Can humans think their way to increased freedom?

In response to Auger's article, “Are Human Beings Free?” several points are made in favor of humans' having at least some degree of free choice or free will: (1) Although partly dependent on biological and social influences for their tastes, people may sometimes actually train themselves to change these tastes and desires. (2) Although logically people may never be totally responsible for their acts, unless we pragmatically hold them responsible for their antisocial behavior we vitiate all moral rules of the social groups in which theychoose to reside. (3) RET can hold people responsible for their wrongdoing and help them to act less wrongfully in the future by teaching them how to condemn theirdeeds andacts but not themselves as humans.     

Gender roles in the experimental community: Rajneeshpuram

This study examined gender roles at the now disbanded commune of Rajneeshpuram in Eastern Oregon. The study was a multimethod, social-psychological research project. It was expected that community members would describe themselves as androgynous. Both men and women scored high on the Feminine scale of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire, and they rated their ideal partners as androgynous. The interviews indicated that women and men did not think of themselves as feminine or androgynous, but rather as “soft.” This concept of softness is not as affect laden as that of femininity, and hence was likely to attenuate the resistance to men becoming more feminine. It was further hypothesized that occupations would have an equal number of women and men. Strict equality was not found, but many occupations manifested more of a gender balance than is seen outside of the commune. In sharp contrast to other findings, femininity was highly correlated with self-esteem.     

Relations among regular and irregular morphologically related words in the lexicon as revealed by repetition priming

Several experiments examined repetition priming among morphologically related words as a tool to study lexical organization. The first experiment replicated a finding by Stanners, Neiser, Hernon, and Hall (Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1979,18, 399-412), that whereas inflected words prime their unaffixed morphological relatives as effectively as do the unaffixed forms themselves, derived words are effective, but weaker, primes. The experiment also suggested, however, that this difference in priming may have an episodic origin relating to the less formal similarity of derived than of inflected words to unaffixed morphological relatives. A second experiment reduced episodic contributions to priming and found equally effective priming of unaffixed words by themselves, by inflected relatives, and by derived relatives. Two additional experiments found strong priming among relatives sharing the spelling and pronunciation of the unaffixed stem morpheme, sharing spelling alone, or sharing neither formal property exactly. Overall, results with auditory and visual presentations were similar. Interpretations that repetition priming reflects either repeated access to a common lexical entry or associative semantic priming are both rejected in favor of a lexical organization in which components of a word (e.g., a stem morpheme) may be shared among distinct words without the words themselves, in any sense, sharing a “lexical entry.”     

Another look at physicians' treatment of men and women with common complaints

A recent study of San Diego patients found that men received more extensive and appropriate diagnostic workups than women did for five common complaints (Armitage, K. J., Schneiderman, L. J., & Bass, R. A. Journal of the American Medical Association 1979, 241 2186–2187). This article is a broader analysis of medical care given to men and women for those complaints (fatigue, headache, vertigo/dizziness, chest pain, back pain), and it uses a national survey of ambulatory-care visits. We find that medical care is usually similar for men and women. When significant sex differences do appear, they often show that women receive more medical care during a visit. To some extent, differential care stems from different medical needs that men and women with a complaint have; when some medically relevant factors are controlled, half of the significant sex differences disappear. But half persist, and this suggests that psychosocial factors also underlie differential care for men and women. These may originate with patients (for example, their requests for particular services) or with physicians (for example stereotypes of men and women patients). In contrast to the San Diego study, the national data show that (1) women sometimes receive more diagnostic workups for the five complaints, and (2) when medical factors are controlled, sex differences in the extent and content of workups disappear. The only exception is that men with vertigo/dizziness receive more appropriate workups.     

Gender differences in perceptions of leadership

A study was conducted to examine gender differences in perceptions of leadership. Subjects (N=320) were assigned to same-sex groups of four to six members. The groups participated in a leaderless group discussion and then assessed characteristics of their own and their peers' leadership. The subjects also completed a self-esteem inventory. Correlational analyses revealed that when evaluating their peers, both men and women associated being a leader and having leadership skills with an authoritarian leadership style. In self-perceptions, however, women associated having positive leadership skills with an authoritarian style, but men associated their own leadership skills with a democratic style. The self-esteem of both genders was differentially related to their perceptions of leadership style. These results suggest that men and women hold a leadership stereotype which equates the leadership skills of their peers with an authoritarian style of leadership. However, women but not men base their assessments of their own leadership skills on this leadership stereotype.     

