Generalization in the effects of a mood induction procedure

Mood Induction Procedures (MIP's) requiring subjects to read depressing self-referent statements have recently been employed in laboratory analogues of depression. Although these procedures have been shown to effect mood, their effectiveness in producing more general changes in behaviour has been less consistent. An alternative MIP was used in this study. Thirty-two male and female students listened either to a depressing or an affectively neutral tape. The MIP produced significant mood disturbance and significant decrease in self-rated activation. However, during the test phase, the MIP group showed greater behavioural activation in a counting speed measure, and facilitated performance on a shuttlebox noise-escape task. Evidence is presented which suggests that this represented a characteristic initial response by depressed and helpless subjects on laboratory tasks.     

Experimental induction of emotional conditions--alternatives to the Velten method]

The technique most often used to induce emotion is based on self-referent statements read by the subjects (Velten, 1968). This technique is known to be of intermediate efficiency. Therefore film and hypnosis-like procedures were investigated as alternative techniques. Efficiency was tested using two selected scales of a mood questionnaire (SES by Hampel, 1977). The subjects were male and female students. Both alternative procedures allowed us to induce significant changes in Ss' moods. The film method was more efficient than the Velten-technique in inducing a negative mood, whereas it was equally efficient in inducing a positive mood. The hypnosis-like procedure, however, was not more efficient than the Velten-technique. Obviously film is a quite efficient and easy applicable alternative technique to induce moods.     

Testing attitude-behaviour theories using non-experimental data: An examination of some hidden assumptions

This chapter presents a detailed causal analysis of the two leading theories of attitude-behaviour relations, the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). It is noted that the direct path from perceived behavioural control to behaviour in the TPB is causally ambiguous. Focusing on the attitude-intention relationship, timeline and path diagrams are used to illustrate some of the hidden assumptions that underlie the way these theories are usually tested using standard multiple regression applied to nonexperimental data. Randomised experiments are recommended as the best solution to the serious problems arising from omitted causes.     

An examination of the assumptions of specialization, mental disorder, and dangerousness in sex offenders

Sex offenders have been singled out for differential treatment by the legal and mental health systems. This article attempts to inform law reform efforts and criminal justice mental health policy by examining the assumptions underlying differential legal and mental health treatment of sex offenders. These assumptions include the theories that sex offenders are mentally disordered and in need of treatment, specialists in sex crimes, and more dangerous than other criminal offenders. Empirical findings demonstrate that sex offenders are not specialists in sex crimes and are not mentally disordered. Examination of past research suggests that sex offenders are not at more risk than other criminal offenders to commit future sex crimes. Implications of research findings for selective prosecution of sex crime cases, mental health policy, sex offender legislation, and predictions of future dangerousness are discussed. Proposals for future research needs and law reform are presented.     

An examination of the relationship between personality patterns and symptom/mood patterns

Relationships between various personality styles measured by the basic and pathological personality scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and mood or symptom states measured by the Profile of Mood State scales were examined. The MCMI personality scale-POMS symptom/mood scale relationships found in this study are compared with MCMI personality scale-MMPI and SCL-90 symptom/mood scale relationships reported in the MCMI manual. Consistent associations of moderate strength were found between: (a) the MCMI Compulsive-Conforming and Passive-Aggressive (Negativistic) scales (negative and positive associations, respectively) and various measures of depression, anxiety and hostility; (b) the MCMI Avoidant, Schizotypal and Borderline-Cycloid scales and various measures of depression and anxiety; (c) the MCMI Schizoid-Asocial scale and various measures of depression; and (d) the Histrionic-Gregarious scale and various measures of high energy-activity. These MCMI personality scale-symptom/mood scale relationships are generally consistent both with the underlying theory of personality and psychopathology upon which the MCMI is based and with the personality-symptom scale relationships found within the MCMI.     

An analysis of the law of confidentiality with special reference to the counselling of minors

Although professional counsellors would be aware of the need to maintain confidentiality in their work with clients, the basis and scope of this obligation is generally less well understood. This article examines the issue of counsellor-client confidentiality from a legal perspective, and considers the potential bases of legal liability which counsellors may have with respect to the maintenance of client confidentiality as well as the circumstances under which disclosure of this information will be required or may be permitted. It is contended that the general issue of counsellor-client confidentiality presently poses particular difficulties for counsellors who work primarily with children and adolescents, especially when clinical services are provided directly to adolescents. In such instances, counsellors may be confronted by competing and even conflicting interests, and may be required to exercise judgement in relation to the disclosure of confidential information which has been provided by a minor. Although there is no clear law which directly relates to this area, it is argued that counsellors may presently have a primary obligation to respect the wishes which are expressed by a "mature minor" in relation to the provision of counselling services. It is further argued that awareness of general legal principles which are of relevance to areas of professional practice can provide much assistance to practitioners who could be required to make decisions in the course of their work which may later be examined in the context of legal proceedings.     

