Assertion: A Function First Account

This paper aims to develop a novel account of the normativity of assertion. Its core thesis is that assertion has an etiological epistemic function, viz. to generate knowledge in hearers. In conjunction with a general account of etiological functions and their normative import, it is argued that an assertion is epistemically good if and only if it has the disposition to generate knowledge in hearers. In addition, reason is provided to believe that it makes sense to regulate the practice of assertion by a speaker rule—and, more specifically, by a knowledge rule—as so regulating assertion contributes to ensuring that assertion fulfils its etiological function reliably.     

Assertion Training with Korean College Students: Effects on Self-Expression and Anxiety

This study examined the effects of assertiveness training on the self-expression skills of Korean college students. Results indicated a gain in such skills for males. Implications and recommendations are discussed.     

《欧阳竟无佛学思想研究》略评

一90年代以来,关注中国近代佛教的学者渐渐多起来了,由于他们的努力,以杨文会、欧阳竟无和太虚、虚云等为代表的一大批近代佛教史上的风云人物又出现在学术著作和刊物里,他们的传奇身世、甚深智慧和渊博学识激动了人们的心灵。这些曾经煊赫一时,后来又几乎全被遗忘的居士和高僧们的重新复活,对中国文化的未来发展有着十分重大的意义。这不仅体现在他们所提供的丰富思想文化资源对未来思想和学术建设的价值,而且体现在他们为法忘身的殉道者精神对于纠正今日中国文化学术界之浮躁学风上。所以我认为应高度重视关于中国近代佛教的研究工…     

Some Considerations on the Limitations Confronting the Cross-cultural Field of Sex Research

Through the use of intentional sampling this non-probabilistic study reports the incidence of self-reported occasional same-sex behavior among supposed “straight” males and the methodological issues involved in the fieldwork of three different cities from Brazil, Turkey and Thailand. The social criteria used as the control for the males interviewed between 20 and 30 years of age in this study are the levels of education and the items consumed. These variables are here considered to be socially influenced and determinable by class. There is a notable difference due to the greater number of casual same-sex experiences found among heterosexual males in the working classes of Turkey and Thailand. This could mean that the professional middle class sexual ideology is more disseminated among Brazilian participants than among Turk and Thai participants. Another difference was that the highest number of same-sex experiences was found amongst the Turkish middle class where women are much more socially unavailable. Although it is not a representative research from these three countries, each particular fieldwork situation illustrates how different social factors can easily influence the occurrence of casual same-sex experiences among young urban males.     

A Brief Note on the Comparison of Two Grapho-Motor Techniques in Diagnosing Brain Damage

There were no differences between the Bender-Gestalt and two items from Reitan's Aphasia Screening Test in discriminating 50 organic and 50 non-organic psychiatric patients.     

Schizophrenia and Familial Communication: A Brief Note on Follow-up Studies and Replications

In 1975 Helge Sølvberg and I published an exploratory paper in Family Process reporting on situation-specific differences in communication efficiency in parental couples having and not having schizophrenic offspring. In the years since, a series of studies reproducing and extensively corroborating the findings from this study have been conducted in Oslo. The following is a brief note to inform the readers of Family Process about this subsequent work. A particular reason for doing so is the huge problem of the language barrier in scientific transnational communication. (Most of the papers, dissertations, and books prepared in connection with our projects appear in Norwegian, which is of course a "minority" language as regards the international scientific community in our field.) In the present note I have taken great care to give references to relevant Norwegian studies that are now available in English.     

A Brief Note on the Relationship between Rorschach Developmental Level and Intelligence

Rorschach Developmental level and intelligence were compared, using both an overall DL score and a ratio DL score. Overall DL correlated significantly with IQ, whereas no significant relationship was found between IQ and a number of different ratio DL scores. The findings were interpreted as indicating that the lack of relationship between DL and IQ previously reported in the literature stemmed from methodological considerations rather than from any inherent lack of relationship between the two variables.     

Team Family Therapy Training: Conceptual and Pragmatic Considerations

This paper presents a family therapy training model that can be used to teach conceptual and executive skills to beginning therapists in community and academic settings. The model is based on the organization and philosophy of family therapy teams and the methods of live supervision. The goals, structure, and leadership of traditional family therapy teams are discussed and contrasted with the proposed team training model. Pragmatic details of the training program are described and advantages and disadvantages explored. Team leadership skills are categorized by context and future directions proposed.     

Knowledge and the Norms of Assertion

An account of the norms of assertion is proposed which is supported by the same considerations that motivate the familiar knowledge account of those norms, but does not have a problematic consequence of the latter. This alternative account is defended against others to be found in the literature, and some larger epistemological issues it raises are considered briefly.     

Parental Social Cognitions: Considerations in the Acceptability of and Engagement in Behavioral Parent Training

Behavioral parent training (BPT) is a widely used, evidence-based treatment for externalizing child behaviors. However, the ability of BPT programs to be maximally effective remains limited by relatively low rates of acceptance, attendance, and adherence to treatment. Previous reviews have focused on a variety of demographic and mental health characteristics of parents and children that are predictive of poor outcomes in BPT. This paper focuses instead on consideration of parental social cognitions, and how incorporation of these cognitions may, or may not, be useful in advancing the effectiveness of BPT. We first review evidence suggesting limited incremental effects to incorporating parental cognitions within the context of BPT programs. Then, we examine the role of two particular types of parental social cognitions, attributions and parenting efficacy, in relation to the initial stages of accepting and engaging in BPT. We conclude by noting limitations in available research on the links between parental social cognitions and BPT, and we outline a number of potentially useful directions that may clarify whether or not parental social cognitions should be accorded greater attention either in the initial stages or throughout BPT programs.     

A Clinical Application of the Training Model

This article offers a perspective and a summary of Jack Danielian's (2010) Horneyan training model, highlighting the benefits of a meta-psychological approach for analysts in training and seasoned practitioners alike. To help illustrate the complexity of Karen Horney's views of character structure and character pathology, this article presents a model that reflects the dynamic tensions at play within individuals with narcissistic issues. It suggests that therapeutic listening can be tracked and that thematic material unfolds in a somewhat predictable, sequential, yet altogether systemic manner. Listening is not just art or intuition, nor is it merely interpretation of content based on a theoretical framework. It represents a way of holding the dialectic tension between conscious and unconscious, syntonic and dystonic. If we can better track these dynamic tensions, we can better anticipate and hopefully avoid clinical ruptures through the acting out of negative transference.     

Ethical and Legal Considerations in the Training of Mental Health Professionals

Summary

A discussion is provided regarding ethical and legal considerations that relate to the training of mental health professionals. A training program which emphasizes a proactive approach to identifying and resolving potential ethical and legal problems, and their close connection with clinical issues is described, as are the responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees in such a program. For illustrative purposes, a training vignette and a clinical vignette conclude the article.