The psychological costs of chance over choice in reproduction.

Comments on an article by W. B. Miller (see record 1984-17604-001) that asserts that humans have moved from a passive adaptation to an active regulation of reproduction. Although Miller addressed the psychological sequelae of increasing control over reproduction, it is argued that he oversimplified the psychological contingencies of perceived high choice in reproduction. Some of the more recent technological advances appear to facilitate choice while only nominally increasing the chance of conception. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lipe Ignored Obvious Hypothesis.

Comments on an article by D. Lipe (see record 1972-10723-001) on the subject of incentives to fertility control, and how to get women to limit their families. The current author suggests that Lipe is missing an obvious hypothesis: If you raise girls to be mothers, and if you deny them fair and equal access to every occupation except housewifery and motherhood, it should not surprise anyone that they insist on becoming mothers not just once or twice, but three or four or six times. It appears to not occur to Lipe that the best way to discourage excessive reproduction might be to permit women equal access to the satisfactions of life other than parenthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In defense of anagenesis, grades, and evolutionary scales.

It is shown that the 1st 3 criticisms by J. P. Capitanio and D. W. Leger (see record 1979-30020-001) of the M. Yarczower and L. Hazlett (see record 1978-24293-001) article are unfounded and that the 4th is premature: (a) Contemporary leaders in the study of evolution define anagenesis in the same way as did Yarczower and Hazlett. (b) Their use of the term "evolutionary grade" was internally consistent and consistent with usage by E. Mayr (1975), whom Capitanio and Leger cited as having used it differently. (c) Classification of species into higher taxa does not represent "typological thinking." (d) Although analyses by grades of social behaviors are more difficult than those of sensory systems, as was noted by Yarczower and Hazlett, it is premature to conclude that the effort will not bear fruit. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

La manipulation d'indices kinesthésiques et tactiles lors d'une tache de reproduction de mouvement.

Reexamined the effect of several variables on the performance of the kinesthetic system. A classical movement duplication task was used in which each of the 48 18-38 yr old Ss was required to duplicate a passive criterion movement of one arm by positioning the same arm. Six factors were manipulated in a randomized design with fixed effects: mode of duplication (passive, active), tactile sensation (limb uncovered, limb covered, limb covered with forced air currents), kinesthetic cues for reproduction (either final arm position or distance moved), the sector of presentation of the criterion movement (43-76°, 87-217°, 128-264° in a horizontal arm adduction movement), information load (1, 2, or 4 criterion demonstrations of the movement), and the starting position of duplication. Constant and variable errors were used as dependent variables. Results confirm that active duplication was superior to passive, concerning variable, but not constant error. Duplication of final arm position was better than duplication of distance moved, also concerning only variable error. Two significant interactions (mode of duplication by kinesthetic cues, and kinesthetic cues by starting position of duplication) were found. Results indicate that final location cue and starting position of duplication are important markers in accurate reproduction. It is suggested that joint afference is transformed into a motor plan compatible with active duplication. (English summary) (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual reproduction and population dynamics: the role of polygyny and demographic sex differences

Most models of population dynamics do not take sexual reproduction into account (i.e., they do not consider the role of males). However, assumptions behind this practice--that no demographic sex differences exist and males are always abundant enough to fertilize all the females--are usually not justified in natural populations. On the contrary, demographic sex differences are common, especially in polygynous species. Previous models that consider sexual reproduction report a stabilizing effect through mixing of different genotypes, thus suggesting a decrease in the propensity for complex of dynamics in sexually reproducing populations. Here we show that considering the direct role of males in reproduction and density dependence leads to the conclusion that a two-sex model is not necessarily more stable compared with the corresponding one-sex model. Although solutions exist where sexual reproduction has a stabilizing effect even when no genotypic variability is included (primarily when associated with monogamy), factors like polygyny, sex differences in survival or density dependence, and possible alterations of the primary sex ratio (the Trivers-Willard mechanism), may enlarge the parametric region of complex dynamics. Sexual reproduction therefore does not necessarily increase the stability of population dynamics and can have destabilizing effects, at least in species with complicated mating systems and sexual dimorphism.     

The correlates of conflict: Disagreement is not necessarily detrimental.

