Theoretical problems of aversion therapy

Some limitations of the conditioning theory are discussed and attention is drawn to significant pieces of evidence which are still lacking. The shortcomings of the associated 2-factor theory are also considered.

Seven types of explanation are given in summary form and the evidence in favour and against each of the 7 is described. Finally, a partial theory based on changes in general state is adumbrated in an attempt to clarify some phenomena and to predict others.     

Instrumental orientation to work; Theoretical and methodological problems

Research claiming to demonstrate a predominance of instrumental orientation to work among today's industrial workers is discussed on the basis of unemployment research and the author's experience with unemployed people and workers active in labour unions. Concentrating on Bertil Gardell's Swedish studies, the reliability, validity, and interpretation of a specific operationalization of instrumental-expressive orientation to work is examined. The auther argues the need for distinction between self-defensive and class-defensive adjustment, between defensive and offensive adjustment, and between adjustment and understanding, and she offers alternative interpretations of research results concerning instrumentality. It is suggested that the shortcomings of this research is related to the insufficient acknowledgement of the opposing class interests between those who buy and those who sell the labour power, and to the negligence of collective aspects of individual reactions.     

Theoretical and practical problems with wide reflective equilibrium in bioethics

Various theories have been put forward in an attempt to explain what makes moral judgments justifiable. One of the main theories currently advocated in bioethics is a form of coherentism known as wide reflective equilibrium. In this paper, I argue that wide reflective equilibrium is not a satisfactory approach for justifying moral beliefs and propositions. A long-standing theoretical problem for reflective equilibrium has not been adequately resolved, and, as a result, the main arguments for wide reflective equilibrium are unsuccessful. Moreover, practical problems that arise in using the method of wide reflective equilibrium undermine the idea that it is a viable approach for justifying moral judgments about cases and policies. Given that wide reflective equilibrium is the most prominent version of coherentism, these considerations call into question the coherentist approach to justification in bioethics.     

解释的张力--记第七次"东亚近世儒学中的经典诠释传统"学术研讨会

通过对经典的不断诠释来传承与拓展一种思想传统 ,是中国文化尤其是儒学的一大特色。在当代学术的背景下 ,聚集中国经典的“解释经验” ,可以从一个更切近的角度 ,捉摸传统的思想脉络 ,并为发展具有中国特色的解释学寻求基础。为此 ,台湾“东亚近世儒学中的经典诠释传统”研究计划 ,同广州中山大学中国哲学研究所 ,于 2 0 0 1年底在广州中山大学举行第七次“东亚近世儒学中的经典诠释传统”研讨会 ,交流相关的研究成果。会议由台湾大学历史系黄俊杰教授、中山大学哲学系冯达文、陈少明教授主持。台港粤三地共有 2 2位学者在会上发表论文。会…     

Tension within Triangulation

Philosophers disagree about how meaning connects with history. Donald Davidson, who helped deepen our understanding of meaning, even disagreed with himself. As Ernest Lepore and Kirk Ludwig note, Davidson's account of radical interpretation treats meaning as ahistorical; his Swampman thought experiment treats it as historical. Here I show that while Lepore and Ludwig are right that Davidson's views are in tension, they are wrong about its extent. Unbeknownst to them, Davidson's account of radical interpretation and Swampman thought experiment both rely—in different ways—on the same model of triangulation. I revise one of those ways to resolve the tension within Davidson's views. I close by detailing what role history should play in Davidson's views overall.     

Theoretical perspectives on language and communication problems in mental retardation and developmental disabilities

We argue that researchers interested in language and communication problems in mental retardation or any other developmental disorder should view such problems as emerging within the broader context of the behavioral profile, or phenotype, associated with a particular genetic condition. This will require understanding the direct and indirect effects of genes on the development of language and communication and thereby an understanding of the complex relations that exist between language and other dimensions of psychological and behavioral functioning as well as an understanding of the environments in which the developing person acts and is acted upon. We believe that the dominant model for understanding language and communication problems--the nativist approach, which emphasizes the child's innate capacity for acquiring language and characterizes language as consisting of a set of context-free deterministic rules that operate on abstract representations--is inconsistent with an emphasis on indirect genetic effects. We review recent evidence that undermines the nativist approach--evidence concerning the initial state of the language-learning child, the role of environmental input, the competence-performance distinction, and modularity. In place of nativism, we argue for Emergentism, which is a model in which language is seen to emerge from the interaction between the child's biological abilities to map statistical properties of the language input into a distributed representation and the characteristics of the language learning environment and for the purpose of engaging in real-time, meaningful language use.     

