Karl Bonhoeffer and the concept of symptomatic psychoses

Against the background of the lifetime of Karl Bonhoeffer, March 31, 1868 to December 4, 1948, and the eighty-year-old concept of symptomatic psychoses, a sketch of the latter is set out and its present significance in symptomatology and research followed up.     

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Asian Contextual Theology in relation to Minjung and Prajna of Inter‐being

Abstract: Dietrich Bonhoeffer remains an influential figure in inspiring Asian contextual theology of minjung (the poor). In addition to political reading of minjung, a Buddhist wisdom (prajna) offers a basis for understanding of religious dimension of minjung. However, there has been no discussion about Bonhoeffer's legacy of theology after Auschwitz in critical dialogue with Asian contextual theology.     

The concept of test and item reliability in relation to factor pattern

It is shown that approaches other than the internal consistency method of estimating test reliability are either less satisfactory or lead to the same general results. The commonly attendant assumption of a single factor throughout the test items is challenged, however. The consideration of a test made up ofK sub-tests each composed of a different orthogonal factor disclosed that the assumption of a single factor produced an erroneous estimate of reliability with a ratio of (n–K)/(n–1) to the correct estimate. Special difficulties arising from this error in application of current techniques to short tests or to test batteries are discussed. Application of this same multi-factor concept to item-analysis discloses similar difficulties in that field. The item-test coefficient approaches 1/K as an upper limit rather than 1.00 and approaches 1/n as a lower limit rather than .00. This latter finding accounts for an over-estimation error in the Kuder-Richardson formula (8). A new method of isolating sub-tests based upon the item-test coefficient is proposed and tentatively outlined. Either this new method or a complete factor analysis is regarded as the only proper approach to the problem of test reliability, and the item-sub-est coefficient is similarly recommended as the proper approach for item analysis.     

The structure of the self-concept and its relation to psychological adjustment

Research on the relation between the structure of the self-concept and psychological adjustment has produced seemingly inconsistent findings. Some research suggests that greater pluralism in self-concept structure enhances adjustment, whereas other research suggests that greater unity in the structure enhances adjustment. Four studies examined the relations among measures of self-concept structure and their relations with adjustment. The measures of self-concept structure included two that we viewed as reflecting self-concept pluralism (self-complexity and self-concept compartmentalization) and four that we viewed as reflecting self-concept unity (self-concept differentiation, self-concept clarity, self-discrepancies, and the average correlation among participants' self-aspects). The measures of self-concept pluralism were unrelated to one another, were unrelated to the measures of self-concept unity, and were unrelated to the measures of adjustment. The measures of self-concept unity were moderately related to one another and were moderately related to the measures of adjustment.     

The Aubert-Foerster phenomenon and its relation to Manifest Anxiety

Summary The narrowing of the visual field with an increase in distance between a person and a pre-set fixation point was investigated with 20 persons under stable background and with 10 persons under moving background conditions. Optical stimuli were introduced from the periphery and readings were taken at the limit of sharp perception of the figure by the subject. The Aubert-Foerster phenomenon, the easier recognition of small, near objects compared with larger, more distant objects subtending the same visual angle, was used as a starting point. The subjects were equally divided into high and low anxiety groups on the basis of Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale.The Aubert-Foerster phenomenon does exist in both experimental situations, under conditions of stable and moving background.Differences in visual angles and in amount of Aubert-Foerster phenomenon are found for the high and low anxiety groups under both experimental conditions.Under conditions of moving background with a centrally imposed task both experimental groups show greater narrowing of the visual angle than they did when exposed to stable background; on the contrary, the visual angle becomes increased when the centrally located task becomes simplified.

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Zusammenfassung Der Winkel zwischen der Blickrichtung und der Sehrichtung, bei welchem ein peripher dargebotener Gegenstand eben erkannt wird, nimmt bei gleichbleibender Größe des Netzhautbildes ab, wenn der Beobachtungsabstand vergrößert wird: Aubert-Foerster-Phänomen.Dieses Phänomen stellt den Ausgangspunkt vorliegender Arbeit dar, in der 30 Versuchspersonen herangezogen wurden, um die Frage nach der Gesichtsfeldeinengung mittels peripher vor unbewegtem und bewegtem Hintergrund einwandernder Figuren zu untersuchen. Die Versuchspersonen in den beiden Versuchsklassen wurden nach Taylors Manifest Anxiety Scale in Gruppen von hohem und niedrigem Anxiety-Wert zusammengefaßt.Das Aubert-Foerster-Phänomen tritt in beiden Versuchssituationen auf, d.h. beim Fixieren der Figuren vor dem bewegten als auch dem unbewegten Hintergrund.Für die hohen und niedrigen Anxiety-Gruppen bestehen in beiden Versuchsklassen Unterschiede hinsichtlich der nach dem Aubert-Foerster-Phänomen zu erwartenden Winkelgröße.Bei den Versuchen vor bewegtem Hintergrund wird der experimentell bestimmte Winkel größer als der theoretisch erwartete, wenn die Anzahl der Reize vermindert, d. h. die Aufgabe vereinfacht wird. Es besteht offenbar eine direkte Beziehung zwischen der geforderten Aufmerksamkeit an der Stelle deutlichsten Sehens und der peripheren Sehleistung.

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Dr. Mangans help in the collection of the data and his advice were greatly appreciated.     

Emotional reactivity and self-regulation in relation to personality disorders

Associations of both reactive and regulative temperamental features with personality disorders (PDs) are investigated in a sample of 162 normal controls and 89 psychiatric inpatients. Reactive and regulative temperamental features were assessed by means of the BIS/BAS Scales and the Attentional Control Scale. Dimensional PD scores were obtained by using the ADP-IV. All PDs were characterized by low levels of effortful control, cluster C PDs by high BIS and cluster B PDs by high BAS. For several PDs, BIS and effortful control interacted: BIS was only related to severe PD pathology if effortful control was low. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

The concept of craving and its measurement.

By encouraging short periods of abstinence, conditions representing high and low craving were arranged in the homes of 10 alcoholic subjects on two separate occasions. The alcoholic's subjective, physiological and behavioural responses and their interrelationships over a three and a half-hour response prevention period, were recorded in an attempt to define the concept of craving. A behavioural measure, speed of drinking a prescribed amount of alcohol, was validated as a correlate of craving.     

The concept of Cheng and its western translations

Conclusion The main reasons for the difficulty in understanding and translatingcheng may be summarized as follows. First, its prehistory is not always clear. This makes it troublesome to identify its original meaning. Second, the multiple sources from the three schools, Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, often causecheng to be entangled with various concepts specifically affiliated to certain schools. The particular meanings of these concepts and their connections withcheng possibly mislead our effort to explore the core content ofcheng as such. Finally,cheng has been described as a force causing either “transformation” or “change.” In the former case, its influence is often exaggerated, while in the latter, it appears, more or less, mystical. However, despite all the complexity, the core content ofcheng is still identifiable. It consists of what two English terms-“sincerity” and “reality”-convey. In general, the termcheng can be properly applied to a person or thing so long as either one of them or the unity of them is present.     

Probing the Will of God: Bonhoeffer and Discernment

Like the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the spiritual discernment of Dietrich Bonhoeffer seeks to bring one’s life into conformity (Gleichgestaltung) with Christ. Such conformation makes discipleship costly, but it also overflows with the fullness of life.