Comment on Zita's Review of The Science Question in Feminism

The claim is made that although she undervalues the work in question, Zita poses important questions for feminist philosophers of science. Reference ismade to further evidence supporting Harding's extended argument that science is neither characterized by objectivity nor value-free, and a concern which may have some relationship to Zita's “feminist question of the science question in feminism” is noted.     

“Tell me I'm sexy . . . and otherwise valuable”: Body valuation and relationship satisfaction

Although extant research demonstrates that body valuation by strangers has negative implications for women, Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that body valuation by a committed male partner is positively associated with women's relationship satisfaction when that partner also values them for their nonphysical qualities, but negatively associated with women's relationship satisfaction when that partner is not committed or does not value them for their nonphysical qualities. Study 3 demonstrates that body valuation by a committed female partner is negatively associated with men's relationship satisfaction when that partner does not also value them for their nonphysical qualities but unassociated with men's satisfaction otherwise. These findings join others demonstrating that fully understanding the implications of interpersonal processes requires considering the interpersonal context.     

A Framework for Understanding the Wounding of Healers

This article presents a theoretical framework that outlines the process whereby mental health practitioners become “wounded healers” through interactions in their work and training environments. Critical incident constructs are defined and explored. A framework for evaluating incidents is offered, and authority responses to a critical incident are discussed.     

An Effect Of Change In Patient Status On Marital Interaction

In the treatment of couples and families, even more so than of individuals, therapists invariably are forced to face the problem of assessment of change in the marital or family "system." The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in marital interaction for a special population, that is, in which one member of each married pair had been, but was no longer, a hospitalized psychiatric patient. The primary question we addressed was whether changes in marital interaction could be amply detected and whether these changes could be attributed to the particular role shift that had occurred in one spouse--from "patient" to "nonpatient." Utilizing a technique called Interaction Testing, which the senior authors devised in 1960, we found that such alterations in marital interaction do indeed arise when one member of the couple moves out of a patient role and that our instrument is useful in elucidating the nature of such effects. In addition, it can be expected that a study of this kind will be of theoretical and methodological value in dealing with the general issues of problem-solving interaction in couples and families. The clinical aspect of the study may also be expected to stimulate useful thinking regarding family theapy in hospital settings, patient management, and aftercare.     

Women,Work, and Life Transitions

Work is a positive force in helping women manage the issues and problems caused by separation and loss. The role of the employment counselor can be crucial during the process of transition.     

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES IN CHILDREN'S CONVERSATIONS

Using Tough's hierarchical analysis of language functions, uses, and strategies, this study found developmental differences in the communicative functions and strategies used by preschoolers in their conversations with one another. At three, the most important communicative functions were to verbally master information about the environment (interpretative function) and to express one's needs and ideas (relational function). Interpretative strategies included labelling and elaboration of detail, which enabled children to explore their environment through verbal means. Relational strategies reflected the child's egocentrism since 75% of those strategies were self-emphasizing strategies. At four, a major developmental shift occurred, with the projective function becoming most important, followed by the relational function. Within the projective function, imaginating strategies enabled children to create new roles and contexts for their play. Both imaginating and relational strategies incorporated increasingly adaptive communication directed toward others. Generally it was found that females appeared to develop language strategies (utilized by both sexes) earlier than males, and achieved a more advanced level of cognitive complexity and communicative adaptability in their relational and projective strategies.