Empowering chronic headache sufferers

Chronic headache pain affects sufferers and their families. Many headache sufferers lack self-discipline in controlling their headache pains. Although preventive medication is a must, medical treatment which excludes psychotherapeutic intervention reduces its effectiveness. Sufferers report increased tensions and stress with members of their families. This article reports on a program which includes headache sufferers' involvement in both family and individual therapy activities in a clinical setting. The role of the family therapist is primarily to encourage and empower sufferers to become involved in activities which can promote and increase communication, trust and self-confidence, leading toward a development of skills which can enable sufferers to utilize positive coping strategies in their effort to control headaches.     

Reliability of headache diagnosis

The literature on diagnosis of head pain associated with psychological factors indicates that these diagnoses rely almost exclusively on self-report criteria. The reliability of self-report criteria for diagnosis of headache has not been previously reported. The present study investigated the reliability of headache diagnosis based on the criteria suggested by the Ad Hoc Committee on Classification of Headache. The results indicated modest rater agreement. It was concluded that the headache literature may be confounded by unreliable diagnostic procedures. Improved methods of classifying headache types using self-report, behavioral, and physiological measures during pain-free and headache states are required before adequate reliability of headache classification can be achieved. It is suggested that reliable and valid measurement and classification would eliminate much of the confusion currently existing in the headache literature.     

The refractory headache patient--I. Chronic, daily, high intensity headache

Two studies on patients with Chronic, Daily, High Intensity Headache (CDHIHA) are presented. In the first, their response to various self-regulatory (biofeedback, relaxation) treatments was compared to that of case controls matched for age, duration and Ad Hoc Committee diagnoses who had 1-2 headache-free days per week (Group II) and 3-5 headache-free days per week (Group III). The CDHIHA patients had a significantly poorer response to treatment (12.7 vs 49.8% improvement for Groups II and III combined). In the second study, the psychological profiles of an enlarged sample of CDHIHA patients were compared to matched case controls from Group II and Group III. The CDHIHA patients tended to be more anxious, more hysterical and to have more non-headache somatic complaints than Groups II and III combined.     

The refractory headache patient--II. High medication consumption (analgesic rebound) headache

'Analgesic rebound headache' is identified by habituation of an individual to pain reducing medication, the exacerbation of headache pain a few hours after medication consumption and a marked increase in headache frequency and intensity for several weeks after medication is discontinued. We describe three studies undertaken to clarify the existence and characteristics of this proposed headache syndrome. In Study 1 we compared a group of headache sufferers who consume large amounts of analgesic medications to headache sufferers who did not consume excessive analgesics. It was found that the two groups did not differ on age, duration of headache problem or gender. However, the groups did differ on subjective headache pain (with the high medicators experiencing more headache pain than low medicators) and diagnosis (with high medicators being more likely to have a muscle contraction component to their headaches). In an analysis of drug use within the high medication group, it was found that 91% were taking some kind of analgesic and that a majority (84%) were taking more than one type of medication. In Study 2 we found that the group of high medicators were not as successful in reducing headache activity as a result of a self-regulatory behavioral treatment as the matched controls. Furthermore, there was a direct relationship between reduction and treatment success in the high medication consuming population. Lastly, in Study 3 we examined the current psychological functioning of the two groups; no differences were found between the two groups indicating the lack of 'addictive' personality characteristics as an explanation for the high medicating population. These findings all support the existence of a sub-population of headache sufferers who consume excessive amounts of analgesic medication and who are relatively refractory to behavioral treatment.     

Troubles with Theoretical Virtues: Resisting Theoretical Utility Arguments in Metaphysics

In this paper we examine theoretical utility arguments in metaphysics. While philosophers claim a procedural continuity with science when using such arguments, we argue that examining famous instances from the history of science expose their fundamental flaws. We find that arguments from theoretical utility invoke considerations that are not truth conducive and that justifications for claims that a theory possesses theoretical virtues often assume the truth of the theory such virtues are supposed to support. We conclude that theoretical utility arguments provide no epistemic grounds for metaphysical inquiry.     

Brief consultation with headache sufferers

Abstract

This paper describes the author's efforts at involving chronic headache sufferers in brief consultations with individual, family, and group therapy programs in an inpatient medical treatment facility. A variety of difficult issues facing chronic headache sufferers are presented, including the rationale for utilizing each therapeutic modality and the role and strategies that the therapist undertakes in each program. The author provides some case vignettes and discusses the importance of communication between the therapist, the primary physician, and the medical staff members.     

Lmx and Job Tension: Linear and Non-Linear Effects and Affectivity

We examined whether linear or non-linear LMX–job tension relationships existed, and if these effects were consistent across levels of negative (NA) and positive (PA) affect. Results indicated that NA and PA moderated the non-linear LMX–job tension relationship. Specifically, the LMX–job tension association was best depicted by an inverted-U form for high NAs. Tension was highest when LMX was moderate and lowest when LMX was either low or high. Tension increased minimally for low NAs across levels of LMX. For high PAs, the relationship was linear and inverse. Conversely, a U-shaped form best represented the LMX–job tension relationship for low PAs. Implications, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.