In this study, the authors examined whether concurrent associations between adolescent outcomes and disagreements with mothers, fathers, and best friends vary as a function of perceived relationship quality. Participants were 469 11- to 18-year-old youths from a culturally diverse community. Negative qualities of parent-adolescent and friend relationships were linked to adjustment problems (aggression, anxiety and depression, delinquency, and withdrawal). Positive qualities of parent-adolescent relationships were linked to school grades and adjustment problems. Nonlinear associations between conflict and adolescent outcomes were moderated by negative qualities of relationships such that increases in conflict from low to moderate levels were linked to (a) higher school grades for adolescents in better but not poorer quality relationships and (b) greater delinquency and withdrawal for adolescents in poorer but not better quality relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpreting relapse curves.

W. A. Hunt et al (see record 1972-09232-001) argued that the shape of the relapse curves for smoking, alcohol, and heroin supports a learning conception of relapse in terms of decay of extinction. The present article shows, however, that the relapse curve cannot suggest or support a theory of relapse. Like all survival curves, it reflects the operation of 1 or both of 2 general processes—selection of the surviving individuals and changes in individuals' probabilities of survival—neither of which are specific to relapse. However, by comparing individuals who relapse soon after treatment with those who relapse later or remain abstinent, one may be able to identify the factors influencing probability of survival and to develop a theory of relapse. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Suicide and Self-Damaging Behavior: A Sociobiological Perspective.

Reviews the book, Suicide and Self-Damaging Behavior: A Sociobiological Perspective by Denys deCatanzaro (1981). Ultimately, it seems to me, this book does not persuasively present and support a useful, new approach to suicide. The author seeks to understand how self-destructive behaviour has existed in more or less constant frequency throughout human history, given evolutionary pressures toward species survival. His basic argument, elaborated extensively throughout the book, is that "those committing suicide are generally those with relative difficulties in reproductive and socially productive activities" and thus do not contribute as much to the "inclusive fitness" of the population. Even given the accuracy of his generalizations, the author must account for the seemingly maladaptive exceptions to the rule--that is, self-destructive behaviour among those who can still contribute positively to the population gene pool. In so doing, he turns to so many exceptions as to make the argument almost meaningless. The book concludes with suggestions for further research. Some of these suggestions (e.g., the role of ecologically novel environments on suicide) are promising. Others sound naive ("We need data allowing a partitioning of learned and nonlearned aspects of suicidal behavior"). It is not clear how the suggested research studies would demonstrate the validity of the sociobiological model, which seems incapable of empirical disproof. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The 3-4/4-3 MMPI code type in an offender population: An update on levels of hostility and violence.

Levels of hostility and type of crime committed were compared in 94 male offenders with either 3-4 or 4-3 MMPI high point pairs and in 94 randomly selected offenders (mean age for all Ss 31 yrs) without these codes who were matched for race with the 3-4/4-3 group. The samples were drawn from all male offenders entering a state prison system over 5 yrs. Self-report measures included the MMPI, Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory, and Monroe Dyscontrol Scale. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that those with 3-4 codes did not differ from those with 4-3 codes. Except for higher scores on Megargee's Overcontrolled-Hostility scale, the combined 3-4/4-3 offenders either did not differ from or scored lower than the comparison group on type of crime and all self-report measures of hostility, anger, episodic dyscontrol, and violence. Neither these results nor the majority of research on 3-4/4-3 profiles supports these codes as evidence of a proclivity for violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Body-image boundaries and style of life.

Rorschach protocols, previously found to contain the richest data concerning body-image boundaries were scored for two variables represented by a Barrier score and a Penetration of the Boundary score. "It would appear that those who emphasize the armoring qualities of their body boundaries differ from those who do not in a greater interest in muscular expression, higher aspiration, a greater frequency of physical complaints involving the exterior layers of the body, and a tendency to perceive others as concealing their true intentions behind a deceptive facade." 29 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Supports crisis phone services.

The author takes issue with comments made by D. Lester (see record 1990-57067-001) that hotline telephone counseling is unsupervised, executed by poorly trained individuals, and potentially dangerous in that such agencies may violate professional ethics. This type of attitude toward paraprofessional efforts represents an elitism within the mental health field that posits nonacademically trained individuals as being unable to lend constructive support and help to other human beings. The ability to empathize, listen, offer suggestions, and simply to "be there" in a time of crisis are not "trainable" qualities, nor qualities that need "supervision" as Lester implies, but rather constitute the best of being human. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family experience and the child's development.

