Beyond the “Psychosomatic Family”: A Biobehavioral Family Model of Pediatric Illness

This article proposes a multilevel systems model of the interactive biological, psychological, and social processes in childhood illness. This heuristic model can organize the investigation of pathways and mechanisms by which these levels influence one another. A pivotal feature of this biobehavioral family model is the construct of responsivity, which is conceptualized at both family (interpersonal responsivity) and individual (biobehavioral reactivity) levels. Individual biobehavioral reactivity is proposed as a bidirectional pathway by which family patterns and disease processes influence one another. Illustrative clinical material and relevant research are presented with recommendations for future study. This model integrates individual and family-level theory and thus has the capacity to bridge the fields of psychosomatics, pediatrics, behavioral medicine, and family systems medicine.     

A little acceptance is good for your health: Interpersonal messages and weight change over time

This research examines whether acceptance messages from close others about one's weight predict changes in stressful weight concern and body mass index (BMI) over time. Participants reported weight concern and BMI in three waves of data collection spanning approximately 9 months, and reported the messages they received from parents, friends, and romantic partners concerning their weight in the second wave of data collection. Participants normatively gained weight during the study period. But for vulnerable women, those initially high in weight concern, receiving fewer acceptance messages about weight was associated with weight gain, whereas receiving more acceptance messages was associated with decreases in stressful weight concern and weight maintenance, or even loss, over time. Alternative predictors, mechanisms, and models were also tested.     

Learned Helplessness: A Factor in Counseling for Displaced Homemakers

The author describes the phenomenon of learned helplessness that may affect the ability of displaced homemakers to enter or reenter the work force successfully. Characteristics of helplessness-oriented persons are contrasted with those who are mastery-oriented.     

The Three Princesses

This article introduces three princesses: Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia (1618–1680); her sister, Princess Sophie who became the Electress of Hanover (1630–1714); and Sophie's daughter, Sophie Charlotte, who became the first Queen of Prussia (1668–1705). After summarizing their common family background, the article presents, for each in turn, her biography and a discussion of her relation to philosophy. In each case their philosophical involvement stems from their friendships with the leading philosophers of their day; Princess Elizabeth was a friend of Descartes while the Electress Sophie and Sophie Charlotte were friends of Leibniz. The article concludes that anyone who has made the acquaintance of the three princesses and has studied their interaction with their philosopher-friends will always see them as part of the history of modem philosophy.     

Family Boundaries in Transition: A Search for Alternatives

This paper attempts to clarify Minuchin's concept of family boundaries and to modify the original definition to one based on social systems concepts that are neutral with respect to pathology. The authors distinguish between logical and physical conceptualizations of “boundary” and differentiate the broad metaphor of family boundaries into proximity (i.e., interpersonal boundaries) and hierarchy (i.e., generational boundaries). Assuming that the nature of a relationship is reflected by the extent of overlap or sharing of interpersonal territories, Wood ( 14 ) adapted Goffman's ( 2 ) concept of territorial preserve to encompass six types of territories family members may share to a greater or lesser extent, reflecting the family's pattern of proximity. The family's hierarchy is reflected by who is “in charge,” parents or children. We explore the process of boundary reorganization in families in transition, offering a nonstatic and health-oriented view of boundary permeability. Using the anthropological concept of “rite of passage,” we suggest an alternative view of stressful transitional events such as marriage and divorce. We illustrate with examples the reorganization of proximity and hierarchy that occurs during periods of transition.     

Merit in the Midst of Grace: The Covenant with Adam Reconsidered in View of the Two Powers of God

Abstract:  The position of Barth and others, that the covenant with Adam is thoroughly legalistic, is based on the incorrect assumption that grace and works cannot coexist as covenant principles. However, the difficulty of seeing the harmony between these principles is real. This article reconsiders the covenant with Adam in light of the medieval concept of the two powers of God, or as we shall argue here, the two perspectives on God's power. These two perspectives, part of the original intellectual milieu in which covenant theology arose, demonstrate that the divine covenant with humanity may include aspects of both God's grace and human merit simultaneously. God's grace is apparent de potentia absoluta , from the perspective of God's absolute power, and God's justice and the possibility of Adam's merit are apparent de potentia ordinata , from the perspective of God's ordained power. Both perspectives, what God could do and what he has in fact chosen to do, are valid and necessary perspectives for understanding God's covenant dealings.     

Sampling the Reluctant Participant: A Random‐Sample Response‐Rate Study of Men and Sexual Coercion1

Past research has documented the difficulty associated with mail surveys in general, and with the rates of male participation, especially if the topic involves sensitive materials. Our study varied incentive value and whether participants received a letter of introduction. We adopted most of the stringent survey‐design characteristics recommended by Dillman (1991). The results suggest that a letter of introduction significantly increased the response rate. Additionally, a smaller monetary incentive did as well as did a larger one. Despite a maximum participation rate of only 22%, the sample was successful in representing men across the age span. Some important differences from men in the general population were found on demographic and attitudinal variables, however, the generalizability was still improved well beyond the college male.     

Mice selectively bred for an open field activity increase after maze learning

A unidirectional selective breeding experiment performed over six generations resulted in a line of mice (S6), which differed from the maintained unselected Swiss albino strain, called normal (N) strain, in the following respects: S6 mice increased their open field activity after maze learning significantly more than N mice. S6 mice ambulated more and exhibited more thigmotactic behaviour in a circular open field than N mice. S6 mice were superior than N mice in regard to maze learning capacity. Finally, S6 mice were interpreted as significantly less emotional according to their defecation, more responsive to novelty according to their urine pattern and more aggressive than N mice.     

The Remarried Family: An Annotated Bibliography, 1979–1982

This bibliography was developed to provide professionals and interested others with a reference source for information on stepfamilies. The focus is on the remarried family and the characteristics common to its formation and integration. The bibliography is divided into six sections to facilitate easy reference. The sections are not mutually exclusive, however, and articles could be placed under more than one heading. The six sections are I. Demography/Legal Issues; II. Remarriage as a Transition; III. Remarriage Formation: Restructuring Relationships; IV. Children in Remarried Families; V. Treatment Issues; and VI. How-To Books. To complete this project, the published research literature from 1979 through 1982 was searched under the subject headings of blended families, second marriages, remarried families, stepfamilies and reconstituted families. Regret is expressed for any overlooked material.