Promotion of Sexual Health and Sexual Responsibility in Women’s Health and Men’s Health Magazines

This study analyzed the promotion of sexual health and sexual responsibility in Women’s Health and Men’s Health magazines as characterized by the Surgeon General’s Call to Action along with sexual health objectives targeted by Healthy People 2020 and sexual healthy behavior outcomes established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This study also identified the most frequently addressed sexual health topics included in Women’s Health and Men’s Health. Two coders conducted a content analysis of a total of 599 articles from 64 issues (32 Women’s Health and 32 Men’s Health) published between January 2009 and November 2012. More than half of all articles addressing sexual health were found to promote sexual health (57 %). Promotion of sexual responsibility was rare with variables such as ensuring that pregnancy occurs only when desired, recognition and tolerance for diversity, limiting the number of sexual partners, and using birth control consistently each mentioned in <3 % of articles in this study sample. Among topics coded, improving sex life (29 %), what men like (19 %), and what women like (18 %) were the most common in Women’s Health while What women like (46 %), improving sex life (27 %), and other men’s sexual health (16 %) were the most frequent topics in Men’s Health. Among the least common topics mentioned were homosexuality (0.16 %) and HIV/AIDS (0.33 %). No articles addressed rape or dating violence.     

Comparison of vibrotactile threshold and suprathreshold responses in men and women

Vibrotactile tb:resholds were measured on the thenar eminence of 12 men and 12 women at 10 sinusoidal frequencies. No significant differences between the two groups were observed. Magnitude estimation and production procedures carried out with 6 men and 6 women from the same groups showed that women perceive suprathreshold vibration stimuli as more intense than do men, although women and men do not differ in their estimation of the length of lines.     

The relationship of sex-role identity,life style,and mental health in suburban american homemakers: 1. Sex role,employment and adjustment

Prior research has suggested that a traditional feminine role may be a mental health liability for women. The present study investigates whether adjustment difficulties among homemakers may be a function of discrepancies between life roles and sex-role orientation. Subjects were 97 suburban mothers divided into full (N=59) and part-time (N=38) homemaker groups. Each subject was given the Bem Sex Role Inventory and SCL-90-R, which yields nine symptom scores and an overall adjustment index. A 4 (sex-roles) by 2 (homemaker status) ANOVA for overall adjustment was carried out. Significant differences were found only for sex roles, androgynous subjects showing significantly less symptomatology than undifferentiated subjects. In a stepwise multiple discriminant analysis, to predict sex roles from the nine symptom scores, masculine and androgynous groups reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity much less frequently than feminine and undifferentiated subjects. High masculinity among this group of women (masculine or androgynous sex-role orientation) thus appears as a key factor related to adjustment, whereas life role-sex role consistency does not.     

The influence of gender role typing on the expression of depressive symptoms

This study investigated the influence of gender role typing on the expression of depressive symptoms. Previous research (Padesky & Hammen, 1981) has found that men and women differ in their expression of depressive symptoms and has proposed gender role expectations as a possible explanation. This study considered gender role typing as a possible moderating factor of depressive symptoms. Undergraduates (99 men, 360 women) were divided into masculine and feminine groups according to the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Gender role typing differences emerged on the BDI with feminine subjects reporting more emotional symptoms than masculine subjects (p<.05) and masculine subjects reporting more withdrawal and somatic symptoms than feminine subjects (p<.05). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that depressive symptoms are influenced by societal expectations. Future research should consider the influence of gender role typing on the expression of depressive symptoms.     

Attitudes Towards Potentially Carrying the FMR1 Premutation: Before vs After Testing of Non-Carrier Females with Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and premature ovarian failure are associated with elevated FMR1 CGG repeat alleles. We assessed pretest attitudes about potentially carrying the FMR1 premutation (FXP) (>55 CGG repeats) among reproductive age women compared with attitudes after learning their non-carrier status. Ninety-two women with DOR, regular menses and no family history of Fragile X Syndrome underwent FMR1 testing and completed attitudinal questionnaires before (T1) and 3 months after learning the test results (T2). The analysis utilized signed rank tests and α?=?0.05. Very few women thought they were likely to have a FXP (6.6 %). More participants thought FMR1 premutations were “serious” at T2 (62.9 %) than at T1 (46.1 %, p?p?相似文献   

BMI,age, Mate Value,and Intrasexual Competition in Chilean Women

Attractiveness is the most important component of women intrasexual competition and it certainly has an impact in female’s perceived mate value (i.e., the value of an individual to the opposite sex as a potential mate). In the realm of intrasexual competition women are eager to emphasize their attractiveness and compete with rivals displaying these cues. Accordingly, age is an important feature of women’s appeal to the opposite sex; youth is highly valued by men, and is perceived by women as an important component of their attractiveness. Another trait that is a reliable cue of health and fertility is Body Mass Index (BMI). A large body of literature has associated BMI to female attractiveness. However, more information is necessary about the associations of BMI and age with mate value, and female intrasexual competition. In the present research we report two studies that examined the associations of BMI and age with estimates of self-perceived mate value and intrasexual competition in Chilean women (18–39 years). More specifically, we hypothesized inverse relationships of BMI and age with mate value (N?=?234), and intrasexual competition (N?=?308). We found partial support to our propositions. The results revealed inverse associations between BMI, mate value and mating success, but BMI with intrasexual competition were not related. In contrast, age had a strong and negative effect on intrasexual competition. We discuss our results within the framework of Evolutionary Psychology and consider the central role of attractiveness (estimated from BMI and age) in the mating strategies of women.     

