Factor comparison of two Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory short forms

A sample of 315 valid Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) protocols were selected from inpatient files and scored for both the MMPI-168 and Faschingbauer Abbreviated MMPI short forms. Each short form was then factor-analyzed by a principal axis strategy with varimax rotation. The six factors extracted from each short form were then compared as to their similarity by use of the s index. This procedure showed five of the six factors in each short form as having a significant relationship of the pattern of salient variables they had in common with the complimentary factors of the other form. These data suggest that both short forms, though based on different construction methodologies, share the same underlying personality attributes. Future research is suggested to replicate these results and extend them to the full MMPI.     

Alcohol and unpleasant stimulation: subjective shock calibration and pain and discomfort perception

In an experiment 8 men participated in an alcohol and a sober condition in a rotated order. In both conditions subjects first calibrated a shock scale to a subjective criterion and then rated their subjective pain and total discomfort. Subjects calibrated the shock scale higher when intoxicated and rated the calibrated level equally painful in the sober and intoxicated conditions, but when intoxicated subjects actually rated the higher shock level as less uncomfortable. The shock scale was calibrated higher under intoxication not because subjects wanted to impress the experimenter but because less pain and discomfort was actually experienced.     

Alcohol and vigilance performance: effect of small doses of alcohol on simple auditory reaction time

This study explored whether a small dose of alcohol (0.67 ml/kg) would affect simple auditory RT as developed with time on task in a vigilance setting. Analysis indicated that absolute levels were not affected and no interaction with time on task was evident. Alcohol did, however, increase both number and mean duration of the extreme long reactions but this effect was not related to time on task. It was concluded that in many applied situations this effect of small alcohol doses may be critical.     

Alcohol and vigilance performance: effect of small doses of alcohol on simple visual reaction time

The effects of small doses of alcohol were tested in a vigilance setting. Subjects were repeatedly tested during three 30-min. sessions. The stimulus event was a visual light located in front of subjects. The average intersignal interval was 3.75 sec., and the dependent measure was simple reaction time. Analysis indicates that alcohol produced a skewness in the RT-distribution with time on task; the longer reactions increased more than the shorter ones. Especially the extremely long reactions (blockings) increased markedly with time on task under alcohol. Results were discussed in relation to other studies reporting divergent results in similar test situations.     

REVIEWS

Authority in Morals: An Essay in Christian Ethics. By Gerard J. Hughes On Human Nature. By Edward O. Wilson Democracy and Ethical Life. By Claes G. Ryn The Foundations of Modern Political Thought. By Quentin Skinner. 2 vols. Phenomenology and the Social World: the Philosophy of Merleau-Ponty and its Relation to the Social Conscience. By Laurie Spurting Philosophical Foundations of the Three Sociologies. By Ted Benton Christianity and the World Order. By Edward Norman. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1979, £3.50. The Stoics. Edited by John M. Rist Descartes. By Margaret D. Wilson Physicalism. By K.V. Wilkes Kierkegaard as Educator. By R.J. Manheimer Two Ages: The Age of Revolution and the Present Age. By Søren Kierkegaard, translated and edited by Howard and Edna Hong Parables of Kierkegaard. Edited by Thomas C. Oden Thomas Carlyle: ‘Cahinist without the Theology’. By Eloise M. Behnken The Praise of 'Sons of Bitches’. By James V. Schall The Inner Eye of Love. By William Johnston The River Within. By Christopher Bryant The Religious Imagination and the Sense of God. By John Bowker Old Testament Theology: A Fresh Approach. By Ronald E. Clements What is a Gospel? By Charles H. Talbert Urchristliche Prophetic. By Gerhard Dautzenberg Amphttochii Icontensis Opera. Edited by Cornells Datema Man and Nature in the Renaissance. By Allen G. Debus The Church in Late Victorian Scotland 1874–1900. By Andrew L. Drummond and James Bullock. Ppix, 342, Edinburgh, The St Andrew Press, 1978, £10.50. From Office to Profession: The New England Ministry 1750–1860. By Donald M. Scott Bemard-Lazare: Anti-Semitism and the Problem of Jewish Identity in Late Nineteenth Century France. By Nelly Wilson     

Sex differences in cerebral laterality of language and visuospatial processing

Sex differences on language and visuospatial tasks are of great interest, with differences in hemispheric laterality hypothesized to exist between males and females. Some functional imaging studies examining sex differences have shown that males are more left lateralized on language tasks and females are more right lateralized on visuospatial tasks; however, findings are inconsistent. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study thirty participants, matched on task performance, during phonological and visuospatial tasks. For each task, region-of-interest analyses were used to test differences in cerebral laterality. Results indicate that lateralization differences exist, with males more left lateralized during the phonological task and showing greater bilateral activity during the visuospatial task, whereas females showed greater bilateral activity during the phonological task and were more right lateralized during the visuospatial task. Our data provide clear evidence for differences in laterality between males and females when processing language versus visuospatial information.     

Attributions of guilt and punishment as functions of physical attractiveness and smiling

The authors found an interaction between sex of participant and sex of defendant in the leniency bias toward a smiling defendant. Differences occurred for male participants when levying punishment for a smiling male defendant vs. a smiling female defendant and for a smiling male defendant vs. a nonsmiling male defendant, whereas differences did not occur for female participants. The authors found moderating effects of physical attractiveness and smiling between guilt and punishment. The only significant positive relationship between guilt and punishment occurred for the defendant whom participants rated low in physical attractiveness and who was not smiling. When guilty, the smiling and unattractive defendant received less punishment than did the smiling and attractive defendant. The authors discussed complex relationships between physical attractiveness, smiling, guilt, and punishment.