Representativeness reasoning and the search for the origins of stuttering: A return to basic observations

In this paper, we present our views on theories of the distal and proximal causes of stuttering. We suggest that the search for the etiology of stuttering has been hampered by the inappropriate use of the representativeness heuristic, a method of reasoning which proposes that the effects of a disorder reflect its causes. We encourage a return to the ideas of Froeschels and Bluemel so that the representativeness heuristic might properly be employed in investigations into the proximal, mechanical causes of stuttering and into the etiological implications of the repetitions of early stuttering.     

Impacting Awareness of Child Abuse through a Performing Arts Project

A folk opera, AVE, explored issues of child abuse, sexual assault and violence through the character of Mary Magdelene. Using indigenous religious folklore images, Magdelene is befriended by Jesus's mother and healed of her childhood wound through a religious conversion. Six hundred secondary students attended three daytime performances and 486 returned a Likert‐scaled questionnaire. Results indicated most students perceived abuse as a personally relevant, real social problem, with felt relevance increasing with age. Significant trends supported initial expectations with an increase in community and personal awareness of child abuse/sexual assault and an increase in personal and community interest in helping others. Community risk factors contributing to denial of abuse were explored. More Hispanics responded positively to the sense of benefit. Findings suggest that performing arts can help increase awareness of child abuse as well as help stimulate personal and community interest in helping. This benefit increases with teacher discussion and age.     

Reconstruction of arbitrary versus logical sequences by preschool children

The ability of preschool children to construct and reconstruct ordered sequences was examined in a series of four experiments. In Expt. 1, the task was to copy, with the model present or absent, the order of items pegged on a clothesline. In Expts. 2–4, the subjects were required to reconstruct ordered series of pictures from memory. In all experiments, the orders were either logical or arbitrary. Reconstruction of an arbitrary series of events is within the problem solving capacity of 4-yr-old children if (a) reconstruction takes place in the presence of the model or follows immediately upon the removal of the model and (b) the original sequence is presented simultaneously. If, however, the lag between viewing and reconstruction is increased and/or the original set is not viewed simultaneously, as a unit, performance declines. The provision of an inherent order to the items within a set, either by introducing a connective narrative, or a depicted logical sequence, is sufficient to maintain that order over time and to provide a unifying cohesion to the items when viewed successively.     

Behavioral objectives in training for competence in the administration of individual intelligence tests

Competency standards are important to school psychology training, and this study demonstrates, in the area of individual intelligence test administration, how competency standards can be implemented. The study sets up behavioral objectives, determines what training is required for specified levels of mastery, and shows what specific training procedures contribute to the achievement of competency.     

The role of traditionality in the relationships among parental support,career decision-making self-efficacy and career adaptability

Integrating career construction (Savickas, 2013) and cognitive evaluation (Ryan & Deci, 2002) theories, we examined the moderating role of traditionality beliefs in the indirect relationships among parental support, career decision-making self-efficacy and career adaptability among Chinese university students. Data were collected from 731 undergraduate students in China at two measurement periods, 18 months apart. Results showed that Time 1 parental support was associated positively with Time 1 career decision-making self-efficacy and Time 2 career adaptability. In addition, the conditional indirect effects of Time 1 parental support in predicting Time 2 career adaptability via Time 1 career decision making self-efficacy were stronger among students with low as opposed to high traditionality beliefs. The implications of the results in terms of theory and practice are discussed.     

Mothers', fathers' and children's perceptions of parents' expectations about children's family obligations in nine countries

Children's family obligations involve assistance and respect that children are expected to provide to immediate and extended family members and reflect beliefs related to family life that may differ across cultural groups. Mothers, fathers and children (N = 1432 families) in 13 cultural groups in 9 countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand and United States) reported on their expectations regarding children's family obligations and parenting attitudes and behaviours. Within families, mothers and fathers had more concordant expectations regarding children's family obligations than did parents and children. Parenting behaviours that were warmer, less neglectful and more controlling as well as parenting attitudes that were more authoritarian were related to higher expectations regarding children's family obligations between families within cultures as well as between cultures. These international findings advance understanding of children's family obligations by contextualising them both within families and across a number of diverse cultural groups in 9 countries.     

Brief Psychological and Hypnotic Interventions in Chronic Pain Management

This article will explore how brief psychological approaches using hypnosis and imagery can be used with patients with chronic pain, predominantly in a Primary Care setting, although much that is discussed here could be applied in the Secondary sector. Chronic pain is defined as pain which endures for more than 6 months and may last for months or years. It serves no physiological purpose and persists after the time that ‘normal’ healing would be supposed to have taken place. Chronic pain may also range from that of cancer or arthritis, to that which seems to have no single or obvious physical causation. Teaching self-hypnosis and use of imagery can give these patients tools that they can use to help themselves, not only with pain, but also with the emotional distress that so often accompanies and exacerbates it. Unlike medication, self-hypnosis has only positive side effects and can give back some measure of control to patients who feel helpless and hopeless.