Timing of Parenthood and Generativity Development: An Examination of Age and Gender Effects in Turkish Sample

Many studies have been published so far indicating that generativity, which is the psychological need to care for and give back to the next generation, is commonly considered in relation to parenthood. The present study investigates links between the age of first parenthood and the societal generativity development and life satisfaction among the young (aged from 29 to 35) and middle aged (aged from 40 to 55) adults in Turkish male and female sample (n = 156). Data were collected through self-report questionnaires including the satisfaction with life scale, Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS), generative behavior checklist (GBC) and demographic information. Results revealed that in general, women had higher score on generativity behavior (which was measured by GBC) than men. Additionally, the interaction effect of gender and timing of parenthood revealed a significant main effect on both generativity concern (LGS) and generative acts (GBC). Specifically, compared to late fathers (>26 years), late mothers had higher score on both generativity concern (LGS) and generative behavior (GBC), and compared to late fathers, early mothers (<25 years) also had a higher score on generative behavior (GBC). While among women age of parenthood did not differ across groups with regard to generativity, among men, age of parenthood was related to generative behavior. The present study revealed that females were already significantly more generative than males of their age-group and the timing of having one’s first child seems to have some critical effect on the development of father’s generativity. Explanations for the findings are framed in terms of gender roles and cultural factors.     

Behavior and personality assessment in men labeled adaptive sociopaths

Few efforts have been made to understand antisocial-prone individuals who maintain adaptive functioning. This study identified a sample of potentially deviant but adaptively functioning persons to determine whether they differed significantly from their more conforming peers. A small sample of men was selected by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-defined criteria for sociopathy and compared with MMPI-defined normals of similar ages, backgrounds, and intelligence. Response variables were those cited in the literature as characteristic of sociopathic psychopathology and included measures of abilities to plan ahead and inhibit impulsiveness, sensation seeking, interpersonal performance and style, and behavior conformity. Men labeled adaptive sociopaths showed greater impulsiveness and needs for experience seeking, earned lower scores on measures of socialization and self-control, and admitted greater adolescent behavior deviance. They were not shown to be less empathetic or less able to relate interpersonally in interview. The potential role of socially constructive self-determined goals and tangible vocational rewards as mediators of adaptive behavior are discussed in terms of overcoming antisocial tendencies and attenuation of behavior disinhibition.     

Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Women: Association with Body Mass Index and Demographic Characteristics

The aim of present study was determination of the level of physical activity in overweight and obese women and its association with body mass index and various socio-demographic characteristics. In the present cross-sectional survey, the translated and validated form of International physical activity questionnaire was completed by 300 overweight and obese women from Iran-Tabriz. For each activity level, the MET-time value was calculated. The weight and height of subjects were measured and the BMI was calculated. In addition, subjects were asked to indicate their age, marital and socioeconomic status (including employment, educational status, salaries and material endowments) using a general information questionnaire. The One-way ANOVA, Independent t-test, multiple linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Approximately, 45 % of women were physically inactive. Overweight women were more likely to be physically active as compared to obese, while the lowest physical activity rates were observed in older participants. With increasing age, the time spent in vigorous physical activity declined significantly (p-value?=?0.004). Physically active women had higher Socio-economic status. The average time spent on vigorous physical activities were significantly more in single than married women (p-value?相似文献   

Masochism and piety

A recent tract,The Whipping, is parallel in many ways to both Victorian flagellation pornography and medieval flagellation penance movements. The spirituality ofThe Whipping is seen to be basically masochistic. The same trend is easily seen inmuch standard pietistic literature. The question is raised whether the spiritual masochism does not represent a repressed and sublimated sexual masochism. If so, then Christians should ask themselves if they can consistently condemm sexual masochism while advocating its spritual counterpart, or vice versa.     

Data on the Conners Teacher Rating Scale from a British clinic population

Conners Teacher Rating Scales were completed on 124 boys aged between 5 and 11 years who attended the child guidance clinics of a large southeast London psychiatric hospital. Comparisons were made with the data provided by Conners (Am. J. Psychiat., 1969,126, 884–888) in which the factor structure of the scale was first identified. This was in response to a reported failure to replicate the scales factor structure in a clinic population despite a number of confirmatory studies on large numbers of children in general populations. Of the scale's five original factors, three were clearly identified. The other two, labeled Hyperactivity and Inattentive-Passive, comprised a single factor. A fifth weaker factor not identified by Conners (1969) was found, consisting principally of antisocial conduct items. The results are seen as providing further evidence of the scales robustness in this, the only other reported clinic study and one in which British children were used for the first time.