible to ensure that changes in theoretical positions are due to evidential and logical considerations, rather than merely faddish ones. As I see it, there are at least three problems that tend to prevent such strong inference-based progress. The first problem is that Melzack follows the currently fashionable practice of using the terms "theory" and "model" (and, at times "approach") as if they were equivalent. The second problem is that although the central explanatory concepts of the new position are more complicated and imaginative than those of the old explanations, it is not clear that they are any less vague. The third problem is apparent from a consideration of the general structure of the paper with regard to the implications of the new CNS position. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A re-reading of Studies on Hysteria: the Freud-Breuer break revisited.

Argues that the commonly accepted view that J. Breuer and Freud ended their relationship simply because the former objected to the latter's claim as to the sexual etiology of the psychoneuroses is a myth (propounded by Freud and E. Jones) that masked an ongoing polemic in Studies on Hysteria. Breuer objected to Freud's claim that symbolic processes unconsciously determine symptoms. What disturbed both Freud and Breuer was Freud's vision of an interpenetration of intelligence and sexuality operating according to the laws of language completely out of the ego's awareness. The unconscious link between sexuality and intellection remains as problematic today. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Balance theory, unit relations, and attribution: The underlying integrity of Heiderian theory.

Fritz Heider's theory of social perception is reviewed, and the close connection between attribution, balance, and unit relationship are examined, primarily through Heider's own writings. Attribution and balance have historically been considered separate theories, but the authors show how these two ideas, in conjunction with the idea of unit formation, create a broad-ranging and integrated theory of social perception. Attributions were seen by Heider as a particular kind of unit relationship, and people make attributions that preserve an affectively consistent view of others. The authors then show how this integrated understanding of Heider's ideas generates new predictions and informs a wide range of clinical, personality, and social psychological phenomena, as a reminder of the modern power of Heider's theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trait as Default: Extraversion, Subjective Well-Being, and the Distinction Between Neutral and Positive Events.

On the basis of prior work suggesting that trait self-knowledge serves a "fill-in" function when event-specific information is missing (M. D. Robinson & G. L. Clore, 2002a), we sought to demonstrate that extraversion is a more reliable predictor of subjective well-being (SWB) judgments among certain individuals than among others. Four studies involving a total of 260 participants revealed that the extraversion-SWB relation was relatively weaker among those quick to appreciate the distinction between neutral and positive events in a choice reaction-time task; by contrast, it was stronger among those slow to recognize this distinction. The findings suggest that extraversion scales measure (among other things) beliefs about SWB that differentially contribute to judgments among those less capable of making evaluative distinctions at encoding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Yesterday and tomorrow: Development of early understanding of the terms.

Data from 90 2-, 3-, and 4-yr-old children indicate that there is a differential pattern of comprehension of the terms "yesterday" and "tomorrow" among the 3 age groups. Findings also suggest that the Ss learned the terms in an asymmetrical manner, with "yesterday" being understood as having 2 referential aspects (i.e., a time other than this day and past time) and "tomorrow" being understood only in terms of future reference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Midazolam amnesia and conceptual processing in implicit memory.

Prominent theories of implicit memory (D. Schacter, B. Church, & J. Treadwell, 1994) emphasize the dominant role of perceptual processing in mediating priming on perceptual implicit memory tests. Examinations of the effects of conceptual processing on perceptual implicit memory tests have produced ambiguous results. Although a number of investigations (e.g., J. Toth & R. Hunt, 1990) have demonstrated that variations in conceptual processing affect priming on perceptual implicit memory tests, these effects may arise because of the contaminating effects of explicit memory. The current experiment examined this controversy using midazolam, a benzodiazepine that produces a dense, albeit temporary, anterograde amnesia when injected prior to study. The experiment examined whether the effects of generation found on the implicit memory test of perceptual identification were affected by a midazolam injection prior to study. Results demonstrated that midazolam substantially diminished generation effects in free and cued recall, as well as overall performance on these tests, but had no detectable effect on the generation effect in perceptual identification. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the featured section: Psychological and behavioral studies in cancer prevention and control.

Provides an introduction to a featured section in which articles by M. L. Fitzgibbon et al, K. D. McCaul et al, K. D. McCaul et al, and C. Classen et al (see records #199606991-002, #199606991-003, #199606991-004, and #199606991-005, respectively) examine the psychological and behavioral aspects of cancer, both as a risk and as a reality. These articles provide the opportunity to highlight exemplars of prevention and control research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial/ethnic minority research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology: A content analysis and methodological critique.

