Social influence in investigative interviews: The effects of reciprocity

This study examined how a principle of social influence—reciprocity—affects the informational elements produced in an investigative interview. Participants from 3 ethnic/cultural groups recruited from the community either received a bottle of water or not prior to their engaging in an investigative interview, in which they either told the truth or lied about having committed a mock crime. Three different informational elements (Relevant details, Irrelevant details, and Plausibility) were coded from their responses, and rapport in the interaction was coded from video. Offering water facilitated greater rapport and influenced the informational elements. These effects were moderated by Veracity condition: For liars, offering water produced more Relevant details and greater Plausibility in the statements and this effect was mediated by rapport. Ethnicity/culture did not moderate these findings. These findings suggested the applicability of principles of social influence in investigative interviews across cultures/ethnicities and had theoretical, empirical, and practical implications.     

中国社会心理服务体系的建设构想

社会心理服务体系更准确的名称应是公共心理服务体系,其主要内容包括心理健康服务、社会心态培育、共同体认同建构这三大模块,其主要功能分别为预防和治疗心理疾病、提升全民族的心理健康水平,培育自尊自信、理性平和、积极向上的社会心态,以及塑造中华民族的统一文化认同和人类命运共同体认同。今后应进一步明确社会心理服务的基本公共服务的定位,明确社会心理服务体系建设的责任主体,发展中国特色的健康心理学、社会心理学和文化心理学学科,培养社会心理服务亟需的科研与实务人才,创新社会心理服务的供给方式,联合政府、高校、社区和第三方部门等多元力量,建设能够符合中国国情的,专业化、多类型、多层次、可持续的社会心理服务体系。     

Fusing Horizons: Exploring Qualitative Research and Psychotherapeutic Applications of Social Constructionism

This article describes how social constructionist theory can be applied to the processes of data collection and analysis in qualitative research. In doing so, we borrow from previous discussions of social constructionism within the psychotherapeutic literature. Social constructionist theory, particularly the idea of a not-knowing stance, addresses the methodological concern of validity. Furthermore, because a not-knowing stance entails a leveling of the hierarchy and minimizing of the power differential between researcher and participant, there is also the potential for turning the research process into an freeing experience for both the researcher and participant.     

Treatment of Prostitution Using Integrative Therapy Techniques: A Case Study

This case study examines a pattern we believe to be common among female prostitutes: a woman (Bonnie) who, like most prostitutes, is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Bonnie's prostitution is part of the unconscious repetition compulsion common in trauma victims; by prostituting herself, Bonnie re-creates the scenario of sexual abuse that occurred during her childhood, while maintaining an illusion of control over the situation. We maintain that an effective approach to treatment for Bonnie is integrative therapy, a type of psychological counseling designed to address the major aftereffects of sexual abuse: dissociation from the body and sexuality in general; a profound sense of powerlessness; critically low valuation of the self; and mistrust and fear of intimacy. Bonnie's story shows the dynamics of both prostitute behavior and integrative therapy, providing an example we believe to be applicable far beyond this case study.     

Contributing Factors That Influence the Elderly in Their Attitudes Toward Euthanasia

ABSTRACT

By using a cross-sectional survey, this research study examines the ethical dilemma of euthanasia among a sample of 329 community-based elderly persons, diverse in culture and religious affiliation, from two types of environments: 216 from 15 different community sites and 113 who are home-bound. The study defines euthanasia and, utilizing analyses of data from empirical studies and population polls, explains the factors that influence attitudes toward euthanasia among the elderly: life satisfaction, health, education, religiosity, and living arrangements. These contributing factors are statistically measured at the p ≤ .05 level of significance by a variety of tests: ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis.

Findings in the covariate analysis show the major contributing factors to be life satisfaction and religiosity, which have a strong impact upon attitudes toward euthanasia among the elderly, whereas the correlation and regression analyses indicate religiosity alone as the major contributing factor. The results of the multiple regression analysis show that 11 percent of the variance is explained among all the variables and 6 percent of this variance is explained by the variable total religiosity, which has the most effect on attitudes toward euthanasia. The implications of these findings provide insight into intervention in social services for the elderly within congregational and community settings that will enhance the quality of life for the elderly as they continue to “age in place.”     

Examining the Role of Social Network Intervention as an Integral Component of Community-Based,Family-Focused Practice

Social network intervention aimed at bolstering the informal supports of high risk families is recognized as a common element of community-based, family-focused practice models, such as intensive family preservation services (IFPS), multisystemic therapy (MST), and the wraparound process. The empirical research basis for these practice models is examined, with an eye toward discerning the extent to which network intervention is identified as a critical component of comprehensive service. Results reveal that few studies make clear the degree to which treatment adhered to a focus on natural network enhancement or the development of informal resources. Those that did, suggest that relatively few families received this form of ecologically-oriented intervention. Consequently, this body of practice research offers insufficient evidence of the benefits or limitations associated with network facilitation with multi-need families. Explanations for these findings are explored and directions for future research are recommended.     

Social support,psychological vulnerability,and HIV risk among African American men who have sex with men

Previous research has suggested a need to understand the social-psychological factors contributing to HIV risk among African American men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted individual in-depth interviews with 34 adult African American MSM to examine their personal experiences about: (i) sources of social support, (ii) psychological responses to the presence or absence of social support and (iii) influences of social support on sexual behaviours. The majority of participants described limited positive encouragement and lack of emotional support from family, as well as few meaningful personal relationships. Feelings of isolation and mistrust about personal relationships led many participants to avoid emotional intimacy and seek physical intimacy through sexual encounters. Findings highlight a need for multilevel interventions that enhance social support networks and address the social-psychological, emotional and interpersonal factors that contribute to HIV risk among African American MSM.