Integrating psychology and philosophy in teaching a graduate course in ethics.

Recent surveys of doctoral and master's programs in clinical psychology suggest that there are major gaps in the frequency and quality of ethical training. After describing a model of the ethical decision-making process, we present a thorough and formal course in ethical issues that integrates the perspectives of psychology and philosophy. The course was team taught by a philosopher and a psychologist to 10 second-year master's-level students in clinical psychology. The first section of the class addressed underlying philosophical issues, including ethical frameworks and principles; the second portion focused on a series of issues that had important value dimensions, including "health and disease," virtue, and several key ethical principles; and the final section focused on applications of these basic concepts to situations typically encountered by psychologists. A follow-up survey of those students engaged in clinical practice 3 months after the completion of the course revealed that they perceived the course to have had a positive impact both attitudinally and behaviorally. Suggestions for others planning to teach such courses are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biaxial stretching of heat-softened plastic sheets: Experiments and results

A second-generation apparatus was built and used to inflate heat-softened plastic sheets to shapes from hemispheres to large spheroidal bubbles. Three sheet materials, polystyrene, high-impact polystyrene, and cellulose acetate butyrate, were successfully formed beyond the hemispherical shape at temperatures somewhat below industrial levels. Four others, rigid poly-(vinyl chloride), an acrylic-modified PVC, cast poly(methyl methacrylate), and polycarbonate, could not be deformed beyond the hemispherical shape without rupture. Measurements included bubble profiles, thickness distributions and local extension ratios for the final bubbles; two plots of profile growth measured from high-speed motion pictures; and a continuous record of bubble temperatures and blowing pressure from which the meridional temperature distributions were plotted. Fifteen bubbles were measured and analyzed. Profiles and extension ratios were compared with those computed from the equations of isotropic, isothermal elasticity, using several different strain-energy functions with constant material parameters. Agreement over all fifteen bubbles on all properties was about ±10.8 percent (absolute) for the best models considered. Bubble growth occurred over periods of 5 to 8 seconds, with about 90 percent of the final area of the larger bubbles being generated in the final 1.5 seconds. The maximum areal elongations obtained were 18,600 percent for clear polystyrene at 238°F, 14,300 percent for high-impact polystyrene at 224°F, and 1,010 percent for cellulose acetate butyrate at 280°F.     

E.s.r. studies on free radicals generated in poly[p-(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzoic acid] fibres at low temperatures

Free radicals generated in stretched and ground poly [p-(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzoic acid] (PEOB) were studied by e.s.r. spectroscopy in an effort to isolate those formed by main chain scission. PEOB fibres stretched at ?86°C in a dry nitrogen atmosphere gave an asymmetric spectrum, which had patterns characteristic of both phenoxy and peroxy radicals in addition to some unknown peaks. The shape of the spectrum changed with increasing temperatures, finally becoming identical to that of phenoxy radicals at room temperature. The phenoxy radical was observed in all PEOB films ground or γ-irradiated in liquid nitrogen. In some cases a small peak of peroxy radical was observed. Theoretical spectra calculated for possible radical species or combinations of them were compared with those observed. No direct evidence was observed of the formation of alkyl type and radicals which were assumed to be formed with phenoxy radicals upon main chain rupture of PEOB. However, the relatively unstable peroxy radical observed in these experiments is thought to arise from them.     

Effects of orientation and chemical structure on the strength properties of some polymers

The stress-strain properties of oriented polymers are measured parallel and perpendicular to the direction of hot stretching. The polymers include styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, vinyl alcohol copolymers, acrylic acid copolymers, polyelecf trolytes, and a high density polyethylene. Polarity and hydrogen bonding tend to increase the strength, especially in the direction perpendicular to the direction of hot stretching. Strong electrostatic bonding in polyelectrolytes and too much polar bonding in styrene-acrylonitrile & polymers decrease the strength by reducing the molecular mobility, which is required to prevent brittleness.     

Utilizing expectancies in alcoholism treatment.

35 veterans who participated in an assertion training program as part of their treatment for alcoholism completed the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ; [S. A. Brown et al; see PA, Vol 65:1217]) and self-evaluations of social competence. The participants were rated on social interaction skills by an independent observer during their initial and final training sessions. Analyses indicated significant relations between the Social and Physical Pleasure scale of the AEQ and improvement in Ss' social competence. Findings provide modest support for the utility of incorporating alcohol expectancies in treatment allocation decisions and suggest that targeting certain expectancies may optimize treatment effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)