A content analysis was conducted of all racial/ethnic minority-focused research appearing in the Journal of Counseling Psychology over the 11-year period from 1976 to 1986. During this period 934 articles and brief reports were published, of which 53 (5.7%) had a racial/ethnic minority focus. The 53 articles were systematically reviewed for their sample characteristics and methodological considerations. The sample characteristics that were examined included ethnic groups studied, general populations sampled, and geographic breakdown of samples used. Methodological design characteristics that were investigated included general research designs incorporated, examination of within-group differences, outcome measures used, cultural sensitivity of instrumentation, acknowledgment of sample generalizability limits, and presence of conceptual or theoretical frameworks in developing research hypotheses. Data accumulated in the report were used as a base within which to examine major research methodology criticisms that have consistently appeared in recent ethnic minority literature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonspecific influences in group counterconditioning: A methodological and conceptual critique.

A review of group counterconditioning outcome research published from 1965 to 1975 found widespread methodological inadequacies and an absence of conclusive evidence for the efficacy of group counterconditioning beyond an alternative explanation for treatment effects. An analysis based on small group principles is used to show how group sources of nonspecific influence operate in group counterconditioning. In addition, a hypothetical model predicting group nonspecific effects germane to certain counterconditioning procedures is described. Critical reflections are presented vis-à-vis other forms of group treatment on the significance of the nonspecific influences operating in group counterconditioning. (French summary) (3? p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trends in psychotherapy process research: Samples, measures, researchers, and classic publications.

Psychotherapy studies published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP) and the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (JCCP) between 1978 and 1992 were examined. Differences were found between the 2 journals. JCP published mostly process, outcome, and analog research, whereas JCCP published mostly outcome research. Most process and process-outcome studies across journals were of individual, brief therapy. Across the years, more diversity was evident in samples used in process research in terms of student status, gender, and race of clients and therapists. Three content areas were prominent in the process measures and classic studies: therapist techniques, therapist influence, and facilitative conditions. Lists are provided of the frequently used measures, most productive authors, and classic studies in process research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Publishing in the Journal of Educational Psychology: Reflections at midstream.

Discusses editorial policy of the Journal of Educational Psychology with respect to substantive, procedural, and ethical issues. Research should make substantive contributions and conceptually integrate recent developments bearing on the topic. Procedural concerns involve terminological clarity, confounding and controlled factors, the effects of a laboratory orientation on classroom research, and the appropriateness of a statistical analysis. Ethical issues include piecemeal and duplicate publications, plagiarism, and falsification/fabrication of data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intact perceptual and conceptual priming in temporal lobe epilepsy: Neuroanatomical and methodological implications.

Explicit memory appears to be supported by medical temporal lobe structures, whereas separate neocortical regions may mediate perceptual and conceptual implicit memory. Children and adults with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and matched controls were administered experimental verbal memory tests. Performance on implicit tests--word identification and word generation--was contrasted with explicit recognition and recall. Encoding conditions emphasized either conceptual or perceptual aspects of study words and were crossed with presentation modality. The priming performance of participants with TLE did not differ from controls, but participants with TLE did show deficits on recognition and recall measures. Thus, intact left temporal cortex does not appear to be necessary for normal implicit memory performance, even when conceptual processing is emphasized at study or test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attributing responsibility for an accident: A methodological and conceptual critique.

Reviews research on attribution of responsibility for an accident. It is concluded that empirical support for the various defensive attribution hypotheses is very weak. An alternate explanation based upon socially learned norms shows promise of being a more viable explanation. Existing studies have used inappropriate experimental settings and inadequate dependent measures. Adequate research must consider normative standards, foreseeability, external contributors, individual and cultural differences, and the multidimensionality of responsibility judgments. (French summary) (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theory and experimental roles: Comment on Danziger.

Refutes K. Danziger's (see record 1986-00068-001) suggestion that the temptation to engage in fruitless speculation about the "chicken and egg" problem of the priority of theoretical orientation and the social practices involved in investigation must be resisted and expands Danziger's notion that psychologists should study individuals. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression research methodologies in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: A review and critique.

Personality and social psychological studies of depression and depressive phenomena have become more methodologically sophisticated in recent years. In response to earlier problems in this literature, investigators have formulated sound suggestions for research designs. Studies of depression published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP) between 1988 and 1993 were reviewed to evaluate how well these recommendations have been followed. Forty-one articles were examined for adherence to 3 suggestions appearing consistently in the literature: (a) multiple assessment periods, (b) multiple assessment methods, and (c) appropriate comparison groups. The studies published in JPSP have not adhered well to these standards. The authors recommend resetting minimum methodological criteria for studies of depression published in the premier journal in personality and social psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)