The Rorschach "Father" and "Mother" cards: an evaluation of the research

An evaluation the research concerning the identification of Rorschach Cards IV and VII as the "Father" and "Mother" cards, respectively, was conducted. Although some support for the hypothesis was found, inconsistencies in methodology and population preclude any accurate evaluation of the data across studies, and lead to the conclusion that such an identification should not be made. Tables were constructed which compare the differences in hypotheses, methodologies, and results of the research.     

The "psychosomatic family" model: an empirical and theoretical analysis

Evolution of the Family Systems Paradigm has been constrained by the dichotomy between theory building and empirical research. This article integrates these two domains by presenting a theoretical analysis of the "psychosomatic family" model as it informs and is informed by an empirical research project. Forty families of children with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and functional recurrent abdominal pain syndrome (RAP) were rated during standard, videotaped family interaction tasks, lunch, and interview. Laboratory scores of disease activity were associated with triangulation, marital dysfunction, and total "psychosomatic family" scores. Disease activity was not significantly correlated with enmeshment, overprotection, rigidity, conflict avoidance, or poor conflict resolution. Thus, the marital/triangulation and enmeshment/overprotection/conflict clusters may be subcomplexes of the "psychosomatic family" complex. CD, UC, and RAP groups differed in the relations among particular family patterns and disease activity. A heuristic family-psycho-somatic model is presented to facilitate future research.     

The measurement of pupillary dilation: A facilitating apparatus

The measurement of pupillary dilation has been facilitated by the invention of new sophisticated devices such as remote eye trackers. However, they are expensive and immobile, making their use impossible in studies with low budgets or those conducted outside of the laboratory. As a result, the conventional and tedious method of manually recording the pupil sizes from negatives of movie films, frame by frame, must still be used. The conventional method suffers from various limitations and is quite slow. The present article describes an optical apparatus that overcomes most of the limitations of the conventional method and, hence, increases the measurement efficiency.     

The double-alternative, double-start experimental apparatus: A new procedure for measuring preference

A new experimental chamber is described that permits rats to demonstrate behavioral preference for one of two conditions by running towards a goal chamber by one of two routes that are correlated with the different conditions. In a preliminary study, rats chose a route correlated with relatively lower shock, demonstrating the sensitivity of the apparatus. We also report evidence using this device that, of 10 rats tested, all preferred unsignaled rather than signaled, inescapable, unavoidable shock.     

The measurement of differential thresholds for lifted weights by microcomputer-controlled apparatus

The measurement of differential thresholds (DLs) for lifted weights normally involves lengthy test sessions. This is due partly to the statistical techniques for measuring the threshold and partly to the methods adopted to present the stimuli. Attempts to speed up test procedures tend to produce unreliable DL estimates, or to measure the sense of force or effort rather than weight perception. To facilitate the measurement of DLs for lifted weights, an Apple microcomputer was programmed to generate Wetherill tracking procedures and was interfaced with two stimulus bearing turntables. Various lifting methods are easily implemented, and DLs are reliably and quickly measured. The adaptation of the apparatus for general use in investigating the haptic sense modality is discussed.