The game of the name: An examination of linguistic reference after brain damage

Two aspects of naming have generally been examined in aphasics: the appreciation of a single property of a concept and the ability to use the names of fully elaborated concepts. In applying to aphasics a recently proposed model of semantic organization—one which allows the simultaneous examination of these two aspects—two studies were conducted: Anterior and posterior aphasics were asked (1) to name members of superordinate categories, their responses being converted into prototypicality scores (the degree to which a member of a category resembles an ideal member of that category) and (2) to differentiate between more or less prototypical members of a category and their superordinates. The results revealed that, while anterior and posterior aphasics differ in their use of the names representing fully elaborated concepts, these groups show no differences in terms of the appreciation of a single property of a concept. The implications of these findings for reference were discussed.     

An empirical examination of distributional assumptions underlying the relationship between personality disorder symptoms and personality traits

This article examines the relationship between personality disorder (PD) symptoms and personality traits using a variety of distributional assumptions. Prior work in this area relies almost exclusively on linear models that treat PD symptoms as normally distributed and continuous. However, these assumptions rarely hold, and thus the results of prior studies are potentially biased. Here we explore the effect of varying the distributions underlying regression models relating PD symptomatology to personality traits using the initial wave of the Longitudinal Study of Personality Disorders (N = 250; Lenzenweger, 1999), a university-based sample selected to include PD rates resembling epidemiological samples. PD symptoms were regressed on personality traits. The distributions underlying the dependent variable (i.e., PD symptoms) were variously modeled as normally distributed, as counts (Poisson, Negative-Binomial), and with two-part mixture distributions (zero-inflated, hurdle). We found that treating symptoms as normally distributed resulted in violations of model assumptions, that the negative-binomial and hurdle models were empirically equivalent, but that the coefficients achieving significance often differ depending on which part of the mixture distributions are being predicted (i.e., presence vs. severity of PD). Results have implications for how the relationship between normal and abnormal personality is understood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).     

Organization of the amygdala with special reference to various pathological syndromes

Our understanding of the functional organization of the amygdaloid complex has considerably increased in the last 10 years. Thus the abundance of previously unsuspected neocortical and thalamic afferents to the amygdala as well as the direct projections from the central amygdala to pontine structures involved in the coordination of autonomic and motor functions, present a challenge to the previous view that the function of the complex is largely related to that better known of the hypothalamus. In this context the possible significance of the abundant opoid systems in the central amygdala will be discussed with special reference to the morphine withdrawal syndrome. The role of the amygdala in the manifestation of limbic motor signs during seizures will be reevaluated in this context.     

Family therapy and the notion of accountability: With reference to trends in individual psychotherapy

Family therapy both overseas and within Australia has seen a rapid rise in popularity and general acceptance as an important therapeutic intervention. Along with the growth in interest, however, has come an increased demand for accountability. The foundation stone for the accountability issue surrounds the questions of therapy efficacy. How effective is family therapy, and, indeed, if it is effective, what are the active elements or ingredients which facilitate positive client change? Three groups, in particular, have vested interests in questions relating to the effectiveness of family therapy: researchers, therapists, and consumers. Although both researchers and therapists, for a variety of reasons, have been concerned with the effectiveness of treatment for some time, it has only been relatively recently that there has been a concerted push from various sections of the consumer group, including administrators, legislators, and policy makers. The consumer group is now providing pressure on professionals as to what we have done, and are doing, to demonstrate that family therapy really “works.”     

The premodern and the postmodern: Some parallels,with special reference to Hinduism

Insofar as the postmodern exists, it is held to represent a break with the modern, a break no less radical than that of the modern with the premodern. In this paper I point to certain similarities between on the one hand what are said to be key aspects of the postmodern and on the other hand the premodern. It may well be fruitful to look for further parallels on either side of modernity.     

The Red Herring technique: a methodological response to the problem of demand characteristics

In past research, we planted false memories for food related childhood events using a simple false feedback procedure. Some critics have worried that our findings may be due to demand characteristics. In the present studies, we developed a novel procedure designed to reduce the influence of demand characteristics by providing an alternate magnet for subjects' natural suspicions. We used two separate levels of deception. In addition to giving subjects a typical untrue rationale for the study (i.e., normal deceptive cover story), we built in strong indicators (the "Red Herring") that the study actually had another purpose. Later, we told subjects that we had deceived them, and asked what they believed the "real purpose" of the study was. We also interviewed a subset of subjects in depth in order to analyze their subjective experiences of the procedure and any relevant demand. Our Red Herring successfully tricked subjects, and left little worry that our false memory results were due to demand. This "double cross" technique may have widespread uses in psychological research that hopes to conceal its real hypotheses from experimental subjects.