Demonstration versus instructions in concept attainment by mental retardates

Training through observed silent demonstrations was compared with providing equivalent information by verbal instructions, using adult mental retardates of three age and ability levels. At all levels, demonstration surpassed instructions in promoting concept attainment and transfer. During imitation testing, all groups received feedbeck (‘right’ or ‘wrong’) about their responses. Dispensing candy rewards for correct answers did not affect performance.     

The imperfect attainment of intimacy: a key concept in marital therapy

The intense though transient intimacy of romantic love is contrasted with the more durable and sustained intimacy of conjugal love. The latter, it is argued, requires that the partners have each attained an adequate degree of separateness and at the same time are able to allow themselves to become physically and emotionally close. Relationships which are not intimate are characterized by excessive degrees of dependence, directiveness or detachment. The equilibrium in a non-intimate relationship is maintained by fears in the respective partners about the other becoming too separate, too close, too influential, too assertive, too capable etc. Therapy involves persuading each to try cautiously giving ground in one direction whilst the other is giving ground in a complementary direction. Intimacy will follow if neither is too controlling from above nor too clinging from below and both partners are able to relate on an equal adult to adult basis.