Discusses the evidence for 3 premises implicit in theories of human development: (a) the assumption that a particular set of conditions is inevitably associated with a fixed set of consequences for all children, (b) the continuation of psychological structures established early in life, and (c) the importance of the mother–infant bond. Data are presented that question the validity of these presuppositions. It is suggested that the form of early care that is best for the child—in the adaptive sense—is the one that leads to, or is productive of, the culture's favored qualities, and therefore, no regimen of early care is best for all psychological qualities. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What is wrong with daily life in the Western world?

Examines 5 Western cultural practices that have eroded the contingencies of reinforcement under which humans have evolved by promoting pleasing effects of behavior consequences at the expense of strengthening effects. The cultural practices described are as follows: (a) alienating workers from the consequences of their work, (b) helping those who are capable of helping themselves, (c) guiding behavior with rules rather than supplying reinforcing consequences, (d) maintaining aversive sanctions of governments and religions with long-deferred benefits for the individual, and (e) reinforcing pleasures that are not contingent on the survival of the culture or species. It is suggested that these cultural practices have resulted in apathy and stagnation in Western culture. It is proposed that these effects can be reversed by restoring more strengthening contingencies of behavior through the application of principles derived from an experimental analysis of behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does anyone really believe that alcoholism is a disease?

Asserts, in response to S. Peele's (see record 1985-28347-001) observations about the cultural context of psychological approaches to alcoholism, that alcoholism is not a disease but a social phenomenon and that those who do believe that alcoholism is a disease do not act as if they truly believe that it is. It is argued that if those who claim that alcoholism is a disease believed that it is in fact a disease, they would act to eliminate it as a threat to society. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prospective sexual behavior.

Discusses W. B. Miller's (see record 1984-17604-001) use of the term "proceptive" in his analysis of reproductive freedom. It is argued that the continuum from contraceptive to proceptive forms only one part of the complex spectrum of human sexual behavior and that, because much of modern human sexuality deliberately avoids conception and reproduction, it is essential to consider the continuum from "conceptive" to "extraceptive" as well. It is suggested that most people will probably exercise some degree of proceptive sex choice as to their offspring when that choice does not require surgical procedures like amniocentesis and when the effectuation does not demand abortion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Practicing self-control lowers the risk of smoking lapse.

Recent research has suggested that practicing small acts of self-control can lead to an improvement in self-control performance. Because smoking cessation requires self-control, it was hypothesized that a treatment that builds self-control should help in quitting smoking. A total of 122 smokers either practiced small acts of self-control for 2 weeks before quitting smoking or practiced a task that increased their awareness of self-control or feelings of confidence, without exercising self-control. Their smoking status was assessed using daily telephone calls and biochemically verified. Individuals who practiced self-control remained abstinent longer than those who practiced tasks that did not require self-control. Supplemental analyses suggested that the increased survival times were a product of building self-control strength and were not produced by changes in feelings that practicing should help in cessation, effort exerted on the practice task, or thinking more about self-control while practicing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Limitations on verbal reports of internal events: A refutation of Nisbett and Wilson and of Bem.

Discusses R. E. Nisbett and T. D. Wilson's (see PA, Vols 59:295 and 62:3612) work on the limitations to conscious awareness of mental processes. In particular, it is suggested that their theoretical stance is not clearly formulated, that they make unwarranted assumptions about the relationship between conscious awareness and the process and the verbal report, and that their experiments do not provide information on consciousness. Some methodological recommendations are listed, and a brief report is given of some experimental findings that run counter to those of Nisbett and Wilson and also to those of D. Bem (see record 1967-13425-001) in regard to his "self-perception theory." (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Schachter on obesity.

Argues that the characteristics of the obese behavior syndrome identified by S. Schachter (see record 1971-24450-001) are suited to the survival of the predator. Two types of hypothalamic ventral nuclei (HVN) are suggested: the predator-facilitating HVN and the vegetarian-facilitating HVN. It is proposed that obese individuals are misplaced hunters programmed for an environment that does not exist in most parts of the modern world. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cattell replies to Becker's "comments."

A reply to comments made by Becker (see record 1962-03097-001) regarding R. B. Cattel's original article (see record 1962-03095-001). The positive conceptual and experimental contributions of my paper appearing since his comments, he either misses or ignores, since they show: (a) that it was impossible for him to reach any intelligible conclusion on the theory without recognizing and developing the necessary corrections for attenuation and perturbation, and (b) that the facts which he says I must and do recognize are those chosen by Becker from experiments with older techniques. Science moves on, and the new facts which I present from technically more advanced designs show that the same factor simultaneously loads on the hypothesized markers for both the rating and the questionnaire factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)